8 Cylus 721
Havardr
Dehasin
Common
8th Cylus 720, First "Dawn"
"Thank you for your help,"' It was beyond invaluable now. When she had been granted her writ seasons ago, the medic had never imagined actually putting the gift to use. But with the dreaded snowfall and rumors of Chief Linca's mysterious illness, her intuition refused to be placated. "This could mean the difference between life and death." She could only hope whatever the malady, that it wasn't fatal but with the fishing village cut off from Salvoris due to brutal winter weather and news lessening by the trial, Yeva knew there was no time left to waste. They had to make the journey and they had to go now.
Waiting till Ashan just wouldn't do. Not that she was ever a woman to stand around twiddling her thumbs! Go.
Go.
Go.
Her boots left winding evidence of her pacing, hands checking, double-checking, and triple-checking the gear on her Scalvwing. She had her blue Order of Adunih cloak laid out across the mount's back. It was protected in leather armor, beneath which furs had been draped to aid the creature's heat retention. Her escorts, two soldiers within the Element ranks advised her against using any sort of metal armor or bit. While it could protect the creature should they be attacked, molded ore risked freezing to the creature's skin and causing serious damage. While both men had beautiful swords that hung at their hip, they carried large and wooden round shields.
To show her understanding, Yeva had been as intentional as she could in her packing. The usual survival gear - rations, flint & steel, freshwater, a small pouch of warm sand to hold, and both her medical kit and surgical utensils, tucked into the saddlebag or strapped to her persons. Just in case, she told herself. With any luck, there wouldn't be a need for it on the way. The rest was a mix of items: a modest bag of nel, a new journal (how many would she require before she managed to finish one?), her engraving quill, a change of clothes and a few minor things to trade. She had also brought a bag of vital medical supplies from the Order of Adunih that she hoped would help see the Havardr citizens through some of the cruelest winter trials.
Her guides had stressed packing light to keep the two Scalvwings strong beneath their weight and so she had followed instruction, passing along the supplies to ChiChi, who would be riding separately. Two women, two Elements. Two animals. A bundle of excitement, nerves, and worry.
Yeva had ridden her Scalvwing before, but she had never felt confident enough to dare take it to the skies. Now they were preparing for flight! In the sky!
Buttoning her coat, Yeva climbed into her seat first and was strapped in. The Element, a man by the name of Gregory, climbed up behind her, reaching around to take the reigns while the others got situated, his body heat welcomed by the otherwise bashful medic. After a brief check, Yeva, Gregory, ChiChi, and Stiv lined up to the open patch of the road leading out of town, and the Scalvwing's were coerced into a canter.
"Warming 'em up," Stiv explained, loud enough to be heard by all, "We better be quick. Weather looks like it's changing for the worst."
Yeva bounced in the saddle, feeling the flick of the reigns in front of her and they sped up. She couldn't help it; partially covered the knit of her scarf, her smile was spreading as the lanterns swung to cast fast shadows. Her stomach dropped. Her mind reeled! Gregory's voice was low and comforting, a soft layer of amusement as he watched her childlike wonder, "Ready?"
She nodded eagerly, looking down to find a leather cord pressed into her hand.
"Two flicks" he instructed, "Feet in the stirrups now,"
She nodded and with an exciting thrill, gave a flick of her wrist. Then another.
The Scalvwing raced down the pathway now. Huff. Huff. Its wings began to open, feeling the resistance. Speed increased, Yeva held her breath, watching as they stretched out. It was easy to forget their size; the power of the majestic creature. Now, she understood. Feathered wings powered in great beating and it leaped, taking to the sky like a fish to water. She couldn't stop the gasp of delight that followed and for the first time in either life, Yeva of Rharne was flying.
Harvardr bound.
An expanse of snow laid before them, glowing eerily beneath the great moons of Cylus. The winds roared and Yeva shuddered beneath the layers of fur, her hands numb beneath the cover of their mittens. It was difficult to stop her teeth from chattering, head bent as she trudged forward, legs tiring quickly in their heavy snowshoes. White powder shielded most of their vision and they clung to their flickering lanterns with desperation, the shadows ominous beyond the glow of their passing.
"Look," ChiChi pointed at their icy path and the crunch of her boots ceased. Yeva shuffled from behind her, struggling to make anything out beyond the frosting off her breath but after a pause of silence and a sweep of her light source, she noticed it too. "Footprints. They must have traveled this way."
Yeva nodded although she could barely spot the markings, exhaling. Her language mimicked the guide's, but it was less sure. Broken and no longer used much in Yeva's day today. Dehasin was a slave tongue and she had rarely spoken it outside of the city of Athart. Still, Yeva suspected it was ChiChi's primary language and so she often practiced it when they were together. It was also a reminder of their bonding, "There's not many," she stepped forward, crouching to inspect the markings. Dozens of prints cut away the snow, but not the amount she had expected for a whole village. A number of deep rivets in the bank caught her attention but they were almost unnoticeable beneath the fresh blanket of white. "What's that?"
ChiChi's brow furrowed, head turning left and right as she assessed the situation. Then, pointing out a pair the medic hadn't noticed initially, "Their gear; tents. Havardr is a moving village," she reminded her, but she glanced at their Elemental guides as they guided the animal's closer and rechecked the tracks "Sleds, maybe...Must be settling."
"Settling?"
ChiChi gave an explanation to the word in Common Tongue and Yeva 'ah'ed' in new understanding. It made sense. She was unsure the extent of Linca's predicament but it would not be out of the question for Havardr to slow down. Transporting an ill man over and over could likely worsen his condition, drastically in such harsh weather. As if on cue, one of the escorts seemed uneasy.
"We need to keep moving," he watched the sky, which remained a black pit looming above. Visibility of the stars and even the moons were lessening, fat clouds growing thick and heavy. The snow was unrelenting now now, clinging to her eyelashes as it billowed down on hissing wind. It was a small miracle they had found any signs of life in the first place - Yeva was no wilderness expert, but could imagine that in a couple breaks time, there would be no proof of Havardr at all., "Temperature's dropping..." he swallowed, stomping forward to take the reigns of Yeva's Scalvwing and extend a hand to offer a boost her into the saddle.
The second Element, did the same with the winged mount he had brought, although ChiChi was quick to jump into action and climb atop without question. She a fearless woman but no fool. She had once stressed the importance of working together in dangerous situations, and the journey so far had been far from a simple embarking. The danger was on the horizon and they all felt it.
A static that loomed in the air, a coil snake preparing to strike. A shoe about to drop.
Yeva had felt it before, on Faldrass.
Something was coming.
"We'll have to ride the rest of the way!" Gregory shouted, voice almost lost to the wind, "The wings will freeze if we fly now."
They had been in the last stretch of the journey when they had landed, the lack of aerial visibility admits the budding storm forcing them to descent. Increased precipitation at higher altitudes kept crystals forming along with the Scalvwing's wings, and being weighed down aside, it could cause their ride to stiffen and crash. The animal was their lifeline in the tundra and without it, they were through.
Lightening cracked across the sky, a flash that ignited the region. Stiv cursed, the Scalvwing stomped, discontent.
A dark cluster had her nearly standing in her seat, "There!" she shouted, just as Cylus reclaimed its throne and Idalos was cast in darkness. Far on the horizon, across the frozen rock, appeared to be a huddle of pointed structures. Her cry had been enough to draw Gregory's attention and he shouted an order to Stiv who wasted no time in racing the animal. With a jolt, both Scalvwings were running towards the only sign of civilization, half praying they stayed running in the right direction without the guidance of moonlight.
Something wet tickled her cheek and it soon became clear that the snow had turned to icy rain. More cursing from the Elemental men, Yeva felt the familiar grip of fear and held her lantern out as best she could, desperate for visibility. Thunder cracked and rumbled, the Scalvwing's whinnied against the bridle. Snow kicked up, carving a path behind them and the steady thumping began to drop around them. At her left. Their right. Heavy booming falling from the sky. A mass which cracked and splintered against the ground as they raced by, a piece of which that bit her cheek, narrowly missing her eye.
Stiv shouted, "Haaaail!"
"Cover your heads!" Gregory called, his body tense behind her. He grunted from the impact of the blows, reaching down to grab at the gear of their saddlebags. Stiv seemed to take notice and rushed to do the same.
Yeva stiffed, suddenly back in the caves of Faldrass, her group running in the darkness. The lights of their lantern swinging as lava bubbled and their path was unsure. Danger all around them. The rocks of the cave cracking.
Hail cracking.
Hot.
Cold.
One of the Scalvwing's cried out as a chunk of frozen ice smacked into its armored neck, Yeva suddenly jostled from her nightmare as Gregory wrangled and fight against the reigns to steer the mount back towards the destination. The winged horse shook its head, struggling to keep its momentum in the thick snow. Yeva bowed her head and tried to cover it, feeling the impact of ice beating into her shoulders. She cried out. A lump of hail hit her right arm and her fingers opened.
Crying out with pain searing up her elbow, her lantern flew from her grip and shattered, lost to the snow. They were running blind.
"Hold the reigns!" Gregory barked, Yeva scrambling to take over. Visibility was limited to the light stone she had loaned to ChiChi prior to their departure. Gregory and Stiv focused and then relief came as the sound of ice against wood, applauding in raucous vengeance. The sky was falling! Stiv and Gregory held their shield's up, enough to protect their heads while the woman drove into the shadows as another round of lightning cracked across the sky.
They could see the yurts in more clarity, the flickering of light escaping as a few panels were drawn back to peer at the scene emerging from the icy expanse.
A flash of the sanctuary as the world fell around them.
Havardr.
"Thank you for your help,"' It was beyond invaluable now. When she had been granted her writ seasons ago, the medic had never imagined actually putting the gift to use. But with the dreaded snowfall and rumors of Chief Linca's mysterious illness, her intuition refused to be placated. "This could mean the difference between life and death." She could only hope whatever the malady, that it wasn't fatal but with the fishing village cut off from Salvoris due to brutal winter weather and news lessening by the trial, Yeva knew there was no time left to waste. They had to make the journey and they had to go now.
Waiting till Ashan just wouldn't do. Not that she was ever a woman to stand around twiddling her thumbs! Go.
Go.
Go.
Her boots left winding evidence of her pacing, hands checking, double-checking, and triple-checking the gear on her Scalvwing. She had her blue Order of Adunih cloak laid out across the mount's back. It was protected in leather armor, beneath which furs had been draped to aid the creature's heat retention. Her escorts, two soldiers within the Element ranks advised her against using any sort of metal armor or bit. While it could protect the creature should they be attacked, molded ore risked freezing to the creature's skin and causing serious damage. While both men had beautiful swords that hung at their hip, they carried large and wooden round shields.
To show her understanding, Yeva had been as intentional as she could in her packing. The usual survival gear - rations, flint & steel, freshwater, a small pouch of warm sand to hold, and both her medical kit and surgical utensils, tucked into the saddlebag or strapped to her persons. Just in case, she told herself. With any luck, there wouldn't be a need for it on the way. The rest was a mix of items: a modest bag of nel, a new journal (how many would she require before she managed to finish one?), her engraving quill, a change of clothes and a few minor things to trade. She had also brought a bag of vital medical supplies from the Order of Adunih that she hoped would help see the Havardr citizens through some of the cruelest winter trials.
Her guides had stressed packing light to keep the two Scalvwings strong beneath their weight and so she had followed instruction, passing along the supplies to ChiChi, who would be riding separately. Two women, two Elements. Two animals. A bundle of excitement, nerves, and worry.
Yeva had ridden her Scalvwing before, but she had never felt confident enough to dare take it to the skies. Now they were preparing for flight! In the sky!
Buttoning her coat, Yeva climbed into her seat first and was strapped in. The Element, a man by the name of Gregory, climbed up behind her, reaching around to take the reigns while the others got situated, his body heat welcomed by the otherwise bashful medic. After a brief check, Yeva, Gregory, ChiChi, and Stiv lined up to the open patch of the road leading out of town, and the Scalvwing's were coerced into a canter.
"Warming 'em up," Stiv explained, loud enough to be heard by all, "We better be quick. Weather looks like it's changing for the worst."
Yeva bounced in the saddle, feeling the flick of the reigns in front of her and they sped up. She couldn't help it; partially covered the knit of her scarf, her smile was spreading as the lanterns swung to cast fast shadows. Her stomach dropped. Her mind reeled! Gregory's voice was low and comforting, a soft layer of amusement as he watched her childlike wonder, "Ready?"
She nodded eagerly, looking down to find a leather cord pressed into her hand.
"Two flicks" he instructed, "Feet in the stirrups now,"
She nodded and with an exciting thrill, gave a flick of her wrist. Then another.
The Scalvwing raced down the pathway now. Huff. Huff. Its wings began to open, feeling the resistance. Speed increased, Yeva held her breath, watching as they stretched out. It was easy to forget their size; the power of the majestic creature. Now, she understood. Feathered wings powered in great beating and it leaped, taking to the sky like a fish to water. She couldn't stop the gasp of delight that followed and for the first time in either life, Yeva of Rharne was flying.
Harvardr bound.
***
8 Cylus 720, EveningAn expanse of snow laid before them, glowing eerily beneath the great moons of Cylus. The winds roared and Yeva shuddered beneath the layers of fur, her hands numb beneath the cover of their mittens. It was difficult to stop her teeth from chattering, head bent as she trudged forward, legs tiring quickly in their heavy snowshoes. White powder shielded most of their vision and they clung to their flickering lanterns with desperation, the shadows ominous beyond the glow of their passing.
"Look," ChiChi pointed at their icy path and the crunch of her boots ceased. Yeva shuffled from behind her, struggling to make anything out beyond the frosting off her breath but after a pause of silence and a sweep of her light source, she noticed it too. "Footprints. They must have traveled this way."
Yeva nodded although she could barely spot the markings, exhaling. Her language mimicked the guide's, but it was less sure. Broken and no longer used much in Yeva's day today. Dehasin was a slave tongue and she had rarely spoken it outside of the city of Athart. Still, Yeva suspected it was ChiChi's primary language and so she often practiced it when they were together. It was also a reminder of their bonding, "There's not many," she stepped forward, crouching to inspect the markings. Dozens of prints cut away the snow, but not the amount she had expected for a whole village. A number of deep rivets in the bank caught her attention but they were almost unnoticeable beneath the fresh blanket of white. "What's that?"
ChiChi's brow furrowed, head turning left and right as she assessed the situation. Then, pointing out a pair the medic hadn't noticed initially, "Their gear; tents. Havardr is a moving village," she reminded her, but she glanced at their Elemental guides as they guided the animal's closer and rechecked the tracks "Sleds, maybe...Must be settling."
"Settling?"
ChiChi gave an explanation to the word in Common Tongue and Yeva 'ah'ed' in new understanding. It made sense. She was unsure the extent of Linca's predicament but it would not be out of the question for Havardr to slow down. Transporting an ill man over and over could likely worsen his condition, drastically in such harsh weather. As if on cue, one of the escorts seemed uneasy.
"We need to keep moving," he watched the sky, which remained a black pit looming above. Visibility of the stars and even the moons were lessening, fat clouds growing thick and heavy. The snow was unrelenting now now, clinging to her eyelashes as it billowed down on hissing wind. It was a small miracle they had found any signs of life in the first place - Yeva was no wilderness expert, but could imagine that in a couple breaks time, there would be no proof of Havardr at all., "Temperature's dropping..." he swallowed, stomping forward to take the reigns of Yeva's Scalvwing and extend a hand to offer a boost her into the saddle.
The second Element, did the same with the winged mount he had brought, although ChiChi was quick to jump into action and climb atop without question. She a fearless woman but no fool. She had once stressed the importance of working together in dangerous situations, and the journey so far had been far from a simple embarking. The danger was on the horizon and they all felt it.
A static that loomed in the air, a coil snake preparing to strike. A shoe about to drop.
Yeva had felt it before, on Faldrass.
Something was coming.
"We'll have to ride the rest of the way!" Gregory shouted, voice almost lost to the wind, "The wings will freeze if we fly now."
They had been in the last stretch of the journey when they had landed, the lack of aerial visibility admits the budding storm forcing them to descent. Increased precipitation at higher altitudes kept crystals forming along with the Scalvwing's wings, and being weighed down aside, it could cause their ride to stiffen and crash. The animal was their lifeline in the tundra and without it, they were through.
Lightening cracked across the sky, a flash that ignited the region. Stiv cursed, the Scalvwing stomped, discontent.
A dark cluster had her nearly standing in her seat, "There!" she shouted, just as Cylus reclaimed its throne and Idalos was cast in darkness. Far on the horizon, across the frozen rock, appeared to be a huddle of pointed structures. Her cry had been enough to draw Gregory's attention and he shouted an order to Stiv who wasted no time in racing the animal. With a jolt, both Scalvwings were running towards the only sign of civilization, half praying they stayed running in the right direction without the guidance of moonlight.
Something wet tickled her cheek and it soon became clear that the snow had turned to icy rain. More cursing from the Elemental men, Yeva felt the familiar grip of fear and held her lantern out as best she could, desperate for visibility. Thunder cracked and rumbled, the Scalvwing's whinnied against the bridle. Snow kicked up, carving a path behind them and the steady thumping began to drop around them. At her left. Their right. Heavy booming falling from the sky. A mass which cracked and splintered against the ground as they raced by, a piece of which that bit her cheek, narrowly missing her eye.
Stiv shouted, "Haaaail!"
"Cover your heads!" Gregory called, his body tense behind her. He grunted from the impact of the blows, reaching down to grab at the gear of their saddlebags. Stiv seemed to take notice and rushed to do the same.
Yeva stiffed, suddenly back in the caves of Faldrass, her group running in the darkness. The lights of their lantern swinging as lava bubbled and their path was unsure. Danger all around them. The rocks of the cave cracking.
Hail cracking.
Hot.
Cold.
One of the Scalvwing's cried out as a chunk of frozen ice smacked into its armored neck, Yeva suddenly jostled from her nightmare as Gregory wrangled and fight against the reigns to steer the mount back towards the destination. The winged horse shook its head, struggling to keep its momentum in the thick snow. Yeva bowed her head and tried to cover it, feeling the impact of ice beating into her shoulders. She cried out. A lump of hail hit her right arm and her fingers opened.
Crying out with pain searing up her elbow, her lantern flew from her grip and shattered, lost to the snow. They were running blind.
"Hold the reigns!" Gregory barked, Yeva scrambling to take over. Visibility was limited to the light stone she had loaned to ChiChi prior to their departure. Gregory and Stiv focused and then relief came as the sound of ice against wood, applauding in raucous vengeance. The sky was falling! Stiv and Gregory held their shield's up, enough to protect their heads while the woman drove into the shadows as another round of lightning cracked across the sky.
They could see the yurts in more clarity, the flickering of light escaping as a few panels were drawn back to peer at the scene emerging from the icy expanse.
A flash of the sanctuary as the world fell around them.
Havardr.
