29th of Cylus, 716
Vivian sighed to herself as she looked around the village, the lack of light from the perpetual twilight of Cylus making the village seem oddly quiet considering it was the middle of the day. Shrugging slightly, the noble woman turned towards a small fruit stand at the center of the village square. They didn't have much to offer, fitting for the season, but she was a little hungry and felt maybe a bit of fruit might hit the spot.
However, before she had the chance to make a decision, an arrogant, mocking voice sounded from behind her. "ઇરઋશબઌરઔ બશનળ ઈએબ, ઇઋ'નઊરએઋ?" the voice asked, insult evident in the tone of the question. As if anyone who called Vivian by the term "Ej'Ufnaj" truly cared whether or not she was having a good day. No Biqaj, or even half-Biqaj in Vivian's case, was liable to enjoy being referred to as "Forsaken of Water", and Vivian had been hearing that insult, especially by full Biqaj, since she was little.
Turning to face the new arrival and give them a piece of her mind, Vivian paused in surprise at the woman before her, then gave a deep scowl. "Pythera Venora. I'd have assumed you'd have better manners than speak Rakahi where there are those who might not understand the language." she said, her hand tightening around the hilt of her rapier as she glared at the blonde-haired traitor. That such a one was protected by her noble birth, despite the fact that everyone _knew_ she had turned bandit, rankled Vivian. The fact that she had been a Skyrider only made it worse.
Pythera simply grinned at Vivian, her eyes looking pure purple in the twilight, though Vivian guessed they were more likely a mix of purple and possibly pink or red. "Ah, but of course, Ej'Ufnaj. I forget that a coward such as you might not have learned our language." she said mockingly, sticking her hands back into the pockets of her expensive, fur-lined overcoat. She still tended to dress more like a soldier than a noble-woman, but Vivian figured that was just habit as much as anything else, or possibly simple preference for the clothing style, shirts, pants, and boots over dresses and fancy shoes. That much Vivian could understand.
But this time Pythera's insult hit much harder than the simple crack about her aquaphobia that was her nickname usually did. "ઌ ડીએર ૮ઝઇએ૯ ળએ૯એકઌ ઋન૮મ ઊઌરઇ, ૧ળઇમડીક!" she snapped angrily, unconsciously half-drawing her rapier and stepping towards Pythera as she spoke before she got control of herself again. She might hate Pythera, but Vivian knew that the ex-soldier hadn't gotten the title "Zyq'Dajal" for nothing. Most half-Biqaj may prefer the sea, and while there were a great many Skyriders who could best Pythera in terms of pure skill, her ferocity and bond with her Volareon had made her well known to anyone who paid attention to the Skyriders before her treason had made her famous.
Pythera, for her part, simply bowed graciously and didn't react beyond a mocking smile. "My apologies, Ej'Ufnaj. I had assumed you wouldn't have bothered, since you avoid the ships of our people so much." she said, any hint of sincerity in her apology blown away by her continued use of the insult.
Vivian snorted in derision at the false apology, assuming a stature of composed indifference. "Our people? You're only half-Biqaj, same as I am. And you don't spend much more time on their ships than I do. What are you even doing in Warrick anyway? I figured you'd be in Venora playing the pretty little princess." she said, genuine curiosity entering her voice. Warrick was Vivian's territory, not Pythera's, and she would rather not have the bloodthirsty traitor running around.
Pythera just grinned at Vivian again. "Just on a vacation, Ej'Ufnaj. Don't worry, I'm not looking to marry into your family or something. Might pay your cousins a visit though...the farming ones. I remember when they were little. Lei'lira might be fun to...play with someday." she said, before laughing at Vivian's shocked expression before turning her back on her. "See you around, Ej'Ufnaj." the traitor said before walking away as ice crawled up Vivian's spine as the thought of Pythera with her cousins froze her to the spot for a moment.
Vivian sighed to herself as she looked around the village, the lack of light from the perpetual twilight of Cylus making the village seem oddly quiet considering it was the middle of the day. Shrugging slightly, the noble woman turned towards a small fruit stand at the center of the village square. They didn't have much to offer, fitting for the season, but she was a little hungry and felt maybe a bit of fruit might hit the spot.
However, before she had the chance to make a decision, an arrogant, mocking voice sounded from behind her. "ઇરઋશબઌરઔ બશનળ ઈએબ, ઇઋ'નઊરએઋ?" the voice asked, insult evident in the tone of the question. As if anyone who called Vivian by the term "Ej'Ufnaj" truly cared whether or not she was having a good day. No Biqaj, or even half-Biqaj in Vivian's case, was liable to enjoy being referred to as "Forsaken of Water", and Vivian had been hearing that insult, especially by full Biqaj, since she was little.
Turning to face the new arrival and give them a piece of her mind, Vivian paused in surprise at the woman before her, then gave a deep scowl. "Pythera Venora. I'd have assumed you'd have better manners than speak Rakahi where there are those who might not understand the language." she said, her hand tightening around the hilt of her rapier as she glared at the blonde-haired traitor. That such a one was protected by her noble birth, despite the fact that everyone _knew_ she had turned bandit, rankled Vivian. The fact that she had been a Skyrider only made it worse.
Pythera simply grinned at Vivian, her eyes looking pure purple in the twilight, though Vivian guessed they were more likely a mix of purple and possibly pink or red. "Ah, but of course, Ej'Ufnaj. I forget that a coward such as you might not have learned our language." she said mockingly, sticking her hands back into the pockets of her expensive, fur-lined overcoat. She still tended to dress more like a soldier than a noble-woman, but Vivian figured that was just habit as much as anything else, or possibly simple preference for the clothing style, shirts, pants, and boots over dresses and fancy shoes. That much Vivian could understand.
But this time Pythera's insult hit much harder than the simple crack about her aquaphobia that was her nickname usually did. "ઌ ડીએર ૮ઝઇએ૯ ળએ૯એકઌ ઋન૮મ ઊઌરઇ, ૧ળઇમડીક!" she snapped angrily, unconsciously half-drawing her rapier and stepping towards Pythera as she spoke before she got control of herself again. She might hate Pythera, but Vivian knew that the ex-soldier hadn't gotten the title "Zyq'Dajal" for nothing. Most half-Biqaj may prefer the sea, and while there were a great many Skyriders who could best Pythera in terms of pure skill, her ferocity and bond with her Volareon had made her well known to anyone who paid attention to the Skyriders before her treason had made her famous.
Pythera, for her part, simply bowed graciously and didn't react beyond a mocking smile. "My apologies, Ej'Ufnaj. I had assumed you wouldn't have bothered, since you avoid the ships of our people so much." she said, any hint of sincerity in her apology blown away by her continued use of the insult.
Vivian snorted in derision at the false apology, assuming a stature of composed indifference. "Our people? You're only half-Biqaj, same as I am. And you don't spend much more time on their ships than I do. What are you even doing in Warrick anyway? I figured you'd be in Venora playing the pretty little princess." she said, genuine curiosity entering her voice. Warrick was Vivian's territory, not Pythera's, and she would rather not have the bloodthirsty traitor running around.
Pythera just grinned at Vivian again. "Just on a vacation, Ej'Ufnaj. Don't worry, I'm not looking to marry into your family or something. Might pay your cousins a visit though...the farming ones. I remember when they were little. Lei'lira might be fun to...play with someday." she said, before laughing at Vivian's shocked expression before turning her back on her. "See you around, Ej'Ufnaj." the traitor said before walking away as ice crawled up Vivian's spine as the thought of Pythera with her cousins froze her to the spot for a moment.
