[Burhan] It Calls Me

[Elyna]

117th Ashan

The first rays of true sunshine had started to break through the clouds, at last. With the children, asleep and snuggly tucked in their little beds, the young woman decided that once and for all, she would reacquaint herself with her homeland. She’d managed to dress in loose dress of Burhan blue. It hung against her pale skin and from her shoulders. Pain and fever had robbed the young woman of her pregnancy weight and the following weakness had stolen the colour form her skin. She braided her hair in a neat plait that hung down the centre of her back and pulled on her favourite boots. The skyrider considered taking her sword, before reminding herself that she was only going to take a brief trot around the compound and return before baby Luke needed his breakfast. She bowed over his crib and pressed a kiss to his forehead, fussing over the blanket his older brother, Vaughn had given him. It was a soft wool and she preferred it to the older blankets she had been using before the gift had bene given.
The noblewoman bowed to press another kiss to Elsie’s cheek and the girl stirred, wriggling in her sleep. Vara looked up from the foot of Elsie’s bed, but Elyna hushed the puppy, pressing an elegant finger to her lips.
“Shhhh,” she breathed, “let them sleep. Stay.” The order was followed, the puppy lowering her chin to her paws and letting out a soft sigh. The children wouldn’t be alone for long, Elyna suspected that Anna would soon be peering into the small bedroom to check they hadn’t woken. It had taken some convincing, but Emily’s sister had agreed to help the recovering skyrider visit her grandparents back in Burhan. Afterall, Elyna had little choice but to heed her Grandparents summons, even if she would have preferred to finish the season back at home and recovering.
The young woman stole through the sleeping house, wrapping a belt around her waist. Not as slender as it once was, but having shrunk through illness after Luke’s birth. She wondered if perhaps she might start training again, preparing herself to return to the Skyriders and take up her command.
She slipped out through the side door of the mansion and picked her way over the wooden walkways above the small streams and rivers that fed into the Avari. With the Qe’dreki vanished, it was far quieter back in Burhan than she remembered. Veljorn’s men had been making a fleet of ships for his army, but the morning air wasn’t disturbed by the ring of hammers on wood. Perhaps it was why she could breathe a little easier, the peace and the relative quiet. The mist was rising beyond the wall already. She smiled at the guard who saluted her, though as a colonel or simply because she was heiress to these lands, she did not know.
Hands on her hips, Elyna came to the end of her walk at the gate overlooking the wilderness of Burhan. The deadly white mist was clearing quickly. A half-break more and it would lift off the pathways and reveal the world beyond. She could pick out the shadows of trees as they moved. The mist swirled and lifted in unsettling patches. The young woman waited for it to rise a little higher before venturing out.
When had she last done this? Her heart almost imploded. It had been with Vakhanor and his little brother Bjorn. She’d promised to give the Smith and the child a tour of her homeland. The boy had died in the mist…she hadn’t even known she was pregnant then either… Elyna ventured forward with uncertain steps.
“My Lady, do you need an escort?” The guard peered at her as she moved through the gate.
Elyna shook her head, “I won’t be going far,” she promised him.

[Vollen]

Even though he had given himself the name Vollen, Thomas Hook had never never really faded away. So many trials spent on the move, hiding in the wilderness and staying as far from civilization had not yet worn away his old habits. Burhan had more effect on him than he cared to admit. Thomas Hook survived, even the chill of Cylus had done nothing to change this. He hated it, and was thoroughly ashamed.

Just like in his youth he awoke long before the sun longrisen, half expecting his father to boot him in the backside. He remembered as clarity took hold, his father had died many Trials before. It was a good lesson for him, he was still far too soft and far too sentimental.

Hunting had done no good. It seemed as if the seven were placing the most inconvenient twigs in his path. Every hare or deer seemed to sense his presence. So he consigned himself to a morning of hunger. He figured it was his just deserts, after all his luck couldn't last much longer.

Deciding it was better to explore the boundry between winderness and the fort, rather than sit and let his hunger push his mood to a fouler humor. Walking that loaping walk all good hunters use he tracked through the tress and brush, avoiding thistles and those thorney weeds that would leave a clear sign of his passing he spied the walls.

He was well out of sight, the trees and the shadows caused by their branches hid him well enough. To be sure he keep well out of bowshot from the walls anyway. Better to be alive and cautious than to be bold and dead. The first fingers of the sun’s light touched the sky as he made his way to a spot were he could better see the gate.

The morning mist had been as thick as ever, though now is was beginning to lift. He could not quite place way he decided to even bother scouting the fort. Instinct perhaps? Whatever the cause he felt that his fortunes might change. Vollen settled himself to wait, crouching in the shadows of the forest his black clothing suitable enough to blend him out of sight.

He crouched and waited, glittering green eyes intent. Unstrung bow clutched in a white knuckled grip.

[Elyna]

The young woman stood on the path of her homeland and studied the terrain. These were the woods that she’d played in as a child, always sneaking away from the safety of the wall. Back then it had been a game, to trace the line of civilisation where it boarded the deadly white mist. There had always been guards on the walls and looking back, she suspected that the presence of herself and Edmund had not gone unnoticed. They’d never been hauled up or punished for their exploration of the forest, but with a mother’s instinct now, Elyna wondered if they had been carefully watched.
Glancing back at the wall, she didn’t feel the same safety now. She was a warrior though, a Colonel of the skyriders. Even if, right now, she didn’t feel like one. For one of the rare times in her recent life, she felt vulnerable. It would have been better to retreat behind the gates and to her bed. To rest up. How would she regain her strength though, how could she return to her command if she didn’t build up her stamina? Doran had told her, to cut off the strings that bound her. Fear was a string. Time to woman up and get her butt into gear. Elyna turn back to the path and made her way down towards the river. Picking her way through the dappled light of the trees. It was a short walk, barely out of sight of the wall. It was a walk she needed to do, before Vakhanor asked her to return with him, to the place his brother had died. It was a place she needed to go, to pay her respects. She needed a moment to grieve the little life, before she had to be strong for someone else.
The noblewoman approached the river, heart racing and air thin in her chest. Her head spun from the exertion and she sank down onto one of the larger stones where the water trickled past. This, this was where she had carried the body of the boy. He had fallen into the mist and he had been screaming. She’d pulled him free and he’d fallen on his head…he’d been bleeding over her hands and arms. Elyna pushed her palms against the rock and breathed deep.
“I’m sorry Bjorn…he misses you something awful.”

[Vollen]

Like any archer worth his weight in gold nels Vollen’s eyesight was superb. As the mist cleared he could make out more than just the wall’s outline. The seven saints were smiling on him this day, or fortune decided to intervene on his behalf. He could see the young woman clearly, and like many in his profession made every second count as he observed the young noblewoman.

For noble she was.

There was no mistaking Elyna Burhan. Though rumours often tend to exaggerate the commoners never failed to surprise. She looked almost exactly as described. To be frank she looked as though she had suffered from dysentery albeit on the rebound.

Even those with noble blood can succumb to illness. He doubted it was dysentery.

She was certainly no stranger to soldering, the lass had the walk. He waited a few trills wanting her to gain a bit of distance before he followed. He was not confident enough in his ability to remain hidden.

When he felt he was far enough away as to not draw attention he followed. Every crack of a twig underfoot made him flinch. He paced himself, one could never be too cautious when following a soldier. Especially one as experienced as Elyna Burhan.

He almost smiled when he saw the woman slump onto one of the many large stones by the river’s edge. He said a silent prayer to all the Saints, thanking them for keeping the noble from straying off the path.

He stayed as still as a statue not daring to test his fortune. She had said something, certainly a name. The sound of the Avari River made it difficult to catch whole of her words. Bjorn was it? No matter.

He was about ready to rush from where he concealed himself but common sense stopped him. Even if he was to capture her he had no rope with which to bind her.

He was no fool, even as his past as a Qe’dreki bubbled up to remind him of the treacherous murder she committed. Vollen clamped down on the rising rage that burned in his gut. No, he had a better idea.

Standing, he shouldered his unstrung bow and stood stepping out of the brush to face the woman who caused the inevitable downfall of his company.

“S’cuse me miss?”

He would take a risk, and hoped he could glean something from this encounter. At least learn a bit about the woman who slit his king’s throat. He made his way towards her, trying for all his worth to look like any other hunter in Burhan.

[Elyna]

Her reflection wobbled in the water. The rushing stream bubbled and gurgled. She knew from experience that it was as deep as her waist in the centre and ice-cold, even beneath the dappled light that broke through the trees. How long had she stood in the water, washing away the influence of the mist from the child? His blood rolling down her hands and sent downstream in red waters. It was hard to breathe, despite the tranquil scene that flowed before her now. Somewhere in the distance, birds were singing. The tree’s rustled around her and beyond the wall she could hear the start of a drill.
“S’cuse me miss?”
Startled, and caught off guard the young woman twisted in her seat without moving. The hairs raised on the back of her neck and heart jumping wildly beneath her ribs. She had no weapon with her, and was beyond the walls. Her gaze moved over the man in a slow, practised motion to size him up as a potential threat. It was an old habit, and one she was paying more attention to. He had the shoulders and arms of an archer. Her own had lost some tone in the past season, with her pregnancy. Now though, with the loss of Luke’s baby weight and her following illness meant she’d shed most signs of the baby, but also her warriors figure. How long would it be, before her form returned and her sword felt ready in her grip?
He looked rough around the edges, and perhaps that was an understatement. Miss, he’d called her. So he didn’t know she was a noble? A relief.
Elyna offered a cautious smile, “Good morning…” she turned to face him, still sat on the large rock. “Can I help you, sir?” She left the pause, hoping he would provide his name.

[Vollen]

Inwardly he cursed his cleverness. He knew the instant he saw her turn he had caught her unawares, and how easy it would have been to capture her the. It was only caution that kept him from striking, and the form of a plan piecing itself together. To sneak up on a soldier was no easy task, Thomas wondered how deep in her thoughts she was. Perhaps it was the easiness of which he was able to sneak upon her that tempered his rashness, whatever the cause he would bid his time.

He was certain that the soldiers guarding the gate would have seen her leave. Yes, he would wait and see if he could worm his way into her trust like she did with Veljorn.

He watched her size him up in the way only a soldier could, and that too reminded him he was not around some soft noble. He flahed her a smile, trying for all his worth to look like the average huntsman.

Hopefully he could oull it off.

Her past health issues were noticeable. She was still pretty in the Biqaj way, of course he did not fancy her. He preferred redheads anyway. “You wouldn't have happened to see a rabbit scurry by have you?” he asked trying to maintain a wistful smile.

“I’ve had a bad run of luck today, haven't caught anything to eat this morning.” Thomas knuckled his head while looked just a bit bashful at the admission of his failure in the hunt. “You look a little worse for wear, is there anything I myself can do to help?”

“Ah!” he exclaimed. “My father would have my head for not minding my manners. Instead of ‘sir’ just call me Thomas.” he flashed her another charming smile. Or at least he hoped it was charming.