Everyone in the previous village had been effected in some way by the group of bandits roaming the trails of the Thunderbacks, so Uriel is going to find them and eliminate them. Currently he is flying about fifty feet above the trails, hunting the hunters.
After about thirty minutes later he found his quarry a group of three heavily armed in mix-matched armor. Uriel swooped in and attacked, the opposition putting up a fierce fight. In the end he rendered the three unconscious. Now to see is they are part of the bandit group. A quick investigation of the trio revealed that all three had a black dagger tattoo on the right forearm. Highly unlikely for regular travelers, now to see if there are more of them. A quick pulse of electricity through one of the bandits and he was up, swinging his arms wildly.
"I'll kill you" he screamed, unaware that he was unarmed.
"Go ahead and try, but I assure you, you will not succeed" was Uriel's calm retort.
That was when the bandit realized that he was unarmed and that the man before him ah dispatched him and his allies while the were armed, "wh-what do you want?"
"I want to know if there are more bandits in the area."
"Yes but you won't find them" the bandit said smugly.
"And why is that?"
"Because the are hidden in a cave on the north side of the mountia-" had he realized he had said too much.
"Thank you my friend, now you should probably give up on this whole bandit business, because next time I won't show mercy" and with that he was off, flying to the north side of the mountain to find the bandit hideout.
After about another ten minutes Uriel had to land to rest, his wings unable to carry him anymore. so he sat on a nearby rock sharpening his sword, wings half extended.
Are those... wings? Kayala thought as she saw the stranger sitting. She had merely been eating behind a rock (in the shade to protect herself from the sun) and heard a little bit of noise. But when she turned around, she saw a man covered in white with wings. He was most likely Yoreiqi, but he didn't have any tattoos. Well, Kayala definitely knew that not all Yoreiqi looked the same.
Feeling suspicious that she was watching him from behind, Kayala stood up and came out from behind the rock. "You look a little tired... would you like to eat lunch with me?" Kayala offered smiling. No harm in sharing food and a conversation with a mysterious stranger. No harm at all.
Uriel looked at the young woman that stepped out from behind the rock, she had extremely white skin and red streaks through hair. She had offered him, a complete stranger, food. "I am a bit tired" he said not wanting to admit how tired he really was, "and some food would be nice." He sheathed is sword and walked over to the young woman. "My name is Uriel, do you mind if I ask you your name?"
Sitting back down in the shade with Uriel, Kayala responded, "I'm Kayala. I hate to ask this so suddenly but... are you Yoreiqi? Those wings are beautiful!" Smiling, Kayala admired his wings. She had seen many wings in her hometown, but not after she left. Although she was happy with how she was, wings always seemed so nice to have. Though some said they were more of a hassle than they were worth.
Grabbing another sandwich from her bag, Kayala handed it to Uriel. Taking another bite from her own sandwich, she waited for him to respond.
Uriel took the sandwich she offered. "Am I Yoreiqi? What do you mean by Yoreiqi?" Then it dawned on him she was asking him if she was from a place where wings are common. "Are you saying there is a place with others who have wings?" Uriel marveled at the idea. It had never occurred to him that there might be others with wings. Taking a bite from the sandwich she gave him it he wondered where such a place would be and why he hadn't heard about it while traveling.
"Um... someone from Yoreiq? I'm Yoreiqi. Anyway, a lot of Yoreiqi have wings, but not all of them. Obviously, I don't. Ah... but most Yoreiqi don't look like me. Though tattoos like these," Kayala pointed to the red markings all over her body, "are given to Yoreiqi over fifteen. That's why I was curious."
Kayala finished her sandwich and leaned against the rock. "So what are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere?"
"Well presently I am hunting a group of bandits that have been harassing one of the local villages. What are you doing out here here?" If she really was from a place of people that had wings maybe she could tell me where it is or even how to get there. It was really rather shocking that there were others with wing.
"Me? Oh, you know, just travelling from one city to the next. I don't really have a destination right now. Just wandering. But bandits sound exciting. What kind of harassing are you talking about?" If she could help him, she would. Since Kayala had no place to go, she had no reason to ignore people causing trouble. Not that she would've ignored them if she did have somewhere to go.
"Well they have been effecting trade between the cities for one, robbing travelers, which effects the economy within the city because they have no money to spend, and if a villager tries to stand up to them they are killed and hung on a tree outside the village. So I'm going to find their hideout, which I now know the location of, and I'm going to eradicate them." Uriel said it like it was an easy thing to do but in truth he had no ideas as to how many bandits there were in the cave. So it was likely that he could get injured. "Do you have any fighting experience? It is likely that the bandits will put up quite a fight."
"Fighting experience?" Kayala started. "Well... I can use a bow and arrow and am pretty good at dodging. There is only one problem: I have no bow and arrow and don't see any trees nearby..." Looking around, Kayala could only see rocks, rocks, and more rocks. "However, I can heal. I understand we have to stop those horrible people, but is it possible to do it without hurting them too much?"
"if there is a way. I don't know it, besides they have killed about twenty-five villagers, I plan on killing just as many bandits" It accrued to Uriel that maybe not everyone had his 'life for a life' way of thinking. Finishing his sandwich, he stood up, "have you ever travelled through the air before?"
"Kill them?! Are you out of your mind? That makes you just as bad as them!" Kayala said, astounded. "Do you not understand how precious life is? And yet you're so willing to take it away? That's horrible!" Kayala might have walked away if it hadn't been for two things. First of all, she was in the middle of nowhere and there wasn't anywhere to walk to. Second of all, well, she had a point to prove and she wasn't planning on leaving until she had proven it.
Uriel saw how troubled she was over the fact that he planned on killing the bandits. "If I don't stop them, they will go on to kill others. If I were to spare them they would move to another area and start killing there. Even if I turned them over to the law they would be hung." It was a cold thing to say but it was true.
Kayala was riled up now. "How do you know they will kill others? We can hurt them without killing them! If nothing else, just make it so they can't fight. Injure their arms or something. But killing them is just inhumane. The-there has to be another way!" At this point, Kayala more pleading that there was than stating it. She would rather chase the bandits to the end of the world, making sure that they didn't hurt anyone, than kill them. Life itself was a miracle and she wasn't planning on destroying it.
"Kayala" Uriel paused trying to find the right words, "killing is like an addiction, once you have killed someone, you will eventually kill again." He turned away from the young woman. He knew what he was about to do would destroy his humanity, if not drive him completely insane. But he had to do it to protect the villagers, to protect everyone, for that he was willing to send himself down a road of self destruction.
"Life is precious and should be cherished, but at what point does one life become important enough to risk countless other lives?" it was a question that he himself had answered once when talking to a retired soldier, 'no one life is more important than many other lives' was the answer he gave, the soldier laughed and proceeded to lecture him on the greater good, the one thing he got from that lecture was the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one. and right now an entire village needed those bandits gone. and Uriel was willing to oblige.
"Then how many bandits are there? What if there are more bandits than villagers? Death is not the only way to stop them from killing. Like I said, you could injure their arms. Though that option seems a little brutal, it is better than dying. Or you could curse them. There are various curses that could stop them. And you said that once someone kills they will kill more. What about you? Have you killed before? Are you planning on killing every single person who does something bad? Every single person who kills? Then are you going to kill yourself!?" At this point, Kayala was almost screaming. Realizing she was starting to get too harsh, she took a deep breath and calmed herself down. A little. "I will stop you if I have to. With my life. Will I just become one more person who you had to kill?"
Kayala had never run into a situation like this before. She had run into bandits. She had run into travelers. She had run into bandits wanting to kill the travelers. But she had never run into travelers wanting to kill the bandits. But just as she had always managed to stop the bandits from killing the travelers, Kayala was planning on stopping the traveler from killing the bandits.
Uriel spoke calmly, "did you just hear yourself? Placing a curse on them. Maiming them. How is that less inhuman then a quick, painless passing? As for myself, I am no exception to the addiction to murder, and no I have not killed before." Uriel understood her reasoning. But she was being a bit drastic. There was no guarantee that he would be able to kill the bandits, they could easily kill him.
Uriel looked away. "Thank you for the sandwich Miss Kayala. Maybe someday I can repay you for your kindness." Uriel stood up and walked into the clearing. He spread his wings, preparing to take flight.
"Wait!" Kayala yelled quickly. "At least give them a chance! If... if this is really what it comes down to, take me with you. I could talk to them. Convince them to stop killing. If they kill me, that's my fault. But at least let me try. And if I need to... well, I know a few curses that may help our situation. But I'd rather not use them. Not if I can avoid it. Especially if there are a lot of people." Looking at his wings, which now seemed tainted to her since she knew his true personality, she answered his previous question. "I have been in the air before. Most my village people have wings so they've flown me places. I promise you I won't get air-sick. Just take me with you." Kayala knew she only had one way to stop him if he started to fly. Since she was stupid enough not to keep her bow and arrows for the journey through a treeless place, she would have to use her blood magic. But she only knew a few attack spells that weren't forbidden and even those she was wary to use. Her blood was a miracle and miracles shouldn't be used to hurt others. But what was she supposed to do if by hurting one she would be helping many others? But by helping many others she might be hurting loads more.
Oh Gods, thought Kayala. Give me a sign. Any sign. Please!
Uriel knelt. "Rest your body weight between my wings and hang onto my neck." Why am I doing this? If the young woman wanted to stop him, her ultimate chance was now. Dear Gods protect me from harm, I strive to protect and serve, I know not selfishness nor pride, grant me strength and grant me freedom. In the name of the Almighty, Amen. With the prayer made within his mind, he suddenly felt hopefully that he would survive and overcome.
Kayala did as Uriel told her. But even though he had agreed to take her with him, he hadn't agreed not to kill anyone. Of course... that was assuming the bandits were there. Maybe they weren't. But just in case they were, Kayala decided to continue her conversation.
"You know, maybe they just want money. If we pay them enough, they'll stop. That would be a nice and peaceful solution, right? It would be like a truce! The villagers would be safe and the bandits would be safe. It would be perfect!" Kayala had earned quite a bit working as a healer. Even though she didn't like collecting money people gave her for simply mending wounds, sometimes they insisted she keep it. And since situations like this arise, she usually ended up taking it.
Taking off, Uriel was in the air ten minutes before he spotted the cave mentioned by the bandit he spared. "even if you gave them all the money you had their greed would make them desire more." Landing about fifty feet from the cave. He then knelt again so Kayala could easily climb off his back. So far there was no sign of life.
Good, thought Kayala. I don't see anyone. Getting off of Uriel, Kayala decided to ignore his statement. It probably wasn't too good to talk in case there were still people here. Instead, she started heading towards the cave.
Uriel walked straight into the cave, sword drawn. It was a shallow cave and not a single sign of life. This is odd, something isn't right here. walking to the very back of the cave he found an even more troubling sight. Drawn in red at the very back of the cave, was a skull wrapped in chains. Uriel Immediately recognized the symbol. "KAYALA RUN!!!!! IT"S A TRAP!!!" Uriel shouted as he sprinted to the opening of the cave. But his fear had become reality. Standing at the mouth of the cave was a fully armored figure, his armor was littered with glowing ward signs, meaning magic was out of the question. The armor-clad figure had two swords drawn and a war-hammer strapped to his back.
A rough laugh echoed from the figure, "it's my lucky day, the target fell for the trap and brought along a pretty young miss. She should fetch a good price.
"Kayala stay back, this man is in the human trafficking business. His armor makes him impervious to magic and he would rather kill us then let us leave this cave freely."
"Hehe. So you know about us huh? Well I'm just the muscle. Yes I will kill you if you don't come quietly."
"If you come near her I shall stab you through the heart" Uriel growled.
"I'd like to see you try mate. My armor is made from dragon hide, there is no chance for you flimsy sword to penetrate it."
"Kayala, stay behind me."
Although Kayala didn't like the way Uriel was treating her like a damsel in distress, Kayala was defenseless so she didn't say anything. Giving the man in front of her a quick scan, Kayala said, "Uriel... do you have a plan? Dragon hide truly is impenetrable and if you can't use magic, then what are you going to do?" If it weren't for the fact they were in a cave, they wouldn't have a problem simply flying away. Since she didn't have her arrows she couldn't shoot and run. "Try for the eye," she murmured. "Eyes are always weak."
Uriel was considering his options. He could offer his complacency for Kayala's freedom, which was unlikely to work. Or he could go all out in a blaze of glory, which it was unlikely that he would survive but maybe he could get an opening for Kayala to get away. Sheathing his sword, he approached the man. "I will submit..."
"that's good" was the armored mans cool reply.
Uriel was close to the man, who sheathed his swords and pulled out a wizards chain. That was when he attacked, "I will submit when I'm dead!!" Uriel grabbed the wizards chain and jumped behind the armored man, wrapping the chain around his neck. As the ends of the enchanted chain touched, it pulled tight, tighter than any noose. and the man died instantly as his neck snapped
"Kayala there are bound to be more nearby, we need to go." He knelt so she could climb onto his back.
Taking small steps backwards, Kayala exclaimed, "You... You killed him! I said no killing!"
Scrambling around, Kayala knew there was only one hope for the man. Grabbing one of his swords, Kayala slit a four inch line along her forearm. Letting the blood flow freely to the ends of her fingertips, Kayala opened his mouth so she could let the blood drip into it. Since the wound wasn't a cut of some sort, the blood would have to do its work from inside out.
Please, Kayala thought, Please Gods, let him live! He was a horrible man, but no one deserves to die. Her white blood kept flowing out of her cut, into his mouth.
Nothing happened.
"Kayala, we need to go." Uriel watched as other human traffickers started entering the clearing in front of the cave, some as heavily armed as the man he just killed. "Kayala I had no choice. There were only three ways that it would have played out, him dying, me dying, or you becoming a sex slave. But if we don't leave now his death will have been for nothing."
Taking one last look at the man who just died, Kayala stood up and wiped her arm against her shorts. If she lost much more blood she would faint. Her sight was already getting hazy.
Turning her head back and forth, Kayala whispered, "Uriel? I think... I think I'm going faint." Taking a few steps forwards, Kayala was going to run for it. She had already lost feeling in her arm. But then her legs buckled and she fell onto the ground. "Crap... don't kill anyone else." Kayala fainted.
After three days and a few hundred miles, Uriel finally it was safe to rest. Setting the still unconscious Kayala on the ground. He set a small fire then finally sat back and relaxed. His wings burned and were sore all over from flying longer then he knew he could handle, but he had done it. He had gotten them away from the human traffickers without killing anyone else. "Okay Kayala, it's time for you to wake up."
I can see the light... thought Kayala. I know this dream. The sun is so bright. And that flower... that gorgeous flower... it's beautiful. Looking down at herself, Kayala admired her tan skin. No red marking yet. Of course not. I'm only a baby. My skin... it's getting lighter. The flower... it's losing its beauty! What's happening?!
Quickly sitting up, Kayala gasped. Every time that dream started, she knew what was going to happen. Every time it ended, she was in panic. And it happened every time she lost blood. Looking up at the sky, Kayala used her hand to block some of the sun's light. It was still so bright.
Looking towards Uriel, Kayala asked, "What happened?"
Uriel was relieved that she was up. "You collapsed, and I got us out of there." Uriel kept it simple, who knew what was going through Kayala's head. "Lay back down Kayala, you've been unconscious for three days." Uriel got up and brought her some assorted fruit, "eat these because I'm guessing your hungry."
"Three days..." repeated Kayala. "That's not too bad. I did do a lot of healing that day." She passed by a village earlier that day and healed for the town. Lost a lot of blood in her right arm, too.
Doing as Uriel said and laying down, Kayala turned both her arms over so she could see the bottom sides of her forearms. Scars ran along both of them. But the scars were both almost gone. Grabbing an apple, Kayala said, "Do these mean there are trees nearby? And you eat, too. Thanks, by the way, for saving me. But... aren't you going to ask any questions?" People always were curious about her and her white blood.
"I've already eaten." Uriel went back and sat down, "it isn't my place to ask questions. You will tell me if you feel I need to know." Uriel kept fully extending his wings then pulling them in. In an effort to keep the soreness from setting in.
Not knowing what to say in return, Kayala simply stood up and finally looked around. Seeing trees, she walked over towards them as quickly as she could without feeling faint. Finding a nice branch and some twine and rocks, Kayala could finally made her bow. And, with more branches and more rocks, arrows. Bringing her collection of materials back to where Uriel was sitting, Kayala started crafting.
"My blood is a miracle. It's my life. That's the simplest way to put it. But... if you have any questions, feel free to ask. You saved my life, too. I owe you. And although I don't feel I'm heavy, carrying me around for three days must have been hard. Nobody in my village could have done that. No way. So if you're cut or tired or sore or anything, I should be able to help. Just so you know." Yoreiqi couldn't maintain flight for very long at all. Even though she doubted he flew the entire time, it still should've taken its toll on him. But she also didn't want to press. Especially when he wasn't pressing her about anything at all.
"Making a bow?" Uriel opened his chainmail vest had pulled out his recurve bow. "It's a recurve bow with a draw strength of 80 pounds and enchanted flax bowstring." Uriel drew back the string and an arrow formed in the notched position. When he released, the arrow flew through the air embedded itself in a tree then disappeared after a few seconds. "I think you will use it more than I will so I want you to have it" and he laid the bow in front of her. Uriel wouldn't admit that his wings were extremely sore and burned.
Admiring the bow, Kayala picked up it. It was a little heavier than she was used to but that wouldn't take long too get used to. It was a small price for such a fine treasure.
"Are you sure I can have this? Such a thing must be worth a fortune. Ah! Although I don't have a fortune, I do have some stuff." Sticking her entire arm into her bottomless bag, Kayala pulled out some gold coins and handed them to Uriel. "A richer family gave these to me for healing their son. And this," Kayala said while passing him a few vials full of milky-looking substance, "should help you if you're ever injured. It's just water mixed with my blood and some herbs. The herbs are just so it doesn't taste as weird. It should help you if you don't find it gross drinking blood... if it helps at all, my blood technically came from a plant." Still feeling like she should offer more to him after all he had done for her, Kayala asked, "Is there anything else you want? I'll do my best to get whatever it is. If I don't already have it somewhere in this endless bag."
Kayala was desperately thinking of what else she may have earned or bought that she could give him. If the bag wasn't bottomless, she would've emptied it out and gone through the stuff. Sadly, a bottomless bag couldn't be emptied.
Uriel took the vials and put them in his vest. "Actually there is something I want. I want you to go back to Yoreiq, at least for a little while, I don't want to run the risk of the Traffickers going after you because I killed one of their men. And I'd like to go with you."
"Back to Yoreiq?! But I just left! Don't worry about the Traffickers—I've threatened a lot of people and am still alive and healthy today. I'm good at escaping if necessary. But I mean... it's one thing if you want me to take you to Yoreiq. It's a whole other thing if you want me to stay there. I left to spread miracles. I'm not planning on going back for another couple years. Not until I've at least helped the world more."
Kayala was torn between helping more people and keeping her promise to Uriel. She said she would help him with whatever, and this was what he wanted help with. And, on the way, they could still help people. People were always in need. But she wanted to continue north. To go to Thanatos. Her magic (and looks) would probably fit in more there. Although people practiced blood magic in Yoreiq, Kayala also wanted to learn necromancy. She wouldn't fight with blood magic, and, like a few days ago, she didn't always have her bow. So it would be nice to have a different kind of magic she could fight with. Of course, she also wanted to take to necromancers to figure out how exactly their magic affected the things they summoned. Kayala had heard controversial things before, but she had never actually talked to a necromancer. So where would she go? Yoreiq? Thanatos? Somewhere else? Kayala had no idea.
"I'm not saying you stay there for several years, a month or two, three at the max. Mainly it's to make sure the traffickers lose interest in you. I got you into danger by taking you into that cave, and I intend on getting you out, completely out." Uriel knew how persistent Human traffickers could be, he also knew what happened to the people they kidnapped, able bodied men were forced to fight to the death against animals and other men. woman were sold as sex slaves. If that happened to Kayala, Uriel would go on a warpath. "Please, Just for a few months. Then I will personally escort you wherever you wish to go."
Kayala only needed a little push to get her to go back to her home country. Uriel gave her that push. "Fine. I'll go. But I won't promise I'll stay for long." Kayala stood up, put her bag back on, and looked at the bow. "We should get going... but first, I wanna try this thing out."
Pulling the string far back, Kayala noticed how much stronger it was compared to her normal twine bows. She let go the second after the arrow appeared. Kayala watched as it spiraled in the air before it landed a few inches above where Uriel's arrow landed earlier. "Crap," she muttered, "I missed." Pulling the string back once more, Kayala let her arm become an extension of the arrow. She was part of the bow. The bow was part of her. This time, after she let go, the arrow implanted itself exactly where Uriel's arrow was. "Good. Let's go."
Uriel got up and kicked dirt over the small fire. "You never mentioned where Yoreiq was so If you would be so kind as to lead the way" realizing that he had flown/carried her quite a bit of ways while she was unconscious, "that trail will take us to a small port and that one will take us to a trading port." That was all he knew of the area so it was all he could offer.
"What?" asked Kayala. "Me... lead the way? I have no idea where we are. I can barely make it from one village to the next with a map. Oh wait. I have a map." Taking off her bag and opening it up, Kayala grabbed the map of the world she had bought when she left Yoreiq. Handing it to Uriel, Kayala said, "Will this help you? I get the feeling you'll be able to better use it than me."
Kayala had never used a map before she left her village a few months ago. She never needed to. Growing up, she knew how to get to everywhere she needed. Now, even though she had been using the map to go everywhere, she still had troubles using it and sometimes ended up in the middle of no where.
Uriel took the map and studied it for a few minutes. "So Yoreiq is across the sea. Well then I Guess we better go to the trading port. Do you feel okay to walk? I mean you did just wake up." Uriel was only trying to be kind.
"Hm? I'm perfectly fine. I guess my body has gotten used to losing blood... I recover way quicker now," Kayala explained. "To the trading port it is!"
After looking around briefly, Kayala found the trail Uriel had mentioned earlier. She set her new bow in her bag and started walking along it. "Do you want to lead?" she asked Uriel. She would feel more comfortable following than being followed. After being chased by so many people, Kayala simply didn't like the feeling of having someone behind her.
"Eh?" Uriel hadn't expected that,"sure I can lead." He started down the trail. "You know the thing about bows? It's how you carry them. You put your arm and head through the bow and have the string across your chest. It makes it easier to get to when you need it and if it weren't for my wings, I too would have carried it like that."
Laughing, Kayala responded, "I know how to carry a bow! But I'm not going to walk around town with a weapon on me. Attracts bad attention. Plus, carrying it that way is uncomfortable." And although Uriel did have a point about it being easier to access if it was on her back, it was also harder to walk and run that way.
Following Uriel, Kayala asked, "How far away is the port? Do you know?"
"It's about a four hour walk, this trail will double back on itself several times as it makes its way down to the coast." Wondering about her bag, "hey, you stuck your whole arm in your small bag. What kind of enchantment does it have on it and where can I get myself one?" Uriel said with a slight chuckle.
"Only four hours? I was expecting a couple of days. That's not too bad. And it's a bottomless bag. My village gave it to me when I left... so I have no idea where you can get one. Sorry!"
After walking for a few minutes in silence, Kayala asked, "So... do you have any adventures to tell or something? We might as well get to know each other."
"Well" Uriel thought about it for a few seconds, "I'm afraid I don't." He didn't want to talk about when he woke up on an upside down crucifix. It was kind of taboo thing to mention. "What about yourself?"
"Adventures? Not really. Only thing really worth mentioning is my birth. After that, my life was pretty normal for a Yoreiqi. Although I did hunt instead of forage and stuff—most girls don't. I also learned blood magic... There might actually be some interesting stories." Thinking about her past, Kayala started to feel a little nostalgic. "I guess there are a few good stories relating to blood magic. Anyway, I just left Yoreiq a few months ago so I haven't been travelling that long." And now she was heading back.
"What entails the life of a Yoreiqi? I mean what Is life like that far off the mainland?" Uriel had never heard of Yoreiq four days ago. so he was quite curious
"Life in Yoreiq? I reckon it's the same as anywhere. We simply live. I mean, after you're born, the village takes care of you. Usually men go hunting and women forage, but there's no law to say it can't be otherwise. There are always women, like me, who hunt and men who forage. Once one turns fifteen they get these tattoos over their body." Kayala paused to show him her new tattoos. "Many Yoreiqi's have wings... some villages have more people with wings than others. In my village, it is rare for one not to have wings."
After a moment of silence, Kayala said, "Ah, that reminds me, when you see other Yoreiqi's, they won't exactly look anything like me. Except for the tattoos. So don't be surprised." Before she had gotten her tattoos, foreigners always thought that she was a traveler—that she wasn't a Yoreiqi. After she got her tattoos, they were just plain confused. But Kayala had grown up to embrace her different appearance... after all, it was a small price to pay for a miracle.
"Mhmm, well are customs different there then they are here, what kind of monetary system is there?" That was the kind of stuff Uriel wanted to know, "also do the people there look anything like me? Besides the wings."
"Monetary system?" asked Kayala, confused. "What does that mean? And, um, you're a little shorter than most Yoreiqi's. I'm really short. So, yeah... Oh, and Yoreiqi's also go topless."
Although Kayala had grown to love her mini-top, she had to admit she was kind of happy that she wouldn't have to wear it all the time anymore once she got to Yoreiq. After all, she only started wearing it so she wouldn't attract attention. More attention.
"Monetary system, you know? Money?" The next bit struck him as odd, "even women?"
"Money? There isn't money in Yoreiq. What belongs to one member of a village belongs to all. Yoreiqi's are masters of sharing. After all, why create greed and economical troubles when everything can just be free and simple? And yes, even women. I never quite understood why that idea seems to strange to foreigners..." Picking up the pace a little, Kayala asked, "Is there anything else you want to know?"
Even....women...."Well foreigners might think it weird because here, we want women to be fully clothed at all times, some men consider...breast...sacred to the woman. I never understood that point of veiw, but if you were to walk around topless you would cause a mass disturbance."
Laughing, Kayala said, "I learned that the first day of traveling. Although it was kind of worth it just to see the look of shock and horror on everybody's faces... But I don't need that much attention. Especially when people won't let me heal their kids unless I put something on." She laughed again. "Are there any 'strange' customs where you come from?"
Now it was about to get complicated. "Well, I do- I don't remember my past" Uriel had no ideal why he stuttered, "one morning I just woke up." On a crucifix.
"Well unless that morning was four days ago, you must have some kind of history. What happened after you woke up?" Kayala didn't want to push too hard, but she was curious. Not too many people just 'wake up.'
I screamed for several hours trying to get someone's attention. "I was very disorient and it took me a while to be able to stand." Took me a while to get the bondage that held me to the crucifix undone. "After that I just started walking, doing my best not to look back."
"And what about after that? I mean, how did you end up in the middle of nowhere a few days ago?" Kayala hadn't meant immediately after he woke up with the last question. Not that she didn't care. But how did someone go from 'waking up' to chasing bandits?
"Well Every village I came to there was stuff to be done, people to help. So I just did anything and everything I could to help. and that would be anywhere from free labor, to escort services. I just did whatever I could. At that last village everyone was oppressed by what I thought was a gang of bandits. so I set out to rectify the situation." Then it turned out to be a trap.
"That makes sense. So... what are you travelling for now? Just wandering about or is there a reason for your journey?" Kayala knew some people wandered just to wander, but most people had some kind of goal in mind. For her, it was to spread miracles.
"I'm more or less just wandering. Trying to figure out about myself. I mean four days ago I thought my wings were as rare as they come." Four days ago he had never had problems with human traffickers. Four days ago he hadn't killed someone.
"They aren't common if you aren't Yoreiqi. Or so I've noticed. What are your plans after we arrive in Yoreiq?" Kayala assumed they weren't going sightseeing. Plus, there weren't too many famous places to go in Yoreiq. Usually foreigners just came to see the villages. That was a special occasion in Yoreiq.
"Well I'm going to try and fit in and help out however I can. You know, try not to be a freeloader." Uriel almost felt like he would be imposing on the Yoreiqi people. But surely there was an inn he could pay to sleep at.
Laughing Kayala said, "If you want to fit in you're gonna have to get rid of me. I look less Yoreiqi than you, and you don't look Yoreiqi. I mean, your skin is pretty light, your eyes are green, and you're short. But you have those wings to support you. And if you get tattoos, well, that might help. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about being a freeloader. No one in Yoreiq will think you're a freeloader."
Although Kayala had always loved foreigners as much as other Yoreiqi, she had seen a lot of foreigners after leaving Yoreiq. So they didn't seem quite as special anymore. But other Yoreiqi... they would worship him. Smiling, Kayala wondered how he'd deal with all that attention.
"Well, lets get there first." They broke though the tree line that began the long winding trail down to the coast. "You know, it will be a long walk, or a quick flight. That's up to you though."
Kayala only hesitated for a second before responding. "Flight. Unless your wings are sore. I mean, walking is fine, too. But I'd rather this trip go as quick as possible. Not that I don't want to be with you. Ugh, this is all coming out wrong!"
After taking a second to regain her thoughts, Kayala redid her response and said, "You choose."
"Flight it is then." No matter how bad his wings hurt, Uriel couldn't stay away from the air. He knelt so Kayala could climb onto his back.
Climbing onto Uriel's back, Kayala wondered how she was ever afraid of flying. She had no memory of it, but apparently she used to cry whenever she was flown somewhere. Now she loved it. Loved the feeling of the air flowing through her hair. Loved the feeling of being so high in the sky. Loved the feeling of being free.
Once Kayala was comfortably on his back, Uriel started to run, gaining momentum. Then he brought his wings down and gained thrust, achieving flight. Uriel angled his wings towards the trading port, and decided to glide.
Holding onto Uriel's tight, Kayala resisted the urge to simply let go. She knew he would catch her. People always did. But since they weren't above the water, she continued resisting the urge. Instead, she settled with lifting her head up higher and feeling the wind against her face.
Gliding was easier for Uriel, especially when he had someone in tow. When the breeze coming off the ocean hit them, they really gained height. Uriel loved the wind rushing through his wings. Within a few moments they were drawing close to the trade port, and soon Uriel landed then knelt so Kayala could get off.
Happy to see water, Kayala hopped off of Uriel's back and watched as the waves crashed upon the beach. Seeing a boat nearby, Kayala turned towards Uriel and asked, "Are we leaving right away or are we going to look around town for a little bit first?"
Uriel though about it for a second, "well I doubt that there will be a boat leaving right this minute, so we should probably see into that." Looking around, Uriel saw several large trade ships and a few passenger ships. "Maybe one of these will be headed for Yoreiq?"
Nodding in response to Uriel's comment, Kayala ran up to the ships. Not seeing anyone nearby, she turned to Uriel. "What should we do? I don't see anyone around here." Gazing back at the ships, Kayala realized how big some of them were in comparison to the one that she had left Yoreiq with. They seemed so... majestic.
"Well there should be a port officer around here somewhere, he should know what ship is going where we just have to find him." Looking around Uriel saw no one other than Kayala. "Maybe we should wait here and see if he shows up?"
Taking what Uriel said to the extreme, Kayala sat down and put her bag on her lap. Pulling out some black cloth and thread, she started sewing. She needed some newer shorts and sewing was a good thing to waste time with.
Remembering that she wasn't alone, Kayala looked up at Uriel and asked, "Do you want anything? I have a lot of things in my bag so there is probably something that can occupy you... if you want."
Uriel sat beside Kayala and pulled out his sharpening stone, then drew his sword. "No thanks, I'm fine." He began sharpening his sword. He pondered what people would think as they saw the two of them. One light skin covered in tattoos, one lightly tanned with wings.
Kayala sat in silence by Uriel for a little while before she saw a man approach in the distance. It was strange... how silent this town was. But someone was coming and that person might be able to help them. Glancing over to Uriel, she motioned for him to talk to the stranger.
Uriel got up and approached the man. "You wouldn't happen to be the port officer would you?"
"No I'm the captain of the trade ship Andromeda"
"Where is your vessel headed next, Captain?"
"To Yoreiq, why?"
"My friend and I are trying to get passage to Yoreiq. Is it at all possible that we could buy our way onto your vessel"
"I don't see why not" the captain said with a shrug.
Uriel handed over his coin purse, "fifty gold pieces, twenty-five for her, twenty-five for me"
"It's a deal" the captain said shoving the coin purse in his pocket.
Uriel walked over to Kayala, "let's go find the Andromeda."
((OOC: I think this is a good place to end this thread. We can pick up a new one in the Yoreiq area))