Dragons and Danishes

[kleineklementine]

"I didn't say you were lazy. And I certainly never asked you to fight! You did that all on your own." Ashra snapped back. While Ife may or may not have a temper, the same could not be said for the dragonrider. And when the stacked wood so far collapsed in a domino effect, he just dropped his armload of firewood on the fallen pyre then turned on Ife.

"I'm sure you're a very good baker and that's fine. I wouldn't ask a baker - any baker - fight unless it was absolutely necessary. What I asked you to do was unarm dead bodies. Dead. You don't have to fight the dead. But you said you couldn't do it because you were a woman. I fail to see how that has anything to do with your ability to gather the supplies that your caravan needs. And saying that you can't do something because you aren't a man, that is lazy. Is that the message you want to send to that little girl back there?' He gestured in the general direction the caravan had gone. Ashra knew that he should just shut up, but this woman was just so annoying. "I kept back 'the baker' because she was the one who endangered that child, something I certainly didn't ask her to do! And did it occur to you that maybe I didn't keep any of the guards because the rest of your caravan needs those guards? Should everyone else go on with less protection and risk reprisal from the bandits just because the 'baker' doesn't want to touch a dead body?"

Ashra turned back to the pyre, turning his back to Ife, and began rebuilding the firewood around the heap of dead bodies. He was going to have words with Lyra about this volunteer work. Stupid, backward-thinking Serenians!

[Rhindeer]

"Of course I don't want to touch dead bodies! I've never even seen a dead person! It's...it's gruesome!" Ife said, throwing up her hands. "Maybe it's not a big deal to you, seeing as how you killed them all without batting an eye, but it is to me! I'm not a soldier! A bunch of people just tried to kill us and then I saw them die and--and one of them died on top of me! I was looking into his eyes when he..."

She covered her mouth with her hand, feeling queasy again as the memory flooded back to her. She had to pause and take a few deep breaths before she could open her mouth without feeling something other than words would spill out.

"I'm just saying perhaps men are more used to this sort of thing," she said with a huff.

[kleineklementine]

"You're unbelievable," Ashra declared as he finished arranging the wood for the pyre and finally lit the mound. The flames slowly licked up the side of the small twigs on their way to the larger branches. In other circumstances, Ashra might actually admire Ife's stubbornness and tenacity. But right now he was too busy thinking that she was stupid, and that he was right. And wishing that he had held somebody else back! Was she going to be like this the entire time? Why couldn't she just say, 'Oh, you're right, I hadn't thought of it like that! Next time I'll think twice about what I can or can't do and maybe challenge myself more!' It was so easy! She'd grow as a person. Be more self-reliant, stronger, more independent.

If only she'd just listen to him!

"And if you think those men were going to kill you, you would have been in for an unpleasant surprise," he snorted, turning and began collecting the valuables they'd taken from the raiders as the fire started to take. "But next time, I'll be sure to ask after everyone's constitution before intervening. 'Sorry, excuse me, you all seem like you're in a bit of a jam,'" he said in an overdone polite tone, dripping with sarcasm, "'but I don't want to make anyone feel queasy or uncomfortable. Is it okay if I help you out here? I'd hate to upset any delicate young ladies.' Shall I start that way next time?"

He didn't wait for her answer before throwing the collected goods into Ife's cart. "Come on, if you didn't like it up to now, you're really not going to like the smell if we stick around here."

Then Ashra hefted the weapons they'd taken from the raiders in his own arms and added them to the cart, with her pastries and pies. He didn't seem too concerned about how the bloody and soiled weapons would mix with her wares. Maybe he didn't think about it. Or maybe he had thought about it, and did it just to spite her. He'd never say.

[Rhindeer]

Ife stared at Ashra as he mocked her, and then spun away from him, tugging at her hair in frustration.

"Oh! You are SO RUDE!" she shouted, surprising even herself. She had always thought of herself as patient and mild-mannered, but in record time, this man had pushed her to the edge of her patience and beyond! Maybe if she hadn't just a horribly traumatizing experience, she would have been able to tolerate him better without succumbing to his taunts, but her nerves were frayed, and his insults just poked and prodded those exposed nerves in a way she couldn't ignore.

"You're absolutely insufferable! And mean! And you keep twisting every little thing I say! It's like you just want to be mean to someone and--"

That was when her eyes fell on the cart, and she noticed exactly where he'd tossed those bloodied weapons.

Whatever pastries hadn't been wrecked in the raid were now officially destroyed.

Ife's mouth dropped open in horror, and she turned on Ashra and pointed at the cart, his warning about the growing fire forgotten.

She didn't even have the words to say what was wrong with this picture. She just.

She couldn't believe this.

[kleineklementine]

Ashra actually laughed at Ife's outburst as he walked around to the front of the cart and gave the ox a swift smack on its rump. The beast made a groaning noise at being woken from its respite, then slowly began to trundle down the dusty caravan road.

"Oh yeah, I'm awful," he agreed. "And you're such a sweet little peach of a thing. I really admire how you rise to every challenge that comes your way. It's inspiring."

He said all of this while walking the oxen down the street. He never actually turned around to see the gawking Ife staring in horror at her cart.

"Come on, then," he called back, his voice no longer taunting, but not exactly 'nice,' either. "We'll get you back to the rest of your group and you can spend the rest of the days until we get to Ravensway avoiding me." However the last bit came out, he meant it in some form of genuine... kindness, maybe. In truth, Ashra sympathized with the shock Ife had. And he didn't actually want everyone to be 'used to' dealing with death and violence. He didn't really like it himself. But the whole point of being a dragon rider was so others wouldn't have to deal with it. But the woman just made it so hard to actually be sympathetic to her! At this point, Ashra wasn't sure he knew how to make anything come out kindly instead of gratingly.

Stupid dragon. This was all her fault. 'We'll escort you all the way to Ravensway,' he parroted his dragon's voice in his head, scowling to himself. He was going to have a word or two for Lyra once they got back with the others.

[Rhindeer]

And now he was leaving without her.

Just taking the cart and leading it along, without even waiting to see that she was coming.

Without even looking at her.

Without even noticing what he had done.

With another frustrated tug at her hair, Ife took off after him. "I look forward to that," she said between breaths, because she wasn't used to running, and she had to run to catch up. She fell into stride near him, but kept just a little behind him. Not out of some sort of respect for men or whatever nonsense he might believe, but because she just didn't want to walk beside the rude brute.

"Because yes. You are behaving in a most awful manner. Did you even see what you did? You just destroyed my goods! Whatever the raiders didn't ruin, you just did! I really appreciate it, that was very kind and thoughtful of you." And despite it, she couldn't even muster up the energy to be as angry about that as she felt she should be, because this entire situation was so exasperating, it didn't even surprise her that it had happened!

[kleineklementine]

Her goods? Ashra hadn't really thought about what was in the cart when he hauled the loot from the raiders in there. But whose fault was that? If she'd just been cooperative and less... less... childish!, Ashra would have been able to put everything away with a clear head! Plus if she didn't want her goods ruined, she could have put the loot in the cart herself! Like he asked her to in the first place!

Ashra gave a frustrated exhale through his nose. He was just here trying to help!

The dragon rider glanced back at Ife. She was exhausting! Letting out a long sigh of exasperation, or maybe a groan, he turned to look back at her.

"I'm sorry about your goods," he told her, sounding more worn down than apologetic. But it was clearly something of a white flag. He was sorry that her goods were ruined, that was true. But Ashra wasn't entirely convinced it was really his fault! "You're right, I wasn't thinking. You can keep some of the gold from the raiders as compensation. Fair?"

Maybe, Ashra thought, giving in was the easiest way to get this woman to shut up! The sooner they were back with the others the better!

[Rhindeer]

"It's not fair, but it'll have to do," Ife said with a frown. "I don't really have much of a choice, and this will really put a dent in my--wait. Gold? Did you say gold?"

Now she picked up her pace to catch up with Ashra so she could walk beside him. "I mean. That is to say. I suppose it'll have to do. It's not like I have much of a choice, since you did ruin my goods, and...how much gold are we talking about, anyway?"

[kleineklementine]

Ashra gave a derisive snort of laughter at how quickly Ife's tune changed. 'Gold? Did you say gold?' Well, everyone was the same in the end, weren't they. When it came down to brass tacks. Or in this case gold coins.

He choked back any barbed comments to that extent, and turned to look at her. "How much were your goods worth?" he asked. "Remembering, of course, that many goods were ruined and whatever you keep will come out of the communal pot, as it were. But I don't think we should downplay the importance of pies, so! You tell me."

Well, he mostly kept out his barbed comments.

[Rhindeer]

Oooh, now he'd gone and done it.

Ife shot Ashra a dark look. "Do you eat bread, Ashra?"

[kleineklementine]

"Oh, can't be picky in this lifestyle," he answered airily, clearly trying to avoid the point she was clearly driving at. "I eat pretty much anything."

But he glanced over to see her dark look, not that he really needed to see it to know it was there. "Alright," he asked her, "how much gold do you need to get a few sacks of flour and yeast, so you can go about the selfless act of feeding the world with your bread and pies?"

Wait, hadn't Ashra decided to stop fighting with her? He was pretty sure that only a minute ago he'd offered to compensate her for her wares as an actual act of goodwill. He actually... well, he had actually... felt badly for her, hadn't he? Why did all of that go out the window the moment she opened her mouth!

[Rhindeer]

Ife stared at Ashra and lifted both hands, fingers clenching in a throttling motion, before she let out a loud, exasperated huff of I just can't EVEN with you! Her frustration was becoming a transcendental thing! Words, at this point, were just too limiting an expression!

"You...you...!" She let her arms drop with a frustrated sound, then pointed at him. "You know what?! Forget it! I don't need your gold! It's all...it's all covered in blood and death anyway! So keep it. I can make do without you and your attitude. And I will!"

[kleineklementine]

Ashra made a scoffing noise.

"Don't be stupid. It's not my gold. I won't keep any of it, if that's what you're thinking. Everyone else will take what they need, and you should, too."

For a moment he was able to leave it at that, but before he could help it, he was also saying, "Plus, I'm sure some pies would really lift everybody's spirits."

[Rhindeer]

Why did he have to do the thing where he almost seemed like he could be halfway decent, but then in the next breath was awful?! Ife threw her hands up in aggravation.

"You know what? They might! They might have lifted some spirits if someone hadn't come along and ruined what wasn't already ruined by being an inconsiderate oaf! You know they're more than just pies, right? They're magic! Some of those would have lifted someone's spirits, literally! Likely someone who really needed it! That could have really helped tonight after the horrors everyone saw, but what would I know about anything!"

Ife picked up her pace, trying to get ahead of him now.

[kleineklementine]

Well, of course he didn't know they were magic pies! How would he ever have guessed that they were anything other than what they looked like? Ashra thought it was a pretty unfair thing to be upset about. She never said they were magic, did she? She couldn't really expect anyone to guess that!

Ashra huffed, and let her walk on ahead of him for the rest of the trip back to the others. He stayed behind with the oxen, keeping the beast moving. By the time they'd caught up with the rest of the caravan, they were setting up camp for the night. With the dragon Lyra amongst them, there was little fear of the raiders returning now.

Lyra was talking amicably with one of the elders in the caravan and looked up to see a very huffy Ife storm in followed by a rather grumpy looking Ashra. "I see you thoroughly charmed the lady," she quipped at her rider when Ashra came up to her.

The dragon rider was about to make a choice response when the little girl who'd been caught up in the confrontation saw Ashra and ran headlong to him. He put aside his grumpiness, sweeping up the girl as she ran at him and holding her high up in his arms.

"Oh ho, there! It's the little warrior miss!" he laughed as he swept her up. "Didn't have any more problems with raiders while I was gone, I trust? Not with a brave thing like you around to chase them off?" The girl blushed, looking down and shaking her head fervently no. Suddenly possessed by a thought, he asked, "If I give you something, you promise to take care of it and learn to use it?" he asked her. The girl's eyes widened in excitement and she nodded her head even more fervently than she'd shaken it before.

Ashra gave some directions about the plundered weapons to the guards then walked the girl over to Lyra's saddle bags (though she hated them called that!).  Setting her down and found a short wooden sword he'd been making for his nephew. But he'd have time to make Merrin another one. He handed over the sword to the girl with a serious look, her eyes even wider now, "This isn't a toy, do you understand?" She nodded and took the wooden sword with a look of awe. "You learn to use that, and you won't have to wory about raiders."

While Ashra putzed about with the little girl, Lyra moved over to Ife, whose cart was having pastry-smeared weapons loaded out by the two old guards. "I hope," she started cautiously, "that Ashra wasn't too much of a grump with you?"

[Rhindeer]

At least he wasn't a total grouch to the little girl.

Ife watched from where she was helping set up the fire and cooking for the night, frowning. He was such a different person, now! And while she happy he was capable of some kindness, and that that little girl loved him (she had to admit it was kind of adorable--something about seeing rough, rugged warriors turn into puppies around children), it was also so frustrating. Because she knew--she just knew!--no one else in her camp had seen the side of him that she had.

They'd just seen the hero. The hero that's good with children.

Little did they know he was terrible around adults.'

She got the fire started, and then rose to her feet to check on her cart. May as well check up on the damage, since it looked like they were almost done unloading the weapons. Arms folded, she watched, grimacing at the sight of those tools of death smeared with her loving creations. What a juxtaposition...

Lyra's voice surprised her, and when she turned, she was surprised yet again at the sight of the dragon. This was very new to her! She'd never actually interacted with one before, and for a moment she was struck with sheer awe and unable to speak, only able to stare.

At least, until she realized what Lyra had said.

So he wasn't just a grump at her, was that it?

"Oh, don't get me started," Ife said with a dramatic sigh, latching onto the chance to tell someone--even a dragon!--just how awful the last hour or so had been and how unfair everything was. Because she actually did want to get started! "He was terrible. He was rude and mean and insulting at every turn. I know I made a mistake! He took every opportunity to point that out. But he just--"

She took a deep breath. "Is he always like that?"

[kleineklementine]

Lyra couldn't help but chuckling at Ife's description of the events. It was a good-natured sound, though, not so different to the ringing of a deep, bass bell. The dragon glanced back at her rider, who was thankfully still busy with the little girl, showing her how to use the wooden sword. Lyra was sure she'd hear all about the encounter again from him later on.

"'Is he always like that?'" Lyra responded, her voice clearly amused even if her reptilian features were harder to read. "Well, no, not always. But often enough that I'm not surprised by your story. He likes kids," she nodded towards the pair now training outright with wooden swords, "but most of the time he doesn't, ah, play well with others. That's why we're always out ranging instead of back at the Keep with the other dragon riders. Though I think it suits us both."

Lyra twisted her long neck to look into the back of the cart at the smooshed remains of jam and pastry and cream and puff. "I suppose he did this, too?"

[Rhindeer]

Ife followed the dragon's gaze, and gave a soft "hmph!" in response.

"Who else?" she said, trying not to grimace at the sight of all those smooshed goods. So many hours of labor, all gone in moments! "He seemed almost apologetic--at first. Then the sarcasm and insults started slipping back in among the almost-sorries."

She cast a quick look Ashra's way, watching how he trained with the little girl, and then looked back to the dragon. She let out a small sigh. "He had a point, though, buried under all the nastiness. I did make a mistake, and I didn't realize how badly it could have gone. I wasn't thinking! I just saw the child in danger, and him at a standstill, and all I could think was what if the man got tired of waiting and just offed the girl? I panicked! I know I did wrong now and I admitted it, but he seems intent on having me pay for my mistake forever. And worse, I really wanted to like him! He's a hero! He saved my life! I really do owe him that, even though he's been awful, and--am I being unreasonable?"

Not that Lyra had any idea about the details of their arguments!

[kleineklementine]

The dragon listened to Ife's worries with calm, patient amber eyes. She blew a puff of steam out of her nostrils in a gesture that might have been like a snort.

"No, you're not being unreasonable. Ashra can certainly make such things... difficult. I wouldn't take it personally."

She tilted her head then to look directly at Ife, and something fierce joined the calm, warmth of her mannerisms. Not quite a threatening fierceness,. "Don't give yourself a hard time about the girl," she told her firmly. "You acted the best you knew how. And you didn't just watch on helplessly as the child was threatened. We never know how things might go. You should be proud of yourself for acting."

[Rhindeer]

Ife cracked a smile at that, feeling a little better. Weren't dragons supposed to be super wise? Even smarter than humans? Besides, they were also just amazing and so she supposed the opinion of a dragon trumped the opinion of a grouchy, rude man.

"I like you," she said at last, "and not just because you told me what I needed to hear. Though I really do appreciate the second opinion! Do you like sweets, by any chance? Er, can dragons have sweets? I know dogs can't have chocolate or almonds or anything like that, but I'm afraid I know very little about what you can and can't eat!"