(Green plant man violence and goooore)
Tag for Lion. Yay :B.
There was something off about the taste of the air, Adalia decided while she read her book. Her tongue went to her thumb to flip the page easier while she read by the lamp light in the corner of her fathers office. The house was silent except for the occasional page being flipped, the live in maids had gone to bed, her parents were off in some cottage for a blessed few days while they discussed whom she should be married off to.
A flash of light and thunder clapped, rattling the windows. At least that explained why the air tasted just off. It always felt weird out when there was lightning, it made her skin tingle and her hands itch, which was why the book was closed and her fingers went to her palms to rub them.
Adalia was hardly dressed for being up and about. A floor length nighty, her gloves off, her gauntlets off. The opalescent hair was down and hung around her waist in a shimmering curtain, her mother would probably faint if she saw her daughter out of her bedroom like that, even if it was in the dead of night. It being the dead of night didn't explain the faint footsteps coming from the house, like someone was trying to be quiet.
Slowly she stood up, turning the lamp down while she stood up, her bare feet quiet upon the floor. Most of the house had stone or wooden floors with the occasional carpet, which meant the difference between silence and discovery. Still, why would someone be sneaking around the house? Why not walk normally? Frowning slightly when rain began to pour she began to walk faster down the hallway towards the relic room.
It wasn't fancy or anything, a room full of heirlooms that her parents decided were important. A few vases, some jewelry. Nothing very important, which made her curious as to why a maid would be in there at this time at night. Was she stealing? Maybe she was restless and decided to dust? A nightmare and she was restless. It wouldn't be the first time it happened. Rounding the door way, Adalia stood with her arms crossed over her chest and spoke into the darkness.
There was someone in there, which is exactly she was expecting. "Why aren't you sleeping at this time of night?" She said, curious "Is everything okay? Did you have a nightmare?" Except this shadow was a lot taller than her maid. Adalia frowned, let her hands fall to her sides just in case there wasn't a growth spurt in one of the personal maids.
"What a cliché."
Quinlan made a tch! sound when the end of his smoke went out in a hiss. He'd been beneath the roof of a rather posh looking house, an alleyway that led out to the servant's entrance, and a droplet had fallen to the end of his smoke. He dashed out the wet part and flicked it to the ground, grinding it beneath the heel of his boot.
One good thing about the rain, it made most people run for cover back into their houses, and the few that remained in the streets were busy minding their own business. He grinned and looked up to the window above his head. There didn't seem to be a guard in sight, or maybe they were just between patrols. Whatever the case, he wasn't going to squander this opportunity to climb up to the window sill, pulling himself up with ease and sliding it open.
He was only a little damp, his feet having stepped in a puddle and he tried to kick off any excess water before slipping inside, and dropping the window down. The wood creaked beneath his weight upon landing and he immediately stiffened. Though the hackles were up on the back of his neck, Quinlan doubted there was anyone around.
Word around Arca had it the family that owned this house were out of town, which suited his purposes just fine. All he needed was a peculiar looking crest and he'd be on his way out. It was almost surprising how much people were willing to pay for magical items, and if there was one thing Serendipity had, it was magical items up the hoo-haa! He had the fine task of procuring a particular piece, something his patron had called the Valmir Crest, the seal from an old Serenian House that faded into obscurity.
The truth was Quinlan didn't really care. He didn't want to know what it did either. He just wanted to get paid and move on with his life. How it ended up in this particular house, admittedly, it was a bit curious. Quinlan had a general idea what the object looked like, a round crest with a dais in the center around a flaming star engraving, made entirely out of silver.
All was quiet through the house, so he stepped a little more lively, at least to get to where he needed to go quicker. He couldn't afford to let himself get distracted by all the nice crap this house had. When he turned a corridor he found it; which, really it wasn't that hard, since it was the room with all the fancy framed objects, some in locked cases and displayed on wall hangars. There were weapons and jewels from all over the world, he reckoned.
They wouldn't miss a stupid little crest, which he spotted after some digging. He examined the object, admiring the silver polish and the loose chain that hung from it. It was the only object in the room like it, and so around his neck it went, hiding it beneath his shirt. It felt unusually cold against his skin, even with his body cooled by the rain. A few more stray jewels went into his pockets, because, why not! It wasn't like the people that owned his house would even notice.
His boot creaked over the space between wood plankings in the floor and he silently cursed to himself.
"Why aren't you sleeping at this time of night? Is everything okay? Did you have a nightmare?"
Quinlan immediately froze! He thought the family was out of town! SHIT! He was half hidden in the darkness of a doorway and his back was to the young woman that addressed him. What did she think he was, the help? Oh, good. So she didn't immediately jump to the conclusion of intruder. That meant she was a little slow. This was better.
"Oh, I just thought I heard a mouse!" he said in a high-pitched voice, even slunking his form down a little and moving through the door.
Well, none of the maids sounded quite like that. They also wouldn't smell so... Damp. Adalia gave her fingers a flex, holding them like she was ready to claw at something. Of course she was at a disadvantage, she was barely dressed and this person came into her house. Didn't look like he was the midnight plant waterer. "A mouse?" Was her quiet reply when she took careful steps forward towards the intruder.
"That doesn't explain why you're up my lady." She toned her voice down and took a few quiet more steps, "We can talk about it in the kitchen over tea if you've had a nightmare." Adalia said gently, pretending that she was a servant helping the lady of the house. A quick survey of the room let her know nothing big was taken. Taking a few quiet more steps she reached out her hand for the stranger and wiggled her fingers. "Come with me Dear, you know this room is nothing but bad news."
The hackles on the back of his neck rose tenfold! And Quinlan knew then that this woman was reaching out to touch him. He had two choices here, to keep turn around and shove her aside and make a speedy exit, or keep his cool. Maybe she didn't catch on just yet!
"Oh, yes a mouse, a big one!" And that's when Quinlan snatched a stuffed, taxidermied cat from the shelf nearest him and launched it at her, and he turned to skirt around her, bolting for the hallway he came down.
Damn.
Adalia pulled her hand back and quickly moved to punch aside the stuffed cat aside before bolting after the intruder. If she didn't have an actively daily life she was sure this thief would have gotten away. As it were, she was fit and used to having much more clothing on.
The pain was intense in her hand but she ignored it while she grabbed for his shoulder. Using every ounce of strength she yanked him back by the arm and held her grip there. The coat began to smoke where her hand was and she quickly moved her other hand to grab his wrist so they were skin to skin. Easier to burn him if it had to come down to it and the little thief didn't play nice. "There are no mice in my house good sir. Only giant rats." Obviously a mage now Adalia did little to hide who she was - Obviously not a maid.
"Why are you stealing from my home." Adalia's voice was stern and didn't let on how much her hands were hurting her.
Quinlan was sure he could've made it. The door couldn't have been far and it was just some woman in his way. Oh sure, how very Connlaothian of him to discount her so quickly, but seeing as he already got what he came here for, he could swat her like a fly and be on his way. However, her not dying and letting him go, was preferable to just dropping bodies everywhere.
But damn were her hands hot! What the hell! Quinlan abruptly turned when the woman put hands on him and the cloth of his jacket started to sizzle. "Lemme go!" he growled, quickly getting angry. He felt that heat, that scorching and immediately cringed. He yanked his arm back, but her grip was surprisingly strong - and he didn't put that much back into it.
"What the fuck do you have on your hands, acid!?" Quinlan's legs buckled and still he tried to pull away, feeling the heat only increase.
His anger was met with her own. Adalia gave a dry chuckle at his demand and she simply gripped tighter with both her hands. Easily he could shuck off his coat to keep it from getting more crispy, but he didn't. Maybe there was something in there? It didn't matter now. She wanted answers and she wanted them now.
"Fire." She informed him simply, pulling his arm closer to her. "Tell me why you're in my home, I don't want to hurt you but you force my hand if you don't give me answers." Her eyebrows went up and she kept a calm exterior while she burnt them both. "This ability is mine and I can keep it up until you've answered my questions, and it can be much much worse." She informed him, hoping his imagination would supplement how much worse it could be.
Quinlan had been through worse pain, or so he tried to tell himself. He'd jumped through fire and been scorched and then some. But this! Gods, he was quick to remediate the list of things that hurt worse, this being a close second. He wasn't going to bother pulling away and glared up at the albino woman with haggard eyes. Then the contraption on his other wrist released a dagger and he cut across his pal, just grazing it enough to form droplets.
And then his palms abruptly grew cold and ice quickly spreading up both his arms and hers. And then he shoved a boot against her gut, hitting her hard enough to kick her away, snapping some of the ice that had sealed them together. Quinlan did not wait for her to recover, before forming ice spikes in his hands and throwing them at her.
Adalia gave a hiss when there was suddenly ice on her arm. The shock of this person being a mage threw her off and she felt the boot to her stomach, which made her reel away before she quickly caught her balance. Just in time to put her heated hands to block her face. "A mage?!" The tip of one icicle pierced her palm before it simply dripped down her hands the rest melted quickly from the heat. Adalia took a second to notice that these ones were not just plain water and even gagged a little.
"I'll pay you double what you're being paid for whatever you stole." She finally spat out, glaring at him. Maybe that would reason with him, the things in that room -while mundane and quite useless- were priceless.
[Plain water as opposed to what else?]
"I doubt you could afford it, miss! You won't let me go? Then you'll die here!"
Quinlan leapt for her, though he could see the heat radiating from her hands, and he formed more spikes and threw them at her. But he wouldn't stop there and rushed at her with the dagger ready at his wrist, and he pulled another from his belt.
"Meow"
And that's when Quinlan froze. "What the fuck?" he muttered, looking down at the stuffed cat. Or the cat that used to be stuffed and somehow was moving again. "Holy shit! LOOK!"
[Pffft I don't even know.]
The threat of death made Adalia angry. For someone who was so subdue and not at all outgoing she could fight for her life just fine. A natural aversion for not wanting to cause pain kept her from doing a great deal of things like going for this persons neck instead of just grabbing his arm. Unarmed for the most part she was at a clear disadvantage until the meow happened. Luckily for her the man was as taken aback as she was and she stared at the undead cat too, her mouth opened slightly before slamming closed again.
"What did you do?"The shock stopped her magic and her hands were burning, the skin had cracked and gone crispy and the smell of cooking meat was almost pleasant and homey until you realized it was her hands. Her fingers trembled while she stared at him, "are you a necromancer? Please." Adalia stared at him before giving the cat a sideways look and taking a few more steps away, ready to block his way if he tried to run again.
Quinlan kept his distance from this odd woman - who for all he knew probably broke into this house too and was protesting him stealing the very thing she was after! - and kept his daggers up, at least to defend himself from that potentially demonic cat!
"I didn't do jack shit! I'm no necromancer!" he said. "For all I know, you did it! What with you're weird chicken-smelling hands!"
The cat purred, shaking off a bunch of dead fur, and scrambled for Adalia's feet, rubbing against her leg in great affection.
"Chicken doesn't bring stuffed cats back to life!My hands smell like meat because I was just cooking them because you're stealing from me, you idiot." Adalia motioned to where the cat had been to look over and see an empty spot, to suddenly feel the slowly falling apart animal rubbing against her leg. A shiver went down her spine and she froze, going pale and trying to inch away. "I'm an elementalist!" Adalia informed him with a sneer, taking a few steps back only for the undead animal to make little noises - how? - and rub against her even more happy to see her again.
"Gods, this cat died when I was twelve." She swallowed and wished she was wearing clothing. A night dress that she was practically naked under wasn't at all helpful in this situation. "You need to fix this. You fix this and you can have whatever you stole." Which she instantly regretted saying but he didn't need to know if she was lying or not. Another few shuffles away and she eyed his daggers, maybe she could steal those. How did a dead cat die again?
The cat just meowed and purred and dropped a few tufts of hair everywhere, curling between Adalia's legs. Quinlan was equally creeped out and wanted nothing at all to do with the cat. But something felt hot beneath his skin - other than the throbbing of his arm where Chicken Hands scorched his GOOD JACKET! - and he stepped back, pulling the crest from beneath his shirt.
"What..." The crest started to glow and flicker and the cat suddenly started to dart toward Quinlan. He yelped, stepping lively, but the cat just meowed and purred.
"I didn't do it, I swear! This thing must've done it! That cat was dead! STUFFED! I threw it at your face and now it's back to life! What's the cat's name? Quick!"
Adalia's eyes caught the flicker and she stared for a good moment. That. That's what he stole. Previously she'd held no interest in it, but she'd never seen it glow and flicker like that. Now she couldn't let him leave with it.
"The... Her name is Daisy." Poor balding stuffed Daisy. Adalia had wanted to bury her, but her parents had decided the first pet in a long time deserved a special place in the fancy room.
"Daisy! Daisy, stay! No! Don't come any closer! Bad cat!" The cat continued to mew and come closer to him. He stopped when the animal began to rub against his legs as well. And it was too much for him to handle. "Hell no, I'm out of here! See ya! Have fun with your dead cat!"
Adalia honestly though that he was going to do some unknown magic with the amulet that involved the cats name. There was a certain pang she felt in her chest and it took her a moment to process it. Ah, embarrassment. That's what it was. Adalia pressed the back of her hand to her forehead for a moment before moving closer again, the cat was acting like a cat. Not possessed and demonic. Not taken over by some other worldly beast that sprouted fifty million teeth to eat them alive with.
"You can't just leave with that!" Adalia yelled at him, moving to stand in front of him with her arms out. "You want out, you kill me. Because apparently that amulet is going to bring me back to life anyway and then I won't care how much my magic hurts me to use it on you." She nodded towards the room where he pilfered the amulet. "Put that back. Now. You're obviously too weak to handle it and we don't know what else it will do."
Too weak to handle it!? Excuse her, Nightdress Crusader! An elementalist did not, in his mind, make her an expert on necromantic symptoms in formerly living pets! Maybe she knew the pet and it seemed relatively normal! But who knew how long that would last. One thing was for sure, it wasn't his problem.
However, she was. And she was keen on making the situation his problem.
"I'm taking the crest," he said adamantly, uncaring about the cat that now tugged on his right pantleg. "And if you're keen on being in the way, you can come with me!" And he lunged at her again, aiming to tackle her and throw her over his shoulder as he ran down the hall.
"I said you can't tak--What are you doing!?" Adalia went down easy. Or over his shoulder easily. Her hands were useless now that they were just pulsing and in pain and she hadn't had a chance to even try to heal them. She moved to grab at the back of his coat and instead just hissed in pain at the contact. She'd decided that tonight would be the last time she read books into the quiet hours of the night.
There was little she could do to protest. He was taking off with her crest. Well, her parents crest, but as the only child that mean it was going to be hers someday. Maybe this was a good idea, if she knew where he was going. She could reason with whomever it was that wanted to buy it and then buy it back from them! Unless they were going to raise an army of extremely affectionate undead cats. Then she supposed that would need to be stopped as well.
The cat gave an excited purr, ready to chase something. The bell on the collar it had been wearing gave a happy jingle as Daisy scooted down the hallway ever so dainty-like not wanting to lose her play things.
[Adalia just takes all the crap that happens to her and just 'deals with it' xD It's almost sickeningly responsible.]
To have the cat chasing after him was more than enough to have Quinlan speeding up twofold. He held Adalia over his shoulder and headed for where he had seen the main door. "Damn cat! Why don't you find dead mice to play with?" he hissed as he moved to the door, just as little bells in their wake and loud meows.
Fuck the cat just didn't quit!
Quinlan kicked open the door and made down the street with Adalia over his shoulder. The rain poured down on them and he heard the sizzling of water damping out fire and the smell of burn flesh. It was both from him and her and he stopped running long enough to turn his head enough to see Adalia partly from over his shoulder.
"Your magic burns you?" he asked, and then the bells of the cat catching up with them, as they turned the corner, made him jump. "Dammit!"
"Meow!
[It's how she was raised! Be responsible! And she can't make her family look -worse- after what happened last time.]
There were few extremely odd and or awkward things that Adalia has had to deal with. Being over a strangers shoulder like a sack of potatoes just to go where the necromancy crest was going was gonna be number two. Number one having been locked away and rarely thought about. She visibly winced when he kicked open the door like a heathen and then went down the street. With the rain pouring. "oh gods" was all she muttered.
She was just in a nightgown, it would be see through in seconds and sure enough the white fabric clung to her arm and Adalia gave a shiver at being so cold. The rain on her palms made her gasp in pain at first before she closed her eyes and worked the water, pressing it into her skin, rejuvenating the peeling burnt skin. Her eyes snapped open when the stranger asked his question and she opened her mouth to stare at him.
"Daisy..." Was all she said, a quiet sigh before she looked over at the man she'd burnt, "My abilities are none of your business Mr.Not-A-Necromancer." As it it wasn't obvious that her magic burnt her, how else would she have burnt her hands. "So, take us to where you plan on selling that so I can tell them to give it back in a soaking wet nightgown." Adalia demanded, using an elbow in his back to prop her head up with her arm her chin resting in her newly healed palm.
There was no effort to keep herself from getting rained on except for more wounds there was little else that could make this night worse.
Quinlan wasn't famed for making smart decisions. Or even remotely good decisions at that. So of course he he dropped Adalia's beneath a small, scantling roof. To better guard from the rain. Daisy the cat followed them and shook out tufts of wet fur, meowing indignantly. Quinlan shook his wet hair, looking her over in her soaked nightgown and frowned.
Why couldn't she have been more adequately dressed for kidnapping? He inwardly sighed and took off his jacket, momentarily forgetting he had some random jewels in his pockets...And his tobacco, and some knives, but they were all securely strapped inside the lining of the coat.
He set it over her shoulders, though he knew she didn't have shoes either. "Shit, woman. Now you're intent on following me? I just needed you out of the way! Look, I need this payday. You wouldn't believe it!" He shook his head. Daisy meowed, wantingattention. "Damn you, cat. Go away!"
The coat over her shoulders surprised her and she stared at man, slightly confused, a little weary but mostly just really weirded out. The coat smelled, it wasn't an awful smell but it was unfamiliar and it was a strange place for her to be wearing someone elses clothing. Adalia shoved her hands in his pockets, hoping he'd been a bit daft and had forgotten the crest. No such luck. She did find smooth stones though, to which she curiously brought one out only to quickly glare at him while he yelled at the cat.
"Yes. Yes I do intend to follow you." A delicate eyebrow arched and she opened her palm, revealing his stolen treasures, "You stole these from my house. These are worth quite a bit as far as gems go." Her hands went back into the pockets and she made sure to hold her arms tight to her sides and grab as much of the coat as she could in case he tried to rip it off of her. " I'll trade you this coat and the gems in it for that crest and I'll heal your burns."
"No deal!" The payout for that crest would have him set for the year. But the jewels! They could pay for his way to the rendezvous point and maybe get a few beers between there. Quinlan scowled at Adalia's. "Yeah, I stole them. So what? It wasn't like you even knew they were there anyway."
He shook his head, as this was getting nowhere fast. "Look. Let's talk about this. That whole scuffle in the house was inevitable, that being said killing you and leaving you there doesn't seem like such a good option anymore. Especially if you did from a fucking cold!"
They had a scowling contest. Adalia just frowned back at him, her hands and arms tight to her sides, still in possession of the jacket and not keep on taking off when it was full of herthings. "Well I know they're here now." she shot back, not at all amused at the turn of events the night had taken. She should be in bed right now maybe even sleeping, but instead she had an undead stuffed cat curling around her legs and some strangers coat keeping her warm.
"Fine. We'll talk about this." Adalia was a little insulted that he thought he could kill her, "Killing me would take a lot more effort than you're presuming and I'm not going to die from a cold." She tapped her barefoot at the cold damp ground and tilted her head, looking off into the distance, trying to figure out a way to get this idiot to take her to his employer.
"I'll pay you to take me to where ever it is you're going, you seem like a smart business man," she coaxed, moving closer, "You could get double the pay. One when you pawn the crest off and then again after." It killed her that this was her problem now and it also made her cringe a little when she finally picked up the cat and cradled it in her arms only for it to snuggle closer and purr loudly. On a normal cat it was adorable, on a stuffed cat that was alive it was just ... Weird.
She had to be joking.
Quinlan stared at her hard, almost angrily, and he probably would have flicked fingers on her forehead for being so obstinate, because it wasn't like intruders climbed into people's houses only to GIVE THEIR STUFF BACK!
"Food! This way! And shoes! You'll need those."
He snatched her by the arm, half-dragging her along really as he pulled her through the city, running through the rain and practically yanking her off her feet. The cat, of course, was happy to be taken along, though not so happy to get wet.
And then happy once again to be pulled into a dry tavern.
Adalia did not enjoy being dragged around. As a lady, a noble even, she found it happened rarely. Maybe once in her life for a short while. Still, she wanted to go, she asked for this, to be taken along. Of course, a better situation would have been if this fellow had asked for it and she could simply say 'no'.
A puddle of water made her whole body shiver and she was glad to find herself somewhere dry. A waitress eyed the cat after giving her a rather slow once over, "Honey, we don't allow pets." Was her stern words and Adalia quickly straightened her shoulders, "It's a stuffed ani-"Meow"It's an enchanted stuffed animal. I need it." For once looking like a drowned rat in her nightclothes worked for her because the waitress sort of shrugged and moved on.
Adalia did the pulled this time, dragging her new found companion to a table in the lesser lit area, taking a seat that was closer to the door and waiting. "Good thing we have my jewels in this coat, getting food and clothing will be easy," was her false jolly reply. Her hair was a mess and clung to everything, long strands were stuck to his jacket and along her neck.
Her hand was pushed into the pocket and she took out a jewel to examine it in the light, "You picked from the good stock," she commented idly.
Quinlan have her a blank expression. Well that WAS the idea behind taking the jewels. Petty theft was useful in more ways than one. And Quinlan was sure he could lift her of her dress and she wouldn't even notice. Hmm, in this case he might have be a little drunk. But right now that was out of the question.
"If I had half a mind to sell you, I'd get more than what that necklace is worth," he replied smugly. "Look this is going nowhere. I'm not going to give back the crest. And all this effort of yours to negotiate some kind of deal is pointless!" He sighed and looked at her boobs. "I know it's cold in here."
The cat cuddled its self against Adalia's side under the coat while she played with the necklace, examining it and trying to remember where it was from. One of her mothers from when she was much younger. Adalia reached to touch her own necklace, a solitary jewel resting on the choker. They weren't a matching set, her mothers being worth far more.
"If you tried to sell me I'd do everything in my power to burn off your penis." She fluttered her eyes at him nicely, "and I'm very powerful." Sorta. Some specific situations she was powerful but for the most part her lack of desire to harm others or destroy things left her rather lackluster. "I'm not asking for the crest, I've got two options. I steal it back and go on my way or I pay you to take me with you to where you're going and then I'll deal with them." Adalia smiled again, leaning forward and resting her head on her hands.
"You seem like an intelligent man, Mr.Not-a-Necromancer. I'd take the double pay for one job deal if I could." And then he commented on her boobs and it took a great amount of effort to not shove her hands over her breasts and instead stayed where she was. "And it's not cold in here, I'm in a soaked through nightgown, I'm sure your nipples are hard too." She leaned in and looked at him, her eyebrows up, "Is this your first time seeing breasts? It's okay, Dear. There's a first for everything."
Quinlan was not about to become indignant. Not in the presence of Chicken Fingers. Really, what was UP with her hands!? He stared at them for a long while and then his eyes flickered back to her. He saw no point in trying to state her down, and it was kind of hard too when there was a cat purring in her arms, missing tufts of hair and very very dead.
He could never turn down the prospect of more money, but somehow her tagging along didn't sit well with him. "Don't think I'm gonNa be your babysitter, Chicken Fingers. Don't cause any trouble and there won't be any. Just for both of our sakes. Besides, I guess you'll be their problem anyway," he said at last, unsuccessfully hiding his begrudgement. "You got a name, Bird Lady?"
Of course she noticed the staring. They were the one major part of her body she was extremely self conscious about and had some hyper awareness of when people were looking. This fellow was certainly getting an eyeful and she went to busying her hands with petting the undead cat.
"I'm insulted you think I need a babysitter." she shot back, eyeing him up and down, "you should be aware that all this is your fault." Adalia looked down at the cat, looked at where she'd burnt his arm and offered him a pretty smile while fluttering her eyes at him while keeping some intense eye contact.
"My name is Adalia if you must know," she took a breath and moved her hands so they were under the table, at least that way he couldn't look at them. "And you? What is your name? You look like a Bartleby."
He sniffed, flagging a wench over and asking for a glass of the hardest liquor they had. Which was watered down brandy, but Quinlan wouldn't complain. Not now at any rate. Adalia and he continued their battle of glares.
"Oh, it's my fault!? Nobody was even supposed to be home! In fact, it's your fault if you think about it; if you had a social life, you would be holding a dead cat. It's proven!" He gagged on the watered down brandy - which seemed like it was mixed with a bit of gin - and he spat off to the side. He shook his head and looked at his arm, which at the reminder, only now started to throb.
"My name..." he paused, wondering why it even mattered. But the glares he'd been giving her softened and he played with the rim of his glass, looking into the mess inside. "Name's Quinlan. Last time I checked anyway."
Adalia leaned back and frowned deeply, her eyebrows knitting together and her mouth turning into a small down turned crescent. It was not a pleased look and she took a quick breath, her social life an obvious sore spot. Almost as sore as her hands. Adalia's head went down, looking defeated while she looked down at the undead cat curled up asleep (or whatever undead stuffed cats did) in her lap. Finally, she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in the chair, not at all impressed with her new company, not that there were any expectations.
"No. You broke into my house. This is your fault. You're not stealing that to destroy it so that no one can raise the dead, you're selling it for money." Adalia explained, speaking a little more slowly than usual just in case he couldn't follow. "Good try though, I may look like a spoiled girl but I'm far more traveled than you'd think."
Still, she looked at his arm and finally leaned forward, her hands out, palms up. "I apologize for burning you, Quinlan, if you'd let me I can heal it for you." She wiggled her fingers, showing her healed hands. Or as healed as they were going to get, though they worked fine. They just didn't look very pretty.
In truth, he'd received much worse. He eyed the burn mark on his jacket, where it seeped into skin, and left something resembling a hand print. "Even after robbing you and threatening to stab you, you're offering to heal me? How could you heal me?" he asked, tone more curious than biting.
Meanwhile the cat nuzzled in Adalia's arms, but was soon meowing, demanding to be fed.
Adalia tilted her head, slightly confused and her hands curled in slightly her shoulders slumped. What was this. Who questioned about being healed. Maybe he thought she had ulterior motives? If only, Adalia though, if only she was morally grey enough to have devious thoughts about two timing people. "You didn't stab me." She stated, her hands still out, still offering, "You could have, you could have sunk that knife into my side or ... Gotten my thigh... Anything. You didn't. " She made a motion with her hands, a beckoning motion with her fingers towards the burned arm.
"If you would let me, I would like to heal what I did to you." Adalia bit her lip then and looked to the side, "Unless you meant how could I heal you literally. Then that answer is some water and my magic." The cat continued it's meowing, Adalia looked down and frowned at it and of course it continued. Daisy would have to go without for the time being.
Yes, Quinlan highly questioned her offer to heal him. Maybe it was just in his experience only the absolutely naïve just let random people heal them without expecting anything in return. Altruism was dead and if this woman thought she could get one up on him, she had another thing coming. Or maybe Quinlan was just being paranoid and foolish. Which was not that uncommon.
He said nothing, instead outstretching his arm and pulling the sleeve up on his shirt. The jacket could be fixed another day. It was his only one, really, but she had it on. "Show me what you got," he said, looking to the burn mark., where the skin started to curdle.
The look on her face was one of surprise and she brushed her fingers along his arm for a moment, studying the burn. It wasn't worse than what her own burns had become and she moved her hands down, grabbing her nightgown where it was still soaked and covered her hands in what water she could. "You make it sound like a challenge," she smirked slightly before she took his hand, pressing her palm to his and then her other hand to the burn on his arm which she imagined hurt.
Of course she managed to cover the whole area, it was in the shape of her hand already.
The sensation of healing someone else was always different, it was second nature to heal herself, there was no awkward touching involved. She didn't have to hold her own hand. Quinlans arm would feel cool, between both her hands, something akin to the shock of dunking it into a vat of cold water after being so warm for the day. Adalia's eyes fluttered closed and she let out a small sigh before she lifted her hands away, her fingers brushing at the flesh of his arm for a moment before she took her hands away completely. She didn't open her eyes, in fact she kept them closed and turned her head towards the table. Just in case.
"Did I do it? I haven't actually ever healed someone else since I've starting practicing that part of my abilities."
[I can't remember if Adalia was always able to heal her arms? Or did you just give her that ability?]
Quinlan did not close his eyes - weird things tended to happen when he did - and he even gasped a little when he felt his arm suddenly cool and he felt his nerves start tingling and the throbbing from the burning intensified. But his reaction stemmed mostly from surprise than from real pain, and soon the throbbing turned into a dull soothing ache, and when he looked at her work, he dropped his jaw a bit.
"It's gone," he muttered, actually astonished that she managed to beat his own skepticism. But his skin remained marred from the scars and cuts he'd inflicted on himself, and his palm would be streaked across with dagger marks, criss-crossed all over. "That's quite astonishing. Almost better than anything I could do."
[She couldn't before! Which is why her hands/arms are fuuuuuuucked up looking. She learned and practiced in case she was without her gauntlets again and/or needed to heal someone. Lo and behold an opportunity!]
Green eyes popped open and she eyed her handiwork before taking in the sight of the rest of his arm. The little scars, the obvious self inflicted slices across his palm, she looked at them confused for a moment before she pursed her lips and reached to trace a few of the scars before drawing her hand back like she was trying to grab fire.
"Thank you." She started before chewing on her lip and examining her hands, running her thumbs over her palms in an effort to make the tingling feeling go away. "A little practice goes a long way," Which was an understatement, she'd studied and practiced her literal flesh off leaning how to heal properly. Of course, there was a good chance she wouldn't be able to walk for a while and that awful tingling feeling was running up and down her arms.
Adalia took a breath and looked Quinlan over, eyeing his hand again. The cat meowed and Adalia frowned down at it, "You're stuffed. You don't have a stomach. How are you hungry." Adalia stared at her hands for a moment before she ran one down the cats body, "Daisy is still stuffed right? I mean... She's undead, right?" Adalia cleared her throat, "You should uh... Show me that crest." It was worth a try.
Quinlan squeezed his palms together, as if in an effort to hide the scars. Not that he would ever feel ashamed of them. They were a badge of a sort, a foolish badge that proved to be never ending, but that was how it was. At the reminder of the cat, and it's apparent odd revival, Quinlan sat up straighter.
He blinked at the cat, still struggling in Adalia's arms demanding food still, bells jingling. "I threw that cat at you. It was dead. Cats don't take to being thrown without some kind of reaction," he said; it was clear he was still averse to the prospect of having revive a cat that had been dead for more than ten years! - or so he assumed.
At being prodded for the crest he bristled. "No way. I told you, it's mine!" And Daisy hissed at both of them for being so obstinate instead of focusing on her since she was clearly more important than whatever they were bickering about.
"It wasn't a cat when you threw it at me," she started, "It was a sick ornament my parents made to commemorate my first pet." Adalia smiled slightly at his reaction when she prodded him about the crest, it was what she was anticipating and she was glad she called it. Maybe he wasn't as foolish as he seemed. Which was entertaining now but seemed bad in the long run. Finally Adalia jumped and stared down at the cat, confused and she quickly ran her hands down it's back.
"I don't know what to do, Daisy!" Adalia quietly hissed at the cat, who just sort of looked grumpy. The cat, having decided that since it couldn't get what it wanted from Adalia climbed up on the table and meandered her way over to Quinlan, parking its still fluffy butt between his clasped hands and his body. "Yeah, go ask him, he got you into this mess, too."
Taking the opportunity of not having the 'enchanted cat' in her arms she flagged down a barmaid and quietly asked her a few questions, passing over a jewel from a necklace she'd found in Quinlans coat and nodding her thanks before the woman wandered away, giving the pair and their cat another long confused look. Magic was one thing, ugly ratty stuffed cats were another.
[I don't know if it matters to you, but I totally picture Daisy as a British Shorthair (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/12/8a/04/128a048990c7a977c9ead2232d76dd5d.jpg), but y'know missing hair patches here and there.]
Quinlan froze to have the cat come to him, and he made a disgusted face to have it get comfortable right in his comfort zone! "Go! No! Daisy, scram!" But the cat astutely did not and instead curled up, getting comfortable and purring, rubbing her furry face against his cheek. "Ew, I got some fur in my mouth," he said, spitting off to the side.
As the cat neared, the crest began to glow once again and Quinlan jumped a little. This time he did have the sense to pull it from beneath his shirt and revealed it to her. "Ow! It's really warm to the touch!" he hissed and leaned forward enough to let her examine it, but did not take it off.
[I love it =D Looks like a Daisy to me.]
Adalia reached for the crest, ignoring Quin's whining - For a grown man he did a lot of it. Her fingers brushed over it and she frowned at it before she looked at him "Yup, it's magical," She dead panned. Not sure what he wanted her to examine on it. It was glowing. It was warm. It was super close to the Once Dead Cat. She shook her head then, "I don't know, Quin." She said softly and curled her fingers, her hands balling into fists.
"This is why you should just give that to me." She stated finally, "I'll pay you. Please." her voice lowered and she leaned closer, her voice quiet in case people were trying to listen, "Can you imagine what trouble will happen if your client wants that to bring people back to life. You're a mage, surely you can understand how disastrous this crest could be in the wrong hands." There must have been a reason it was just sitting in her house, out of sight out of mind maybe. Except not really in this case.
Quinlan snatched the crest back and stuffed it in his shirt. He scowled at her, knitting his brows together. "It's Quinlan. And no I'm not giving it to you. What the buyer wants with it, ain't any of my affair. I'm just getting paid for a job. Everything else is inconsequential."
He shook his head and even bothered to stroke the dead cat that took to sipping out of his watered down glass of brandy. "If you intend still to follow me, then go for it. But I'm not giving it---"
That's when the saw the front door swing open and three very angry looking men stepping though it. And the man behind them quickly was scanning the room for Quinlan. The blood mage immediately recognized him, thankfully before he was seen and Quinlan ducked low as he slid his ass out of the seat.
"Well nice talking to ya! Gotta go!"
Stubborn.
Adalia rolled her eyes and she shrugged her shoulders in defeat. Sorta. She was still allowed to follow him, which would make it easier since he wouldn't be trying to hide. Like he was now? Adalia frowned when Quinlan started to run away. Her mouth dropped open and she looked to where he'd been gazing before he decided to book it.
"Where..." Adalia got up and followed taking a few steps before turning around to pick up the cat, tucking Daisy under her arm while she followed. After all she was still wearing his coat. "Hang on!" She whisper-yelled at Quinlan while he tried to scoot, she grabbed his hand and tugged him along beside her, their backs to the door. Adalia used the movement of a bar maid to hide most of their movements towards the back of the building and a second door.
"I know where we can stay the night if you're willing to follow me," she paused, "I'll also help you stay hidden from whatever trouble was trying to find you in there, I saw your face."
"I don't want to stay hidden! I want to get the hell out of this," Quinlan hissed. "Now you either move with me, or you stay behind, but I'm not waiting-"
"You fucking shite! I knew I'd find you here!" The man yelled out and boots were soon barreling through the tavern.
"Fuuuuuck!" Quinlan moved like a lightning bolt and he felt Adalia yanked along behind him since she still gripped his hand. He just pulled her with him, bolting for the back door.
Adalia rolled her eyes, leave it to a man to not listen to her and instead resort to panicking. Of course she jumped when there was a yell and she briefly looked over her shoulder to look at the person who probably wanted to kill Quin and mount his body like a trophy. Maybe the crest would bring his stuffed body back to life as some oddly cuddly version of himself. Adalia frowned at the though while being yanked along.
They left through the back door, back out into the rain and she gave a violent shiver at her feet being wet - again - and being out in the rain - again. "Come this way," and she proceeded to drag him around, knowing the city like the back of her hand. Or something else equally literal. Splashing through puddles and going through alley's and down deserted wet streets, Adalia's legs were covered with what was hopefully mud and they were in front of a familiar looking house again. It was her home.
"Get inside, Quin, it's safe, it's warm and they would never think to look for you in that house." Her breath was short and her cheeks were flushed from the running and the cold. "Everyone is still asleep, no one has lit any lights."
"That slippery son of a bitch!"
"Where did he go!?"
"I saw him go that way! And the bitch that was holding some cat!"
Quinlan knew that if he didn't have Adalia hanging onto his arm, he could skedaddle out of Arca in no time flat. But as it were, she was determined to remain an unwanted growth and he could gripe about it internally all he wanted.
"Back here again!?" he hissed, skidding to a halt, at the sight of her house. But with the sound of those men chasing after them so close buy - because honestly they were faster than they looked - he didn't give it a second thought before running along back into her home.
Adalia quickly followed and she made sure to keep close behind him. She put the lock on the door just in case and quickly grabbed Quin's hand again, dragging him through the house, leaving a trail of water and mud behind her. "How far away from Arca is this fellow you're selling that to?" She began, talking softly so she didn't wake anyone up.
"And why are those men chasing you, do you owe them money?" Finally she pulled him into a room and shut the door, locking it as well. It was obviously a bedroom, not so obviously her bedroom. Adalia removed his jacket and handed it back to him before she went to the bed and stuck her arm under it, pulling out a pre-packed back pack and another smaller empty one obviously to contain food. "Just let me get changed and then we can get Atras, unless you have a horse?"
Quinlan was in too much of a panic to focus clearly, and his natural inclination to not give away information was averted. He panted from the running, body too hot to worry about shivering, and shook his head, running his hands through his red hair and trying to catch his breath.
"Far. Honestly, didn't really say. Said I'd get signaled when I reached some squat town called Rat's End in the middle of the damn Draconi Forest," he said, leaning over his legs a little and stretching out his back. Throwing his coat back over his shoulders, Quinlan fixed his burned sleeve, as best he could at any rate and fixed his daggers back into the contraptions that let them spring out when needed.
Quinlan moved around the room, sniffing a decanter and surreptitiously pocketing a small watch. This one went into his pants when his back was to her and he turned without a hitch. "I don't have any horse," he said with a shrug. "Horses are sometimes more of a handful than they're worth. That and I haven't had a chance to get to a stable. Favris and his gang are too fat to keep up with me anyway."
And not too soon did he saw that and he heard the sounds of those very men snooping around the premises.
"Hurry up will ya!"
Hurry she did. With little ceremony and even less shame, Adalia went to a dresser, grabbed a shirt and pants, whipped off the soaking dirty nightgown and quickly changed. The shirt went on first and she hopped back towards her backpack while tugging on the pants, tucking her feet into boots and grabbing a cloak before taking the backpack. Her gauntlets lay forgotten on top of the dresser.
Adalia grabbed Quinlans hand again and tugged him out of her room and slammed the door. Surely it would wake a few people and they would investigate and discover the less than savory people chasing them. Him. The thief fellow. They weren't chasing her at all. With his hand still in hers she ran for the kitchen, that door being the closest to the stable. "Well no mageknight is without her horse and we'll get there much faster, meaning you get money much faster. The stables are over there, once we're at Atras we'll be fine." Also, like any hells was she gonna walk to Draconi forest.
Sure enough, the doorway to the kitchen was lit up from the hallway and there were murmurs before a startled gasp and something about how the lady was missing. Or something. Nothing serious or anything. More lights went on as more people woke up.
Daisy, being apparently forgotten stood at their feet, pressing her body against Quinlan's leg to get his attention because clearly they hadn't giving her enough pets in the past ten minutes.
Quinlan shoved the cat away with his boot. A none too gentle shove either. Daisy wasn't very happy about that, and hissed in response, trying again with the other leg that didn't nudge her off. And then she meowed loudly.
Quinlan froze and scowled at the cat. "You little turd!" he hissed and snatched the cat up by the scruff, more hair coming off, as the help was awakened.
"Lady Adalia! Lady Adalia! Where have you gone!?" cried one of the live-in maids.
Quinlan stuffed the dead cat in his jacket and ran after Adalia toward the stables. There was too much at stake now to worry about answering stinking questions right now. Now he just wanted to get the hell out of here! Quinlan followed behind the mageknight - that word still lingering somewhere in the back of his mind.
"There he is! Get that fucker!" And already Favris' men were running toward the stables, about to rout them.
"Shit!" Adalia cursed, making for the stables. There would be no time for a saddle and Adalia hoped beyond all hopes that Quinlan knew how to get on a horse. The rain was still pouring and she shifted her backpack before she gave a sharp long whistle and entering the stables, there were six stalls, three on each side and Adalia quickly opened Atras's who gave a huff and stared at her. Quickly she climbed the stall wall and reached up into the rafters, picking up another pack which contained a fancy looking sword and various other items used in camping. That got thrown over her other shoulder.
The goons were now in the stable and Adalia moved out of Atras's stall, holding the sword out. The blade glowed red and she took calm even breaths. "Get on the horse and hold on!" she barked at Quinlan while she got closer to the group chasing him. She could let them have him. The thought occurred to her. She could give this boy over and just take the crest from his still warm body after they beat him up. Or something. Either way, getting the crest wouldn't involve going anywhere.
"This one is mine," Adalia barked at the group, talking about Quinlan "I've got plans for him, come get him back later."
Favris skidded to a halt when he saw the glowing sword in front of him. His men followed suit. Quinlan rolled his eyes a little. Of course! Mageknight = glowing sword. Like a fairy tale with bloodthirsty ruffians and undead cats. Daisy had to get a piece of the action too and hissed at Favris and his men.
"Fucking bitch. You best get out of the way before you get hurt!" He wasn't going to waste any time as he barreled toward her. But Quinlan kicked the horse into action and Areas screamed aloud, bolting from the stable and out into the torrential rain. Quinlan clung to Adalia's for dear life but he managed to stay on, Daisy squashed in his jacket between them.
There was a twitch of her eyebrow when Quin kicked Atras into high gear and ran out of the stable into the pouring ran. Adalia soon followed, again being chased by the goons. Sort of. Probably intending to hurt her to get to the horse and the person on the horse. If Atras hadn't been so well trained she would have worried about being left behind.
Adalia waved the sword and slashed at one of the men, the tip of it ripping through the mans shirt. He was left with it on fire, the momentary panic and surprise of suddenly being on fire gave her the window she needed and she took off at a run, the sword slowly cooling down. Once she left the stable the rain still hissed and sizzled when it hit the blade, steam rising.
Another sharp whistle and she started to run along the stone wall, adjusting her packs as she ran. The men were out in the rain and yelling again and Adalia could only imagine the poor thief's reaction when the horse suddenly turned around and ran back towards the goons. Seeing Atras down the way, Adalia grinned widely and called out.
It was like from a book, Adalia hopped from the top of the stone wall and landed on Atras behind Quinlan. The lack of a saddle made it awkward and Adalia held on tight with her legs, her arm going around Quinlan to tangle one of her hands in the horses mane. The other held the sword out, still too hot to be put anywhere else. She made sure to tug him to make him do a sharp turn. It was a close call, they were at Atras' heels but he kicked up mud and water while he ran. Poor horse was content with being fat, too.
For now they just had to get away, authorities would be here soon. The lady was missing out of the house and there were people in the stables (sorta ). The lights were all on. This totally wasn't an excuse to go away. Oh no. Never. Adalia was a lady.
Old habits died hard, and the old adage was true. Of a sort.
Adalia jumping behind him clearly startled Quinlan, but he managed to hold onto the horse's mane and he kept his hold strong. He'd ridden barebacked before, on a farm somewhere in a place somewhere he once called home. His body remembered how to ride, well somewhat. He could at least keep himself from falling off and was content to let Adalia do the steering she was so content to do from the back.
For now, however, those goons were out of sight. And the city gates were much much closer. "Fucking hell," he panted, mouth already dry and heart racing with adrenaline. The thrill had set his blood aflame with that rush, and a grin was splattered across his face. Clearly he was enjoying himself despite nearly getting killed, and nearly slipping from the horse's back.
But he reasserted his grip and Atras moved delicately down the road.
The sword had cooled from the rain and she reached back putting it into its home on the other backpack she had collected. Atras made for the city gates and she finally slowed him down when they passed through. The horse was panting heavily, his breath hot in the cool night air. So was hers. As soon as they started to slow down Adalia burst out into laughter, her forehead pressed against Quinlans back while she pressed her hand to the undead cat in his coat.
Again she was soaked through, the cloak she'd brought forgotten in her pack. She took deep breaths and let them out slowly, trying to calm herself down. "Well. I think we lost them." Adalia paused for a moment before she removed her head from his back and leaned to look up at him over his shoulder. "You're welcome, Quin." A bright grin before she winkled her nose and tried to blink the rain from her eyes.
To say the least, Daisy was miserable and showed it in her sheer incessant whiny brow. Quinlan glared at the cat and even hissed at it and lurked indignantly. But being alive, for now, was a welcome relief. "What are you barking about?" he griped at Adalia's behind him, her laughter somehow killing his buzz. The adrenaline was seeping away anyway.
Now it was back to being cold and wet. At least he still had the crest around his neck and now it was time to make for Rat's End. With no food, no water other than what they could fill from the rain and no shelter. Oh what a fantastic start to a miserable journey.
Adalia was still good. Still grinning.
"What are you whining about?" She shot back, giving her eyes a roll. What a spoil sport. They were off - not on foot - and it was the middle of the night. Dawn was in a few hours, there were a few places to stop along the road, villages, small towns.
So maybe this was something she'd been wanting to do for a long time and now she had an out that didn't put the blame on her. There was a moment and she paused, "Were my tits so unimpressive you didn't even notice them?" She leaned again to look up at him genuinely curious, she'd been expecting some sort of reaction. She'd been naked. Nothing!
Quinlan was caught off guard and he looked behind him and blinked owlishly at her. "What is that supposed to mean!?" he asked, though her intention was obvious. Oh, if this were any other time, and he was a little drunk maybe he would've had a mind to appreciate them!
"I don't really have time for that," he mumbled, more disappointed in himself than anything else. But you couldn't make breadsticks without flour, water, and yeast, and now really wasn't the time for baking.
"Hey y'know where the nearest town is? I don't need to die of a cold and have my corpse reanimated as some kind've less amazing version of myself," he griped a little. At least he was more miserable from the cold than from these circumstances. It was better than being skinned by Favris' stupid men.
They bumbled along in the rain, Atras had stopped panting and was now content to amble along. Adalia moved her hand from Quin's from and rubbed the horse on the rump for a moment before moving it back. Fairly certain that this poor boy would fall off the horse if she wasn't where she was, her legs behind his, one arm holding him.
"What's tits supposed to mean?" Adalia asked, "I had my tits out and you just stole a watch and smelled some water." She gave his front a pat, "That watch is broken, by the way, I'll let you have it as a gift." Another grin and she flicked her head to get hair out of her eyes. It was stuck to her like a second skin and getting uncomfortable. "You don't have the time to appreciate tits? You poor dear." her voice took on false sympathy and she gave a pout for added affect.
There was a pause at his question and she bit her lip, trying to remember where the nearest town was. "Nope. But i'm sure we'll find one if we follow this road maybe even before dawn. Atras is good and you have a jacket." She grinned again, "have you been reanimated before?"
Quinlan rolled his eyes. He wasn't interested in defending himself or bothering with her quips. He was far too tired and drained to deal with it. Instead he pulled a flask from his jacket, minding the stupid cat and popping it open, knocking back a sip of whatever was inside. The likes of which even he couldn't remember.
He should've knicked a bottle of brandy when he had the chance.
"You underestimate the value of something, even if it's broken. Typical noble."
As Quin rolled his eyes, it was Adalia's turn to roll hers.
"Even a broken watch is right twice a day?"
Of course he called her typical and she just felt insulted. Typical had been taken from her a while ago. For the time being Adalia stayed quiet, closing her eyes and letting the horse lull her into a semi-sleep. Of course she was still ready to go but she could wait. Adalia took deep breaths and shivered every now and then. Atras just kept along.
Soon enough, the rain stopped and light stained the sky. It was dawn and Adalia looked at it, giving a soft smile before looking ahead of them. There it was. A town. Not a large one, obviously a place for traders to rest before the last leg of the journey to Arca. They'd been riding all night. Adalia got off the horse first giving a grunt while she moved and landed she walked to his front and pet his face, gave his nose a kiss and lead him to an inn.
"Are you in a rush?" She asked up at Quinlan, assuming he couldn't sleep sitting up. "If you're not we can stay here for the time being, collect supplies and then carry on tomorrow. You look tired."
How did this happen? All of a sudden he was traveling with a tagalong Mageknight with a dead, patchy cat, and his coat RUINED! At least he still had his flask. He just hoped the wax protecting his tobacco was still in good shape more or less. He'd hate to have that ruined too. It didn't help to be mopey however, and it wasn't really his style.
So he dismounted the horse and followed Adalia into town. A squat dinky thing, nobody would probably pay any attention to it if it wasn't on the way to Arca. Quinlan would've just been a little happier getting off the main road.
"I could eat," he said. "And find something to fill in my flask." He winked at her and stalked off toward the tavern. It was actually cleaner than the one in Arca, and IF Favris was on his way over here, it'd be a while before he arrived. "HEY! YOU! With the tits. A cold beer and a steak. I feel like living it up."
The woman at the counter glared at Quinlan and the flask in his hand. "Bacon and eggs darling. That's what's for breakfast around here. No beer in the morning. Don't you think you've had enough anyway?" She scoffed and then looked at Adalia as if in apology that she had to put up with him.
Adalia followed Quinlan inside and she stared at his back in slight shock when he spoke. This was the person she was going to travel with. Of course it was all by her choice but... Adalia made a grim face and looked over her shoulder for a moment. Atras was being tended to.
She took a seat and rolled her shoulders, closing her eyes and giving a stretch softly groaning while she did so. "I apologize for my traveling..." Adalia paused to search for the word, companion wasn't the correct one for sure, "My co-traveler." She reached and pat Quin on the arm, "He doesn't get out much." The woman gave Quinlan another glare but she meandered her way over to the table anyway.
"You look like a coupla drowned rats." She commented, her voice kind, "I'll have two breakfasts sent your way," Adalia got a kind smile to match her voice. She didn't even look at Quinlan. "Was there anything else?"
"No! Thank you." Adalia said quickly, smiling.
She turned back to Quinlan, "Are you sure you haven't been reanimated by that thing? Because this version of you is pretty unamazing. Where were you raised? The slums of Adela? Seriously." She shook her head. Sure she knew nothing about this man. That was it. Adalia was sure his name was in fact Quinlan and he did enjoy stealing anything not bolted down.
"Would you lighten up?" he hissed back and made a sour face. Seriously, she was killing his buzz. He eyes the flask in hand and wondered if it wasn't too early to get hammered. Perhaps the wench was right. But he knocked back another sip before sealing it up and tucking it back into his coat.
He sniffed and looked over at the black coffee that was laid out before them. It was just the kick he needed. "You ask a lot of questions for a Mageknight. You looking to earn points with your commander or something?"
Adalia finger combed her opal hair while she looked at her new traveling companion. The look she gave him could probably peel paint and she remained quiet. At first he seemed like an interesting thief. Now that the excitement of getting out had worn off she was less than impressed. His question caught her off guard and she yanked on her hair, gave a hiss of pain and stared at him for a moment.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She smirked, an eyebrow lifting while she leaned back in her chair, continuing to finger comb her hair. "You think they told me to wait at home for a thief who was going to steal something I didn't even know about until it brought my dead cat back to life?" Another laugh, "Actually yes, sure, I'm looking to earn points. Fucking your superiors just does not give the perks that it used to." She smiled again the sarcasm heavy in her voice, "I'm sure you know."
The breakfast was placed in front of them and utensils provided by the nice woman. Adalia took a sip of the black coffee and shifted in her seat.
"Then you must clearly not be good at it," he said with an amused scoff.
Quinlan had half a mind to boil her right then and there. For all her powers of incineration she wouldn't know the agony of being killed by the very thing that flowed through her veins. Why he refrained, he didn't know and stuck with staring at her.
He scoffed and pet the cat in his coat still. Daisy squirmed a little until he let her go and she went meandering through the dining room of the tavern. "Look, we don't have to get to know each other or have a heart to heart. We can speak when necessary and leave it at that. All we seem to have are dull-toothed quips anyway, and nobody has time for that nonsense."
And he knocked back the rest of his coffee in one go. And that was when Daisy brought a dead mouse up onto the table, meowing proudly.
"I'm probably not." She said honestly, looking off to the side. No, probably wasn't. Poor potential betrothed if-her-parents-managed-to-but-her-one. Adalia pushed her hands to her face and rubbed her eyes when he began to talk and she had the good graces to blush and even look a little shamed.
"I'm sorry Quin. I have been a bit of a bitch, haven't I." Which wasn't totally uncalled for. Stealing from her. Refusing to give it back. Mostly stealing from her. Her hands went to the table and she looked down, pondering on this possibly being the reason she didn't have any friends. Adalia began to chew on her lip and she slowly let her hands fall off the table and she placed them in her lap.
"I'll... Refrain from talking to you unless it's necessary. My apologie--eeeww. Daisy." Adalia grimace-smiled, tugging her sleeves over her hands and picking the cat up, putting it onto her lap, "You think we're bad at catching our own breakfast, huh?" She scritched the cat under the chin, who purred and tilted her head back farther. "You wouldn't be wrong about me. Can you hunt?" And instantly her promise not to talk to him was forgotten and she looked at Quinlan curiously.
Quinlan had been eating until the mouse landed beside him and he stared at the dead thing, which mustn't have been very recent because it was half disintegrated. But at the sheer innocent expression of the cat he laughed, snorting. He just couldn't help himself. In fact, amidst his laughter, a piece of bacon flew out of his mouth and Daisy's paw immediately snatched onto it and stuck it into her mouth.
At that he laughed even harder, trying to keep his mouth closed to keep food from flying out of it.
Quinlan snorted, trying to keep a hold of himself and sipped his coffee again. "Hunt? I dunno. What exactly do you mean by 'hunting'? That can imply a lot of things, Miss Mageknight Person. From the looks of you, you must be quite good at it. Or at the very least cooking the kill afterwards. And no, that wasn't because you're a woman... Wait, you are a woman aren't you? Nothing against it, just to clear things up."
Second hand bacon. Adalia watched, a little entertained and a little disgusted. Her hands hidden by her sleeves while she watched the cat chew on... Quin-Bacon.
"My name is Adalia, and yes I am a woman." She stated politely, "Hunting. Y'know like... Getting food? Deer? Rabbits?" She made a hand gesture that looked suspiciously like a rabbit scooting across the table. Were these the dull-toothed quips? Adalia figured they were and she simply smiled at him, entertained that he'd told her off only to go and do it.
"I realize you're referring to my magic and it's rather odd way of... Being." She nodded, she leaned back and folded her arms over her chest, "What can you do? I know there's something with ice." She looked at his hands, remembering the cuts and was genuinely curious about his abilities. It was always nice meeting mages, though perhaps this time was a little less nice.
"That kind of hunting? No. I'm afraid I leave you disappointed in that endeavor." He grinned toothily at her and he continued to eat. Meanwhile Daisy stared intently at Quinlan, waiting patiently for the next piece of bacon. Or anything really. "Am I to believe that you're used to your traveling companions being adept hunters?"
The food at least was good. And he hadn't realized how hungry he was accentuating he started eating. "You ask a lot of questions," he said again. But this time his tone was less biting, And he met her eyes curiously. He didn't often enjoy talking about his abilities and if he could avoid it, all the better. But he knew she saw the cuts in his hands and he wondered if she could connect the dots.
"But I suppose delaying an answer won't help either of us... I'm a blood mage. See?" And he opened his palm to her again, both of them this time to reveal more riddled scars. "It's fun, like a party. But with lots and lots of blood."
The grin led Adalia to believe that he wasn't afraid of leaving her disappointed, in fact he appeared quite glad and she could only pull a slight face at that. A confused smile was all she could manage, and it remained when he gave his wonderful observation. "I've had one traveling companion and yes, he was an adept hunter." Might as well answer his question. It took a good amount to effort not to tack on that she expected nothing from him but she kept her dull-toothed quip to herself.
Adalia ate her food slowly and their curious eye contact happened. He had nice eyes. Too bad the rest of him was less than amazing. Like that personality. Adalia picked up a piece of bacon and ripped it in half, putting it on the table for Daisy after she was being so cruelly ignored by Quinlan. His mention of being a blood mage had her tilting her head and then down at his hands.
Gently she placed her fork down on her plate and reached out with her own scarred hand, hovering it above his for a moment before she pulled her hand back. "I've never understood the nuances of blood magic." She commented, looking at him curiously. Like some book she'd never read before but had been curious about. Daisy discovered the bacon at her feet and began chewing it. "Is there a chance... The crest. It reacts to you because of your abilities?"
[SHE WOULD THINK HIS EYES WERE NICE :V]
At that question, Quinlan leaned his head back and blinked. He hadn't considered that and he glanced down toward his chest at the crest that lay dormant there. Oh his blood magic was always the source of trouble wasn't it!? And seemed it always would be until the day his soul was the demon's. He shook his head and tried to eat, but suddenly his appetite was dimmed a great deal.
"If it is, it won't be anything knew," he answered, pushing his food around. And he gave some eggs to Daisy. "In fact, if this were a card game, all my money would be in the pot!" He gave a sharp laugh and was going to drink more coffee when he realized he was out. "Pfft!"
"That being said, never make a deal with a demon. They never end well," he said with a nonchalant shrug. "Do you even know anything about this crest? Can you honestly say it's been sitting in your house all these years and you never once bothered to breathe on it?"
[What's that supposed to mean. D= They're a pretty colour. SHE'S ALLOWED TO APPRECIATE PRETTY THINGS.]
While she wasn't the best with people she could see when someone practically deflated and Adalia regretted suggesting his blood magic being the source of the crest. Gently she bit her lip, looking down at the table and feeling bad. Feeling bad for the man who'd broken into her house and stolen something. Adalia pushed her hands through her hair and then put her hands in her lap.
"I didn't mean it like that," She started, concerned. At the mention of demons and deals Adalia went more cold than any of the rain had made her. No one made idle comments like that. That was not a thing to shrug off and just comment about. Adalia looked at his hands again, there wasn't pity in her eyes though, but curiosity.
What had driven this man to making a deal with a demon?
Adalia stayed quiet, her meal was mostly done and the coffee was mostly empty. "Well of course I looked at it. Even took it and played with it on occasion when my parents weren't around," it had fascinated her, sure, but it had never brought dead things back to life, "That was forever ago, before I had my gauntlets. Before I was a mageknight even." Adalia pushed a hand through her hair, "I didn't mean suggest it was you that made the crest work, I simply meant to imply it was the kind of magic. My magic and your magic are different." Adalia paused and looked at her hands, "Sort of."
"All magic is the same. It is volatile and powerful, it depends on those that wield to decide how it is best used. Admittedly, some people make more mistakes than others, but the statement remains true," he said, surprisingly without irritation. "The catalyst however, is what is different. How it comes about, how it manifests. But energy is neither created, nor destroyed right? Or that's what my stupid dad used to say.
He stared at the dead cat, Daisy gently purring, clearly content to eat what was left on Adalia's plate and just cuddle. "I gather at the time, that thing was also alive, right? That would explain why it didn't have any sort of effect. All I know is that this thing is called the Valmir Crest."
He took it out from beneath his shirt to examine it closer and though it was still warm to the touch, it was not alive with light as it had been before. "I'm not sure what any of this means, bring dead things back to life. Seems like something mundane compared to the crap they do in Thanatos, or so I've heard. So far the cat seems fairly normal. I wonder if the same thing could be said if it revived a mass murderer or maybe a wild animal."
For a moment there he sounded intellectual and Adalia took a quick glance around the room for Quinlan. Surely the person in front of her wasn't actually the night time thief. The tacked on last part relieved any doubts she had. This was a grown man going on about what 'his stupid dad' used to say. "Well the way our magic manifests its self is different... Sort of." His seemed just as physical as hers, she supposed. "I can only pull off the really cool tricks when I'm not thinking about what I'm doing." Like exploding balls of air and literally burning someone from the inside out.
"Yes. Daisy was alive when I was younger." Adalia searched her head for this 'Valmir Crest' name and nothing came to mind. Her parents would probably know but they weren't here at the moment. "We can find out about wild animals later. I imagine the trip isn't going to be very short if we have to go to Draconi forest and since you can't hunt I'll have to." She rolled her shoulders, mentally making a list of all the things she'll need to acquire. If only...
Adalia closed her eyes for a moment and curled her hands in her lap. "How long would your trip take on foot?"
Quinlan stared at his food. "I'm not sure. I've never been to the village. I do, however, have a small map that might help us along the way. Just some courier's paths that lead through the forest to deeper settlements off the main road. I'm glad they haven't been too ruined by the rain." He checked the inside pocket of his coat and tapped the rolled map that'd been encased in a leather wrapping. "We'll need enough food for a few weeks, maybe three tops."
He pushed his food away.
"Look, it's going to be a long journey to Rat's End, I'm going to need to get some sleep. I imagine you'll need it too. You look like you just went through a forest," he muttered. At the jest he grinned at her and stood, trading what few coins he had in exchange for a room for the day, or however long their stay would be.
He didn't imagine it would be very long. And hoped very much in that direction.
The mageknight was a curious woman. She almost seemed as if she actually wanted to get out of that city, out of that nice house, out of her - probably - very stuffy life. He assumed she got a taste of the wider world and found the thought of returning home bland and leaving a bad taste in her mouth. Much like he did. Oh they were practically soulmates!
Quinlan glanced at Adalia and gestured her to follow him to the room provided. Upstairs lodgings were normal for most taverns, and not always provided with food and drink. But seeing that Quinlan had largely cleaned up his act, the woman that served them was more than happy to get him out of her sight. She turned to give to the key to Adalia. "If ye throw him down the stairs, I won't blame ye." And she nodded and left.
Three weeks.
That wasn't so bad. Adalia nodded, accepting that answer. Heck, three weeks was nothing. That was peanuts. Three weeks of camping and now that she had a better idea of what you needed during camping. Now that she was prepared for some totally random not planned adventure. Adalia moved to get up out of her chair and remembered her bags, the two prepacked bags for just this occasion.
At the comment of her looking like she just went through a forest she had a shocked face before it melted into a smile. A slightly offended smile but still a smile. It didn't take a mirror for her to know how awful she must look. The idea of sleep made her body feel heavy and she suddenly realized how tired her eyes felt. Gently she rolled her shoulders and picked up her packs, deciding that getting Atras a saddle was priority number one, because she wasn't going to carry all this crap for three weeks.
When he notably gestured for her she blinked and realized that it was a room. Singular? Adalia licked at the inside of her mouth trying to taste if anything was off, remembering the last time she had tavern food and shared a bedroom with someone. She'd sleep on the floor. "Oh, I won't be making a mess in your tavern, it's all right." She said and took the key, looking at it for a moment before glancing at Quinlan.
Up the stairs they went and she put the key into the door, the soft click of the lock and the loud meow of the cat. Like spit the cat was in the room and on the bed, rolling around and having a jolly good time. "I'll sleep on the floor. Get used to camping early. Big fancy bed at home, I'll take me longer to get used to hard things... uuh... ground." Adalia moved to the space under the window and dropped her bags before sinking down to the ground.
Of course the cat just had to jump on the bed. Quinlan glared, but obviously that did nothing and when Daisy took up the middle, Quinlan immediately leapt for the bed and shoved the cat aside. "Listen tuftball, you can have all of everything. I need this!"
"Meow!"
"No! Scoot!"
"Mroooooooow!"
"No! Daisy!"
The cat firmly tucked itself beneath Quinlan's arm and was determined to stay there until the end of time. He sighed and glanced at Adalia. "You wouldn't mind sharing the floor would you?" He moved from the bed, throwing a pillow in the floor and even took a blanket from the foot of the bed. In her victory, Daisy stretched out to fully claim the bed.
Quinlan flopped down after removing his boots and laying beside her, his coat hanging from the bed post. Though he was still a little buzzed from the morning dip, he couldn't help but turn to look at her. "We could fool around a little, might help us sleep?" he offered, with a purely innocent shrug.
He was fighting with the cat. Over the bed. Adalia watched, a little amazed and confused. Why not just lay on the bed anyway? Ignore the cat and carry on your way? Still sitting up she tucked her knees under her chin and watched him. first grabbing a blanket and then... relocating to the floor beside her. Why couldn't he have chosen by the door? Or the other side of the bed? Adalia nodded dumbly, she was about to deny him sleep.
However, his question made her freeze and she suddenly wished she was closer to the door. Fool around? "I don't..." Adalia started at a loss for words. That being the last thing she'd expect to come out of his head. Maybe she could brush it off. Play innocent so she didn't have to deal with the offer to fool around. "I don't know what that means, so I'll have to politely decline."
Then she laid down, her back to the wall and her arm tucked under her head. Why couldn't he just go fight off the cat? It was a cat. Sure it was an undead cat but still! A cat.
Quinlan grinned at her, he couldn't help himself. Oh she could play innocent all she wanted, but she did comment on him not looking at her breasts. She couldn't fool him that easily. "And you asked me if I looked at your breasts because...?" he asked with raised brows.
The bravado was gone.
Adalia frowned and tucked herself tighter against the wall. "That wasn't a come on." She wanted to press her hand over his mouth so he'd stop grinning. "And I said notice, not look." There was such a huge difference there. The adrenaline was gone and Adalia found herself unable to run her mouth like she had during the night. "You don't have time for this anyway, remember?"
"Quin, we barely know one another. Why exactly do you think fooling around would be a good idea." The question wasn't hesitant and she gave him her best 'unimpressed lady of the house' look.
"I didn't say it would be a good idea. It's just be fun. Besides having sex isn't the most unnatural thing in the world." He turned to lay on his side. "Hey if you don't want to, it's not that big of a deal. But it just strikes me as odd that you don't seem to mind a perfect stranger gawking at your breasts while changing. It must happen to you an awful lot." And at that he snickered.
When he put it into words Adalia turned a few different shades of pink.
"It strikes me as odd that you would offer to have sex with me after we've known one another for less than twenty-four hours." Adalia sat up then and glared at the bed. If he wasn't going to use it she would curl up with the cat.
"They're just breasts." She stared before she stood up and stepped over Quinlan, one leg going onto the bed quickly followed by the other. Daisy rolled onto her back, her feet in the air and Adalia sat on her knees, playing with the little kitty feet. "Which I know is what you're going to say about sex." She added.
Quick. Find a good lie that wouldn't make him feel bad or like it was his fault she didn't want to do it. That would just cause problems later, "I'm betrothed," A half truth. She wasn't betrothed yet. Adalia laid on the bed and Daisy crawled up onto her chest, making herself comfortable by curling into a little kitty ball and purring. "It wouldn't be right. I'm sure you understand."
"It's okay," he said, putting his arms behind his head and laying back, pillow balled up. "I told you it was completely gone if you didn't want to. They all say they're engaged too until we're panting like wild animals in heat." He laughed again, more in general than directed at her.
"Being betrothed can be boring. I hope for your sake he at least has an interesting personality quirk, or a big willy. Y'know, something to occupy your time."
Adalia actually rolled over to stare at him from over the bed, giving him a look. Shock, disbelief. Her cheeks were red. This was absolutely not the kind of conversation she was used to having. So much for having grown up. "Quinlan."She meant for it to be stern sounding, but it came out as an awkward shocked chuckle and she just stared. Not quite believing he implication of panting like an animal in heat.
"A bi..." She let out a breath and rolled back over, a displeased Daisy waiting for her. "Here I am hoping he isn't as old as my father and you're hoping he has a big..." She pressed her hands to her eyes to block out the light from the window, "You and I have much different priorities."
Finally her eyes closed and she took a breath after kicking her boots off the other side of the bed, not wanting to drop them on Quin. "Just... Sleep. If you need to be alone to make yourself sleepy, go do that somewhere else."
Quinlan tried to keep a straight face, but soon he was busting out laughing. "Well, ideally, you want someone young enough, with a BIG willy. No reason you can't have both."
"What is your fascination with ... Big those." Adalia finally asked, shaking her head slightly. "Do you prefer big ones?"
Quinlan shrugged nonchalantly. "I guess it depends on how much I've had to drink." He snorted a laugh. "But I'm just giving you some helpful marriage advice. Don't settle if you don't have to. I mean you've got a right to say who your partner is decide what you do or do not like about the bastard. And there's no shame in having a few standards when it comes to willies."
Daisy meowed again, a little indignant at being ignored and meowed for attention.
How much he's.... Oh dear.
Adalia closed her eyes briefly and put her hand on the cat, simply to keep it from meowing some more. Did stuffed undead cats need sleep? Guess she'd find out. "I've got not right to that. I'm a noble." She went quiet, "I don't get to decide who --- You know what. Just.." Adalia rolled over, cuddled Daisy closed to her chest and closed her eyes. "Go to sleep. Enough of your talk of willies."
She paused for a moment and moved closer to the edge away from Quinlan, "There's enough room on the bed if you don't want to sleep on the floor. Just don't touch me."
"Don't worry, Chicken Fingers," Quinlan said turn on his side and hugging the pillow just under his head. "I promise to keep my hands to myself." He chuckled lightly and closed his eyes, just about to go to sleep when he snorted out a laugh. "PFFT. Willies."
One last roll of her eyes and Adalia curled up around the cat. Daisy curled up in her arms in turn and together they slept. It was one of those awful during the day sleeps where it gets too warm and while you don't sweat you wake up warm and feeling awful. The rain the night before made everything muggy.
Besides that and feeling gross and damp Adalia slept fine for a good number of hours. A soft groan and she snuggled down into the bed more, pressing her face to the blankets she hadn't bothered to go under. Daisy was gone, the pressure at her back made her assume the cat had relocated to cool down a little.
The light from the window wasn't bright, but it was clearly afternoon. A soft sigh and she kept her eyes closed, "You awake yet?"
The pressure at her back was a little bigger than a cat and Daisy was busy looking for a mouse in the corner of the room, or just exploring in general. Quinlan had moved from the floor to the bed and was curled up behind her. Well, kind've close to her, and kind of with an arm around her.
His face was a little buried in her hair, and it smelled like sweat and rain. And he just smiled. "A little," he mumbled, opening his eyes a little. "Bed was way more comfortable than the floor."
It being the cat was indeed wishful thinking and Adalia snuggled deeper into the bed, groaning softly but not making an attempt to jump up and away. Too tired and while warm and uncomfortable, she was also comfortable. It was an odd state of half-awake.
"It was. Which is why I was going to let you have it." Her hand went to his arm with the intention of pulling it up and away but instead she just put it on top. If she was a more proactive person she would surprise him and steal that crest right now.
Adalia rolled over so they were chest to chest, her eyes still closed. "So you're a cuddler, huh?"
Quinlan grumbled something nonsensical before he opened his eyes, observing her face quietly. She was pretty. In a very pale, almost dead kind of way and her features probably could use some buffing up. Quinlan wasn't much of an artist himself, but he supposed it didn't really matter what she looked like.
"Something like that," he said, not making any effort to pull away or get up from the bed. "I take it you're not much of one? You don't seem the type. You look more like the lone soldier type, used to sleeping on the ground and hunting fugitives in the forest."
Her eyes still closed but she smiled brightly at the 'type' she'd be cast as. "A lone soldier?" She repeated, sighing softly and getting comfortable again, shifting her hips slightly and moving just a little bit closer. "I did that once. Chased what I thought was a fugitive. Slept on the ground for a while." Another quiet sigh and her voice took on the sleepy lilt, the half muffled because her lips just wouldn't move enough to form the full word.
"Brought him in too. Threw him in jail. Then I broke him out and ---" Adalia opened her eyes then, examining Quinlans features, a reminder of why she was here and what she intended to do. She gave a pointed look at his lips before she looked into his eyes. "You have nice eyes."
Admittedly this felt a little uncomfortable. But he was still too complacent laying on the bed to do anything about it. Might would fall soon and they'd have to get moving again. And with Quinlan's luck, Ansgar only knew Favris would catch up to them in no time.
"I do?" he asked, a bit skeptical. "What's so nice about 'em? Most people would say they're quite mad. I think they're right."
"They're just... Nice." She stated simply before she sighed, not able to go through with her little seduction thieving plan at all. Adalia gave Quinlans arm a pat before taking it off of her side and sitting up, tugging her shirt down from where it had ridden up her torso.
Giving a stretch she plucked her shirt away from her chest a few times before going to her backpacks. "I need to get a saddle for Atras. And bags. And we'll be out for three weeks, you said." Another stretch and she rolled her shoulders. She'd have to invest in some gloves too. She could do that. Three weeks.
Daisy was in the corner batting at a spider she had caught. Adalia frowned at the cat before giving a yawn and looking out the window, "It's about midday, I think. Plenty of time to get the things we need and be on our way."
Ugh, just when things were about to get interesting she had to go and get up and ruin the moment. Even if she would've dupedghim out of the crest, at leas he could've gotten to second base. Or something! Quinlan sighed and sat up, fiddling a hand through his hair. "All right then let's find a place to sell some of those lifted jewels. We'll need something to find the journey. Can't just rely on trades or handouts."
It sounded odd for him to say something like that, but that's how it was. He pulled his boots back on and pulled his coat back on. "Let's go. I just don't want to see that fat fuck Favris anywhere out there."
Adalia pulled on her boots and looked over her shoulder at him. "Give me the jewels." She finally turned around and held her scarred hand out to him, "I know their value and I won't get cheated." Her fingers wiggled while she reached for them and then gave her head a tilt in question.
"Why is he after you, hmm?" She leaned in, a smirk on her face, "Did you steal from him, too?"
Quinlan raised his brows at her. But, she was awfully nosy. In fact she was all nose. He laughed at the thought, but his smirk faded a little as he considered his answer. "You could say that. Or you might say, he thinks I slept with his sister...And his wife...And is out for my blood. But I'm quite sure that never happened. I mean so I had a winning hand in a game of strip poker, didn't mean I slept with them! Two separate games mind you."
He handed her the jewels. "I want the watch. Even if it is broken."
By the time they were ready to go out, at least Daisy was content to just go about in her own, bells jingling as she ran ahead of them. Quinlan wondered if the cat would garner unwanted attention since it did not look at all ordinary. With patches of gray fur missing, and lifeless sheens to her eyes, it was curious no one seemed to question it. Until one man passing by nearly tripped on her and tried to kick her aside.
Quinlan stepped forth. "Hey! What is wrong with you? Don't even think about it buddy."
Quinlan sleeping with a bunch of people wasn't a surprise, "That man is married?" Her eyebrows went up and she shook her head in disbelief, that poor woman. "Sure you didn't sleep with them, I believe you." The tone she used implied that she, in fact, did not believe him. Adalia took the jewels and gave him an odd look when he claimed to want to keep the watch. "Alright, you should know it's entirely repairable." She commented idly before they went off.
Content to watch the cat jingle in front of them, Adalia had been looking off to the side and didn't notice Daisy almost tripping someone. She jerked and stared when Quinlan called out the man.
The man, of course, did not take well to being yelled at for almost tripping over an ugly rat and he gave a snarl to Quinlan. This man could have easily been a mason of some kind, he was large. In all ways. Whether it was muscle or fat, he could easily be twice Adalia's size and she simply stared at him. The man gave a pause after Quin spoke but the pitiful mewl Daisy made when her ass got sideswiped by the mans foot implied he either didn't hear, didn't listen or didn't care.
"Fuck you and fuck your rat, Boy. Little shit gets in my way, I'm gonna kick it until it isn't." The man spit on the ground near Quinlans feet, moving so that Quinlan was in fact, in his way. "You got a problem with that?" Adalia frowned at Quinlan before moving to Daisy, gently picking her up and cradling her. Adalia pressed her hand against the cats chest to feel for a heartbeat.
"She's dead! He kill---" No. no. Daisy was undead. She didn't even have a heart. Her mouth shut and the cat gave a little mewl. Oooh, it was a miracle! Cat's aliveish. Shit. Adalia had forgotten that Daisy was undead dead.
[That guy needs to be put to the torch. Kicking a cat. Even if it's a dead cat, still!]
Quinlan wasn't afraid of that rat bastard, no matter how big he was. He just peered up at the man, brow low, and clearly in no mood for the bull shit. This was not an ideal morning for the blood mage. They had a lot to do and the last thing he needed or wanted was some chump with more muscles than brains think he was going to get away with kicking a harmless animal.
He crossed his arms over his chest. "Don't listen to her, she's crazy. I mean she's petting a ratty looking cat for crying out loud!" Quinlan said without skipping a beat. "She eats her morning mush with her toes, really she's filled with nonsense."
The mason gave Adalia a onceover and a toothy grin before returning to the task of glaring down the stranger. "Last chance to get out of my way, Rat Boy! Or I'll turn you into mush."
"I take it you like to kick things? You might get a kick out of this!" And before the mason knew it, his eyes crossed and he made a low wheezing sound that came out from between semi-parted lips. His knees buckled and he feel down to his knees, holding his balls with both hands. Quinlan had no sympathy for the bastard and rested a boot heel on his head.
"Remember me the next time you try to smash something smaller than you friend. And count your pitiful blessings," Quinlan said, spitting on him this time and stalking off, gesturing to Adalia. "C'mon, mealy mush. We've got a saddle to buy."
Eats her morning mush with her toes? The only thing he got out of her was a roll over her eyes and she began to walk away. Until the sounds of a scuffle happened and she turned around to look. Yup, Quin had kicked the man in the balls. Of course. Why not. That was a thing people did to total strangers.
One arm holding the cat, the other went to cover her face as they walked away. Adalia stared at Quin while they walked along and she frowned slightly, "That better not become a name," She stated before she looked around, trying to find a tack shop of some kind, at least to know where it was for later. "Unless you want to haul a saddle back to where Atras is we should worry about everything else first."
Adalia tilted her head and puffed out her cheeks while she thought, though they quickly deflated, no. Splitting up would be a stupid idea, Quin would go off on his merry way - he still had the crest. "I have some camping things in my bag, we just need to worry about the little things." Adalia supplied, hopefully to be of help. She cleared her throat, "I've never actually prepared to spend nights on end outside, besides what I already have I don't know what we need."
Quinlan grinned at her, he couldn't help himself. "First, let's pawn off some of the more useless junk. Sorry, but jewelry won't help us survive in the wild. I'm not as useless as I look, knight's honor!" He snickered though there wasn't anything to laugh about. The faster they moved out of town the better and Quinlan wasn't looking to get lunches by the local mob. It was a likely event if Mr. Mason Man had any friends.
"Travel light, that's generally my style," he said, with a nod. "Mooch where you can, you'll get by. Maybe Daisy can be used to hunt small game or something." Daisy meowed happily, just content to be acknowledged. Quinlan pet the dead cat and she purred in Adalia's arms.
The town, being a hub for Arca, did not thrive on trade. But there were a few small shops, and stalls that had some goods worth looking at. There was a small pawn shop, Quinlan opening the door for her and stepping afterward. "No pets inside the shop!" the man behind the counter said.
"Oh don't worry, she's already dead."
And the man just stared.
Travel light. With two people on Atras's back they would have to unless they tire out her poor horse sooner. Adalia hadn't been keeping up with him as well as she should have, her fingers threaded through her hair and she held the cuddled up Daisy in her arm.
Adalia gave Quin a weary look when he held the door open for her but she stepped in anyway and was instantly startled. The damn cat. Adalia looked down at Daisy who was playing with the ends of Adalia's hair and just looked back up. "She's not dead, just encha-" Adalia started to say only to look up and instantly turn around, grabbing Quinlans arm and mostly trying to hide herself behind him from the person behind the counter.
"I can't do it." She whispered, taking his hand between hers and putting the jewels back in them. "I know him. He does deals with my father." Adalia took careful steps away from Quin and moved to hide behind a shelf, giving him a thumbs up and an extremely awkward smile.
If Adalia's had expected the man behind the counter not to notice the odd behavior, she'd be sorely disappointed. Luckily he'd only been looking at Quinlan's mug, and kept an eye on them from the corner of his eye. Meanwhile Quinlan took the jewels and have a scowl to Adalia as if to say, "Wimp."
"My good man. How can I help you?" The man behind the counter was friendly, though he eyes Quinlan and the jewels in his hand. "What's the matter with the girl? She's soft in the head or sump'm?"
"Oh her? Er, no. She's just real shy is all. That's why she hugs that cat. And I was just joking earlier about the cat being dead. As you can see she's very sensitive about the cat. Loves it to death."
The other man nodded. "Ah. I've got a niece with that condition. Poor girl. She can't talk to nobody without an awful stutter." He waved his hand as if trying to smack a fly away. "What you got there, sir?"
"Jewels. Just some old trinkets we don't need anymore. See any value there?" Quinlan placed them on a soft towel that was already on the counter and he examined them.
"Nice looking. A little worn, but still in good shape. Funny, a friend of mine got his wife something just like this." He laughed, then turned a ring over in his hands. "This one I can give ya a little more for. Now, how much were ya looking fer?"
The haggling didn't last long and Quinlan took the sack of coins in hand rather quickly. Nope, not suspicious at all. The man spread the jewels out on the counter and examined them again. And his eyes were caught on a particular pair of earrings. "Hold on there!" Quinlan was just about to acquire Adalia from behind as shelf when he said that and he mentally winced at not having reached the door in time.
"Where did you get these?"
Quinlan looked at him, then the earrings he was holding up. "I told you. It was just some old jewels lying around. We don't need it anymore. Look, we're a bit of a hurry, lots to do."
"You're not going anywhere you goddamn thief! You'll stay right here! You... Adalia!?"
Busted.
Adalia put her hand to her mouth and dragged her thumb over her lower lip, a small gasp leaving her mouth before she took a few unsteady steps out from behind the shelving. Why hadn't she just left the store? Swallowing loudly she kept going, her head down and she made a point of looking really dejected and defeated.
"I..." She started to explain and then simply looked over her shoulder at Quin, giving him a brief wink that she'd hoped would tell him to play along. If he was the idiot she thought he was, he would think she had something in her eye. No one could be that big of an idiot.
Slowly, the arm not holding the cat went to her midsection and she made an attempt to say a few words, though nothing was coming out.
"Oh, Adalia." The man behind the counter said, his voice sympathetic and he shook his head slightly, "First you go running off with that weird drow guy and now this?" He moved from the clerk and walked over to them, grabbing her shoulders in his hands and giving them a rough pat.
"Please..." She croaked out, tears in her eyes, "Please don't tell my father." She moved her hand to his forearm and held tight, "They're mine." She nodded, "Mother gave me..." She swallowed, more crocodile tears welling in her eyes, "Please." The man, not really knowing what to do with a crying adult woman in his hands simply nodded and then gave Quin a stern look.
"You better treat her and that baby well, you hear son?" Obviously this man knew her father. He sighed heavily and gave her shoulder another pat, "I won't tell. For now." He paused, "I'll give you a weeks head start." He leaned in, gave Adalia a kiss on the forehead and a brief hug.
Adalia gave him a watery smile and moved towards Quinlan, grabbing his hand and threading her fingers through his while she escorted him outside. Adalia slowly walked him down the road towards a grocery type store before she let go of his hand, "And that's what would have happened if we'd had sex last night." and then she jazz hand with her free hand while looking pleased with herself.
Quinlan remained quiet through the whole ordeal. There were moments when it paid to hold one's tongue and this was definitely it. That was until he realized what was going on! Inwardly his eyes widened and his first instinct was to turn tail and run. He already had the money after all. And he was fairly sure he could outrun her, even the cat if necessary. Sure she had a horse, and could likely run him down, but lies like this were a little much. Even for a rat bastard such as he.
When the man spoke to him, the urge to deny fatherhood outright was strong within him, but he kept his lips seal tight, frowning deeply in a looked that appeared genuinely somber at their situation. "I will sir," he managed to break out in a cracked voice.
Thankfully, Adalia was smart enough to lead them both outside before he reached out and slugged the man, hopefully hard enough that he would forget he ever saw them.
He yanked his hand away and tried to wipe her cooties off on his pants. "You say it like you'd regret it or something. Besides, I always carry protection anyway," he said and sniffed indignantly. "I can't be bothered having babies." But for all he knew he had some little brats running around somewhere. He couldn't be bothered with that nonsense, however, as there were important tasks at hand. Like grocery shopping.
He sighed through his nose. "Look how about we split up for a bit. You get us the food stuffs and I'll find a suitable saddle for your brave, strong steed, yeah? Here's half the take." Quinlan was careful to look around before pulling out some of the coins from the sack into his hands. "I won't go far. I promise," he said, and gave her his best grin.
Adalia gave Quin's shoulder a hearty pat, "We're never having sex, so you having protection will be useful when you hang out with whores!" She leaned in and looked around for a moment before starting in a stage whisper, "I hear they have... Diseases." The look she gave him could be counted as a silly face, but she quickly righted herself and blinked at him when he suggested they split up.
Ahahaha. Ahahahahaha. "Do you think I'm an idiot?" She said simply, a delicate eyebrow raised before she grabbed his arm, his coat tight in hire grip. "I've known you for a day." The tone she used was one that could be akin to someone adding 'duh' . Adalia let him go and pocketed half of the coin, simply because that meant he didn't have it. "If you were gonna lie, you could have - I dunno - gone for the groceries instead of getting my horse a saddle."
Adalia smiled a cold, cold smile and moved her hands away, holding it up and away "I take it back. You go get the groceries, I'll get Atras a saddle. That way, when you skip town I can run your ass down for stealing from me and lying to me." Daisy meowed loudly as if to put emphasis on her words, before she turned to get her horse a saddle, Adalia paused and called out over her shoulder before she walked away "And wipe that smarmy grin off your face, you look like an asshole."
Quinlan grinned, he kept grinning. He just couldn't help himself. She was awfully cute when she was mad; and apart of him wondered if she couldn't have benefited from a good romp in the sheets. But then again, he probably wouldn't be able to see that look of irritation on her face that just made him all - rrrrrmmmph!
"That's the nicest thing you've said to me all day," he said, calling after her and laughed. Sure sure, so she didn't believe him. He didn't expect her to, even if he knew he was telling the truth. It didn't matter in hindsight. Places to be, things to do, people to bring back to life. He thought about that as he shopped for provisions. Sure it was a mundane task, but it was mundane enough to be made interesting by him making noises and little voices come out of a tomato, as it spoke to a potato.
He couldn't say that delivering the crest to his buyer was the best of choices. But it was the logical one in his mind. Was it his affair to worry about what the dumb bastard wanted to do with it in their ill-conceived mind? No, no it wasn't. Quinlan had to look out for himself. Who the hell else was going to? No one gave a shit about anyone else in this world, so why should he? No one -
SHWOONK!
Quinlan suddenly felt very dizzy and like his head had just been hit with something very hard. Oh, right it had! His vision blurred, not quite blacking out just yet as he staggered forward and turned around, looking at the man that he'd kicked in the nuts earlier. "You!" Only this time, he wasn't alone. It seemed he had more than a few friends with him.
"Gonna teach you some manners, you little fuck!"
"Well, looks like this party's just getting started. I don't recall sending an RSVP"
"Nah, this get-together is just for you..."
Quinlan's vision came back into focus, barely avoiding the club that came sailing toward his face, and he was backed into a corner between the grocery stalls.
Adalia made a point of flipping him the bird as she walked away.
Once they parted ways Adalia did what she set out to do. First she returned to where Atras was and collected her horse. Atras rubbed his nose against her chest and she gave him scritches before she remembered that, oh right, they were up to stuff. Adalia kept ahead and Atras followed her faithfully, his head down while he toddled along behind her.
Daisy had vacated Adalia's arms and was sitting, content, on Atras' rump, her head held high with a regal look in her dead eyes. Heading to the tack shop, Adalia went about purchasing the needed things for riding a horse. The choker around her neck with the jewels was traded for the saddle and bags, a promise to hold it until she came back with real money - the coin she'd gotten could be used for other things. The nice gentleman came out with the saddle and together they set Atras up, Adalia put the things in her bags away in the saddle bags and looked around.
Quin wasn't anyway.
There was no surprise. No sense of betrayal, because she'd been expecting him to just leave. Until - "Miss, oh miss!" A younger woman had caught sight of the sword she'd just sheathed, and Adalia looked at her, blinking, "You need to help!" Adalia grabbed her sword and followed.
"You need to take this outside!" The clerk in the grocery yelled, absolutely beyond pissed that this stuff was happening in his place of work. "You stay outside!" The man yelled when Atras tried to follow Adalia in, the horse respectfully turned around and waited on the street.
Adalia, sword drawn, the silver glinting against the sun brightly when it seemed in through the open door and the window. "Quin!" Adalia called, recognizing his stupid face between the big men. At least that meant he hadn't left her here. Still, how could he have slept with this mans wife so soon? They'd been there a day. He was in the bedroom all night! Or was he?
Grabbing the back of one mans collar she pulled him back roughly with far more strength one would expect from someone her size, "Gentlemen!" She barked, using her 'I'm a knight, therefore listen,' voice. "Couldn't you have jumped him outside?" disappointed she held her sword out, the jewel in the hilt glowed slightly. "Are you hurt?" She called, still staring at them, an eyebrow rose.
"I can take you all on, chums," She smiled again, making a 'come here' motion with her hand. "Wouldn't want to burn down the shop though so, come outside, we can play."
Six to one odds? He'd take that. It was better than he usually got. He had his hands around one man's neck and was promptly headbutting him and knocking him into some tomatoes. He went legs up, knocking over the stand. All ready the rest rushed at Quinlan before he could recover. The club slugged hard into his gut, and knocked the breath out of him. But his hands went up and pushed the club back against his attacker, smashing his face and opening an outlet for escape.
Oh and look who decided to join in on the fun! Quinlan smiled at Adalia and he was the first to come outside, the men following him. The mason threw a potato at Adalia. "Stay out of this! This don't concern you, bitch."
"I hope you don't kiss your mother that mouth. I'm pretty sure you kissed your sister instead." Quinlan laughed despite his bloodied lips and ducked beneath a fist. His hrad was still kind of reeling from getting bashed in the head, but he wasn't going to miss this excitement.
The potato was easily sliced in two. She just glared and let out a steady breath.
In a burst of gusto, Adalia caught one by surprise with a well aimed kick to the temple. His teeth crashed down into his tongue and a gush of blood poured out of his lips before she turned the other way and kicked him in the face while he was dazed. Down he went, Adalia was not pleased with this turn of events. "Quin! Can't you contain yourself for an hour. Just one hour!"
A grin. That bastard had the gall to just smile at her like he was having fun. Fighting wasn't fun! Adalia frowned at him, her green eyes practically burning another hole in his coat where she glared at the back of it. "Now I don' like hittin' ladies!" Adalia hadn't been paying attention to the right people and a fist caught the side of her mouth. It stung, when her teeth crashed down into her cheek and she tasted the tang of blood.
Oh, now it was on.
He received the hilt of her sword to his throat as thanks and he stumbled back, choking and gasping for breath. They were used to brawling and while Adalia wasn't the best at hand to hand combat, she was a trained knight. Sure magic was her forte, didn't mean she could slack on all the other stuff. Besides, she didn't have her gauntlets, she'd hurt herself more than anything. The crashing of his forehead against her forehead left her dizzy and Adalia stumbled back, a hand to her head after her sword sunk into something oddly fleshy. There was a thump and she was pretty sure the man went down.
She kept backing up, her hand at her head. Maybe she could do it again. Maybe... No. That would be bad to do here. Finally she stumbled and landed on her ass, dizzy with her mouth bleeding. She sat and tried to keep her eyes open, head still hurting, unaware she'd just stabbed an innocent (but brawly) man.
"And this is all my fault somehow!?" he huffed, just as a first came flying into his face. He growled at his assailant and rushed him, knocking him to the ground and proceeding to grab his head, bashing it into the ground until he stopped moving. Something hard struck his ribs - probably another club - and it sent the air burning out of his lungs.
From the corner of his eye he registered Adalia fighting - and fighting surprisingly well - until she staggered backwards and onto her ass. His breath came labored and he stared up at the man raising the bat, likely going to knock it down on his head, and he spat the blood coming from his lip. Quinlan stared at the blood, and he felt his palms starting to tingle. In a quick swipe, his leg came out and slammed hard into bat-man's ankles, sending him to the ground.
Quinlan rose to his knees, still favoring his wounded side and reaching into his belt, pulling out the knife he had there and slicing it across his palm. The blood trickled out quickly, and he spilled it out along the ground, throwing it like a farmer might throw seed, and where it splattered, it smoldered.
He moved toward Adalia, pulling her to her feet, hoping she didn't wave that sword at him any time soon. And when his bloody palm hit the floor, fire burned up in a large wall, blocking them from their assailants, and giving a chance for escape. "Get on the horse!" he hissed, and shoved her toward Atras.
He followed up, leaping behind her and keeping his palm cradled against his chest. "I've got some provisions, not much, but it'll do. Let's get the hell out of here."
"Oh man." Adalia drawled out while she bonelessly climbed up onto Atras's back, Daisy crawling up and over Adalia while she moved so that the cat was curled up between her and the horses neck. "You should teach me that trick," Then the weight behind her let her know Quin was there. That was a neat trick. Just a blood mage. Maybe it was a price. Spend some blood and make some magic happen. Is that how the ice happened? That had really surprised her. Adalia kicked Atras off at a gallop and they tore through the town, her vision blurred and her head lulling occasionally.
God that man had a hard head. Adalia looked at the sword in her hand, the blade, the blood that had dripped down to settle at the hilt. After a long look she sheathed it. He would survive. Maybe. It wasn't her concern anymore.
Adalia licked the inside of her cheek, tender, moved her hand to her lip to hiss and pull it away. Cut there, too. She looked at her fingers and frowned at the blood. So many questions for this blood mage. No time to ask them though, they were moving. Adalia moved Atras off the road and slowed the horse down. "We can't use the road for a bit, you know that, right?" Slow enough to talk without being jostled around. It was a rhetorical question though because Adalia didn't wait for an answer.
"Can you use my blood to do magic or just yours?" She moved her head to speak over her shoulder better but didn't look back, not really wanting to see how much like meat Quin looked. Adrenalin was still pumping through her veins and she felt her heart still pounding in her chest. A nice easy chat would calm everything down.
Then she could get angry. Daisy meowed and gave a little stretch, not really caring about anything.
Quinlan was just ready to beat it the hell out of there. It was bad enough Favris was on his tail. And now these men. And likely the local Serenian authority of some kind now that a lady had gone 'missing' from her home in Arca. Quinlan could already feel the noose around his neck tightening, but now wasn't the time to get choked up about it.
He took hold of the horse, for it seemed Adalia's head was still spinning for the duration of the moment. And he turned it off the side of the road, passing through the trees alongside it, and letting the horse do most of the navigating. The sound of water trickled nearby and soon Atras stopped before it. Quinlan slid off the saddle.
"We can freshen up, and move on from here," he said, clearly stating the obvious, but the cut on his palm could use a cleaning. He leaned down by the water, and looked up at her. "I could," he replied after a moment of thought. "Blood magic just requires blood. Some spells require a lot of it. All of it in fact. Elemental magics are fairly simple. Though the stronger the spell, the more potent the sacrifice need be."
He examined his palm, yet another scar to add to his collection. "It can heal, or kill, with remarkable ease."
Getting off of Atras was a feat unto it's self, but she managed. Pressing a hand to her forehead she wandered closer to Quinlan and leaned down beside him and sunk her hands into the water before bringing her damp hands to her face to wash the blood from around her mouth.
The use of any blood was interesting, though his dismissal of her magical abilities made her bristle. Adalia sat back, her legs out in front of her and butt on the ground. Atras made his way over and pressed his nose to her head, snuffling at her hair. A hand went up and scratch at his chin and she gave a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry I made you go get the groceries." Her hand went to her face and she rubbed at her eyes, before giving a gentle nod of her head towards his hand "You wouldn't have had to do that."
Pressing the palms of her hands against her eyes she sighed heavily.
"I just fuck everything up." Adalia stood up and took a breath, "three weeks you said," she nodded off into the distance. "I'll ask you more about your abilities when we're not running away from angry dicks. Get on the horse." She nodded to Atras who stood like the proud noble steed he was, Daisy content to flop about on his back.
[lol. 'dismissing her magic' was totally not what he meant xD. ]
"It ain't your fault," he said with a sigh before getting up and shaking off his hand as his palm eventually stopped bleeding. "It would've happened either way. Well more my way than you're way." He flexed his hand, the cold water dribbling down his knuckles. He moved off toward Atras and climbed up behind her.
The damn cat suddenly jumped off Atras and scurried around the bushes, meowing as she went. "Daisy!" he called after her. All that was replied was another meow and when he leaned his head over, he saw her squatting in the soil. "Oh! Daisy! I didn't even know dead cats could poop."
[she's a sensitive lady, she took his comment out of context and decided to be insulted!]
"Pardon?"
There were some things you just didn't say in front of a lady and Adalia had hoped that that sentence had been one of those things. Unfortunately it was not and Adalia even looked to where Quin was looking, thankfully she didn't see anything. Or unthankfully. The yeowl the cat gave made her sigh and climb back off the horse. To be a pain in the butt Adalia jostled Quin as much as she could, even grabbing his knee to balance herself after she was on ground. This was his fault. That cat should have been an ornament but here it was, taking a crap in the woods.
Another yeowl had Adalia examine and she stopped with a quietly uttered "What the fuck."
The cat was leaving behind stuffing. Two glass eyes rested with it and Daisy scratched at the dirt to cover her leavings and quickly hurried to Adalia, bell jingling. A nuzzle to Adalia's face and the cat began making those awful hairball sounds. Recoiling she moved back to sitting on her knees as the cat coughed up balls of stuffing.
Adalia gagged a little but stared at the cat. "Quin." It was a soft gasp and she pressed her hand to her chest while staring at the cat that was now purring and rubbing her face against Adalia's leg. The faint feeling of a heart beat made her own speed up. "What's it called when you were undead but you shit out all your sawdust and stuffing and your heart starts beating again?"
"Uhhh...reviving?" It was the only word he could think of and when he dismounted from Atras, to look around the tree, Quinlan suddenly made a face and groaned. "Oh! Ansgar's balls. Daisy! You shoulda told me this crest would bring you all the way back to life! Now I gotta deal with hair balls and dead birds. Thanks a lot!'
"Mew!"
"Well, now we have a live cat to feed! This day keeps getting better and better!" Quinlan sighed and looked out at the stuffing. "But this is kind've amazing. I'm happy to say I've never seen anything quite like this before. I suppose a living cat is better than a dead one. And I'm sure she's happy to be alive too. Just more poop to clean up."
Adalia pinched the bridge of her nose, giving him a brief look when he called out to Ansgar. Keeping quiet for the time being she was briefly amused by his complaining to the cat about being alive again. Though him dealing with those things? Doubtful. It would land on her. Just like everything else that has taken a turn for the weird. It always landed right in her lap.
"I've also never seen anything revived."
Were they far enough away from the town? Adalia licked her lips and eyed where the crest was under his shirt. This was far more dangerous than she first anticipated. Undead things, sure that happened... Sort of.
Reviving? That was bad news. Adalis moved to stand in front of Quinlan, Daisy momentarily forgotten.
"Please. I need to ask you one more time. Please give me the crest. We can put it back where you found it and this can all be forgotten. I'll pay you. I'll help clear your name." She pointed to his chest, where she figured the crest might be "That is dangerous and I know you only have yourself to look out for but think of all the trouble that might come of this."
For a long moment, Quinlan actually considered giving it back to her. This was l very freaky shit. Maybe even for him. Bringing things back from the dead wasn't exactly something he sought to do on a daily basis, but then neither was killing people. But sometimes he couldn't help that either. Quinlan clutched at the crest and shook his head. "Maybe the guy who wants this just wants to collect, much like yours did. I don't quit on the job, it's a simple delivery nothing more."
He gestured to Daisy. "Look, see you got your cat back. Not everyone gets second chances with people or things they love. What if he just wants to bring back an old friend...or a family member."
"We don't collect things. We just keep them." Adalia pressed her hand to her forehead only to hiss and whip it away because it hurt. Who knew flesh could be so tender. When he gestured to the cat she just... Felt sad. Daisy had done her time. She'd died. Daisy had died from being old. And now Adalia would have to watch her die again. The woeful look she gave the cat had it meander over and rub against her leg.
Adalia picked Daisy up and rubbed her chin against the cats head, giving a look to Quin before she sighed and put Daisy on the saddle. It would be so easy to turn around. Go home. Let Quin go on his way and revive people. "Fine." Squeezing her hands into fists she simply shook her head and took a deep breath. "We should keep going." Adalia got onto Atras and moved as forward as she could to make room for Quin behind her.
"Night will happen soon and I don't want to deal with most of the creatures that hang out in the forest." Tilting her head she puffed out her cheeks before she let out another deep breath, "Do you have to hurt yourself for every magic trick you do?" Which was a rich question coming out of her, all things considered.
What was that pang he felt? Was it guilt? Or sorrow of some kind? Ugh he couldn't be more sick with himself. Quinlan looked to Adalia, blinking at her for a few long moments, and the fact that she didn't run him down with the horse and take the crest back by force. Which was entirely possible in this moment and he soon nodded when she directed him to get back on the horse. Daisy was more than happy to go for another ride on the horse.
Mounting Atras behind Adalia, he out his arms around her and shook his head.
"Sometimes I hurt other people...or people hurt me," he said and examined his palms again, looking over her shoulder. "What about your hands? Does your magic always affect you so badly?"
Adalia gave Atras a nudge with her boot and away he went, lumbering along. Daisy was in her lap, Quinlan was at her back. She was very much surrounded. Adalia took his hand in hers and held it palm up, moving one of hers to hold it palm up as well. She examined their palms, looking from her burned ones to his scarred one. Such a similar thing for two very different reasons.
"Yes. It's why they look like this." She looked him over her shoulder, "My magic is very physical. I don't cut myself to create it, I burn myself to use it. Or I break my fingers." Adalia tried to smile, "Fire and air are the worst culprits, but they're the easiest to use. Water is the most difficult. I trained for ages to learn how to heal myself and I still need actual water to even do it." Then she shrugged and put her hands down, pressing them to the cat. Sinking them into fur. Feeling Daisy's heart beat.
A thought struck her.
Curious, she pressed her hand to one of Quins, her fingers moving over his pulse gently. They weren't beating at the same time, which was a bit of a comfort. Sorta. " Are you feeling alright since Daisy revived?" Maybe the crest was cursed in some day. "Lethargic? I know it just happened, but... Magical items are tricky. You can't get what you're not giving it, y'know?"
Quinlan couldn't say he had a lot of experience with magical artifacts. He'd handled a few in his time and the same concepts with understanding the transference of magical energy also applied, or so he figured. From the sound of it, it seemed as if his foolish companion had experience in this particular field. Maybe she wasn't as annoying or useless as he thought. Sure, she helped him out in the fight, but he could've taken those men.
Sure she took her own mount and helped him escape, but he could've just as easily gotten away on foot. Okay she was more than useful. But she was still a pain.
Quinlan frowned thoughtfully. "I don't feel any different than when I snatched it. I feel less cold and clammy, why? You think it's sapping energy from me? Perhaps at a slowed rate?"
Adalia returned his thoughtful frown before giving a shrug, "Is cold and clammy the norm for you?" her tone of voice implied that, too, was probably not normal but she didn't make any accusations. Maybe it was a result of his type of magic? Adalia always ran a little warmer than other people, which she figured was a byproduct of her kind of magic.
"I dunno, Quin." She nudged Atras to get him to move faster, figuring when they were going the wrong way her new 'friend' would say something about it. Probably not. Did he even really know where they were going? "It was just a thought." Maybe she'd check again later when he was sleeping. It wouldn't do well for him to die. "Like you said, it was just in my house. I just... Sometimes things aren't worth the price you have to pay in the end. Maybe that crest is one of those things."
"I feel fine. Don't worry. If I'm about to die, I'll let you know so you can take this stinking crest off me. Just focus on the path ahead. Your horse needs to know where to go." But inside Quinlan was churning his insides over in thought at what she said. He knew there would be consequences to holding onto such a crest and he thought he could feel it draining on him now.
Maybe he could store it away in a pouch rather than carry it around. It was a little wiser, especially since it was the only thing that lingered on his mind. He sighed softly and just held onto her, fearing his heart skipping a beat.
Adalia rolled her eyes at his suggestion that Atras needed to know where to go. Because they were going in so many directions right now. Still, she could understand the subtle 'shut up' and did just that. Daisy was scooped up against her chest, held in an arm and then Atras was off at a canter. Daisy didn't take to the movement so much and claws were out and Adalia had her hands full with the cat earning a few deep scratches in the process, holding on with just her legs and Quin behind her before she got the cat situated.
They rode for a while in silence. Adalia turning her head around to look at her guest occasionally once or twice she'd opened her mouth to say something only to think better of it and turn away.
The sun was going down and Atras was slowing, his sides heaving and a determined look in her eyes. Adalia steered him towards a small stream before she dismounted, Daisy taking up her spot on the saddle. Atras bent and drank from the stream while Adalia scratched at his neck and sang his praises. "Been a while since we did that, huh boy? Yeeeaaaah." Her fingers rubbed at his neck and finally he lifted his head only to smear water up her front. That got a wrinkled nose glare from her but it quickly dissolved into a grin.
"Do you know how to set up camp, Quin? Atras needs rest at the very least, so we can have a little break, eat something and then go again." The sooner they got there the sooner this business could be fixed and the sooner she could go home guilt free. Daisy relocated herself to be as close to Quin as possible, giving him big pretty kitty eyes the whole while.
Quinlan was deep in thought; thinking deep magical thoughts about being deeply screwed magically and wondering if the stupid albino warrior girl was right after all. Gods be damned, he hated when they were right. Stupid albino warrior women. He blinked at her, looking at the back of her head and he gasped silently as he saw her face melt into the back of her head so that her hair merely draped down the middle between them.
He shook his head forcefully, blinking the image away and gripping his hand suddenly as he felt needles digging into his palm. He said nothing, trying to contain screams for the moment until they stopped. He looked haggardly at Adalia.
He slipped off the horse and nodded. "I can set up camp. I've done it plenty of times. Or just lying in the grass is good enough for me," he said with a nod, trying to give a cool nonchalant smile and feeling it falter. Quinlan shook his hand out, trying to shave off that feeling - the return of the pain and set about making camp.
"Guess we're camping for the night." Was her reply before she went about removing the saddle and the other things on the horses back. Adalia gave Quinlan a sidelong look while she rubbed down the horse, noticing him shaking his hand out. Did he hurt himself? She frowned slightly, ignoring it for the moment while Atras basked in the attention and Daisy made herself a nice cuddly spot on his rump.
If he was anyone else she would have made sure he was okay. Concern for the guy seemed to irritate him, so she kept herself quiet and when she had finished rubbing the horse down went about collecting what dry sticks she could find, which were few and far between since it had rained so hard. Eventually, her smart mouth couldn't stay closed, "If you're pulling a 'I hurt and only sex can fix it' deal I'm going to kick you so hard in the head."
With little ceremony and less concern for his personal space Adalia grabbed Quinlans hand with both of hers and examined it, frowning at not seeing anything terribly wrong with it. "I thought you hurt yourself? Maybe the...?" She removed her one of her hands from his and hovered it over his chest. "Maybe we should put that in one of the saddlebags." So that she could totally not just race home in the middle of the night. Oh no. That would be mean.
His hand was trembling. He couldn't stop it, no matter how hard he clenched his entire body. Quinlan could feel those needles spreading, up from his arm this time instead of downward and it was working its way excruciatingly slowly. He tried to shake it out again before she snatched up his hand. "Stupid Ablino warrior women," he muttered very quietly beneath his breath, even with her in such close proximity.
But his hand wouldn't stop shaking, even within her grip. "Look it's nothing to do with that. Even beneath your cleverly veiled attempts to snatch onto the crest yourself and run off with it." He glowered at her then his trembling hand but he didn't pull it away. He gripped it and then her hand suddenly and winced, falling to his knees.
He refused to scream however as the pain worsened, the needles burning down his veins, and he gripped her hand hard enough to break her wrist if he turned it the wrong way. "My-my jacket. Elixers. Little blue...vials." he panted, tears streaming down his face. "P-please."
Beside the saddle his jacket lay discarded, along with the rest of their supplies.
What was this? What sort of illness was this? Of course she help but smile innocently when he called her on her attempts at tricking him it would be difficult to out trick a trickster thief. When he went to his knees though she followed, moving her free hand to his face pressing her palm to his forehead before he began to beg for... Drugs?
Adalia licked her lips and winced at the grip on her hand. The please told her how seriously he needed this, though half of her was expecting him to just slice her hand off and run away with her horse. There had been perhaps one too many crime books read while she'd been in trouble after returning home. Because of the grip he had on her hand, getting up and going to get the jacket was out of the question. Using him as a counter weight she reached out her leg, grabbing the jacket with her foot and dragging it towards them.
"Kia's tits, Quin." Was all she uttered while she rifled through his jacket with her free hand. Time was probably of the essence. Maybe she couldn't have stopped him from shaking out his hand? Was all of this her fault? There. In her hand was a blue vial. Popping the cork she pressed it to Quin's lips not about to let him hold it in that trembling hand of his. With her luck he'd knock it over and then shit would really go down. "You should have told me you had a drug habit before you started to fucking die."
Quinlan took the whole top into his mouth and tilted his head backwards to drop the entire contents of the bottle down his throat. It was not an instantaneous reaction, and one bottle now meant he had one less later. Making more was the real issue, but not dealing with this now would mean his blood would congeal all that much more. Quinlan didn't take any chances with his condition, not when there was no reason to.
He seized up a little, muscles locking until slowly the trembling subsided and he paused long enough to draw in a slow, steady breath. "Thank you," was all he managed to pant out of trembling lips. He turned to look at her from the corner of his eye. "Sorry, you had to see that. Bad shit. Don't worry. I'll be fine. I hope." He gave her a half-forced grin and lifted the vial from the ground, loosening his grip on her hand.
"Sorry about that. Hopefully it won't bruise too bad."
When he let go, her hands were at his face, brushing away the tear tracks with her thumbs and giving him a stern look. This was bad. What was this. He'd mentioned demons and curses earlier, was this something like that? An addiction? Adalia's hands were steady and she frowned at him before she pulled her hands away to examine her own, looking for any damage.
"Don't worry, last guy I hung out with smacked me around pretty good." She chuckled and waved the sore hand, "This is nothing." She wiggled her fingers for good measure.
"We're going to be together a fair amount. If that starts to happen again you need to let me know immediately so that we can do something about it before it gets to this." Adalia didn't stand up but she put her hands on Quinlan's shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze that she hoped was reassuring, "Until you sell that crest or I manage to get away with it with a cleverly veiled attempt I'm on your side."
Gently she gnawed on her lip and took a breath, blowing it out slowly. Was now bonding time? "I drank something once. I think it was some sort of tribal thing, made you see weird shit, the stars turned to eyeballs, super weird. You gonna start doing that?" She leaned in to examine him closer, giving him a few looks. The empty vial got an accusatory look.
Quinlan was more pissed at himself for not having seen it coming. "It doesn't work that way I'm afraid," he said after a while, flexing his hand, staring at his palm. He shook his head. "It comes and goes, I can't always predict when it's about to come onto me. This one came pretty bad."
Quinlan grinned at her little anecdote. To think she took some crazy juice? "Nah, it's just medicine. I'm not gonna go loopy in the head. Not yet anyway. That I'll let you know," he snickered. "But you? On the 'Doodle Juice'? That's hard to believe. You're so...you."
Sympathy was written all over her face and Adalia looked down at his hand, then down at hers. The one he squeezed the crap out of was throbbing and she wiggled her fingers to make sure nothing was wrong with it. "I can see that." Was her dry reply. No that wasn't bad at all! A downright walk along a nice creek. Adalia moved to stand up, giving Quinlan a pat on the shoulder before she stretched and then froze.
You're so you? Adalia looked down at herself for a moment, plucking a chunk of long opal hair from her shoulder to examine it. "You don't even know me. How do you know I'm not a drunkard." Adalia put her hands up to make claws, "or secretly a monster disguised as an albino warrior woman." Her hands went den to her sides, before she stood stalk still and frowned. "I'm probably that last one. We'll see, won't we. You relax. I'll finish camp." And Adalia began to move around, setting up a small (unlit) camp fire and deciding she was done, laid down on the ground and stared up at the trees.
Just her trying to be funny was enough to make him grin. She certainly looked like a drunk monster albino woman thing. Thats how they disguised themselves to get you into their good graces before they struck. Quinlan examined his still shaking hands - though the shaking was much less severe - and wrung them out. Slipping a hand into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a bag of tobacco, rolling it into a smoke.
With a lick, he secured it loosely in his lips and found a match, striking it at the end. That first drag. That hit the spot. "So that last guy, why he knock you around? You should've put him on his ass. No woman should get smacked around. His papa didn't raise him right."
Oh boy. That question. Maybe she shouldn't have said anything. Saying things only invited more questions. Like that one. Adalia closed her eyes for a moment and sighed loudly. "First time we met I kicked him in the head and threw him in jail." Daisy made herself comfortable on Adalias stomach which caused the woman to grunt softly.
"Then I broke him out of jail and we ran away together and lived happily ever after." Adalia chuckled at her own joke and pet at the cat. "You know. The usual." Her tone was dismissive and she say up, moving the cat to her lap. "If I offer you some blood, can you start the fire?"
Daisy hacked up a ball of sawdust and curled up on Adalia's lap, purring like a little motor. Quinlan watched her quick dismissive motions. He motioned to the fire and pulled out his matches. "You can keep you're blood. For now," he jested and lit the kindling she had in place.
"So where is he now? When I found you you were all by your lonesome."
Adalia just stared at the matches and felt herself flush. Oh, right. The normal people way of doing things. Clearing her throat she nodded and shuffled closer to the modest fire in time for Atras to lay down on the ground, looking between his companions before curling up and closing his eyes.
Giving Quin a long look she shrugged. "I don't know. Off doing something else, I imagine. I ran away from something important to him." Her voice trailed off and she went quiet, Adalia picked the cat up an held her to her chest. "I don't worry about it." Which was a lie, she still felt awful, "upside for you, I'm not the spoiled mage knight he got to deal with. Now I'm just sarcastic and mean." And she was all grins again.
Quinlan took another long drag on his smoke, thinking her words over. From the way she spoke, attempting to be nonchalant about it, he assumed she had been very close to this man. And was clearly still attached to him one way or another. Maybe that was why she didn't want to give in to a quick round of sex. Which was all well and good. That moment had passed already.
He dashed some ashes into the dirt, watching the kindling take to flame a little easier and he got up, picking up the vial he had consumed and tucking it away. He plopped down next to her and offered her a drag if she so wanted one, and shrugged it away if she didn't.
"I think I like the sarcastic and mean you. It's at least more useful than just a hunkered down little brat that has to have everyone do everything for her. And that's always a good thing. Look, I'm...uh, sorry, I guess, for uh...breaking into your house and...uh, bringing your cat back to life." Daisy meowed, looking at him for a second before settling in between the pair, deciding double the warmth was better than just one.
She'd moved to sit cross legged, her hands curled into her lap before she simply sat there and examined them. The ruined flesh she'd always been so ashamed of before now always made her think of him. Closing her hands into fists she placed them on the ground and looked towards Quinlan when he sat beside her. It wasn't that cold out. Politely she declined the drag from his smoke.
"I was still deadly, I just acted more like a lady." She pointed out and then smiled at Quin when he apologized. "Suuure you are." Adalia poked his leg gently, "You're only sorry you got caught and that I tagged along for reasons I'm sure I'll soon regret." Her hand moved to pet the deserter of a cat when Daisy retreated from her lap and moved to snuggle up between them. Her mood had plummeted and before long Adalia was staring at the fire, her knees drawn to her chest and her chin resting on her knees.
"So who gets the cat in the divorce?" Adalia motioned to Daisy, giving the kitty scritches on her weird bald patched head "It is your fault she's alive, so I guess that makes you her mommy."
"Nah, nah, don't even! I have her the spark of life from my apparent manliness, can't you tell? So clearly she's yours. Besides, I wouldn't even know what to do with a cat! Much less a dead one. You already have a house. You have a home for her. The road is no place for a cat. I'm a dangerous man, after all, doing dangerous deeds for dangerous people. Like carrying crests that bring things back to life."
At that he examined his chest and pulled the rest from his neck. "You're mean and sarcastic. And you can fight," he observed quietly. "Would you consider yourself dishonest? A lying skunkbag, if you will?"
Dangerous. Adalia turned to stare at him, her eyebrows up and a silly smile on her face. Sure, dangerous. Being amazing at getting beat up didn't strike her as being dangerous. She watched him examine the crest, her hands still hugging her legs and she turned to face him better.
"A lying... Skunkbag." Deadpan. What was he, twelve? Adalia tilted her head, thinking of the question. Was she dishonest? Pursing her lips she eyed the crest and then gave him a sad smile. "I don't consider myself dishonest, no." Tilting her head she sighed, "I was gonna seduce you this morning, get you naked and then steal the crest. I couldn't do it though, I don't have it in me." Adalia shrugged and didn't ask the question back.
He was in it for the money, of course he would ditch her as soon as he could and she couldn't blame him. She leaned in closer, smiling at him smugly before she spoke in a stage whisper "I may or may not have been planning to run away before you decided to steal from me."
His expression remained unchanged, and unamused even at her quips at attempting to seduce him and run off with the crest. Perhaps then he would've believed she would've done it. And maybe she still would have, but he didn't know if he could keep carrying the crest. It seemed to feel heavier each hour he did. It was all in his head of course, but he had enough things to worry about - and having magical artifact literally and even figuratively weigh him down was a bit much on a journey like this.
"Can I trust you?" he asked, eyes completely serious. "That's really what I'm asking. To not run off. If I can trust you, then I'll do the same for you. That I can promise."
Oh, were they being serious? Adalia's face fell and she just stared, looking between him and the cat. This was awkward now. She swallowed and looked around, perhaps trying to find his buddies that were going to murder her now and steal and eat her horse. Swallowing thickly she just looked at him and then nodded.
"I haven't run away yet. I can even make your head explode and I have a horse." Adalia held out her hand for them to shake on it. There was little else she could offer him, "I will trust you, Quin. I've betrayed someones trust before... It doesn't feel good to us more empathetic types."
She offered to shake his head? Now that was definitely weird. He just stared at it for the longest time before slowly taking his own and sliding it into hers.
He squeezed it a little before shaking it and released without a hitch. "Good," he said with a nod and proceeded to wrap the crest up in a handkerchief. "Having someone now blow up my head while they have every opportunity and every right to do so is always a good sign. And I'm sure that you'll totally deliver on that should you ever feel I did betray you. I know how these things work."
And at that he gave an amused grin and finished off the last few drags of that rolled cigarette before throwing it into the fire. "You mentioned running away. Why? Why leave that house? That idyllic lifestyle? Do you prefer hard life on the road, what with all the running away from bandits and other bad bloods?"
"I don't kill unless they're trying to kill me first." Adalia informed him, her nose in the air and a haughty look on her face. Which was true. Adalia couldn't remember a time when she'd hurt someone when it wasn't in self defense. Except... Adalia looked down at Quins arm, where she'd burned him the previous night. That. That wasn't self defense.
"Would you prefer being sold to an old man because you're not worth anything to your parents anymore? I'm old. I should be married and have children by now. Going on my little adventure devalued me greatly to other nobles no matter who I may be related to." Adalia glared down at the fire, staring at it. The fire grew for a few moments and she took a breath, the fire calmed. "I don't prefer this." She shrugged and continued to gaze at the fire "it's just better than feeling worthless."
Adalia lifted her head and gave Quin a sidelong look, "Besides, when we deliver that I'll probably get to kick some necromancers ass. You get paid, I get to be badass. It'll be fun."
"That's mighty noble of you," Quinlan commented thoughtfully. Didn't kill unless someone was trying to kill her first? He wondered if that was some kind of problem for her. And maybe she had more hits on her belt than she would ever admit. But looking at her, he quickly decided against it. She didn't look like a killer, no.
He had his own fill of that, and he never bothered to think if any of it bothered him. Or why it didn't. He had killed many people. Most of which he'd been paid to do. They were the simplest jobs, and not ones he always enjoyed. Sure, there was thrill in the hunt, in the chase, but even that was short-lived once the target was dealt with. He didn't think anything of it, not that he was going to pay some ultimate price in the afterlife for doing so. Whatever it was, he was certain he'd answer for it whether or not he wanted to. The curse that lingered in his blood certainly was proof enough of that.
He raised both brows up to Adalia and he knew something of what she meant, and he actually grinned at her. It was a small one, but friendly considering all that they'd endured thus far. "I think I can understand," he said and puffed gently on the smoke. He dashed the ashes off to the side. "Better out here than suffocating in there, yeah? Maybe there's no glamor, but your own decisions should matter in shaping your life. Then you're not really living. You're just...existing."
Adalia looked at Quinlan when he told her it was noble of her to not kill first. "Well, it is in my blood." Then she grinned at her own pun, giving him a sidelong look, just in case he got it. The look Quinlan got when he described what her life had been like was surprise. Bright green eyes looked between him and the fire before they finally settled on the fire.
"I've never found just existing to be any fun." Adalia moved her hand to Daisy, giving the cat that was now snoozing between them scritches. Daisy woke up, gave a momentarily grumpy look before she realized what was going on and then promptly began to purr, pressing her face into Adalia's leg. "I lied about the fiance. Though I'm fairly sure my parents are shopping for mine," She paused for a moment before she laid down. Her hands were supporting her head and she stared up at the stars.
Her eyes closed for a moment and she sighed and smiled "I didn't know I missed sleeping under the stars." A long forgotten memory resurfaced and she quickly sat up and stopped looking at the stars, "But the fire is more interesting. So. What's your story. Connlaoth, eh? What are you doing so far away from home. I'd wiggle my mage-y fingers at you but... You're one to so that won't work."
Quinlan hadn't expected her to turn the questions toward him. What did it matter anyway? They would part at the end of this venture. He blinked at her, drawing thoughtfully on the end of the ever shrinking cigarette that burned between his fingers. He honestly did not want to tell her. But what good would that do? For now, it might stop the questions, but his condition would not remain idle for long. And then what?
"I....uh, got away. From it all," he said, just waving his free hand thoughtfully. "From all the nastiness up there. It was...suffocating. If I didn't, I would've died surely."
He took another long drag. "Mages don't do too well in Connlaoth, as you probably know. And what with that mage war going on, it's all nasty business." He was vague on purpose and examined his scabbing hands. "I'm uh, sorry you had to see that....thing with the trembling and the feeding me a vial. And yeah, thanks, again, for that."
And he gave her a wry grin.
Adalia was sympathetic. She couldn't relate - not by a long shot - but she could be sympathetic. "Oh, I'm aware I'd be quite dead up there," She looked down at her hands, "Mordecai scare the shit out of me." And she was glad to have never met one. The idea of... No, she couldn't even process it. Iron made her sick, she couldn't imagine how awful she'd feel around a Mordecai.
His thanks caught her off guard and she returned his smile. "Well, I'd have to have you... Die?" Adalia shrugged, pulling her knees to her chest so she could rest her head on them. "Despite the fact that you're probably a wanted thief and probably murderer you seem ..." She turned to look at him for a moment, "Okay." He hadn't stabbed her in the bedroom.
A lame smile and she cleared her throat. "I'll take first watch, you got beat up far worse than I did. Get some sleep, Quin."
"You're just full of compliments aren't you?" Quinlan said with a laugh and finished up his cigarette. But at least they'd more or less come to a pass that allowed them to walk the same road together. Which they would inevitably do anyway, but now there was a lessened chance of them killing each other and unfortunate travelers finding body parts in a ditch.
"Because you've been so kind, I'll rest first. I'll try not to die while doing so as well. Thanks," he said with a nod and threw the rest of the smoke in the fire. And without thinking he leaned in a kissed her cheek before standing and moving toward the blankets and settling down.
Adalia smiled, a toothy grin when he made note of her compliments. Being okay for a thief murderer was pretty amazing to her! Quin didn't give her the heeby-jeebies or anything! While she wasn't much of a believer in spooks and ghouls - though she supposed now she had to believe in resurrection, there was fuzzy proof sleeping against her thigh - Adalia could always trust her gut. So far it hasn't led her wrong. Guy sure was sarcastic though, she could appreciate that. She could also appreciate the lack of stabbing that's happened to her.
Who didn't love a lack of knives in their bellies?
Her mouth opened and she was about to snap a sarcastic (though good natured) remark back but... He kissed her cheek and that just confused her more. A slightly confused (amused) frown and she watched him head to the blankets. "Have sweet dreams, Quinlan." Adalia shook her head gently before she got comfy and picked up a stick, scratching designs into the dirt beside her. Tonight was going to be a long one and she watched the fire, feeding life into it when it grew low and tossing new wood onto it when it grew hungry.
Quinlan surprised himself by falling asleep, and sleeping soundly even for being on the ground. What was this? Were these sweet dreams? They were! And even if they didn't lead to a happy ending, he was more than content with what they were.
He was out long enough to not hear the approach of men through the trees. In fact Adalia wouldn't have seen them as a sack went over her head and a club bonked on Quinlan's and Daisy was stuffed into a bag.
There was a nice glow of fire, her face was warm. Was she falling asleep? Nah, she was supposed to be on watch. Were those footsteps?
In her panic, the fire burst into a raging inferno only to die out quickly sending everything into darkness, her hands went to the bag, ready to burn through it... But she'd burn her face. It was only vanity that stopped her. Cooked hands she could deal with, burned hand prints on her face were another matter. Instead, she just took a breath and screamed for all she was worth and tried to reach behind her for the culprit, ready to rip their face off.
Except her hands weren't hot and she just had her nails to do the job.
The cloth sack was held tightly over her head and club slammed hard against her skull. The sound Atrass neighing wildly could be heard for a moment, and then silence soon followed. For Quinlan he'd already been asleep as the group dragged the pair away and laid them out on sleighs, dragging them through the trees.
Hours would pass before Quinlan would awaken and he gasped for breath, feeling the cloth suffocating against his face and he breathed hard, trying to come to terms with the fact that he was indeed still alive. "Adalia?" he whispered harshly, hoping someone familiar was out there. And in fact she was, restrained to a sleigh beside his.
That was not a normal taste for mouths.
Adalia moaned lightly, her tongue hurt. The screaming and the head hitting had her chomp down on her tongue and she felt queasy realizing that she'd probably swallowed a lot of blood. It was crusted against her face where the bag didn't touch and she tried to move only to hear Quin's voice. Well, at least he wasn't dead. Part of her hoped he had a bad of a headache as she did.
"Quinlan, I'm sorry." She said softly, turning towards the voice. Adalia was angry and she took a deep breath, ready to blame him for this. She refrained though, not wanting to make this all his fault. It could just be bandits. It could just be some people looking for a quick buck, though the only thing of value they really had was... Well, Atras's saddle. It dawned on her slowly that none of this would have happened if she hadn't slowly been falling asleep.
Quinlan really didn't like having his head in a bag. And he didn't like feeling his face grow hot from his breath alone. "Don't worry. If we're still alive, I'll make it up to you somehow," he mumbled. At least they hadn't gagged them. That would've been the worst.
"I'm sure it's not that bad."
"Keep talking you two, and we'll cut out both your tongues," one voice sniggered that was dragging them along. "I think I like the woman's the best. Turn it into a necklace."
There was a soft chuckle and she actually smiled at the idea of payback. More so the idea of getting out of this odd situation alive and there being time for payback. Adalia welcomed the idea and actually looked forward to it a little. Adalia was about to comment on how their situation could be much worse, but the command to stop talking just enrage her. "You idiots already almost made me bite off my tongue." She snapped, now struggling with her bonds, "if anyone so much as touches me I'll burn you alive!"
"Teeheehee," the voice snickered again. "Fire. How does fire feel? Like flowers on your face? Dancing petals moving in the breeze. Wind and pollen to make you sneeze."
"What the hell does that even mean!?" Quinlan frankly had enough of this nonsense and struggled against his bonds.
"Hush now, fleshy gunk. Tasty tongues you talk with doth tattle too much."
And Quinlan felt with a jerk, the sled they were being carted on was moving at a downward angle, and the air became cooler and the smell of fresh soil grew stronger. It was not known how much time passed before the sacks were removed their heads, and Quinlan stared at the gnarled face of the plant-like faces of their captors., skin appearing to be made from vines and in the depths where they resided, water gushed through the soil all around them.
Fleshy gunk?
Adalia frowned was sure to keep her tongue inside her mouth when they mentioned them being tasty. Tasty tongues. Adalia's hurt like a bitch right now, but she kept her mouth firming closed until the smells of earth grew too heavy. With a soft sigh the bags were removed and she blinked a few times before she focused on probably one of the more weird things she'd ever seen.
Slowly she turned to look at Quin, the dried blood smeared along her mouth, caked at the corner of her lips and the dried trails down her chin. Needless to say she looked like a mess. "Quin. Please tell me you owe these lovely people money and that they are not in fact meat eating plant people and we are a potential tasty meal." And she looked between Quin and then to the ... Plant people.
And swallowed slowly, wincing at the pressure on her tongue.
It was Quinlan's turn to stare surprised. He almost didn't hear Adalia's statement because he was too busy staring at the things glaring back at them. Sure he'd been there and done that, made shifty deals, even sold a few people into slavery, but never had he ever in his entire life made any dealings with these Plant Men things!
"I live to disappoint," Quinlan said dryly and that was when one of the plant people lunged at him and stuck a leafy hand down his throat, capturing his tongue between two razor-leaves and pinching it hard.
"Warned you fleshy gunk of your waggling tongues!" he? hissed harshly.
"Fashin! Ruin our catch, and you go to the grinder," warned the other beside him. "Answer to Root Mother, you will. Pollen to catch in their lungs, let. The female will not be able to use nasty fire magic. Or we cut off hands. Root Mother will not mind."
Shit.
Adalia swallowed carefully, wincing again at the sharp pain on her tongue before she studied the plant people. If only she'd been paying attention. If only she hadn't let the fire die down. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment only to open them again. "Don't touch him!" Adalia barked, snarling all the while. Root mother wouldn't mind if she didn't have hands? Her fingers curled up and she stared in horror.
What was this. Where was Daisy? Where was Atras. Maybe they left him behind. Adalia hoped to every god in the sky that Atras was just left behind. She's rather he be a free horse than a dead horse. Having gone pale - or as pale as someone like her could go - she looked at Quinlan, panic had set in and she just stared at him. Bandits were one thing, those were human and didn't... Have pollen.
Adalia swallowed carefully and looked between the plant people before squeezing her eyes shut. "I don't have fire magic." She started, maybe trying to bargain? Lying for sure. "Please, can't you just let us go? We'll find you something else to eat." Why else would plant people kidnap them if not to use them for food!
A hissing came out from the plant people and it seemed as though they were ...laughing?! Quinlan scowled at them and they turned from their captives. "The feeeemale thinks we eats it..... Root Mother decides what is good food, and what is not. Stupid fleshy gunk."
Fashin and the other Rootman walked away, or rather stalked away as their vines carried them along.
The air was already becoming thick with pollen and Quinlan sneezed. He wasn't allergic, or so he thought, but the smell down here irritated his nose. He hacked and fought against his bindings, the vines proving to be quite strong. He recalled the blades in his wrists and was happy at least to see that they were still there. Carefully he inched his fingers inward and tried to wriggle it out.
The small thin blade did come out and he carefully turned it in his hands. "I don't know if what they said about the pollen and magic being true, but we really ought to not wait around to find out, Blondie," he said as he worked as quick as he could to slice through the vines.
Confusion was all Adalia knew.
They were kidnapped, she knew that much. Her mouth hurt, she knew that too. Adalia licked her lips and instantly retched, they tasted awful and it was probably because of the pollen in the air. The want to use her magic was there, but the idea of losing her hands kept her still. This was unfamiliar. Giant snakes, sure. Pretending to be someone's slave? Sure. This? This was just weird and the concept of having her hands cut off had her freeze until Quinlan spoke up.
Adalia jerked her head towards him and stared for a moment. "How do you suggest I remove them then, Quinlan? I can't exactly burn through fresh vines, they're too wet, I'll just hurt myself more than anything." Though she struggled with them, pulling her hands away, going red in the face with her effort. "Just... " Adalia stared down at the ground, "Maybe you can escape without me. Shit, this is all my fault anyway." She was unaware he had a blade and could cut through the vines.
"You know all this self-deprecation would be really interesting at just about any other time than now. Adalia, right now you're just being annoying. So unless you have something practical to offer, be quiet," Quinlan hissed as he worked his arms about the vines.
Slowly but surely he could feel them loosening and soon the last one snapped open and he slid out of the sleigh they had left inclined within that strange well-room. He rolled his shoulders back and moved toward Adalia, cutting swiftly at the vines on her next.
"How about you just bite me, Quinlan," Adalia snapped, glaring off to the side. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to let pollen catch in her lungs - whatever that meant. There wasn't much left to live for anyway. Parents who hated her? A horse that was probably dead - or now free and wild and better off anyway? Who cares if Quinlan stole something from her house and was now cutting at the vines that tied her up.
Wait. What.
Adalia stared for a moment, confused. "Yo... You have a knife?" She hissed, glaring at him. Of course he had a knife. He was a rogue. A thief. Probably a murderer - though she hadn't seen him do it yet. Though she had done it. Stabbed clean through that man back in the city. No, now was the time to get out, no mope. Slightly amazed Quinlan was even helping her she stared for a moment before taking a deep breath and pulling at the vines until finally she was free too.
Her hands went to her face and she scratched at the dried blood around her mouth while staring at Quinlan. "I wasn't paying attention to where we should go," Adalia admitted licking her lips, "I don't have enough hands left to burn this place to the ground."
Quinlan simply grinned at her incredulity that he even had a knife. Several knives in fact. It seemed these plant people hadn't done much to search them, save to remove them of their obvious weapons. He pulled a blade that had been tucked away beneath his coat and handed it to Adalia.
"Magic or no. Just start stabbing things, okay? I'm not waiting around to see what these Rootmen have planned."
Frowning oh so slightly she took the knife delicately like perhaps it had been diseased before she held it tightly and nodded. Then frowned. It would probably be bad to admit she was a little bit curious to see what they had in store for them. Morbid curiosity and all that.
"Start stabbing things," Adalia repeated, carefully tucking her opal hair into the back of her shirt so it wouldn't get in the way. For a moment she thought of her gauntlets, those useful tools that she ... Forgot on her dresser. Slap those on her and she'd be able to cook things so fast. "Do we follow them?" A questioning glance at Quin, her shoulders back, knife ready to stab. "We just want out, right? "
A brow rose curiously. As if it weren't obvious that escape was the plan here. Then again, they did lose some valuable gear and it'd be wise to recover what they could. Quinlan had no intentions of playing hero, of trying to prevent these 'Rootmen' from taking further victims into their clutches to be fed into the maw of some Root Mother.
Then again, he had to admit that he'd never see anything quite like them before. And the temptation to see just what they were was growing ever strong.
"They took our things," he said and nodded to her. "We have a right to get them back, yeah? We go and get what's ours, then we skedaddle. Plus...if we can find a way to kill them on the way, even better."
Adalia rolled her shoulders and looked around, getting used to the weight of the knife in her hand. Usually there was a sword. Or gauntlets. Or no weapon at all. A moment or two of looking at the dagger and she gave a nod. "Sounds good. I hate when people touch my stuff," Quinlan got a cold look from her before she started to walk the way the Rootmen did.
Maybe to the Root mother.
There wasn't much of importance that Adalia had, everything she needed was in Atras's saddlebags. Like her sword.
A deep breath and she looked at Quin, "Do you think they took Atras?"
Quinlan didn't want to think about what kinds of things they'd do to a horse down here. If anything they probably knocked out Atras too and took him down here. Hopefully. Or killed and devoured him in a most distasteful (not for them) manner.
That thought gave him the shakes. Even for someone like Quinlan.
"I think they took us all when they got us. Better to not leave witnesses behind, yeah? Even for plant people."
Witnesses?
"What's a horse and an undead cat gonna tell people?" Adalia sneered. It was typical that this was how it was turning out. What should have been a week or so of traveling had been fantastically side tracked by... Plant people. Of course. That was her life. If Adalia wasn't being mopey at home, she was in mortal danger. Why not. It was great.
It was greeeeeat.
Pressing her hand to her face after a moment she rolled her shoulders. "Got any magic that helps you track stuff down?" She teased, looking at his hands briefly.
"Daisy! That's right! Shit! I forgot about that little dead ball of fluff. No doubt there's some disruptive jingling bells roaming these halls. Let's keep an ear out for a gray furball." They ventured down the hallway, large burrowed tunnels where the dirt was fresh. Roots sprawled out of the rounded walls, and mist moved through those tunnels in a gentle blanket.
He was about to answer that question of tracking when he heard the faint sound of bells. But it seemed to be going away from them. "Only," he whispered. "Only if they got my blood on them." He moved deftly. All they could do was try and catch up with those bells.
Only if they had his blood on them.
Hm. Adalia nodded at him and kept that information for later. Just in case. This place creeped her out and it felt muggy. A quiet breath and she wiped at her mouth again with her sleeve, looking around. The jingling could be heard and indeed, it was going away. What do they want with my cat? Adalia cried in her head, her face going pale for a moment. There was no sound of a horse and Adalia felt her heart sink.
No horse noises meant there was no horse.
Adalia kept going forward, crouched slightly, making sure her footsteps were quiet as she followed the sound of bells. Finally, the dirt hall way ended and there were two of the plant people, the collar wrapped around one of their wrists and Adalia pressed herself against the wall and readied the knife. Maybe there was a chance Daisy and Atras were alive. Adalia wouldn't know what to do with herself if her horse died.
"I take the one that's wearing Daisy's collar. You get the other, deal?" She whispered, looking at Quin for a moment before turning back to the potential victims. They didn't look that tough.
As the saying went, if it was too good to be true it probably was.
Not that Quinlan could think of anything good of finding a half-undead cat. Except that she was not crushed, killed or eaten in anyway. That was always a relief right.
They turned into another corridor and Quinlan immediately paused. Two rootmen? And with Daisy's collar!? What the hell? Did they eat her? "Deal," he hissed to Adalia and took up the rear, coming in quickly at the other that did not have the collar.
Whether blades would be effective against plant people, he didn't know. But a few efficient slices had them both on the ground, and Quinlan proceeded to stomp his target in the head. Just in case it made any difference.
The ambushed rootmen were disposed of easily and while Quinlan went for the head stomp, Adalia grabbed the collar from one of their wrists and put it on her own. Then Adalia placed her hand into the dirt, hundreds of slivered spikes pierced both of the bodies. They receded back into the ground when she removed her hand and she gave Quinlan a look.
"I don't know what to do Quinlan," She said softly, letting her head fall down, the opal hair covered her face where it wasn't sticking to her clothing or her neck. "My horse might be dead, my dead cat might be re-dead. Our stuff is gone. This place is a damn labyrinth and we've..." she looked down at the ground, giving one of the bodies a kick, "I've got no idea where we are." A deep breath and she pressed a hand to her face, rubbing at her eyes.
"The crest." She pressed her hands to his chest because she couldn't remember if he'd taken it off after Daisy revived and while she had her hands there she looked at his face, eyes wide, then she looked at his hands, "Your vials. Those are almost as important as my sword and my horse." Adalia shook out her hands and held the knife steady.
"Alright, do we split up? You're a talented... Vagabond, I guess. I'm a mageknight. We're both mages. I imagine we can handle ourselves." It wasn't like there weren't enough tunnels to follow, "Up to you, Quin, need to choose fast though, time's running out."
Splitting up wasn't a half bad idea. But how would they find each other... Oh, right. Quinlan turned to her and poked his fingers until a droplet of blood pooled from it. He took the droplet and squeezed a few out onto Adalia's clothing. "So I can find you," he said with a sharp nod. "We split up. You find the way out. I'll look for out stuff. And if you happen to find Atras along the way, that'd be really helpful."
There was slight disgust on her face when Adalia watched him squeeze blood out onto her clothes. It was then replaced with a deadpan look and a single raised eyebrow, looking between him and the blood that now stained her clothes. "I..." Adalia started before simply nodding, though, she grabbed the collar of Quinlans shirt and pulled him in, planting a rough spur of the moment kiss on his lips, if she was going to die might as well die after having smooched someone, "Don't get too hurt, hmm? See you outside."
Then she ran away.
Adalia wasn't sure how long she'd been running for, the muggyness of the tunnels was making her shirt cling to her. Her hair was stuck to her hair. There was sweat on her forehead and still she ran and looked and hid. There was no sign of Atras or Daisy and as she explored she grew more frantic, using every ounce of willpower not to yell the horses name. As time went on she grew more sluggish and at one point was hunch over against a wall, simply try to catch her breath.
Then the sounds.
Atras.
And people.
Adalia swallowed carefully, squeezed her eyes shut and took a careful breath. There were those plant people, three of them, around Atras, tied up as he was. It wasn't until she noticed the blood on his flank that she felt rage. With little warning and even less thought Adalia went into the room and before the first plant person noticed, the hot knife had sunk into it's back.
Then she drew it up. The hot knife cut through the fleshy pulpy body like it was made of ice and Adalia gave a snarl of rage and took the knife and plunged it into the other ones neck. Tearing that out too, a spray of something warm splashed against her face. Adalia gave a few more stabs before she felt a sharp pain in the calf, the third one, the last one. Too angry though, too full of rage, she didn't acknowledge the spike through her calf and instead stabbed the knife into this ones belly.
Pulpy guts spilled out when she ripped the knife up and Adalia held the knife in her hand, the smell of her burning flesh and the smell of bodies. Part of her stared in horror at what she'd just done, but the nuzzle of Atras took her out of that moment and she found herself unable to drop the knife like she wanted to, her skin having melted to it.
Worry about it later.
Worry about the spike through her calf later, too.
"Hey, Baby," Adalia sighed to the horse and refused to look down. Panic was setting in and she frantically looked for the spot of Quinlans blood. Daisy was no where for her to find and Adalia cut Atras free from his bindings and climbed onto his back with great effort, one leg mostly useless and one hand stuck to a knife. "We gotta get out. Do you remember how to leave?" Her hands went to his flank and she examined the wounds, little gouges of flesh were dug out recently and Adalia simply turned to his back and rest her face against his neck.
Atras gave a nicker, looking over his shoulder at Adalia. A trained warhorse, he knew an order and before long they were racing through the tunnels. A few more windy paths, Adalia a little too close to the ceiling if she'd sat up, startling a small patrol and before long, the air grew cool, the light of dawn broke the dim darkness of the tunnel and she and Atras were out.
They didn't go far from the entrance and they were followed.
Another pair of rootmen. Adalia disposed of them, leaving their corpses at the entrance as a warning for anymore rootmen that decided to follow her. Where was Quinlan. Maybe there was a second entrance. A back door. Before long Adalia had Atras hidden in the bushes and she'd tucked herself behind a tree and waited for Quinlan as the sun rose.
What if he didn't show up? He seemed like a good fighter. He'd know to leave their stuff behind if he couldn't find it, right? Adalia looked at the knife stuck to her hand and at the tunnel again. Five more minutes.
He'd found their things. Thankfully the Rootmen weren't so clever and had left them in a room with only one watchman. He'd been quickly gutted and dispatched and Quinlan reequipped what he'd been stripped off. At least they didn't question what his vials contained, and those were strapped behind him as well.
Throwing the pack over his shoulder, he paused when he heard something.
A meow caught his attention then. One not too far off after Adalia had bounded away. There were no bells however, she had those too. Quinlan turned to the sound and made small kisses as he crept down the tunnel, not yet braving saying Daisy's name. The cat knew her name after all. And would know a friendly sound when she heard one. Right?
And suddenly there she was! Quinlan saw her, gray cat creeping around the corridor, tail down, speculative, cautious as cats often were and when he was close enough, he crept down. "Daisy!" he hissed. "Daisy. Come here girl."
Daisy paused abruptly, fur poofing outward and growing stiff. She turned just as suddenly and bolted back the way she came. "DAISY!"
The hiss came louder than he expected and he lunged for the cat, only to have her nimbly leap from his grasp. He ran after the stinkin' cat, clearly the animal had no intention of being caught. He turned another corner, when he thought her lost her and just as suddenly, Daisy meowed, and he followed her up a tunnel that led upward. There was a small crack in the wall, where Daisy stuffed herself into.
Quinlan grabbed the cat, turned her over and held her firmly against him, but before he could turn away, there he saw it. Through the crack in the wall, he saw hollowed out chasm where he saw processions of many of the same Rootmen. They stood in layered circles, rings around each other and some danced in clouds of falling pollen.
At the edge of the cliff, there resided the pronged teeth of what appeared to be a massive venus-fly trap, jaws opening and accepting carts catering the dismembered remains of travelers likely caught in their snares. Quinlan had never seen so much...meat in his life. His stomach lurched and he looked down at Daisy. "We've got to find Adalia. And get the fuck out of here," he murmured, and wiggled out of the cracked he stepped into.
Adalia still had the blood marked on her. He could smell it. She couldn't be too far. But just as he turned the corner, he was knocked down. Quinlan gasped for breath, the air having been crushed from his lungs, and he peered up finding one of the rootmen over him. "Fleshy gunk," it hissed and knocked his lights out.
The pack falling from his shoulders.
Five minutes came and passed and Adalia looked down at the knife in her hand at where the skin had melted to the metal. A deep breath and she just held it steady. Adalia couldn't just leave Quinlan behind and before long she snapped the spike from her calf and limped along, though the shaft was still in there to stem the bleeding, there was nothing to get caught on anything.
Back down into the tunnels she went, Atras left outside - unsaddled and free to go if those Rootmen returned. There was a limp to her step but still she moved on, staying careful and out of the way while they wandered around Adalia gave a stated gasp at the sight of their things on the ground. Quinlan. Adalia almost ran past it before she remembered her sword was in there. A tense moment while she rifled through their things, taking Daisy's bells off of her wrist in the mean time.
Followed quickly by tearing the knife from her hand.
Blood quickly pooled in her palm as she pulled the knife away, tears of pain forming in her eyes and her throat hurting from the held back screams. Eventually the bloodied knife was tossed in with their things and she held the sword in her bloodied palm. There was no time to attempt to heal.
Now she was pissed. Her leg hurt, her hand hurt, her head hurt. Quinlan was gone, obviously having found their things but being... Caught? Finally, Adalia found a patrol and again was on them before their noticed, her super heated sword slicing one through and lopping off the head of the other. The last one, the third, stared at her in horror and anger.
"Lead me to where you bring the humans and you can live," Adalia demanded, pressing the sword close to the rootmans face. Her sleeve was stained with blood from her torn up palm and there was a limp but sure enough, frightened root person lead her to where she wanted to go.
They'd taken Quinlan to a room like they'd woken up in, except now there were more rootmen ready for him to wake up. Except this time Adalia was unbound and pissed, blood dripping from between her fingers and it wasn't until they got to the door way that Adalia shoved the rootman into it and stabbed him clean through the chest. There were five excluding the one she'd brought in.
It was a bloody messy blur and at one point there was a loud pop and a head exploded. By the time Adalia got to Quinlan, they were either in half or exploded and she was a dripping mess and she pressed her cleaner hand to his face, running her fingers through his hair, "Quinlan. Wake up," her hand went to his neck and gave him a few shakes, "We have to go. Atras is outside, we have to go."
Nightmares of men half of flesh and half plant. Their fingers were gnarled and barbed with thorns and their eyes still bore the color of their human blood. For that was what still coursed through them. Quinlan didn't want to wake up because deep in his mind he knew the nightmare was real and they would cut him open and turn him like them.
They didn't want his blood, he knew that. They wanted his meat and everything else inside of him. To feed to that...thing.
Something touched his face, and he gasped. Screamed really, but when he woke up he saw Adalia and froze. Something was wrong with her. She seemed more colorful than before. "What's wrong with your face?" he hissed. "You're all ...red?"
He sat up, for it seemed the chains they bound him in were severed and he checked himself, thankful that they didn't bother to take his weapons. He was already out cold, just deliver him to the Cutting Rooms, and be done with it. They could always find the Albino later.
Upon seeing the scene, the dots quickly connected and Quinlan threw himself off the table. "Daisy!? Where is she? She ran off again?"
Daisy.
Adalia had forgotten about Daisy and she pushed her bloodied hand through her hair only to hiss and pull it away. An accusatory look at her bleeding palm and she looked at the hilt of her sword, also red with blood. Helpless she looked around and then gave Quinlan a pleading look, "I didn't see her anywhere on my way here, Quin." Slowly she looked down at her palm, gave it a flex and watched the red drop down her hand.
"I'm hurt, I'm tired I want to leave." Her eyes went wide and she presented the ripped up palm to Quin, "Can you do anything with this?" She looked around, eyes wild for a moment, "Can you make fire or just a big wall of it?"
Quinlan had only remembered now that Daisy had jumped from his grasp when he got gnabbed. the cat was more resourceful than he gave her credit for, even for a creature that had been dead for years. The crest still hung from his neck and the weight of it now only felt real to him. He stared at her palm until he registered she said something.
He took her hand and looked at her. "I was going to say this was going to hurt, but I'm sure you probably know that already," he said and took his left hand and let it hover over hers. The flesh blood stopped flowing outward and he forced the blood to solidify quickly, closing the wound and scabbing until it was completely closed. "That'll help. Look we've got to find that damn cat. There's a giant fucking venus fly trap in some chasm below and I'm pretty sure that's the Root Mother!"
Adalia stared at him while he healed her hand, "I meant use my blood, not heal me!" she snapped, giving her hand a shake to make the tingling go away before she sighed and grabbed the sword again a moment of wiping off the blood from the hilt. The jewel on the guard glowed breifly and the sword began to glow.
A steady look at the burning blade and she gave Quinlan a look, "You know where it is?" A tweak of her eyebrow and she gave a pause giving Quin a once over, "You find Daisy. I'll go take care of the Root Mother. Atras is outside, if I'm not outside in a half hour, he's all yours."
Quinlan scowled at her and flicked her nose. "Then next time be more specific, chickenhands," he hissed and turned to the door. Now really was the worse possible time to argue. "No. We don't split up. We stick together. And believe me when I say, I don't think you could kill the Root Mother. And I mean that with all due respect. Let's just both find Daisy and get out. When we separate bad things happen."
[Also, don't kill the Root Mother.]
[I'm sorry, what was that? I had some 'you're crazy' in my ear.]
Adalia's hand went to her nose and she rubbed at it, staring at him. The flick on her nose took her out of her rage induced Kill All Things mode and she took a few breaths before she let the sword cool down. "Alright. Okay." So, she took Quinlan's hand and started to backtrack, looking at the ground for little paw prints or fur. Soon enough, they were back at their dropped things and the bloodied knife.
"Maybe Daisy found her way outside." Panic set in and she gave Quinlan a look before dropping his hand and picking up their things as best she could in one arm, "She ... Liked hiding under things? Maybe she's under something. Was this were you got hurt? She can't be too far away."
[Crazy and I know it.]
Quinlan saw those paw prints in the dust, just ahead of the pack, and it seemed they found a place...up. "This way," he said and started after them.
"This way?" Adalia said, frowning deeply. This way where. Obediently she followed Quinlan, "Do you need a boost up or something?"
"Just follow me," he griped and went on through the tunnel. It was getting narrower and narrow, and soon he saw the corpse of a dead rootman and Daisy cleaning blood of he fur. She meowed loudly upon spotting Adalia and quickly jumped onto her shoulder, purring loudly.
Sure enough, she followed Quinlan and there was Daisy. Tears burned at her eyes and when Daisy jumped at her Adalia caught her carefully, wrapping her arms around the cat and started to back track. "Okay, we have everything we need." Adalia looked around frantically for a moment while they backtracked and she gave a hissing pain when she stepped down at an angle that shifted the spike in her calf.
There was no time to worry about it now though, they had to leave. With Daisy curled up on her shoulder, nails dug in, Adalia made for the entrance as fast as she could, looking at the gouges in the wall she'd left behind.
Again, sure enough, the cool air from outside was heard and she gave a shrill whistle, the noise of Atras were heard and they were out. Sweaty. Messy. Adalia limping - but at least her hand was healed - but they had their things - most of their things - Daisy was alive and so was Atras. Dawn had come and the sun shone bright in the sky. "Get on the horse, Quin, we'll ride a bit and then I need you to help me with something important."
Man, Adalia really looked like shit. Normally, Quinlan was the one that received the worst of situations like these. But here was Adalia, a trooper to the end. Even with a spike sticking from her calf. And she'd come to rescue him nevertheless. Even after all the bullshit he'd put her through.
He mounted the horse with this in mind, helping Adalia up behind him and rode as fast and as gently as Atras would go. The horse knew the condition of his riders. And would get them to safety. Once they were taken some distance from the lair of Rootmen, Quinlan sighed and carefully dismounted, helping Adalia off the saddle.
Adalia was glad when Quinlan took the lead and for the most part, she snuggled Daisy and pressed herself against his back. Exaughstion set in when they stopped a ways away and she found herself clinging to Quinlan when she could, Daist tucked up against her neck. "Quin, I need your help with the spike in my leg," was all she said before she moved away, dropping Daisy to the ground and sitting.
Quickly she rolled up her pant leg and looked at it, just barely sticking out. "Can you get it for me?"
Quinlan peered down at the spike. It didn't need telling, but that had to have hurt. He hesitated for a moment before he leaned down and stuck his hand at one end of the spike and stuck his thumb at the other. The hole was big enough for his finger to just pass through and he pushed his thumb hard against the spike. And pulled it out quickly from the other side. He did it as quickly as he could. There was no point in tiptoeing around the act and worrying if it hurt.
"There," he huffed, unsure why his heart was beating so fast. It wasn't even his leg.
It hurt.
Adalia cried out, her face pressed to the ground and her fingers clenched and by the time the spike was out she was a trembling mess. With red eyes she tuned to look at Quinlan and gave an attempt at a smile, "you can tell people you were inside me," her tone was light and she dropped her head to the ground again.
It just really hurt now instead of being a dull ache. Slowly she rolled over and looked up at te sky, "Thanks Quin, is it nap time?"
He felt a great deal of sympathy for her in that moment. She was too worn to travel further, and any more pain might kill her. He didn't know if helping her seal the wound would be more than she could take. He smiled at her and took off his coat, bundling it and snuggling it underneath her head. He took the sleeve of his shirt and held it with his arm inside, taking a knife and slicing it through. When it was off, he used it like a bandage to wrap around her leg as tightly as he could.
"That should help," he said and sat beside her. "You smell really bad by the way. You need a bath."
A quiet breath and Adalia rose her head, looking up at Quinlan confused for a moment. The helping. The adrenalin had run out and Adalia felt herself crashing, murmuring a quiet thank you when he wrapped up her leg. Of course the comment about her smell got him a glare, though it quickly turned into an amused look. "You just want to look at my stargazers."
"No I mean that root man blood is really stinky," he said. "And you're covered in it." He just laughed, because stargazers really would have been a bonus. "Get some rest, Adalia."
Wincing she looked at her shirt, covered in the root an blood. "Fine, it stinks." Then she whipped the top off and tossed it aside into some bushes, it flopped into the dirt wetly and she curled up. Naked from the waist up she gave Quin a look and before long in between her glaring her eyes stayed closed and she fell to sleep.
From dawn to dusk they both rested, though Quinlan not very much. He kept waking up every few minutes at the noises he heard or thought he heard. He wiped his face however and kept up. He got up quietly and plucked Adalia's shirt from the bushes and gently cleaned it from some of the water from Atras' bags.
Adalia slept like a rock, her back exposed to the sunlight. Finally, dusk came and Adalia rolled over, her wrist pressed to her face her back aching, her leg aching. A quiet shuddering sigh and she sat up, groggily looking down at her hands before giving them a flex.
What was Quinlan doing? Frowning she limped her way over and stood behind him, moving to sit behind him. "You housekeeping?"
He looked over and watched her for a moment, but didn't stop washing the blood from her shirt. "Yeah," he muttered, scrubbing the cloth between his hands. "Gotta get the blood out. You can't be half naked all the time."
Adalia smiled and gave her head a nod, "thanks for finding Daisy." Her long opal hair kept her modesty and she took a moment to look down at her hands. "Your magic is pretty useful, huh?"
Quinlan observed her hands and pulled up his own for a side by side comparison. "Useful. Painful too. But pain don't hurt, right?"
Adalia laughed and observed their hands, entertained for a moment that they had something in common. Even something as simple as their messed up hands. Pain don't hurt indeed. A long look at their hands and she traced her scarred fingers over Quinlans palm, "can you teach people?"
Quinlan looked from his palm to her. "What? How to not feel pain?"
A roll of her eyes, "how do use blood magic. I think I've got not feeling pain down to a fine art." Adalia wiggled her fingers at Quinlan, "have you actually looked at my hands?"
Quinlan laughed and shook his head. "I knew that. I mean, you can't ever not feel pain. I guess the trick is, not minding that it hurts," he said and went back to scrubbing her shirt. He didn't want to answer her question of whether or not blood magic was teachable. It must've been, but it seems it was a gift that only a demon could bestow.
Flexing her hands Adalia looked at them and then sighed, "Sometimes everything hurts so bad you just don't notice anymore." She noticed the avoidance of the other topic, the teaching one, and tacked it onto her suspicions.
Quin was a mysterious guy. Not in a cool way, but in the Puzzle I wanna Figure Out way. Connlaoth. Blood magic. His weird addiction that sent him into bounds of pain. "Thank you for cleaning my shirt, I promise to bathe at the next body of water we find."
"A booty of water," he quipped and grinned at her. "And so...what was that kiss all about?"
Adalia froze and just stared at him for a moment, "Uhh..." Pretend it didn't happen?
Nah.
"Same reason you gave me that kiss on the cheek earlier."
"Kiss on the cheek? I did no such thing," he said with a teasing look. He looked at her lips. "I guess you're used to that life or death thing, huh?"
"Now you're just lying, you gave me a kiss on the cheek before you went to sleep." She pointed an accusatory finger at him before she folded her arms over her chest, still sitting and still looking as pale as moonbeams... Except for the sunburn on her back.
"No. I haven't... I haven't had to fear for my life since..." She frowned, "Since I got back home. It was just... Spur of the moment, " Adalia shrugged and shifted herself, ignoring the dull throb of her leg.
"Like this you mean?" he asked, and leaned in to kiss her cheek, lips lingering for a moment. It was just a moment of camaraderie between the two. They'd just survived being eaten by a giant plant thing after all. Quinlan didn't have many people he could call friends, if any at all. He wasn't going to say any of that changed now, but at least they had something that connected them now. Even if that something was their disfigured hands.
"Do you have any friends?" he found himself asking, now that the thought was on his mind. "How did you grow up? I mean, living a life like you did. Or, still do."
Adalia laughed and pressed her hand to his neck to push Quinlan away, again grinning and rolling her eyes. "Yes, that was indeed a kiss on the cheek. Good job, Quin." His question caught her off guard and she frowned down at the grass for a moment, moving to pull her hair away from her sun burnt back and over her front, adding more between her naked breasts and Quinlans eyes. He was a guy that offered fooling around almost immediately after meeting, he'd probably give her boobs a long look.
"Friends?" Adalia tore at some grass between her legs before she sprinkled it on her thigh, dusting it away just as quickly. "Just Atras and reDaisy. I..." A frown and she tilted her head, "I grew up as spoiled as a lady of my status could." A pause and she smiled only to look down at her hands and frown, " Educated, wealthy." Adalia shrugged and tucked her hands away, "There were always rules, I wasn't allowed to practice magic for the exact reason my hands are the way they are. It would bring down my value, you see."
"I didn't really start growing up until I met..." Adalia paused, cleared her throat and then smiled again, "I was a brat until a few years ago. I learned how to be an adult pretty quickly. It's amazing how well butting heads with someone you want to like you makes you grow up."
Oh, how cute, she was trying to be modest! He'd already had gotten a good look at those. At least this time, however, he really was just looking at her face. He already knew what was hiding behind those curtains of hair.
He listened intently and held the shirt out in his hands, the reddened stains significantly lightened before laying it over the grass. "There he is again. The pointed out, but never mentioned stranger," he said with a small smile. He quickly put his hands up. "No, you don't have to talk about it. It's okay. I never had friends either. I guess maybe that's why I'm such an asshole."
He laughed at that. "I think I'm an asshole because I choose to be. Just as I choose to have no friends. Are the two inherently connected?"
Adalia pursed her lips and grabbed some grass, throwing it at Quinlan after a moment. "His name was Hysaeda," she smiled softly, "I had to teach him how to ride a horse." Adalia looked at her shirt and then gave an amused look to him. She leaned towards him and rested her chin in her hand, "you're not an asshole. You're just a thief. I'm sure you could have friends if you wanted them."
Quinlan grew somber, thinking of his sister and his Father, and wondering if they were yet untouched by the war. "I don't deserve them," he said plainly, tone nonchalant. "I'm better off this way. Just myself. Friends get in the way."
Leaning in, Adalia just smiled at him. "Do you really believe that? I'm sure Daisy would be your friend. Atras too! He's an absolute whore for apples."
Quinlan snorted. "She can hack up some hairballs and he can kick me when I'm being stupid. Which is a lot apparently," he said and reached up to poke her face. "You're so weird... I thought I had problems. But you're cracked eggs in a basket. What are you going to do when you kill my mystery employer? I don't think you should go home."
Adalia bat at Quins hand when he poked her cheek though her expression turned somber, "you don't? Where do you suggest I go with a horse and an undead cat to feed?"
Daisy stretched and when she noticed no one was paying attention to her, she stepped quietly toward Adalia and rubbed against her let, purring loudly.
Quinlan glanced to the cat and grinned. "There's always Adela!" he said with a laugh. "Or you can just...wander around. It's what I do. It's fun. Take odd jobs. You could totally be a bouncer. I can see you whooping ass at some shady tavern or brothel. Not being a whore, just a bouncer. You're good with a blade."
Adalia scritched at Daisy and smiled when the cat curled up in her lap. Slowly she tilted her head and gave Quinlan a look. " Or I could go home and marry some gross old guy. Have kids. Roll in my money." She smirked and pet at Daisy, who quickly got out of Adalia's lap and meandered over to Quinlan, demanding pets from him. "I don't know how to be completely alone."
He sniffed and looked up toward the darkened trees, listening still just in case something came up. He pet idly at Daisy and even pulled the animal into his lap. He pulled the dead animal in close and she was content to just purr away. "I had a dog once. A few months ago. He ran off though. His name was Fluffy," he commented. "You should just surround yourself with animals. They're better than people."
A single raised eyebrow and she tilted her head to the side, "At least I was like... Eight when I named Daisy." And as if on cue, Atras meandered his way over and Adalia looked up at her best friend. The saddle was still on and she stood up quickly, working to take it off and went about scratching his sweat crusted coat. "You need a bath too, huh Babe?" Adalia commented quietly while she scratched him down the best she could without the proper tools.
"Surround myself with animals you suggest? Why do you think my best friend is a horse?" Adalia looked down at Quinlan, smiling, "it's not for the conversation."
"They say more than we know," he muttered and even kissed the dead cat. Only Quinlan would ever kiss a dead cat. But there she was, purring away, and something in him wanted to do it. So he did. "We should get moving while we can. I'm sure those Rootmen are going to come looking for us. I really don't want to become flower food."
There was a different kind of smile on her face when Quinlan gave Daisy a kiss. Amused. Surprised. Still, she didn't comment on it and instead gave Atras a proper brush (as proper as could be ) before she saddled him up again. "I know you're tired," She said softly to the horse, bringing his head down so she could kiss his nose. So, Adalia went about saddling him up and finally when she was done she went and retrieved her damp shirt from the ground, pulling that on and plucking at it. It was cold.
It felt nice on her back, so at least there was that.
"Eugh," Adalia finally paused to sniff at her hair, "I do smell awful." She looked towards Atras, "Do you want me to sit behind you so you don't have to have your face in my stinky hair?"
"I can ride," he said. After giving Atras some water, they were off again and traveled for a few more hours until the reached the sound of flowing water. It was little more than a spring, one that gushed out from the center of a small grove and thankfully here, the trees opened up enough to allow the moonlight to ignite their path.
Quinlan dismounted again and was happy to have fresh water. Even stuck in the middle of a forest, he was thankful for the small things.
Adalia may or may not have napped against Quinlans back while they were travelling, for the most part it was a quiet journey with few words between them and Adalia was thankful. The spring was a thankful item in the forest and Adalia had to shoo Atras away from it numerous times while she filled the waterskins. "You wanna bathe the horse or am I going to?" She asked over her shoulder, holding Atras's head because he dearly wanted into the spring.
A barking laugh erupted from Quinlan. "I think he really wants you to do it. Look at him!" Atrad knickered and nuzzled Adalia, even threatening to bite her shoulder if she didn't move. "But maybe I should do it." He gave a sharp whistle and clapped his hands. And Atras was content to ignore him.
Adalia glared over her shoulder at Quinlan but shook her head and laughed all the same when he whistled and clapped his hands... And nothing. Atras wanted into the water. "Okay okay, geeze." After making sure all the equipment was off of Atras she moved her hands and sure enough he waltzed into the water, drinking his fill and easily up to his stomach in it.
"Okay," Adalia pointed accusingly at Quin, "Don't look." Slowly she peeled off her clothes, messy and while the shirt was cleaner, it had been damp when she put it on and it had done it's fair share of clinging. Eventually, naked, she stepped into the water after Atras and stood waist deep while she scrubbed at his fur and poured water over his back. "Man, I can't imagine how itchy you are," Speaking to the horse.
His tail gave a few flicks and it sprayed water every where and before she knew it, Atras had had enough and went to... Rolling around in what dirt he could find. "Oh... Atras why... Oh for." Adalia just stared after him, shuffled off to the side and slowly sank into the water. Sure the bottom of the spring had been stirred up, but at least this would get off the crusty Plant People bits off of her.
He was a man, of course he had to look. It was easier to sneak in surreptitious glances at her when her back was turned. Atras, meanwhile, was soaking it up! Horses always struck him as weird animals. Too smart for their own good and then went and did something dumb.
"This means there's a vacancy, right?" he said as he slipped into the spring himself, already naked.
"Vacancy?" Adalia frowned for a moment, looking over and "gah!" Thaaaat was a penis. Her hands slapped over her eyes wetly and she turned turned her back to him. "What are you doing! We're adults!" Adalia frowned and wrapped her arms around her torso and shuffled away, crouching down so she was neck deep in the water, still facing away.
"Couldn't you wait your turn?"
"Exactly! We're adults. So let's stop with the modesties and just deal with each other like regular people. I'm not looking and you're not looking. Easy." Well, maybe for him. Her breasts were smaller and easier to hide. He shrugged and slipped into thewater dunking his head in. "Relax , Chickenfingers."
Chickenfingers.
Adalia sneered at him over her shoulder before she ducked her head into the water, taking a moment to simply relax and feel the nice refreshing cool of the spring. Slowly though, she rose out of the water and stood, still facing away and looked down at herself, her fingers idly tracing the memories that left marks on her skin.
Wading her way up towards the little shore, Adalia sat in the water and rose her leg, unwrapping the makeshift bandage and pressing her hands to her calf. A quiet moment a hitch of her breath and the hole was a scar and she frowned down at her legs, which by no means were as scarred as her hands, but had their own story to tell. Adalia was covered and she enjoyed sitting in the water and before long with her wet hair clinging to her back and front she just stared down at the spring. "So, how long am I going to be following you for? Two weeks, right?"
Quinlan took his time bathing, enjoying the water while he could. It was a spring too and the coolness of it was more than refreshing. From the edge of the spring, water gushed out on a steady stream. Quinlan moved up and over to the where the water rushed over the rocks and he washed his face and hair.
"That was the plan before we were sidetracked," he replied. He sat down and cleaned his underarms. "But something tells me it might be a little longer than that. I mean I don't even know where we are right now."
After healing her calf, Adalia slipped back into the water, moving closer to Quinlan and his hogging of the fresh water, though up to her shoulders the whole time. Sure he'd seen her tits before, but now the rest of her was exposed too and this time was different. For some reason. Exhaustion wasn't a key factor in her not caring.
Adalia looked around after a moment and sighed, "I don't know either. Obviously a forest?" She said grinning helpfully before she moved closer and nudged him with an elbow, "unless you want to wash my, you're hogging all the clean water." Another nudge, "Shove over."
Quinlan looked her over, eyes lingering on her body before peering up at her face. He was happy to manage eye contact. "Depends. What would I be washing?"
Adalia frowned at him and sunk lower into the water. "My ass," She glared and nudged him again, "didn't your mother teach you how to at least share?"
Quinlan laughed. "You have to learn to lighten up, Adalia," he said and scooted over. "I'm only kidding. I promise, no ass touching without permission."
A triumphant grin and she graciously took over his spot by the fresh water, going about running her fingers through her hair, all hints of modesty were gone and Adalia just smiled prettily. "If I lighten up, I won't catch you off guard when I steal your spot by the fresh water." Then she stuck her tongue out at him and smiled, fluttering her eyes for good measure.
He made a loud 'pfffffft' sound and splashed water at her. He reclined against the rocks, watching her wash her hair as all creepy guys did, and made sure to make his staring extra creepy. A part of him wondered if she cared that his manbits were just hanging out like that. He wasn't trying to make a show of them, but neither were they concealed by the water, sitting on the dirt just like he was.
"You have learned well, Mage Knight. I was a fool ever to tangle with you," he said with chuckle. "I'm sure Daisy needs a bath too. Or do dead cats just not stink?"
Adalia made a keen point of not looking at Quin.
More than once.
Of course he got a curious glance once... Or twice. But it wasn't anymore more than a look and really, she couldn't help herself. Finally she finished washing herself (as best as one could without soap) and folding her arms over her chest, looking over at Daisy who had made herself comfortable on Atras's rump. "If you want to bathe the cat, be my guest Quin. I'll watch from a few feet away." She splashed water at him for good measure before she made her way out of the water and grabbed her shirt, using it to dry herself off before getting dressed and reclining on the newly dirtied horse.
"Do you want to rest? I promise not to fall asleep this time."
Of course, Adalia wouldn't let either of them enjoy any leisure time. Quinlan hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, truth be told. But he wasn't really ready travel either. He kept by the water, washing his own ass until he got most if not all the grime off of him. Traveling through the woods was never a picnic, but it was nice to appreciate small wonders.
"Food. I'm starving. Make me a sandwich woman," he said, with a clearly amused chuckle. He put his hands up. "I'm kidding. But...food isn't a bad idea. We can eat and then maybe sleep. Though...you sleeping, admittedly puts me on edge. I don't want to get conked over the head again. You sure you can handle it?"
Adalia chewed on her lip and looked at Atras's saddle. The saddle that she had put their things in. Then again, Adalia frowned for a moment. Nope, there had been a fight. Maybe... Going through her own personal things she'd found jerky and stale bread, being a few days old. "You are so lucky I was getting ready to run away," Adalia muttered mostly to herself and pulled the jerky out, taking a bite.
"tastes old 'cause it is, but..." she wagged the bag at him, "Also there is stale bread," Adalia informed him with a smile though it quickly melted away and she looked away, wiping off her hands. "Yeah. I won't let that happen to you again," Her voice had gone soft and she stopped looking at him, instead looking at her bare feet. "I don't have a good excuse but I am sorry I let that happen."
Quinlan took the bread tentatively. "Stale or not. Food is food," he said. And munched on it thoughtfully for a while. "Wait. You were going to run away anyway. Where were you planning to go? Was it just to escape your stifling life and future engagement?"
Thoughtfully she chewed on her piece of jerky, looking up at the sky and then finally back at Quinlan. "I wasn't actually going to," she said softly, moving to run her fingers through the grass. "Maybe I won't go back once I meet your employer. Maybe I'll ... Go south. Check out Adela, I haven't hear good things but it can't be that bad." Adalia smiled after a momet and stretched, "and I entertained the idea of leaving because I'm bored of life."
"Ha, you ought to live my life," he laughed and peered up at her. It was time he got dressed anyway. "But I think you've got a pretty good taste of it back in Arca. With Favris and his men." He sighed. "Nobody's life is ideal. But we gotta deal with it. At least you don't have needles running down your arms."
[I know it was a typo. =D But it works for Quin to not have any idea of what country he's in, yeah?]
"Arca," Adalia corrected softly, smiling all the while, "We're in Serendipity, remember?" There was a tug at her hair, the opaline colour a very Serenian feature. For a while she mused on his words, looking down at her hands and trying to figure out just wasn't ideal about her life.
Aside for the arranged marriage thing waiting for her.
"I'd say my life before meeting Hysaeda was pretty ideal," Adalia grinned, "Even after I got home. My cousin is the High Lord of Jadenshine, got me off scotfree when I should have been spending the rest of my life in jail for turning traitor or something." Then she shrugged and looked at his arms, then looked at hers.
"Is that what the vials are for?" Adalia asked softly, moving closer to look at his arms better, "Are you sick?" Then she leaned back and eyed him, "Some sort of mage sickness?"
[Whoops. I fixed it. I got it mixed up with one of his other threads. xD]
Quinlan chewed on his lips for a few moments. "Rich cousins. Lucky you," he commented idly and slipped his shirt back on. He shrugged. He had plenty of crimes to answer for in a lot of places, most of which couldn't be pardoned by people in a high court.
He glanced at his hands. "It's something like that, I guess you could call it a sickness. It's pretty much like my blood is trying to kill me."
[Whelp. I ain't fixing mine. =D]
Before long she had her knees up to her chest and she was watching Quin like he was an actual person now, a potential friend or at least a decent acquaintance. "Rich family, some of the side effects are being sold like cattle to make your family more rich so yes, Lucky Me indeed." Adalia took interest in his hands then, moving closer until finally she was holding it in hers, tracing the scars with her fingers and frowning at it, "I've never heard of that kind of illness before. Do you know where you got it from?"
He could only laugh at her question, as if talking of nothing more than a contagious cold. Indeed, if only it were, then maybe his body might recover from it. He watched her tracing his palm and he opened it more for her, where the scabs from the earlier cuts were healing over. He'd always been a remarkably quick healer, but he healed even more quickly when injesting blood. Even small amounts worked wonders.
"Something like that," he said with a soft chuckle. "It was a curse bestowed on me because I broke a pact. It was a bad deal either way, but it didn't like it when I decided I wanted out. So it turned my magic against me."
Adalia frowned down at his hand, pulling it up to her face to look at it better before she leaned back, trailing her hand up his arm curiously, following the veins to the crook. "A curse?" Her voice was soft and she slowly let down his arm and then looked down at her arms, the scars, her palms. "Is that how you became a mage? Or were you always one?"
"I was always a mage. My father was a particularly good one. Well, he was good at hiding it," he went on, surprised at himself at how easy the words just tumbled out. "I asked for the curse... In a way. I wanted the power to make a difference, to do something. A demon. That's how I got my blood magic."
He took her hand in his own and inspected her palm. "Not make a difference in any positive way mind you."
Adalia just stared at him for a moment unable to comprehend feeling so helpless. "Quinlan..." She started though quickly stopped herself, the last thing this guy probably wanted was pity. Adalia looked down at her palm, watched him inspect it and she gently tried to pull it away, still self conscious about her hands. They were ugly.
"That thing, with the vials. Is that your curse?"
"Yes," he said. "My blood thickens and feels like needles coursing down my arm. It's quite painful. The elixir thins my blood, and alleviates the pain. It won't heal me. I've stopped looking for a cure a long time ago. But I'm not dead yet. And I won't be if I have anything to say about it, not while there's life left to live, yeah?"
He smiled and kept he hand in his grip. "Y'know, I've never seen magic affect people like this. My hands are scarred from cuts I've done to myself. But I've never had my own fire scorch my flesh like this... Can you even feel anything anymore?"
Adalia frowned slightly at him when he didn't let go of her hand so, finally, she gave up pulling it away. "I must be special," She explained dead pan, though she sighed and looked down at her own hand giving it a flex and wiggling her fingers, "Mostly they're just ugly, I guess if I think about it I can't feel much with them." Curiously she looked down at her own hands, "They've been like this forever though so... I can't say I've noticed a difference between touching with these hands and normal ones." She sighed and gave him a look.
"Shouldn't you be looking for someone to break your curse, rather than cure it?" She asked curiously, an eyebrow raise, though it wouldn't be readily apparent behind her bangs.
Quinlan smiled at her, quirking a brow. "Do you think I would've gone through all this and not have thought of that?" he asked. He snickered and gripped his hands around hers. He squeezed it gently and ran his fingers over the scars. "We all have these. Inside and out. It's how we look at them that matters. There's beauty in everything. Oh there I go again gettin' all sentimental-like."
"Well... Yes." Adalia nodded just looking at him, "That's why I asked." Obviously. Still she gave him a teasing smile but it quickly faded and she just watched him examine her hands. Frowning. "No. My hands aren't beautiful. There is nothing beautiful about the way my abilities ravage my flesh." Finally she snatched her hand away and tucked them both against her sides, under her elbows. "I could have been normal. I could have just been able to make some stupid sort of fire ball but no I burn myself. I break my fingers. My magic is violent. There's nothing beautiful in that."
And he only smiled. Oh, she had to be kidding right? Clearly she hadn't had a rough roll around. Maybe it was only him that thought that kind've stuff was hot. "I've seen you fight," he said with a quirked bow. "That's enough to get any man in the right mind's blood boiling. Or wrong mind, depending on how you look at it."
Adalia's favoured expression for Quinlan was apparently a frown and she made a disgusted sound and rolled her eyes, "I knew it." Adalia shuffled away from him a bit, "You may be attractive and be all about making easy conquests but we are not going to have sex." Adalia pointed in the direction they'd come from, "I don't do the 'we were nearly killed let's fuck' thing. Or the 'I fought stuff and now I'm horny' thing."
The finger pointing off in a random direction was soon pointing at his nose, "So you just... Stop trying. Right now. We're not doing it. Ever." Adalia frowned and wagged her finger, "Ever"
He put his hands up. "Whoa, Nelly! I didn't even offer. Now, I mean." Quinlan laughed at all her accusatory looks and snorted. "I'm just saying that what you consider pretty unattractive, someone else might consider pretty hot. You're good, you're strong. Sure you're hands look like chicken feet, but it's a sign of passage. You don't take shit. I can appreciate that."
And he was nothing but smiles. "Besides, you've at least got nice tits. That's always something." And with that he shrugged.
Adalia smacked at the air, "You asked me if i wanted to fool around the day we met!" Her voice had a huffy tone and she just stared at him, shame and embarrassment coloured her face - which turned about as red as her sunburnt back - and Adalia turned away, ducking her head to hide behind her pale opal coloured hair. "Chicken feet? Just..." Adalia waved her hand and pressed it to her face, "Please stop trying. Congratulations, you have a scar fetish, Quin." Then her hands crossed over her chest and she frowned at him, "Nothing about my pretty face? My chicken feet hands and my tits."
There was a level glare, "I hope you have no illusions as to why you're single."
He could not stop laughing. In fact his stomach was just cramping up now from all the giggles Adalia was giving him. Another loud snort and he was on his back, holding his stomach. "Look, this is too much," he said, huffing a little and sitting up at last. "I was just making friendly conversation. God, Adalia, you need to relax, girl. You're too pretty to be so grumpy. We need to get a drink."
"I think you're delirious and you need to sleep," She started and looked around. There was no where comfortable to sleep and while Adalia had been so exhausted earlier she wouldn't suggest sleeping on the ground. "We can get a drink in the next town, real food too. It'll be nice." Adalia sighed loudly and pat at her lap, "Just... use me as a pillow and get some sleep, please? The sooner you sleep, the sooner you wake up the sooner we can fine the nearest town and the sooner I get to sleep in a real bed."
It wasn't every day a woman offered her lap for him to rest his head on. Come to think of it, he was feeling a little dizzy. And he was tired after getting his ass kicked. He turned around and gently laid his head on her lap, as if unsure she really meant it. He looked up at her. "Thanks, uh, for putting up with me," he said with a gentle snicker. He meant it and closed his eyes. "Wake me up when its my turn to take watch."
Adalia didn't wake him up.
At least not on purpose.
She did boredly finger comb his hair a fair bit though and by dawn his lovely locks were probably better brushed than a comb. Also likely very foofy since she'd been finger combing away from his scalp. Finally, the sun was in her eyes and the animals began to stir, her hand went to Quins chest and she gave him a careful shake, "Hey, time to wake up. We've got places to go and butts to kick."
Eyes fluttered open and he felt fingers through his hair. Quinlan stared up at Adalia like she was one of those plant people before sitting up and turning to face her. "I'm not trying okay," he said before leaning in to kiss her on the cheek. He said nothing and pulled away, quickly standing and picking up Daisy. She meowed and purred loudly, rubbing her face against the scratchy hairs that were growing on his face.
Yes there were places to be and asses to kick.
The kiss on her cheek, again got an eyeroll and she watched him carefully before she brushed the tingling away with the backs of her fingers. "You're not trying what?" Adalia asked quietly, standing carefully because her leg was in fact very asleep and had been numb for a while. Thankfully Atras was quick to get up and Adalia leaned against him while she stretched her leg to get the blood flowing...
There it was.
A surprised gasp. "Oh... Pins and needles," Adalia whimpered before she looked over at Quinlan cuddling Daisy, "Can you saddle Atras? Your head put my leg to sleep and I didn't want to wake you up."
"You're too kind, Addie," he chuckled. "But yeah I can." He ran his hands over Atras, Daisy settling on his shoulders, slumping and purring lazily. When he finished rubbing him down, he threw the saddle over him and secured it, strapping the horse in.
"You're too nice, like I said," he repeated. "You could've let me sleep on the ground. In fact, you should have. Spooning would have let us bothe sleep a lot better."
Addie.
Addie.
"Addie?" Adalia leaned back slightly, moving to give Quinlan space while she leaned against the horse and just frowned at him. If she frowned anymore her face would probably get stuck like that. Addie. "What sort of awful nickname is Addie? At least Quin is in the name Quinlan." Another roll of her eyes and she just gave him a look, "I didn't sleep. Also, I know for a fact spooning does not improve sleeping. It just makes your back sweaty and your tits easy to grope."
Giving her leg a shake she checked over Atras's saddle and was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't upside down, giving the belts a few good tugs she gave her horse a kiss on the cheek and hopped up, waiting patiently for her temporary companion.
"I'm a very good spooner," Quinlan added, climbing up behind her. "You could've spooned me and groped my tits. I wouldn't have minded."
That caught her off guard and she laughed, turning to look at him, "What?" A glance at his chest and she was still grinning, "Okay, deal. 'Cause we can't afford to rent a room with two beds." Adalia gave Atras a nudge with her foot and they began on their way, though she gave a large yawn and arched her back before she stretched. "Alright, we've gonna find the next town, maybe warn them about those plant people. Then eat some real food, I am starving." And tired, but hey, one complaint at a time.
One complaint at a time indeed. Follow the water, that was Quinlan's old trick. Most villages preferred to have half the work done for them when it came to having easy access to water. Sure a well wasn't all that difficult to dig up, but when it came to rivers and streams, wherever it ran through, that's where they would build.
And sure enough within the next few hours, a few houses popped up through the trees. He could see in the distance the sound of children playing, screeching with excitement as they ran around a large bonfire at the center of the village. The adults around clapped and drummed their own music, a fiddle ringing out as well.
Quinlan reached across to grip the reins from Adalia, pulling back on them. "I dunno," he mumbled. "What do you think? I mean, it's possible shelter...but I've got a funny feeling in my stomach."
For being almost lunch time, it was a lively group of people and Adalia looked over her shoulder and frowned at Quinlan, tilting her head. "Funny feeling like you've been against my ass for the last few hours," She gave him a level glare, "or funny feeling like something bad is going to happen?" Swallowing quickly she put her hand on top of his, "I'll follow your gut, I'm a city gal. All that looks rustic and pleasant to me."
"I dunno. I can't put it into words. Just something weird. We could move on...but there's no telling just how far the next settlement is. Let's go, but keep our guard up. I wonder if they know about the plant people. Maybe they just get by on sacrificing small children to the Root Mother."
He gave a sharp, half-hearted laugh at that and Atras was moving forward once again. One woman saw them and tugged on the arm of an elderly man beside her, gesturing to the strangers that appeared between the trees.
Then Atras was stopping and when she pulled on the reins.
She hadn't even considered that.
"No... No." Adalia turned her head and looked at Quin, "We have to let them know. Maybe..." She nudged Atras towards the village, "You're a mage. I'm a mage. We're a pretty powerful team," Well, she was a pretty powerful team of her own. Maybe Quin would help. And so, Adalia rode into the village with Atras, Quin behind her and she smiled at them.
"Hello, We're traveling! We were hoping there might be a place to purchase some sort of food and lodgings for the night?" There was no responce to her and she looked over her shoulder at Quin, "You're rustic. You talk to them."
He thought she was in charge of this expedition! Quinlan shot a glare to Adalia and then to the people that simply stared at them. He got off the horse and motioned for Adalia to do the same. The elderly man stepped forth. "Hello," he said, waving his hands. "We are weary travelers. We've come a long way from Arca. I am sorry to interrupt your...thing, but we were a little apprehensive about stopping by. We're far from the main road, and haven't had proper shelter in days."
The old man stared between the pair and then the cat that sat on Atras' rump. And then he smiled. "My name is Darvey. That there is my daughter, Rose. We were just celebrating the first day of our harvest. Please. Welcome. Come and join us, Mr. uh..."
"Harvey. And this is my...cousin Adele."
Your thing.
Smooth.
It wasn't until he'd spoken that she got off her horse and Adalia stood there awkwardly, not used to such... Small homey places. Trading posts were one thing, camp was a whole different ball game, little villages that had... Things? That was new grounds. Adalia did her best to smile and look polite, her hands tucked behind her back with her sleeves pulled down as far as they would go.
Harvey. Adele would be easy to remember, but why Harvey. Who picked the name Harvey. Then it clicked and if Quinlan had decided to look over at her for a moment, he would meet the cool look of someone clearly not impressed with his choice of name. Harvey and Darvey. "Yes, Hello it's nice to meet you. Thank you so much for letting us stay." Though she didn't offer her hands and instead took Atras's reins and Daisy walked daintily up Atras's back and balanced herself on Adalia's shoulder, flopping into her arms when the opportunity presented its self. "Harvey," Adalia smiled at him, pushing Daisy into his arms and smiling at Rose.
"Is there a place I can rest my horse? He's been up just as long as we have!" She smiled and Rose, following the old mans example, smiled.
"of course! He's a fine looking beast, what's his name?"
"Atras," and the pair began to walk towards a modest stable, leaving Quin with Daisy and Darvey.
If Adalia looked any more exasperated, they were going to start thinking she had a bad case of gas or something to that effect. Quinlan kept his focus on Darvey and followed him to the fire. Daisy purred comfortably in his arms, laying lazily as Darvey explained the finer points of a successful harvest.
His daughter eyed Quinlan when they returned to their side and she put a hand on Darvey's arm. "Father, don't bore the man to death. I'm sure they're both tired from such a long journey."
"It's not a problem really," 'Harvey' cut in and moved to stand beside Adalia. "It's been a while since we've come across people to friendly."
Adalia smiled at 'Harvey' and nodded along with him.
"It's true. We just had a run in with... Unfortunately unfriendly people. Ran us out of town." Adalia moved her hand around Quin's middle and tucked her head against his shoulder. "They didn't approve of us," She sighed sadly, a forlorn look on her face.
The woman looked confused for a moment, narrowing her eyes, "Approve?"
"Of our love," Adalia sighed again and snuggled her head onto Quin's shoulder. She'd seen the way the girl was eyeballing him and there was no time for him to be dallying, which she knew he'd absolutely do. The pervert.
"O-Oh...Oh I see, Well... You're already here. As long as you don't go telling everyone you're cousins first, there shouldn't be much trouble. You two... Don't really look alike. You can probably get away with it." The woman gave the pair a hesitant smile and looked at Darvey, "Where should we put them up for the night you think?"
Ew. Ew! She just had to imply that didn't she!?
Quinlan turned to Adalia with wide eyes, not saying anything and when she put an arm around him, it took quite a bit of self-control not to cringe. Instead he laughed and shrugged in a 'what-can-ya-do' kind of act of admission without actually admitting it. He put his arm around her.
He didn't know what brought this on all of a sudden, but it was a clear diversion of some kind and he knew better than to not play along.
Darvey just chuckled, looking at his daughter. "Well, we ain't got much of an inn. But I think we can spare some room in my own home. Rose, would ya show 'em the way? Set em up in the sitting room, with plenty of blankets and pillows. Then we'll get ta feastin'!"
Almost.
Adalia almost ruined their great cover story by laughing at the face Quin made. She'd not known him long, but the crinkle and the attempt to not look disgusted had her smile and press her head against his shoulder closer. Hilarious. There would have to be a moment to reminisce and be thankful that Quinlan thought incest was disgusting.
Rose gave them a polite pulled smile and lead Adalia and Quinlan - Adele and Harvey - to Darvey's house. Despite the revelation of them being cousin lovers, Rose still gave Quin an eyeful, glacing at him over her should every chance she had and Adalia found herself getting annoyed.
Mostly because who would want that. He had playboy written all over him and if he didn't have something she needed - a crest, not his body - then she'd have clocked out with her horse and Newly Alive cat ages ago. Avoided the whole Plant Monster thing.
Which was partly why she'd made them stop.
Rose pulled them into a hallway, and Quinlan happened to have been stopped in front of a hall closet and Rose happened to need something in it. So, rubbing her skirted butt against his front, Rose pulled blankets and pillows from that closet and showed them to the sitting room. "Here you are," She gave Adalia a polite look, gave Quin a lingering one and Adalia just smiled politely back. "You can have a moment, but don't forget the feast is soon!"
Adalia looked between 'Harvery' and Rose while she left them a moment alone together, then looked down at herself, "I just do not see it." Adalia gave her head a shake and crossed her arms over her chest, "What did you even see in that plant place after they found you again anyway?" Looking down at her hands she gave them a flex and pursed her lips, "I may or may not have been extremely angry and don't really remember."
Frankly, Quinlan wasn't really paying attention. Because he was too busy trying not to be weirded out by this place. They were unusually friendly, or perhaps that was simply the result of the blood mage's natural inclination to be suspicious of everything. He didn't live as long as he did without it. But the crotch brushing was rather...ahem, telling, if nothing else.
"Oh excuse me," he mumbled, just passing though and staying close to Adalia, because he didn't really trust anything in this odd village. Not even a girl just gathering blankets and pillows.
When they were settled at last, he spread out the blanket and looked up at Adalia. "Don't see what?"
He shrugged off the question and threw the pillow on the ground. "It was a massive venus fly trap. Or so it looked. I was chasing after Daisy when I got nabbed. I was going to turn around after I saw that thing to look for you. And then when did, fucking bastard knocked me down. Hard. But yeah. It was....really really big." He shuddered just thinking about it.
"I don't see why she's rubbing her ass against--" Adalia quickly shut her mouth, smiled and stared at the blankets and the pillows. Two of each. Good.
Adalia picked up her own pillow and put it down as far as she could away from his, wrinkling her nose and nudging it just a little farther before laying out her blanket. While she situated her bed she listened to his recount of the plant monster. The Root Mother, she assumed. Adalia pushed her hands through her hair, her bangs sticking up in an awkward manner before she started to finger comb her pale hair.
Slowly her eyes went down to her hands, the one he'd healed so seamlessly, so easily. She flexed it, knowing that if she'd done it it would be sore, the blood. "You're a talented mage, Quin," She said after a moment, ill gotten skills or not, he could use them. "These people are pretty close to the plant guys, do you think..." A quiet sigh, "I know you were probably joking, but... I'm worried these guys actually do something for them. Which has absolutely nothing to do with us - I know - but... I can't let meat eating plant people just... Murder everyone."
"Look, I'm sure you're rolling over in your head just how much trouble we've run into since we've left scenic Arca. However, I'd certainly like to invite less trouble along with us. I get funny feelings sometimes, they don't always pan out. But let's just keep to ourselves, resupply, and then be on our ways. Don't get involved. We're trying to avoid trouble. Remember that," he said.
He didn't pay heed to Adalia's insistence in her sleeping situation. He felt more beat to hell than he'd had in a very long time. And he just wanted to sleep. Even if he was pretty hungry. He puffed out his pillow, slamming it on the ground, grumbling something to himself.
"Q...Harvey," She looked around quickly, " I'm a mageknight. Doing shit like this is my job. Just... Let me send a letter back to Arca then. Tell someone about the plant people." Pushing a hand through her hair she watched him angrily fix his pillow.
"What's wrong now Princess? Your future wife and father-in-law are waiting for us to go stuff our faces." Adalia watched him, frowning slightly, "I know you're hungry. I'm hungry too. Let's just... Be creepy cousins or whatever, eat their food, sleep in their house and ... Head out tomorrow after I write the letter."
Mageknight. A do-gooder. And an albino at that!
Quinlan sat up, scowling at the mention of princess. "Don't talk nonsense. I'm not in any mood for fornication of the mental, emotional, or physical kind. I was almost dissected in case you didn't notice. What's a letter going to do but get a bunch of more people killed?"
He sighed, shaking his head. He hadn't been under this much stress in a long time, and he could remember why. It made his blood itch.
"Let's just, go eat. We can talk it over tonight. I don't like that girl...also, in case you were wondering. Gives me the creeps."
Adalia frowned at him, her hand on her hip, "Can't say I've ever heard of mental or emotional fornication," squinting at him for a moment, she pursed her lips and she walked over to him, kneeling beside him and placing a hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I know. I went back in there to save you, not Daisy." The cat which had since made her home on Adalia's designated pillow. "A letter is going to let the right people know about this infestation. They're not idiots. They're trained soldiers. Like me." She gave him a gentle push before standing up again and holding out her hand to grab and help him out.
"I don't care if you like the girl, I made us gross Lover Cousins for the sheer purpose of grossing her out so she'd leave you alone." A wiggle of her fingers and she looked towards where they'd come, the front of the house. "C'mon, Babe, I'll keep you safe from the creepers."
"Trying to gross her out and yet she rubs her ass against my balls. Clearly she got the message that I'm willing to do disgusting things. And shut it."
When their beds were made, Quinlan stood, fixing his shirt and sighed again. "Once more into the fray."
Adalia grinned widely, "Soooo it back fired... Because aren't you?" It was an insult and she kept the steely edged smile on her face long after she said it. When he ignored her helping hand, she pressed it to her thigh and simply held out her arm to escort him the way they'd come. "Indeed, Harvey."
Still, she lead the way and Adalia exited the house only for some strange young man to look his arm around her's and lead her away to the bonfire.
Apparently it was quite the feast because there was rustic music, a table covered in all sorts of food - which Adalia was more interested in than the strange dance the man was trying to do with her - and there was one pleading glance to Quinlan before Rose meandered by and wrapped her arm around Quins and rest her head on his shoulder. "The feast is this way! Berry will keep your Adele occupied while you eat," a look was sent to this 'Berry' fellow and Rose lead Quin to the table, "We can tell she's controlling you, y'know? You just rest easy here while you eat, Hon."
For once Quinlan wasn't in a joking mood. This place just didn't make him feel right, and when they were finally outside and he thought they could have some reprieve SHE HAD TO GO AND DANCE WITH SOME WEIRDO WITH A GIMPY LEG!
Quinlan was scowling and growing grumpier by the minute. And he froze when he felt an arm around his.
He remained grounded. "Thanks, but I'd rather sit next to her. We grew up together y'know. We can't part. Ever...my uncle just doesn't understand," he murmured, looking as pathetic as possible.
He hadn't seen her stare at him.
Damnit.
Adalia tried to be polite, really, but eventually he got too handsy and before long she had pushed him away - polite lady style- and stomped her way over to Quinlan. Harvey. Whatever. Adalia frowned at the woman again having her hands all over Quinlan.
Maybe it was because he was fresh meat.
Adalia meandered over to the other side and gently took his free arm in her's, leaning over to glare at Rose. "Harvey," She gave his cheek a kiss, "I'll get us some food. You keep on being polite to Miss.Rose here."
Another scathing look towards the woman and Adalia grabbed one of the plate and graciously filled it. Enough for at least two people, she grabbed two forks and went to sit back down, handing Quinlan a fork she held the plate and gave him a look before poking a bit of food into her mouth. Rose had been sitting quietly beside him this whole time only to now get up and stalk off, her conquest ruined.
"eat, write letter and go to bed or eat, go to bed, write letter?" She asked between fork fulls of food.
And there Adalia was again coming to the rescue. Quinlan hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath when she came back to him, and released it in a slow steady stream, smiling at Rose when Adalia kissed him. He leaned into it, perhaps a little too much. But there was no such thing as too much in a situation like this. He didn't like always being unnerved, being uncomfortable even breathing around these people.
But he was thankful for Adalia. One thing to ground him, and keep him from running out of here in the middle of the night. He looked at her and the food, and ate, just a little, enough to maintain some semblance of normalcy. "You're still set on that letter? You know how Uncle is going to react," he said, leaning into her a little, taking a small tree of broccoli.
He was tense.
Adalia felt bad for making him come here, but the need to protect and keep these people safe was the whole reason she'd learned how to be a mageknight in the first place. Sure she was without armor at the moment and she was pretending to be some weird incestuous cousin. It was pretend though and while these people were odd, they didn't seem dangerous.
Taking a deep breath she decided she was finished, transferred the plate to the other hand and wrapped an arm around Quin's back, to rest her hand at his hip. "Well, He needs to know what's going on. It's in his best interest to either accept what's going on or..." Adalia hoped Quinlan was speaking in code about the letter she actually had to write.
They had to know about those plant people.
Leaning her head on his shoulder she snuggled closer to his side and tried her best to look tired. It wasn't hard. The exhaustion of the previous day was catching up with her and she gave a shiver, her hand tightening against his side. "I'm ready for bed," She said, her voice muffled from his shoulder.
"And if he finds out, comes charging in here and gets the whole lot of us killed for it, I'm sure you'll be very happy," he said and leaned his head right back on hers. He hadn't finished eating but he wasn't about to make a scene about it. There were other things at hand. "Just worry about it when the time comes. You don't write it here," he said again. "Let's go to bed."
And just when he stood to help Adalia to her feet, Rose took him deftly by the hand just as music started to play and led him round and round in a whirling dance.
Shit.
Adalia had a hand out, ready to accept Quinlans when that Rose girl grabbed it and pulled him into a dance. Of all things. Apparently these were very hospitable people and didn't want their guests to miss out. Already she felt stupid. Already Adalia was dreading having to go and do what she knew would be the only thing to make Rose go away.
Standing up, she placed the plate down - why hadn't Quinlan eaten more? - and in a practiced move from years of having to learn how to dance she caught the man who'd grabbed her to dance before and moved him to be close to Rose and Quinlan. It was a spin and Rose would find herself partnered with someone else and Adalia was in Quin's arms, a wide grin on her face.
The grin of victory.
"What are you doing?" Quinlan had asked Rose.
"Dancing of course, you silly silly man," she said with an annoying giggle. From Quinlan's expression it was clear he wasn't enjoying himself. Perhaps now he would when he was partnered with better company. He flickered a smile at her, and she only grinned back.
Quinlan shook his head. "I'm very tired from traveling, dear lady. I'd really just like to get some sleep. I'm afraid these festivities will only make me sleep in tomorrow."
"What does tomorrow matter when it is now we must live for?" she said, and that sentiment was one Quinlan could actually share. But it didn't change the fact that Rose was trying to lead him away from Adalia and that only put him even more at ease.
And just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, somehow, there she was. Quinlan's grin was genuine this time as they danced, this time together. And his feet somehow were renewed with energy as they finished out the song, and Quinlan laughed. "At least you can dance," he said with a soft sigh.
Adalia gave Quinlan a sweeping bow when the dance was over, a little out of breath. "Of course I can dance," Adalia replied, taking Quinlans hand and tucking it into her elbow while she led them away from the dancers as a knew song began. It was a lot of noise.
Though Adalia had no doubt she was so tired she'd be able to sleep through all of it.
"I'm a jack of almost all trades, master of none," She gave Quin a wink and made sure to keep a hold on him, lest he get stolen away again. "I hope you don't mind me butting in. I don't know how tired you are, but I'm beat. All I want to do is cuddle and go to sleep." Imagines of her cuddling a pillow and curling up to sleep flooded her head and she gave a soft almost content sigh.
"Just get me the hell out of here," he whispered and didn't even look over his shoulder as he led them both back to Darvey's house. There, in the hearth, was a small fire burning, and it warmed up the small cabin living area where they'd made their temporary beds. And it felt a little too much like home for Quinlan's tastes. Nevertheless, he sat down and puffed the pillow beneath his head.
"Gods, what a night. This place is crazy. Especially that Rose. What the hell's her problem? She should hump that other man that kept trying to dance with you," he sighed, closing his eyes at last.
Going to her own bed, which was a bit too far from the fire to benefit from it. Grudgingly she brought it closer because being closer to a fire and staying warm and night was far nicer than her distaste for Quinlan and his touchy-feelyness. Which is exactly what she'd been doing all night.
After fixing where her bed was, Adalia fluffed her own pillow before removing her boots and undoing the button of her pants - but not taking them off. Before long she was laying on her own make-shift bed, hands tucked behind her head and one leg resting on the other. "Maybe she thinks you're cute?" Adalia smirked at him, giving Quin a side long look before it turned into a grin, "Maybe that guy is her cousin?"
Quickly enough she sat up and looked around the room, giving a sigh, "These people probably wouldn't appreciate me going through their things to write a letter, would they?"
"Maybe," Quinlan tiredly snorted and peered at her from the corner of his eye. She was still insistent on writing that godforsaken letter. "Why do you want to write that letter? Really? It can't just be to help people. I mean, what if you write it, and Uncle completely disregards it." There was no real need to speak in code anymore, but he just shrugged it off.
Adalia pushed her hands through her pale hair and gave him a long look, "Yes. It's to help people." A sigh and she absentmindedly began to braid her hair, staring at the fire, "And if I write it and 'Uncle' disregards it at least I tried to help." Eventually though, she laid back down with a long yawn and stretched, "I'll write it tomorrow then." Her eyes fluttered closed, "When I can think." Pulling the corner of her blanket over herself - wishing she had something more comfortable to sleep in - she let her head rest on the pillow and finally she closed her eyes. "Sweet dreams, Quin," She mumbled.
Quinlan smirked a bit and turned on his side to observe Adalia. Why did she care so much? These people were probably in league with those evil plant people. Let them suffer, as far as he was concerned.
But a letter...maybe there wasn't too much harm in that. "Goodnight my incestuous lover."
Ew.
Adalia gave him a glare after a moment of silence, "Better than your not incestuous lover," was her quip and soon enough the past few days caught up with her and at last, Adalia was asleep. A deep sleep. Even going so far as to do those awful noisy breaths that weren't quite snores.
"You're man-snoring. Adalia. Adalia! YOU'RE MAN-SNORING!"
Adalia's eyes snapped open and she shuffled closer, dragging her pillow along with her to glare at him closrly. "I'm tired. Go to sleep. Or go fool around with Rose and then go to sleep." A sigh and she pressed her face into the pillow, giving a quiet groan, "either way, you're a dick-bag, Quin. I was sleeping. On a pillow!" Sure it was on a floor in a strangers house but that wasn't the important part.
So, Adalia was now on the floor side ways, mostly off of her make-shift bed head level to Quin's and glaring at him from her own pillow. Not pleased. She'd been asleep.
"So I'm a dick-bag and you man-snore, yet somehow we still manage to make this work. Lighten up a little. You can send that letter. Won't hear any more bitching from me on that at least." He reached up and poked her nose. "Just wanted to rile you up a bit. You look good angry. Night."
That just made her more irritated.
Adalia swiped at his hand and her tiredness had all but disappeared, quickly replaced by anger and annoyance. "This is not about the letter! This is about..." A huff and she just glared at him, "I am not angry!" She hissed, though if there was light enough to see, her cheeks would be flushed with - indeed - anger. Pressing her head against her pillow and closing her eyes, Adalia took a careful breaths and tried to calm herself down.
Maybe eventually sleep would happen. Maybe.
Hopefully.
"You're restless," Quinlan grumbled. "I can help you sleep if you'd like. You'd be out like a log. And no I don't mean sex."
"You're not going to bash me over the head, are you?" Adalia asked hesitantly, going quiet for a moment. "Fine, fine, help me sleep."
"Okay, now don't overreact. Just, let it happen." Quinlan got to his knees and rolled her onto her front, then gently began to massage along her shoulders.
Adalia tensed up and gave a weary look over her shoulder. Not really trusting Quinlan at her back, then the massage started up and she gave a quiet groan. "You're a man of many talents," she grumbled her voice going quiet. "You know logs don't sleep, right?"
He managed an amused chuckle. "They also don't talk back to their masseuse. Just relax. I'm going to try and refrain from jumping you," he teased, hands kneading her upper back.
Adalia let out an involuntary moan and she squeezed her eyes shut and let out a breath. "I'm sure you have to try really hard not to jump me."
"Well, not really. No offense meant," he said, running his hands down to her lower back. "As hard as it might be to believe, I've gone without sex for long stints before."
Adalia smirked and simply smiled, "I was teasing."
His hands went down farther and finally Adalia tucked her head into her crook of her arm and like he promised she was breathing softly and gently. At last asleep.
It was about damn time too. His hands were starting to ache. Quinlan rolled off to his mat and laid down, watching her for a moment before closing his eyes.
Blood.
There was so much blood.
On her hands. On her face.
Looking around there was a lone horse leg and instantly she knew it was Atras. He was in pieces. The room was bathed in red and off in the distance was Quinlan. Upside down. As dead as her horse.
Adalia was up on her hands and knees, her long opal hair a curtain around her head while she tried to catch her breath as keep her trembling at bay. The window was brightening with dawn and she reached out to where Quinlan had been not willing to look over just incase he was really dead after all.
Quinlan felt a hand on his hand where he faced Adalia, opening his eyes enough to see her through bleary vision. "Adalia?" he murmured.
It occurred to her then that she cared. As much as he simply stole from her Adalia found she cared and the dream of her companions dead - Atras and Quinlan - had shaken her up more than she wanted it too.
"Quin?"
Her voice was small and she moved her hair aside, the few days events catching up with her. A heavy breath and she laced her fingers through his. "I had a nightmare. You and Atras were dead. I didn't save you in time."
Quinlan blinked at her. Feeling her hand thread through his his...was so weird, but upon hearing her dream, he understood. "That's terrible," he said softly. "Where were we? At the plant base?"
Pushing herself to sit back on her heels she pressed her free hand to her face and Adalia took a shaky hesitant breath. "Yeah. Atras was in pieces and you were..." She finally looked at him, pale, her skin clammy, "it was a dream. It was a dream." Gently she started to pull her hand away. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Adalia. You're right, it was just a dream." He sat up and held his hand out to her. "We're both alive and well."
A quiet sigh and Adalia took Quinlans hand. "Yeah," she confirmed quietly laying back down on her side. "Go back to sleep... I'm sorry for waking you up."
Quinlan moved to lay beside her again. "So...if I died, it'd kind of bother you huh?"
Adalia gave a sleepy dry laugh, "yeah. I guess so." A sigh and she rubbed at her face again, eyes closed. "You're just so charming and charismatic."
"And your sarcasm is equally charming and charismatic," he said, observing her features for a moment. "So...does that mean we're friends?" It was a risky question and they were both out of sleep, so there was a fifty-fifty chance that she would not beat him up.
A small smile, "yeah. I guess we are Quin." Adalia sighed and rubbed at her eyes with her palm, "I don't have many of those."
Quinlan yawned and scooted in closer to her until his head was touching hers. "Neither do I." Another yawn and he closed his eyes.
There was a slight smile and Adalia rubbed her palm against his cheek, though she took it away and before long, her eyes were closed and she was asleep too.
Sometime during the few extra hours of sleep she'd curled herself against his chest, one arm wrapped around his rib cage and her head tucked under his chin. Still, she slept soundly.
It was here that Quinlan stirred when he heard hushed voices speaking off toward the side of the house. While Darvey's home wasn't very large, the speakers were still able to maintain some sense of privacy.
"You really think so?"
"They must be. I Remember my great-grandda said travelers would come through here, running from a troubled past. A man and a woman. No one has come to our village in years. And the day they happen upon us can't merely be a coincidence, Rose."
"But Grandfather what are we going to do? They're going to leave come morning."
[I imagine all the people in the village are cultists of some kind. 8D maybe trying to feed Quinlan and Adalia to some dark spirit or sump'm]
Adalia was fast asleep.
So, the words she heard were translated into a pair of cats sipping on tea and speaking of interesting rituals. Once she realized it was talking cats, Adalia sat up and pressed a hand to her chest, her hair a pale curtain around her face.
They were going to leave, come morning.
Fingers twitched.
Adalia pressed her finger tips to her lips and stared down at her lap. The light from the slowly rising sun had her looking out the window and she took a careful breath before looking down at Quinlan. Taking a careful breath Adalia stood up. The air felt thick and she rubbed at her stomach before moving to her hands and knees to stand up, pushing her hair behind her slightly pointed ears.
"Quin," She whispered before kneeling down and putting a hand to his shoulder, looking around for Daisy before she spotted her at where their feet had been, "We should leave." Giving a shake of her head, "I don't know what changed but this place gives me the creeps."
Quinlan was clearly shaken when he felt Adalia stir beside him. He hadn't been able to fall back asleep after overhearing such a conversation. Instead he observed his companion and considered waking her. Luckily he didn't have to when she got up.
"I agree," he said, his voice low and his eyes wavered around, looking for eavesdroppers. He got up and picked up a stretching Daisy. The cat purred, trying to bundle up against Quinlan. "I heard them talking last night. Bad things. Let's get our stuff, Atras, and hit the highway."
Rubbing sleep from her eyes, Adalia frowned gently at the door way before she fixed her clothing that got moved around weirdly while she slept. Pulling on her boots and tying them up before she gave another stretch.
Get Atras and ... Hit the road.
A careful breath. Adalia stood tall, her shoulders righted. Luckily (or unluckily) most of their stuff was still with Atras. Adalia hadn't thought to bring all their things with them. What if it was gone? The door to the little town clearing was, thankfully, in the room they were in and Adalia went over to it, opening the door was quietly as she could...
Before she ran.
Like a banner her long opal hair whipped out behind her. Panic raising in her chest. The stables.
The sounds of horses weren't far off and it wasn't until she got to the stable where she'd left Atras that she stopped and stared, a hand to her mouth. "He's gone," A careful quick breath before she frantically went to every other stall, looking for the palomino horse. "He's gone," Her voice rose and she stared towards the opening, "Atras is gone."
When the time came to run, Quinlan was more than ready to follow suit. He only checked for a moment to see if the coast was clear before bolting like the fires of hell were underneath his butt. Quinlan's heart was beating in alarm, in an unfamiliar desperation that had him looking over his shoulder in that early morning gloom. And feeling wary at seeing nothing.
He skid to a halt, learning that her mount was missing. "Fuck!" he hissed, not wanting to be louder than he should. He whirled around, looking for their things. But the stables were picked clean. That was until he heard a voice behind them.
"Going somewhere?" asked Rose, curious, and creepily light.
"Away from here," Adalia snapped, glaring and turning around to face Rose, pushing Quinlan away (and behind her) in the process.
"The fuck is your problem, Little Girl? Stealing a Mageknights mount will get you thrown into jail." A hiss and she squared her shoulders, rose her chin. An attempt to intimidate the girl.
But Rose just kept smiling, and even doing so genuinely in the face of Adalia's sudden gumption. "You can't leave. The forest is alive. It'll kill you, you know. You must stay here. Where it is safe! Stay safe, stay here with us."
Quinlan scowled and moved aside Adalia. "We're not staying anywhere, girly," he growled. "Give us that fucking horse, or I'll skin you. And turn you into a new jacket. I need one of those anyhow."
"I'm a mage." Adalia started, raising an arm to keep Quinlan back. "I can burn the forest down." To prove her point she rose her hand and pressed it to the beam, momentarily flames burst from it. The pain was excruciating as always but her face remained stoic and when she pulled her hand away, all that was left was a charred hand print.
"Give me back my horse." She hissed, tone low. Pissed. Adalia was pissed. Atras was her only friend and they went and stole him. "Now."
It took some degree of effort to not talk down to Quinlan, that saying they were going to kill her would only get the villagers angry at them but... Angry. She was so angry.
"That I cannot do," Rose said calmly, unfazed by Adalia's apparent disregard for the life of the other animals in the stable. But Quinlan had enough and put his hands around Rose's neck, gripping her throat and shaking her hard.
"Give us the fucking horse!" he growled. Mage or not, Quinlan always was a hand-on type of fellow.
Rose squealed hard and at that noise, something moved behind Adalia, smacking her hard on the back of the head. And that same object reaching the back of Quinlan's. And it felt faintly like a frying pan.
Quinlan's anger caught Adalia off guard but before she could say anything else and then there was only pain and she saw stars and Adalia fell down to her knees, dazed.
Easily her hands were tied behind her back, the faint feeling of something dribbling down her scalp made her itchy. No doubt her pale opal hair was already stained red with the blood.
Couldn't they catch a break?
How much shit did they have to go through for one crest?
Adalia made a soft noise, knees weak when they tried to get her to stand up and walk. Where were they going? "Wher--?" She moaned, wincing, head pounding.
"None of your business, now shut up and walk." But walk to where? Adalia let her head fall forward, her hair obscuring her face as they made her walk. Did Quin get knocked out? Sure he seemed to have a thick skull but being passed out because of head trauma was bad and she didn't want him dead.
Fuck. What had he named himself again? "I want my horse," Adalia finally said softly, only to have someone else whack her in the back of the head, pain bloomed and she cried out softly, quickly growing quiet.
Quinlan was bound just as well as Adalia had. He came too, roughly tugging against his bindings. He grumbled something as they trudged along, the sound of Adalia's voice perking him up. He could see they were walking beneath what seemed to be a grove of trees, old gnarled things.
At the sound of her distress, Quinlan growled. "Don't you fucking touch her again!"
Oh good he was awake.
Adalia visibly relaxed, eyes still closed to ward off the pounding in her head.
All she wanted now was a warm bath and a soft bed. And her horse. And Daisy. Maybe that stupid crest so she could just turn around and go home.
"Or what? You don't like it when we hit your girlfriend?" One of the men sneered, jabbing her in the side with a something sharp. Not enough to draw blood but enough to make her hiss. The person holding her gave a chuckle and the soft smack of someone being lightly hit was heard.
"He might get angry again, Bruce, just leave the little albino alone and Mr.Chivalry won't have to show us what's what." There was a few moments of silence before both men burst out laughing, continuing to lead them through the grove towards what looked like a stone slab of some sort.
Adalia frowned at it, lifting her head slightly.
Quinlan kept his mouth shut, finding words would not help his situation anymore than violence had. But he also knew a stone slab like that when he saw one. And he stiffened immediately.
"What are we doing here for? You got the wrong schmucks. We're not even humans. We're fae. And you kill us, a terrible curse will befall you all." A lame attempt at diversion, one the captors didn't seem to be buying.
The men laughed.
"We're in Serendipity, ya idiot. You think we believe that fae crap?"Adalia was the first to be forced to kneel on the stone, now that she could see closer, it was stained brown.
Instantly she recoiled, leaning up, not wanting to press anything of herself against the stone covered in what appeared to be other peoples blood. "Quinlan!" She called, staring over her shoulder to try and look at him. Then there was a knee in her back and her cheek was pressed to the stone.
Oh god. She was going to die. Could he smell blood? Sense it? There was still blood in her hair, could he use that? "Oh gods. I don't want to die, not here."
They were fools. All the lot of them, and Quinlan the biggest fool of all. But for all of his regrets, there was really no use in going over them now. They were going to die, to be sacrificed by these crazy villagers.
Oh, he was right to trust his instincts. Something wasn't right about this place. Who knew crazed cultist was such a common get up in this part of the world. People really needed to get hobbies, or vices. Ones that didn't involve slicing people open.
He heard his name, and he felt goosebumps forging all over his flesh. Quinlan rose to look at Adalia being slammed onto the slab, one man holding her down and tasting of the blood that coated her opal hair. His heart stopped and he instantly transformed the blood coating his tongue into acid, burning it with intensity.
He screamed, holding both hands against his mouth. Quinlan slammed back against the man behind him, throwing all his weight into the crash and turning quickly to slam his boot into the man's head. The pain of his partner's tongue only lasted so long. But it was long enough for Quinlan to steal a knife, slicing his bonds and digging the blade deep into his palm.
The initial sting and drawing of blood made his veins curdle. Quinlan felt his anger burn and soon his palm grew numb with the icicle that formed in his palm. He threw the ice spike, years of doing so making his aim more than exceptional. The point of it impaled itself into the man's palm. He dropped before Adalia, stunned and staring up at Quinlan. Blood dripping from his palm.
He rushed at their assailants, stopping short only to throw more of his blood onto him, each droplet burning, setting his clothes aflame. His flesh was next to burn, and he was the one writing on that stone slab then. Quinlan pulled Adalia forth, away from the spectacle.
As the second man came too, he had seen what Quinlan had done, with his blood. The stuff of life. He trembled, eyes wide. "I...I saw," he said aloud. When Quinlan turned to him he was on he was on his knees, holding his hands together. "Rose was right. You are Minasthras, blood god reborn."
When he wanted to be efficient, Adalia couldn't really say he left it to fate. Or chance. As soon as she felt she was free Adalia sat up, moving her hand to the sore spot on her head, feeling the blood on her finger tips. Letting herself be pulled away she stared in surprise at the scene before her.
A look at Quinlans hand and she frowned, feeling the littlest bad that this was all her fault. Only a smidgen. How was she supposed to know the weird village was full of cultists?
"Minasthras?" Adalia repeated, frowning between Quin and the man kneeling. "No," Adalia took a step forward, hands on her hips, "Wait. Yes. And the God Reborn wants his... Uh... His Woman's Horse and her Cat and her belongings. I swear to him," She pointed to Quinlan whom she now stood in front of, "That I will cook you from the inside out if you've hurt my horse... or cat."
A threat she was willing to make good on, with the mood she was in.
Quinlan was still on his adrenaline high. Though blood dripped from his palm, he stood his ground, eyes bearing down on the kneeling cultist. He seemed torn between obeying Adalia and basking in the glory of his deity reborn.
"Do as she commands," Quinlan said, giving the trembling man leave. He staggered to his feet and nodded, not wanting to meet his gaze.
"Right away! Please, spare me!"
"Get the horse, maggot! And the cat! And I want not a hair harmed on either one of them."
Once the man was away, Adalia whirled around and wrapped her arms around Quinlans torso, tucking her head against his shoulder and squeezing her eyes shut.
"I'm sorry for making us stop here. I'm sorry." Adalia pulled away, her hand trailing down his arm to gently cup his bleeding hand in her own, frowning at it. Then she remembered what he'd managed to do to her hand and she had a moment of calm. He could heal this. Right?
"We'll leave. We'll get Atras and leave, tell them... We'll be back. And ... They can wait for their next Minathoros or whatever. " A simply shake of her head, ducking her head down while she calmed herself down. While he was riding on adrenaline, she was simply trying to come to terms with the fact she wasn't going to die on some strange cult slab.
"We won't stop until we find a tavern and I can have a bath and sleep in a bed and we can get real food and I'll pay for everything I swear." It didn't occur to her that none of this would have been a problem if he hadn't stolen the crest in the first place. Impatiently she waited for the horse. Her friend.
Quinlan felt the high gradually wear off, and he blinked at Adalia when she hugged him. She hugged him. All by herself. And there was no scathing remark that followed it. Quinlan blinked and then observed his hands. Oh, he knew he'd be all right. He'd always been a fast healer, even with all the scars that collected on it.
"Yeah," was all he managed to say, and whatever thoughts were followed, they were soon interrupted by the clopping of hooves as the man returned with Atras, scratch marks from Daisy printed all over his face. Daisy meowed, not being bothered to come off the horse's back, at seeing Quinlan and Adalia.
He too smiled, just glad to be gone from this place. Quinlan turned to the man. "You'll return to the village and tell no one of this. Do not follow us. We will return in due time," he said, and printed a bloody hand print on the man's head. He shook again and only nodded wordlessly to the pair as they mounted Atras.
The sense of familiarity washed through her when she was finally on Atras again, Quinlan tucked up behind her on the saddle. A few quick breaths to steady her heart and she squeezed her eyes shut. Her fingers ran through the blonde of Atras's mane and she took a careful breath, leaning her head down. The cut on her scalp had stopped bleeding, but it left a messy red mat of hair on her head, a striking contrast to the opal of the rest of her hair.
That was unimportant at the moment though.
What was important was to get away as soon as possible.
As far away as they could.
While still going in the proper direction.
Just a few days without some weird shit happening.
Adalia silently prayed to the Gods to keep things normal. Why didn't she just steal the crest now? Why not just rip it from him and kick him off the horse? All he needed were those vials of his right? A brief look over her shoulder and Adalia looked to the sky. The sun was up and as they rode the day went on. A few breaks to rest Atras but soon enough he was ready to go. Always full of energy, which was good because that was exactly what he was trained to do. He could rest when they rested.
"Do you know your way around here?" She asked finally after however many hours of silence, hoping she was headed in the right direction, "The nearest warm bath and bed is ours once we figure out the nearest city. Screw villages. Villages are full of cultists." Frowning she looked around, "What Province are we even in?"
Quinlan was content to remain in silence while Adalia controlled the reins and led them on through these dense trees. After a while, he was starting to think that they were just going around in circles. That sinking feeling in his gut was not a pleasant thing to be had and he wanted to puke several times. He did, once, when Adalia wasn't looking.
Did he know the area? She was Serenian, didn't she know her own country? Still, he could recall maybe passing by this area once before. "Maybe," he said, perking up. "Looks a lot like Ravensway. I remember from the name. Hrm..."
He looked over her shoulder, remember the river mill that ran alongside the road here. "Keep going down the road. There's a medium sized town up ahead. I think it was called Hamnet, or something like that."
Even if she wasn't looking, she could hear just fine and Adalia felt all sorts of awful. Looking around, she held good to his suggestion hat they were in Ravensway. A glance over her shoulder at Quinlan, mentally tucking the name Hamnet away.
"Hamnet? Really? Let's hope they're known for their bacon," she quipped sarcastically before she began to follow the road. Sure enough? Like Quinlan had said, there was a town. And there was a tavern. "I don't think I've ever been so glad to see a gross dirty tavern in my life," she sighed nudging the horse. Adalia easily slipped off the horse before handing the reins to Quinlan.
"Can you set up Atras? I'm going to get us a room." Maybe even two rooms? Too expensive. They could just set up a barrier on the bed and make do that way. Leaving Quinlan with a bit of coin to get Atras figured out, Adalia went to the tavern. A nice quiet little place. There were a few patrons and she was greeted by a jolly man with a big beard, though it seemed dwarfed by his large smile.
"Welcome! What can I get you?" He inquired.
"I was hoping for a room and a hot bath."
"Travelling are you?" He looked her up and down, eyeing her dusty boots and pants.
"Yeah. Getting kind of weary. We're eating too, I was just hoping the room and bath were available." Her voice dipped slightly, unsure now.
"Of course! You pay in the morning, that way we can calculate any damage you might cause." He gave her a grin before Adalia nodded.
"Sounds fair." Adalia smiled to the man and moved to take a seat, sitting so the back of her head was as inconspicuous as possible. Now she just had to wait for Quin. Then they could eat. And she could buy him that drink.
There was no small ounce if gratitude at being in real civilization once again. Quinlan decided he wasn't going to focus on who did what to whom and what was better than another. Life was too short to waste in being vindictive. Plus Adalia was going to make it up to him somehow. A drink would certainly be welcome.
Once Atras was tended to, Quinlan joined Adalia in the tavern. She wasn't hard to find. Maybe the place wasn't the crown jewel of Serendipity, but she was the only other dirty thing in there. Other than the proprietor's beard of course.
"Atras is settled. I've never seen a horse so happy to be brushed and washed before. He might be a warhorse, but even he likes to be pampered doesn't he?" Quinlan chuckled and leaned forward. The dried blood on his palms was itchy, but no longer flowing. Quinlan rubbed at them anyway and he extended his hand. "Sorry, uh...I shoulda made us go around that place. How you holding up?"
Adalia stared at Quinlan for a moment before she smiled.
"I'm fine. Mageknight, remember?" still despite her words, she pressed her palms to the table to keep them from trembling. Now that they were safe and away from danger she realized how tired and hungry she was. The comment about Atras had her smile, "he's my baby. I may have gotten him use to the finer things in life." The last comment was quiet and while she stared from his hands to her own, their food arrived.
A bowl of stew and a hunk of bread for each of them and a pint of ale was placed beside it. "Enjoy yourselves, dears." The woman said, a handsome woman who was - not so clearly but maybe the owner fellow's wife. Adalia muttered a quiet thank you before she dug in, pausing only to sip at the ale.
Which got a wrinkled nose look.
"You enjoy this stuff?" She eyed Quinlan, frowning before leaving her glass and turning back to her stew.
Frankly, Quinlan hated stew, but when one hadn't had a decent meal in what felt like days. This was more his setting. Not running around in the wilderness. Not that he couldn't handle it, but frankly, nothing beat a hot meal, a warm bed, good beer....decent beer, and someone to share it with. Even if that someone was as stuffy as Adalia.
He grinned at her, thinking of this. And reached for the ale. He followed suit, her tasting of it, ahhhhh-ing in response.
"Yeah. Hell yeah as a matter of fact. There ain't nothing like good beer. Okay, so I'm not so picky with stuff like that." He burped, just a bit, trying to hold in a laugh. "Don't tell me you don't drink. You seem like a wine tasting kind've posh girl."
He ripped the bread in his hands and dipped it into the stew, munching on it. Gods! FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!
They probably didn't have wine here.
Adalia frowned ever so slightly but, everything ended in silence when they both turne to their meals. While Adalia didn't eat especially quickly, she found herself having finished the drink at around the same time she finished her meal.
A content sigh and she pushed the bowl away and their cups were replaced, Adalia frowned at her new glass before taking a big gulp. "I'll have you know that I don't drink, at all. Not even wine."
Ah, that would explain why beer was so distasteful. Quinlan smirked, savoring the ale down to the very last drop. It wasn't a great brew, but for lack of an alternative, it would do.
"Never? Not even once? Well, we've got to remedy that right away!" He signaled the waitress over. "Ma'am, more ale, and brandy if you please. Just to stem the tide."
"More?" Adalia gasped, looking at Quin slightly surprised. "All I wanted was a hot meal and a hot bath." A pout and she drank what was out before her. "You'd better help me with that bath," she grumbles into her cup.
"Yes more. Now just take it easy. A lightweight like yourself needs pacing, pal," he said, laughing at her face. "I'll wash you, don't worry. Just savor the flavor. It's not great at first. But you'll feel wonderful after a few shots."
Adalia sputtered.
"You'll wash me? That isn't what I meant at all!" But still, she did the shot as she was told and after a few she placed her hands, palms down on the table and stared at Quin. "You lied," she slurred ever so slightly but still, her back was straight and she pressed the back of a hand to her face to try and rub the numbness of her cheeks away.
"It all tastes awful and now my face is numb."
He could generally hold his liquor well. Quinlan watched Adalia and knocked back his own shot. She did seem a little funny. "No, no. You're doing great. I didn't lie. Your face is just lumpy that's all." He reached forward and cupped a cheek. "Maybe just round. Here, have another."
Adalia knocked back another shot with gusto.
"My face isn't lumpy," she pouted and cupped her hand over his, frowning, she moved his hand against her cheek to make sure it wasn't her fingers that were numb and sure enough, his hand was warm and she pressed her face to it.
"I've been called cute! Even pretty! But never lumpy! You're lumpy."
"You're lumpy!" Quinlan mumbled and took his other hand to her other cheek and squish her face between them. H wiggled his fingers against her cheeks. "See? I can feel the lumps under your very soft skin. See, a compliment!" And he beamed.
"That's the inside of my face," she protested, again pouting at him. Her hands smacked at the back of his until he let go and ah frowned at him before her gaze turned down to her hands. Flexing the scarred things while she stared. Wiggling her fingers and examining her hands in her slightly drunken stupor.
"Why do you do magic if it hurts you so bad?" A question directed to Quinlan, though, one she could easily ask herself.
Quinlan retracted his hands and leaned forward on the table. "Its...the only way I can use my magic. It's the only way I can survive," he answered soflty. He took a swig of his brandy.
"Are they ugly? My hands...not yours."
Adalia followed suit, intent on keeping up with her new friend. Which was probably a foolhardy goal that she'd regret later. Brandy seemed to not be something Adalia was interested in drinking. Reaching out her own hands, she grabbed one of Quinlans and held it gently.
"No. You're not a lady anyway, only ladies have nice hands," which hers were decidedly not. Adalia traced her finger tips over the scars on his palm, moving to examine his knuckles. Pulling his hand across the table, she gave his knuckles a gentle kiss and returned his hand. "Your hands are nice. The scars look kinda cool."
Only ladies had nice hands... Did that mean she wasn't a lady? Quinlan considered asking such a question, but the liquor in his system somehow kept still his tongue.
Instead he watched her hands moving over his for a moment. It was just the liquor he was sure. He took the brandy that she was rudely neglecting and sipped it, bit by bit, before setting it down.
"They make me sad," he admitted quietly, holding his palms upward. "Remind me of my mother." He didn't want to extrapolate on that, but his expression, drawn and solemn said volumes. "Hey, let's go upstairs, take a bottle with us. If you don't want it, I'll drink plenty for both of us. Though...won't give me much more than a headache in the morning. You said you still need that hot bath, and that skin isn't going to wash itself."
Adalia's expression matched his and she wished for a fleeting moment that memories of her mother didn't his make her angry.
"Upstairs?" A sly look over at Quinlan as she stood up and began to make her way. "Drink all you like, you're getting it for free." A small glare and she sighed and closed her eyes, a quick indication that she was going up to her bedroom to the nice bearded man.
"Bath is already up there! Water should still be hot, my dear."
A small smile and Adalia lead the way to the room. The key she didn't remember grabbing for easily into the door she didnt remember getting to. Adalia went into the room and sure enough a steaming bath and an inviting bed.
The first thing she did was flop on the bed with a moan of delight. "I forgot how nice beds were."
Free liquor!?
Where had he passed out and woken up in!?
Quinlan quickly followed her up the stairs to the room they apparently were to share. He didn't mind. It saved money, and if anything saved money, it left more for delicious food and brandy. Quinlan settled down in a chair, setting down his glass and sipping what was left of it. He observed his hands, he ought to clean them out.
"Beds are great, yeah," he murmured as he carefully drizzled some brandy on the cuts after opening them up again. He seethed audibly, but didn't scream and when he was finished, he held them out. "Hey, Adalia, you got any bandages in your pack?"
Slowly her head lifted up and she stared at him owlishly for a moment. Her pack?
Oooh her pack.
That pack she didn't remember she was carrying and was conveniently popped up beside the door.
"Uuuh..." She stared at him for a long moment before standing up and going to the pack, rummaging through it until she came across some loose cloth. Those'd do, right?
Taking them, she moved to knee in front of Quinlan and gently took his hand in hers and gently wrapped it up. Her lower lip sucked into her mouth to be chewed on by her teeth. Adalia frowned up at him after a moment and tilted her head, "Why not just heal it like you healed my hand?"
Quinlan grinned. He suppose he could. He could heal at an alarming rate with the blood of another, especially that of a mage. "I dunno. I guess it find it convenient to have cuts ready to open when necessary. Saves the hand cutting part. Although I could heal it, but my blood doesn't like being all closed inside my body. That's being demon-cursed for you," he smirked.
He flexed his hands before her, testing the bandages. Yeah, he really should've healed his hands. But maybe he wanted to feel the pain. Before she moved away, he grabbed her hands, holding them gently in his and brought them to his lips, kissing along her wrist.
"Don't care what other people think. Not that I'm saying you do, but I mean it. Don't mean a thing. Your hands are beautiful. And that I do mean. It means all the world."
"uuuh..."
Adalia's mouth dropped open and she turned several shades of red. The kisses sent tingles up her spine because her wrists she could feel and for a few moments she could only stare at him and feel awkward and wonder exactly what he was trying to say.
Gently she tugged her hands away, blushing still.
"I... Thanks. I think." Her fingers went to rub away the kisses at her wrists and she swallowed before shifting back a little and staring at the tub of steaming water. Well, that part she hadn't thought through. She wasn't about the bathe with Quinlan in the room. A long look at him and then at the bath before she stood up and crossed her arms over her chest and looked around.
A sheet! Or something.
"Alright. I still want a bath, you... You drink your brandy and I'll bathe and you're not going to look right?" Her finger pointed at his nose and her eyebrows were high on her forehead. It was an unspoken threat more than anything.
Quinlan looked at her and then the bath and tried to hide his smirk. "Well, how am I going to wash you if I can't look?"
The smirk wasn't hidden well enough and she just rolled her eyes before whipping off her shirt.
"Fine. Fine!" Now topless, she went to the buttons on her pants before she made her way to the bath and began to peel off her bottoms too. "Nothing you haven't seen before right?" The alcohol helped make her getting undressed not nearly as embarrassing as it could have been and before long she was naked as a baby and one foot in the tub.
A delighted shiver at the warm water and she quickly sunk to her knees and then laid back in it, eyes closed.
Then she opened her eyes and frowned slightly, "Bring that brandy over here, maybe if I get drunk enough I won't remember that you washed my back." Her hand was open and she made a beckoning motion.
Oh, it was always nice to not see a woman so modest. Quinlan took the brandy as instructed and took a stool, plopping it behind Adalia in the tub and handing her a glass filled with the amber liquid.
"Take it easy, Adalia. I'm the perfect gentleman, remember?" he asked and took the soap and loofa. "Okay lean forward, gotta dig out the grime in those crevices."
Taking the glass she downed it in a gulp before she coughed and her eyes teared up and she moved a hand to her throat. "oh god, that was an awful idea."
It took a moment for his words to sink in and she stared at him, frowning, "I don't have crevices on my back!" Adalia protested, staring at him like he'd slapped her. Quickly enough her hands went to graze along what she could touch of her back and she frowned at him.
"And you are not a perfect gentleman. I remember that first night we spent together. Spooning me! You spooned me."
"Yes, and if I recall, I didn't hear any complaining. It wasn't like we were naked anyway," he mumbled, and soaped the loofa until it was covered with suds. Just relax. I'll be gentle, I promise," he said, chuckling.
He ran the loofa in small circles over her shoulders first and in between her shoulder blades, definitely spots she couldn't reach.
"That's what people say before they're not gentle." Adalia grumbled, taking the soap and running it over her arms and legs. Modesty was a lost idea now. The alcohol in her system giving her a nice little buzz that made everything much less awkward. The back wash felt wonderful and Adalia frowned down at her soapy hands before she gave a shiver.
"Wash a lot of peoples backs, do you?" She teased, one leg propped up out of the water.
"Only if I like them,." Quinlan said. He finished her upper back and began work on her lower back, still cleaning gently and trying not to scrub too hard. "There all clean. Unless you need help cleaning your front, too."
It was easy enough to spin around in the water and with no warning, Adalia wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her lips to his and pulled him into the tub with her.
Quinlan floundered when she kissed him, yanking him into the tub. Although all aversions to being drowned were wiped away by the heat of her lips. Quinlan didn't waste any time leaning into her, wrapping arms around her waist.
Adalia moved her hands from his back to his shirt, soaked as it was now. Pulled him closer while she bit at his lips and pulled and pushed at the wet fabric of his shirt. With his shirt so wet, she got it pushed up to his mid drift before she gave up and started on his pants. Finally Adalia pulled away, lips hovering before his, hands stopped moving, though they hovered. "If you don't want this, just tell me to stop," her voice was soft, eyes were hooded, cheeks flushed.
His blood was already thrumming wildly through him, and he kissed her heated and hungrily. Quinlan paused only when she did. "Don't talk such nonsense," he muttered, pulling his shirt over his head and helping her push his trousers from his hips. Those clothes were quickly discarded, plopping off to the side on the floor.
Quinlan gripped her face, biting at her lips and his hands feeling along her breasts.
By now, Adalia was tipped so far back that her ears were in the deliciously warm water. Cheeks flushed, breath in quick stunted gasps as she moved to hook a leg up over his hips. It was just stress relief right? Adalia's eyes snapped open and she jerked back, which easily submerged her face in the water, only for her to shoot back up and collide foreheads with Quinlan in a violent motion.
"Wait." Her hand was on her head rubbing at the sorespot, wet hair dripping into her eyes and she pushed him away slightly - both managing to fit in the tub now - "Wait... I... We're not having sex." She glared and then pointed at him, like he was the one that started this. Like it was his fault she dragged him into the tub, "I... I don't fancy myself a liar and I've already told you we're not knocking boots."
[What happened to the mantis? D: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!]
And just when things were going so well, she had to open her mouth again and ruin it. Well, somewhat. She did make it pretty clear she didn't want to roll around with him. Quinlan pulled away with an audible lip smack, panting and leaning back against the other side of the tub. He shifted himself so he was sitting on the lip of it instead and felt his head spinning, still reeling from their kiss.
"Okay, but, um, sorry to disappoint you. Neither of us are wearing any boots," he said, lifting his brows. A teasing smirk played on the corner of his lips.
[It's gone! D= The imagine done borked!]
It was a bad idea.
A really bad idea!
Adalia's fingers itched to push through Quinlan's hair and pull him close. To press her lips to his again.
That smirk. Adalia frowned slightly before she went back on her word and rose up on her knees, pressing her front to his and smashing their lips together again, her tongue darting out to taste his, her arms winding around his shoulders to pull him closer. "The bed or the tub?" She smirked against his mouth, hands moving into his hair.
Quinlan was pleased she changed her mind, he wasn't going to lie. But if she didn't want to, he wasn't going to push the issue. They had been through a lot after all, and maybe they both needed this. He panted a little, meeting her lips with a smile. "Look, you've had a rough day. You deserve to relax a little, so why not both?" he panted.
He slid down onto his knees, wrapping his arms around her form again and turning his head to kiss down her neck, sucking generously along her throat.
While he slid to his knees, Adalia curled a leg around his waist and pulled him in close. "Both?" A chuckle and she pushed her long wet hair from her face, nipping at his ear. "I don't think you could do both," her voice was husky and she nuzzled at his cheek, ran her smooth hands down his back to tuck him between her legs.
"Oh? You doubt me so? Why?" he chuckled, pulling himself closer until he was nearly mounted. He turned in the tub so that she was sitting on his lap instead.
With her on top, Adalia pressed her hands to his shoulders, grinding down against him. Leaning down to catch his lower lip between her teeth while she moved and rocked her hips. "You don't seem the type," She whispered against his lips, cheeks still flushed. The pale complexion of Adalia only made it more obvious how blushy she was, if she could do a whole body blush she would. As it was, the tips of her slightly pointed ears were beet red and a becoming flush stained her cheeks.
"I bet when you finish you just roll over and go to sleep," She nipped at his chin, down his neck. Her long opal hair clinging to both of them as she moved.
Geeze, well, she certainly didn't take her time about it.
Quinlan was pleasantly surprised. Maybe it was just the brandy, lowering her inhibitions, giving her a bit more gumption than he assumed she had about anything that didn't involve combat. He wrapped his arms around her, feeling her whole body heated. If her blush only reached her face, he wasn't really paying attention, because her body sliding down along his member was distraction enough.
"I'll take that bet," he said, laughing and moving his hips in tune with hers.
It was the brandy.
Well. A little of it was the brandy.
Adalia wasn't as adventurous as she liked to pretend she was, but if she convince herself she was doing this because she was a little buzzed, it was easier to deal with than the excuse of she just wanted to. Ladies didn't do this.
Still, her heart was pounding in her ears and she closed her eyes briefly before she nuzzled her lips against his in a kiss too tender for the moment. "I haven't done anything like this in a long time," She whispered against his lips, rocking her hips to his, "Something about almost dying a few times a week makes you want to live a little." A soft chuckle at her own Not Joke.
"This is a terrible idea."
"Probably. But then again, so is this whole venture. You're right. Live a little. Loosen up," he chuckled.
Quinlan could do tender. He could do a lot of things. She was right. It'd been too long for any kind of release for either of them, and if anything sometimes, you just wanted to have a good time. It was least either of them could do.
He kissed her deeply, turning his head to taste her tongue, running it along his, as he hiked up her hips and felt himself slip deep into the confines of her sex. He did not push, however, and let her move on him to her own pleasure.
This whole venture was a terrible idea indeed.
All because he broke into her house to steal a crest. Because she was too stubborn to just take it. Now they were going to fuck in a bathtub and Adalia just wanted to cling to him and ride out her pleasure and then pretend it never happened. Maybe pretend she didn't hate him. Pretend he didn't steal her shit and that's the only reason she was still following him.
Adalia pressed into the kiss, let herself be moved and when he pushed into her, she pulled away slightly to gasp at the unfamiliar stretch. It didn't hurt but it wasn't the most comfortable thing and Adalia bit her lip and eased down gently until they were flush together, eyes closed, giving curious hesitant jerks of her hips.
"Quin," Her voice was soft and she ran her hands down his arms to catch one of his scarred hands and then did the most intimate thing she could thing of. Taking his hand, she turned it palm up and pressed kisses to it, along the scars there. Did each one have a story? Could he remember each letting of blood to use his power?
Threading her fingers through his she pressed her forehead to his and picked up the pace of her hips, feeling him so deep inside, the still burning stretch that hurt so good. "You better not be just letting me use you," She whispered against his lips, heat in her voice.
Quinlan trembled. Sure, it was sex. But the odd intimacy thing she was doing somehow made it different. Quinlan was a little buzzed, but not drunk enough to make this the sloppiest thing he'd ever done. Instead he watched her through hazy half-lidded eyes, smirking just a little.
If she wanted deep intense, philosophical conversation, he'd never really done that during sex. He watched her kiss his palm, even the fresh cuts that ached and throbbed. Hips moved to her pacing, moving slowly with every stroke.
"Use me? That would be very diabolical on your part. You're a good sort, you know that. And I'm a perfect gentleman, remember?" he said, chuckling as he moved beneath her. "You like my hand? What's so interesting about it?"
"I've never been diabolical before," She whispered against his ear before she bit down on it, giving her hips a jerk and nuzzling at where she bit before pulling away. Adalia leaned back to smile at him between short gasps, wriggling her hips to closer, to feel more. A brief look at her hand in his, the scarred smooth flesh, the red of her skin, the burns.
"Nothing is interesting about it," She said softly, picking up the pace a little, biting her lip with the effort to keep it going. "Talk later about hand-stuff. Just... I dunno... I don't want to think. Can you do that?" A smirk, challenge written on her face before she stopped moving entirely except for minute jerks of her hips. Adalia looked a lot like a fae then. The way the tips of her pointed ears poked out from her wet opal hair, the fair skin stained pink by her flush.
The haphazard smile on her face would be unfamiliar to Quin and she started to pull him up and over her.
Quinlan moved with her, rolling back along with her, while maintaining his position. Somehow the adjustment kept them closer, perhaps only made them closer. Oh, he saw what she did there - or felt it rather. And he didn't mind in the slightest.
"Not thinking, something I'm sure you think I'm good at," he chuckled. "But I'll do my best." He shut up, finally, getting to work and moving his hips with vigor. He moved a hand up to cradle the back of her head where the blow had taken place, one arm wrapped around her waist and the other parting her hair.
He pulled her face to his, kissing her softly, deeply, less drunkenly than he was accustomed too.
"I think you're the best at it," Adalia teased, wincing slightly at the hand on her head. The flesh tender and bruised. Still wounded. Now that she remembered it was there it hurt and she pressed herself closer where she could, sending her mind to other places.
Like the gentle kiss.
Her arms wrapped around his shoulders just as surely as her legs loosely wrapped around his, her thigh moving up and down to the rhythm of his hips, caressing his leg and side. Her soft gasps and moans were muffled by his mouth and she finally had to pull back, fingers digging into his shoulder before she snaked a hand down between them.
It was nice. It was good but it wasn't enough. The pain at her scalp giving her just enough of a distraction that she couldn't quite let herself go. "Quin," She whimpered as she worked her clit with her fingers, arching into him where she could. The warmth of the water and the warmth of his flesh had her reeling and she wanted.
"Oh Kia, please, Quin." Not that she really knew what she was asking for, it just felt right to say.
The motion sloshed the waters around them, water that was meant to clean them, now only sullied by their mutual act. Quinlan didn't care. Really, water was the last thing on his mind right now. Some part of him only wanted to hear Adalia squeal - in a good way. After all, heavy petting was always better when both partners were enjoying it.
At her insistence, he opened his eyes, searching her face. He nodded to her, adjusting her position and leaning her back. He gripped her hips, his hand reaching between them and gently motioning for her own hand to stop. His replaced hers, fingers rolling over it slowly and in gentle circles. His hips, however, bucked, moving harder and bouncing her with increased intensity.
A few fingers curiously slipped within her sex, moving along with his member. Lips leaned down to her breast, taking it to his mouth generously, suckling against heated flesh. Every part of him moved to please her, thumb still rolling over her clit, arm securing her too him, and hips flush to hers, slipping deeper than before.
While she hadn't been actually asking for anything, his hand instead of hers had her let out a surprised gasp. Everything was different and Adalia could only cling and gasp and moan softly. Energy surged through her and she moved her hands to his shoulders, the blunt of her nails digging into his back while he played her like an instrument.
The fingers along with his member inside her made her eyes snap open and she gave a visible shudder. His thumb against her clit had her trembling and one hand moved to the back of his head to keep him suckling at her breast. It didn't take long for her to tense up against him, her legs wrapping around his waist, holding him close when she came with a high pitched moan.
Like a taunt string that'd been snapped she curled up around him where she could, a trembling whimpering mess and still she rocked her hips while she came around him, insides milking him. Instead of going lax, she moved her hips harder, either driving for a second climax or helping him along - whichever came first. Pun intended.
At her climax, Quinlan could feel himself on the verge. He shuddered beneath her spasming, her sex nursing on him only making him grow closer and closer to the edge. "Adalia," he groaned, shutting his eyes tightly and trying not to come just yet. Not inside her.
But it didn't take long when he felt a shudder and suddenly pulled out of her, bursting hard into the water. Quinlan whimpered, leaning into her, burying his face against her shoulder. Gods, maybe this was a bet he was going to lose. He certainly hoped not, looking up at Adalia with relaxed eyes.
"Bed?" he asked, curious.
Flushed, her breathing a little erratic, she carded her fingers through his hair and closed her eyes for a moment. The sudden loss of him inside her surprised her before she remembered the whole sex sometimes led to babies thing, her hand moved from his hair to drag up and down his back soothingly while he came and she gave a few remaining tremors.
"Bed?" She asked in turn before looking over her shoulder at the bed and then pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. Her knees were still on either side of him and she slowly pulled herself out from under him and crawled out of the tub to stand on shaky legs. The back of her head was stained red from her wound which she'd must've bumped because it was bleeding anew.
Leaning down to scoop up one of the provided towels she pressed her face to it before she gave herself a quick pat down and then smirking at him over her shoulder and tossing the towel at his head.
Then, she went and laid on the bed spread eagle face down, facing away from Quin, giving him a full display of just how red-stained her hair had gotten while taking up as much space as she could on the bed - which would require him to either lay on her or push her aside.
With her face in one of the pillows she asked her muffled question, "My head hurts again, did you hit it?"
Quinlan was still shaky from climax and he waited for her to get out of the tub first before sitting on the lip of it. His heart still pounded in his chest, and only calmed so slightly with the take of each breath. Still, he watched her form, taking it in as she toweled off and so graciously threw the towel back on his head.
"Thanks," he grumbled, slipping out and drying off as best he could. He cleaned his member, leaving the towel off to the side before moving over to the bed, laying over her, and observing her bleeding scalp.
"I can take care of that. Just relax," he said, although they did much of that all ready. Quinlan sat atop her, well on his knees really, and gently parted her hair. He massaged around the wound, allowing himself to feel the blood. He focused his magic to the wound, pushing the blood away from the opening and forcing it to clot.
It took several minutes. The collective bruising would still be somewhat sore, but afterward the wound was at least closed and no longer bleeding. "Sorry about that," he whispered, laying hands on either side of her body, kissing along her back and down her spine. "I remembered you were struck pretty hard. Me...my head's a rock. Don't hurt so much." It was a lie of course.
Getting whacked on the head hurt like nobody's business, but he played it off never the less. Leaning back on his haunches, Quinlan reached a hand down toward her sex, slowly tracing her folds. "You need me to wash your hair? It's all red," he murmured, idly teasing her sex in thoughtful strokes.
Just relax.
That's when he whacked her over the head, stole her stuff, her horse and left her naked with the bill. Except he didn't and Adalia was pleasantly surprised. His magic made her curious and she found herself reaching back to touch the tender spot where she'd been bleeding from. It was closed. No longer bleeding and she cast a curious look over her shoulder only to give a surprised little gasp when he kissed down her spine.
A delighted shiver and she closed her eyes, giving him a strange laugh.
"I'm not washing my hair in the come water," She teased before giving another gasp, lifting her hips slightly, raising hips by bending her knees, chest still on the bed. Still wet from their love making, Adalia did nothing to dissuade him though she gave a concerned look over her shoulder. At his head. Well, his face.
"'M not stupid," She said simply, turning on her side and grabbing the hand between her legs, pulling him down onto the bed with her so they were face to face. Adalia hooked a leg around his waist to keep him there and grabbed at his head, palms on his cheeks pulling it down while she leaned up. "You got hit just as hard as I did, I don't have your weird magic but... " She pressed a kiss to his forehead, "Maybe I can ease the pain a little?" Her fingers pushed through his hair and she gave him a tentative hesitant smile.
He found he didn't mind a lot of things. Quinlan gave a grunt as he fell on top of her with the momentum of her pull. But he immediately relaxed, smiling back, if thoughtfully of her statement. Healing others was one of the few good things his magic could actually do. He never considered himself the type to do any good with it. He was going to die either way, might as well live life the way he wanted to.
"Well, I'll let you try," he said, smirking and leaning in to kiss her neck, one side then the other. Another kiss to her lips, lingering there for a moment. "Does your magic always hurt you?" he found himself asking.
Adalia could do little more than rub gently at his head, draw her fingers through his hair and she returned his gentle kiss. "Does it always?" Adalia moved her hand from his head to his neck, down his neck to his shoulder where she moved it down to his hand to hold his. Threading their fingers together. Adalia gave her hand a thoughtful look.
"Fire burns me. When I summon air it can break my fingers. When I move earth it pierces my flesh," Adalia nuzzled at the back of Quins hand, drawing his hips closer to hers with her leg before she closed her eyes for a moment. "My gauntlets help but I don't have those. So... Yes. It almost always hurts me. An odd quirk." She gave an unamused laugh and looked away, "Serenians are beautiful talented magic users - or so my mother would have you believe."
"Water doesn't hurt... Unless I'm trying for ice, I haven't though, I'm a little afraid of frost bite." She nipped at his lip for emphasis on bite and tilted her head. Slowly she moved her free hand over his neck, resting at his pulse point. "Do you know what sets off those attacks? The one you had. When you needed the vial. Do they just happen?"
For once Quinlan could consider his magic a mild blessing that the only visible damage it left behind were cuts on his hands. He frowned at the mention that any command of the elements left her hands broken or deformed in such a way. He could understand a little better how she felt now, why she hid them. Still, he managed a smile anyway, settling toward the warmth of her body.
Quinlan shuddered a little, unaccustomed to the small attentions he was receiving. Perhaps, he was simply in sore need of affection. Any kind. Being on the road all the time wasn't exactly easy.
"Can't say that I do," he murmured. He nuzzled his face against her neck. "When I feel the pain come on, I pop one of those vials. Some spells last longer than others. But they l feel like nails are running through my arm. My blood burns through my veins. I know it's apart of my curse. Just the way it is."
Quinlan kissed at her throat, leaving a dark hicky behind.
"Quin!" Adalia yelped at him feeling the pressure of a hickey on her neck. Moving a hand over his mouth to frown at him. "Did you just leave a hickey?" Frowning, she drew her closer with the leg she had over his hips and frowned at him before she turned to his neck, leaving a hickey along the side, while her finger trailed down his hips to draw idle patterns on the flesh under his belly button.
"Leaving hickeys," she lifted her head to press a searing kiss to his lips, "you don't look like a teenager."
He laughed when she left hers on his neck. A laugh that lowered into a pleased groan. Sure it tickled him at first, but she hitched on to a sensitive spot. She claimed she didn't do this often, but part of him wondered how much of that was really true. Quinlan shivered when her lips pulled away.
"Good. Teenagers are horrible at sex and kissing, and leaving hickies. Those are manly hickies for you." His hand roved down her side, clutching the small of her back, fingers sliding down to her butt and getting a handful of cheek.
Again, Adalia's hand moved to his hair to push through it. Her thumb caressing his temple and along his cheek bone. Again she leaned in, this time for a gentle nuzzling kiss. "I wouldn't know, can't say I did anything as a teenager," A purse of her lips and she frowned at him slightly, looking away after a moment.
"Going to roll over and fall asleep?" She teased softly, fingers trailing up and down his side gently while his hand was on her ass.
"Not if I can help it," he murmured, kissing along her jaw and chin. His hand moved down beneath her cheek, towards the still wet folds of her sex, fingers exploring her heat a little better than he'd had a chance to before. Lips shifted down to her breast, kissing along her skin, where the suds from the soap still remained some. "Are you about to fall asleep?" he chuckled. "Because your nipples are getting hard."
A soft gasp when his fingers found her sex and she shifted slightly, oh so slightly, to give him better access to the area between her legs. "I'm exhausted," Adalia whispered, a smirk on her face. Her hand moved to caress his shoulder and she gently scratched down his arm, eyes drifting closed for a moment before she moved her hand to her chest.
Well he wasn't a liar.
Adalia ran her hand over her breast and moved her hand down his body to boldly circle her hand around his member, giving it a few gentle strokes before she moved her hand away, unsure, instead she moved her hand to fist in his hair and pull him close. "We gonna do it again?"
"That is the plan," came his reply. Quinlan smirked at her. Shifting his body on top, hands on either side of her head, Quinlan let himself relax against her body, letting her heat feel his manhood grow and harden. Those few strokes had been enough. "You can't be that exhausted. The night is still young, after all."
He slowly undulated his hips against hers, stroking her, trying to stoke the fires once again.
Adalia leaned up to nuzzle her lips against his, shift her hips to cradle his better. It wasn't hard to stroke her fires and quickly enough she was giving encouraging rocks of her hips and nuzzling at his ear. Nibbling at his neck. "Quin," Adalia breathed his name into his ear, taking his hand in hers and threading their fingers together.
"We've been up since dawn," a nuzzle at his lips, a shift of her hips, "this will be a nice way to end a shitty day." A sleepy smile at him, "I'll let you spoon me." She teased softy.
"I'm happy you're so eager," he chuckled. And frankly she was right again. They both deserved this. Even if was just fleeting. Quinlan slipped inside her, shifting his hips and rocking them slowly, building up tension and momentum. "How about, I let you spoon me?"
"Only for you," Adalia moaned when he slipped into her, gently shifting her hips unable to keep in the little gasps and moans. Her hands smoothed up and down his back, blunt nails gently digging into his shoulders. This hadn't been what she intended to happen. Ever. Not here. Not with Quinlan. Still, with him inside her, above her, the pleasure that coursed through her veins, it seemed like a great idea.
Adalia kept her hips slow, enjoying the steady climb instead of the sloppy frantic one in the tub. Everything was still so sensitive. Adalia smirked up at him, "I'll spoon you so good." She whispered into his ear, giving a rock of her hips. "Ruin you for all the other girls."
Quinlan laughed, one of genuine humor and amusement. "I'm counting on it," he chuckled. "Because we're stuck together for a good long while. If the night gets cold we'd need to perfect the spooning technique." With her angling her hips the way they were, Quinlan managed to push deeper inside, circulating his hips to feel the heated walls within.
"But it's not even --ah!" Adalia gasped and bit her lip, squeezing her eyes shut when he move deeper. Still her hands stroked up and down his back, hips moving against his. "It's not even cold out," she sighed out, opening her eyes. Looking into his. A hot blush rose on her cheeks while she gazed at him, the gravity of the situation sinking in... Then it washed away because she wanted more.
It was a pain to think. It was an effort to remember this was a bad idea.
"Quin," she leaned up to kiss him, "I never pegged you to be such a gentle lover." Her hand pushed through his hair and she closed her eyes, giving a soft moan when he moved just right. "Then again, this may be normal. Last time I did this I had rocks digging into my ass."
His breath hitched, feeling a sweet spot and nursing on it. It was a little hard to focus on proper conversation at the moment, but Quinlan was going to do his damnedest to do so. They probably wouldn't end up like this again any time soon. And he'd never been one to squander lovely opportunities such as these.
"Rocks? Digging into your back? As in outside? In the great outdoors?". He smirked, working that spot still, even rocking his hips on occasion. "Why so surprised? I can be less than gentle if you want me to be. We might need safe words for that, though."
"The great outdoors," Adalia confirmed, eyes closed, rocking her hips to his, though she leaned back and gave a surprised laugh at his words. "A safe wo--" the movements had her words die off and soon enough idle chatter was the farthest thing from her mind.
There would be questions later - Adalia didn't even know what a safe word was. Instead, she curled her legs up around his waist, pulling him closer, nails digging into his back. "I don't know what that means," she finally squeaked out, holding him close, head tilted back, eyes closed.
They practically melted together, moving as one, as Quinlan leaned into her, letting his body rest on hers, limbs now entwined with one another. He let himself move in time, nursing that sensation that started to radiate through him, he shuddered, panting heavily.
"It's...gah...just a word you...say when trying...something intense...to let your partner know...you've had enough," he panted amidst heavy groans. He threw his whole body into the motion, thrusting harder now, as deep as he could go that their bodies would create a heavy slapping between them. Still, his arms remained wrapped around her, riding out those thrills that made him shiver. "Sweet gods, Adalia."
It sounded pained. Adalia moaned softly, rocking her hips to the motions, enjoying the slapping noise. Reveling in how lewd it all sounded. It was like a switch. Her hips jerked up into his and she tensed and shuddered, like a command she came when he said her name, fingers digging into his back and holding him close.
Still she moved with him, a primal dance she don't know she knew the moves to. Her fingers drawing red welts down his back in her passion. "Come for me," she growled into his ear, urging him on holding him tightly.
Her words made him tremble in agony. It was almost too much. Almost.
Quinlan panted hard in her ear, although he wasn't sure he wanted to come. "B-but, babies... can't be having those..." he said, whimpering as he felt himself on the verge of ecstasy. "Gods...Adalia, I'm almost there.."
The words were white noise. No, couldn't be having babies. Who was having babies? Adalia shook her head, not really understanding where he was going with it. Was Quin having babies? The movements kept her going, another trembling sigh, colour high on her cheeks.
"You can't have babies," She moaned under him, still confused. He was a man! They couldn't have babies. Fingers of one hand digging into his hair, the other holding his back to keep him close as they rocked their hips together. "Come for me, Quin," She whispered into his ear again, giving it a nibble before pressing a lingering kiss to his cheek.
Her begging was too much to bear, and Quinlan felt his body suddenly tremble. He stiffened, body taut, when he burst inside her. He kept her wrapped around him, holding her securely to his body. "Adalia!" he whimpered, trembling in the aftermath of it. "Gods... Adalia..."
There were no words that he could think of to add to that. He felt his body relax atop of her, heart thrumming wildly, breath coming out heavily.
When Quinlan came inside her, the heat, the feeling set her off and she tensed and curled herself around him where she could. Tucking his head against her neck, curling her legs around his hips. Her legs trembled when they finally unwrapped from around his hips and she pressed gentle kisses to his forehead before she went lax. A slight shift to get more comfortable with him between her legs but she remained.
A light sheen of sweat was on her brow and she moved a hand to rest against her forehead before she pressed a final searing kiss to his lips and simply returned her hand to his head to card her fingers through his hair.
The room had darkened with the day light, Adalia realized and she gave a gentle chuckle, giving her head a shake. Smiling with a bashful blush on her face. Heart pounding she just looked at Quin for a moment before breaking out into a grin.
"I told you helping me bathe was a bad idea," The words were whispered, and she gently ran her hands over him in what she hoped was a soothing manner.
His entire form went limp over her, grateful to rest for the briefest moment and catch his breath. When he found the strength, Quinlan held himself up and over her, smiling down at her. Tilting his head, giving her a curious bird look, he suddenly chuckled.
"Bad idea maybe for cleaning service," he said, snorting. With some effort, he pulled out carefully, and laid out off to the side. One hand on her ribs, he kept her close, leaning his head in to kiss her brow. "Bad ideas sometimes turn into good sensations." He shrugged, cupping her cheek and stroking at the color that formed there.
"You're blushing."
At the mention of her blushing, it only made it worse. "Of course I'm blushing we just... We... Twice."
Adalia stared at him for a moment before turning away. Now that he wasn't above her or inside her things were... Sloppy. Adalia carefully rolled off the bed to grab the still damp towel, wiping away the evidence of their... Lust. Before long she returned, grabbing the blankets that had been pushed off the bed and pulling them up and over them.
Still she was blushing and the realization of what she'd done slowly sank in.
Gently she returned the brow kiss and gave Quin a shy little smile.
"Roll over. I'm spooning you, remember?" Her voice was soft, slightly teasing, but she moved her hand up and down his side. "You're warm," Adalia whispered, nuzzling at his neck and shoulder "Let me hold you?"
Idle eyes lingered over her. Despite her stuffy attitude, Adalia was remarkably attractive. And hands aside, she was beautiful. Quinlan didn't care about such minor aesthetics. Certainly having nice hands didn't hurt. But ultimately they didn't matter.
"Spoon me, oh yeah," he said, turning over and scooting enough to give her room to lay beside him. He pulled a pillow beneath his head, bunching it, and pulling the covers up and over them.
"Sleeping through the day? Yes, this is what being a grown-up is all about right?" he chuckled, pulling her arm around his waist and holding it there, fingers threading into hers.
Adalia took to curled up behind Quinlan like a fish takes to swimming. "Hmm," was the only noise she made. One of agreement. A kiss at his shoulder, a nuzzle at his neck. "Just for tomorrow," she murmured, pressing her front to his back. "We can go back to you being the thief I'm following after we wake up," her voice was soft and resigned, a harsh truth she didn't quite want to admit.
Soon enough she was asleep, her arm over his waist, her face tucked up against his neck and her fingers between his.
"Yeah, yeah. Just spoon me hard okay," Quinlan murmured, nuzzling his face into the pillow. He was dozing off in no time. Good liquor and sex, just how he preferred to finish the day.
[Lame post D:]
There was light in the room.
Adalia snuggled up to the body beside her but when she opened her eyes everything came back and she recoiled. Heat climbed up her face and she looked around, Quin's clothing. Her clothing. Even though she'd had alcohol it wasn't enough to blame it on. Everything in her tingled at remembering and she pressed a kiss to Quin's shoulder.
"It's day time," she said softy, rubbing her hand up and down his side in a gentle attempt to wake him, "I need my arm back," surprisingly it was still slung over him, thought now it was cold and numb. "Don't make me take advantage of a sleeping man," she threatened quietly, leaning up so her hair was a pale curtain around her face.
Gods, it had indeed sounded like a wonderful idea at the time. As Quinlan heard the voice behind him, however, he scrunched his features. It wasn't in distaste to the sound, but his head was pounding heavily. He blinked at the window, bleary eyed, fingers tingling for want to blood.
He wriggled his hand out of hers. Turning just enough to face her, Quinlan pecked her softly on the lips. "Do we really have to get up?"
Adalia leaned into the kiss, pressing into it just a little bit more before she leaned back away from him and smirked. "No," Adalia started simply, "you don't. I'll pay the bill, take the crest and be on my way." Another peck on his lips and she sat up, stretching her arms above her head, mostly uncaring about her naked state of being.
With a groan, he rubbed his head, putting pressure on his temples. "Yeah, yeah. Just, get some coffee would ya? My head wants to explode."
He grumbled something nonsensical and turned to admire her form. She had nice tits. "Do you honestly fathom how attractive you are, Adalia? I mean does it ever occur to you?"
A small frown over her shoulder to Quinlan and Adalia climbed off the bed, finger coming her hair while she went. A brief look down at herself, examining her hands for a moment before she turned to Quin, arching her back and stretching. Give him one last look at the goods. Adalia bent to pick up her clothing, pulling her pants on and tugging her shirt on.
"Can't say I concern myself with it, I get to marry and have children with a gross old man," a shrug and she fixed her clothing, looking down at herself to be presentable.
A small smile to Quin and she left the room. A few minutes went by and Adalia returned not long after with a large plate of food - with two forks - and two mugs.
"Alright princess, wakey wakey, there should be enough for the both of us." Adalia sat back down carefully, wincing ever so slightly when she took a seat on the bed, "hm. Guess I am a liar."
Princess. Now there was a term he hadn't heard in a while.
He smirked at the thought. "All right. All right. Gross and crusty old men. Always the kicker ain't it?" He chuckled and took the cup of coffee in his hand. With a dash of milk too. Nice touch.
"You know...why don't you just...run away? I mean, live your own life. What makes you obligated to marry this crusty man and have his crusty children?"
Adalia gently placed the plate between them on the bed, picking up a fork and stabbing a bit of egg with it before she chewed thoughtfully. Placing the warm mug between her fingers she stared down at it for a moment before giving her head a shake, looking back up at Quinlan.
"Where would I go? What would I do? I don't exactly have the skill set of ... a vagabond."
"True. But you're better. You have combat skill, equestrian skills, dilomatic skills. Trust me, people that pay well only want workers with great skills," he said, eying her from the side.
"You'd have no trouble making a life on your own. Everyone deserves to choose their own fate."
The concept of making a life of her own was strange and Adalia visibly recoiled. The mug of coffee still in her hands. The frown on her face.
"But... What's fate? That's just... Something pretend mages say. Something those old ladies in tents say that tell you your future." Adalia shook her head, "Maybe I want to live an easy life having some old rich mans babies. Maybe I want to go home and... And... Be married off." She didn't, but... If she wasn't going to do that, what else was there?
"Besides. At least I'd know what to expect getting married off. Out on my own? I'd be... " Adalia frowned, looking away, "Alone."
"I use the term loosely," he said, groaning and taking a strip of bacon, tearing it between his teeth. "I mean, what is it that you want out of life, Adalia? What were the things you always wanted to do?"
Adalia looked down at the plate, back and Quin and snapped one of the other pieces of bacon up. While she had never been a fan of it, she was paying for it and damned if she wasn't going to get her share of it.
His question however stumped her.
Adalia put the strip of meat into her mouth and she chewed thoughtfully, frowning at the bed. "I... I've never thought of it. I've always... Just done what I was told or... Been where someone needed me or ... Where I could help." Green eyes turned to Quin and for a moment she could only notice how nice his eyes were, a tilt of her head and she looked away quickly enough, "Do you know what you want out of life? What you've always wanted to do?"
He watched her eat up that bacon. A stingy hand she had indeed. Not that he was complaining. He would've snatched it up too if it was his gold he was sparing for the meal.
Instead his fingers pinched at the eggs, holding it firmly between them and plopping that into his mouth. He never ate heartily in the morning, if it could be called that. Breakfast always struck him as odd. But in the moment, he felt he ought to muscle down something resembling a meal. Coffee washed down the egg, and more followed.
"When I was a child, I wanted to be a warrior. I wanted to ride a shining steed and wear gleaming armor and wield a powerful blade. Funny how things turned out," he said, growing a little quiet at the thought. "Actually...I think I wanted to run away with the circus. I wanted to be a tumbler. Or one of those acrobat people. When I was a boy my father would snatch my ear and just about tear it off when he caught me trying to jump from the roof of our house in order to land in a pile of hay on the bottom."
His smile grew and he looked at her. "You could be that warrior. I guess, I'm still a bit of a circus freak, even if I never really joined one."
A warrior.
He wanted to be a knight in shining armor.
Adalia gave him a little smile, looking at him for a few moments, imagining him in armor, riding on Atras, headed for battle. Then she remembered he snuck into her house, stole from her and she was still technically chasing him down - minus the actual chasing. Escorting him to his destination so she can... Get the person who wants that crest.
After a few moments, Adalia stared down at her hands, the scarred red things she hated to look at and sent him a weary smile.
"I am that warrior, it requires fighting for a country. I may not have my armor with me but... It's there. In the barracks. It's made of silverite and my helmet resembles a bird. I'm quite the vision on horseback in my armor, let me tell you." Adalia cast him a small smile before she flexed her hands again, placing it down on her lap, giving a shake of her head, "What makes you think you're a circus freak?" She asked gently, snatching one of his hands and bring it closer to her, her thumb drawing over his palm, "Because of this? What you can do? That hardly makes you one in Serendipity."
He flexed his hand in her grip. "In a good way, I assure you," he said, smiling. "It ain't about how you look. I guess it's more about not...fitting anywhere. I'm a vagrant. I just ....go. Wander. Nobody needs me. Not in the way your country might need you."
He flicked his eyes to her face. Smirking, he retracted his hand, the wound sore from yesterday.
"You can still be that warrior. You don't need a nation for that though. You just need the will, I guess."
While she still didn't know him, hearing the words 'nobody needs me' made her heart sore. Made her think. "Quinlan," she started, frowning "trying to give me advice when you... You don't even know what you're doing." Adalia finished off her coffee and tucked into the plate of food, chewing thoughtfully before she decided she was indeed finished breakfast.
"Thanks though. Sorta a blind leading the blind situation. Let's just take care of your spooky necromancer situation with my crest and..." Adalia frowned for a moment, "figure out what to do after that."
She was right, he knew. He was giving her advice when even he had no clear direction in where he was going or what he was doing with himself. He was a vagrant, a sore and burden upon society. Funny, if he cared enough he might feel sad at the thought. Instead, he ate quietly for a time.
"Yes, one thing at a time," he agreed. "You can kill him for all I care. I just want to get paid."
Adalia lowered the cup to her lap and stared down at her knees.
"What will you do once you get paid?"
Quinlan shrugged. "Not sure. Didn't really think about it," he admitted, looking across to her. "Maybe I'll buy myself a farm and some horses and be a breeder or something. What do you think I should do with it?"
A small smile and she shrugged back, "I don't know, Quin. I've... Always had money. I've never thought of... What's to be done with it should it possibly run out." Adalia looked away for a moment, thoughtful. Pulling her lower lip into her mouth while she pondered and tried to think of something. "Do you like horses enough to breed them?" Was all she could come up with.
"Possibly," Quinlan said, looking across to Adalia. "Would you be willing to sell Atras to me if I ever decide to open up a stud farm? He could get all the mares!"
"Atras?" The idea of selling him sent her heart thumping, "He's... He's one of my only friends. I... May... Maybe? He's not... As young as he used to be." Though the idea of little baby horses that were half made of Atras made her smile.
"Now that I think about it it was selfish of me to drag him out like I did." Adalia pushed her hand through her hair and sighed, now worried about her horse. "I'd give you Atras to start up your farm. He's a good boy."
"Oh, I know that look in your eye. I don't think I'd accept him even if you did want to sell him. He's your friend. He deserves to be with family," Quinlan said and put his hand on hers. He inspected the scars and patches all over her skin, and wondered if she felt anything anymore. Slowly his fingers traced to her wrist and drew little symbols along her skin.
"What will you do? Go back home? With a necromancer's head to mount on your wall?"
"You've known me for like... A week or two." Adalia shrugged, watching him while he trailed his finger over her scars. The feeling was mostly there, it was just... Sort of numb. "He deserves to get fat and have babies," Adalia said softly, smiling, "This isn't his first adventure y'know. He's been ... Lots of places." When his finger reached her wrist, her other hand was placed over his hand to make him stop. Goosebumps rose on her arm and she gave a shiver.
"The skin around the scars is sensitive, probably because everything else is so numb in comparison." She said softly, rubbing the tingling away.
Green eyes cast down at the bed, at their hands and she flexed her fingers for a few moments. Staring at the scars, the stretched red flesh. The idea of her bringing a head home had her laugh and she grinned at Quinlan, "Do you really think I'd do that? No... Maybe... Maybe run away. To ... Essyrn. Maybe... Hm... The Jungle." Adalia smirked slightly, "You can take care of Atras. He's not one for heat."
Quinlan had been kidding about the whole starting a horse breeding farm. He'd never been one for country life, although his father really enjoyed the quiet. He felt the mood grow a bit quiet, tapping his fingers underneath the hand that stopped it and he smirked.
"What sorts of places has Atras been? He seems like a worldly horse. Very well traveled, can speak multiple languages. Knows how to bite the right people. Good steed. He's lucky to have you."
Adalia tightend her grip on his hand, frowning ever so slightly though her eyes were hooded and she was smirking still.
"The Thunderblacks are as far as we've been." Then she went quiet and removed her hand, flexing the fingers for another moment before she flicked at Quin's hand with her finger. "He's made some interesting friends," Clearing her throat she gave a tight smile before she gathered the dishes and rolled her shoulders.
"Alright, grab our crap. We're leaving within the hour," A small smile a light blush, " I hope your head feels better, sorry about.. About last night."
Quinlan could tell a cold shoulder when he felt one. And her's was freezing. He shrugged and finished his meal. He liked sitting and chatting. But sadly there was still a journey to finish, more or less, and necromancer's to behead or whatnot.
He didn't respond to her, and merely toweled himself off, and dressed. It was better than letting himself remain completely grimy. "Okay, chipchop, let's hit the road."
The bill had been paid - Not nearly as much as Adalia had been anticipating - and she pushed a hand through her hair, combing out the tangles. The things had been packed, Atras had his saddle on, the bags were full of feed for him.
Now they just had to worry about them.
Adalia guided Quin to the stable where she got everything ready, though not before taking a strip of leather and tying her hair back in a loose pony tail at the top of her head. It made her ears poke out more and Adalia had never been fond of it.
"Okay. Since you getting the rations went horribly wrong the last time we did this, You can keep Atras company while I go get things. Okay?" Adalia smiled slightly at him, eyebrows up. Trying not to remember that she'd accidentally killed away. Slowly her eyes flicked to the sword strapped to Atras's saddle.
"We weren't so well prepared last time we went out. We might not hit another town for a few days and I for one didn't enjoy being hungry. Or the plant things. Or the cultists, you know... You have really bad luck." Her hand was on her hip and she nudged Quin with her elbow.
Oh, she was actually trusting him with the horse. She was! Oh, lovely. Quinlan exchanged glances with Atras, smiling even. The horse flickered his lip up, showing his chompers, but nuzzled his nose against the blood mage with soft nickers.
Quinlan saluted to Adalia. "You can count on me, Mage Knight," he said, with mock reverence. "Just stock up on a bit of whiskey would ya. Just one bottle at least."
Whiskey.
That got a pale eyebrow up and she rest a hand on her hip before she just shook her head. "Of course. Whiskey. Looking for a repeat are you?" And while Adalia wanted to pretend alcohol had anything to do with what they did, it really didn't. It was all her. A hot blush stained her cheeks and she quickly turned away, the words she'd said slowly sinking in.
Gathering supplies wasn't a difficult venture. Things that would keep, mostly. Dried meat. She splurged on a few pouches of herbs to make their dinners not so awful. A pair of bedrolls so they didn't have to sleep directly on the ground.
By the time she had gathered supplies her purse was mostly empty and she had another bag to attach to Atras's things. The wander back over to Quinlan was uneventful. There were no enemies in this town. As far as she was aware there had been no time for Quinlan to mouth off to anyone.
The bottle of whiskey was pressed into Quinlans chest as soon as she was close enough to do so and she went about putting the things away before she paused.
"Where's Daisy, Quin?"
Quinlan blinked at Adalia. Oh because he really was a lot of trouble. At least Atras was content to keep an eye on him. He spoke soft words to the horse, scratching his nose and giving him small kisses. "Don't ask me," he said shrugging. "How am I supposed to know if Adalia remembered to get some Apples for you? Well, ask her when she gets back!"
When Adalia appeared, he sniffed and looked up to the saddle...and Daisy was nowhere to be found. Only then did he panic, just a bit. He looked back to the stable. "Well, she's probably catching some mice in there or something!"
A sigh.
Adalia rolled her eyes and glared up and down at Quinlan.
"Do you have much going for you out of the sack? Really." Though the instant she said it she regretted it, still, she marched passed him and into the stable, making clicking noises with her tongue and kissing noises with her mouth.
When she didn't find Daisy - the poor cat that looked like she had mange - Adalia stomped her foot down and the damn cat bolted out of the stable. "Daisy!" Adalia yelped after the cat, "Quin! Catch Dasiy, damnit!"
Quinlan rolled his eyes, because really, she could just as well keep an eye on her cat as well as he could. Why leave everything up to him? Did he have to do everything!?
When the cat bolted in his direction however, Quinlan was on Daisy and immediately yanked her up the scruff and she hung like a kitten. Daisy mrowled. "I got her!" he said, although kept her at a distance because she did look like something nasty was clinging to her.
Adalia rushed from the stable, scooping Daisy into her arms before she held the cat out. Wrinkling her nose at the ball of...
Hay.
"Oh thank gods," Adalia sighed, reached to pluck it from her fur which - unfortunately - came off in tufts. Apparently reanimated stuffed cats didn't hold up as well as their more alive brethren. It was still weird to think about, that the crest that had been in her house for years was only working now.
A bright green eyed look was cast towards Quinlan, blinking at him.
Maybe it was the blood magic.
"Can you teach me how to do blood magic?" Adalia blurted out, holding Daisy out, Atras ready to go and all they really needed to do was get comfortable on the saddle.
That little ball of hay mrowled and squirmed in Adalia's hold, but ultimately started to purr and nuzzled in against her shoulder. Quinlan smirked. He liked cats....and dogs. He just like animals in general and it was nice to know that even in death, animal companions mostly held the same temperament.
Quinlan shook himself when she asked her question, however. He looked to Atras for emotional support, but the steed just looked away.
"I...I don't know," he said at last, stepping forward and plucking a few strands of hay out of Daisy's fur. "I've never taught anyone before. I was never able to do it before I...I made a bad deal. Why do you want to learn?"
He looked at her hands and soon moved to mount Atras, he moved so that she could sit in front, reaching for Daisy, to hold her against his jacket.
Adalia held out Daisy for Quinlan to hold and quickly enough she was up and on the horse, giving him a little nudge so they could be on their way. Prepared and with as little fighting, fire and fanfare as there could be.
It was a good idea to not let Quinlan do the shopping this time.
"I'm just curious," She held out her hand, flexed her fingers.
"If it's like... An element, I suppose. Drawing form the life force of the blood or... Something." Adalia shrugged, "I never really studied on how to do this. It's just always been something I could do. Like breathing." Reaching back she pat Quinlan on the thigh before she moved her hands back to the reins.
"I had to study for the water healy-stuff. I couldn't do it before, so I practiced and practiced. Upside, it only made my hands wrinkly instead of well," She looked down at them, frowning, " Fire is very destructive."
"It's...more than an element," Quinlan murmured thoughtfully. "It's the very source of your magic, manipulating it, burning it, freezing it, killing with it. I'm cursed. I wonder if that's the only way I could do blood magic at all. I wonder if teaching anyone else would curse them too."
Cursed.
Adalia frowned at the ground ahead of them and pat Quinlans knee, the closest piece of body she could reach at the time being.
"Well, I'd like to avoid being cursed. I'm already a Deserter Runaway, I don't think being a Cursed Deserter Runaway would be best for my image or the opinion of my future husband." She straightened her shoulders, adding the 'future husband' bit as a joke before she looked over her shoulder and then gently bit her lower lip.
"Which way are we headed, Thief?" She finally said, looking ahead.
What an awkward conversational digression. Quinlan seriously wondered however, if he even could teach her blood magic, at least some parts of it without the painful drawbacks of it killing her of course. Would she even let him if he tried?
He put those thoughts quietly away, looking at the back of her head and settling his arms around her waist as they went. "Toward Rat's End," he said. "Actually...from what I remember, it's just a few day's journey further east."
He settled in against her, resting his head on her shoulder and watching them ride off down the path. Daisy was cradled between them, and he idly pet her. "So...future husband, what kind of man are you looking for exactly?" he found himself asking, curious.
A few days further east.
Adalia gave a quick look around and adjusted the direction accordingly before she settled down, resting her hand against Quinlans arm at her waist. "East. Got it," She flashed a smile over her shoulder and blinked at him at his question.
"I dunno. Is that something people look for?" It was an honest question and Adalia shrugged, " I was mostly kidding. I'd only be getting a husband if I go home which I don't really plan on doing anytime soon." Adalia shrugged, no doubt moving Quin's head in the processes and looked off at the horizon.
"What about you? What are you thinking of for your future husband?" A teasing grin and a nudge of her shoulder.
"I don't know," Quinlan chuckled. "I'm not particular. I just need a husband willing to cart me around and not mind me sleeping with other people on some drunken occasion." He laughed, laying on her shoulder. "I dunno. I never saw myself getting married and settling down. Ever. I couldn't imagine anyone tolerating me for long regardless. Can't say I blame them."
Adalia grinned when Quinlan played along.
"Well..." Adalia looked thoughtful for a moment before she gently bumped her shoulder, "Sex seems to shut you up pretty good." The tone she used was teasing and she leaned her head against his for a moment as a silent apology. A weird head-bump-hug.
"If it makes you feel better, I'd always expected to get married and settle down." Adalia smiled slightly, a far away look in her eyes, "Now it's the farthest thing from my mind. I like..." A brief look around, "I like this. Traveling. Going around. Can't say I'm really cut out for it though."
Quinlan reached across and grabbed her wrist gently felt along the skin there. "You saved my hide more than once, even when you didn't have to. Especially when you had no reason to. I appreciate it. I'd say you're working out just fine. I mean, I know I'm not the easiest lug around. You've got more under your belt than you give yourself credit for."
A pause, Adalia looked down at his hand at her wrist and blinked at the touch. A little caught off guard she could only let it happen before she answered him, "you... You are so easy. You seem like the type to do almost anything for sex or cuddles," Adalia paused, looking thoughtful while Atras moseyed along. "Besides, can't really follow a dead man to a necromancer who wants to literally resurrect someone possibly evil and sinister."
"I dunno. It might be convenient," Quinlan chuckled. "You could just bring me back to life when we get there and we'd be all dandy." He chuckled still at the idea although he wasn't keen on being dead just yet.
"So odd of you to add sex or cuddles, but not both together?"
"I'd have to cart your dead body around," Adalia wrinkled her nose at the idea. "I'd really rather not." Though she turned her head and held the reins carefully at his last batch of words. Sex or cuddles, but not both together.
"Well, I haven't done sex-cuddles," Adalia shrugged, "my experiences have been quite... Narrow, I suppose." A sly look at him, "though I assume you've quite the history."
"Um...I suppose you could say that. Not a lot of them were memorable." He closed his eyes for a bit. "What do you mean you're experience is narrow? How, uh, illustrious is your history?"
Adalia smirked, "less than three, greater than one." A brief glance over her shoulder and she smiled at Quinlan. " I don't think I want to know, for you, you seem a little..." A purse of her lips to think of the proper way to phrase it, "free with your favors."
"Maybe," he said. "I guess that makes me rather despicable?"
"Why? I'd say it makes you... Comfortable with yourself." A grin and a glance over her shoulder, "though I bet you're just a horny bastard. In a good way. I think. You ever think of working in a brothel? You get paid to have sex."
"You know, I thought about it. I did," he confessed, feeling himself blush a little. "But I never felt like I was going to meet the one you know?" A smirk played on his lips. He laughed in addendum. "I feel like screwing for money is fine if that's what you really want to do with yourself. But I'm a blood mage with a habit for serums, and I like to travel. Unless I opened up some kind of traveling brothel service."
The one?
Adalia glanced over her shoulder, an eyebrow raised.
The hell was that?
"Wait, wait, back up." She pat at his arm while she thought, "What's the one? Is that like... A commoner thing? The lock your key fits?"
At that Quinlan grinned, ear to ear, because he wondered why she would focus on that of all things. "It was a joke," he chuckled. "Not a very good one at that. Y'know....hopeless romantic such that I am." He laughed again. "Y'know, the one. Your souuuuuul maaaaaaate!?" And he waggled his eyebrows at her.
A frown over her shoulder. "You're as romantic as wet shoes," Adalia rolled her eyes, recalling this first night together as traveling companions. Do you want to make you, indeed.
"That's not really a thing, is it?" Pursing her lips, Adalia looked thoughtful, though quickly it turned to a frown. "How would you know?"
"I've heard about it. When you meet them you just know. You fall for them, you love them even when you've seen their ugly side. They're mated to your soul. Those are what all those romantic poets say anyway," he said with a frown. "They're the person you were made for. It's all very complicated if you ask me. Fate's what you make of it. There is no destiny. If soul mates do exist, you might not always cross paths with them. Life's weird that way. I mean...I'm cursed. If that was my destiny, then...everything else was meant to happen too." And his voice grew sad at that thought.
"That sounds stupid."
Adalia mumbled.
Soul mates. The One. Adalia barely believed in love, let alone the one. Then again, perhaps growing up knowing she'd maybe only get along with her future life partner had tainted her views of love and what not.
She didn't miss the way his voice grew sad and she rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand at her waist.
"Sometimes... Shit happens. It can be real shitty-shit and sometimes the only way to deal with it is to move on. Accept and forgive and whatever." Adalia frowned down at the back of Atras's head, not really sure what she was trying to say. Probably just going for comforting words. Something to fill the silence.
"Do you believe that? That there's someone out there to make your half a whole?"
"No," he answered truthfully, no biting sarcasm in his tone. "I don't. There's no such thing as your other half. Stuff like that is just made up to sell books and tickets to operas. You're never half of a whole person. If there is such a thing as a soulmate, you're still two separate people."
"I knew I liked you for a reason."
Adalia smirked at Quinlan over her shoulder before she decided this conversation was bad and nudged Atras to get him to pick up speed. The sooner they got to where they were going... The better.
Or something.
"Just... Nudge me if I fall asleep or we're going the wrong way or something."
Or if he fell asleep first. Having made himself comfortable against her back, Quinlan closed his eyes and fell asleep.
But their way on the road didn't last long.
At least not in sunshine. A shadow passed over them, somewhat dragon-shaped.
Luckily, Atras didn't notice the shadow.
Adalia did.
Slowly she got Atras to stop and before long she was looking around their area, alert.
"Quinlan did you see that?" She asked softly before looking around and... The bastard was sleeping.
A gentle nudge of her elbow into his side, "Wake up! There's something very big around and...." She looked up, it wasn't in the sky anymore.
"Ouch!" Quinlan yelped, rubbing his side. And saw there was nothing.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
The answer soon came when the dragon turned around and landed in a clearing just in the middle of the trees.
"Uuuh..."
Clearing her throat she looked at Quinlan and shook her head.
"Quin... Are we in Adela, you think? That's where dragons ... Uh... Live, right?"
Quinlan blinked and saw the dragon. "That's where they're supposed to be, yes."
He laughed. "Well, dragons can fly wherever they want!"
And the ash-skinned rider that dropped from the saddle, tattoo-faced and with a tall blue mohawk.
It was only a mild panic before she saw the rider.
It was no Adelan.
"You have got to be fucking me." Adalia said, staring wide eyed. There was no way. Of all the people to bump into. It was this guy. Not that she could remember his name beyond 'umbraeon asshole'. Giving Atras a few nudges she got the horse to back up, while staring.
"What do you want?" Adalia snapped at the rider, though, the chance of him remembering here were slim.
[What does he want? I have no idea 8D]
In fact she wasn't the only one that was surprised. Iharu blinked at Adalia and then he smirked. "I had forgotten you are Serenian. I did not come here looking for you."
Quinlan slipped from the saddle, Daisy reclining on his shoulders, tail wavering casually. "Who's this bozo?"
Iharu scowled. "Hyn-Iharu," he said, growling at him. "Adalia, your choice in companions leaves much to be desired."
Adalia also got off of Atras, givin Iharu a leveled look. Though quickly it turned to relief. At least he wasn't looking for her. Though she had no idea what he'd want her for.
"I..." A brief glance to Quinlan, "I know." A frown and a tilt of her head, crossing her arms over her chest, "are you lost? Looking for something? I have a cursed neceomantic amulet to deliver. Time sensitive, you understand."
Iharu blinked at her. "A what?"
Quinlan stared between them and decided, no, he didn't like this elf person one bit. Too stern for his britches.
"An amulet. None of your concern," Quinlan but in. He frowned and moved closer to Adalia. "Why are you here?"
"I came to sell skins. I could add yours to my repertoire," he hissed back. "My cousin is with me. But he stayed beside Garaduin. He does not wish to venture any deeper into Serenian villages."
Adalia went pale, and she looked towards the dragon.
"Is your cousin who I think it is?" Adalia managed to squeak out, looking to the dragon and holding Atras by the reins. The horse was getting antsy and shuffling around a long look at Iharu and she looked back to Quinlan.
"If it's who I think it is... Maybe he know's something about the crest." A frown at Quin, "it is still mine and I have questions."
[If I remember right, didn't Atras go for a dragon ride as well and faint in the process? 8D]
"I have only one cousin, Miss Adaaaaalia," Iharu smirked and gestured for them to follow the path into the clearing. "He is there."
He watched them for a moment, in particular Quinlan. He saw the scars on his hands. Curious, and he did not like the look of him. A ruffian, and hoped they would not wrap up Hysaeda into whatever trouble they were in.
But Quinlan looked only at Adalia. "If you think he can help, let's go and see."
[yup! : D but Atras loved Hysaeda.]
Only one cousin.
There was no way.
Carefully Adalia watched Iharu before she grabbed Atras's reins and tugged him along. Atras however, was weary of the dragon and refused to move. "Hysaeda is up there," she coaxed, "you remember Hysaeda, right?" The horse gave her a look before he grudgingly started to walk, staying behind Adaloa when he could.
Why was she so nervous?
Adalia's pulse quickened and she took deep calming breaths. Finally at the clearing, the dragon right there she could only stop and have Atras poke her in the back with his nose. Quinlan and Daisy all but forgotten. "Hysaeda?" The question was accented by Atras giving a loud whinny and shuffling his feet.
Except he wasn't there and Iharu lied.
Just Kidding.
That voice, it had a familiar ring to it. And from behind the dragon, an elf emerged, hair longer and part of it pulled back in a ponytail. He said nothing but those tattoos were unmistakable. And a smile touched his lips.
[i lol'd]
Don't say something lame. Don't say something lame. Don't say something lame.
"Atras missed you."
Perfect.
Adalia bumped Atras who was busy trying to munch on grass and sure enough, when the horse caught sight of Hysaeda he marched his way over and shoved his nose into the dark elf's chest.
"Me too. Umm..." A few steps closer, a weary look towards the dragon. Mostly she just wanted to hug him, still she just stared. "I don't remember what I was going to ask you now that I see you."
Hysaeda smiled wider, a beam he couldn't help when Atras shoved his nose into his chest and gave him some affectionate nickers. "Hi, Atras! How you doing these days boy?" he asked, petting the horse's cheek and nose. He looked over to Adalia and stepped forward. And embraced her hard.
Quinlan stood in the back, petting the draped undead cat and watching with a deep frown. He supposed this was number one.
A startled gasp was the noise that left her but quickly enough she melted into the hug. Her arms curled around his middle and she pressed her face to his chest.
"I missed you," were her muffled words and she took a few moments to just bask in the contact. Though Atras tried to nudge his nose into it and finally Adalia pulled away, still staring at him, hands now resting on his arms. Still, Quinlan was forgotten and she just... Stared. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again." Then she paused and looked over her shoulder, giving Quin a brief glance, frowning at his frown. Bored she'd understand, but frowning? What was the frown for?
"Quin, are you okay?"
Hysaeda let out a low steady breath, smiling even aft her words. "You still smell like mushrooms," he said and kept his arms beside hers.
Quinlan just smirked at Adalia. "Old friends?" he asked instead of what he really wanted to ask.
Hysaeda regarded him a while. "New friends?"
"Bozo," Quinlan said referring to himself. "Yourself?"
"Hysaeda is my name, Bozo," he said, chuckling.
Quinlan's laugh was dry. "Quinlan. My name is Quinlan Duirne."
"Mushrooms?" Adalia frowned at him, stared for a few moments, the blush was gradual and she frowned up at Hysaeda. "Those mushrooms? The ones that had flowers growing out of my mouth?" A brief glance at Quinlan and she turned to smile at Hysaeda.
"This is the creator of my wanderlust..." And a few other lusts too, but those were much better unspoken about. Adalia licked her lips and gave Hysaeda's arm a squeeze before she dropped her hands away. "Quinlan here, broke into my house and stole an amulet or a crest or something. It brought my stuffed cat back to life," she pointed to Daisy who was glaring kitty-daggers at Hysaeda.
"Do you know anything about... Stuff like that?" Adalia looked thoughtful for a moment, "I could pay you for your time. I'm sure you're busy. Or have more important things to do."
Hysaeda just stared between them, and the cat's kitty-glare, as she purred comfortably over Quinlan's shoulders. She couldn't be bothered to offer more than a hiss at the dark elf, before going back to purring. But one thing she was certain about, that guy's shoulders didn't look nearly as comfortable as Quinlan's.
"Do you have the amulet?" Hysaeda said, holding out his hand. "Let me see it." Quinlan pulled it out and tossed it to Adalia.
Uh?
Adalia caught the amulet, crest, whatever and stared at it for a second before holding it out for Hysaeda, looking between him and it.
"I'm only asking you because you're... Magic-ie and... Learned and... Uh..." Adalia paused for a moment, trying to find the right phrase, but nothing good was coming, "old." It was true. Far older than her, "My family has had it forever. Since before my father's father was born. Just tucked away safely in the display room." It was a long shot, "Do you have any idea what it is?"
"I'm old huh?" he said, catching the crest in one hand and holding it gingerly. It was cool to the touch, deathly cold even. And the morbid carving and embedding within the crest's front were unusual, and definitely unsettling.
"I can't say I recognize it," he said. He looked up to Quinlan. "Perhaps you can tell me more about it."
Quinlan really didn't want to be talking to this guy. He was weird looking! Look at his face! Covered in tattoos, what kind of jerk-off tattooed his face. Sure on his arm, and maybe his ass. But his face...that was just weird.
But looking at Adalia, made him oblige. "It's called the Valmir Crest. Sold Serenian family. I was just paid to take it to a guy. Paid pretty damn good, too. I didn't know it was going to bring a dead cat back to life."
Hysaeda turned it over in his hand and felt his stomach grow cold. "A necromancer... You willingly thought to retrieve an item for a Necromancer?" he said, tone biting.
Quinlan remained steady. "I didn't ask too many questions. Sometimes the less I know the better."
"Evidently so! You're a fool. You didn't even ask about what it was you were looking for. This is bad, Adalia. Anything regarding a cretin disrespecting the dead, and attempting to control them is bad. But this...crest radiates a great deal of negative energy." Hysaeda could sense it simply by touch. And apparently so could Quinlan, but the man seemed rather uncanny.
Letting out a careful breath she tried to smile and simply shrugged.
"I'm... I'm following Quinlan to the necromancer. He'll get paid and I'll... Take care of the rest." A brief glance towards Quin and then back to Hysaeda. Where Quinlan saw weird tattoos on his face, Adalia just saw... Someone familiar. It made her chest warm and she sighed, moving her hand to rub at her neck before she pulled her opal hair over her shoulder and looked down at the ground.
"I was mostly looking for an excuse to... Go out again." A sideways look to Quin, "Though he doesn't known nearly as much about camping as you do, Hysaeda." Which sort of sucked, but at least they were prepared for this trip, this time. Pushing her hands through her hair and shaking her head she just looked at the crest.
"Do you know how to destroy it? Maybe... Maybe I can do that to it after... After Quin gets paid. Snatch it back and... Bust it up." A brief glance at Daisy - undead cat that she was - content on Quins shoulders and then back to Atras who was, again, nudging Hysaeda for pets. Looking down at her hands for a moment she flexed her fingers, "Would melting it work?"
Hysaeda only frowned. "I'm afraid that destroying it would not be safe nor the wisest course of action. The crest itself contains the energy within. Destroying it would unleash it and Umbra only knows what would happen. Without the proper wards, it could even kill you. I...I'm afraid I can't tell more without examining it further," he said.
Quinlan crossed his arms and stared between them. "Well, let's get too it, friend."
Hysaeda frowned, but looked to the dragon's saddle. "We make camp then. I can see it better by spirit fire."
This guy was definitely nuts.
"Well, I don't really want to be dead."
Which was true.
Most of the time.
Adalia looked down at the crest, surprised and a little weary it had been in her home for so long. Then again, it hadn't had any human touch except for the occasionally dusting from a maid. Then Quin came along and stole it. Adalia didn't even know it had a name, let alone terrible powers. Of course, that was typical of her life.
"Alright." Was her only reply and looked towards Quinlan again, resting a hand on her hip, "What's with you? We're learning more about the crest you stole from me." A quick glance to Hysaeda and back to Quin, lifting an eyebrow, "You can trust him, Quin. He's my friend." Turning back to Hysaeda Adalia smiled and pat Atras's side before she smiled slightly.
"At least I know some things don't change," She teased lightly, nodding towards Hysaeda's frown. The grin from before had caught her off guard, but she was glad that he still had his normal frowny face.
"He's your friend. You know him. I don't. I trust you though, for now. In this little venture, I mean. So I'll play along," Quinlan replied in a tone only Adalia could hear. "Let's just get this over with. He's got weird red eyes."
And the only thing with such eyes that Quinlan encountered wasn't ever good. Ever.
"Let's begin," Hysaeda said, and set up a small fire, breathing into it, as a small stone created a spark and kindling began to burn. Easier than using blood. Or maybe harder.
They sat cross-legged before the blaze, as it began to take form. Within the fire, Hysaeda pulled powder from a bag and threw it into the blaze. The fire sparked in a bright flash, but the flames began to change color, turning green and blue and sometimes red and purple. He took the crest and freed it from its threading. Tossing it into the flames, the fire sizzled and protested the object, engulfing it.
"What are you doing?" Quinlan asked, curious.
"The fire will not harm the crest. But it will reveal its nature..." Hysaeda did not look hopeful however. He was wary. Nothing good came from Necromancy, not when practiced with energy such as that found in the crest.
Weird red eyes.
Adalia frowned deeply at Quinlan.
"I trust him more than I trust you. Just remember that." At least Hysaeda hadn't stolen from her. Broke into her house. Sure their relationship was weird and she had been at least 99% sure she'd never see him again, but here they were and all she really wanted to do was stay. Steal the crest back.
Adalia doubted Hysaeda would want the company though and she'd made a promise to Quin. Or something.
Interested she watched Hysaeda do his thing, looking at the fire curiously while it changed colour and she was about to ask the same, but Quin beat her to it. Wiggling her fingers she looked at the fire, gently biting on her lower lip before she leaned forward. "Do you need me to help you with anything?" She asked gently, looking between the crest and Hysaeda, giving her hands a wiggle.
Frankly the words cut deeper than he wanted. Sure they'd had their fair share of bumps along the way, but Quinlan thought they'd been getting along much better. They had survived together, they were companions. But, really, where was he going with this. Quinlan inwardly frowned, but didn't voice his thoughts. This was just a job after all. The task would soon be done, and he wanted only his money.
But truth be told, thoughts of necromancy didn't sit well with him either. In his experience with demons, their craft, and those that worshiped them never had anything good in store for anyone other than themselves.
He was silent and watched the dark elf work.
Hysaeda shook his head to Adalia. "Hold Quinlan's hand," he said. "And focus your energies together into the fire. The smoke will reveal it's nature."
Hysaeda focused his own and breathed into it, looking up into the smoke, seeing shapes of those that had held the Valmir Crest in the past. Keepers of House Valmir, Lords and ladies, knights in armor, former kings of Serendipity. Their shapes in the smoke illustrated battles both famous and forgotten.
Hold his hand?
Adalia reached for his hand, threading his fingers between her own and looked at him for a moment. It would be easy to help the fire roar out of control, so instead she just pushed her magic into it subtly. A gentle weave in with the flame, and she watched.
Watched the smoke.
Why was it so full of... Bad energy?
A curious look to Hysaeda before she shifted and gave Quinlan's hand a little reassuring squeeze. He seemed uncomfortable, irritable. Daisy had long since curled up in his lap, snuggling her face into his knee and looking at Adalia and then the fire, curiously. Rolling her shoulders she looked to Hysaeda again and then the fire.
"See anything interesting?" She asked quietly, hand still in Quinlans, curious. Would it be worth it all?
With Daisy settled in his lap and no longer begging for pets, Quinlan could focus on the ritual. Granted he'd never see one like it, but he knew a ritual when he saw one. "Watch the smoke," he murmured to Adalia.
"Disgrace...despair...defeat," Quinlan whispered to her. He could see the story playing out as if acted upon a stage. "See the figurines in the smoke? That man...he must've been the last Patriarch of his house. And the name of Valmir scratched from Serenian history. Adalia...suddenly...I feel very sick... This man...was not a good guy. Ansgar's balls..."
The whispering in her ear had her finally looking at the smoke, though the story didn't play out so clearly to her. Mostly because she's never been a big history buff. Still, she watched, curious and nervous. The crest was seemingly bad news and the loner she watched the longer she wished she's just let Quinlan take it and run away.
"Please don't throw up," she said to Quin, giving his hand a squeeze.
Hysaeda was staring hard into the fire. And when he took another handful of powder and threw it into the fire. As the color turned from red and to a deep purple, he snuffed it out with a douse of water. In the ashes of the fire, he pulled the crest and held it gingerly in hand.
"He was a necromancer. I cannot say his name, for I know it not. But he was indeed a necromancer, intent on overthrowing the power of the Royal Throne. But he failed and disgraced his house. He was torn to shreds, body parts separated into different corners of the kingdom. But he vowed his descendants would take revenge. None of this bodes well."
Once the fire was out she let go of Quinlan's hand, rising up on her knees to look at the crest.
What had she gotten herself into?
Some bad news, apparently.
It had just been a weird crest before that brought Daisy back to life now... Now it was some terrifying undestroyable magical device. Just what she needed.
A brief glance to Daisy who was in Quinlans lap and Adalia smiled a little at the cat - now on her back, all paws up in the air sound asleep.
"Great. I'll... I'll find someway to destroy it. Maybe with a hammer. Or..." Another flex of her hands and her shoulders fell, pressing her hands to her face and she gave a heavy sigh, "This is way more heavy than I thought it would be. I'm really good at getting myself wrapped up in other peoples stuff." Her hands pushed through her hair and Adalia let her head tilt back before she rolled her shoulders and stood up.
It would be easy to take Atras and just go home.
Right?
Money now was the furthest thing from his mind. For now anyway. Quinlan didn't like this any more than Adalia did. He looked up at her. "If it's worth anything, I'm sorry for breaking into your house," he said.
"Taking the crest back doesn't seem like the best option," Hysaeda explained. "But neither does delivering it to whomever paid you for your effort Quinlan. He will just as easily kill you and add you to his collection."
Quinlan didn't like that idea at all.
A snort and Adalia just looked down at him, an eyebrow raised.
Really?
"Now you're sorry. Of course. When it's ... " she waved a hand and closed her eyes, cutting herself off, " Is there any way to destroy it?" A sigh and she looked down at her hands. "You said if I destroyed it it may kill me too. Is that such a big deal? I mean..." A look at her horse then Quinlan, content with the cat, "Someone can take care of Atras and the world is one less evil artifact. Doesn't seem like such a big deal."
"Don't be stupid, Adalia!"
The man and elf both stared at each other in their shared echo.
But it was Quinlan who blurted out first. "Its bad enough for one stupid bastard to waste his life away. But you have stuff to live for. Don't say anything of that kind again!"
Hysaeda was still staring at him. Even smirking just a bit. As Adalia posed her question, that vanished into a frown. "Yes. But it won't be easy. You must protect yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually before the crest can be destroyed. I know of a ritual that can do just that. However, the magic must be freed from seal of the crest. I suggest giving the amulet to whomever you originally intended to deliver, Quinlan, allow them to break the seal. You'll have a small window of opportunity to destroy it then. I imagine the proprietor intends to succeed where his predecessor failed. The magic will enter whatever body it intends to resurrect. They will be vulnerable as they return to the flesh."
"It's not stupid."
She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest and turning away, glaring down at the ground. Stuff to live for. Like what? Adalia just remained quiet and gave a lingering glare to Quinlan. Hysaeda quickly took her attention though and her expression softened and she listened to him, looking contemplative.
That sounded...
Difficult.
"Alright." Looking down at her hands for a moment, "I don't know how to spiritually do anything so..." A long look at Quinlan, a frown before she turned to Hysaeda, "Who's going to do the ritual thing?"
"I can," Quinlan had started, but a sharp throat clearing from Hysaeda made him stop.
The dark elf stood. "I can do it. The kind of ritual for this capacity will require something more...concentrated." And cast the blood mage a dirty look. "You are a mage. I can tell. The scars on your hands are unusual though."
Quinlan consciously dug his thumb into his palm. "I'm a blood mage," he said. "I have experience with rituals. Even protective ones. I can help just as easily."
"Of that I have no doubt, but a buffoon could easily protect only himself and not his companions. I'd best come along just in case. I have no other current obligations."
Quinlan frowned deeply, scowling. Godballs, wouldn't this guy's cousin come back a little sooner?
Adalia's eyes widened and she stared at Hysaeda.
Green eyes wide, confusion, a look to Quinlan and then back to her former companion and then at Atras. Atras who was busy nose deep in some clover munching away and getting fat. "Did you both forget I'm a mage too?" A wiggle of her fingers, "Probably a little more mage-ie than the both of you."
Sort of.
Looking to Hysaeda she held out her hands to him, palms up, "If you need my help with anything, just let me know. I suppose that crest even still existing is probably partly my fault. That's been in my family for..." A shake of her head, "A long time."
Hysaeda nodded. "I'll trust you to take out that Necromancer, Adalia," he said to her. He remembered their first encounter well, and the treatment of him afterward. Exploding heads. He hoped she'd honed her skills well afterward. "As for you, blood mage I can teach you wards. I trust Adalia and her ability. I am not so sure about yours."
"Well, you better start trusting them since you've up and decided to invite yourself on this little venture," Quinlan grinned and winked at him. He looked to Adalia and then to her hands. "This is going to be fun."
Take out the necromancer.
Flexing her fingers she simply nodded.
That would mean killing.
Giving her lips a lick she looked between Quinlan and Hysaeda, feeling a little out of place between the two men. It was tempting to get on Atras and ride far far away. Maybe go home.
"I invited myself on this little venture too, Quin," She pointed out with a small smile, reaching out and giving his shoulder a squeeze, "Maybe it's a good thing you broke into my house. Imagine if someone actually dangerous came and stole it from me. Maybe I wouldn't even be alive." Which was a scary idea. Dead in her hallway with the thief having a new undead pet.
Carefully she folded her arms across her chest and looked between the pair, "What now? Three grown adults aren't going to fit onto my horse."
[Also Atras just pigging out is a hilarious image.]
Hysaeda was busy dusting out the fire, ensuring the ashes would not spread and burn anything else. And he looked up when Quinlan laughed.
"You're right, we can't. One of us is going to have to walk," he said, probably figuring it'd be him.
Hysaeda looked at them and then Garaduin who had been sleeping largely for the exchange. "You could always ride a dragon."
[He's a horse. That's how horses do!]
"What, we ride the dragon, get it to drop us off and... Walk back?" A brief glance over at Quinlan, knowing in her bones that once his little exchange was over with he'd be on his way again. Or rather, if he was still around after he got his money she'd be deeply surprised. Not in a bad way.
"Or.. Walk wherever?"
[A horse just....horsin' around.]
"It's faster than a horse. Although I do not believe Atras will take to flying again," Hysaeda said with a sigh, watching the horse lookin up at him from his eating. And munching very slowly.
Adalia bit her lip and looked at Hysaeda, half entertained her remembered Atras's experience with the dragon the first time. A long look at Atras while he munched and she frowned, staring. Indeed, she wanted to be done with this venture and go on with her life. Now that there was a weird cursed crest involved she wanted it to be finished with more. However, she didn't want to leave her friend behind.
There were predators.
He was getting old.
Taking a deep breath she looked to Hysaeda, "I don't think he would, either. Might die of a heart attack." Looking at Quin she tried to smile but she moved closer to the horse that simply lifted his head and nuzzled at her belly.
"If there was a town nearby I could just... Board him for a while." Gnawing on her lip she looked to where Iharu had gone, and sure it'd eat up the rest of her money but it was better than leaving Atras in the wilderness. Puffing out her cheeks she shook her head, "How about you two take the dragon and I'll ride the horse. I'm lighter. He can run faster with just me?"
"That might work. Iharu will not part with Garaduin," Hysaeda acknowledged, knowing his cousin would return any time now. He'd been gone a while, and selling skins wasn't a laborious task. What supplies he would trade it for would be taken back to their camp in the mountains. The hunting had been good.
"However, if he does not agree. I will walk," he smiled at Adalia, remembering back when that was his only choice when she'd bound him and had agreed to deliver him to the chopping block. "I like to walk, remember? I would not wish for you to part with your friend." Referring to Atras. He stared at her for a while. "I missed you, y'know. I did."
Quinlan got up, idly petting Daisy, and trying very hard not to listen to the exchange. He had the tact not to interrupt just yet.
Like to walk.
Adalia stared at Hysaeda for a few moments before a hot blush stained her cheeks and she ducked her head down. What a foolhearty girl she'd been. Though, the blush didn't help when he'd finally said he'd missed her. Or was it the horse? Swallowing carefully she scritched Atras's nose and looked away for Hysaeda, smiling slightly.
Though she couldn't understand why he'd miss her.
"Distance makes the heart grow fonder, huh?" She said, teasingly before dropping her hands to her sides. "I missed you, too. A lot more than I thought I would," Clearing her throat she looked down at the grass and rubbed her arm before she studied him, "So... I guess you don't care for blood mages?" She finally asked, looking to Quin before watching Hysaeda.
"I can say I don't care for fools and liars," he said, not casting a glance to Quinlan. "I don't him leading you into danger. But it seemed its a little too late for that. We've got to do, what we've got to do, as they say." He put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "How have you been...since...then?"
Since then.
Adalia couldn't bring herself to make eye contact.
But she put her hand on his on her shoulder and tried to smile all the same.
"I've been... Okay. Under a fancy house arrest. Father's trying to marry me off to keep me..." She pondered for a moment, trying to think of the right words, "Out of trouble." Adalia laughed and finally met his eyes, smiling and looking over to Atras.
"You can see how well that's going."
Licking her lips she moved her hand over her shoulder, playing with the ends. Remembering the awful hair cut he'd given her before. "And you? Have you been well? You look..." Clearing her throat she scuffed her boots into the ground, "You look good."
"Marry you off to keep you out of trouble? Why do I get the feeling that whoever you wed would have no luck of that? Serenians aren't known for their dominating personalities. Though I suppose there are exceptions," he said with a soft chuckle. He looked her over.
"I can see at least staying at home has put some meat on your bones. Eating a bit much are we?"
There were things that were going through her head. There had been a smile that was creeping along her face, but then the smile dropped and she looked down at herself, plucked at her shirt and just... Turned to stare at Hysaeda. Eyes wide.
"Excuse me?" Hands on her hips she just stared, "I say something nice to you and then you --!" Right. They fought like cats and dogs. Deep breath, Adalia. Calm.
Calm. Maybe not so calm.
"Yup. That's me! Been doing nothing but eating since I got home, now my tits aren't little bee stings. Lucky me, huh?" Self-consciously she crossed her arms over her chest, tucking her hands against her sides, ducked her head down to hide her face with her hair. There had been a moment when she wanted to excited tell her old friend that she'd learned to heal. How much easier their journey would have been if she'd been able to do that to begin with. How silly it had been of her to assume that just because she hadn't really tried before that she couldn't do it.
Hysaeda suddenly laughed and lunged forward hugging her to him. "Gods above its so good to see you again Adalia," he said, smiling. He released her and smiled, unable to help himself. "You haven't changed. In a good way. I was only kidding, friend. You look good. Beautiful as ever."
A small glare was set Hysaeda's way but she melted into the hug regardless.
It was strange seeing him again. Strange in a good way. Strange in the way it made her feel funny inside and she wasn't sure if it was guilt or relief. Guilt for what she'd done to him. Relief that he didn't hold a grudge. Sure they'd been long past the first meeting by the time they'd parted ways but that didn't mean she didn't still...
Adalia tucked some hair behind her ear and rubbed her arms, giving him a slow look up looking off to the side at the word beautiful. A quick glance down at her hands and she shuffled slightly before clearing her throat. "I didn't think you'd have cared about me enough to miss me that much," She teased, reaching forward to place a hand on his arm before she let it drop away.
"So... Have any fun adventures while I was trapped in my house?"
"After what we went through, how could I not? We had some hard times, but I'd like to say you were my friend. My only friend outside of my clan. I care for you a great deal. We do not take our companions lightly," he said, smiling.
He felt his own cheeks flushing and even cast a glance to Quinlan. "It seems your new friend has no taste for me," he said. "His glowering could set my hair aflame.
Quinlan knew they were talking about him and averted his gaze, turning it instead to the cat in his arms, and petting Daisy contentedly.
At the mention of Quin Adalia turned around to cast a glance at him, then back to Hysaeda. New friend. Was he really her friend? Wasn't she just a means to an end? Adalia rubbed at her chest for a moment, frowning down at the ground before she sudden to wrapped her arms around Hysaeda, giving him a brief kiss on the cheek before she pulled away and smiled.
"I need to talk to Quin, you do... Your thing. Keep your eye on Atras?" Another smile and the horse happily munching away before she gave Hysaeda a pat on the arm. Quickly enough she made her way over to Quinlan, arms crossed.
"Is something wrong?" Her voice was soft, concerned, looking down at Daisy and giving her gentle scritched. "You can trust Hysaeda, Quin. I know you're from Connlaoth and it's pretty human-only there but... He's a good guy." In fact for almost the whole exchange she'd been the bad guy. It pleased her that he'd missed her.
"Unless it's something else?"
"Okay," was all Hysaeda said and to combing through Atras' mane with his fingers. The horse nickered again, leaning into the dark elf's pets.
Quinlan tilted his head at Adalia. "I know," he said, dropping his head a bit and kicking a rock. "I'm sorry. It's um...just...I dunno. I can see history there. I know I'm not a great companion, but we still made it through in more than once piece. I dunno... I know you don't have much of a reason to trust me, but I ...I dunno."
"Of course there's history. I've known you for... What. A week or so?" Folding her arms across her chest she tilted her head at him, her voice lowering. A tilt of her head.
"Are you okay?" Worry drifted into her voice and she reached out to grab his shoulder, frowning slightly. "You're a fine companion... I just... You're gonna leave." She let her hands fall to her thighs, "when you get paid you're going to leave. I know that. You know that," Adalia smiled at him, looking perhaps a little confused.
A smirk drifted on her lips and she looked over her shoulder, "unless you're... Jealous?" A lift of her eyebrow and she eyed Quin, if he wasn't going to tell her the truth she'd go for the most far fetched thing until he told her.
Sure he was going to leave. He did know that. That was the problem. He draped Daisy's fat body over his neck like a scarf, and crossed his arms over his chest. He knew it and yet it still bothered him.
"Maybe," he said, looking down and kicking the rock with his boot. "Maybe I am a little jealous. It's stupid, and really please don't ask me to explain, because I don't know why. But I like you, I think you're all right. And we make a pretty good team."
He shrugged again and then looked at her squarely, wiggling his eyebrows teasingly at her.
Adalia sighed and let her head drop down, rubbing her hands together before she caught his wiggling eyebrows. "Quin, so... You're jealous," a tilt of her head, a gentle smile, "feeling a little possessive because we had sex?" Adalia reached forward and ran her thumb over his cheek, "so... We're a good team. What's that mean to you?" A brief glance over her shoulder and a tilted head, a sigh.
She was mocking him! Quinlan frowned and shook his head, frustrated. "I-I don't know," he said flatly and removed her hand from his face. "Looks like we've got Mr. Fancy Hair coming back through the trees again."
He pointed off toward Hyn-Iharu as he was emerging through to the clearing with traded supplies in hand and a sack of gold. At the three of them, he saw Hysaeda's expression and his own flickered.
"Where are we going this time?"
"Quin," Adalia started, looking down at her hand after he pushed it away.
Licking her lips she looked down but quickly her attention was taken by Hyn-Iharu and she looked over at him, looking between the pair. Where are we going this time. A brief glance at Quinlan and another look over her shoulder, frowning. "I don't know what to tell you to make you feel better. That crest is bigger than you and me." Her voice got small, "I thought you only cared about getting paid anyway. "
"Don't sweat it, Adalia," Quinlan said in a lax tone. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about me. I'm just having a moment. I, uh, haven't had one of my serums in a while. I'll just do that. I'll be fine." He smiled and pat her cheeks, squishing them together like a parent might a child, and went about pulling a serum from his belt, downing it quickly.
It felt like being doused by a bucket of icy water, but Quinlan shook it off nevertheless and looked to the mohawked Umbraeon. "We have a quest to set upon. Your cousin here suggested we might take your dragon to aid us in getting there faster."
Iharu grunted and looked to Hysaeda. His cousin nodded and gestured to the horse. "Not fit for all three of us." Although Garaduin wasn't that much bigger. He was a nimble dragon, smaller and made for speed. But he could carry three grown men without much of a hassle.
"You trust this stranger, Hysaeda?" Iharu asked flatly.
"No, but we can't drag him by his ankles now can we?"
Iharu laughed. "We could, but it wouldn't make for a pleasant going. Garaduin might piss on him."
Quinlan laughed, barking louder than the pair of dark elves. "Let's get going then, shall we?"
No denial about only caring about getting paid.
Adalia was surprised when she felt disappointed, though she let her face get smooshed and all she could do was nod, "Yeah. Alright."
Leaving him be when he took his serum thing, Adalia moved back to Atras, rubbing her fingers over his nose and looking to the trio before nodding.
"So should I just follow you guys on Atras?" Looking to the horse who was now poking at her shoulder with his nose, "Or get better directions and meet you there?"
It wasn't that he would've denied it. It wasn't that he would have accepted it. There was too much uncertainty between them for there to be anything more than acquaintanceship. Was that why it bothered Quinlan so much? It didn't make a difference in the long run, would it; she was right. He was going to leave, and be on his way. And they would both get on with their lives.
Iharu got upon the dagon, who regarded the three of them with curiosity, but said nothing. Quinlan waited for Hysaeda's direction, as he nodded to Adalia. "Follow us by horse. Garaduin will fly slow enough for you to keep up. You, blood mage, where are you meeting this man?"
"A town called Rat's End," he said.
"How fitting. I think I remember passing over it further east. It isn't far."
Adalia just stared after Quinlan for a while before she checked over Atras's gear, a quick run down, and she was on his back, petting the horses mane. A little guilty that Quin was going to have to travel with at least one person who instantly disliked him. Then again, so had she.
"Right, well... See you in a bit. Don't... Don't kill anyone." She tossed her hair over her shoulder before giving an order and Atras was off. East. When she'd see Garaduin she'd follow them. Poor Atras. Adalia rubbed at his neck, he could do it though.
They were off, blasting through the sky. Sort off. Since they had to keep up with the horse and vice versa, Garaduin glided along over the trees. Through the forests of the Serenian south, where the rivers ran wild and deep, a small dot could be seen between the canopies. Where they parted most, a waterwheel slowly turned on a farmstead, a house before it, and just down the river from there was Rat's End.
A squat village with little more than 20 homes at most. But they couldn't land in the village. A mile or so from the farmstead, the dragon touched down, and Quinlan was thankful at last for solid ground.
Wind whipped and a little out of breath, Adalia and Atras arrived not long after. The horse was foaming at the mouth and panting heavily when they finally saw the dragon on the ground. Good. Cheeks flushed, hair a tangled mess, when she spotted them she grinned brightly and slowed Atras down, letting the horse wind down from his run.
Finally when she got closer she hopped off the horse as graceful as could be before removing his bridle and leading the poor exhausted boy to the nearest source of water. Luckily there was a small creek through a few trees and Atras eagerly followed Adalia there before taking deep drinks.
"That's a good boy. You're amazing, Atras, I think we worked off all that weight you gained while you were sitting in the stables." Not that the horse had minded it. Adalia gave a quick glance around before she scratched Atras's flank, leaving the saddle and bags on before she returned to the group.
"Atras is toast for a while," She stated simply, looking around, arms folded, "He needs to rest and once he's done his drink I'm taking the gear off of him." Rubbing her cheeks with her hands, she gave a shiver and then stared down at the ground. "I'm glad to see everyone got along."
Iharu did not dismount, but Hysaeda and Quinlan did. He understood this was not his task. This was their quest - such as it was. Hysaeda could handle an Outlander better than he could. Dragonrider or not.
Quinlan smiled when he saw Adalia. "It's all right. We can rest for a bit before we venture onward. Or maybe Iharu here could stay and watch the horse."
"I think not," the other dark elf said resolutely. "This is yours to do, cousin. Be careful."
"I will," Hysaeda replied and watched as Iharu took to the skies once more.
Adalia returned the smile and shrugged, looking over her shoulder when a very tired Atras meandered back over to her, though, of course, he bypassed both her and Quinlan to press his nose against Hysaeda.
Apparently her furred companions preferred men's company over hers.
Typical.
"Traitor," She grumbled under her breath to Atras as he wandered past, though quickly she followed him, watching Iharu take to the skies and disappear. There was a moment where she just stared at Hysaeda, feeling a little odd that he was right there in front of her after all this time.
Quickly enough she removed his saddle, propping it up against a tree and taking a large amount of grass before brushing Atras down the best she could, staying quite the whole while.
"How did Daisy take to flying?" She said, to Quinlan, smirking, while Atras tried to eat various bits of Hysaeda's clothing.
"I- uh-....I dropped her," Quinlan said, staring wide-eyed to Adalia. Hysaeda turned abruptly at that statement, staring at Quinlan, not believing what he just heard.
It wasn't true of course, and there was a soft meow coming from inside Atras' saddlebags. And soon Daisy popped out and started to purr, rubbing eagerly against Adalia's legs.
"You what?!"
Shock and horror rang in her voice though that quickly turned into confusion when she heard the meow and felt the cat at her feet.
"Oh." Bending down Adalia scooped the cat up into her arms and staring at Quinlan for a moment, a little confused. Then she froze and turned to Hysaeda, "That crest brought Daisy back to life. Will..." Adalia chewed on her lip, petting the cuddly cat, "Will she die again when it gets destroyed?"
She seriously thought he would drop a cat just like that? Oh he wasn't that cold.
Quinlan shook his head, having stuffed the cat in Atras's saddlebags before take off. Hysaeda didn't linger on the matter thankfully. "It is almost a certainty. But I cannot say for sure," Hysaeda said and reached across to pet the kitty.
But Daisy wasn't having any of that, and hissed at the elf.
"Daisy..." Adalia frowned slightly, looking down at the cat before she brought her over to Quin, carefully draping the patchy girl over her shoulder. "I guess she's a one man kind of gal," Adalia quipped watching Daisy get comfortable, draped as she was.
"Well... Quin will give her lots of cuddles, right Quin?" Adalia grinned at him, eyebrows high on her forehead before she turned back to Hysaeda, scuffin her boots at the ground. "Do we set up camp or go ahead?" She finally asked, looking between the two.
"I'll cuddle her so hard." Quinlan chuckled as he took the kitty and took her off toward the saddlebags. There he ripped jerky and gave some to the dead cat.
"We can make camp. And prepare the ritual then," Hysaeda said with a sigh. "Just like old times, huh?"
Quinlan glanced back at them and moved to help Adalia. "So how exactly did you guys meet?"
Adalia cast a glance at Quinlan and then to Hysaeda, her cheeks heating up before she cleared her throat and looked down.
"I kicked him in the head and dragged him to Arca to throw him into jail because I thought he was a bandit." Adalia went about setting up camp, quickly, though Atras bumbled along behind her, "we didn't get along very well for a while." A brief glance to Hysaeda, "no weird mushrooms this time, hmm?"
Hysaeda nodded to Quinlan. "And now we are old friends. We stuck together through one ordeal after another. Are you...are you still a Mage Knight, Adalia? I never knew what happened after you came home."
Quinlan looked over at Hysaeda's head. It did look a little lumpy.
"Technically," Adalia rubbed her arms before she unpacked the bedrolls she'd purchased for herself and Quinlan, tossing him his and laying hers out on the ground before she at on it. Quickly enough she began to finger comb the tangles from her hair, giving Hysaeda a brief look. It had grown quite long since she'd last seen him and she brushed her bangs from her face.
"Only reason I wasn't thrown into jail when I got home was because of my cousin," Adalia smirked slightly before she looked somewhere else. " It wasn't house arrest, not really, but it might as well have been. Guard duty." A sneer, " In the evening, sometimes over night." she shrugged, "I took to reading books, since I wasn't actually allowed to leave."
A quick glance to Hysaeda before she let her head drop down, "I think going home was the worst choice I could have made. Should have pretended to be dead."
Hysaeda nodded to her and let his expression draw in. "I suppose it's better than actually being dead. Although, I could summon your spirit to talk with me from time to time. But necromancy is better left to foolish blokes like the intended owner of that amulet."
Quinlan watched the exchange and found himself grinning. "So, what are you exactly, Hysaeda?" he asked. "Are you a mage too?"
"I...I am a mage and more. I know the magic of my tribe. There I would be called Ankuman. We are warrior priests, and we know many spells, rituals, and incantations for times such as these, although our primary strengths are diviniation and mysticism."
Quinlan nodded and looked to Daisy. "You think you can keep the cat alive after we destroy the crest? She's a real sweetie pie if you get to know her."
It was oddly touching that he'd think to call her spirit to him for a chat. Though, what exactly they had to talk about was beyond her. Still, Adalia find herself smiling at the idea and quickly enough went about gather branches and sticks to start a fire. Setting it up within hearing range and giving a little tilt of her head when Quinlan asked if he could keep Daisy alive.
A saddened glance to Quin and Adalia left the sticks to move closer to Quin and look at Daisy.
"Quin. Daisy is old. She was seventeen when she died the first time." Adalia reached out a hand to scratch at the kitty and her strange bald spots, giving her scritches while the cat purred and snuggled closer to Quinlan. "Even if Hysaeda could keep her alive when the crest is destroyed..." Frowning down at the cat, she looked to Atras, and then finally at Hysaeda. "You're going to have to watch her die anyway. Like I did."
"You speak as if I've never seen anyone die before, Adalia. I know what it's like. But maybe you're right. It's best just to appreciate your time with a friend while you have it. You may not get a second chance, you may not even know how to appreciate your first chance." Quinlan cuddled the cat and even gave her kisses on the head. "I didn't think I'd ever fall so deep for a dead cat. But honestly, Daisy, you're a gem."
Adalia watched Quinlan snuggle Daisy and she just grinned at him.
"When she's gone," Adalia gave a confused look and paused, "Again." Clearing her throat she reached forward and scratched at Daisy's head, right between the ears where she'd been kissed.
"What do you want to do with her? I'm not getting her stuffed again. I didn't even want to get her stuffed my parents are weird and wanted to commemorate my first pet." A shudder and she looked at the very much alive dead cat. At least - though Adalia hadn't foreseen this at all in any way shape or form - getting Daisy stuffed had a silver lining.
She got to go on a pretty cool adventure.
"Well, it's safe to say your parents are weird and should let you make your own decisions. Never the less, Daisy is just a cool girl to hang around. Look, she's even got pretty eyes, even if they are a little glossed over. Sure she's missing patches, but who isn't. She might be coughing up stuffing, but she still purrs and likes to cuddle. She's great. If she were human, we'd be great pals and have deep philosophical conversations," Quinlan mused, petting the cat and scritching under her chin.
Hysaeda smiled at the pair, and how much the blood mage seemed to dote on a dead cat. "I don't know if I can keep her alive, but who knows... I don't think I've ever had to destroy a necromantic crest before. At least she's a good companion while she's alive."
Quinlan smiled, even at the elf. "Thanks...uh, Hysaeda," he murmured and went back to petting the cat. "So when does this ritual begin?"
Hysaeda went about pulling things from his own satchel. "I will let you know. Proper preparation, as we know, takes time."
Adalia grinned at how much Quinlan seemed to like the cat and she looked back to Hysaeda before she wandered back over to stand closer to him, watching him going about pulling things from his satchel.
"Do you need help with anything while Quinlan loves Daisy?" A brief glance over her shoulder to the man and the cat, "I think he's in love."
"If it's any consolation, they make a lovely couple," Hysaeda said with a smirk. He looked Adalia over, the smirk still playing on his lips. "You slept together."
It felt like her heart stopped. Was it that obvious? The blush that climbed up her neck while she stared at Hysaeda was telling enough but she stared at him all the same. "Daisy and I?" Adalia smiled and cleared her throat, looking away. "Of course, she's a cat."
"You and the Red Head. You had sexual intercourse. You just...have a glow to you," Hysaeda chuckled, delighting in her blush.
Adalia blushed hotly looking down at her hands and then back at Hysaeda, staring down at the ground before she gently chewed on her lip. "A glow?" She frowned, looking at Quin for a moment before turning back to Hysaeda, "It was..." She shrugged, "A one time thing." Her hand went to her arm and she rubbed at the skin, staring down at her fingers, "A glow. That's not a real thing is it?" She lifted her arm to her face, "I don't smell, do I?"
Hysaeda laughed. "No, you don't smell," he said. "Although you do look more relaxed than when first we met."
He walked by her a little, and sniffed. "Twice no less? You get 'em Adalia."
Adalia just stared at him for a few moments. "I don't understand what you're trying to get at." Still, her cheeks were bright with colour and she looked down and away. Still when he gave a sniff she opened her mouth in shock, "what?! You just said...!" Looking down at herself, still flushed, Adalia pushed her hair behind her ear and stared down at the ground.
"I have to go," were her quiet words before she brushed past Hysaeda, not going towards Quin but towards the trees.
Hysaeda reached out and grabbed her arm. "Adalia don't go. I was just kidding. Please stay and help me. There is much to be done if I'm to aid the pair of you from total annihilation," he said. He smiled sweetly. "I missed you as all. I thought you could take some light teasing. But I apologize if I hurt your feeling. Please, don't leave."
"It's embarrassing," Adaloa said quietly, head down. The blush still on her cheeks. A sly glare to Hysaeda and she glared at him before poking out her tongue at him. Then in a flurry of movement she wrapped her arms around his middle, tucking her face against his shoulder. "I missed you. I missed you so much."
Hysaeda chuckled and returned the embrace. "Gotta admit, never thought I'd hear that," he murmured, laying his head on her shoulder. "I was certain you'd probably forgot about me. I couldn't forget you. How could I forget a friend?"
He leaned back to look at her, smiling, and pushing her hair from her face. "You look wiser, if it's any consolation. And before you pout, no I don't mean old."
"Forget...?" Adalia just stared at him for a few moments, looking shocked if anything. "Why would you think I forgot you? I thought about you nearly every day." There were more words to bubble up, but she stopped herself before they became embarrassing. Chewing on her lip she caught his hand after he pushed her hair away and held it to her cheek, closing her eyes and sighing, enjoying the warmth of his palm.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Gently she chewed on her lower lip, "I learned how to use my magic to heal. I ... You installed a really bad case of wanderlust in me... Being able to heal seemed like a good skill to have. Though I'm not very good at it."
He caressed her face for a time. "Thank you. For thinking of me," he said. "A lot happened when I came back. There wasn't much left to return to. It would have been easier to leave, but I never take the easy route it seems. We built and made it home. More home than it had ever been before." He laughed and pressed his forehead against hers.
"You guys really make a show of it don'tcha," Quinlan observed.
"We are old friends," Hysaeda said, chuckling and patting Adalia on the shoulder. "One that I'm glad to see again."
"You jealous?" Adalia quipped, eyebrow raised while she looked over at Quinlan. Adalia opened her arms, "want a hug?"
Quinlan uttered a brilliant sob. "Oh Adalia! Please! Hug me! I was never loved as a child!" Quinlan crawled onto his knees andwrapped arms around her legs.
"Uh...." Adalia cleared her throat, tilting her head and running her fingers through his hair. "While I'd totally believe that... Are you okay?" She crouched down until she was on her knees, catching his face I her hands. "You feeling weird?"
Quinlan chuckled before he stood, patting himself off, and grabbing her hands, holding them gingerly against his chest. "I'm completely okay," he said, half-truthing it but figuring he'd give it a shot anyway. "The question is, when do we get this ritual underway. Or is it just going to be some long-drawn out reuinion?"
Hysaeda grinned, sobering. "Fine. You're right. We can't stand around saying how much we missed each other can we?"
"Well, we could, but then the buzzards would be upon us, wouldn't they?" Quinlan observed, squeezing Adalia's hands.
Oh.
Right. A ritual.
Adalia blushed brightly, hands slowly going lax in Quinlans before she looked down at the ground embarrassed. She'd been so excited to see Hysaeda she'd completely forgotten all about the necromancer. About everything. Simply because she'd missed a friend.
"I suppose we can't," She confirmed, looking to Hysaeda and then Quinlan, squeezing his hands in turn before she gentle chewed on her lip and looked away.
"Alright. What do we do to start?"
"Now would probably be appropriate," Hysaeda said, and instructed them to stand evenly apart as he threw a small orb into thefire. Hysaeda stripped of his upper robe and Quinlan made a whoa sound, looking over to Adalia away from the ripped dark elf.
The smoke around them swirled, a vague blue that twisted around them as Hysaeda chanted words in Sevic. Quinlan tried to focus then, breathing in the scents of jasmine and sage and the ash of bone marrow. It was then that Hysaeda began to dance, moving around the pair in primal movement, one that combined fighting with magic.
When Hysaeda removed his top-part Adalia stared openly. Had he always looked like that? When Quinlan made his little noise her eyes snapped to him and she just blushed before ducking her head down, hair slipping from her shoulders to hang to her waist. Still, her attention was grabbed again by the ritual and she watched him, enchanted. Not by the fleshy body-bits - even if it was nice to look at - but by the ritual.
All of it.
It occurred to her then that she'd only known Hysaeda the Angry Prisoner and Hysaeda the Angry Outcast. Adalia licked her lips after a moment, closing her eyes against the smoke, head down. He hadn't told her to do anything so she simply stood, glancing up briefly to watch.
He hadn't instructed them to do anything because all his instruction went into the smoke as it surrounded them. It took form and towered before them, the armored form of a warrior elf, one that appeared much like Hysaeda. It bore a staff and waved it about the pair, and when the staff was risen high, the smokey figure struck Adalia with the staff, piercing through her in a blow that would feel like burning ice. And did the same with Quinlan.
The blood mage cried out, stumbling backwards and clutching his chest, feeling the ice itching its way through his chest. He gasped for breath and watched as the smokey figure dissipate. "What did you do to me!?" he panted, breath wheezing.
Hysaeda was breathing heavily, covered in the ash of that fire as it still burned around them. "Called for a blessing from my ancestors. Protection. Was that not the idea?"
"That...that fucking hurt!"
When Adalia looked back up, she was mesmerized. The smoke figure took her breath away and she stared. Stared until it literally took her breath away and she clutched the spot it struck and fell to her knees, trying to catch her breath. Goosebumps and pain. A slightly betrayed look to Hysaeda but pain was a sensation she was used to so quickly enough she recovered.
"Protection? Smoke-you is going to protect us?" A confused little frown.
"That was not me. That was my father," Hysaeda corrected, tone deep and grim. Quinlan frowned, looking at the ground as he stood and dusted himself off.
The pain, if anything, just made his nipples hard. But the night was also proving cold as well. And soon Hysaeda spoke the thought on his mind.
"We should rest for the evening. I will watch over us for now. You two, sleep. You'll need it."
A look at where the smoke figure had been and another glance at Hysaeda. A gentle frown, "Hysaeda," a pale hand reached out and Adalia took a few steps closer before she placed it on his arm and gave it a squeeze. "You can rest, I'm sure that took a lot out of you."
Hysaeda smiled and touched that gentle hand, once he now noticed wasn't gloved. He remembered when she covered up her hand, when she was ashamed of them. Was she still? He supposed it wasn't his place to ask.
"No it's all right," he said, patting her scarred hands. He looked them over in his, turning her palm up. "You're not wearing your gloves."
Fingers curled up and she bit her lip lightly, fingers curling in his. Adalia blinked at her palms and gave a little nod before she cleared her throat, "I forgot them when Quinlan stole my stuff," The last part and she stared at her grotesque hand. Frowning at it. It was easy to forget how ... Not pretty they were and she tried to smile.
" I learned how to heal," She said simply, running her fingers over her smooth palm, "So they haven't gotten much worse."
"I'm proud of you," Hysaeda said, smiling. "I knew you could do more than chain up elves caught in the wrong place at the wrong time." He winked at her, hands gently squeezing around hers, feeling along the bumps and recesses of the scars on her hands.
"I never thought they were ugly. You know that."
A playful backhanded smack to his chest with her free hand and she smiled at him. "I know. I remember." The feeling was barely there, so much scar tissue, but the warmth of his hands and just the feel of his hand on hers had her shiver slightly. "What are you doing all the way out here, anyway?"
He laughed and made a soft 'ow' sound at the smack on his chest. Hysaeda squeezed her hand gently. "You remember I was a hunter? I guess I like to be out and about in nature every once in a while. The tribe is strong. We rebuilt after my father's death. They don't need me all the time. I feel closer to earth when I'm out here."
He gestured to Quinlan. "i can only guess he's the reason you're out here."
Adalia gave Hysaeda a sad look at the mention of his fathers death. Though she didn't know if his father had been dead this whole time. The squeeze of her hand was returned and she gave him a once over after giving a little nod. He was a hunter. She remembered that. "He..." Adalia huffed out a breath and nodded, though it was hesitant.
"It was a good excuse. I'd... I'd had a bag of stuff ready in Atras's stall for weeks." She gave a weary smile, "I was just never brave enough to leave." Adalia ducked her head down and stared at the ground, "And I don't think I'll go back when this is done."
It was okay. She didn't have to add anything else. Hysaeda was just happy to see his old friend again. He looked down at the palm that resided before him and gently put his cheek against it.
"Where will you go?" he asked. He took her hand from his cheek and spread his hand out against her palm instead. "What will you do?"
It took a lot of self control not to guide him down and kiss him when he had her hand on his cheek. Adalia just stared at him, trying to remember his features. Instead when he pressed their palms together she threaded her fingers and she moved closer, catching his hand and pressing it to her abdomen in a sort of hug.
"I don't know," she smiled, looking up through her pale opal hair. "I guess that's part of the fun, right? I mean... The worst that can happen is I have no money and starve." She gave a shrug and moved closer to Hysaeda still, resting her cheek against his chest. "Maybe I'll find a group to go adventuring with."
"The albino swords woman with bone-crunching magic, and weird hands," Hysaeda said, nodding and picking dirt and grass and other such nonsense from her scalp. "It has a nice ring to it. Although it's a bit long."
Adalia wrinkled her nose, glaring at him with a smirk on her lips, "I am not albino." Another light whap of her hand against his chest and she watched him pick strange things from her hair. A lick of her lips and she looked up at him, casting a brief glance away before taking a breath. "Are you sure you don't want to rest? I can keep first watch."
"I'm sure," he nodded to her. "Go rest with Quinlan. He looks like he wants to cuddle. It'll be a cold night. Sleep next the fire if you can."
He smiled at her and squished her face between his hands before gently cupping her face. Lips gently caressed her forehead. He released her and looked out into the dark.
Swallowing quickly Adalia caught Hysaeda's wrist and stared at his collarbone, not quite brave enough to watch his face. "What if I want to cuddle with you?" The words were soft and barely audible, little more than a whisper, she cast a glance up briefly before looking down again.
"With me?" Hysaeda replied. A playful smirk spread across his face. "I'm all sweaty and I smell like ash."
Adalia wrinkled her nose and smiled ever so slightly, "you've never smelled like flowers, Hysaeda. Ash is a step up, actually."
"You're making a nice case for yourself," Hysaeda said, making raspberries. "Maybe I don't want to cuddle with you so much anymore."
"I..." Adalia went several shades of red, even the tips of her ears poking through her hair practically glowed with her blush. "I... I'm sorry. I wasn't..." A brief forced smile and she gave his arm a pat before turning away, "get some rest when you can."
"I thought we were just playing too. No matter. Good.night," he said, watching her leave.
Well. Just playing. Adalia had never been one to be bold but the hot wash of shame that pushed through her gut meant it couldn't really get any worse. Right? Right. Deep breath. Adalia turned back around, and puffed out her cheeks. "I'm going to do something I'll probably be super embarrassed about," she declared. Then she pounced on Hysaeda, pressed her lips to his and after a moment or two let go, taking a few steps away. There. That was out of the way and instead of feeling bad she mostly just felt accomplished. Achieving a day dream. A bright grin and she gave a little wave, "okay, good night."
Hysaeda fell back on his elbows, staring at Adalia as she walked away. There were no words. Though maybe that was bound to happen when a woman like Adalia had been holding that back for all those years. He just smiled and rolled back up into a seated position.
Quinlan smirked, eying Adalia as she came toward him.
Adalia looked at Quinlan and frowned at his smirk. She'd forgotten about him. A wrinkle of her nose and she sat beside the fire, looking back at Quinlan and sticking her tongue out at him. "What?"
He shrugged a little and his smirk turned softly. "That was a juicy kiss," he said. He didn't mind. "It's all right. You two must have quite a history, huh?"
Adalia shrugged, eyeing Quinlan "It's all right?" She tilted her head, "I didn't know I had to ask you if I could give people juicy kisses."
"No, I just... I can tell you two have a thing," Quinlan said, smirking and shook his head. "It's nice. You have a glow about you."
Adalia frowned slightly, going more red at the mention of a 'glow'. "It's a blush. Because he isn't interested in me. So I kissed him anyway." she stuck her tongue out at Quinlan before she laid down on her side beside the fire and squeezed her eyes shut.
She could very well think it was the end of it.
But Quinlan didn't quit so easily. "Why do you think he wouldn't be interested?" He laid down beside her. "You have a lot to offer a man."
Adalia gave Quinlan the oddest look over her shoulder and blinked at him, resting up on her elbow and just giving him a surprised half laugh. "I'm... Are you trying to give me relationship advice? I mean. I know I'm not exactly experienced but..." she just stared, lips pursed, tilting her head and pushing her hair behind her ear. "Quinlan, I have nothing to offer anyone," She laid back down, knees drawn up and head resting on her bent arm.
"Hey, look neither am I. I'll probably die before I ever get the chance to settle down if I ever get around to it, but I know a decent person when I see one. You've got bajangos to offer any man smart enough to wisk you away," he murmured. "You discount yourself so quickly but damn your good inside. You saved me especially when I didn't deserve it. You're a damn good fighter, you're tough, and you're beautiful. I'm sorry you don't see it. But a lot of people do, and don't think I haven't noticed those heads turning."
He scooted closer to her. "Physicality alone, I bet you could bounce coins off that booty."
Bajangos?
Adalia gave Quinlan an odd look and sat up again, just... Staring at him. "Quinlan," she gave him a little nudge, "Do you like me?" Pulling her knees to her chin she just gave him a strange look, "You've just given me a lot of compliments about how great I am." Another laugh and she shook her head, "He's like a hundred years old, I'm nothing new. Just very, very pale." she wiggled her fingers at him before looking at them and tucking them back between her knees, though she gave Quin a long look. "I'm going to take the coin thing as a compliment."
"Yes I like you. I'm not this chummy with just anybody," he murmured. He poked her leg. "You're hot stuff. Trust me on that, all right? I'm not just saying that to get in your pants either. We did that already. Twice." The last word was a whisper.
"Bajangos," and winked at her.
Adalia glared. And after he winked at her she firmly put her palm over his mouth and just glared some more. It was a good natured glare. Or as good natured as a glare could be and she just laid down again. "Get some sleep, Quinlan." She patted behind her before she gave him a long look, "Unless you want to be the little spoon."
"I don't mind. You could little spoon me all.night," Quinlan.said scooting in.behind her. He put an arm around her waist to seal in the heat between them. "I meant it though. I do like you Adalia. You're a swell friend. I don't have any of those."
Adalia got comfortable against Quinlan, tucking his arm against her stomach and curling in just a little bit more. Swell friend. Adalia gave a sleepy chuckle, "you're just saying that because we had sex."
"True. But I only spoon people I like," he sniffed, and closed his eyes. He fell asleep quickly a warmth spreading through him.
Hysaeda watched the pair a moment. No he did not have to sleep, but they did to face the long road ahead.
Adalia gave an affermative little hum and quickly fell asleep as well, finding herself oddly comfortable with Quinlan smooshed against her back. The sleep was deep and the little sounds didn't wake her up like they normally would.
When morning came it was Hysaeda who awoke them. He gave Adalia's shoulder a nudge. "We should get moving as soon as possible. The blessing will only last so long." Another nudge to Quinlan's shoulder. "Do you remember where you were supposed to meet your contact?"
Quinlan stirred with a groan and he rolled up into a sitting position. "What? No coffee? No breakfast? Tough service out here. Yeah, yeah, I remember." And rubbed the crusties from his eyes.
Adalia sat up quickly, staring ahead though not seeing. Her hand went to her face and she rolled her shoulders, getting up quickly and for a few moments she forgot where she was. How long it had been and she gave a start when Quinlan spoke.
Right.
It'd been years.
Standing up quickly she stretched, arms above her head, back arched. "Right. stuff to do," She rubbed her chest, where that burning cold had been and she gave Hysaeda a look, "So... What is it protection from?"
"Protection from the magics of that necromantic amulet, and of any further corruption it may spread," Hysaeda explained gently. He reached for Adalia's hand, helping her to her feet. Quinlan stumbled a little himself, and wandered over to Atras, fixing the horse's saddle.
The cat mewed, weaving between Adalia's legs.
Corruption it may spread.
Adalia rubbed at her chest, taking the hand and letting herself be helped up before she pushed a hand through her hair and nodded slowly. Right. Necromancy. Never really led to good things. Adalia looked down at Daisy before she knelt down and scooped the cat up into her arms, running her fingers through the fur. "I'm just the tag along," She smirked to Quin, eyeing him when he fixed Atras's saddle, giving Hysaeda a look and Daisy set herself up on Adalias shoulder, perched as she was to keep watch.
"Okay, I'm ready when everyone else is."
Quinlan mounted Atras and waited for Adalia. He exercised the horse around a bit, keeping his gaze averted.
Hysaeda grabbed Adalia by the hand. "Last night," he said, smiling at her. "Why did you kiss me? Like that?"
A quick glance to Quinlan and Adalia looked back to Hysaeda, blushing brightly. "Be... Uh... Because I wanted to," she nodded, giving him a level look. "I..." She crossed her arms over her chest and briefly glanced away, "you don't look angry about it."
Hysaeda stepped in and smiled. "I'm not," he said. He cupped her face between his hands and rubbed his thumbs underneath her eyes. "I'd ask why you didn't do it sooner, but I guess the question would be kind of moot." Hysaeda did kiss her, lighter than her liplock had been and deepened with exploratory pressure.
Adalia pressed into the kiss, leaning against Hysaeda and gently resting her hands in his shoulders. Drawing away, she stared up at him, blinking and tilting her head, "why didn't you do that sooner?"
"Does that really matter now?" Hysaeda murmured, leaning to kiss her again.
It did. A little bit. The littlest little bit. Then he leaned in again and it didn't matter anymore, "I missed you." She whispered against his lips before leaning in again for more kisses. Quite forgetting where she was or what she had been intending on doing.
The kisses were sweet, between them and only them and Quinlan thought of Zahi and how his words were met with gripes of how he talked too much. He wondered where she was and what she was doing right now. He'd never see her again, of course,but if he did shshe'd probably bristle and punch him. That was how his lovely reunions went.
Hysaeda rested his forehead against Adalia's and smiled. "We have a necromancer to kill don't we?"
Right.
Necromancer.
Adalia cast a glance towards Quinlan, going several shades of red in the process before she stole a quick peck on the lips from Hysaeda. Rolling her shoulders, she popped her knuckles and gave a nod. Taking a step back she wrinkled her nose and looked to Quinlan on Atras. "Alright," she pulled herself up behind him and curled her arms around Quinlans waist, Daisy jumping up to curl in between them, "lead the way, I guess."
Hysaeda followed behind them as they headed swiftly through the trees. The dark elf had always been one with the forest, and had known these words like the distant memory they were. He was content here and would do what he could to stop anything that threatened this place.
Quinlan was quiet, expression thoughtful as they rode to the meeting point, it would be some distance away. They would arrive by nightfall.
"Are you just selling it?" She questioned, "Or... Did you sell other things?" Adalia gave his side a rub to indicate 'other things'. Meaning his body.
"Just selling the crest," Quinlan said, turning to look back at her. "Concerned that I would even do such a thing?"
Adalia smiled and gave his bicep a squeeze, "More concerned that maybe they'd make use of your body parts." A brief glance at him and she pressed her cheek to his shoulder, "Thanks. I don't think I'd have ever left home again if you hadn't come by and tried to rob me blind." Leaning forward slightly she smiled at him again, "I got your back."
It was a rather.unexpected turn of events. One that made Quinlan smile. He pat her hand.
"I don't give anything away for free, Adalia." Quinlan chuckled. "And I've got your front. Evidently."
A purse of her lips, if he didn't give anything away for free then what was the price she'd have to pay? Adalia smiled at his terrible joke and pursed her lips, "So, they're expecting you to be alone." A pause, "I can hop off of Atras when we get closer, we can... I Dunno. Ambush you guys later and give you a clean slate to collect money on."
Actually it was more a sound plan than Quinlan had. Which was just hand the amulet over, kick the guy in the nuts and take his money. He gave her a considerate pat on the hand. "Just stay low and slow. If shit hits the bricks, and it will, I'll be counting on you. I've seen what you can, and I'd hate to be the one to piss you off." He smirked and turned enough to peck her.cheek.
"It'll be fine! And I'll have enough to buy beers for myself for a change."
Adalia wasn't sure if it was a compliment but she blushed prettily at the peck on her cheek and gave Quinlan an amused look. "Surely you owe me a beer," she teased before moving Daisy around into Quinlans lap. "Okay, just let me know when I gotta tag along, hmm?"
"Well, we still got a ways to go," Quinlan said, looked back at her and petting Daisy between them. "So it's pretty clear you've got a thing with our guide here. So you love him or something? Just curious."
The question caught her off guard and Adalia just stared at Quinlan, wide-eyed. Thrown off. The blush that climbed up her neck was bright and she pressed her forehead to his shoulder. "I..." Adalia cleared her throat, "yes." Not that it was Quins business, "I do. I probably shouldn't but..." Adalia shrugged her shoulders, "can't really help it."
"Oh, shit," Quinlan said, "This is serious, then. Why don't you tell him that? I mean, a big wet kiss certainly sends a powerful message, but words resonate just the same. My two cents anyway." He shrugged, feeling her shoulder into his back. "He save your life or something?"
Adalia blushed hotly, staring down at the space between them before she squeezed her eyes shut. "Sort of," She chose to ignore the whole 'say something' suggestion. That was a silly idea. Hysaeda was going to help them out and then go back to his clan or something. Quinlan would take off with his money and Adalia would be alone with Atras. It seemed lack luster and like the least wanted of all the options but it was the most likely.
The one she was expecting.
"I would have hid in the library and let you steal whatever it was you were after if I hadn't met him," she smiled and let out a sigh, "Whatever we had is in the past," She continued, giving Quinlans arm a squeeze, "Whatever I feel now doesn't matter, He's going to help us out and everyone will be on their way with their lives when this is over."
"Not everyone. It isn't as easy and simple as all that," Quinlan said, turning to look at her. "He wouldn't have helped us if you hadn't been here. He wouldn't have even met with us at all. You matter not only in this endeavor, but to him, clearly. He's your friend, and you're his, and even if that's all it amounts to, that's still more than I have. Follow him. If you're not going to go home, go with him. And even if you don't, you can make your own way in the world, Adalia. He cares about you. That kind of thing doesn't just go away."
"Quin..." Adalia frowned at him before giving him a good natured flat handed hit on the arm, "you're more of a romantic than I pegged you for." The slightest of smiles was on her face and she closed her eyes for a moment. Adalia tucked her hair behind her ears and sighed. "I'll be your friend," it was a reassuring squeeze to his arm, " if you ever need me and I can help you in some way. I'll do my best," Adalia tried to smile but she just rubbed at her mouth. Awkward.
Quinlan laughed and rubbed the spot where she hit his arm. "Okay, fine don't take my advice. But if I ever need back up, I'll come staggering into your life once more."
Night soon began to fall and as the village of Rat's End grew closer a terrible feeling sunk into Quinlan's gut and the Crest started to twitch against his skin. Atras chuffed uncomfortably. As they entered town, man's form in a chair on a porch nearest them caught his attention.
Quinlan dismounted and watched as the man's head rolled off his shoulders. "Well, a fine reception," Quinlan huffed.
Tucked up against Quinlans back she schooled her features from cool disinterest to disgust and fear when the head went rolling. Things should have been planned better Adalia mused, arms tightening around Quinlans middle, she blinked widely at him, doing her best to look innocent and afraid. "Babe, this doesn't look like a friendly town," she whimpered, tugging on his coat, "let's turn around? Please? We can sell grand-daddy's crest to someone else."
"Just take Atras and hide somewhere," Quinlan said to them. "I'll venture off alone." But he had the weight of dread telling him that they were very much not alone, despite the seeming emptiness of the village. For it was not entirely free of dwelling. Bodies littered the mud and dirt, hewn grotesquely into pieces.
"Umbra's bones," Hysaeda breathed, viewing the display from afar even as he walked alongside Atras, staying along the brush.
A slow nod and she made a face, slipping off of Atras and holding the horses reins. Not going forward while Quinlan did. A flex of her fingers and a cautious look around she rubbed the horses neck. After hearing Hysaeda's hushed words she continued on and pressed a kiss to the horses cheek, tying the reins to a low branch and giving his neck a scratch.
Then she slipped into the bushes, pressing a hand to Hysaeda's back and rubbing gently before she bit her lip and stayed beside him. Frowning slightly, worried. The sights would haunt her dreams forever - she knew that - but now she was worried for Quinlan too and Adalia found that she didn't really like being worried for someone.
"Did you bring the Crest?" a voice called out.
Quinlan rolled his eyes. Of course it had to be a mysterious voice that would project outward into a vain effort to remain anonymous. He inwardly sighed and nodded. "Yeah! Got it right here! If you want it though, you gotta show me the gold. Pay up, or it's gone, pal. I don't have all day," he said with huff, holding his hands behind his back and avoiding looking at the bodies that piled all around them.
"Be patient. I'll be there shortly," the voice got louder as it drew nearer to where he was. And from behind a building appeared a woman dressed in drab robes. She aged well for her appearance, or so was Quinlan's guess. Her eyes were an unearthly green, almost glowing in the shade from where she stood, hair cascading down like the white of a waterfall.
He held his breath. "Where's my money?"
"Show me the amulet first."
He held up where it was contained and gave it an enticing little shake. "Here here. Now, pay up. I'm starting to lose my patience."
The woman's expression turned into a smirk. She gave a soft laugh and she soon flicked her wrist. A red energy projected from her, darting for Quinlan's throat and grabbing him hard, lifting him clear off his feet and making him drop the crest to the ground. Quinlan gagged, his cry coming out strangled and weak.
Anger in her veins.
Adalia let out a startled little gasp and frantically searched for her sword, strapped to Atras's saddle. A soft hiss and it was in her hand and she glared at the blade, hand tight around the handle before she marched from the bushes and with the heated blade rushed the strange woman with a battle cry. If anyone was going to kill Quinlan it was her.
As the grip tightened around his neck and the cry of Adalia met his ringing ears, the groan of the dead around them grew louder. The bodies began to move and rise from their bloodied piles. Quinlan fumbled with the bandage around his hand, wrenching it off and summoning the blood from his wound. Icicles shot out at the necromage, and when a spike met the meat of her thigh, he collapsed to the ground, grasping for breath.
Adalia hadn't been expecting corpses.
So when one of them shambled in front of her she reeled back, sword in hand.
What was this.
"Are you okay?" she barked at Quinlan, looking over her shoulder.
Now, Adalia was effectively between the necromage and the good natured thief and Adalia waved her sword to the corpses. Not really keen on cooking them with the sword. Would fire hurt them? Were they gooey? Adalia wrinkled her nose and gagged at the smell before she took a few more steps back.
This was fucked.
All of this was fucked.
They should have never come here. Adalia should have just given him the money and she should have taken Daisy and the crest home.
It could very well be fucked, fucked all around if Quinlan had intended it to be that way. But he had no intention of letting it get that far as thins were concerned.
He scrambled to his feet, shuffling away as a corpse lunged for Adalia. Blood turned to fire as he shot shards of it out at the wailing dead. Quinlan took daggers from inside his sleeves and pulled them out, stabbing the temples of the corpse that tried to grab at him.
Hysaeda did not remain idle on the sidelines, jumping into the fray with sword in hand. Undead bodies were lopped and felled at his feet, those that ran toward him. The necromancer herself pulled the shard of ice from her thigh and howled in pain. In the midst of them all, she saw the glinting crest on the ground and rushed forth for it.
The sizzling sword cut flesh and severed bone. The stunk of burning rotting flesh made her green but Adalia kept going, like some sort of etherial dancer swirling and dancing through rot and darkness.
A well aimed ball of air made one of the shambling corpses explode into a rain of dead flesh and bone shards. An action she almost instantly regretted doing.
Catching sight of the woman moving, Adalia ran after her, diving to wrap her arms around the necromancer. "If you move one more inch ill burn your face into a melted mass of flesh," her hands were wsrm but her voice was ice cold.
The woman howled in rage and in that rage a burst of violet light emmited from her, shoving Adalia off of her and she scampered away. Her flesh was now rotting in places, as if the very force of her magic had taken life from her.
Quinlan had shed the blood from his hands and out came shards of ice that clashed into the very thin flesh of her back. The necromancer turned, only slightly deterred by the wound and pulled at the blood inside of him. Quinlan could feel it burn and bead out through the pores of his flesh and he screamed in agony.
Hysaeda shoved a corpse off his sword with his boot and shouted loudly. The sharp tongue of Sevic stung the necromancer's ears. She turned briefly, interrupted but for a moment. And the blessing that Hysaeda had enacted began to reflect the damage inflicted on Quinlan, blood seeping out from the elongated holes rot had made on her face.
Adalia was horrifed. Catching her footing easily, she took several steps back and caught her breath and could only stare.
Horrified and grossed out and if she hadn't wanted a hot bath and a long nap before she really wanted one now. She felt dirty. Perhaps even a little scared. It wasn't until bony claws raked their way across her arm did she get pulled back into the fight with the shambling corpses. A hiss of pain and a head knocked off and she moved closer to Hysaeda, staring at the gashes but quickly ignoring them.
What was she supposed to do?
"Can I kill her?" Adalia questioned, giving Hysaeda a hesitant look.
Daisy wasn't around and Adalia would be heartbroken if her cat died again but she'd lived a long life and got a second adventure, "Hysaeda, what should I do?"
Hysaeda was only a momentary loss as he took the amulet from Quinlan. He set it down on the ground and took out a blade. "She is decaying rapidly, but she is not without her power. Hold her off while I unlock the Crest. For a brief moment she will be vulnerable when I do so. Take her head, Adalia!" Hysaeda hissed as he turned back to the crest.
Meanwhile Quinlan still had a while to recover, coughing hard and turning to Hysaeda when he was ready. "I can help. What do you need me to do?"
"Put these undead to rest goddammit!"
He needed little direction from there.
Take her head.
Adalia gave a violent whip of her sword and the sound of gooey blood splattering off of it and onto the ground caught the attention of the melting woman.
Gross.
Adalia hoped that whenever she died she'd at least stay dead. What a fight.
Still, she had a job and she baited the necromancer, keeping an eye on Hysaeda. Waiting for the cue because Adalia was done with this nonsense and her arm hurt terribly.
She didn't have to wait long. Hysaeda had unleashed a lodestone from his bag and forced the magic to react from the Crest. Seeking a vessel to manifest from, Hysaeda growled words angrily in a tongue lost to time. He pulled the magic from the crest and in it's separation the Necromancer turned immediately to him.
She shrieked, lunging for him. "IT'S MIIINE!" She howled then.
"NOW ADALIA!" Hysaeda cried.
A chill ran down Adalias spine.
Quickly, she swung her sword, burning hot and like butter, it sliced through the necromancers neck. But not before a bony hand scraped down her front, claw marks dipping behind her shirt.
Panting, covered in blood and other stuff , Adalia squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to gag at the smell. "Quin?" Adalia looked over her shoulder, concerned, "Hysaeda?"
With the necromancer's death, Hysaeda pulled the magic from the Crest and sealed it in the lodestone. He approached Adalia. Quinlan had finished crushing the skull of a shambling corpse before crawling over to the dead woman's body. He rifled through her pockets, growling when he found little to show for his efforts.
All of this disgusting trouble for a pissant's worth of a few coins. She had a decorated dagger at her side, one that Quinlan pulled from the sheath, admired briefly and tucked in his jacket.
He panted heavily, kicking the woman's head like a ball and eying Hysaeda and Adalia. He was unusually quiet, feeling little need to be witty.
Hysaeda held the lodestone in his palm. "I'll destroy it. Take the Crest." Handed it over. "It's just a piece of jewellery now. Do what you will with it. The witch is better off dead."
Adalia cuppes the crest in her palm, staring down at it before looking over to Quinlan. A smirk. She walked over to him, dropped the crest into one of his pockets before she froze and stared off into the trees.
"Daisy," she gasped before running off. The gashes she acquired from broken rotted bones stung and burned but... those could be fixed later. Atras had made himself comfortable on the ground, practically snoozing but, curled up on his rump was Daisy.
A careful halted breath and she made some kissing noises.
Nothing.
Adalia felt her heart break. "Daisy?" Trembling hands reach out, the sword dropped long ago and she scooped the cat up, cradling her. "Oh, Daisy, i'm so sorry."
At least... it was Daisy. And she'd already died of old age once.
The cat had ended heroically, so Hysaeda thought. He said a small prayer for the cat. Quinlan walked over to Adalia, putting an arm on her shoulder and petting the dead cat with a free hand.
"Let's put her to rest at last, yeah? She was a good kitten. I never had a cat of my own. See ya Dais, on the other side little friend." And shook a paw.
Adalia crumpled.
The first time Daisy had died, she'd been a wreck.
Now?
Adalia let out a quick little wet hiccup when Quinlan shook Daisy's paw and shook it. A teary look to him and she had to resist the urge to rub her tears from her face because her hands were so dirty. "Don't make me cry, Quin," Adalia whined, turning her head away and down at the cat.
One less adventurer.
"Can we take her somewhere pretty?" She looked to Quin and Hysaeda.
Quinlan looked at her seriously, not intending to make her cry. He tightened his arm around her and hugged her and the cat. Hysaeda just watched the pair, staying silent before nodding in response.
"You two go off. I'll stay here and take care of things. I'll follow if you need me," Hysaeda said.
Quinlan pet the cat, feeling something swell in his throat, the tight ball of grief, and he sniffed. "Let's do that for Daisy. She deserves some place really pretty."
Adalia almost blurted out that she did need Hysaeda but instead she gave a weary little nod and looked down at the cat. Quinlans agreement of finding somewhere pretty to bury Daisy made Adalia laugh, giving him a wet smile before nodding.
A grown woman, covered in gashes from skeleton monsters was almost sobbing because her undead cat died.
Adalia began to walk and Atras followed Hysaeda around like a big puppy. Clearly the horse played favourites.
It wasnt too far away from the greusome scene but Adalia found a nice little patch of moss by a tree and placed the cat down. "What do Connlaothians do for their dead?" She asked, curiously.
Quinlan knelt down beside Daisy, continuing the stroke the still cat and felt his own cheeks had become wet from all of this.
"When my mother died," he said quietly. "My father took her things and put them in a chest. I don't know if it was ideal, but he would light a candle for her every week. He kept a piece of her hair with him, braided, given to him when they first courted I think. I don't know if shaving cat hair is the best idea, but a part of her would always be with you."
Was he crying?
Adalia swallowed thickly and put a hand on his back, rubbing along his shoulders before leaning in and resting her cheek on his arm after kneeling.
"I think ill just keep her in my memory, i dont think she has much more fur to give." Adalia leaned in and gave Quin and kiss on the cheek before curling an arm over his shoulder.
"Don't feel sad," Adalia started, though she herself felt a little low, "Daisy got to have an adventure because of you. So did I." Slowly she stood up and extended her hand for him to grab, "thank you, Quin. I mean. It kinda sucked and i have a good number of new scars but..." a small smile, "I'm glad we got to meet you."
A brief moment and Adalia looked at her hand for a moment before she pressed it to the cat. Then frowned, confused before stroking the kitty again and sighing.
"I think... we should just leave her. She'll return to the earth, one way or another."
"Maybe we could bury her?" Quinlan said. He wiped his eyes and softly dug his hands into the earth. Fingers clawed away at the dirt until the grave was big enough for the cat. Inside Daisy went until he softly coated her fur with the soil she would turn into once again.
Standing up, he took her hand and turned swiftly, pulling her into an embrace and hugging her firmly to him. "Um, thanks for not just killing me and taking the Crest," he said and glanced down at her a little awkwardly.
"Let's head back," he murmured. After a short trek, Hysaeda met them and put a hand on Adalia's shoulder.
"Are you all right?"
Adalia watched Quinlan dig the grave and she kept her hands at her sides. Silently she said a prayer and when Quinlan stood up and took her hand, she easily fell into the embrace and tucked her face against his neck.
"No problem," Came her muffled voice before he pulled away.
A sad smile to Quinlan and she nodded, following him carefully until they were with Hysaeda again and Adalia smoothed her hand over his on her shoulder.
"I guess," A look to Atras who was standing behind Hysaeda, pressing his nose to the dark elfs back and making little noises.
"Just like old times, huh?" Adalia said, her voice husky, "Maybe minus the necromancer." A lick of her lips and she looked at the gash on her arm before looking back at Hysaeda.
"We should get away from here," Hysaeda said, reaching behind him to scratch Atras' nose. The horse nickered and walked behind Adalia to put his head on her shoulder in a mock-horse-hug.
Quinlan was quiet, and stayed that way in the small trek away from Rat's End. The village was left behind, a few miles now before they made camp. Here they stopped and Atras was groomed and unsaddled and fed with what treats Hysaeda could pull from his own bags.
Quinlan sat by the fire, looking across to Adalia. "You should have the Crest back, no?"
Adalia smiled at Quinlan.
"I already put it in one of your pockets," she said in a soft voice, " i figured ... it might be worth something if you want to sell it. And if you dont want to sell it you can keep it and remember Atras, Daisy and I."
Quinlan pulled it out of his pocket. "I don't know if I want it anymore. I was a little too much y'know. I mean I'm used to all kinds of bullshit. But it didn't feel like it was worth the trouble," he said solemnly. "I guess it's just decorative junk now." He shrugged and watched as Hysaeda sat down beside Adalia.
"Atras is getting fat," Hysaeda murmured. "Have you not been riding him as much? He doesn't look like he's had a chance to exercise in a while."
"Ouch," Adalia said simply, looking at the crest in Quinlan's hand. Why did it sort of sting that he didn't want to keep it? "That thing's been in that room for almost five generations of my family, it's decorative junk but it's ancient decorative junk. You could still sell it to a collector and maybe make a decent pocket of money." She shrugged, looking a little put out before Hysaeda sat beside her.
Adalia shuffled closer so their legs were touching and she leaned against him, giving him a look when he said Atras as fat. "Of course I haven't. I'm not a knight anymore. Maybe you should take him out for a good, long, hard ride." A smirk to Hysaeda and she turned back to stare at the fire. She supposed this little journey was done. With much less payment.
At least the necromancer was gone.
Quinlan stood and stretched, feeling his back crack as he did so. "I'm gonna make myself a few pints lighter," he murmured and waved himself off before stepping between the trees.
Hysaeda looked to Adalia. "What were you talking about? He seemed a little tense."
Adalia looked at Hysaeda before she sighed.
"We came here because he was gonna get paid a lot of money for that crest. Now the necromancer is dead, he didn't get paid and the crest is worthless." Adalia shrugged and rested her head on Hysaeda's shoulder, while she wasn't usually the most cuddly of people she curled her arms around his arm and rested against it.
"I don't know. Daisy is dead. He's... Not gotten paid. I have no where to go. Atras is fat," She pressed her face into his arm and sighed, squeezing her eyes shut, "I want to say this is all my fault but... He'd have died if I hadn't made him take me, right?" Adalia leaned back to look up at Hysaeda, concern in her green eyes, "Right? Did I do the right thing?"
"It sounds to me like you saved his life. But I don't think that's what was bothering him. He looks like he'll be off on his own again and he doesn't know where to go," Hysaeda said, soothingly. He leaned his head against hers, rolling his cheek against her forehead and kissing her lightly.
"You're a hero Adalia. Even Heroes become weary."
Adalia barked out an unattractive laugh.
"I'm not a hero. Im just stubborn," her fingers moved between his and she squeezed his hand then laughed again, "what, does he think I know where to go?" She looked at Hysaeda, "i doubt you want me following you around again."
Adalia sighed and closed her eyes, "I do know that i dont want to go home," she started, "but he doesnt have a home to go back to. He's all the way from Connlaoth. A Blood Mage from thay Gods forsaken country." Adalia licked her lips, "Maybe ill ask him to travel with me, that way i wont be alone when you get back to what you were doing." She smiled at Hysaeda and snuggled in against him, eyes closed.
"And heroes never call themselves heroes," Hysaeda said with a soft chuckle of his own. "I wasn't doing anything important. And to be honest, seeing you again brought back old memories. Like when you kicked me when I was already in chains." He smirked and kissed her forehead again.
"We had many adventures. And...I don't see any reason you can't travel with me. Even if it's only for a short time."
Hysaeda mulled over Quinlan, knowing he was little more than a wanderer, as he had been at one point. "The blood mage can come to if he wishes. Although his magic is peculiar. I've never seen a blood mage that was accepted anywhere. He likely wouldn't be welcome among my people. He carries a pain with him, I can feel it. Maybe it's just the shaman in me talking."
Hysaeda curled his fingers around Adalia's hand. "You're unmarried, I see."
Adalia blushed at the memory, "I thought you were a bandit," She muttered, "And I was trying to be badass." The idea of traveling around with Hysaeda again was an odd one and she sighed and closed her eyes at the kiss to her forehead. Did he feel paternal or something? It was tempting to drag his mouth down farther so she could plant one on his lips but she resisted, instead simply pressed close and stared off into space.
Even Adalia could sense Quin was always sort of... Sad.
Not having the best people skills had always made her a little more weary of trying to get people to talk about it.
Then the next thing he said had her freeze and frown. Then look at his confused before she smirked, "No. Dad couldn't find a good enough price to sell me at, why? You interested in the merchandise?"
Hysaeda felt himself visibly blush. "I might be," he admitted with a grin. "You always were peculiar to me. A fascinating woman. But I don't know if you'd ever want to call me your husband."
The grin melted her heart and she felt her pulse pick up, she looked down at their hands and she drew her thumb over his knuckles, breathing slowly before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. Pulling back and examining his eyes, "I wouldn't do that to you, Hysaeda, I won't live nearly as long as you, you already have... What. A hundred-fifty years on me?" She teased before resting her cheek on his shoulder.
"I'll take what I can get from you though." She nuzzled against his shoulder, having realized how much she had missed the familiarness that was... Him. "If that means a traveling companion that can help Atras lose weight, I'll take it," Adalia teased, leaning back to grin at him.
"We'll find another adventure then," Hysaeda said. He leaned in, turning his head to kiss her properly then and deepened it into something almost possessive. When he pulled away, he was flush with heat, he brushed the hair away from her face. "So is it settled? We will travel together?"
Adalia whimpered slightly into the kiss, pressing into him and even giving a needy little noise when he pulled away. Her arm itched. The scratches on her chest itched and she leaned into his hand, heat tingeing her cheeks red.
Then she frowned.
It didnt take that long to pee.
"Yeah. I'm just... gonna go find Quin. See what he wants to do." A soft sigh and she stood up, pressing her palm to her chest. A little meander off in the direction Quin headed in.
"Quin? Are you still... occupied?"
Except Quinlan wouldn't reply. He wouldn't make a sound at all. In their quiet conversing, he'd slipped away into the darkness as if nothing more than a figment of their imagination.
That asshole.
"Quinlan, you asshole!" Adaloa yelled into the night, "you could have at least said goodbye..." The last words were soft and she let out a little defeated sigh before returning back to Hysaeda and looking... disappointed.
"Quin left," she said simply before sitting down beside Hysaeda, taking his arm again and wrapping ber own around it. "What do we do now?" A wrinkle of her nose and she looked at the gash on her arm, "shouls find a town. So i can have a bath."
Hysaeda stood, actually surprised that the blood mage just up and vanished like that. He frowned at Adalia, wandering over to put a hand on her arm. "Yeah, we can find a town that'll house us. For now we should rest though no? Or should we just move on?"
Adalia gave a weary sigh and nodded.
"Rest sounds nice," she laid back on the grass and looked up at the sky. A little hurt still, that Quinlan just left. Did he get kidnapped? No. He would have made a racket. Left without a word. Adalia sighed deeply, feeling a little used. What had she expected though?
"I missed you'" she huffed out again before curling up on her side and covering her face. "I promise not to kick you in the head again," she mumbled through her palms.
Hysaeda stretched out beside her, pulling a small travel blanket over both of them as he curled in toward the fire. He watched Atras stretch his limbs and lay down beside them, farting nonchalantly.
"Hey! Stinky horse," Hysaeda grumbled and turned toward Adalia. "You all right? You sound as if you'll miss the blood mage."
There was a brief silence before Adalia curled an arm around Hysaeda's middle and snuggled in against him. Idly her finger traced patterns along his side and she looked at him before sighing.
"I... maybe," Adalia sighed and closed her eyes, "i'll let you know in a few weeks," an attempt at a bad joke at the expense of a potential serious issue and she took a careful breath. "I'm mostly angry. I feel used." Her hand tightened on his side, "he didnt even say goodbye. I thought... i guess it doesnt matter what i thought." Another huff and she snuggled in close, "can i have a hug?" She finally finished, lamely.
"It matters to me," Hysaeda said and easily slipped his arms around her. He hugged her to him and kissed her brow. "Maybe he thought this would be easier for the both of you this way. He doesn't seem very stable. But then again look at who's talking."
He chuckled, if just to lighten the mood before pressing his head against hers, nuzzling her. "But you're not cheap or to be used. He wasn't walking away to hurt you. I didn't want to part from you either," he whispered.
A little clench of her chest and Adalia sighed before curling into Hysaeda's arms. "You're unstable?" She leaned back to give him a skeptical look then Adalia closed her eyes and let out a careful breath.
"Didnt want to part? Really?" A little frown, "i always figured you couldnt stand me... You didnt exactly invite me along with you the first time." Then she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips and closed her eyes, "i should clean out these cuts. Those skeleton monsters didnt exactly seem to practice cleanliness."
Hysaeda felt his lips tingles after her kiss. "Do I have to let you go for you to do that?" he whined. He relented however, watching her a moment.
"I couldn't stand to watch you go," he said. "But then again...you did kick me pretty good."
Adalia laughed, "you missed my kicks?" She ran her calf over his to tease him before she closed her eyes again and gave him a weary smile, "Nah, ill give you kisses any old time. Why?" She cracked an eye open, "do you want one? Did you miss the kisses, too?"
"I don't miss your kicks," he said with a tired smile. "But I'll take a kiss instead."
Adalia moved a scarred hand to rest on his side and she smirked, "i know they say that distance makes the heart grow fonder." a lingering kiss was pressed to his lips before she pulled away and tucked herself in under his chin, body pressed close to his, snuggled in close, "but i didnt really notice until i saw you again." It didnt take long for Adalia to drift off, the dull throb of her cuts ebbing away with the comfort of his arms around her.
The next morning Hysaeda was roused by the curious nose of Atras, sniffing at his snow white hair curiously. He leaned up and gave the horse scritches and Atras nickered. "You're very spoiled you know that?" he chuckled and sat up, stretching as he went.
He looked up and saw the fire was put out. "Adalia?"
Adalia shivered, it was strange to feel so bone cold.
Her fingers trembled and she sat up slowly, looking at Hysaeda slowly before she gave him a confused blink and frowned. "Whats wrong?" She croaked out, swaying where she sat. The cuts on her arm and chest were red and angry looking, hot to the touch. A careful little breath and she ducked her head down for a moment, her opal hair clinging to her heated face.
"H'saeda I dont feel so great," another little breath and she leaned heavily on her arm, head lolling to the side.
Hysaeda started and rushed to her side. "Adalia! Adalia stay awake," he said and laid her out beside Atras. He moved toward their supplies. Rushing, he strapped everything together and threw the saddle onto Atras. Hoisting Adalia up, Hysaeda soon followed and pathed the horse toward the main path.
"Adalia tell me what you're feeling, describe them to me," he said.
"geeze, I'm not dying," She mumbled, eyes falling closed.
Quickly she extended her arm, the scratches were dark red, the veins around black and climbing up her arm.
"Infected? Can'magin skele's scrachin' me is all that good." Still, she forced her eyes open though quickly shut them. The light hurt.
"Shoulda washed 'em," She scratched at the wounds on her chest, hissing when her nails caught scab and ripped but it wasn't normal blood that oozed out. It was thick and black and little veins on her chest were slowly turning the same colour. What if Quin had been scratched? Was he out there with a fever? Adalia hoped she was the only one that had gotten actually wounded by the swampy skeletons.
Adalia's head lolled to the side again and her body went lax, face sweaty and fever high. Even though she was mostly passed out, she shivered from the cold - or at least the cold she thought she was.
"Shit!" Hysaeda hissed and hurried away from this foul place. The black marks spreading up and through her arm were not very promising and gave him a sinking feeling that made him dig his heels hard into Atras.
He needed to get to the river, needed to find blessed water with which to wash her wounds. He hugged her chilled and limp form tightly to him and directed them south until he found where the land sloped downward.
"Adalia! You're very sick. The poison...it is a sickness of the soul. Fight it's influence. Stay awake!"
"My soul feels fine," Adalia whined, pressing her sweat slicked forehead to Hysaeda's neck, another shiver wracked her form. A shaky gasp and she dozed off, only to jerk away, eyes opening before snapping shut again. "Hysaeda," She whimpered, giving a little shake of her head, "It's juss th'flu," But when she opened her eyes, they were bloodshot and were quickly closed again, it hurt to keep them open.
Atras moved swiftly, not only was Hysaeda riding him but Adalia was whimpering.
Resting her cheek to his shoulder, she pressed her face to his chest, "You're not going to eat another flower from my mouth are you?" She said, staring up finally, looking a little delirious.
"Don't be silly, Hysaeda hissed and when the land sloped up enough to reveal a river beneath them, Atras quickly shuffled down the hillside and Hysaeda threw himself from the saddle cradling Adalia with him. He trudged into the water and dropped Adalia down into his lap, arm holding her head up.
"Stay awake Adalia!" he said and took a handful of water. He blew into it, praying hard and cupped it, dripped it onto her forehead. There it would singe into her flesh. And the water would purify her blood through those reopened cuts, purging the black poison, slowly and painfully.
Instantly Adalia tried to get away.
A whimpering cry and she pushed at him to get away, fingers clawing at his chest while her muscles tensed and her insides burned. "What are you doing to me?!" She cried, head tipping back and breathing ragged, she gave him an accusing glare before her eyes rolled up again and she started to go limp. The wounds began to ooze and in a fit of pained rage, she raised her hand, grabbed his wrist and... Nothing. A feeble squeeze from her scarred hand, a whimper and a soft choking cry.
"I love you," She sobbed against his chest, delirious with fever and pain, "Why are you hurting me? Why do you always h-hurt me?" her hands fisted his clothing, pressing her face to his chest in an effort to get away but too weak to really move.
In her squirming Hysaeda held her fast to him. He wasn't going to let her go and as he saw the ooze seeping from her wounds, he pulled her back onto the river bank. "Shhh now, you're safe with me. I would never hurt you. I care for you," he murmured. "You're my love, my friend, my companion. I would never hurt you."
"But it hurts!" Adalia writhed to get away, fingers clawing at his skin, short blunt nails doing their best to cause harm. Just the wounds had hurt before but know it felt like fire in her veins. Like worms the ooze hissed from her wounds and she arched her back, taking deep shuddering breaths.
"Hysaeda," another jerk to get away, "i can't..." she make a choking noise again and clawed at her shirt, the wounds were clean at her chest but at the last moment she turned her head and retched, the black ooze forced from her body out of her mouth and Adalia let out a little sob. "Why would you do this to me?" She was crying now, taking breaths while she trembled.
Moments ago they just ached and she had a fever, now.. Everything was on fire. It hurt. Her arm was red and fresh red blood dripped down it instead of the ooze. "Did i just puke out my soul?" She whimpered, clearly distraught by the idea.
"No," Hysaeda relented at last. "Whatever it was had something to do with the necromancer I'm sure. But nothing like this is without pain, Adalia. I'm sorry but it was the only way." He leaned away from her and the pile of black ooze on the ground. He frowned deeply considering how fast it spread.
"Are you all right now?"
Adalia shivered but she was also sweaty and felt gross. It'd been a while but... Adalia peeled her clothing off before kneeling in the water and scrubbing herself. Still weak and tired, she made a noise and Atras joined her, laying down in the water so she could lean on him.
A brief glance to Hysaeda, her wet opal hang clinging to her half asleep self. A frown and she looked to Atras, "you rode Atras," she mumbled, crawling out of the cold water a ways away from the strange ooze. A full body tremble and she spread herself out on the rocks.
Then she frowned, "i still feel sick," she whispered before cracking an eye open, "nap with me?" She flung a hand ro the sky, clear and blue and toasty warm.
To be truthful, he didn't like how pale she looked. It was unnerving but he said nothing and wandered over to the rock she reclined on. "Adalia, would you like some water? To drink I mean," he said, producing a flask and handing it to her.
He climbed onto the rock and sat at the top of it, tucking his knees underneath his chin. "How can you nap at a time like this? Let me at least give you some medicine. To keep your wounds from becoming infected."
"Easy," she breathed, eyes closed and moving her hands to her stomach, "i just threw up my oozy black soul." Slowly turned slightly to look at Hysaeda, eyes drifting closed. Another quiet shuddering breath and she rubbed around the wounds on her chest.
"I'm naked on the ground, feel free to examine my wounds while i sleep."
Hysaeda nodded and went about his examination. He was tender around her wounds, pressing his fingers gently around the cuts on her chest, and arms and abdomen. "This one will have to be stitched," he chided and fixed a needle and thread.
She was asleep right? Would she be fine? He figured that she would and went about closing a large cut on her arm.
Adalia hissed.
An eye cracked open and she frowned at him, "I could have sworn you said you would never hurt me." Then she froze, her fingers twitching, she licked her lips before closing her eyes. Skin still feverish, flushed from the fever.
" 'My Love'? " she questioned, voice soft - clearly not remembering her own admission while delirious with fever and pain.
"Yes, you heard me correctly," Hysaeda said matter-of-factly. "The healer is at work. The recipient must be silent." He kept his focus on each stitch, making it as painless as possible as he closed the gash, leaving room for movement and knotting the end of it. The edge of a knife snipped the thread ends and he put his kit away, rolling it up.
"I didn't hurt you. I'm healing you. I thought you were asleep."
A smirk, eyes falling closed again, Adalia remained quiet while he poked and stitched her arm. "You expect me to sleep when i have your hands on me?" A gentle murmur, clearly fighting the sleel she wanted to have. But with an opprotunity to tease Hysaeda right there, how could she sleep?
He sniffed, smirking just a bit.
"I have some javinroot you can chew on if you want to sleep," he suggested. "Or I could not so lightly bump your head." Nevertheless, she was better now, clearly capable of a sense of humor. "Just go to sleep, I'll watch over you."
"Just like old times," she breathed, turning on her side in the sunlight. It was easy dose off and after a few gentle breaths, Adalia was asleep and the strange black ooze was gone.
Hysaeda had pulled her from the rock and laid out beside her from the river's edge. He'd made a fire and pulled her into his lap, cradling her between his legs and stroking her hair.
Adalia was slow to wake, eyes feeling gritty and mouth dry. A little moan and she moved to get up, only to find herseld against something warm.
"That feels nice," she murmured in reference to him stroking her hair before she stretched and turned to press her front to his chest. "Were you always this warm? I could sleep on you forever." Adalia started in a soft murmur, eyes falling closed again before she forced them back open.
"I'd prefer you didn't. Because then you'd be dead. And I like you very much alive," Hysaeda whispered back. He pried two fingers to keep her eyes open and looked in it deeply to ensure her eyes weren't foggy. "You look a lot better, I'm very pleased."
"M'pleased, too," Adalia breathed, jerking her head away from his hands. Gently her arms tried to go around his waist. That failed so she smoothed her fingers up and down his side.
"Will I live?" She breath, crawling up to sit on his lap, a leg on either side of his hips, eyes falling closed.
A shiver ran down his back and up it once again when she touched him that way. Hysaeda grinned and pushed her hair back, revealing the scarred features of a woman that had seen more than others of her years.
"You want the truth? Yes. As perilous as the procedure was, you will live."
And kissed her lightly on the forehead.
Another sleepy look at Hysaeda and she smiled ever so slightly before her eyes fell closed and she had to jerk her head up to not fall asleep again. Her companion was comfortable though and Adalia leaned back before she gave him a sleepy doofy smile.
"Oh good. I'd only have you in my will and that means - " She yawned, pressing her face against his chest because her hands were occupied with his sides, "You'd get Fatras." The horse made a noise like he knew she'd done that to his name.
Adalia hummed pleasantly at the kiss on her forehead before she relaxed and slinked away from Hysaeda, pulling her clothing back on - which was nice and warm from the sun and giving a lazy stretch. A flex of her hands and she sat beside Hysaeda, leaning on him heavily while she examined her hands before she pressed her cheek to his arm. "Find a town now?"
[Fatras! That's gold!]
Hysaeda wanted to kiss her, but she was probably too tired for foolish antics like that anyway. He watched her dress and sit beside him once more, and he reclined against the rock with a sigh. The river was nice and sent a rush of cool air over him. He was content to be in the shade of the stone, and thankfully the sun was still low enough to give warmth without being overbearing.
"Yeah, let's get out of the wilderness. And you ride this time. Atras needs to know you're okay," he said with a stern tone. Reaching up, he poked her shoulder and stood, helping her up and moving back to Atras. The horse nuzzled him, giving sniffs to the elf's hair.
Hysaeda brushed a hand against him, hugging the animal before turning over on the saddle and awaiting Adalia to climb on.
It was with some difficulty that Adalia climbed onto the horse, arms trembling and legs weak. Finally she managed though, flushed and panting with perhaps an exaggerated grunt of effoet. Once they were both situated on the horse she gave him a little nudge and Atras was content to go.
Taking Hysaeda's hands she curled them around her middle and rested her back against his chest. "You dont actually love me, do you?" Her voice was quiet, like those feelings for her were too much to even hope for.
Hysaeda smiled and leered at her over her shoulder. He kept hands at her waist and hugged her to him both because he wanted the feeling of her against him, and to secure her posture on Atras. She seemed in okay shape for someone who was writhing in agony only moments earlier.
"Why do you ask that?" came his reply. "You having second thoughts about what you said?"
Adalia frowned, turning her head slightly. Confusion on her face even though she was relaxed against him and clearly content.
"What do you mean?" A squint, "what did i say?"
"You were grumpy and crying and said that you loved me. And you thought you were dying," he clarified. "Do you really love me?"
Adalia went several shades of red, her breath picked up and she closed her eyes for a moment. Silence followed and she cleared her throat, "Yes," Adalia gave him a level look, "cant say i ever planned on saying it, but i suppose dying me has other ideas."
A lick of her lips and she turned away, "is... i..." a puff of her cheeks and she went quiet, "so.. yes. I do. I'm sorry."
Hysaeda leaned in and kissed her cheek. His lips lingered on her cheek, pursing there and squeezing his arms around her. "I love you," he murmured. "I meant what I said."
A whoosh of air left her and she closed her eyes.
Was that a weight lifted off her shoulders? Or did she gain some? Adalia turned her head to catch his lips and she pressed against him before pulling away. "What now?" She breathed, looking straight ahead, "we ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after?" Adalia teased, smiling - it was barely noon.
"I don't know if it works like that. Why don't we take it one step at a time? We'll find a town first and see about finding our next adventure," Hysaeda said. He grew quiet for a while and tightened his arm around her. "How long? Did you feel this way I mean?"
Atras was content to bumble along - backtracking. No doubt they'd have to camp outside again before they found a town. Adalia have a pleased sigh at being held so close and she closed her eyes.
"I dont know. When we stopped hating one another and actually got along?" Her voice turned quiet and she breathed slowly, snuggling back against him. "When i realized i'd probably never see you again was when it sunk in. I was sad. My chest ached."
Adalia sighed again and peeked at him over her shoulder, lifting her hands, "im sure it started when you didnt mind my hands."
Hysaeda threaded their hands together so that he could turn hers over, back facing up and he admired the brazen flesh there. "They've aged beautifully," he commented idly. "They were never ugly to me, Adalia. I don't know who made you believe so, but they were wrong."
Aged beautifully.
A quick glance over her shoulder and she stuck out her tongue at him. Aged.
"My mother," she said simply, flexing her fingers between his. A pause and she moved her hands down before licking her lips and relaxing against his chest.
The ride was easy and Atras - though fat - bumbled wlong reliantly. Though, like Adalia feared, they were no where near the town she and Quin had left. A brief look around to where Atras stopped dead, looking at them over his shoulder.
"I guess it's stop time," Adalia mumbled, looking up at the sky . It wasnt long before dusk and Atras was sweaty and ready for bed. "Do we want to make camp or... eat and sleep?" A wrinkle of her nose, looking at Atras's saddlebags. A moment of concern for Quinlan - did he get scratched? Was he eating?
No. He left. Frowning Adalia didnt wait for Hysaeda's reply and instead went and pulled some jerky. "Remember when you made that smoked meat and I did a really bad job of seducing you?"
"We can rest here," Hysaeda replied and slipped off of Atras. The horse was thankful for the relief and nuzzled Hysaeda's hair when he removed the saddle as well. He didn't realize then just how hungry he was and resting around a proper fire had a nice feel to it.
"I can hunt something for us to eat if you'd like to make camp," he said with a smirk, recalling that strange meat they were given. "And I promise all future advances will be genuine. Not the result of eating an aphrodisiac."
Despite the fact they'd done the sideways tango more than once and there was no problem being nide around him Adalia went several shades of red at the mention of the tainted food they'd been given.
"Hey... there was a genuine one in there. You know. The last one." Adalia cleared her throat and went about gathering things glancing at him, flushed. Atras bumped her back with his nose and she turnes to pwt him, content to take the distraction from the moment.
"You go hunt something," Adalia said over her shoulder, the tips of her ears red, "I'll make camp." There was a warmth in her belly, remembering their extended camping trip. It was awful. She'd hated it. It had also been the most wonderful thing she'd done in her sorry spoiled life.
[Adalia is just <3]
Hysaeda went deep into the forest with little more than a knife at his disposal. He didn't have the bow and arrow he'd often gone hunting with in the years prior to meeting Adalia. Those were solitary years he'd put behind him. It was the past and best left there. Through his father dying, his people reborn, it took much to find himself again. Nothing could be easy in this wild land.
It took a dedication and lifetime of survival to make it through.
But out here, hunting as he'd been before took him back to that time. And within a half hour he'd caught a few rabbits they could feast on, the wounds clean, the kill quick.
He peered through the brush and stepped closer to the fire. "Dinner is here," he murmured and moved to sit beside her.
[ aww im glad you like her <3 ]
There was no fire.
Adalia kneeled before the pile of wood, staring at her scarred hands like they'd betrayed her. Gently she touched at the stitched up wound, moving her hand to her chest, fingers stroking at the cuts there.
A shaky little breath.
"I..." Adalia licked her lips, "I..." frowning at her fingers, "I dont know how to make a fire," she said simply, flexing her hands. Trembling she looked at him through a curtain of her opal hair and took in a little breath, "I... I cant..." she stared at her hands, "i didnt realize it until I tried to do it."
"Hysaeda i cant..." a careful little breath, "what use is a mage knight when they have no magic?" She rubbed at her stomach, "can mages lose their magic? Maybe i really did puke out my soul." Adalia stared at the wood and back at her hands.
Luckily the camp was made.
All but the fire.
[NooooooooOOooooooOooo!]
Hysaeda approached her carefully and reached for her hands, turning them over palm-up. "That can't be right," he murmured. "How? I....I've never heard or seen anything like it."
He shook his head. "What you had was strange, but I've never heard of a magical gift just disappearing with an illness."
Adalia shuddered, eyes falling closed for a moment. "Maybe... maybe i'm just tired," ahe breathed before looking at him and then the wood. Doing her best to calm down; careful deep little breaths. Still, she surged forward, pressing her lips against Hysaeda's, desperate needy kisses before she pulled away.
"Teach me how to make a fire?" She breathed against his lips before pulling away.
He held her shoulders and looked back at her. "Is something the matter? Adalia you're acting strange," Hysaeda murmured. He looked into her eyes and saw the desperation there. "Adalia are you feeling okay?"
"No," She cried, "I can't even make a fire. I..." she flexed her fingers and looked at Hysaeda, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes and dipped her head forward. Adalia licked her lips and looked away, "I'm just... Tired. I'll be fine in a few days, I'm sure. " she smoothed her hands over his cheeks and looked to the wood, "Fire?"
He took her version with a grain of salt but he nodded nonetheless. "Okay I'll make a fire," he said and rubbed her shoulders. He went about making a fire. "Do you remember what I showed you? You strike the stone flint and metal until the sparks cover the desired area," he instructed carefully and he encouraged the burning of it when the sparks started to smoulder.
Did she remember.
Of course not.
Adalia had never realized how reliant she was on her magic until it wasnt there anymore. Mostly she just stared at the beginings of the fire, enchanted by it.
"I hope i wont have to put it to use," she said softly, looking at him, "want me to get the rabbits ready?" She said softly, gazing at dinner.
"Yes," he nodded. He couldn't quite put his finger on just what felt off here, but he put it in the back of his mind, and focused on building the fire. He was quiet for a time.
"Okay it's ready," he sighed at last, satisfied and moving to sit closer to her. " I can cut one up too. You don't have to do all the work."
A small smile, "Thank you," Adalia said softly, though she smiled regardless, "i didnt do a lot of the work," she pointed out softly.
A little bite of her lip while she went about fixing the rabbits, handing them to Hysaeda when she was finished, the furs off to the side. A careful little breath and she looked at her hands while Atras made himself at home behind Hysaeda. "I think... i think i might just sleep," she said softly, "I'm not really hungry anymore."
He turned to her and caught her shoulder. "Not without your goodnight kiss," he murmured and leaned in to kiss her. He did so deeply and passionately. As brief as it was, he pulled away just an inch and grinned. "I'll save some for you, okay? Sleep well."
The kiss caught Adalia by surprise and she melted into it, giving a noise of protest when he pulled away. Green eyes opened and she stared at him for a moment before she curled her arms around his neck and returned the kiss, just as deeply. "I need you," she whispered against his lips, eyes shut again.
Hesitantly she opened them, fingers in his hair. Adalia felt a little out of control. "Have dinner later," she breathed against his lips, pressing forward to kiss him again.
He hitched his breath, and looked at her with half-lidded eyes. "Dinner later? Oh. You want to skip right to dessert then?" He smiled and set the rabbit down. He put his hands over her face, brushing the curtain of hair out of her face. A thumb ran beneath her lip.
"Adalia you're very feverish."
"So?" Her voice was soft and she put her hands over his, eyes falling closed, she turned her head to press a kiss to his palm and moved her hands to his waist to tug at his shirt. Adalia was still very bad at seducing. Though, after a few tugs her hands stilled and she rested her hands on his chest, eyes closed before she gave a quiet little sigh, "You fixed me, remember? Stitched me up." A little breath and she looked down at the ground, "Is it because I threw up in front of you? I mean... You can at least be honest."
"I fixed you because you were wounded, and I didn't want you to get some infection," Hysaeda chuckled and leaned in to kiss her deeply. Arms wrapped around her, and he tugged his shirt up from over his head. He threw his hair back a little, fingers running through the ends of it.
"My hair is just as long as yours," he murmured. "I hope it isn't too long."
"Afraid i'm going to give you a really bad haircut?" She teased, eyes falling closed for a moment before she smoothed her hands over his chest. Though finally she leaned back a little, searching his face before she rested her hands at his hips. "You're stalling," Adalia breathed, one side warmes by the fire while the other was left to the slowly chilled night. "If you don't want this," her hands moved to hover against his flesh.
"It's okay," instead her hands cupped his cheeks and she leaned in again for another kiss. "I missed kissing you," she admitted softly with a little smile before she started to turn away, eyeing the bedroll. "Just... come cuddle when you're done?"
He tightened his arms around her and pressed a hand to her cheek to turn her head back to him. "Maybe you're stalling," he whispered and kissed her deeply, lips working sensually against hers.
Hysaeda roved his hands over her own clothing,, pushing it off of her until her breasts were freed. "I'm just glad to see you again. I missed you a lot. I thought about you all the time," he breathed between kisses.
A little whimpering moan passed through her lips at the kiss, Adalia's hands holding his hips before she pulled away, flushed. "Just nervous," she whispered, making a noise of surprise when her shirt was pushed off. A shiver ran through her at the change of temperature and her hands moved up to cover her breasts.
Sure she'd just been nude in front of him. Now it was different. Slowly she pushed her hands through his hair, fingers trailing the point of his ears. "All the time?" She pulled him close, nibbling on his lower lip, pressing their chests together while she maneuvered herself onto his lap.
"Fibber," another kiss, "you were busy. Now me? I was trapped at home i really did think of you. Everytime I looked at the stars," and she leaned back to stick her tongue out at him and smile.
Hysaeda's breath hitched. He pressed them close together that she could feel his excitement through his pants. He growled a little, eager and kissing her with vigor. "Busy, trapped, what difference does it make? Just kiss me." His hands reached between them and worked at the ties of her pants. He coaxed her up and tugged them down, his face sinking low to kiss along her belly.
Oh. Now he was eager. Adalia bit her lip and shut her eyes, rising on her knees as he guided her and threaded her fingers through his hair. A pleased hum left her and she chuckled down at him, "can't really kiss you if your mouth is all the way down there."
Still she shimmied out of her pants - or at least so they were only around one leg and gazed down at him. "What a pair we make," she said, caressing his cheek. A wild man and a scarred noble lady. Or ex-noble. Adalia bit her lip and looked down at him, still enchanted by the way the points of his ears poked out through his hair "i think you're a little overdressed for this dance."
"Is that so?" Hysaeda chuckled and shifted onto his knees to shuffle out of his own trousers. He sighed, biting his bottom lip in a teasing smirk. Had he really been parted from this kind of activity for so long? He couldn't remember the last time he had sex. Probably with Adalia before everything went to hell. A part of him ached at that, so much time lost...
But he was here now and that was what mattered, right?
Once he was free of his small clothes, he found his way back to her, snaking arms around her form and hugging her to him as if she might disappear. Lips dragged their way back to her mouth, kissing her hotly and with a hunger he hadn't felt before.
Was her heart really pounding that fast?
Adalia swallowed thickly, if she hadn't be turned on before, that biting smirk would have done it alone. A heated flush stained her cheeks and she watched him remove his trousers, reaching forward to help push them down. Then she was wrapped up in his arms again and she gave a needy little moan, arms curling around his neck while she pressed hungry kisses to his mouth.
"I can't believe you're really here," she breathed between kisses, pressing herself against him, a little hesitant. Not weary but nervous, heart beating like a frightened rabbit, cheeks flushed and lips a kiss swollen and rosy. "I love you," she breathed against his lips before she started to pull him down with her to the ground - rocks be damned!
"I really did think of you," he panted, crawling over her when they were both on the ground. Arms planted on either side of her head, he kissed her vigorously, drinking her lips. One hand sank down to part her thighs before he settled down on her.
"Gods, Adalia, I missed you." The words came out huskily and drenched with honesty, and his body followed suit, heat emanating between them as his hardness ground against her. To feel her so close again, made the past come flooding back, and he wrapped his arms underneath hers to hold it as close as possible.
Arms went to press against his back and her bareleg moved up, her knee resting against his hip. Pleased little noises passed through her lips and her eyes fell closed before she finally looked up. A hand caressed his cheek before she pulled him down again. Was this passion?
A needy grind of her hips against him and she gave a light nibble to his lips. "Now all we need is to make up for lost time," she teased, pressing against him, eyes falling closed again.
He whimpered, rolling his hips in response to hers. Need, yes they needed to make up for lost time indeed. He smiled , humming in pleasure at the feel of her heat. He felt his tip enveloped by her and he pushed deeper within. There they were connected and he moved with that same fiery need.
Hands held her hips, rolling them in time with his.
Adalia was taken aback.
It was a naughty dream come true!
"I have so many rocks digging into my ass," Adalia moaned out, head tipped back, working her hips. Biting her lip she pressed her hands to his back, blunt nails digging in when he moved just right .
"Hysaeda," she breathed, his name a sort of disbelieving chant. Flushed red, she make encouraging noises, "c'mon, this is reuinion sex. We can save the romantic stuff for a bed without dirt in it," she teased, head dropping back again, lip going between her teeth.
"I'm just warming up, Adalia. Geeze," he hissed, growling and taking one of her ears between his teeth. He let the blood in him burn, waxing and waning with every rise and fall of his hips. Listening to her whimper, Hysaeda held firm to the place that made her squirm the most.
"Since when are you so tou-ah," cut off by the bite to her ear. Knees were tight to his hips. Adalia gave an arch of her back, fingers digging in, breath picking up. "Warming up," she breathed, pulling him down for a kiss before her hands went to his back to drab her nails down, "i know you're an old man but i didnt know how old."
Though her teasing was cut short, "right there," Adalia begged, "i'm gonna come if you keep doing that." Adalia choked out, fingers digging into hair and her legs curled around his waist. The passion was heated, "Hysaeda," she sobbed out, another roll of her hips, silently begging for more.
"Not yet," he panted, working that angle that made her beg. The friction grated against his skin, and hips going raw as he pounded harder into her. "With me. Gods..."
He felt himself shudder, one followed by another, followed by another and the tremble came suddenly. Just when he did that was. A noise erupted from him, one he was unfamiliar with before he felt himself burst within her heat.
Hysaeda trembled, his arms and legs like jelly, and he made a noise of release, followed by a sigh. "Gods, Adalia," he groaned.
Adalia bit her lip, back arching. A moan left her after Hysaeda picked up the pace and the little rocks digging into her back werent such a big deal anymore. Feeling him come inside her snapped her strings and she cried out, tightening. Her arms curled aeound his neck and her legs wrapped around his hips.
The sigh was echoed, flushed and panting, still, she smiled brighty before she gave a giggle and she shifted her hips, unwilling to let him pull away. Gently her fingers trailed up and down his back and she moved her hands to cover her breasts, "imagine how great the hate fucking would have been," she teased with a grin.
He stuck his tongue out at her. Now was probably the worst time to mention that kind of thing. But he only laughed and reached up to brush her hair back. "The night is young, I could undercook the rabbit and you could get sick, then we can argue and have rough makeup sex."
A soft kiss on her lips. His hand cupped hers on her breast and gave it a squeeze. "You think we're done? I mean the night is young."
A swift movement of her hand so his hand was directly on her breast. "I dont think i want to get sick again," she shifted her hips, giving a heated purr, eyes falling closed. "We're not?" She smoothed her hands up and down his sides, grinning up at him, "got another one in ya?"
Adalia licked her lips, "we should move though, the rocks are starting to hurt." A smirk, "well... move or you can be on the bottom."
Hysaeda squeezed her breast and ran a thumb over her nipple. "We can go for seconds after dinner. I volunteer as tribute," he said with a smile, kissing her sensually.
He turned over onto his side, coaxing her to free him and moving toward the rabbit. "How do you like yours? Nice and crispy?"
Adalia rolled onto her side, resting a hand over her belly eyes closing for a moment. "Nice and crispy," though she wiggled onto her knees and stood up, gathering her clothing and moving to the bedroll. Presenting her back to him, "how many rocks are in my back?"
"Hmm, a prime piece of meat there," Hysaeda said and reached across to dust off her back. "Most of them are on your butt anyway."
Adalia dusted rocks from her butt and sat on the bedroll, peeling off the rest of her pants and pulling a loose blanket over her shoulders. A lingering shiver ran down her spine and she cloaed her eyes for a moment, givinf Hysaeda a heated look.
"I didnt even ask," she started apologeticly, "you're not... Tribe-engaged or anything are you? I'd hate to ruin you for your future wife." Her lack of magic - either from fatigue or that weird black sludge was a far away thought now that her body tingled and her cheeks were warm.
"I thought you were my future wife," he mused, smiling in jest. He worked idly on the rabbit and watched her from the corner of his eye."
"No, I'm not engaged. Or married. I'm as single as you, I guess."
His comment threw her off and she went quiet, looking away for a moment. It was a joke, right? Still, she couldnt deny thag her heart fluttered, her pace picked up. Another tingle shivered up her spine and warmth bloomed in her belly.
"I could be," she 'teased' back, shifting the blanket down to bare her shoulders - not that she was making an effort to hide anything from view anyway. "I'm sure if you asked nicely enough and promised a lifetime supply of hugs and kisses i'd do just about anything with you."
"would you be content living in a forest a thousand miles away from any of your civilization?' he asked, curious and yet playful. It was an intriguing idea, toying with the idea of marriage. He knew he needed to commit to a bride some time soon, but he was not yet running out of time.
He cooked the rabbit in a spit-like formation, slowly turning it.
"Would you miss anything about the life you once knew?"
Adalia hummed.
"Beds," a wiggle and curling the blanket around her tighter, then she smirked, "but i suppose i could use you for one."
"My life's dream. I always wanted to be a bed," he laughed and grew quiet for a while. He turned the rabbit until it was crispy and he took it from the flame. "It's ready if you're still hungry," he said, glancing over to her.
Adalia gave a little affirmative noise, shuffling closer and taking a deep breath."i'll do everything in my power to help you achieve your dream," and she reached forward and delicately took the rabbit. "I suppose i should keep my strength up if we're going to be having a reunion party," another smirk and she closed her eyes for a longer stretch of time.
"Thank you," she said softly, moving again to kiss him on the cheek, taking the blanket with her and sitting beside him.
Hysaeda found himself blushing and blushing hard when she sat beside him. Sure it was weird considering they just rolled around with each other and fucked good and hard.
He ate his rabbit quietly, picking at the bits between the skull and neck and licking his fingers where they got dirty. "You're welcome," he murmured back, looking at her and smiling. "You look beautiful as ever you know. I just thought you should know that."
Adalia gave him a sceptical look.
A brief glance down at herself and it was clear she was naked under the blanket, her hair was a mess and she just smirked at Hysaeda and licked her fingers clean of the rabbit she'd finished.
"Oh?" She began, smiling at him, letting the blanket slide down far enough so the only thing covering her was her long hair, "well thank you, you're looking handsome yourself. I like the hair," and she reached forward and gently took a chuck to touch it.
"I just let it grow out. I've been so busy rebuilding the tribe again that I never bothered to cut it," he murmured. He let her touch it and part her hair. "I'm glad you like it though... It's not too long?"
"No. It suits you," Adalia sighed and moved her hand to his, threading their fingers together, "have you been okay? Does being out here with me just lead to trouble?" A concerned look was on her face and she bit her lip.
"I don't know. I think being with you leads to interesting situations," he chuckled, taking a few more bites of rabbit. "I like the adventures we have together and I wouldn't trade them for anything."
Adalia blushed and looked away before she stuck out her tongue out at him. "Even when we didnt get along? You woulsnt even trade those?"
"Not even those ones. How else would I have known what kind of wonderful person you really were? Turns out, you're actually quite attractive in personality as well as your behind," he murmured with a wink.
Adalia blushed hotly, mouth drawing into a thin line before she rolled her eyes and shook her head. The wink topped it off and she couldnt help the smile on her face. "Same to you," she frowned slightly, "Hysaeda, how long can you be away from your tribe for? Before it becomes a problem?"
"I will not be away for years, if that's what you mean," Hysaeda murmured. "Why? Do you plan on keeping me forever?"
Adalia blushed before looking away, biting her lip before casting him a brief glance.
"Well, that was the plan, but we both know how well my plans go." A small smile and she looked up at the sky, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, "I suppose I could let you go, when the time comes."
"I didn't mean you'd keep me away. You could always come with me. Become part Umbraeon," he said with a smirk.
Adalia gave him a curious look, reaching to caress the point of his ear and run hee fingers through his hair. "Oh? How does one become part Umbraeon?" Her hand rested on his chest and she caressed the flesh under her thumb, "i always thought you were born one," she teased, tilting her head, eyes half closed.
"An honorary Umbraeon then," he corrected himself. "I mean...You've left your family behind. You're far from home. I offer you my tribe to be your home as well. I love you, and as Khan, you're always welcome there."
Adalia felt her chest tighten and she gave Hysaeda a long look.
Then she frowned slightly, blinking at him, "whats a Khan?" A moments pause, "would i be your slave?"
"No," Hysaeda said quickly. "You could be my wife...if you wanted to." He tilted his head. "A Khan is a sort of chieftain, Warlord of the tribe."
"Your..." Adalia paused, looking Hysaeda over, flushing before she made sure her hands were clean, pressing her fingertips to his cheeks. Was he serious? Adalia stared at him, green eyes wide before she took a careful little breath, "I want to," she confirmes, pressing her plam to his chest. "But how about we just get used to one another again."
"Thats a pretty big step and i can barely keep my hands off of you and the idea of being yours forever makes me light headed and tingly."
"That sounds perfectly fine to me," Hysaeda murmured and smiled. "I like just being with you, and I wouldn't want you to pass out. Because swooning...is a little cliche I think."
He leaned in and kissed her, small exploratory pecks on her lips.
Adalia pushed for more, the small exploratory peck on the lips was followed by her pressing hers back to his, drawing her tongue over the seam of his lips. "Who said anything about swooning," she breathed, slipping herself onto his lap, a leg on either side of his. "I want to pass out from exhaustion." Adalia pressed for more kisses, finding enjoyment in the abilitg to pursue Hysaeda like this.
"You know, as the main subject of almost all my fantasies this is just about a dream come true."
"Oh? You dream of capturing hapless hunters with your wily charms," Hysaeda chuckled and kissed her back, leaning in with a growl as his arms slipped around her middle.
"What other kinds of things did you dream about?"
"Hmm," Adalia hummed against his lips, pressing a kiss to his cheek before she curled her arms around his neck, "mostly us naked and going at it like we were starving and it was food." And her expression didnt let on that she was talking about something, 'carnal' as her mother would say.
"I guess the other fantasies included marriage. Children. A life. Day dreams." Adalia looked away, colour high on her cheeks, "though they always included a house," she smiled, "instead of a tent."
"Hmm, a house does sound rather nice," Hysaeda murmured against her lips, entwining her body around his so they could be as close to each other as possible. His heart throbbed in his ears, making him hearing only her voice, and the heaviness of each breath.
"Perhaps we could have a house. Perhaps, we could live a domestic life. But wouldn't you be worried? What if you got bored?"
Adalia just grinned at him, eyes hooded.
"I dunno, if I get to be with you it might not be so bad to be bored," She gave him a gentle chaste peck on the lips before she just tucked her head beside his and let her arms curled around him in a hug. "Would it be okay?" She mumbled into his neck, "If I went with you? Back to your home?"
Hysaeda kept his touches light, but curious, roving down the ravine of her spine. "I don't see why not. You're not a complete stranger to them. They would remember you, in a good way I think. And I see no reason why you can't call it home to. Two of theirs to vouch for you, it would be one of the first times an outsider would be among us. And be made one of us."
Adalia leaned back, looking into his eyes.
His touch sent goosebumps over her skin and she sighed, a pleased smile on her face before she pressed another kiss to his lips. "How does that work?" She started, smirking at him, "to become one of you," Adalia nibbled on his lower lip before she ran her hands up and down his sides.
"You do as we do, I imagine," he said gently, relaxing into her touch. Chills coursed up and down his spine.
"If you live among us, and respect who you are, they will come to respect and accept you as well."
Adalia smiled, tilting her head to the side.
"Think they'll buy that I'm an albino?" She teased, "I know my ears aren't as pointy as yours are..."
Hysaeda laughed, maybe even snorting just a bit in response to that question. "I think they'll find a reason to trust you, regardless of not as pointy ears. My ears aren't as pronounced as some. Why? Do you think my ears are sexy?"
Adalia smirked at him, finger tracing over to the point of his ear before she gave it a light pinch.
"They complete the 'wild elf'-y look," She confessed, "The ears just finish off the sexy, but the rest of you handles that just fine." Adalia tilted her head and tossed her hair over her shoulder before she caught his hair in her hand, "Why were you too busy?" She frowned then, giving him a concerned look, "Before, in the smoke - your little ritual. It got you edgy. Why?"
"Edgy? I wasn't edgy was I?" He gave her a look, one that was rather confused when she posed that question. Had he truly been distant? Or did he simply feel the need to recuperate himself from the ritual. Doing that kind of magic was what his father did on a daily basis. Tribekin that needed guidance, had an ailment, or questions of a spiritual nature turned to the Ankuman for support.
And now that he was gone, he was the one that took his place. But being both Khan and Ankuman was no easy task, nor for the lighthearted. Hsyaeda supposed he simply needed some reprieve from using magic that took energy out of him.
Adalia smiled, "a little. Seemed like you wanted to be alone," she tucked some of his hair behind his ear and pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek. "If im going to be your little lost puppy-pet the least i can do is worry about you, hmm?"
"Sometimes I feel like a lost puppy. Things haven't been the same... Sometimes I fee like just walking away from all of it, like I did when I was just a lonely hunter." He mused this aloud and kissed her cheek, loving the feel of her in his arms, in the escape it brought him.
"Well," she leaned back, caught his chin and pressed a lingering kiss to his lips, "whats stopping you?" Adalias voice took on a husky whisper and she nuzzled against hjs neck. "Did you like being a lonely hunter?"
"I felt like myself then. But...life wasn't great then," he said with a frown, although her touches sent chills up his spine. "Adalia, where do you feel most yourself? Most...free?"
There was a pause.
Adalia frowned and stared at him, frowning before she shrugged.
"Where do i feel like me?" She repeated, "on Atras, I guess. When we're moving. When i can... use my skills to benefit others." There was a small shrug, "i dont know.im still... i still dont really know who i am behind the lady and the duty. They're all i've had before Quinlan stole that crest."
"Then I'd say you're free to find your niche in the world," Hysaeda murmured. He kissed her gently, lips trailing curiously down her neck before looking up a her. "Or maybe you already found it..."
"Adalia, you're remarkably brave. People that are rarely think so, but I just want you to know that few people would do what you did. Leave your home, venture off. Not even hesitate to protect your companions. Even if you don't like them," he said.
Adalia tried to smile, "I didn't not like him," she closed her green eyes, fingers pushing through his hair. Pulling back, she eyed the bedroll and then looked up at the sky.
"I think its bedtime. Catch some sleep." She started to remove herself from his lap, "join me? I know the rocks arent comfortable."
"Yeah, you're right," he murmured. Once they were in the bedroll, he pulled the covers up over them. It was a thin layer, but it was better than sleeping on the cold hard ground.
"I love you, Adalia," Hysaeda found himself saying, his eyelids growing heavy with the need for sleep. "I know it was a spur of the moment thing, but...it's true."
Adalia gave a husky laugh and curled herself in his arms. "I love you, too," she murmured cuddling back eyes closed. " didnt think id ever see you again."
He roved his hand up and down her back, keeping her warmth close and allowing it to radiate throughout his body. "Maybe this is all a dream," he muttered. "But I sure hope it isn't." And slowly felt himself drift off to sleep.
Adalia didn't want it to be a dream either.
Falling asleep against Hysaeda was like everything she'd dreamed it would be. Sort of. Mostly she dreamed about it in an actual bed too but... Beggars couldn't be choosers. Adalia pressed a kiss to Hysaedas shoulder before she drifted off to sleep.
It was a dreamless sleep for the most part. An awful burning in her hands woke her up though and she flexed them for a moment before she realized she'd slept clean through the night. A little frown when she realized she was still snuggled in close to Hysaeda and she shuffled back a little bit to trail her finger over his lips, examining his features in dawn light.
The feel of a finger made Hysaeda sleepily brush it away, thinking it an insect and he sniffed as he turned in to face, Adalia. Still clearly intent on sleep.
Leaning in she snuggled in closer, tucking her head against his chest and curling her legs up. Probably a good thing they werent in a real bed or she'd never want to leave. "Hysaeda," she mumbled against his chest, "sun's up." Her voice was soft and she was perhaps a little impatient.
"Well good for the sun," he mumbled. But he flickered his eyes open and leaned up to look at her. "Okay, I'm awake. But do I really have to get up?"
A smirk.
"Well. No. We can stay cuddled up all day if you like," she replied honestly. I was hoping to find a town though. A place to resupply." She rolles over so her back was to his chest, "sleep in a real bed."
"Hmm," mulling it over a moment. "You do make the deal rather too enticing."
He sat up and stretched his back, easing the tension that lingered in his spine. "You're right too. And I could go for real food as well. And..I just don't want to cook."
Adalia chuckled.
"So," She turned over again and pressed a kiss to his chest, eyes closed for a moment to take in the sunshine before she looked up at him, "Let's go." A quick kiss pecked to his lips and she removed herself from the bedroll and went about getting dressed, finger combing her hair and saddling Atras. More impatient about getting to a real bed for a night than about resupplying, but... Hysaeda didn't need to know that.
Soon enough they were off again. Hysaeda was a little wobbly on his feet, but it was good to be on the move again. He didn't realize how exhausted he could become just from resting, a quick look to Adalia however reminded him that a little exercise went a long way. He grinned as they parted through the trees little by little.
A settlement wasn't far. A small village by the name of Birwood soon appeared on the dirt path at their feet. And Atras seemed to happy to find a real stable.
Atras was more than happy to find a stable.
He booked it and since Adalia had been wanting to give the horse a break, she hadn't been riding him. He pulled his reins from her hands and half trotted to the taverns stable, excitedly parking himself into one of the stalls and helping himself to hay.
Which left Adalia to run after him, opal hair flying around her head while she ran awkwardly to catch her horse. "Atras!" She barked, it took a few minutes of running - the horse was much faster than her - but she got there red faced and panting. "You little monster!" She yelled at the horse, going to his saddle to gather what coin she had left before giving him a gentle slap on the butt and moving to the stable doors to wait for Hysaeda. Maybe there could even be a warm bath. Maybe.
There was at least some humor in the fact that Atras had run off to munch on the first sign of food he found. He supposed dried apple slices just wouldn't do and well, a horse would always be a horse.
"Well," he replied with a shrug. "You know you're whipped when your horse doesn't even bother waiting for you." He laughed and followed Adalia further into the settlement. It was larger than he expected, but it was nice to see people again, real people and seeing them go about their business.
"What's your first call to duty, Adalia?" he murmured. "Food and Drink? Or cleaning up?"
Cleaning could be a nice evening in a bath. If she had scented oils and fancy soaps it could be a whole night. As it was, she knew the only bathing she'd get done here would be lukewarm water and a tub.
"Food," She nodded, "And drinks." Adalia smirked, "Tipsy drinks. I think we deserve those," Another nod and she caught what coin she had in her hand and made her way for the door. It opened into a quiet establishment, the 'regulars' sweaty and tired from work gave the pair a weary look - one of them downright glaring at them - though Adalia just smiled at them.
Adalia found her way to the bar, "Two meals please, and the fanciest cheapest alcoholic drinks you have." The meal was a simple stew which didn't smell bad but it was hot and ready and the drink was a glass of whiskey. Adalia smirked at that and took a sip, wrinkling her nose after from the taste.
At least it'd get her buzzed.
"Do you have any rooms available?" She inquired, tilting her head.
"Sure." He eyed the pair, "You pay for two nights, minimum, even if yer only stayin' one. Comes with a bath and breakfast tomorrow," Adalia wrinkled her nose at that but passed over the coin, then paused, "Ah, my horse--"
"Already added to it. Foregetful thing, aren't you?" The man chuckled, giving her a smirk before turning away and Adalia took a dainty little sip of her whiskey again.
Despite deserving it, as they had been through a lot, Hysaeda was wary of Adalia becoming tipsy. He had never been much of a drinker himself, and Umbraeon brews had kicks of their own, sometimes with herbal additives that created an acquired flavor.
He smiled, watching Adalia enjoy herself. If anyone deserved it, yes, it was her. "I'm glad I could do this for you. At this point I'm willing to try just about anything to get you to relax. Adalia, I think a toast is in order."
With a sturdy hand he raised his own glass of whiskey - an amber liquid that he had trouble keeping down admittedly - "To you my friend. For all your...courage. Yeah I think that's the right word."
Adalia pouted, toasted with Hysaeda and quickly enough, finished off her drink. Then she leaned in, voice going low. "Just what encompasses anything to help me relax?" It was mostly in a teasing manner, but she sneaked Hysaedas glass from him and finished that too. Q
"Easy there," he said with a laugh as he watched her down the liquor as if it were diluted with water - and it probably was in an establishment like this. Decent spirits were hard to come by that weren't home brews.
"How are you feeling now? Don't let me eat alone now." He munched thoughtfully on his food as another drink came around. This time he was careful to protect it from Adalia's surreptitious hands.
Adalia ate her meal and rested her cheek on her hand. Flushed from what little diluted whiskey she congratulated herself with, still she looked a little put out.
"What am I going to do?" Her voice was quiet and her mask cracked just a little.
"What does one in your position do?" he asked softly.
Adalia gave Hysaeda an unamused look, "get married and have babies." Her tone was curt, her expression sour.
"And what would Adalia do?" he asked, correcting himself now.
Adalia frowned, looking thoughtful. What would Adalia do? "I dont know," she licked her lips, "finish her meal and try to seduce you?"
"I guess we're all trying to find our place in life... shall we find one together?" Hysaeda asked gently.
Adalia blushed and cleared her throat. "Together-together?" Her voice was soft and she looked away for a moment, "can I bring my horse?"
He smiled and brushed back a strand of opal hair. "You and me. And Fatras of course," he said with a nod. "I think even a Khan can take a leave of absence."
Adalia ducked her head down, grinning before she gave a bubbled laugh and smoothed her hand over her hair, tucking it behind her pointed ear. "You think? Do we need to go ask?"
"I think we can manage," he said, smirking at her. "How are you feeling? Is the room spinning yet?"
"It takes more than that to make the room spin," Adalia scoffed, sticking out her tongue then she leaned in, "im sure we can make the room spin for different reasons though."
"I'm sure we can come up with something creative," Hysaeda said, rising from the table and holding out a hand for her to hold onto. Once joined, he led them upstairs, gesturing as to which one was the right room.
"You have the key I believe."
Adalia took his hand gently, head tilted up, eyes closed and they were on their way. Adalia frowned, trying to remember which door it was before Hysaeda pipped up about a key. Right. The key.
Putting her hand into one of her pockets she fished it out and quickly enough the door was unlocked, walking into it and looking around. It was modest. A bed, a desk with a chair, a quill and an inkpot. A complimentary pierce of parchment paper. Adalia closed her eyes for a moment, putting her bag down on the floor at the foot of the bed before flopping on it spread eagle.
"I missed beds," She moaned out, stretching looking all too pleased to be laying on a bed many people had before, "I had the greatest bed. You should have tried it out."
"Leaving any room for me?" Hysaeda, leaning over her and poking her leg with his index finger.
"Because you're not the only one that missed beds, and hot food."
Adalia rolled slightly, laying on her side to look at him. A smirk and she snuggled down onto her side, "going to join me then?"
Hysaeda tilted his head considering it for a time. "I don't know, although you make it look awfully inviting," he replied. He supposed it was better than standing here like an idiot and getting even more tired. Soon he relented, taking off his boots and kneeling down beside her on the bed, sprawling onto his back.
Adalia curled up on his side, resting her head on his shoulder and her arm draped over his chest.
"You know, I don't think I've ever seen you so... Casual. You were so angry before," she drew mindless circles on his chest and snuggled in against him, "What happened? Was it becoming that Khan thing?"
"I think maybe I'm just thinking of the old times when we were both traveling, when we were, what do those people call it, 'questing'?"
Turning on his side, he rolled a pillow beneath his head. "I just...think I've been lonely for a long time. Seeing you again brought back old memories. I didn't mean to be angry, sorry if I sounded like it."
Adalia leaned back, giving Hysaeda the space he seemed to want but didnt want to ask for. A gentle little frown and she sat up, leaning over him to look down, her long opal hair no doubt tickling his arms. "Ill keep you company," she gave him a nudge, "cant be lonely if you're not alone, hmm?"
"Adalia," was all he murmured. Fingers reached up and danced in her hair, entwining it between those long appendages into the straightened lengths of that beautiful pearly sheen.
"You are so beautiful," he murmured. "Why did you fall in love with a savage such as me?"
Adalia gave a soft laugh, taking his hand and pressing it to her cheek.
"Well, it was easy, i suppose. Youre brave. Wonderful. Strong," she leaned in and pressed her lips to his, "you make my heart pound. You make me want to live," another kiss and she smiled, "i thought... I thought i'd rot away in that house..." she nuzzled against him, "Im glad leaving it led me to you again."
Those words stirred something inside of Hysaeda. He could feel his eyes warming up, and before he knew it a tear rolled down his cheek. A stray hand plucked at the rogue cheek that had wet his skin. Funny, he never thought himself as much of a cryer.
"You...you made me cry, Adalia. How...nice," he said with a soft smile, and another few strolled down his cheeks. "That's a good thing right?"
The tears alarmed her and she wiped at them with her thumb, pressing a kiss to his cheek and leaning back to look at him. "I dont know. Ive only cried because if pain," her hand pressed to his chest and she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his forehead.
"I love you and if i had a choice id wake up every morning in your arms and fall asleep the same. Have lots of children and live happily ever after." She leaned back, a teasing smile on her face as she kissed a tear stained cheek again.
"Happily ever after? Is that even possible for people like it's? Trouble always seems to find our location," Hysaeda mused. He turned his head in to kiss her neck.
"Thank you Adalia... I feel like I needed to hear that. I love you... it feels good to say that now."
Adalia gave a breathy chuckle and nuzzled against his ear. "Did it make you itchy before?" She smoothed her fingers through his hair, eyes falling closed. "We'll find the happy between all the trouble that finds us. Secret little moments. Just for us." She curled a leg over his waist and curled her arms around his torso.
"Itchy? Yes, yes it did," Hysaeda chuckled. He turned into her warmth, loving the feel of her body beside his.
He wrapped an arm around her. "You feel so good, so close to me. I missed you so much," he murmured.
Adalia smiled, eyes falling closed. "I hadnt realized how much i cared until it was too late," she caught his chin between her index and her thumb and pressed a heated kiss to his lips. "I want you. Tonight, tomorrow," another kiss, "forever. Hysaeda, how do you feel about being a Serenian noble?" She teased, rolling and pulling Hysaeda over her.
What an odd question.
"Nobility? A Serenian noble? Me? It's probably one of the weirdest thing I've ever heard. Why do you ask? If I marry you, does that make me a lord or something?" he asked with a small smile.
Adalia laughed, "yes. And it makes you cousin to a province leader," she ran her hand up and down his side, resting at his hip, pulling him closer to her. Adalia bit her lip and started to push at his clothing, "enough talking about your fancy new position if you choose to stay with me."
He knew she meant it in flirtation, but the idea of that being possible was somewhat...intriguing and chilling at the same time. What would it mean for them?
Hysaeda kissed her, as she pried off her clothing, and pushed the thought from his mind. He needed to lose himself in the moment, and for now this distraction was doing well-enough.
Adalia let her eyes fall closed and she smoothed her fingers through Hysaeda's pale hair. "We dont have to do anything if you dont want to," she breathed, shifting her weight to fit him comfortable between her legs. A small smile, "as long as we get to cuddle, at least."
"Don't do that. Don't doubt yourself. Don't think I don't want you, even if my mind wanders elsewhere at times," Hysaeda said softly. He pecked at her lips, plucking at them with soft kisses.
"I want you, as much as you want me. Maybe more because I could go all night. And that could probably kill you," he said with a smug grin.
"Wanna try?" Her voice was husky and her hands drifted down between them, fingers lightly playing at his hips. Mostly baked beneath him - her clothes thrown in various directions - she closed her eyes briefly and got comfortable. "I think I'd be okay until dawn," she looked to the window, small and dirty as it was. Barely dusk. "With a nap," her fingers dipped dow his front and she bit her lip, trembling with need.
"Don't kill me," she teased, "but getting to deaths door with me would be okay."
It didn't take much to get him going. Hysaeda didn't want to live in the past anymore, as he'd done most of his life. He wanted to live in the moment, this moment, and with the way she touched him, she brought that desire more and more to life.
He was soon hard under her ministrations and found her heat, wriggling his hips until the angle was just right and he shuddered with want. A kiss to sear the heat between them and he joined his body with hers.
Adalia arched her back into it, curling her legs around his waist, fingers digging into his back. No doubt come morning he'd have his share of scratches and bite marks. The night was long and full of passion, the bed a mess of sheets and she sprawled out over Hysaeda, still trembling. She was seated upon him, still connected, and she looked down at him, a tired smile of her face.
Dawn was peaking through the window and she closed her eyes briefly, "i vote we sleep all day," she sighed, leaning forward and resting her head on his chest.
Hysaeda was breathing heavily, eyelids heavy and drooping and with a long grin on his face. "You're still alive... And I'm worn the hell out. It's a miracle. I hope that bite mark on my bum isn't permanent though."
He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. "I think I could sleep for a week, what about you?"
Adalia curled up against Hysaeda.
Not quite believing this wasnt all some fever dream. One of her legs hooked up over his hip and she nuzzled against his chest with a content sigh. "Well, sleep and other things, sure," a lingering kiss was pressed to his chest and she closed her eyes.
"I hope it is. Thats what you get for slinging me over your shoulder. A bite on the butt," Adalia snapped her teeth before grinning and wiggling her eyebrows.