Cold Poison (Closed)

[miss_sanguine]

Salix arctica. One of Sionad's most sacred plants, worshipped for its ability to ward off the Arctic woolly bear. Or maybe it was worshipped for more spiritual reasons; its warding talents were a perk. Either way, he didn't much care. What mattered to him was that its berries held a toxin so lethal it could kill a person in ten seconds.

The problem was that it was a burden for it to be so valued, making it difficult for him to come here to the tundra and gather some of its berries for his various poisons.

He came every summer, the best time for it. The plant flourished during this season, its berries ripe and ready for picking, its leaves bright and fragrant. And it was only here, here in one of the coldest places on the planet, that he could find it.

Ryuu wrapped his furs closer around his body as he made his way through the settlement, looking for someone with the authority to escort him to the volcanic soil found off in the wasteland. The frosty air bit through his layers of clothes. He hated this damned place. The sooner he was through, the sooner he could leave. Already his face felt numb and tight.

Inhabitants were going about their business as if the cold were no burden to them at all. He caught snippets of conversations in their language, most of it boring. All they seemed to talk about was hunting, their next meal, and trades. It being summer, the trade route was open to them and they seemed to be having a lucky time with foreign travelers. Nothing but primitives, these people. Uneducated.

Up ahead stood a tent made of finer furs than all the rest. Smoke rose up out of its top, billowing into the foggy air. Someone of higher regard lived there, and it was where he was headed. He ignored everyone else, including their stares.

A distant voice resonated through his head. Familiar, yet alien in its presense.Cold . . . it said. So cold.

He shivered.

[GoblinFae]

Zurna moved through the temporary village with a purpose. Traditionally she would stop to socialize with the other traders and browse the wares of the caravans, but not today. Today she needed to bargain her way into getting at least a month's worth of provisions out of one the wealthiest and loneliest men on the tundra, Marduk Shimon.

She marched her way up the hill to Shimon's elaborate tent, her rucksack clinking with her every step as her precious bottles of homemade cider were jostled.

'Please be in a good mood. Please be in a good mood,' her mind feverishly chanted as she entered the warmth and sanctuary of the luxurious fur tent.

"Zurna!" a voice simpered from her right.
"Marduk!" she replied as she turned to face the tall, robust man before her. "Today I come on business. Would you assist me?"
"Of course my sweet nymph!" he said pulling her close, "How may I serve you?"

Disentangling herself she thought 'By keeping your lecherous hands to yourself.'
"How much for a month's worth of food and supplies?" she asked, getting straight to the point.
"Your hand in marriage," he deadpanned this time touching her thigh in a show of fixing her wrap.
"Unlikely. Can I convince you to sell it to me for some mead?"
"Did you make it?"
"Of course."
"How much?"
"Half a bottle."
"I want a case. A case and nothing less or you can do your bargaining elsewhere."
"We cannot all have what we want Marduk. If I give you a case my family has nothing left to barter with. I will give you a full bottle, if that appeases you."
"Give me four bottles and we can call it a deal. That is the best I can give you without cheating myself. My supplies are the best you will ever get. Any lower a bargain and you insult me."

Zurna's heart beat fast and wild in her chest. 'I need those supplies' she thought desperately. 'What did mama always say? She smirked as an idea popped into her head. "My final offer before I take my business elsewhere. Two bottles of mead and a kiss."
"Agreed. I must say little Nali your bargaining skills have gotten much better," he said leaning in close with puckered lips.

Quickly before he had time to react she kissed his stubbly cheek and danced out of reach. "You get the bottles when I get the supplies," she stated.
"You drive a hard bargain Zurna Nali," he grumbled, "and a dirty one. What do you need the supplies for anyway?" he asked as he gathered her things.
"I am going to where the salix arctica grows. They say if you preform ritual before it for a week's time your prayers will be answered."
"What shall you pray for, a husband perhaps? You know you do not have to go all the way across the tundra when I am standing right here."
Looking around, Zurna noticed a line of customers forming. She could not remember them coming in and hoped they had not all heard her exchange with Marduk. Using the customers as her excuse, she grabbed her supplies, gave Shimon the mead, and hastily retreated. "You have other customers to take care of, I really must be going. Thank you Marduk!" she called as she exited the tent.

[miss_sanguine]

The line of people that gathered outside the tent grew as he approached . He didn't want to wait for them to finish whatever useless task they were up to; he wanted to get an escort and be gone. What they wanted wasn't important compared to what he needed. This particular poison he was going to make was one of crucial importance, especially since he planned on making another visit to Connlaoth soon.

Not bothering with the line, he simply walked up to the tent, pulled back the flap--and caught the word Salix arctica from inside.

While it wasn't uncommon for the plant to be spoken of this time of year, it still wasn't common enough for him to have overheard it so easily. He might have misheard over the noise of all the people, but that was unlikely.

The woman exchanged further words with the man inside, and when she turned to leave, Ryuu stepped back and waited for her to leave the tent. Once she was outside, he stepped in front of her, arms still folded. He put on his friendliest face.

"Excuse me," he said. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but did I hear you say Salix arctica? Would you happen to be heading that way?"

[GoblinFae]

Zurna was in such a rush to leave, she did not see the figure in front of her until she had nearly run him over. In surprise, she wobbled about, trying to find her balance in the saturated, slush-covered earth.

'A rich foreigner,' she thought, eyeing the figure before her. 'Salix arctica? What does he want with that?' Slowly she nodded her head once, a soft "aye" escaping chapped lips. She could not even look him in the eye. 'Pull yourself together woman! You avoid Marduk's advances, only to get all dewy-eyed over some blueblood? No! Be assertive!'

With newly found confidence she stood up straight, shoulders back and chin raised meeting his eye. "What's it to you?" she queried. But, her rallied confidence was short-lived, won over by shyness. Without really waiting for an answer she moved to side-step him, a blush staining her pale cheeks red. 'Well, there goes being assertive,' she mocked herself as she attempted to flee.

[miss_sanguine]

She was shy. It was obvious, really: the diminished eye contact, the quiet voice. But she had confirmed what he'd already deduced himself.

So. She was on her way to the Salix arctica as well. What a lucky coincidence for him. If she was planning to go there, then she had to be a native. A native with the authority. Just what he needed.

As she made to move away, head low and cheeks even rosier than before, he stepped in front of her, hand held out and open as a sign of friendliness. "Please," he said, politeness etching his every syllable. "I happen to be headed there myself. But being a foreigner, I need an escort. Do I mind if I join you?"

[GoblinFae]

'Escort? Join? I'm going to be with him for a month! Alone?' As her thoughts raced, Zurna felt herself begin to hyperventilate. 'He's a stranger, I don't know him. What if he's a murderer? Or worse, what if he is a slave-trader trying to trick me away from home only to trap me in the tundra?' Taking a deep breath she tried to clear her mind and think rationally. 'If he is out to hurt me, then let him see the family I come from. Twenty-five brothers must be good for something now.'

"A foreigner you say? You must be hungry. My family and I would be honored if you shared the fire in our hearth and food cooked on it. Perhaps then we can better discuss the possibility of travel," she offered gently clasping his gloved hand between both of hers before once more releasing it.

Yet even as she made the offer a new idea was forming. 'If i do this right, Atenteben and Birbyn? might be able use him as an excuse to convince father to let me go on my pilgrimage. Provided he passes the "test" of surviving an interaction with my brothers, I will have someone to "protect" me on the journey. He looks capable enough. Not that I need protecting, of course.'

"You do not have to feel obligated to come, of course. Not that I am saying I do not want to come. Or rather, I mean to say, uh..."

She mentally berated herself. 'Beautifully executed Zurna, now he's sure to think you are some uncultured gold-digging harlot. Congratulations!'

[miss_sanguine]

Of course it would come to something like this. All he wanted was a simple escort, and the girl had to turn it into one of the most complicated things. It wasn't like he was asking for her hand in marriage. Nevertheless, he had to keep up appearances. He didn't have the patience to go looking around for someone else, and the chance that this girl just happened to be looking to head for the same thing as he was too much of a coincidence to pass up.

Smiling as if he couldn't imagine anything more fine than going to see this stranger's family, he said, "No, no! I would love to see your family and share a meal with you. After all," he stuck his hands back into his pockets to keep them warm, "we only just met, and I think it wise we get to know each other a bit more before the long travel. Lead the way, ma chérie."

[GoblinFae]

'Good he agrees. Let my brothers decide if we should trust him.'

"It's this way," she said pointing to the largest set of tents. "We live on the outskirts, so not much further. It's just easier for us that way." She began to trek that way not really paying attention to whether he followed or not. She was preoccupied with her thoughts. 'I don't understand why father won't let me go. My brothers have all gone, why can't I? Perhaps now, since I am not alone they will let me. She sighed heavily, her breath coming out in a big cloud around her. 'We will see.'

"Oh! How rude of me. I'm Zurna," ripping herself from her thoughts. A few feet in front of her was her family's tent. Three of her brothers, her parents, and one of her brother's wives were there, all gathered around the hearth inside. The main flap of the tent had been lifted to allow everyone to fit inside. 'Let's just hope this works, WITHOUT a fight,' she prayed.

[miss_sanguine]

He'd expected a primitive settlement, just like everything else around these parts, and he wasn't disappointed. Tents. Naturally. This one large, no doubt to accommodate for her excessive family numbers. People were already spilling out of it.

"And I'm Ryuu," he said, a bit more bitterly than he'd intended, though his voice was still laced with politeness. The idea of being around so many people did not appeal to him. Everyone looked . . . happy. Something intolerable to him.

It was only for a little while, however, and that soothed him.

 - - -

"Your family was very interesting," he said, now trekking the slopes with Zurna by his side. His hands rested in his pockets, soaking in the warmth his body provided. He couldn't see anything to his side, his hood enveloping his head, but he could hear his unwanted companion's heavy footfalls in the snow beside him. "Particularly your brothers."

Despicable human beings. Filthy, full of the false warmth that families exuded. Every moment in that tent had been loathsome, time-wasting nonsense. At least they were on their way now, him leading. All he needed her for was to show he wasn't breaking rules.

[GoblinFae]

"That's one way of pointing it," she replied thinking of all the arguing that had taken place outside and out of Ryuu's earshot. Her brothers were simply insufferable in the way they had screamed and shouted like little children on reasons why she should not trust her travel companion. While they had pointed out some very true things, such as his sickly appearance, she was enraged by how rude and unsupportive they were. All of them, including Yotar, had made the journey alone and survived. She was not even asking to do that, yet still they refused her. It was her sheer stubbornness and determination that at last had won out, but even then just barely.

"When we stop for the night we will have to discuss the route. I have some concerns taking the quicker paths. There have been recent territory changes and new waterways which can make this more difficult than anticipated," she voiced to him before falling quiet once more. She was not liking this. He asked for an escort and then led the way. She knew these lands far better than any summer-timer. 'Just wait until he runs us into the nesting grounds. Like to see HIM get out of that mess,' she thought bitterly, remembering all too well the hostile nature of the matukyu that claimed the area as their own. As a child she and a friend had gotten lost in a blizzard and stumbled upon the sacred grounds after being chased there by the matukyu. She still had the scars to prove it too. 'Let's just hope that doesn't happen again.'

[miss_sanguine]

"Hm." Her voice was white noise to him. He needed no discussion; he knew where he was going. He'd traveled the path a few times, already had it etched into his mind. But she was a native, knowing more than he on the other tribes that lived here, not to mention the wildlife--if there was any. What animal decided to live in the godforsaken land would be an enemy to him. Her claims had some merit to them.

He kept walking, focusing on his steps in the deep snow. Bitter winds of snowchill bit against the skin of his face, making him recede further into the protection of his hood. Everything ahead of him lay white, desolate.

Perhaps he would end up needing the girl more than he'd anticipated. She could prove useful, if her words were true.

But he would worry about that when the time came. For now, he led the way.

[GoblinFae]

Zurna was getting irritated with his superior attitude. 'He reminds me so much of Sonia. I would  bet everything I own that he is another arrogant noble just like her.' Despite her harsh thoughts she really was not that mad. If anything she was more concerned about the journey than her partner's aloof nature. 'He's going to get us both killed, if he continues on like this.'

Looking towards the horizon, Zurna watched the sun blink out of sight before dropping her pack gently to the cooling earth. Quickly she went about making a fire, all the while ignoring her companion. If he wanted food he could take care of it himself, the only thing she was sharing was the fire. Once her bedroll and things were arranged and food was cooking she left the safety of the fire to do her prayers. Normally they would have been done them by the fire but she did not like the disquieted feeling she got from Ryuu tonight. 'Maybe it's just the cold,' she thought not believing it for a second. 'Let him sulk. My life doesn't revolve around him.'

[miss_sanguine]

The cold increased as the sun started to head toward the horizon, until what had started as an already blistering cold became an unbearable freeze that sank deep into his bones, his many furs standing no chance against its assault. He gave a light shiver when the sun disappeared completely.

By now his legs didn't exist, numb, moving because they knew they had to. He hated this blasted cold, every time he came here. Deep down a part of him envied it. He related to this cold, something he felt every moment of his life in his forgotten heart, and wanted its power to effect those on the outside as well as the inside. Then they could be just like him.

A noise made him stop, and he turned to see Zurna preparing a fire and some food. While he wasn't hungry, the warmth of the fire drew him toward it. She was silent, brooding. Had his own silence really effected her so? People didn't normally talk in below freezing temperatures; it drained them of what little warmth they could maintain. But still, it wouldn't do for her to hold feelings of dislike so early into the journey, especially if he needed her later.

"Are you all right?" he asked with feigned concern when she returned from her prayers. "You seem upset."

[GoblinFae]

The prayers and meditation grounded her, making Zurna feel a little bit better. Her aggravation was gone but the wariness she had been cultivating remained. She took it in stride, acknowledging it as a warning from the gods.

Returning to the camp, she was caught off guard by Ryuu's question and statement. Looking at him impassively she nodded her head once and softly replied, "Im fine. Thank you for asking." Ignoring him further she went about finishing dinner. It was simple fare, a thick stew with some hearty meat in it. She more played with it than actually ate as she contemplated the roads they should and should not take. It was cold by the time she finished it.

She cleaned up her utensils and supplies, stalling so she did not have to address Ryuu again. When she had nothing more to do but stare at his shivering form across the fire, she gave up and grabbed the map and her warmest fur blanket. She sat down next to Ryuu placing the neatly rolled fur bundle by the fire and unfurling the map.

The map itself did not have a single word on it only symbols. Different lines and drawings marked marshes, rivers, lakes, food trails, game migration paths, and most importantly to her, the location of the Salix arctica grounds. Pointing to the map she showed Ryuu their current location. "Normally, I would take the straight path here," she ran her across the map demonstrating what she was saying. "But the lake has swelled this summer due to how warm it has been. I fear the ice won't hold us if we try and cross. When we get to this point we will have to decide whether we should go one or go around it. My other more present concern is this," she informed him pointing to the picture of a horned beast with large teeth that bisected their desired path. "The matukyu have made their nesting grounds through the only way we can get to the holy grounds. Tomorrow will be the first day we travel through it. What do you know about them?"

[miss_sanguine]

For some reason she was still quiet. Even her answer bled silent wariness. There was nothing he could do if she continued to act this way, only try and worm his way back into her trust. He hadn't done anything to warrant this behaviour she showed toward him, had only kept his mouth shut in the cold.

Staring into the fire, watching the flames flick and dance, he didn't notice Zurna had risen until she sat next to him. He turned his head to look at her, peering out from under his hood with his austere eyes.

The map she held out held no importance to him, nothing but lines and symbols that made little sense, but he tried to appear interested in it. The information she told him was more useful to him that the paper. When she pointed to the image of a horned creature, he stared at it a moment before shaking his head. "Nothing at all," he said. "But this image alone makes them look terribly vicious."

[GoblinFae]

'Nothing. He knows nothing. Why do foreigners always underestimate the tundra? Is it so hard to imagine that a frozen wasteland is going to be cold and dangerous!'

Zurna's right hand unconsciously raised and brushed against the skin at her left shoulder and neck juncture. Realizing what she was doing she quickly busied her hands with rolling the map up as she began telling Ryuu about the matukyu.

"The matukyu are a vicious breed only when they are disturbed during nesting season." 'And nesting season happens to be all-year-round on the tundra,' her mind cheerfully supplied. "They build their nests in the peat moss underneath the snow. From the surface it would only look like a very slight depression followed by a dome in the snow. It can easily be mistaken for a snowdrift.

"Disturbing a nest is a death sentence. The matukyu," she swallowed running her hand through her hair. "You won't see it until it's got you in its grasp, and that's if you are lucky. They can only be killed by short-ranged weapons because of the thickness of their white hides. Magic just bounces off them. However, getting close to one means being at perfect goring and gnawing range. The matukyu's limps are humanoid in appearance even though they prefer to move on all fours. They are strong enough to tear a man to pieces, and will do so if given the chance."

Memories flashed before her mind's eye of the enormous white beasts stained in crimson human blood. Shaking her head she continued, "They travel in herds. If you did manage to somehow kill one, you still have the rest to contend with. An encounter with them is next to impossible to survive. To date, there has been a small handful of people that have done so, of them only one is still alive today," she ended.

She stared into the flames not seeing them but past fires and horrors. Pulling her layers closer around her, she stood picking up the now warmed blanket bundle as she did. "Take this," she said offering the soft glossy pelt to Ryuu. "It will keep you warm tonight when the embers die. I won't be needing it." Part of her was loath to give it up, but her kind heart won out. The temporary gift she offered her companion was none other than the pelt of the very beast they had been discussing. Among the sionadyaki, the possession of the matukyu pelt was seen as a symbol of a great warrior. Only those who had slain one could carry it. The pelts alone were worth a fortune because of their defense properties; the rarity of their attainability just added to the value. Zurna recalled that many a trapper had come seeking to gain the elusive hide. None had succeeded.

[miss_sanguine]

Ryuu noticed the girl's unconscious movement at her neck, his eyes traveling there as her hands fumbled along the skin. They lingered there even after she'd brought her hands back down to busy with her map, the vulnerable skin bringing flashes of past memories of victims where such an area had proven a great spot for a knife's lashing. Red splashing across ivory.

It took a few minutes to realize she still spoke to him, words without meaning bouncing around until his mind's fingers grasped them and followed along.

He took the furs without a word. Their warmth spread from his fingers and up his arm. He'd not seen nor felt their like before. Light in weight, yet retaining warmth. Running his fingers over it, he found it to be extremely soft, softer than any animal he'd ever had the chance to hold. In the light of the flickering flames, he looked up to Zurna. "Thank you," he said. "It must have cost a fortune."

[GoblinFae]

"You're welcome," she replied moving back to her own bedroll on the other side of the fire. She paused at his second comment. Staring once more at the flames she cryptically replied, "it cost me something." Looking over to him she bowed her head, wishing him a goodnight before returning her brooding gaze to the flames.

She would not sleep this night, nor any other for as long as they were traveling. Her time was meant to be spent meditating so that she was prepared when she entered the holy grounds. Sleep was considered a selfish luxury. She was required to make such a sacrifice. Others in the past had chosen food, fire, warm clothes, and shoes. Zurna had seen enough frostbite to know how dangerous that all way. She hoped that by sacrificing sleep over food she would fare better longer.

She let her mind go. Breathing in the crisp night air. On the exhale a flood of memories swamped her in a jumbled mess. In her mind she swam through a mass of colors, sounds, scents, and feelings. Memories from childhood surfaced first. Her brothers throwing a ball. Her first bow. Her first kill. From there the memories took a different road, they became darker, hinting at pasts best left forgotten. Again as she stared at the flames she saw a related memory flash scenes in her mind's eye. A boy ran through the snow laughing has he chased a young Zurna about. A little foot standing on a crushed pile of fragile periwinkle eggshells. A child's scream. Hot red liquid covering and melting pure white snow.

Zurna jolted, gasping softly as she was torn from the memories. Stretching, her back cracked protesting after the hours of complete rigidity it had endured through the cold night. Looking up she noted that the sun was just starting is ascent into the new day. 'One long night done. However many more to go.'

[miss_sanguine]

Her answer was cryptic, but he didn't care enough to pry further into the matter. Let her have her memories and secrets, whatever they might be. He sank further into his own sleep sack on which he sat, arms pulling the soft furs over him to stem off the cold. The licking tongues of fire in front of him warmed his face.

Through them, he saw Zurna. She sat rigid, staring into the flames as if they held an unrelenting trance over her. He saw emotions flashing behind her eyes. It was the expression of torment he last saw before falling into a light doze, and it was many hours later he awoke to her light gasp, his eyes opening to look at her.

Dark blue tinted the sky. Morning had come.

He sat up, rigid. The furs had provided more than adequate warmth, but the long walk in the cold still left his rested muscles stiff.

Had she slept at all?

"Something wrong?" he asked, holding back a curse as he lifted the furs from himself and his muscles screamed in protest.

[GoblinFae]

"Hmm?" She looked to Ryuu blinking owlishly. Her mind took a moment before it caught up with what her ears had heard. "Oh, yeah. Just a little stiff." She continued stretching wincing when her shoulder gave a rather loud pop.

"Did you sleep well?" She watched his movements as she began to pack up camp, noticing how they appeared somewhat slow and stiff. 'The fur would have kept him warm but the walking yesterday must have worn him out. Foreigners!'

Today her prayers were conducted while she worked. They needed to get moving soon and she did not want to waste time. Reaching into her bag she pulled out a flask and offered it to her companion. "Drink some, it will help with the stiffness. The cold has a nasty way of settling in and making us uncomfortable," she said by way of explanation. "As soon as you're ready we can head off again."