(((Continued from: http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=19938.0 )))
@DragonSong Honou dismounted and stretched. "Yeah, I need something and it will be nice to have something cooked for us." He chuckled not that he minded cooking he just liked it being done for him. "I have half a mind to get a room too but I know we need to get back to Ketra. Then we can rest."
Honou went over to Bane and patted his neck softly. "Thanks Bane. This place is very open so explore to your hearts content my friend."
He tapped Verik's shoulder and let his hand slide down his arm into his hand. Honou tagged it. "This way. Can you see the town? Have you been here before? I think you might like it. This place is very inviting." He moved in the direction of the town.
Verik smiled slightly, letting Honou lead him. "No, I've never been here," he answered, nodding his head at Bane to indicate the dragon should do as he liked. He'd call him back if they needed him.
"And a real, cooked meal does sound very tempting," he chuckled. He moved up to the elf's side but left their hands together, letting their fingers intertwine comfortably. "This mage friend of yours- what should I be expecting?" he asked curiously.
"Daion!" He smiled warmly. "You will love her! I mean that. She is an older elf, one who I ran into years ago. I helped get back a few tomes that had been stolen from her. She is a little zany but always smiling."
He noticed their hands still together and he smiled. Honou actually slowed his pace wanting to just let the moment last.
"She helped to teach me how to use my magic. I was a bit undisciplined until she gave me a few tips and actually told me how to harness the power."
"You? Undisciplined?" He widened his eyes and mock surprise, smirking. "I can hardly imagine."
Then Verik sobered slightly, asking, "So you really think she'll be able to figure out...whatever it was that healed us? This shard." His free hand twitched unconsciously toward his satchel. Carrying the thing without knowing what it could do was making him a little anxious.
He laughed! "Hard to believe right!" He laughed again!
When he was settled down a bit he looked at the satchel. "I am confidant she'll know something. If she cannot tell us she will know who can. Besides La'marri is home to some of the very best Mages. Let's eat and then head straight to her home."
They walked to the town gates where Honou spoke with one of the guards. It was obvious they knew each other. The guard, Thom, said hello to Verik and confirmed Daion was indeed home. Honou lead them into the town and towards a building to the right. The sign hung proclaimed it as the Inn & Tavern. He pushed the door open and sighed when the scent of food cooking filled his senses.
"Ahhh, a hot meal! Let's grab a table."
Verik followed Honou quietly, a little bemused. He nodded to the guard and smiled but didn't say much. It was interesting to watch the elf interact with other people, so easily and unconsciously charming.
He nodded vigorously when they entered the tavern, almost groaning at the smell of food. "There's a spot," he noted, nodding to an open table set back against a wall. His soldier's sensibility was drawn to the protected positioning of it, and the easy view it offered of the rest of the room.
It wasn't as though he expected them to be suddenly attacked, it just never hurt to be on guard.
"Sure." Honou headed over to the table Verik had indicated and sat. He sighed as he did. Exhaustion washed over him.
"By the Gods Verik. I am going to sleep for hours once this is over." He singled to the barmaid who came over with a friendly grin.
"Well look what the dogs dragged in! Where have you been Honou and who is this handsome man you are with!" She winked and addressed Verik. "I'm Lara. Don't believe a word he tells you about me. He broke my heart and I have never forgiven him since. I full well intend to poison him one day too." She said with a teasing note to her voice.
"Hey! Watch it Lara!" He joked back with a smile. "Verik this is Corporal Verik. He and I are here to see Daion on a matter. Now please we'd love some of your famous dark ale. And whatever smells so good, two of them." He was still chuckling as she shook her head to head off then stopped and looked at Verik.
"Is that good with you?" She wanted to make sure he got what he really wanted.
Verik gave her a small smile and a nod as the serving girl- Lara- moved away. "Broke her heart, huh?" he asked wryly, quirking an eyebrow at Honou.
He agreed with the sleep sentiment though. "Maybe renting a room isn't such a bad idea," he mused, covering a yawn with his hand.
He chuckled but colored a bit. "She exaggerates. Pay her no mind with that talk." He had a lot of friends who came to La'marri as it was a safe haven to study magic.
"Well only if it won't put you in any trouble. We don't want that. But the idea of sleeping with you in a bed is quite inviting." He winked.
Lara came back and set the ales down. "I'll bring over the roasted duck shortly. We have roasted vegetables with it I'll plate them up and you can share that." She turned to go back towards the kitchen area.
"Her mother is the cook and makes the best food I've eaten. I hope we can pop in or have her come out you'd like Lara's mom. Her name is Juni. Her son runs the stable, he is the best horsemen I've met. I guess you could say II like La'marri and all that live here." He gave a sheepish grin.
He laughed quietly, taking a long drink from his cup. "This place suits you," he said with a smile. Then he shrugged. "Well, like I said, no need to go into too much detail on the official report. I suppose one more night couldn't hurt."
His eyes glinted teasingly but his voice had dropped a little lower, rougher. He cleared his throat, realizing he'd been leaning in toward Honou and forcing himself to put some distance between them. "I'll just have to find a place for Bane to sleep, that's all," he said, a little too casually, trying to pretend he wasn't blushing.
They were in public, and he was suddenly strongly reminded that he was a corporal. He needed to at least pretend to be professional.
He chuckled and then laughed when he notice the slight blush! When Verik pulled away he frowned a bit. He scooted his chair over. "What!" He mocked innocently. "Are you ashamed to be in public with me? Am I such an ogre?" He was teasing but he still remand close not moving his chair back.
Honou thought about Bane and grimaced. "I am not sure there is the Niahi Woods, but I don't like the idea of him having no shelter. I know we all slept outside but we where all together. I am not sure what is out there for him?"
He didn't like the idea of Bane being alone in the woods as silly as that might seem. Not after he witnessed what happened today.
"What? No that's not-" Verik started to protest, then realized the elf was teasing. He huffed and tried to frown at him, but couldn't quite manage it.
Then his brow furrowed in thought. "Well, if your friend and her neighbors don't mind, he probably wouldn't object to curling up behind a house or something." He didn't like the idea of leaving the dragon on his own either.
He chuckled some more.
"No she wouldn't mind at all. We could probably stay there too. He home isn't huge but she has a nice enough property. I think it would be nice to be close to each other."
Their food arrived and Lara placed everything down for them and also brought a refresh of ale. "Enjoy fellas."
"Wait!" Honou stood. "Is you mother here? Can we stop in to see her?"
Lara smiled. "Yeah, she would like that. I told her you were here and she made those fresh for you both."
"Honou sat and nodded. "Let's eat!" He dug in. He hadn't realized how hungry he was.
After the first bite Verik had to exert and enormous effort not to devour his food like a wild animal. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was.
"Well, she certainly knows what she's doing," he said with a crooked grin when he took a moment to breathe. "Or maybe I was just starving."
He grinned with a mouthful of food though Honou couldn't answer for the moment. After swallowing he replied mirthfully. "I think a little of both."
He washed his food down with a generous gulp of ale. "They brew the ale themselves too." He added as he forked a few potatoes and ate them. He was feeling a bit better still tired but considerably energized.
Resting back in his chair he looked around the tavern. He caught a few eyes of those he knew and nodded. Most he wouldn't call friend but in his line of work it was fruitful to be. On the friendly side of most folk.
Verik watched his partner with interest, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You certainly seem to be in your element," he commented lightly, propping his elbow on the table and resting his cheek against his hand.
He let his leg brush against Honou's under the table, feeling considerably more relaxed- although that meant that now he was really feeling his exhaustion. Fighting back a yawn, he said, "I don't want to rush, but I'm think the sooner we deal with this shard mess, the better. I'd rather not walk around this this thing burning a hole in my pocket."
He frowned and added, "Ah- you don't think that's an actual possibility, do you? Because that seems uncomfortable."
"Nah!" He looked at Verik and made a grimace. "But I don't want to take ant chances." He got up, "wait here a minute." Walking over to where Lara was he pressed some coin into her palm and whispered in her ear she tilted her head in the direction of the kitchen.
Honou looked over towards Verik and waved him over. "I just need to see Juni. Besides I'd like her to meet you."
Verik followed, feeling suddenly and irrationally tense. It was obvious Honou cared about these people, and he wanted to make a good impression.
But, well...first impressions had never been his strong suit. Neither were second or third impressions, for that matter. It was one of the reasons he'd been so surprised by how quickly he and Honou seemed to click.
"Right, uh- lead the way," he muttered, smiling a bit and trying to force the tension away.
Honou stopped and turned to Verik. His expression softening he could sense that Verik was a bit tense but he needed not be. "Juni is a sweetheart. I promise."
He smiled reassuringly and took Verik's hand. Hoping his touch helped.
When he approached the kitchen area he called to the women. "Juni! How wonderful it is to see you again." He let go of Verik's hand and went to the short older woman and embraced her. He had to bend over for he was so much taller than she. "I want you to meet someone. Juni, this is Verik. He and I are going to see if Daion can help us with something we've stumbled across. Verik, Juni. She has put up with me for more years then I bet she cares to even remember."
He watched the too and Juni eyes took in the man and her smile was welcoming. "Verik, it is a pleasure to meet you." She held her hand in greeting to him. Bit she looked between the two of them with a touch of awareness washing over her and then her smile widened. "Oh yes. Well are you two staying then night. I have a clean you." Her smile softened she could just tell Verik wasn't just anyone to Honou.
He squeezed Honou's hand gratefully and was a little reluctant to let the elf go to greet the older woman. He made himself smile though, trying to hide his discomfort, nodding politely.
He moved forward and took her hand a little stiffly. "A pleasure, ma'am." Years of military training took over and he had to resist the urge to snap into a salute. He got the very distinct feeling that Juni knew exactly what was going on between them- when he wasn't even entirely sure himself- and it made him shift awkwardly.
"We were thinking of staying in town tonight," he said carefully, looking at Honou to try to gauge what the elf wanted to do.
Honou chuckled softly. "I think we may try to stay at Daion's for Verik is a Dragon rider. His companion waiting just outside. I know at Daion's he can stay by the house." He slide back to Verik's side and clasped his hand gently. He wanted Verik to be comfortable.
"We'd love to stay, truly. But I think it best we all stay together."
Juni just smiled and nodded. "Of course.' She turned to the other man whom seemed a bit tense. "A dragon rider. Very good sir. Maybe you can tame this wild elf yet. Someone needs to." She gave a soft laugh.
Honou just stood between them shaking his head good-naturedly. "I hate that this has to be short Juni but let us run. I promise to bring Verik back for a proper night's stay with you." He removed his hand from VErik and gave the women another embrace and kissed the top of her head. "I will send you a note before we come next time. Take care Juni."
Her eyes glistened as she held him tightly. "You both take care of each other."
Verik couldn't help melting a bit at Honou's touch. Juni really did seem like a pleasant woman, and he felt bad that he was so stiff. He just couldn't help it.
Still, she didn't seem to mind much. He snorted softly at the idea of "taming" Honou- he wondered if such a feat was even possible. But he nodded at her and smiled, a real smile this time.
"Don't worry, ma'am, I'll look out for him," he rumbled quietly when she told them to take care. With a quick flash of a smile he added, "And if your cooking is always this good, we'll be back often."
Juni flushed, Verik's kindness.
Honou smiled and with one hand tugged Verik towards a back door. With his free hand he waved to Juni. Once the door closed they were behind the Tavern. "Verik, I am so glad you met Juni. She is a kind woman." He slowed his pace to come to a stop and with his free hand he caressed Verik face. "I want so much to kiss you right now but work first."
Reluctantly he let his hand drop. "Daion doesn't live too far." His voice was husky with emotion.
"She seems lovely," Verik agreed. A teasing smile crossed his face and he leaned in to press a much too quick kiss to Honou's lips. "Alright, now work," he said, eyes glinting.
He looked around, trying to familiarize himself with the area. "Lead on, then. I want to get this over with." For a multitude of reasons, perhaps the most pressing of which involved a real bed.
He relished even the smallest contact from Verik. "Sure this way." He said somewhat lazily. They walked the main street which was common to many others, passing the market place. Honou lead him towards the left as he crossed over.
A house off a well worn path sat back. "There it is. I am sure she will be able to shed some light on what we are dealing with." He approached the house and knocked on the door.
The door opened and a female Golden elf smiled widely at them. "Honou!!!"
"Daion, it has been too long." He said to softly.
"Please come in. You and your friend. Do come inside,"
Honou step aside and let Verik enter first. "I'd like you to meet Verik. He and I met while doing this assignment that we were hoping you could assist us with." He nodded at Verik. "This is Daion, the one I was telling you about. Would you show her the shard."
He didn't want to wait even until the introduction were made. Honou was eager to see if Daion knew anything.
Verik nodded a hello to the elfin woman and flashed a quick smile, but didn't waste any time retrieving the shard from his pack and handing it over.
"Got it out of a goblins' den," he explained briskly. "Looked like they were...worshiping it or some such craziness. Then- well, we both wound up hurt on the job, and it seems like that bit of sparkle saved our hides, somehow." He shrugged. "Was hoping you could shed some light on the subject."
A slightly sheepish smile twitched at his lips and he added, "Er- pleasure to meet you, by the way. Honou speaks highly of you."
Daion nodded and smiled. Sometime pleasantries had to just wait.
"Goblin...yes let me...oh!" She exclaimed as Verik pulled it out. "Who asked you to retrieve this Honou?"
He looked quickl between Daion and Verik. "You know what this is Daion?"
"That is not what I asked you Honou. First answer my question. Who asked you to retrieve this?" Her voice was raw with emotion and it alarmed Honou.
"A Lord...by the name of Guin. But he must have had his orders handed down for the higher officials for Verik is a dragon rider who escorted me and helped retrieve that."
Daion looked over at the dragon rider. "Do you know who gave the order for you to escort Honou?"
Verik shook his head, baffled. "My captain gave me the order, but honestly I'm not sure how high up on the chain of command it went." He hadn't thighs to ask- though now he was really wishing he had.
"What's wrong with it?" he asked, both curious and wary. He didn't even realize he was edging closer to Honou as he spoke.
Daion shook her head slowly. "Boys I think you both need to sit down. Come into my study. We will discuss it in there."
She lead them down a hallway and then opened a door with stairs leading downward. She proceeded to descend. "This way Honou, Verik." She took them into her personal study where once they stepped into a room lined with books from the fall to the ceiling she walked to a pedal-still that was covered with a sheet. She looked at them and with the shard in Verik's hand she looked at it. "Hold tight to that shard my boy."
She pulled the sheet off and there was another piece. The two shards sensed each other and began to glow. They also tried to gravitate to each other.
"What the-!" Verik swore, tightening his grip around the shard until it bit painfully into his palm. "What the hell is this? What's happening?"
Daion shook her head gently and Honou stood staring at the two shards.
The Master Mage looked over towards Verik. "It knows the other piece is here. Boys please let's sit this is a longer explanation. Let me cover this one again." With that she covered the one she had and then gestured for them to follow her into another room.
She sat and waited for them to get comfortable.
"Honou...Verik. This is part of a very powerful gem. It is over nine feet tall if all the pieces are put back together. Do you know how many they already have? I need to know what we are dealing with before I get into it all."
Honou shook his head. "I didn't even know this was part of something greater so I didn't ask."
Verik shook his head, glancing warily at the shard in his hand as though it might suddenly come to life and bite him.
"But what does it do?" he asked, leaning toward the mage. "There's obviously a reason so many people want it. Seems like a lot of trouble, collecting a bunch of shards to create some nine foot gem."
She sighed softly closing her eyes and then only when she was ready did she begin to explain the power of the gem and what all the shards could do both separately and when placed all back together.
"The Shards are entities of a gem, Contarnex, so powerful that when all pieced together had unlimited power that have the ability to project energy blasts, ultimate healing and life, control the minds of lesser beings, manipulate the flow of time and even banish their enemies to alternate realities.
The shards have limitations. None of the shards recall the omnipotent being it used to be but each contains elements of the Contarnex personality along with their own special abilities. Thus, a hard can be eccentric and unpredictable, with them striking their foes in an unexpected yet surprisingly practical manner. From their fingertips they can project trans-dimensional thunderbolts or bombard enemies with rocks along with boulders, transform into singularities to destabilize gravity or even simply fling their enemies backwards in time until they disintegrate. They can heal with the ease of a caress. But, they can only do this feats when the moon is right. But, if ever whole again the Contarnex feeds off the power of the moon, any moon."
She stopped took a deep breath. "We broke the gem apart and scattered the shards. In the wrong hands the Contarnex would give the mage unlimited power."
Her words were ominous. Honou felt like the weight of the air itself was heavy. He looked over at Verik. He was at a loss of what to do next.
That was a lot of information to process. Verik shook his head slowly, staring at the shard in his hand. How many pieces did Guin already have?
But one detail stuck out to him, and he looked up at the mage sharply. "We?" he asked, tilting his head. "You said we broke the crystal... You were there? Who was with you?"
Any further information would be helpful.
Honou sat next to Verik in a daze. He smiled when his partner caught that bit of information. U+It was hard to process it all. "Daion how many pieces are there?"
Daion looked at the two and heaved another long sigh.
"There were four of us total. Two were human and no longer are with us, myself and another elf. Uti he was also there. But as you know he is not in the frozen waste lands of Hoyite. There were a total of ten shards." Her eyes were worried and she felt a chill go down her spine. "The more pieces put back together the greater the gems power. Please think this over before handing this piece you have found over."
She was exhausted. Who was behind putting the gem together. She would have to go to Uti. Whoever it was had to be stopped.
Verik nodded slowly. Seeing that their host was tired, he stood and said quietly, "Thank you for sharing this information with us, ma'am" He glanced at Honou, brow slightly furrowed as he turned everything they'd just learned over in his head.
"I should call Bane," he said quietly after a moment. "He should know this too..." Glancing back to Daion, he added, "If that's alright with you, of course."
Daion nodded at the young mans request. "Yes, please. You are both staying no?" She had forgotten if she offered them shelter already.
Shaking her head she stood. "No, I demand you stay with me this evening. I'll go prepare..." She hesitated and looked at Honou who just smiled softly back. "...your room for the evening. Please call your dragon. I have plenty of room, though no cover." The elf left the room with much on her mind.
Honou stood next to Verik and touched his arm. "We need to find out more Verik. I certainly don't want to hand that over to the wrong party. We could find out who is behind finding the shard. We could say we have to go back. No one will know we didn't get...I think. I just don't know a safe place to keep it." He searched the other mans eyes as if the answer was there.
He had never been in a situation like this and was now more confused then before.
Verik shook his head helplessly. "I just can't believe- Rina can't have known, she never would have stood for something like this..."
But that meant someone even higher up had known. He frowned. This was too much to deal with all at once. "We- can we talk about this later?" he muttered, looking at Honou. "I need to call Bane. I'm sorry, I'm just...confused."
He sighed, running his hand over his short-cropped hair.
Honou smiled and took a few steps back. "I understand. Take your time. Call Bane..." He spoke in short sentences as he too was confused. He went to go to the window but before he did Honou looked back over at him. "Is there a way for you to contact Rina? See if you can find out more?"
He wasn't sure right now what to do his mind going in so many different directions.
He nodded slowly. "I'll have to be subtle about it, and it would mean sending a message back to Ketra..." He shook his head. He'd figure something out.
He started to move toward the door, intending to call Bane and wait for him outside. Then he paused, thinking, and abruptly turned out, crossing to Honou's side and wrapping his arm around his waist to yank him close for a quick, fierce kiss.
"We'll figure it out," he said with his best reassuring smile when he pulled away, not even sure himself if he was lying or not. Then he turned and made his way outside, calling for his dragon.
Everything else melted for that one moment.
"Yeah, we will." He smiled as he watched him leave. The conversation fresh in his mind had Honou thinking they should go to this Uti, but what would he know hidden in Hoyite. Besides it was freezing there.
The problem was they came for answers and while they got some it only brought forth more. He could send the note. The courier would be able to deliver it? Take to long though. Damn. He was fresh out of ideas. He didn't want Verik to be in trouble and they were already making a detour. They could return though and say they ran into an issue and return. Or maybe he'd suggest that Verik reach out to Rina the one he trusted and have her come to them. He didn't know how it all worked but he knew they needed to figure out this puzzle before handing the shard over.
Bane arrived quickly and met Verik with an expectant, questioning look. Sighing, his rider moved toward him and began explaining everything he could in a soft voice.
The dragon crooned softly as he fell silent, running his hand over his hair again in frustration. "I don't know what to do," he admitted. Bane reached his head forward and nuzzled his chest, rumbling.
With a sigh, he wrapped his arms around the dragon's neck and let his forehead rest against his scaly brow. "Honou's friend is letting us stay here," he muttered. "She doesn't have room for you inside, obviously, but she says you're welcome to stick close."
Bane nodded, huffing at him affectionately and nuzzling his cheek. "I will stay, of course. Where is Honou?"
Good question. "Inside still, I think."
The dragon's eyes glinted. "Then what are you doing out here? Worrying will do neither of you any good, not until you can think of a plan. Go on, go find him."
He arched an eyebrow but chuckled and obeyed easily enough. He didn't exactly need a lot of prompting.
Honou was by the window and noticed the dragon arrive, well he is a dragon. But his mind was a whirl. Diaon came back in asking if they ate which he told her they did. She told him tea would be ready later and they were welocme to join anyway.
He saw Verik coming back in and quickly went to the door to met him. "How is he? Will Bane be alright tonight?" He asked first of Verik's dragon.
Verik smiled, pleased by Honou's interest in Bane's well-being. "He's fine, really. We're used to sleeping apart if the situation requires it."
Absently, he slipped his arms around the elf's waist. "It was very kind of Daion to let us stay here," he said. "Let her know I am more than happy to return the favor, should the occasion ever arise."
He yawned, unable to help himself. The events of the day were wearing on him, and his exhaustion was showing through.
He leaned forward into Verik's embrace. "I will or made you can...later." He leaned further in but then Verik yawned and he had to admit the day had worn on him too.
"Ahhh, perhaps we should head to bed. Sometimes a good nights sleep is all you need." He let his hand go to the corporals. "Come on our room is upstairs."
Honou lead them up the small flight of stairs to a room with a nice big comfortable bed.
Though he was tired, Verik felt a spark of playfulness light in his chest as Honou led him to the room they'd be using.
"You know," he mused, smiling crookedly and tugging gently on the other man's hand to pull him closer, "I seem to recall some discussion about how nice it would be to have a real bed to- use." He leaned in to kiss him, just a quick peck but very clearly an invitation for more.
He didn't need anymore of an invitation and returned his kiss passionately. His hand went to the back of Verik's and his body leaned in before he reluctantly parted. "I remember something like that being discussed as well..." His voice was already husky as he closed the door behind them with his foot.
He began to kissing him again as his hands now pulled and tugged on Verik's clothing. "We are wearing too much...." He groaned into his mouth.
"Agreed," Verik rasped back, breaking away long enough to strip down to his underthings before diving back into the kiss. He tried to pull them back toward the bed, stopping when the back of his legs hit the edge and he fell onto it with a startled, "Oof."
Honou did the same! He removed almost everything and Verik began to move them towards the be. And he stumbled falling onto it and Honou being lead as he was came down with him. For a moment he didn't move laying half on top of Verik and half on his side...then he began to laugh.
It was one of those full type laughs that you cannot control once it starts. The kind that brings tears and hiccup. He rolled on his back next to Verik trying to control the stream of merriment but it took a good bit to regain.
When he spoke it came out in a halting type fashion. "You...you...I...that was...did I hurt you?"
Verik turned on his side to glower at him. "You're mocking me," he growled, eyes glinting with something that flickered between playfulness and something a little more wicked. "I don't think I appreciate it."
Propping himself up on one elbow, he reached out and covered Honou's mouth lightly, raising his eyebrows. "And no. You didn't hurt me." His tone became a little more gentle and his hand slid to cup the elf's cheek, leaning in to kiss him.
Feeling a little thwarted from earlier, her arched up over Honou, putting his hands to either side of his head and really leaning into the kiss. "Still find this funny?" he rumbled when he broke away for a moment to catch his breath.