DarkheartOne/LogZeroNine
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't tell them no. And so, Deis Valesti finds himself on a boat skimming along the Southern coast, headed west. According to Aeyria, his rather well-connected merchant friend, there's much for her to do in some new Guild town that's been slapped up practically overnight, and she demanded that he and her healer sister, one Chisana, tag along. It was implied, at least for Deis, that they didn't have a choice in the matter.
Thus, the sisters are enjoying the view at the sun slowly sinks in the West; both are marginally attractive specimens of the southeast, with tan skin, golden-brown eyes and wavy auburn hair; Aeyria's is trimmed neatly and held in check with a bit of ribbon. A moment passes...
... and Chisana waves Deis over. "Deis, come look at this sunset. It's breathtaking." Aeyria's yet to peel her gaze from it.
Deis sighs a bit and walks over smiling, forgetting his two current troubles as he takes in the slowly sinking yellow orb. "It...it is nice Miss Chisana." He sits down for a moment, arms resting on his raised knees. "So I take it you both are wanting to set up camp then. Or is this another rest stop?"
Chisana pats Deis on the head. "Oh, we're not leaving this ship just yet. Not until we get to where the money-hungry one here wants to be---ow!" Chisana rubs her ribs, having recovered from a firm elbowing Aeyria had just dished out. "Don't listen to her... I'm not greedy, I'm forward-thinking."
Deis laughs quietly to himself, blowing a tendril of hair out of his field of vision. "So....why did you want me to come along? It's not like there aren't older, more expereinced people out there."
"Well, point." "Ria thinks you're too adorable to leave behind---OW! Quit that!" "Anyway, as I was about to say... there may well be some tricks you could pick up for when you return to the forest. Besides, you're alot toughter than you look, and the South is a dangerous place." Aeyria glances over at Chisana... and smirks, just a tad.
Deis blushes a little, eyes widening. "Please stop that, I don't think you really need to poke her so hard. I can take a little teasing after all." He stands up, dusting off his pants and then turns to them. "Well...at the very least I can make sure you two don't get into trouble,"
Chisana, still wincing a little, smiles. "That was her intention. No one expects a pretty little fella to be able to shoot a fly off of a horse's back at a hundred paces."
"Besides," Aeyria cuts in. "You could use the travel experience... there's much more to the world than the woods."
Deis fidgets as Aeyria says that, tossing a look back to where he thinks his woods are. "Well.....maybe, but I don't really see how a trip to is going to change things...." He fiddles with his bow a little. "And you flatter me, I'm really not that good, Miss Chisana."
Chisana shrugs, and turns back to the water. Aeyria, on the other hand, simply looks at Deis firmly. "Experience is experience. And as much as you've been through, you're still a boy. There's alot you need to see and do and understand before you're truly an adult, at least in mind."
Deis rests his head in his hands, looking down at the water, winces as a bit of spray catches him. "Maybe... maybe I do... I'm just a little worried is all"
"Worried?" Aeyria's eyebrow goes up, and even Chisana glances over. "Worried about what? Your home? I imagine your friend Crosby's doing your job for you. I wouldn't be surprised if he knows those woods as well as you do now."
Deis nods "I trust Mr Crosby, but I meant the place we're going.... it's... well my first time being in, well, a city, especially one so far from a place I'm used to."
Aeyria smiles, just a tad. "A trial by fire never hurt anyone. Besides, we'll be there to make sure you're not robbed blind." "Well, by anyone but her, anyway. Don't hit!" Aeyria withdraws her elbow for Deis' sake.
Deis smiles a bit. "Well... for you two I guess I can at least make a small effort to branch out..."
"You damn well better, Deis. Still... you really do love that little corner of yours, don't you? I can't blame you, really. There's something soothing about the land... well, outside of the poisonous things." Chisana patpats Deis again, tousling his hair a little. "Although there are poisonous things South, too. Especially the merchants."
Deis lets out an embarrassed eep as Chisana ruffles his hair, his head sinkinig down a little to hide the blush in his cheeks. "Well...I guess just having grown up there, and leaving it for the first time, I don't want to admit it but I am rather scared."
Chisana laughs a little, pulling her hand away. "There's nothing to fear. It might seem scary, but it's mostly more of the same, only with different customs. You'll be fine, really..."
Deis is still blushing, not lookinig back at Chisana. "And crowded, and noisy."
"Yes, there is that." Aeyria shrugs. "That's what happens when there's much to be gained nowadays. People flock to any chance to make a living. And who's in the best position to give that chance in the Threshold than the Guild?"
Deis cocks his head at Aeyria. "What... is this Guild thingie anyway?"
"The Guild is basically the single largest force in trade and commerce in the world outside of the Realm, and have enough clout to keep them at bay. If there's something you want, and you know the right people, they can acquire it; drugs, fine foods, rare materials, high-quality slaves... if you can think of it, and it exists, they sell it." Aeyria leans forward a bit more on the ship's railing.
Deis grimaces a bit more, adding in a light grumble. "So you're going there to become a slave-trading drug dealer?"
Aeyria snorts. "You know me better than that, Deis; of course not! I'm better than that... but it's just easier to deal with the Guild. Usually cheaper, as well, and for all their underhanded dealings, you can trust them to follow through on deals. All I'm looking for are things worth adding to my own selection back home."
Deis nods, the grimace still there, but is more of an uncertain look than displeased "I still don't see why you have to go there."
Aeyria shrugs, lightly. "Chalk it up to curiousity... that, and apparently it's an excellent place for seafood. I've heard the bay's teeming with all sorts of nice things to eat." Chisana rolls her eyes. "And watch, a river dragon'll have moved in and spoiled her only other reason for going."
Deis snickers. "Well....from what I understand they aren't gluttons...I mean... would you gorge yourself on your food supply, then realize you have nothing else to eat?"
Chisana snickers in turn. Aeyria just sniffs and returns to watching the sun set. For a while, things are quiet. The waves lap against the boat, a few tagalong gulls cry out for some spare minnows, and the stars are just barely starting to become visible in the sky.
"... Deis?" Chisana looks up. "Do you ever wonder... why we're here? On Creation?"
Deis shakes his head no, then pauses. "Well... occasionally, but the more one thinks about things like that, the more things one misses in the here and now."
"Heh... true, I guess. Still, I can't help but wonder..." Chisana trails off, and things go quiet again. Aeyria looks ready to speak, but closes her mouth and leaves it at that.
- Back to Rising Force
