Exhaustion in the field [OPEN]

[Imáni Valaş]

The ride was long, and hard. Imani had sat within the saddle so long that she was quite sure that her cuts had sores. It was a stoic ride to be sure. Little less than sulking as she rode a few yards behind the company,she observed the scenery changed. War had torn her surroundings, and as she fixed her position in the saddle, she knew that everything that she had known would soon change. Every last bit of foliage and every last hut and cottage would be torn down, if the fauns did not triumph.

Perhaps they would turn for home, if only to shelter her from the burden of the world that lay before her. Entirely tempted to place the whole charade of this to bed, it would only take a simple nod of her head to ensure so. However, something encouraged her to shake her head in response to the unasked question hovering in the short space between her and the company. No, not yet she thought, and kept on riding.

It was raining, as it always did whenever one decided to travel anywhere in these lands. Sheltered from the slight sleet of water that showered from the heavens. Listening to the slouch of mud being upheaval from the earth and the squelch of the horses hooves as they entered the monolith stone arch that stood as a guardian to the gates of the campsite. Before her booted soles could meet the mud that awaited her, a lady with nutmeg coloured gaze was there to meet her, placing extraordinary pressure on her hand as she clasped it with both her own. With her other hand still entangled with the reigns, Lady Imani found herself regarding the newfound companion with interest and mild confusion. "I am Lady Shilah, honoured to meet with you."

Without missing a breath, Imani returned the pressure with the hand that was swallowed within the other lady's grasp, if not a touch more zealous than what her companions had been. So used to the grasp of her King and her friends that it was almost second nature, not pausing to consider if it was perhaps the most politically correct, "Imani Valas”. Her lips formed the words unnecessarily. This Lady Shilah already knew who she was, considering she was the only female in the party visiting the campsite in Shisse.

[Rochen Elanessė Eydis]

The journey had lasted two days… two days in which Rochen had paced through the veranda of the Tolerz, the vast airship in Destina which crossed the skies endlessly and brought people closer to the realms in the north and the east. Rochen did not really understand the magic employed during flight, but she was sure that something complicated was at work, for only the most skilled shipwrights were allowed to pilot the grand Tolerz. 

So it had been an enjoyable trip mainly because she’d have time to herself. However, she sometimes wondered where her caretaker was hiding. Since she was heading to Nayelien to meet with Queen Avanna, a protector had been appointed to take care of her… but they had clashed, for Rochen wanted to feel like a lady and an adult. She wanted to fend for herself, to feel like she was trusted with this mission. So this boy, Niklas, had perhaps followed her and taken care of her; yet, she had not seen him. She started thinking that perhaps he was a good guard indeed, since he respected her wishes and protected her from afar.

The Tolerz arrived to the Shisse Praerie as soon as it had started raining. This was one of the many stopovers that Niklas and Rochen would have to do on their way to Galadia, and she was glad to halt here. There was, apparently, a campsite near the mounts, with the green and white banner of the Ardémie family. So the Lennecks were here! Rochen wanted to observe them, out of curiosity.

She disembarked from the Tolerz, with the ticket safely in her pocket so as to embark again the following day and continue her journey. She walked from the port to the campsite, nearly reaching the wide arch that marked the entrance, and observed a company of men in their horses entering slowly. There was a woman there, as well; a woman that Rochen thought she recognized. A high born? She did not really recall where, but she had definitely seen this exotic woman before.