445-446 HE

[the_lioness]

It's dark in the stables. Dark, damp and cold. Alanna kicks her boots against a stone wall and watches the snow fall away. There's a frown on her face and a haunted look in her eye, but the set of her shoulders is all stubbornness and determination.

She lights a small lamp with her Gift and begins checking off the items piled before her. In the middle of an internal debate over whether or not to bring a pack horse, she hears a noise in the tack room and quickly douses the pale light.

She's not alone. She really wanted to be alone.

Peering down the aisle, she starts forward.

Comments

[mnt_raph]

She's not the only one who wanted to be alone.

Raph is crouched low against a far wall only half concealed in shadow. He'd probably be more adept at hiding if he wasn't in the midst of a panic attack...and he didn't smell like the floor of a tavern.

[the_lioness]

Quietly, Alanna creeps forward. There's probably no need for caution -- if anything, it's likely a stable boy who couldn't sleep -- but she hasn't survived this long by assuming strange noises in the night are nothing to worry about.

Another thump just beyond the tack room distracts her long enough to ascertain it's nothing more than a horse rubbing his nose against a stall door. Hand on her sword, she faces forward again and rests one foot on the step up into the room.

Sniffing the air, Alanna picks up traces of whiskey and smoke, and relaxes by degrees.

"Who's there?" she asks firmly, instinctively shifting into her lower, more masculine voice. Whoever it is -- and she can make out a shape, now -- he smells like he'd be incapable of finding his weapon, let alone attacking her with it.

She squints. "Hmmm."

[mnt_raph]

He hears the voice and stiffens. And while he's in no state to defend himself, he is armed. An ever present sai graces his right hand, while an uncorked bottle is clenched just as tightly in his left.

"leave me be."

He warns with a voice that's just due south of a growl.

[the_lioness]

Anyone else would probably do an about face at that tone of voice. Alanna, however, has always been contrary and not particularly good at taking orders from anyone but Jonathan; even those are rarely obeyed without an argument. Ignoring the warning, she lights a lamp, plants her hands on her hips and gives him a good look.

One eyebrow arches, but she manages to keep the concern off her face.

"I need my saddle."

[mnt_raph]

Ack! Light! That's just dirty pool, that.

"Gah! Little warnin' here?"

Warning would be nice, wouldn't it? But then, warning would give someone time to hide the rucksack they've thrown together.
Raph blinks up at her with still red eyes.

"Where the fuck you goin?"

[the_lioness]

The Great Road South leads directly through Persopolis, a tiny fact Alanna forgot to mention to Raph until they were a day outside the city. Traveling as they are, plainly dressed and shield covered, they weren't stared at this time. Not like she'd been stared at as a page. Passing through meant an obligatory visit to the Bazhir governor of Persopolis Castle, a man who proved welcoming -- everyone was, really, given what happened in the Black City -- but would never live up to Alanna's memories of Ali Mukhtab. It wasn't really his fault, and he did, to his credit, honor her request to show Raph the Sunset Room.

Raph bore up well after the hard ride and unexpected socializing, all things considered. Alanna made sure to find him his own burnoose, to help keep the sand and sun off.

Now, two days later, they are well into the Great Southern Desert. The further they get from home, the more Alanna loosens up and remembers why this journey was a good idea. Sometimes she tells Raph stories, even if he's heard them before, to pass the time. Sometimes she just enjoys the silence.

"I do wish Burning Brightly One had caught on more so than Woman Who Rides like a Man," she muses after one such period of quiet.

[mnt_raph]

Raph has been noticeably quiet since they made their way from Olau. It's unclear whether this is because he's lost in his own thoughts, or lacking them entirely, either way the grumbling and telltale sneer are all but absent.

Finally, after much consideration he manages to mutter.

"They're both kinda a mouthful, if you ask me.

...

No offense."

[the_lioness]

"None taken. You're correct."

She has to smile. The next few weeks are going to be an eye-opener for her reticent companion.

"You haven't asked me any questions about the Bazhir. Not even a little curious about what you've gotten yourself into?"

[mnt_raph]

Raph pauses, his eyes fixed on the horizon.

"They got living mummies, or gems that raise people from the dead?"

[the_lioness]

Alanna fixes him with a stony look. It takes her a moment to realize he most likely didn't mean to upset her.

"No," she replies, transferring her reins to her right hand. "The only gem I know of that can... raise the dead... is the Dominion Jewel. That's safely in Jonathan's hands, and so it will stay."

By now, she's told him why she's been sent to Tyra. The official story, at least.

[the_lioness]

The next morning, Alanna and Raph ride the remaining distance to the village and are greeted warmly by the men and women of the Bloody Hawk tribe, as well as visiting shamans involved with the school of magic Alanna had helped set up years ago. Raph is shown to a bachelor tent. Alanna accepts an invitation to stay with Kara and Kourrem, both of whom remain unmarried, and is peppered with questions and stories as soon as she sets down her things.

It's been a long time.

After a full day of tours and many introductions, Halef Seif accompanies them to the evening's celebrations, seating them at his side. There is food aplenty, which is especially welcome after the previous night's meal, and date wine. Between retellings of legends, Alanna pokes Raph and winks.

"No jackal-headed gods."

[mnt_raph]

"Day ain't over yet."

He smirks back at her and raises his cup of wine.
Mmmm. Delicious wine.

"All jokin' aside you got a good family here, 'Lanna."

[the_lioness]

Dangerous wine. Knowing its strength and the headache she'll likely have tomorrow, Alanna sips it slowly. She smiles at the comment, but a momentary sadness enters her eyes. "I've been blessed in family."

The headman gives her a shrewd look. "How long will you stay?"

"About a week," she tells him. "There are spells I would like to discuss with the shamans before continuing on for Tyra. Raph-" Unsure, she glances his way. They haven't really discussed what happens next.

[mnt_raph]

"...yeah, 'Lanna?"

Someone wasn't paying the full amount of attention. There's wine, you see. Wine and food and celebrating. And while Raph excels at not being in good spirits just because everyone else around him is, there...well there was wine.

And the ladies here have the most beautiful eyes.

[the_lioness]

"How long do you think you'll stay?" she repeats slowly, trying not to laugh. "We didn't discuss anything beyond this point. You're not obligated to accompany me all the way to Tyra. It will be intrigue and court politics, and I know how you feel about such things."

Normally she's not fond of them, either. This situation is a bit different. By calling Jonathan's right to the Jewel into question, the conspirators are also assailing her honor.

[the_lioness]

Alanna falls easily back into the rhythm of the tribe, and after two days, it almost feels like she never left. She'd forgotten how at peace she feels here, even though she's no longer strictly needed as shaman.

Following their long talk the first night ("Your friend does not belong here. I see that. Explain, please."), Halef Seif has left her alone; he joined in the large lion hunt, but has otherwise allowed her time to catch up with others. As a result, she's spent many hours bent over books and scrolls alongside the shamans. Occasionally, she remembers to check on Raph, though she doesn't feel a pressing need to do so. She trusts that he'll adapt to his new surroundings.

But one thing is constant wherever she goes: her morning exercises. Right now she's up on a dune behind the village, practicing her kicks off the left side.

[mnt_raph]

And she's entirely correct, for a given meaning of adapt. In this instance adapt roughly translates to: keeping to himself so as to avoid floundering through long held cultural beliefs that he's apparently incapable of wrapping his mind around.
Good times.

Raph has taken to not sleeping a lot, returning to his favored last to bed/first to rise pattern. Only this time it's out of necessity rather than desire. It just gets too hot to sleep once the sun breaks the horizon. And dry? So dry. Why is the desert so damn dry? He doesn't remember the desert being quite this dry, of course the last time he was in a desert he had reptile skin and not this damned sensitive pink flesh he's sporting now.

This is why he's up and pacing at, and why he's coming up the dune that is serving as Alanna's current workout spot.

"You call that extension?"

He shakes his head in disappointment.

[the_lioness]

"My legs are shorter than yours," she growls, which is as close as she's going to get to admitting her left kicks could use some work. Liam would be the first to agree; and he often did, as loudly as possible. When she does this, it's his voice she hears in her head, pushing her on. "But they can be just as deadly."

Pleasant isn't a word she understands this early in the morning.

[mnt_raph]

Which is why they're such good traveling companions as pleasant isn't a word Raph really knows at all.

"Sometimes."

He says holding up a hand to shield his eyes from the sun as he looks off into the distance. It's not really clear which comment of hers he's remarking on.

[the_lioness]

"Always. My legs don't stretch and then shrink again," she grunts, looking at him askance as she executes another Shang kick, this time with her right leg, in undeniably better form.

"Looking for something?"

[the_lioness]

They stop early for the night, for no other reason than they are both indulging a good brood, and everyone knows the best brooding is done around a campfire.

Especially when your friend goes off to check on something and you say a quick spell so an image of your family appears in the firelight.

Alanna frowns at the flames, watching Adam read something to the triplets, chin in her hand.

[mnt_raph]

Campfire brooding does a body good, but not if you run out of things to burn. Why then there'd just be two people sitting around smoldering wreckage, and really there's only so much one can say about that before the topic of conversation turns to what's actually wrong. No proper brooding requires flickering flames that require constant attention, either by long stares or frequent pokes and prods.

This is why Raph muttered something about being right back before wandering off in search of wood. It wasn't until he returned, and spied Alanna's longing looks at her family, that he realized what he brought back to camp was also piece of mind.

Alanna was here for a reason. Seperated from her family for a purpose. She has a job to do, a mission. Raph was out here merely to tag along. Oh he started out running full tilt, but at some point became a sidekick, and while Alanna would never laugh at him in that way he was convinced that something somewhere was mocking him soundly.

As he stood there silent and just out of sight he knew that he was only slowing Alanna down.

Something had to be done about that.
Raph sighs from the shadows.

[the_lioness]

Adam grins -- her chest grows tight, as she traces the curve of his lips with her eyes and imagines his low, gruff laughter -- and he leans forward to help Jamie sip water or juice from a cup.

The triplets look older. How? It's only been a few weeks. She holds index and middle finger to her lips and presses a kiss against them, like she plans to reach into the flames and touch Jamie's head.

The truth is that it's not Raph slowing Alanna down or holding her back, but their shared memories of people and a place, one of the main reasons she requested this journey. She'd never admit as much or even recognize it; but sometimes when she looks at him she remembers what used to be, and gets melancholy at the thought that none of this would have been necessary if she could slip through to the end of the universe for a few hours.

The sigh takes a moment to penetrate her reverie. Once it does, she jerks backward and kicks sand at the fire, blushing.

"I-" she starts, then bites her lip. "More wood?"

[mnt_raph]

"Yup."

Says Raph crossing the distance between him and the fire, all the while making sure to avoid eye contact.

"Figure it's better to get it now than havin' to do it later."

[the_lioness]

She nods, using her Gift to stoke the flames back where they were before the sand. He doesn't have to work hard to avoid eye contact; she's become unduly fascinated with her dirty fingernails.

"I was just making sure they were okay."