she
woken?”
Lena
stepped closer to Sita, gently raising a hand to the soft spot on the horse’s
muzzle. “Magnificent,” Lena breathed, running a hand up to the bangs of Sita’s
mane. Sita gave a soft snort in form of acknowledgment, as if to say she knew
that she was. Disregarding Aryaunna’s question she called to a young boy.
He
was only a child to Aryaunna’s eyes, but that meant little for his actual age. Though
the boy appeared to be maybe nine, he could easily be in his fifties. Aryaunna
hadn’t the slightest idea.
His
skin was dark grey, his hair fairer but just. Though the Drow were a naturally
slim people, this boy had a childish roundness to his face. “Veyn, see this
horse is well cared for. Ask Dyxin for scraps from the kitchen. She is in need
of a good meal.”
The
boy nodded but refused to look at Lena or Aryaunna. His tender hands held under
the horse’s chin and guided her away. Sita followed easily enough, though
snorted in his hair, nudging the boy’s head as they walked. He laughed in play
and tickled her chin back. Though concerned for Elizabeth, it was impossible
not to smile at the two.
“Come
with me, Aryaunna,” Lena called for her attention. The beautiful warrior Drow,
dressed in simple yet beautiful white tunic and closely fit trousers covered
from the knee down from fine black boots, had turned away and was walking back
to the small hut that belonged to Mayla. There were small buildings and shelters
throughout, but Aryaunna had little more chance than to glance their way. She
followed Lena, trying to keep her eyes open to all that was around her as they
walked the short way.
It
felt ominous that Lena had not responded to her questions about Elizabeth.
Aryaunna grew tense. For lack of anything constructive to do with her hands,
she held them against her belt. One gripped her knife, the other hung on the
strap around her shoulders holding the empty bota.
Lena
opened the door to Mayla’s and stood aside for Aryaunna to enter. Korena was
inside standing by a shelf that stretched high above her reach. A basket hung
on her arm as she reached on her toes for a bottle. Aryaunna came up behind
her, stretched and pointed. “That one! Yes!” Korena exclaimed as Aryaunna
handed it down to the girl. “Can you get the green one, too? The one above it.”
Obligingly she got it down and laughed at the girl’s heavy sigh of relief.
“Thank you.” She tucked both bottles into her basket and went on about her
business gathering the other things she needed.
Aryaunna
wanted to ask about Elizabeth, but before she could, the door to the staircase
opened and Elizabeth stepped through. Relief washed over her, nearly causing
her to collapse to the floor. “Ary!” Elizabeth called happily, forgetting her
task she ran to her sister. The two grabbed hold of one another in a tight
embrace. “Thank the stars you’re back.”
“How
are you? Are you well? Is your ankle better?” Aryaunna drilled her with
questions as she pulled back to look over her sister nervously. She seemed to
be walking much better at least.
“Of
course I am. With great thanks to you I am told.” Lovingly, her hand held to
Aryaunna’s cheek. “It’s so good to see you back safely. When Allos told me where
you had gone it took all the strength within me to keep from going after you.”
They hugged again. To be apart had been painful for them both.
Few
times had seen them separated in life for more than a few hours for chores. The
times that had been longer had been such horrific events that it had been
ingrained in both women to keep the other close. “I’m very well,” Aryaunna
assured. “You won’t believe what all has happened. I met a Dragon,” she
whispered excitedly. “His name is Reign. He’s more incredible than we ever
could have imagined. I have a horse now, too! Her name is Sita. She’s so very
beautiful, you must come see her.” When Aryaunna was happy she became very
enthusiastic. It was amazing
woken?”
Lena
stepped closer to Sita, gently raising a hand to the soft spot on the horse’s
muzzle. “Magnificent,” Lena breathed, running a hand up to the bangs of Sita’s
mane. Sita gave a soft snort in form of acknowledgment, as if to say she knew
that she was. Disregarding Aryaunna’s question she called to a young boy.
He
was only a child to Aryaunna’s eyes, but that meant little for his actual age. Though
the boy appeared to be maybe nine, he could easily be in his fifties. Aryaunna
hadn’t the slightest idea.
His
skin was dark grey, his hair fairer but just. Though the Drow were a naturally
slim people, this boy had a childish roundness to his face. “Veyn, see this
horse is well cared for. Ask Dyxin for scraps from the kitchen. She is in need
of a good meal.”
The
boy nodded but refused to look at Lena or Aryaunna. His tender hands held under
the horse’s chin and guided her away. Sita followed easily enough, though
snorted in his hair, nudging the boy’s head as they walked. He laughed in play
and tickled her chin back. Though concerned for Elizabeth, it was impossible
not to smile at the two.
“Come
with me, Aryaunna,” Lena called for her attention. The beautiful warrior Drow,
dressed in simple yet beautiful white tunic and closely fit trousers covered
from the knee down from fine black boots, had turned away and was walking back
to the small hut that belonged to Mayla. There were small buildings and shelters
throughout, but Aryaunna had little more chance than to glance their way. She
followed Lena, trying to keep her eyes open to all that was around her as they
walked the short way.
It
felt ominous that Lena had not responded to her questions about Elizabeth.
Aryaunna grew tense. For lack of anything constructive to do with her hands,
she held them against her belt. One gripped her knife, the other hung on the
strap around her shoulders holding the empty bota.
Lena
opened the door to Mayla’s and stood aside for Aryaunna to enter. Korena was
inside standing by a shelf that stretched high above her reach. A basket hung
on her arm as she reached on her toes for a bottle. Aryaunna came up behind
her, stretched and pointed. “That one! Yes!” Korena exclaimed as Aryaunna
handed it down to the girl. “Can you get the green one, too? The one above it.”
Obligingly she got it down and laughed at the girl’s heavy sigh of relief.
“Thank you.” She tucked both bottles into her basket and went on about her
business gathering the other things she needed.
Aryaunna
wanted to ask about Elizabeth, but before she could, the door to the staircase
opened and Elizabeth stepped through. Relief washed over her, nearly causing
her to collapse to the floor. “Ary!” Elizabeth called happily, forgetting her
task she ran to her sister. The two grabbed hold of one another in a tight
embrace. “Thank the stars you’re back.”
“How
are you? Are you well? Is your ankle better?” Aryaunna drilled her with
questions as she pulled back to look over her sister nervously. She seemed to
be walking much better at least.
“Of
course I am. With great thanks to you I am told.” Lovingly, her hand held to
Aryaunna’s cheek. “It’s so good to see you back safely. When Allos told me where
you had gone it took all the strength within me to keep from going after you.”
They hugged again. To be apart had been painful for them both.
Few
times had seen them separated in life for more than a few hours for chores. The
times that had been longer had been such horrific events that it had been
ingrained in both women to keep the other close. “I’m very well,” Aryaunna
assured. “You won’t believe what all has happened. I met a Dragon,” she
whispered excitedly. “His name is Reign. He’s more incredible than we ever
could have imagined. I have a horse now, too! Her name is Sita. She’s so very
beautiful, you must come see her.” When Aryaunna was happy she became very
enthusiastic. It was amazing
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