OOM: All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness? -Part Two

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu intended to dance in the sky with Skellig the very next day, but events have conspired to prevent that from occurring. A raid on the village by former soldiers meant many wounded to heal and much damage to fix. Akatan's sister, Neferet, has a definite crush, an infatuation, with Skellig. She hasn't done anything but look and exchange some friendly words, but it still makes her brother FURIOUS.

For all that Euripedes was from a different time and place, a line he had Medea speak in the play of the same name still rings true: "I would rather stand three times in the line of battle than once bear a child." Even with Kreyu's magic, with Taweret's skill, childbirth is incredibly dangerous. There are reasons why Taweret's goddess image of She Who Is Great has elements of the hippo, the lion, and the crocodile, a fearsome appearance to drive off the many threats facing a woman giving birth. The second birth in a week began this morning and was still going on when the sun began to set. Not a good sign.

Skellig, trying to burn off nervous energy while Kreyu was working, happened across a few of the village men drinking. They said things about Kreyu they should not have said. That he was FEEDING on Kreyu, drinking her blood. There...may have been a fight. At least they don't think he's a demon anymore, you can't give a demon a black eye in a brawl with your fists!

It is truly night now, and Skellig can hear Kreyu's tired footsteps on the road...

(OOC: Warning for explicit adult content starting around tag 194.)

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[27_53]

"I did," he confirms, yawning happily as he stretches once again - his stomach growling at the thought of 'food', though he follows her gaze to the small pile she is looking at.

He glances at her.

"You would wish to keep all of them?" He asks, clearly a little surprised - and touched at what he suspects will be her answer.

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu blinks in surprise at his question. "Of course, YOU gave them to me."

"They will make fine additions to my hoard." She pauses. "Well, I would have to dry the flowers for them to last and even then they would be so fragile, but the stones and the shells will keep."

[27_53]

Skellig practically beams when she confirms - of course, YOU gave them to me - and presses a delighted kiss to her cheek, not caring that the energy surge he just took upon himself has made him look briefly like a fool.

"I will make a habit of keeping fresh flowers when I can find them," he promises.

And her hoard of rocks and shells will definitely be growing, now.

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu is pleased with the kiss and more delighted with his happiness.

"I would like that."

Breakfast is simple, Almonds and dried dates with spring water. Kreyu carefully packs everything away, helps Skellig remove the evidence of their presence.

She resumes her dragon shape, casts the spells they used on the trip out here. It should be an easier journey back, more sedate.

[27_53]

Without having the urgent need to hunt for prey, Skellig allows his senses to focus on other things as they make the journey back from the island towards the mainland, then following along the river. They are still high enough that no human eyes could gaze upon them, and he relishes in the stillness, taking in the view.

(At one point, he might even fall asleep, warmed by the sun and kept safe in the 'bubble' she has created to ensure he does not get cold, does not run out of oxygen, is not hit by fierce winds as she glides through the air. Though he would never admit to it outright.)

Once they have landed far from the outskirts of the village, he offers her back her kilt, his own in place prior to starting their trip home.

"I should be able to keep any prying eyes from us easily enough," he says as they begin to walk, taking her hand in his. "I could go to fetch Taweret, if you would like to speak with her once we return?"

(He would keep his presence discreet, of course. He realizes there is still grief within the walls, and there could be fresh rumors, though he truly hopes not.)

[brave_kreyu]

"That would be lovely, if you could," she tells him.

There is grief in the walls, still, although they hear no new rumors as they make their way home.

The karma within her home is a welcome she will never tire of.

"I will begin putting my new treasures away, while you fetch her." And finding something to put the flowers in.

[27_53]

"So long as she is at home, I will return shortly."

Skellig also notices he can sense the karma better than he had before, now that their connection has changed. But he doesn't mention it. He presses a kiss to her cheek before setting off, tracing his previous path.

More villagers are out, he sidesteps them easily, using his power when needed to cause distraction. He believes (based on sound) that Taweret is home this afternoon, and alone... but still, he knocks.

[brave_kreyu]

"Come in," Taweret calls. "The door is open."

Taweret is visibly relieved when she sees him. "Thank She Who Is Great," she says. "I had hoped you would be back today."

[27_53]

Unsure of just what exactly Kreyu had told Taweret they were going to be up to while gone away, Skellig simply nods.

"She is well," he says. "Quite well, actually. She would wish to have you come visit her, when you have a chance. I told her I would fetch you now that we've returned, to keep up the appearance of her recovery."

He pauses.

"I thank you again for...everything."

[brave_kreyu]

"I would be glad to come and visit right now."

Taweret pats Skellig gently on the hand. "You are most welcome, dear."

By the time they get back, Kreyu has found a container to put the flowers in and has the gear put away, although the rocks and shells are still all together in a pile.

"Taweret, it is good to see you!"

[27_53]

Skellig notices the flowers in the container, and he smiles broadly to himself - letting Kreyu and Taweret greet each other. After all, it was just a few days ago that Kreyu was clinging to life upon the midwife's table, and even though he had healed her...she's looking much better, now.

He decides on pouring beer, enough for all of them.

[brave_kreyu]

They catch up a bit while Skellig pours the beer.

"I am so very relieved to see you well, my dear, but I would imagine you'll want to be off again as opposed to playing invalid for the next few moons?"

Kreyu laughs. "You know me too well, Taweret. Yes, we have some tentative plans. Is there anything you need from Amikaya, other than the usual?"

"Just the opium, if you can get it. Everything else, I can make do."

The batch of beer Kreyu had fermenting when they left is...not in a good way, judging by the color. But the earlier batch is still good!

[27_53]

Skellig makes certain to choose the good batch of beer to pour from. The second is...definitely going to simply be fertilizer, at the state it looks.

"I have faith we would be able to find most of what you'd ask for," he offers as he passes over a mug to each of them. "Between her knowledge of the city, and my senses."

A helpful shrug.

"It would be the least we could do, to repay your kindness from the other day." Yes, he still feels a debt is owed.

[brave_kreyu]

The two women offer their thanks for the beer.

"It would be a help to the whole village," Taweret replies. "For bad injuries, for certain kinds of pain, nothing else will touch it but opium."

Kreyu nods. "We might leave today, depending on how things go. If we should be gone for a few moons, I'll need to plan accordingly."

[27_53]

Nothing else would touch it, except opium.

(And his energy, if she would allow it. But he would have to use great discretion, to avoid suspicion. For he is not known as a healer, not yet in this place...)

Keeping his thoughts to himself for the time being, Skellig focuses on the room around them, mapping the lines of Karma he can feel running through it. That is a new sensation, and similar to the one he felt while building up the other space.

Interesting.

[brave_kreyu]

Taweret gives Kreyu a hug, careful. "I'll see you when I see you, my dear. No one's due to deliver for a good six moons, so don't worry about me."

"Thank you, Taweret."

When the midwife is gone, she turns her attention to Skellig. "You can sense the lines clearly?" Call it an educated guess.

[27_53]

His focus breaks from the lines and turns to her, and he has to blink a few times to pull his senses back into the room itself.

Nodding, he toys with the mug in his hands.

"I am able to sense them much more clearly than I was before," he says. "Earlier I was able to feel better the energy in your body, as we flew...I thought perhaps it was just the fact that I was more relaxed, but now I am not so sure that was it."

He's slightly unsettled, but it isn't negative.

"What would you have me do to help prepare for our travels? I assume we would need a second pack?" He could probably get one from...somewhere, in the village. Even if he had to 'borrow' it.

[brave_kreyu]

"I'm glad things are clearer now, that will make things easier for you."

"A second pack, yes. But I'll need to speak with Elihu first, see what the news is, before I know for sure where we're going first."

She kisses him, softly. "Hopefully, he'll be in range."

She sits next to him, her gaze going a bit unfocused. She's smiling at first, but her body language grows tense, irritable. There is most definitely a row going on that he can't hear.

[27_53]

There is one thing with Skellig simply Knows about mages - and he suspects it translates across all levels and skillsets - when they are 'working', it is best not to touch them or bother them.

So he sits quietly, watching her facial expressions, her body language.

It annoys him slightly that she is irritated, and that he cannot interject - but he keeps quiet, sits still in the chair, focusing on the feel of his mug in his hand. There is a mild surge of energy that is growing beneath her skin, but he isn't too concerned, just yet...

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu huffs in irritation, shakes her head.

"I have good news and....news," she tells him. She reaches out to touch him, to take his hand. "The lost city is indeed one of Heka's bolt holes, but Heka is quite recently dead, less than a moon ago."

Her smile turns sharp. "Which means whatever portion of his hoard he left there is undefended, fit to be taken."

Her smile fades a bit. "But Elihu was quite..insistent on meeting me, in person." She frowns. "And since my other option was apparently Revenen coming HERE to 'check' on me, I decided to humor him."

[27_53]

If Elihu wishes to meet Kreyu in person, and Skellig does not plan on leaving Kreyu's side especially if they are wandering the hoard of a very recently deceased dragon...

"I would gladly meet your brother," he says, taking her hand in his own.

And then smirks.

"And we will have to bring a third bag, then. To carry what you deem worthy to take." His grin widens slightly - because treasure is a good thing! "It is also helpful that I can easily lighten a pack."

[brave_kreyu]

"You're sure?" she asks. "He's the level headed one at least, so it shouldn't be dreadful."

She leans in to kiss him. "Very helpful indeed."

"He'll meet us in Amikaya, after we've hit the lost city. He's en route, so it will take him a week or so to arrive, even flying as fast as we do."

She looks at the shells, the stones. "I should show you where I hide what portion of my hoard I have with me."

She beckons him over to one of the chests. She moves aside the heavier linen clothes on top, removes the false bottom of the chest.

A fine piece of embroidered silk conceals gold jewelry, much of it set with semi-precious or precious stones.

The armband she mentioned before is on top. She carefully pulls it out. "Would you like me to put it on you?"

[27_53]

Skellig is visibly impressed by her collection - never before has he seen anything remotely this precious, right in front of him in the open. There have been windows in shops that he has wandered past, sure, but his 'kind' are not welcome in any of them...

He looks at her, and she might sense a hint of the hesitation in his expression. Swallowing hard, he lightly squeezes her hand. "Are you certain? I would wear it, gladly. I just..."

A pause.

"The most expensive thing I ever have owned is likely my coat," he explains. "And that...I have had some some time. If you saw it, you would understand. It is...quite worn." Briefly, he wonders where exactly his coat ended up, through this trip into the desert. Worn hem, patches (handsewn by his stiff fingers) on the elbows, stains and tears he has worked to mend. Heavy wool, once expensive, but given to him by a charity shop.

"I just have never been offered anything near this valued."

[brave_kreyu]

She turns the arm ring in her hands. "It is a part of my hoard, my memories cling to it. It is precious, it has been coveted, desired, loved, that is why a hint of karma clings to it, makes it attractive to a dragon." She flushes. "I would entrust it to your keeping, have you wear it when you can without attracting suspicion. As the shells and stones you gathered for me, it is a mark of affection, of care."

"But I would not wish you to be uncomfortable," Kreyu adds. "It would make things easier in Amikaya, make it easier for us to go where we need to." She smiles reassuringly. "We will manage without it there, if it would make you uneasy to wear it."

[27_53]

Skellig lifts an eyebrow when she mentions just how valuable it is - if this contains her memories, then this is a piece of her, and she is willing to entrust it to him.

"I would be honored to wear it," he says softly, stepping closer to her and wrapping his arm around her midsection. "And I will do so, guarding it fiercely. The same as I watch over your heart."