brave_kreyu | OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part 12

They wind up staying two full cycles of the Moon with Tyr's tribe.

Time enough to learn the various dances, share recipes, race through the Teeth, make friends, share stories, BELONG.

It might even be enough time for Skellig to sort out how he feels about being among other people with wings!

Tyr clasps Skellig's forearm in farewell. "I would call you my brother, if you would permit it?" he says, voice soft.

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From:

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"That would brighten my spirits," he agrees. "And I fear you may be right in regards to him needing not only a friend, but a protector as well."

Packing is aided by the fact that Skellig has gotten some time over the last few moons to practice some of the incantations that have aided in reducing the number of bags that they need to carry on their person, as well as the weight of the contents - but it is best for those who might view the bags to not focus too much on the loading and unloading of exactly what goes in and out of them - the logistics and physics might be just slightly bent towards the realm of 'impossible'.

He adjusts some of the strapping around Kreyu's neck, and situates the spot where he will rest on her back for their trip - after all, he'll want to be comfortable!

From:

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"Especially with that oldest brother of his," she grumbles. "I have no direct evidence, as such, but the way Ajax acted..." You don't arrange for advance warning of someone showing up, tell people you WANT to talk with that it's best that person doesn't see them, if the relationship is a GOOD one.

If the laws of physics were working as they 'should', Kreyu shouldn't even be able to EXIST on land, never mind fly. Clearly, the rules are getting bent quite a bit.

"Comfortable, love?" she asks after she casts the last spells to prepare for their flight.

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"It will be interesting to see what has transpired in the time we have been gone," he admits. "I am both intrigued and somewhat concerned, based on the rumors that were being spread which you both discussed."

Snuggling up in his small 'nest' (which in reality is just a thick blanket that they've woven one of the straps through to help it stay in place) with his coat wrapped around his body, he settles in.

"Yes, as always," he confirms.

From:

brave_kreyu

He knows how it feels when she leaps into the air. It might even feel FAMILIAR by now.

The trip is uneventful until they reach the edges of the territory of the kingdom in which Ajax dwells. There is what was a battlefield a few days ago below them as Kreyu swoops closer to the ground, worried and curious in equal measure.

There are what look like stone statues of men frozen in battle poses or fleeing in terror scattered about the field. Neither mourners or scavengers have dared to touch them.

(They were MEN once, before they met the terrible gaze of a dragon. Skellig may be able to discern that, even from the air.)

From:

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If birds had hackles to raise, Skellig's would be fully bristled and up, with a thick sense of foreboding and apprehension surrounding his energy as they glide down towards the battlefield.

It is quiet, even with the echoes (stone does not scream, not like other materials) that are filtering through the expanse.

"I don't like any of this," he says, matter-of-factly.

From:

brave_kreyu

Kreyu growls. "Nor do I." She lands, carefully, to take a closer look. "There are some creatures that can turn something the size of a human to stone, but most would have eaten the normal corpses or dragged off the petrified people."

"Looks like a battle between forces led by Ajax's older brothers, not sure which ones," she tells Skellig, eyeing pieces of banners left behind.

She sniffs the ground relatively close to some of the statues. "Oh, surely not," she says, half to herself. "They can't possibly have found something that would bring HIM here..."

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She might be speaking to herself, but Skellig can sense from her tone that there is very little that could be considered good about any of this that stands before them.

He quickly expands his focus to a wider range around them - but his immediate attention remains closely on her, and on these statues of stone - some of the expressions that linger on the frozen faces are of true terror and fear, and to provoke such a reaction from not only these souls, but from Kreyu...

His mind is already shifting further into 'fight and protect' mode, even though he would be rather useless against such a force!

From:

brave_kreyu

There's nothing in their immediate area or even farther away than that. If there are any locals left alive, they are well away from this place. Only a few scavenging creatures are revealed by his senses.

"Another dragon, I think," she says, lifting her head from the ground. "Gorgon, perhaps, although no mundane wealth would buy HIS abilities in battle like this." Her tail lashes in irritation and anxiety.

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Skellig is calmed just slightly by the fact that he cannot sense anything other than the few scavengers - certainly nothing as large as a dragon, and if Kreyu cannot sense him either, Gorgon that is, then perhaps he is not near enough to be an immediate threat.

"Do you think he was fighting for one side over another, or did he simply try to take both parties out?"

He is finding it difficult to find a 'winner' here upon the battlefield, amid the chaos.

From:

brave_kreyu

"Gorgon wouldn't bother to leave his lair without being promised payment, so I suspect one side is employing him. They must have something VERY heavy with karma and very secret. I can't imagine what..." she trails off.

"Gorgon WAS one of the three dragons involved in the battle where the Procession of the Heavens was last seen, all those years ago."

From:

27_53

"Do you think that it has been located, and they are using it as payment? Would that even be...possible for someone that is not a dragon to find?"

Skellig shakes his head, approaches one of the 'statues' and brings his hand up to a mangled arm (or what remains of one) but does not touch it outright. There is just quiet, and he is still greatly unnerved.

"I do not know...I do not have a true comparison for what your kind considers to be wealth, I know I have seen the hoard that Heka had gathered, but I know that is just one instance, one portion...my mind cannot fully understand what would be enough to warrant...this."

From:

brave_kreyu

Kreyu shrugs. "Maybe, or something of equal potency."

She offers her head for holding, for the comfort of touch. "Items like your bracelet that are magnets for karma, those are the greatest treasures to a dragon. The very strongest of such items can be tapped once an hour without weakening, but they are INCREDIBLY rare. A wise dragon hides that they even possess such items, for many other dragons would find it worth the risk to try and steal such a thing."

"Supposedly, the Procession of the Heavens was that strong of a magnet, when three dragons were battling over possession of it.

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He retreats a bit away from the statue and returns to her side, placing a hand on her scales - even as hard as they are, she is alive and that he can sense through the connection.

"From what you have spoken of it, the abilities it contained and just the construction itself...I am not surprised by that."

He let his vision wander back over the battlefield, then looks up at her.

"I feel as if we should find Ajax," he says softly. "I am...worried."

From:

brave_kreyu

"Me too," Kreyu admits. "Koschei could fight Gorgon off, I think. But if Ajax isn't strong enough to resist Gorgon's gaze, that wouldn't matter."

Kreyu makes the trip to the city as fast as they can, but it is still late in the next day by the time they arrive. She's changing into a getup suited for the House of the Setting Sun, Ajax's favorite haunt, hoping that he's still there, still safe.

Even outside the city walls, Skellig might hear whispers of battles, of men turned to stone. The energy in the crowds has an edge of fear, uncertainty. No one near the city has been turned to stone, but some survivors of the battles have come here and they've talked PLENTY.

From:

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Skellig has not been soothed in the slightest by the bits and fragments of conversation that he has heard in the time since they have arrived back at the city, and as he is working to dress himself in more 'appropriate' attire, he is letting his senses and his ears wander, try to find Ajax, or any news of him...and is coming up empty.

This could be a good thing, or it could be a very bad thing.

"Things were...wretched," he says plainly, as he adjusts his amulet, ensures his wings are hidden. "From what I am hearing, it began as a somewhat organized affair and then quickly...devolved." As organized as a battle might be, at least.

From:

brave_kreyu

"That would make sense," she says, helping Skellig with some of his jewelry. "Gorgon can cause fear with his gaze as well as turn people to stone. Though I suspect seeing one's comrades turned to stone by a dragon is quite terrifying enough to cause things to go to pieces."

After all, how could mere mortals hope to stand against such power?

From:

27_53

Standing against such power would likely be impossible for Skellig, even with the abilities that he possesses - so for a mere mortal, it truly would be a swift death sentence, and elicit fear.

He scrubs a hand over his face, sighs.

"I have not heard Ajax, yet. Or heard of him, or Koschei. Which...I am hoping is a good thing, in the overall sense."

From:

brave_kreyu

"I suspect he has been trying to stay OUT of the public eye," Kreyu says, taking his arm.

The crowds are less dense this time, as they weave their way toward the House. As they get closer, Skellig might pick up the sound of Thia speaking Ajax's name inside the House. Might feel Koschei's energy, hear the rumble of his voice.

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"Which would be sensible, given your warnings you bestowed upon him."

They navigate their way through the streets to the House with ease; it is familiar in a different sort of sense than the cavern at the tribe, where all the huts were laid out in a much more organic pattern, but with time they learned it well. It is the energy of Koschei and the rumble that he picks up first, a low bass that he can feel through the soles of his feet as they walk.

"They are alive," he says after a moment - relief evident in his tone, voice soft.

From:

brave_kreyu

Kreyu exhales heavily in relief, her hand loosening on his arm. "That is welcome news, my heart. So very welcome." She keeps her own voice soft, as they enter.

Ajax and Koschei are perched together on a couch in the alcove with the stained glass window. The offending wall painting with the birds has been replaced with a relief carving featuring delicate, life sized, birds portrayed with stunning accuracy.

Ajax sees them enter, and Light surges into his energy. "Sokratis, Kreyu, it is the utmost pleasure to see you."

"Day end well, at least," Koschei rumbles.

From:

27_53

"Ajax, Koschei...the feeling is quite mutual."

Skellig takes the lead, as to be expected a bit in the situation, slipping back into the role of Sokratis. "Would you mind if we joined you?" He asks as they approach the alcove - and his eyes flicker to the relief carving, smile crossing his features as he notes that the awful rendition of the birds has been removed.

From:

brave_kreyu

"Not at all," Ajax replies. "Though we were about to have dinner in our rooms, if you'd care to join us? I'm sure your journey has been a long one."

When Ajax clasps his forearm in greeting Skellig can feel the echo of wounds healed by magic, wounds that must have happened sometime today by the feel of things. Unnatural terror, a panicking horse, not being able to get off in time, trapped and crushed beneath it as it fell.

From:

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The feelings are quite raw and fresh, which gives Skellig pause briefly as he takes Ajax's forearm in greeting. There is a crushing weight upon his chest, a breath that catches in his lungs, a faint surge of pain and panic that makes the hairs in the back of his neck stand up. Kreyu will sense his reaction, certainly, and Koschei might...

"Dinner," he stammers after a moment. "Your rooms would serve us well."

From:

brave_kreyu

Ajax, Kreyu, and Koschei all notice his reaction, though they draw different conclusions from it.

Kreyu puts her hand on Skellig's shoulder, seeking to help ease his nerves. She steps into the role of the more social one, to give him time to recover. "Dinner would be lovely, thank you. It has been quite a long day."

"Many having a long day today," Koschei rumbles. "I will tell kitchens we are having company," he says to Ajax. "You can stay out of trouble that long, yes?" he asks Ajax. The tone is mostly good humor but there is the faintest undertone of nerves.

Ajax rolls his eyes, mostly amused, and tips his head slightly in a nod. Koschei makes his way out of the room, light on his feet for a man as large as he is.

Ajax has presumed Skellig's stammering has to do with his being invited to Ajax's chambers after Ajax expressed his....interest in him last time they met. "It is not my intention to impose my desires on you or Kreyu, Sokratis," he assures him, voice soft, quiet enough that no one outside their group is likely to overhear.

Kreyu sees another guest approaching and delicately steers attention to the sculpture. "That new piece is lovely, do you know who made it?" Her words are pitched such that anyone passing by will surely hear them.

From:

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Skellig is grateful for her taking the 'lead' in this instance, as he works to force air back into his lungs, to rid himself of the feelings of panic - outwardly he just looks mildly unsettled.

(Though he does pick up on a hint of a deeper connection between Koschei and Ajax as the former moves to head for the kitchens, and that does ease his own nerves a bit.)

He shakes his head in regards to Ajax's comment, offering him a faint smile and a quiet response. "That is not a concern, it has simply been a long day of travel, and my mind is a bit scattered."

And to Kreyu's remark, to steer the 'conversation' towards the mundane, he shifts his energy and focus. "It is quite nice, isn't it," he says, nodding softly.