@Balorac - Well, I'm sure looking forward to some wrirtz from you. I think you have been to spoiled by me and Telly in that area!
Just another Day - Part VI
It seemed that Balorac had woken up from his slumber and was not on in his best mood. Lying beside the small camp fire he groaned and cursed, his voice echoing against the cavern walls. Elyssa kneeled close to the fire and warmed her ice cold hands over the glowing coals. She took her time to get the fire going again; placing some dry wood on the coals and watched as the flames rose towards the cave´s ceiling. Her soft leather pants were dirty and stained. The skirt was even worse, black ash covered the one side from the waist up her neck.
Balorac coughed and asked with a raspy voice. “How long did I sleep?”
“The sun is high... Almost a full circle.” She was focused on the fire and did not look at him when she answered.
“I suppose I needed the rest.” Balorac nodded slightly.
“You seem better.”
“I feel like something a dog ate...”
Elyssa chuckled and she almost winked at him. “Well....You don’t look better. But you seem it. What is that hideous tattoo on your face?
If she did not knew better she would say that Balorac almost seemed ashamed. “Thanks... That was part of a ritual... It will hopefully were off soon.”
Elyssa took her time to look around the cave. The cavern walls in the dim light of the torches and the open fire all seem to have markings on them, of recent date.
“I dreamt of the place... where I came from...” He continued with a lower voice.
She gave him a glance, her features was a bit inscrutable.
“The L world... pieces of land floating in space, torn asunder by being beyond our comprehension.”
When she seemed satisfied with the fire, she sat a bit closer to him; pulling his mantle aside so she got a better look at his wounds.
“I suppose I dreamt it all, but it was so vivid...” He looked at Elyssa, almost shyly, and winced as she touched the bandage.
“Sometimes dreams are just dreams... Other times, Dreams can be so much more that we with our inferior minds can comprehend.” Her eyes did not leave the injury. The swelling had gone down and the edges around the wound were no longer crimson red. Yet he did yank away a bit when her fingertips gently touched his skin.
“It seems to be working.” His eyes were following her.
“I got the paste from a Stygian healer… A fierce old lady with some habits better left unsaid. Saved me a couple of times…” She smiled at him and carefully removed the last residues bandages.
“Stygian?” He chuckled a bit and winced from the pain it caused. “I bet he used some Dark Lace for that. I heard that Shamans us it in so-called natural potions in Stygia.”
“I bet she did. Seshafi is a sly one…” She grinned at him and let her fingers trail down his side searching for any sign of swelling.
“She... of course.” He grinned. ” But it seems to work and that is the most important part. Thank you for taking care of me, even though you did carve me up to start with.”
“This time you deserved it.” She looks at him and grinned back. “One time when she was in Cimmeria... I had to drag her from Conarch; just because she wanted human parts for her experiments and potions.” She shook her head and laughed at the memory.
“Human parts? “ He did not seem to be able to wipe the grin of his face. ”I can see how that can be a problem. Cimmerians don't like the diseased loved ones cut up for alchemical experiments. They are a bit strange that way... We... are a bit strange that way. I sometimes forget my own heritage.”
“Takes time to adjust, don’t it?”
“I don't yet know what to adjust to.”
Elyssa tilted her head and tried to brush of some of the smudges on her arms. “You find it out... I’m sure of it. You’re not the type who linger in the dark and are afraid to move forward.”
Balorac nodded a bit and looked straight at her. “I suppose you are right. You know me better than is good for you.”
“In that we do disagree... I don’t think I do know you that well.... you’re only not used to have someone close… that actually stayed.” Elyssa’s voice was very casual.
Balorac snorted at her reply. “I had that once before and it nearly got me and her killed. But I am grateful for you company.”
Elyssa sighed to herself. “Well then… I burnt the mask... And some other things that was in here.” She made a vide gesture around the camp fire.
“Good. Although I am not sure if it was a mask and if it was good or bad that you did by burning it. Time will tell, I suppose.”
“The ash don’t seem to be rubbing off.” She held up her smudged arm turning slightly so he could see that the stains continued over her back.
Balorac chuckled. “I have a sneaking suspicion it is in essence that same stuff that's in the tattoo on my face. That means that it will go away in due time, but not soon I'm afraid.”
“Well, there goes this shirt then.” She smiled and pulled theatrically in the hem.
“I will get you a new one, as soon as...” He suddenly frowned. “As I get... a job...”
Elyssa chuckled at his surprised expression, but could not stop herself from asking. “What happened to Blackthorn?
“Yeah, laugh at poor Balorac... Blackthorn is fine without me, but Darshan wants me brought in 'for questioning' so I have to stay out of his clutches.”
She looked him up and down with a too serious face, just a smile away from mocking him. “You should know by now that I laugh with you... Not at you... Would I still be here otherwise?” She gave him a slight friendly push on his shoulder.
“Knowing him he will have found and confiscated most of my secret stashes, so I suppose I am... without coin.” Balorac smiled as she nearly pushed him over.
“Darshan.... That is a new player on the board. Who is he?”
Balorac shook his head. “No, an old one. He is a member of the Council, and up until recently he didn't get involved in worldly affairs.”
“Council... You must have pissed him off real good.” There was a smirk in the corner of her mouth.
“I did a little research into him, and it appears to me that the ****er has been around for a long while. And yes, I went against their will, at least against the will of some.”
“Do you know how long?” There was a sudden eagerness in her voice. Darshan is devoted to the Asura. If he has found IT, this might turn out to be a total new game.
“It least one hundred years, but I suspect a lot more... If my suspicions are correct than Darshan Singh, or Mercurio Sinistra, or Sinjaya or whatever names he is known by, was there to see the waves swallow Atlantis. That last thing is conjecture, by the way.”
I need to find him, if he has what I’m searching for, he won’t give it to me lightly. She dampened a cloth with something from a little yellow bottle. With some fuzz, she managed to get it inside the bandage, close to his skin.
Balorac shouted and cursed. “Crom's balls!”
“There there… It stings in the beginning and then it will numb the wound.” She made sure he did not see her face.
Footsteps closed in on them and the shadow of a man appeared close to the fire. He stopped and looked over the two on the cavern floor. “What’s ya doin in here eh?” He smelled of horse and night, cool and pungent.
Balorac glanced at the man. ” I am lying here, enjoying the scenery while a beautiful young woman tortures me. What's your excuse for being here?”
Elyssa turned to the newcomer and said impartially.
“Taking care of a wounded man.” She leaned closer to Balorac and swatted his head friendly. “That’s for the so called torture.” She added a bit lower.
“Hunting...Vanir trough the valley...Who are ya?” The man asked.
“I am Ba... I am Culain. And you?”
“Im Manikan the eagle....and why are you lying?”
Elyssa turned to the newcomer again. “My name is Lady Elyssa of the Fearghal Clan.”
Balorac grinned at Elyssa when he answered Manikans first question. “I was tracking the beast that was killing those Vanir, when I came across...
“He had a slight accident with a sharp sword.” Elyssa said dryly.
“Liar? You call me a liar, Manikan the Eagle? Would you for me to clip your wings?” Balorac growled and tried to get up. His attempts got cut short by Elyssas firm hands shoving him back down on the pelts. He shot her an irritated look.
“Hey wait....you’re a Fearghal?” There was a surprised tone in Manikan´s voice.
Elyssa rose and turned to Manikan.
“You don’t scare me.” Manikan took a step closer.
“That's just because you don't know me, my fearless friend.” Balorac stated. He looked almost bored over the turn the conversation had taken.
“Yes... I am of the Fearghal Clan and he is only trying to provoke you...” Elyssa tilted her head towards Balorac.
“I aint fearless....we all have fears. I´m Koragg.”
“Greetings then.” Elyssa said.
“Greetings.” Manikan answered with a short nod. His eyes did not stray from Balorac where he lay on the floor.
“Koragg.” Balorac harrumphed. “I thought as much. A lot of brawn, little brain.”
Elyssa had to bite her tongue… hard. For once this is something we agree in.
The remark hit a nerve and Manikan growled. “Shut up...or I shall slit your throat.”
“You will try and you will die trying.” Balorac grinned wolfishly. “But I will no longer tease you, my young friend.”
Manikan smiled an evil smile. “I don’t fear death...wounded little friend.” He stressed the word little, in a quite insulting way.
Balorac smacked his lip. “You have balls, I admit that. So I am letting you get away with it... Well met, Manikan of Clan Koragg.”
“And well met to you.” Manikin said dryly.
Balorac grinned. “And yes, you spotted well that I am wounded.”
“Yeah.....what have been up to? Manikan asked.
“I have been hunting for a beast that was giving the Vanir nightmares and this beautiful lady here came to my rescue.” Balorac looked up at Elyssa with a sly smile.
12th February 2012, 17:58