[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/qMzbGL2Y/Contest-zip-6.png[/img] [sub]Location: The Road Between the Jail and the Inn[/sub] [h1][i]Part II[/i][/h1] [hr][/center] Elio smiled down at the Priestess in his hands as she blinked up at him with wide, dark eyes and pink wind-blown cheeks. A loose cobblestone slid neatly back into place behind her. He’d heard about her – had apparently blown in last week in some golden and gaudy [i]procession[/i]. Elio would’ve written her off as another example of Aurelian pomp… if not for what he’d heard next. That the Priestess, some tiny thing from Aurelia’s Ember Islands with uncharacteristically fair hair, had immediately saved some brat from death by blight-born in front of a crowd of her devoted. Impressive if it was true. An ambitious (if on the nose) bit of propaganda if not. Either way – intriguing. Especially as he looked down at the Priestess in question now, who looked about as impressive as a bunny. Big eyes. A softly sloping nose. Full pink lips, parted slightly, as her breath drifted over them in gentle white clouds. She was a delicate little thing – practically pocket sized, and swimming in her winter Sun Priestess robes. Hell of a contradiction, that. Seemed Aurelia hadn’t quite figured out how to make cold weather clothes yet that didn’t swallow their Priestess whole. Shame. But discovery was part of the fun anyway. Elio’s hands tightened their grip on her narrow shoulder, around the waist hidden beneath layers of fabric, and helped the Priestess straighten up. Tia could feel the heat building up her neck and across her face as she stood before the towering man – he was… [i]awfully[/i] close still, hands lingering as if to hold her steady. The weight of them pressed against her, even through the thick fabric of her robes. His smile grew, amusement sparking in his amber eyes as she blinked dumbly at him. [color=darkorange]“You alright then, Darling?”[/color] His deep voice rumbled through her and it was like Tia snapped back to life. Nodding, she gave him a thankful smile – though she was sure it looked as awkward and nervous as she felt. [color=lemonchiffon]“Thank you,”[/color] she said softly as she took a tiny step back – out from under his enormous shadow, away from his firm hands. His dark eyebrow quirked up slightly at the sound of her rasping voice, but his expression shifted easily back into one of genial ease and charm. He moved smoothly with her, hands lifting away as she stepped back – only to start drifting around her body, brushing snow off of her shoulders and the top of her head, even as more stray flakes drifted to take their place. Tia was frozen under his ministrations, too surprised by this turn to do more than watch as she stayed obediently in place. His touches were light and efficient, defter than she would’ve expected from someone with so imposing a presence. His eyes, the color of smoldering smoldering firelight, seemed to move without seeing her, focusing only on the next problem area to solve. Tia studied him as he worked, the way the snow landed lightly against him, too. Startlingly tall, broad, warm-hued in a way that made Tia think of the nomads who’d sometimes visited the capital for trade or performances, and, at the moment, attending to her in a way that was almost… [i]paternal[/i]. Her unease drifted away like the errant snowflakes he brushed off of her, replaced by something still timid, but more thoughtful. Endeared, even. A stray lock of midnight hair drifted across his eyes as he grabbed at the collar of her robe, the edge of his short nails catching lightly at the bare skin below her scarf. Tia couldn’t help the sharp inhale as his touch sent her nerves dancing across her chest and down her back. Her eyes widened slightly – he caught them with his own. Then he straightened out her collar and tugged at the fabric of her sleeves, removing any rumples that’d formed when he’d caught her. [color=darkorange]“There,”[/color] he said, gently, smile growing on his face again. [color=darkorange]“Set to rights.”[/color] His hands fell away from her at last. Tia tried to swallow. She didn’t want to know what color her face was. She focused on returning his smile instead, giving a small bow of her head in thanks. Straightening, Tia tensed as another biting gust of wind blew through her, tangling strands of long hair in front of her face. [color=darkorange]“You’re the Sun Priestess, I take it?”[/color] Elio asked, watching her shiver. She blinked those big eyes up at him as she brushed her away from her face with shaking fingers, before her expression shifted slightly. It was subtle, but Elio watched it happen with keen eyes – how she straightened up slightly, some of her meekness melting away and replaced with a serene professionalism. The Priestess retreated into her title like it was one of her oversized robes, nodding at him with a smile that wasn’t quite so nervous. [color=darkorange]“Elio Azkona.”[/color] His name had the intended effect. He watched as she registered the name, just a handful of letters away from that goddess of hers she was so devoted to. Her smile was a little warmer, a little less unsure, as she nodded to him again with the indulgence of a calm, patient teacher. When the Priestess’ eyes found him again, it no longer looked like she was waiting for the appropriate time to make her escape – duty took over instead as she stood before him, waiting to see how she could be of service to one of her flock. [color=darkorange]“The stonemason here,”[/color] he continued. [color=darkorange]“So I’m afraid it falls on my shoulders, if this path was too uneven for you,”[/color] he said with just the right amount of humor. Her eyes widened as she looked at him and then down at the stones below her feet – then turned slightly to look at the path behind her, before spinning back to Elio and shaking her head to reassure him (because the path was impeccable, [i]of course[/i]). His eyes flicked briefly at the scarf around her neck as he considered her apparent reluctance to use that voice of hers. He wondered idly how loud she could get. [color=darkorange]“Come on,”[/color] he said, holding his hands up in a staying motion, his smile growing. [color=darkorange]“Let me take some accountability. I’ll escort you.”[/color] Elio stepped to the side, angling his body down the direction she’d been traveling as he raised an arm towards her. [color=darkorange]“Help you stay upright.”[/color] The pretty pink tinge in her cheeks seemed to darken. His eyes grew a little sharper, his smile a little more crooked, as he took her in, watching as she considered him. A drop of that hesitation came back into her expression. Another breeze brought the chilling winter air, and she tensed again, long hair twisting like solstice festival streamers hung up around the capital, pale as the moon against the shadowed night. [color=darkorange]“I’m a very good windbreak,”[/color] he added, low and conspiratorial. Tia didn’t doubt that. Her cheeks warmed slightly as she looked up at this mountain of a man, with his charming smile and offered arm. But in the end, there wasn’t much of a choice to make. Too polite to dismiss him and too cold to refuse shelter, Tia finally gave him another small, thankful smile, and nodded. Stepping forward, she slipped her arm around his and tried not to think too much about the hard musculature there, or the way the cold pushed her closer into his side – shielded from the wind, and soaking in the warmth he practically radiated, now that she was close enough to feel it. He began walking, his steps long and slow as Tia trailed along beside him. She listened to the heavier sound of his footsteps, sure and solid. [color=darkorange]“Where to, Priestess?”[/color] he asked, looking down at her with those bright eyes of his. [color=darkorange]“The temple?”[/color] Tia craned her neck to look up at him and shook her head. She took in a short breath to speak – and held it for a moment in hesitation. [color=lemonchiffon]“The jail.”[/color] Something flashed in his eyes, so quick that Tia thought she might’ve imagined it. Then his smile was back as he looked ahead, gaze sharp. [color=darkorange]“The jail then,”[/color] her new escort replied. Elio led the little Priestess down the shadowed path lined with orange torchlight, his mind working as he considered her, and the flash of worry she’d tried to hide, even as she’d tensed around his arm – then he thought of the pale-eyed [i]’gardener’[/i] who’d taken up residence in his worksite. [i]Intriguing.[/i] The cobblestones remained in place as they walked.