I have written and scraped three versions of what Harai tells Ridahne next and I just can't find a version I am happy with. I knew where I was going with this scene, but it appears I have lost it somewhere along the way. I beg for your patience as I try to find it again. Though it might not be for a while. I have a busy day tomorrow and my family and I have booked Thanksgiving weekend solid. Thank you for your patience, and if you have any ideas about Harai I would welcome them.
LadyAnnaLee Member
VIX
-
Last Seen:
0-24 hrs ago
- Joined: 5 yrs ago
- Posts: 645 (0.32 / day)
- VMs: 8
-
Username history
- LadyAnnaLee 5 yrs ago
-
Latest 10 profile visitors:
-
Most recent →
Daxam,
IAmAugustReign,
Naril,
Foster,
FulgrimLives,
Festive,
Tyler Night,
Tim the Yeti,
CitrusArms,
X Fiendfyre X
Status
User has no status, yet
Bio
User has no bio, yet
Most Recent Posts
Darin listened to Ajoran with a smile on her face as he slipped into talking about Ridahne. She had heard that story before. She was more interested in things like favorite color, scent, thing to do. She did snort at the mention of apple pie. What was it with Torzineis or soon to be Torzineia and apple pie? Had Ridahne said something to him so that he would ask about it? Darin wasn’t sure and she didn’t want to pry in that direction. Maybe it was just something that all Azurei had heard of and wanted to try. She supposed that made sense. Darin had heard of chocolate before this trip after all, but she hadn’t every thought she get to try it, so she hadn’t wasted time thinking about it.
She laced her arm with Ajoran’s “I’ll have to make some for you at some point.” She looked towards the market, “It’s too hot to make the pastry, but I bet I can find all the stuff to make the filling at the market.” She smiled brightly, “I make the best apple pie back home. The pastry is the hard part. The filling is easy. It’s just apples, sugar, and various spices. If I have it on hand, I use apple cider instead of water, but water works just fine.” Her brow furrowed as she continued, “The pastry is the hard part. It requires a great deal of butter and a great deal of time and it has to be at least chill for the layers to form correctly. Here it the heat of Azurei it would be next to impossible.”
Darin supposed that she could chill the air like she had when she first met the Sols, but that felt like a horrible use of her power, horribly selfish and possibly damaging to the Azurei weather patterns. The rain today wasn’t that bad, since rain like this could and would happen naturally, maybe not for as long or as steady, but it could and did happen. Messing with The Sky and with weather was difficult. Darin could change it, but it was easier and wiser to just change the timing of it, to have rain wait an hour or sweep though faster, to have cool winds linger for just a little longer, things like that. Darin was willing to bet that Tasen was do to have rain in the next week or so anyways and that The Sky just hurried it along and then caused it to pause for just a little bit.
Darin gave her head a shake and returned to the conversation with Ajoran, “I could make you some of the filling for a wedding present if you like, but you’ll have to pay for the supplies because I spent the last of my coin on new boots, which are important when you travel by horseback and by foot.” She smiled at him, “Though speaking of weddings, Ridahne wants me to do the rites for this, which makes sense since I am both her sister and The Seed-Bearer, but I have no idea what these rites are or even what happens at a wedding. Do you think you could give me a crash course?”
^_^
For one brief moment Harai considered silence. He couldn’t, wouldn’t, shouldn’t betray the Red Hand. Up to this point her hadn’t; her had merely explained the purpose behind it, the same way he would explain it to a potential recruit. If he started giving names of those he reported to he would be a traitor. Then again, he was the only one in Tasen. No one had come to support him. In the end looking at the braziers from the corner of his eyes and this woman’s unrelenting eyes convinced him. He spoke. He gave every name he could think of, which wasn’t many. He told her of the plans that wouldn’t take effect until The Seed-Bearer left Azurei, how the Sols actions made trying anything in Azurei foolish and insane, but one she was in human territory the Red Hand would proceed to act quickly.
Then Harai mentioned two names, one that wouldn’t interest the Taja and one that just might. Harai had been recruited by a Siren woman named Hopesong Currents. She had been recruited by a human man named Martin Aliceson. Harai had met Aliceson just once, but he seemed to be high enough with in the organization to know what was going on. It was possible that he would be able to answer more of these questions but finding him would be next to impossible. When there had been a rumor that The Seed-Bearer was a boy named Martin Lively, Aliceson had gone into hiding. Maybe now that that rumor had been proven false, he would reemerge.
She laced her arm with Ajoran’s “I’ll have to make some for you at some point.” She looked towards the market, “It’s too hot to make the pastry, but I bet I can find all the stuff to make the filling at the market.” She smiled brightly, “I make the best apple pie back home. The pastry is the hard part. The filling is easy. It’s just apples, sugar, and various spices. If I have it on hand, I use apple cider instead of water, but water works just fine.” Her brow furrowed as she continued, “The pastry is the hard part. It requires a great deal of butter and a great deal of time and it has to be at least chill for the layers to form correctly. Here it the heat of Azurei it would be next to impossible.”
Darin supposed that she could chill the air like she had when she first met the Sols, but that felt like a horrible use of her power, horribly selfish and possibly damaging to the Azurei weather patterns. The rain today wasn’t that bad, since rain like this could and would happen naturally, maybe not for as long or as steady, but it could and did happen. Messing with The Sky and with weather was difficult. Darin could change it, but it was easier and wiser to just change the timing of it, to have rain wait an hour or sweep though faster, to have cool winds linger for just a little longer, things like that. Darin was willing to bet that Tasen was do to have rain in the next week or so anyways and that The Sky just hurried it along and then caused it to pause for just a little bit.
Darin gave her head a shake and returned to the conversation with Ajoran, “I could make you some of the filling for a wedding present if you like, but you’ll have to pay for the supplies because I spent the last of my coin on new boots, which are important when you travel by horseback and by foot.” She smiled at him, “Though speaking of weddings, Ridahne wants me to do the rites for this, which makes sense since I am both her sister and The Seed-Bearer, but I have no idea what these rites are or even what happens at a wedding. Do you think you could give me a crash course?”
^_^
For one brief moment Harai considered silence. He couldn’t, wouldn’t, shouldn’t betray the Red Hand. Up to this point her hadn’t; her had merely explained the purpose behind it, the same way he would explain it to a potential recruit. If he started giving names of those he reported to he would be a traitor. Then again, he was the only one in Tasen. No one had come to support him. In the end looking at the braziers from the corner of his eyes and this woman’s unrelenting eyes convinced him. He spoke. He gave every name he could think of, which wasn’t many. He told her of the plans that wouldn’t take effect until The Seed-Bearer left Azurei, how the Sols actions made trying anything in Azurei foolish and insane, but one she was in human territory the Red Hand would proceed to act quickly.
Then Harai mentioned two names, one that wouldn’t interest the Taja and one that just might. Harai had been recruited by a Siren woman named Hopesong Currents. She had been recruited by a human man named Martin Aliceson. Harai had met Aliceson just once, but he seemed to be high enough with in the organization to know what was going on. It was possible that he would be able to answer more of these questions but finding him would be next to impossible. When there had been a rumor that The Seed-Bearer was a boy named Martin Lively, Aliceson had gone into hiding. Maybe now that that rumor had been proven false, he would reemerge.
Hello! After rereading some parts of this it has come to my attention that I have accidently given Martin two different sets of parents. To clarify. He is Martin son of Gregory by Alice. Just so you know.
In one of the many rooms of the castle of the self-professed Lord Ahriman there was a human woman sprawled out on a bed with her back against the headboard and her ankles crossed as they stretched out in front of her. There was not much in the way of personalization in this room, but of course the occupant currently on the bed had only taken possession of the room a few days ago. There were several weapons scattered about and on the table besides the bed was a glass of water that had not been touch and would not be touched and a stack of books that also hadn’t been touch and would most likely be touched in the near future.
The woman had taken a few books for her host library to pursue at her leisure and was reading one now. They were all histories of various conflicts between Heroes and Demon Lords and she was finding them quite interesting. Do to her upbringing she knew most of these stories already, but reading them from the other side was proving enlightening. The most enlightening fact she got was that both sides of the conflicts were practice liars. Though knowing that the histories were full of lies meant, with a little bit of deduction she could figure out a possible truth. In short, the woman was enthralled and didn’t plan on ending her study anytime soon.
The door to the room was closed but the window was not. It was though this window that a hawk shaped creature flew in to perch on the back of a chair, “We are going to be late Katrina.”
Katrina flipped the page of her book without looking up, “So? What do I care? Ahriman certainly won’t. And if he does he’ll just kill me so whatever. I carry a death sentence anyways and I rather have a demon kill me than let the Valances have the satisfaction.”
The bird shaped thing mentally spoke again, “If you die you won’t be able to finish those books.”
Katrina paused her reading to look at the speaker. She wasn’t sure what Rolf was. He was shaped like a hawk but given his habits of making good points and asking annoying questions she couldn’t answer the human didn’t think that’s all there was too it. He might be a wizard’s familiar of some kind, but she had no magic so probably not. He might be an angel or divine messenger but given the fact that they were currently in Sheol that was also unlikely. He was most likely a minor demon and that should worry Katrina, but too be honest she didn’t care. She might also just be mad. She didn’t care about that either.
With a groan she pushed herself of the bed as she placed the book down, “Fine! Just how late are we going to be?”
Rolf sounded amused, “Well, it was supposed to start at 1150. It is 1215 now.”
Okay, they weren’t going to just be late. They were going to be extremely late. There was no way Katrina was going to go walking around in a Demon Lord’s Castle without being fully armed and she wasn’t going to rush either. As took her time to pull on her boots, fasten her breastplate and secure her hawking leathers. Then she double checked that every knife, all five of her swords, her whip, her battle fan, and all of her other countless weapons were precisely where they were supposed to be. She took more time doing that than she should have, but she didn’t care and Rolf didn’t rush her.
Finally, Katrina left the room, not by the door, but by the widow. Since the meeting room was below her resting room it was the only logical choice. Her knees bent to disperse the momentum of dropping three stories and her legs protested with waves of pain. Katrina didn’t even hiss as she ignored the pain as she began walking towards the meeting room. She did not slouch. For one thing being a practical walking armory didn’t allow for that and for another thing her childhood training prevented it. So, yes, the woman’s posture was perfect as she began her trip and Rolf flew down to rest on her shoulder. She still gave the impression of slouching as she moved. Maybe it was the hands in her pockets gripping the hilts of two throwing knifes. Maybe it was the blank look on her face. Or maybe it was just the disinterested air that completely surrounded her.
Katrina finally made it to the hall and slipped inside without announcing her presence to anyone or anything. Despite seeming uninterested she took in everything she could see with a quick glace as she hugged the wall to slip into a corner to remain unobserved. Surprisingly it wasn’t all demons. There were a more than a few mortals, a few dark magicians, and yes, a couple of demons. What the specifics of this particular collection were Katrina didn’t care. She knew that in general they were all hear to hear Ahriman’s crazy scheme on how to deal with the Heroes. Katrina had nothing personal against Heroes as a whole, but as people or persons she had a great deal against them. So, she would listen, for now.
She wasn’t going to eat or drink though. It all looked impressive and it was clear that several demons had already started feasting, but Katrina wasn’t a fool. She had heard stories of both Heroes and Companions being stuck in Sheol after eating something there. She wasn’t one hundred percent sure that was true and was willing to doubt it, but better safe than sorry. Right now, she just focused on the conversations. She was late and now needed to play catch up.
Harai took a few deep breathes after drinking the water before answering the question, “Security. No one knows where she plans to plant The Seed. If she even plans to plant it at all. Do you even know if she plans to plant it? The two of you have been wondering Elven lands for close to a year. This seems more like a sightseeing trip than a trip to save Astra. Who knows how long we have until The Tree finally withers and dies? She’s wasting time. Even when she does plant it, how will one-person alone care for it. The Red Hand has a spot prepared for The Seed and people from all races prepared to care for it. We told The Gardener this. He told us we were fools. Before leaving. We know nothing about this Seed-Bearer. Why does she walk in secret? Is she hiding secrets of her own? Giving all this power to a … a child seems foolish. Surely a group is better than a person.” He seemed desperate, “Ask her. Ask her what she plans for The Seed. Then ask yourself if her hands truly are the best ones to carry It.”
Was it truth? Harai wasn’t lying, but that didn’t mean it was true. It could just be something the Red Hand used to recruit people. And it was strange how often power got mistaken for security by those used to having both or those who always wanted more. Right now, that did not matter. What mattered was that the man had told Ridahne what he believed in a desperate attempt to gain some relief. Then again, it was surprising what a person could delude themselves into believing when they were desperate. Harai didn’t actually know much about the upper echelons of the Red Hand. He was a scout and nothing more.
He told the taja that, “That’s all I know I swear. I don’t need to know more. The less individual know the easier it will be to keep things neat.”
Meanwhile, down on the coast, Darin considered what Ajoran had told her. That was basically what Ridhane had told her when she asked. That was what those of her village did even if there was nothing legal binding them. Would a legal binding have kept Martin with Talia? Darin looked at the burn scar in the center of her palm as she thought of home. She wasn’t sure. She could say what could have been. No one knew what could have been, not even The Gardener, not even The Tree. Her gaze turned from the horizon of the sea towards the direction of home. How long would it take to get home if she just rode Talbot nonstop. She couldn’t run now, or honestly, ever again.
She found herself speaking, “For reasons we have yet to decipher my father left and for a while I thought Ridahne was just like him. Talia would have followed Martin anywhere and as far as I can tell Ajoran would do the same for Ridahne. But unlike Talia you didn’t quit.”
She found herself reaching up to grab Ajoran’s chin in her hand to look him dead in the eye. He was taller than her, so she had to crane her neck to lock their gazes. This was the man that Ridahne had chosen, but even her love for him wouldn’t stop her from doing what she thought was right. She was doing her best to like him, or at least she thought she was going her best. She knew it was important to her sister that they got along, but now that she thought about it, she didn’t know all that much about him. She knew more about Hadian and that need to change. Maybe that would help.
The Seed-Bearer let his chin go, but didn’t remove her gaze, “Tell me about you Ajoran Teleisun. Tell me your hopes and dreams and aspirations. Don’t tell me about the man that my sister fell for. Tell me about you.”
Was it truth? Harai wasn’t lying, but that didn’t mean it was true. It could just be something the Red Hand used to recruit people. And it was strange how often power got mistaken for security by those used to having both or those who always wanted more. Right now, that did not matter. What mattered was that the man had told Ridahne what he believed in a desperate attempt to gain some relief. Then again, it was surprising what a person could delude themselves into believing when they were desperate. Harai didn’t actually know much about the upper echelons of the Red Hand. He was a scout and nothing more.
He told the taja that, “That’s all I know I swear. I don’t need to know more. The less individual know the easier it will be to keep things neat.”
Meanwhile, down on the coast, Darin considered what Ajoran had told her. That was basically what Ridhane had told her when she asked. That was what those of her village did even if there was nothing legal binding them. Would a legal binding have kept Martin with Talia? Darin looked at the burn scar in the center of her palm as she thought of home. She wasn’t sure. She could say what could have been. No one knew what could have been, not even The Gardener, not even The Tree. Her gaze turned from the horizon of the sea towards the direction of home. How long would it take to get home if she just rode Talbot nonstop. She couldn’t run now, or honestly, ever again.
She found herself speaking, “For reasons we have yet to decipher my father left and for a while I thought Ridahne was just like him. Talia would have followed Martin anywhere and as far as I can tell Ajoran would do the same for Ridahne. But unlike Talia you didn’t quit.”
She found herself reaching up to grab Ajoran’s chin in her hand to look him dead in the eye. He was taller than her, so she had to crane her neck to lock their gazes. This was the man that Ridahne had chosen, but even her love for him wouldn’t stop her from doing what she thought was right. She was doing her best to like him, or at least she thought she was going her best. She knew it was important to her sister that they got along, but now that she thought about it, she didn’t know all that much about him. She knew more about Hadian and that need to change. Maybe that would help.
The Seed-Bearer let his chin go, but didn’t remove her gaze, “Tell me about you Ajoran Teleisun. Tell me your hopes and dreams and aspirations. Don’t tell me about the man that my sister fell for. Tell me about you.”
Darin was just as joyful on the docks as she had been in the marketplace. She lost more games than she won so, it was insanely lucky that they were not playing with real coins. She politely said no thank you to the sailor offering her tattoos. Afterall, she explained, she still hadn’t gathered her courage enough to face the needle and when she did Taja Ridahne Torzinei, her sister would of course have the honor of placing the first picture of ink. Besides, the human wasn’t even sure what picture she would get. She listened to lessons of waves and sailing with rapt attention and didn’t notice that Ajoran was not with them.
She noticed when he got back though as he made to call Ridahne away. Darin stood up from looking at the tide pool she and a sailor had moved to as her smile, which was almost permanently etched to her face fell for the first time that day. She didn’t want Ridahne to leave. Why would Ridahne leave, but Ajoran stay? She looked at her sister’s stern face and suddenly knew. Her fingers move to touch the cuff on her ear without even thinking about it. The man from the Red Hand, had she been wrong? She had thought he wouldn’t have tried anything while still in Tasen. Had he? Darin wasn’t sure, and neither of the Taja’s face gave any hints.
Darin looked towards the water and the horizon as she spoke slowly, “I know that sometimes people say that mercy is foolish. Others say that justice can be cruel. And I’m not sure where the balance is.” She looked back towards Ridahne, “And I’m not asking you to sacrifice justice for mercy even though I know Azurei justice can be harsh. I just need to make sure that we are punishing crimes that have happened, not crimes that might could happen. Otherwise, where does it stop?” She forced herself to smile as she gently pressed her lips to Ridahne’s cheek, “Hurry back to me sister. Today is supposed to be more play than work.”
Then she pulled away and watched Ridahne head off to wherever it was that she was going. She was left with Ajoran. She looked at the man. Her emotions regrading her sister’s fiancé were complicated, but that was hardly his fault. It wouldn’t do to spurn him, just because she was jealous of the attention, he was getting Ridahne. She knew that wasn’t fair of her, even if that was what she wanted to do. After all, Ridahne had know Ajoran far longer. If anyone was the interloper, it was her. Still, her good mood was practically gone. Swiftly she told Astra that she would be alright, that the Sea, Sky, and Stone should keep playing. She just needed time to think. That was what she did as she walked along the beach and way from people. Finally, it was just her and Ajoran.
Darin found herself asking as she stared at the horizon pass the waves, “Tell me about marriage. Ridahne had been excited about the chance to marry you practically the entire time we’ve been traveling together, but I’ll confess that I don’t understand it. It’s not something we really have where I’m from. So, what does it mean to you? And what will it mean when the two of you are tied that way?”
She noticed when he got back though as he made to call Ridahne away. Darin stood up from looking at the tide pool she and a sailor had moved to as her smile, which was almost permanently etched to her face fell for the first time that day. She didn’t want Ridahne to leave. Why would Ridahne leave, but Ajoran stay? She looked at her sister’s stern face and suddenly knew. Her fingers move to touch the cuff on her ear without even thinking about it. The man from the Red Hand, had she been wrong? She had thought he wouldn’t have tried anything while still in Tasen. Had he? Darin wasn’t sure, and neither of the Taja’s face gave any hints.
Darin looked towards the water and the horizon as she spoke slowly, “I know that sometimes people say that mercy is foolish. Others say that justice can be cruel. And I’m not sure where the balance is.” She looked back towards Ridahne, “And I’m not asking you to sacrifice justice for mercy even though I know Azurei justice can be harsh. I just need to make sure that we are punishing crimes that have happened, not crimes that might could happen. Otherwise, where does it stop?” She forced herself to smile as she gently pressed her lips to Ridahne’s cheek, “Hurry back to me sister. Today is supposed to be more play than work.”
Then she pulled away and watched Ridahne head off to wherever it was that she was going. She was left with Ajoran. She looked at the man. Her emotions regrading her sister’s fiancé were complicated, but that was hardly his fault. It wouldn’t do to spurn him, just because she was jealous of the attention, he was getting Ridahne. She knew that wasn’t fair of her, even if that was what she wanted to do. After all, Ridahne had know Ajoran far longer. If anyone was the interloper, it was her. Still, her good mood was practically gone. Swiftly she told Astra that she would be alright, that the Sea, Sky, and Stone should keep playing. She just needed time to think. That was what she did as she walked along the beach and way from people. Finally, it was just her and Ajoran.
Darin found herself asking as she stared at the horizon pass the waves, “Tell me about marriage. Ridahne had been excited about the chance to marry you practically the entire time we’ve been traveling together, but I’ll confess that I don’t understand it. It’s not something we really have where I’m from. So, what does it mean to you? And what will it mean when the two of you are tied that way?”
© 2007-2024