Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel grinned. "Rhazii was such a tiny thing when I saw him. I'm sure he is no less gorgeous after these years. From what I have heard of Newt, he sounds like a sweet little thing, too."

"They are growing up like brothers," Sabine added. "They love to play together. They can achieve more mischief together."

"Is that so?" Ariel giggled. "Partners in crime, are they?"

Sabine gave a small shrug and smiled. "Not much is out of their reach, for children. It was hard to keep things away from them on shelves when Newt realised that Rhazii could hold him up on his shoulders."

"How cute!" Ariel stopped suddenly with an open mouth. Her voice lowered to a thoughtful tone. "I suppose I should keep an eye on them in the shop, hm."

---

Gallus wished that Yizan-Lei's symptoms made him surer than he was before. Unfortunately, he was no healer. He was still running on half-baked assumptions.

Nevertheless, he knew what he was there for in the first place. He raised a hand horizontally to Yizan-Lei when he was having trouble. "Do not push yourself. I have heard enough," Gallus said. "Explaining everything is... complicated. I will start from the beginning. Do not hesitate at any point to stop me if you want to hear something again, or translated."

Gallus stared at the red feather and began. "The people who promised your mother a cure for her service are notorious for deception and trickery. They were cultists that were hunting certain people for their souls. What they asked Dar-Tzesa to do would have sounded simple, but it was not. They preyed upon your mother's devotion to use her for their own ends without having a cure."

Gallus' eyes flicked to Yizan's uncle briefly. He had to be careful about the secrets he would keep. While he had thought about what he would say beforehand, satisfying Najan-Ja might require some alterations on the spot.

"They travelled to Elsweyr, to a community that they were going to take souls from. I work for an organisation that had been fighting against these cultists, and they needed your mother because she had a likeness to our leader. They used her to deceive the community and gain control. By sheer luck, we got there before they could have their guards lead away to be ambushed. The cultists were captured, along with Dar-Tzesa."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine couldn't help but smile at Meesei's comments.

Ariel laughed lightly. "Not to mention, Sabine. I still owe you from the last time you were here. Remember when Rukeewei and me had an argument and you got me to go and sort it out?"

"Yes. I remember," Sabine said, continuing to smile. "But you have been giving advice with letters."

Ariel waved dismissively. "Oh, that was only for one or two." She leaned forward. "Still, I'm very proud of you, sister. You went out if your way and tried a relationship. It may not have worked out how you liked, but you have come out of it with more experience. You would have learned a lot, yes?"

"Yes." Sabine shifted in her seat. "I experienced many things for the first time."

"See? It's a profit in the end." Ariel grinned and ruffled Sabine's hair. "Now, how are the others? Are the children going well? I can't wait to see how they've grown."

---

Gallus hesitated, but not to spare feelings this time. He gently placed the feather on the bed next to Yizan-Lei while he answered. "Possibly. It depends. I will tell you after recounting what happened to your mother, but first...If you could, tell me about your condition. If you would prefer to speak Jel, Cuts here can interpret for me."

Gallus hoped that he might better judge whether it would even be a good idea to offer Yizan-Lei lycanthropy to possibly cure him. If not, he would have to try and help him some other way.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Ah," Ariel gave Sabine a sympathetic look. "How have things been with Peiter?"

Sabine smiled sadly. "We separated," she said. "He couldn't travel with us, and he still has trouble with his arm, and...we were growing apart anyway."

"I see. I suppose it was still sad, wasn't it?"

"Yes," Sabine nodded. Has she been asked shortly after they set out for Thorn, she might have been in tears. However, enough time had passed that she could speak about it without breaking down. "It was...nice. I miss him a little. I miss...the love. Fendros and Ahnasha's wedding made me feel sad and lonely. They are so happy."

"Aww, Sabine..." Ariel knitted her brow and gave Sabine a comforting rub on the arm. "I'm sorry to hear that it made you sad. Look, sometimes comparing yourself to others with relationships is not helpful. Remember, it's as much about luck as it is about searching for someone who you want to be with. You will find someone given time."

Sabine was about as convinced as she had been with Meesei's advice. She gave a short hum of acknowledgement without looking up.

---

In an echo of Gallus' words when he began searching the city, he did not know what to expect but what he found was not it.

To Gallus, Yizan-Lei looked like he was about to starve to death. His skeletal appearance made Gallus hold his his breath for a moment.

As Gallus solemnly walked in and moved the chair to face the bed, he felt a pang for how he would react if Tzirret or Peiter were in such a state. It was no wonder that Dar-Tzesa was so desperate.

Gallus sat, weaved his fingers together tightly, and leaned forward to speak to the boy. "Yizan-Lei, my name is Gallus." He nodded to the door. "He is Cuts-Canes-Faster. We...well..." Gallus' tone softened. "I...met your mother, Dar-Tzesa. I have some bad news."

Despite having a general plan of what to say, Gallus paused to produce the red feather and gauge Yizan-Lei's reaction. He wasn't sure whether it would be a good idea to be as direct as he was to Najan-Ja without Yizan-Lei asking as much.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

@Kho

What page? I am still on the search for when you first went mad and 'started burning revan alive'.

@Lauder

Try to look for posts that were put up around when the Brexit referendum was held.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel was able to clear her throat enough to drink her tea properly before answering Meesei. "His extended family actually live together in a house near the walls. It's not especially large or luxurious, but his mother, father, and two aunts live there."

Ariel smiled and angled her eyes down. "They didn't seem outwardly taken aback when they met me but...they have other ways of expressing their isolation. It wasn't really in a way that I was prepared for." Ariel looked up to Meesei. "You see, they were all warm and welcoming smiles while I was in front of them and it felt like something was off. I found out soon after that they were talking about me behind my back. How I'm rumoured to be a 'wild mage' and I'll only bring trouble to the family. I'm sure that even if I wasn't a witch they would find something else wrong with me."

After a quick sigh of frustration, Ariel leaned back a bit. "It's tense, but I am working through it slowly. They attended our wedding, so it doesn't sound as bad as Fendros' situation by a large margin."

---

Gallus looked to Cuts to check his comfort, and then carefully began handing over his hammer and many daggers. He didn't even keep one hidden this time, as was his habit. The two of them would be unlikely to find trouble here.

"You were her brother? Or her in-law?" Gallus asked while producing his weapons. "You have my condolences. I didn't catch your name."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel's face shuddered and she placed her teacup onto the table in front of them with a loud clink. It was just in time before she brought an arm to her mouth and erupted in a brief fit of coughing. The shock may have sent tea down her windpipe.

When it subsided, she grinned and responded. "Ah..ahem, sorry. By Azura, I completely forgot! I remember reading that they wanted to get married." She stopped to cough once more into her arm and clear her throat. "So that finally happened? Where did they have the ceremony?"

"Cheydinhal," Sabine answered. She had been stifling her laughter from Ariel's surprise.

"Of course," Ariel said. "That must have been why you had a pleasant- of course! Oh, I have to hear all about it now." She placed an arm on Sabine's forearm. "You two mustn't spare any details."

Sabine angled her head and smiled, looking into her tea. "It was romantic. The ceremony involved ash. The priest was nice and the vows were beautiful." Sabine's eyes returned to Ariel. "And we met Fendros' family. His previous family."

Ariel was less excited, but just as curious. "Really? I remember you telling me that Fendros' family was not exactly happy with him, or was that just his brother?"

Sabine cast her mind back. "His sister Llarasa likes him. Monderyn seemed conflicted. His mother Calia was shocked but calmed down and turned friendly, but hard to read. Fendros' father Rossarm was the one we did not meet. He sounded really mean."

"Oh? I take it he didn't react well?" Ariel gave a concerned look to them both.

---

Gallus did not understand a word of Jel, but the uncle's tone made him lower his brow and turn his head slightly. There was a second where Gallus overcame the shock before he slowly turned his head to Cuts to interpret.

Upon hearing the translated words, Gallus' face softened and he looked back at the uncle. "If you are referring to the ones who made her that false deal to go with them, then you should know at once that they are my enemies. Those who accompanied Dar-Tzesa were captured with her and are also dead." Gallus lifted a palm. "I am not here to manipulate anyone. My foremost reason for coming is to recount to Yizan-Lei what happened."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Ah yes, that flood was a learning experience for me," Ariel said, scratching behind her ear. "I have since learned to have sandbags ready, keep important stock on the upper level, and about five other things that the locals know since childhood."

Ariel perked up from her minor embarrassment quickly. "As for thing since my last letter, things have been relatively stable." She held her tea cup in both hands and raised it to her lips, revealing a gold band on her finger inlaid with three amethysts. "Rukee's business is doing fairly well, as is mine. We've talked back and forth about living together, but neither of us have the means to purchase a new house unless we sold what we have. Instead, we just alternate where we live between here and the inn."

"Meesei?" Sabine turned her head to her. "If we are not allowed to talk about home in the letters, can we speak of it here?"

---

Gallus shifted and lowered thee feather. "As you wish. I regret to inform that Dar-Tzesa has passed away. I can tell you the details, but I would prefer to inform her son at the same time. It is a sensitive matter and I am sure you would both have questions."

Gallus angled his head forward. "May we come in? Mister...?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I have no doubt. I want to hear everything about your journey," Ariel said, still grinning from ear to ear. She walked behind her counter again. "I'll put on some tea for us. One moment."

Before Ariel reached the stairs, she stopped and looked to the two customers who were still confused by the sudden disturbance in the otherwise peaceful shop. Ariel still spoke with accent, but her jel shot out with frightening fluency. "Apologies, ladies. I have not seen my sister for years. Please, if you require anything, I will be down in a moment to finalise any purchases, but I will have to close the shop for a while after that."

One of the customers appeared overwhelmed, but the other merely smiled. "As you wish, Ariel. I only came in for some skin pigment. I cannot help but browse when so many things have been discounted."

Several minutes and some customer affairs later, Ariel had closed the shop with a note and was sitting opposite Sabine and Meesei on the floor above the shop, pouring tea for them.

"So, what news from the frozen north?" Ariel asked. "And how was your journey?"

---

The uncle in front of Gallus had a common reaction. Argonians in this city were cordial with strangers at the best of times. Gallus decided to get right to the point.

He pulled the long red feather from his pocket and held it up between his fingers and thumb. His voice was grave. "It is regarding his mother, Dar-Tzesa."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

All good.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Haha, I stand corrected. I always thought it was associated with indulgent living but I looked it up and you're right.