1. V

    Private Rest

    „That would explain the moustache comin' in.“ A jab normally followed by a finger to the ribs, but she abstained. Didn't want to get stabbed in turn. „Only proper water for a celebration is storywater, Xen.“ Seemed strange to Vyn that some people chose to be sober through celebrations. Suppose...
  2. V

    Private Rest

    Elum were known for the old threemoment trap. First they made you feel welcome. Sense of safety came next. By the third... you were already one of them. As Vyn looked at Xen, she wasn't sure they'd gotten there yet – but moments were flexible measurements. They had all the time in the world, or...
  3. V

    Private Rest

    Seven and something years ago The Road further south had been uneventful by Elum standards. Bad weather and broken wheels, two horses and a goat gone lame – none worthy of a story. Until they came upon Gordar's Rest. Never been much to look at. Just a patch of empty by the roadside, long and...
  4. V

    Private Wind in the Woods

    So her mask was not as good as it had been. It failed to cheer up a kid. Vyn would have to learn to do better. Luckily, she didn’t have to learn anything right now. Frank and Roki caught in foreign greetings, straight from the doughbowl. Whatever it took to get the boy to settle down. Thank...
  5. V

    Private Wind in the Woods

    Maybe she wasn’t built to handle shroud, thunder, and spontaneous skylights – but this she knew well. It was always the most unexpected thing that rattled people to the bone. And whatever it was that bothered Roki – it wasn’t simple as a fucking roof. The wood didn’t matter. It’d get patched up...
  6. V

    Private There won't be a third

    Joke or no, you didn't talk about Jem like that. But she couldn't well tell Nana to go fuck herself in her own house – didn't seem proper to disrespect the local Elder like that. So she helped herself to the bread. A full mouth was far less likely to respond uninvited. Problem being – the old...
  7. V

    Private Wind in the Woods

    You would’ve thought Vyn would jump at the sight of someone blocking her newest skylight… well, skydrain at the moment – but no, the day had already stretched her too thin. And what was a sound of hammer compared to a bolt of lightning? Door opened, and the water fled away from her feet. But...
  8. V

    Private Wind in the Woods

    Well, at least he didn’t get struck down for the honesty. They had plenty of clouds, but Jem was still working out the silver lining. The boy’s aggravation seemed to spill over into work – and that was relatable. Without argument, he passed Roki hammer and nails. Hopefully the attitude would...
  9. V

    Private There won't be a third

    Guess it was the same everywhere. An elder told you what needed to happen, and people set themselves to purpose. This was a familiar rhythm – one Vyn could appreciate. People cleared out before further ruckus could happen. Some straight to bed, another needed to tend the unshitening first. Vyn...
  10. V

    Private Wind in the Woods

    He offered his most patient face to the boy. Luckily, Jem had plenty of those left. It was the curse of children to believe themselves adult. And maybe Roki really was more mature than most – but Jem didn’t see him that way. It took more than a big head to be truly grown. “Right now, my boy…...
  11. V

    Open That other Horizon

    A long, deep breath. Probably shouldn't have asked a thing. Let the stranger feel strange and uncomfortable, but hospitality had rules. And you didn't let your guests wallow for too long. It wasn't proper. „Used to be like you, or me.“ Jem scratched behind his horns. „Now...they're something...
  12. V

    Open That other Horizon

    Jem nodded to the other man. Not like he'd be in trouble when pressed – but discretion went a long way. There were some conversations he'd rather never have. „Come on, then.“ Turned from the fire without extinguishing it. „I'm this way.“ Maybe the curiosity of it all was eaten up by all those...
  13. V

    Open That other Horizon

    Got a laugh at that, he did. A strange, wheezy thing. Like Jem himself was out of practice. Vyn didn't find it particularly funny, but people were entitled to bad humor. „Go tend to your hauntling, Vyn“ Jem straightened up slowly with popping knees. Wasn't exactly a smile on his face, but an...
  14. V

    Open That other Horizon

    Vyn didn't pay much attention to what was being said, standing next to Jem as the pale creature had been. Patted his shoulder. Runework seemed to be exhausting work. Not that he ever complained – wasn't his way. But he did always come back to camp looking drained. „Runework is...“ Squinted to...
  15. V

    Open That other Horizon

    Time had little meaning to them, beyond the obvious. There was Road time and idle time. No one had quite enough on the move, but when they came to a rest – no one really cared about propriety. Day, night – whatever. They did best they could with what time they had. There were worse things than...
  16. V

    Private Wind in the Woods

    Hiding? No Jem wasn’t hiding anything. He merely maintained the order they’d all agreed to. Before they forgot. But someone always had to remember else there was nothing to forget in the first place. Pact had specific conditions. They had to be met and maintained. “You’re… young, Roki.” Kids...
  17. V

    Open That other Horizon

    Shook her head, serious. „You don't want to be in Jem's pocket.“ Caught herself there. „Not that he's terrible or anything. Just has a bunch of cursed stuff.“ For all the beauty of Elumspeak, its most magnificent trait was how they didn't really need to speak at all. Not to each other, anyway...
  18. V

    Open That other Horizon

    Fight in her? Suppose she did. Never could figure out what the right thing to fight was, though. Probably better that way. The latch gave way easy – the old thing locked more in spirit than in practice. But if you were going to get caught anyway, better if your pants weren't all the way down...
  19. V

    Private pale remains

    And she could. Just like those on the Road learned to read the wind, Vyn'd become fluent in twitch and slip of feathers. Well, these feathers. But being fluent only made her more mute in face of change. Because if Dove knew how exposed her belly was, she would pull it all back. Perhaps enough to...
  20. V

    Private pale remains

    Suppose world had come full circle. Started with floor cake, and now back to floor... well, whatever that was. Ever the opportunist, Dusty was already set to task of scrap disposal. Dove seemed to treat the little creature as a pet. Vyn never could quite ease into it. The spirit wanted...
Back
Top Bottom