Passing through [open]

[Mali]

This wasn’t an easy task. Varden hated receiving missions and commands like this. He could feel the stares, glares and hate as they walked through the city. Taured kept his head up, not looking anyone in particular in the eyes. He knew that the people of Kirtan weren’t as welcoming towards riders, not many places were, since the Blue Divide. They received orders to check on the status of the city. The low standards held towards riders prevented appropriate and needed communication between the two cities. Although they hadn’t aided in the war, it didn’t mean that the riders had forgotten and no longer cared for the city’s well being. Since no one was on good terms with the Kirtan people, it meant that riders would have to be sent there to retrieve information. Why couldn’t they just report the conditions of the city? The riders were still peacekeepers of sorts, they wanted to make sure things are fine.

”Taured, when are we leaving? I don’t like the tension coming from the townsfolk.” He knew what Varden meant. The tension and emotions coming from the people wasn’t a welcoming feeling. He was actually expecting someone to attack or something. Riders were allowed in the city, but they were never welcomed. He wouldn’t hold it against an angry elf to attack for the losses they had during the war. Walking into a more open central square, he sat down, pulling out food from his pack. Fishing out the large hunk of meat for Varden, he handed it over. Even if people wouldn’t leave them alone while they assessed the city’s conditions, they still had to eat.

Biting into his bun, he watched the few people that had gathered. He was pleased that not everyone was gawking and glaring, there were people who were just going about their business, not caring about the dragon and rider in the area. Varden tore into the piece of meat, practically swallowing it whole. ”How can we assess the city if we can’t talk to any of the citizens?” That was a very good question. Maybe someone would talk to them. Even if it weren’t about the city’s conditions, it would be a helpful start. [/blockquote][/blockquote]

[kaioinazuma18]

Kaio, for once, had finally returned to his homeland. It had been a long time since he and his friend had seen each other, and the last time had been in the town center of Ilirea. It was a long, hard journey northeast to Kirtan, but he was willing to make it to visit a friend whom he considered to be one of his closest since he had studied. It had been three days since he left Ilirea, and that had been at a sprinting pace, a pack slung across his back and his weapons at his side. His bow and hand-and-a-half sword were intricately designed, his blade even more so than the bow. Kaio had taken such care and detail in forging his sword that it was beautiful as a piece of artwork, but equally as deadly. If there was anything Kaio was known for, it was functionality.

He entered the town, greeting some of the guards as he headed in. Silently and relatively unnoticed, a cloaked figure slipped in behind him before pulling down her hood. "Long time no see." the feminine voice from behind him spoke.
"Indeed it has been." Kaio responded, glancing over his shoulder. "The years have certainly treated you well, Brynja."
"I could say the same for you, you've grown a bit taller since we last met... or have I grown shorter?"
"Well, I do believe it might be a little bit of both, what with you crouching down all the time."
"I can't help it, I'm a huntress." Brynja responded, shrugging and flipping a dagger in hand before sheathing it again.
Kaio shrugged and they walked in relative silence for another minute before heading straight to the city center.

Kaio, however, noticed a rider sitting with his dragon. He watched cautiously, trying to figure out whether or not he was halucinating. He knew Kirtan's hatred of the riders for not participating in the war, but he was surprised that they hadn't tried to get at the rider's throat yet. He raised an eyebrow and tipped his head at the rider respectively before stopping nearby. "Well this is truly a surprise. What brings you here, sir?" He inquired, smiling softly. He was friendly to anyone, and he cared not who a person was, or what rank they were, in the end, a person was a person who was a person. "I do hope I'm not interrupting anything, good company is a hard thing to come by these days." He added before looking back to see if Brynja was still there. He sighed, shaking his head, when he saw that she had, again, disappeared.

[Mali]

People were strange creatures. After being connected to Varden’s mind for so long, he had started to think differently. He would have been the same as the Kirtan townsfolk if he hadn’t bonded with Varden. He would think it strange to see large dragons walking and lounging around Elven cities, to see men and women atop the creatures’ backs. Being bonded to a dragon was an enlightening experience, but he didn’t think that it was something for others to gawk at. He knew that the Kirtan people despised riders for not helping in the war, but was watching them eat so interesting? If not, maybe they were planning an attack, which would make sense to him.

Looking at the elf that approached him, Taured noticed the weapons on his person. His hands were dirty, either from working or from travelling. Judging by the intricacy of his weapons, the man took pride in his self-defence or he was a smith and had forged them himself, which would explain his hands. The man raised an eyebrow and tipped his head, returning the action, Taured placed the rest of his meal on his knee. Varden glanced at the elf, leaning forward to subtly sniff the man, nothing unusual about him. Varden judged him to be safe, no harm from the man. Pushing the thought away, Taured listened to him. He needed information on the city’s status and none of the other citizens was going to tell him.

”Work. And not at all.” The man looked behind him, Taured assumed it was because someone had been with him before speaking with him. It didn’t matter to him, he would converse with the man, and no harm could come from it. Maybe he would even help him finish his work here so that he could leave. How to start the conversation was the difficult part. The details on the weaponry would be a good point and it was better than nothing. Taured had his own specialty made sword. The best smith in all of Alagaesia forged it—all riders received one after they finished their dragon training. ”You have nice details on your sword. You forged it I take it? Your hands can tell me that much,” it wasn’t a rude comment, just simple conversation. Varden told him that sometimes Taured was a little straight forward at times. Stating things based off of opinions and deductions could offend people, especially when the deduction was wrong.

Smiling to the man, he pulled out his own sword, not wanting to show off, but to compare with the man. It was nice to meet someone who could appreciate craftsmanship and quality. The sword was a combination of many things, fencing was his favourite part, the silver intricate guard over the hilt. The hilt was a brown and gold combination with a gemstone on the end. Like other riders’ swords or weapons, the blade matched Varden’s colour, persian green. The blade was slim at the base and widened as it went out, where the sharpest part of the blades’ edge were inscriptions. It was a well decorated weapon, but it was also very sharp. Rhunön’s swords were always the sharpest in all of Alagaesia. None were considered equal except for other made by the smith. ”This is my rider’s sword. Received it after I finished training.”

Notes:
sword: sword

[kaioinazuma18]

Kaio smiled when the man commented on his blade. "That is correct, I am a smith." He responded, unsheathing it to reveal the slightly bluish tinged steel and setting the blade on his lap. "I forged it myself, using a technique I discovered through trial and error." He added and ran a finger along the center of the blade, etchings in the center glowing slightly as magic flowed his finger and into the blade. "It was my final project for my apprenticeship many years ago, it has that sentimental value to me." Kaio continued before looking over to the rider as he unsheathed his blade.

His eyes widened as he saw the gorgeous blade. "Amazing, that sword of yours is quite beautiful, a marvelous piece of workmanship. Rhunön’s swords have always been the best. But it's not like I'm complaining. All I can do is make swords that are the best I can produce." He said calmly. "Another thing, if you're ever in the neighborhood, my forge is in Illirea, and if you ever need a dagger at all, I can make one of a higher quality than you could get anywhere else. Or even armor, I'll do either to be honest." He said, pausing before he added the armor part.

He sheathed his blade and unsheathed his dagger, which was about one foot in length and as if to hint at his forging style, was tinted a slight copper. He tossed it once, caught the blade with his fingertips before he sheathed it again. "It's more than just a job for me, it's a hobby and something I have, and will continue to, enjoy." He added after a short period of time.

[Mali]

Taured wasn’t one to gaze at weaponry for a hobby. It wasn’t something that he particularly wanted to look at. It could be used for war and wasn’t usually a tool to bring about peace. He hated the idea of people having whole rooms dedicated to displaying weapons. However, he could appreciate craftsmanship as well as form. Watching with a slight smile, the use of magic clear to him. Kaio obviously treasured his sword very much. It would make sense as he did forge it himself. ”I can see that,” he smiled to the boy.

He knew that Rhunön was the best, it was obvious that she would be known among the other smiths of Alagaesia. Sheathing his sword again, he continued to smile to the boy. He didn’t have much need for armor or a dagger but he appreciated the offer. It would be rude to deny his offer without reason. ”I’ll think about it.” He watched as he tossed the dagger about. It was nice to have something you were passionate about. Taured hadn’t wanted to be a rider at first, having never thought he would be able to accomplish his dreams. Now that he was a rider, he had to admit that he was passionate about his job as well. It wasn’t a spectacular job; most people would see it as a horrible job, since there was so little interaction with others and so much time travelling. He liked what he did, and even if riders didn’t pick sides and weren’t preachers of peace, just peacekeepers when needed, he could still preach it when he wanted to.

”I’m actually here on business, collecting information on the city’s status since the divide. Seeing as so many are plotting ways to kill me when I’m not looking, maybe you could help me out? I’m Taured Doenning.” It wasn’t something difficult. He made small talk; he received the boy’s name and gave his in return, and now he asked for what he needed. It wasn’t a difficult thing to answer. If it had been with any of the other watchers, it would be different. Small talk wouldn’t persuade them so easily into being friendly enough to talk about such information. Since Kaio had approached him, it made things different. Varden shook his head.

”You need to loosen up a bit more Taured, not everything has to be so calculated and orderly,”Taured just nodded mentally to his dragon. Varden would know him better than anyone would, maybe he should listen to him sometime.[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[kaioinazuma18]

(I am heartily sorry for this having taken so long. School swamped me, and I might as well post this before it gets any worse, which it will.)

Kaio nodded to Taured. "I see.... You came to a dangerous place for an honest reason... Take care to guard yourself well... I am sure half of those here would plot to kill you when you least expect it..." he whispered to the rider. "When the Blue Divide came, this city was.... destroyed, for lack of a better term... they aren't too trusting of riders now... that much is true." He added afterwards before looking to his bag resting behind him. sealing the bag shut tight. "The city is in better shape now than it had been at any time since the great divide." His expression was solemn, but intense, as if he was focusing on some thought deep within his head, the iron hard walls around his mind protecting his most private thoughts, more importantly, those about the rider. He did not want the other elves in the area to pick up on these thoughts. For one, they probably would kill him along with the rider if they tried. He was trusting of the rider, almost in awe. Riders were a rare sight for him, even living in Illirea, he never got out enough to see that many riders. He was always working or doing something else indoors whenever a rider made it back to Illirea.

Kaio stretched, popping his back from its stiffness and rolling his head to loosen up. "Anyways." Kaio began saying again, voice a bit louder than the last. "You can probably guess that this city has had its fair share of hardships... but those hardships may be the ones that threaten your life, Taured. He knew the rider had gleaned his name from the unshielded information, well... at least his first name, his family name he kept a secret. Some information should never have been public, no matter the circumstances. Kaio knew this personally. He had goals of his own, but none of them were very ambitious as of yet. He had always dreamt of being a rider, but so far, he had not been successful. He hoped that possibly, in the future, he would, but he highly doubted it.

He lifted his arms, stretching them out before moving back to his feet. "I do not know much else about the town, other than what I previously discussed. I have not spent much time here, Taured, I've only just arrived." He added to conclude as he looked around, briefly spotting Brynja off through some of the trees, but she disappeared again. Perhaps that was why she was the assassin. He shrugged after raising an eyebrow and he turned back to Taured, Brynja soon appearing out of the crowd to stand next to Kaio. Brynja bowed and gave the traditional greeting to the rider. "Greetings, rider, I am a friend of Kaio, my name is Brynja." She rose from he bow, a slight smile crossing her face, emerald green eyes strong and gleaming with knowledge.