Saying goodbye( Ell)

[dantieduurden]

It had been a week since Darek had left Teirm with 69 former slaves in tow behind him. None of those who had followed him into battle that day had left him. And he was to kind hearted to desert these men and women to the world so far away from home. So on the first night he had decided to find them a new home. which had led him back to his own home to tie up the loose ends he would have for being away for such an extended time, and for the absence he was about to take. Very few had approached him, but those who did, spoke to him as if he was some great being of unimaginable power.

He tried to talk to them but found that though they understood like all beings the basics of the ancient language, they themselves could not speak it. And so he was at the place he was now, only a few miles outside of Illirea Darek held out his hands to the people in a sign for them to rest. They had marched hard that day and he did not want them to over exert themselves for the next part of there track would be the hardest. Slowly and carefully Darek opened his mind to all those around him. And then he began looking for the scholar who had come to his home not so long ago and had found such an interest in his sculptures. When he had found it he spoke to it. " Niko its Darek." Darek said into Niko's mind then added , " I need your skills as a scholar and can not myself come to you. If you could meet me three miles outside the south gate you may understand." Darek said waiting for the reply to come as he watched the others that were with him go about there business.

[Elloria]

Niko nearly jumped a foot in the air when Darek’s voice suddenly popped into his mind. Fortunately, he didn’t do anything quite so undignified and merely jerked a bit instead. He still lost hold of his handful of scrolls. He frowned down at the dropped scrolls. His eye twitched - reminiscent of his older brother’s habit - as he muttered a curse at unexpected communications and their unwanted consequences. Thus, his response was rather terse. ‘You’d better have a damn good reason for pulling me away from my work, Darek. The Library does not tend to itself.’

With that, Niko pushed Darek rather rudely from his mind but kept most of his defenses down. Save for his innermost thoughts, he was still easily accessible to the other elf. He assumed he would need to remain thus if he wished to find Darek with relative ease. He picked up the scrolls once more, still muttering curses. Library time was his time. He didn’t go running around doing stuff for people if it wasn’t remotely connected to Library work. And Niko couldn’t begin to fathom what Darek could possibly want that involved his scholarly work. Especially if the younger elf couldn’t even come to the Library for it!

He called an acolyte over and shoved his scrolls into the young woman’s hands. She juggled them briefly, a look of deep confusion on her face. “Reshelve these for me. I’ve just learned of some business I must attend to and it is somewhat urgent.” Not waiting to receive an affirmative concerning his order - he wasn’t in the habit of doing so, since he was usually listened to - Niko swept down the aisle and made his way to the main staircase. As he ascended, he briefly debated stopping somewhere to find a steed to ride. But it was only three miles, he reasoned. He was fit enough to run three miles with ease, wasn’t he? If he wasn’t, then he had no business training with the Riders.

Niko stepped out into the bright afternoon sun. A moment later, he pulled up his hood and took off down the outer stairs at full speed. This was a bit reckless of him, considering it was mid-afternoon and the streets were full. But he wasn’t in the greatest of moods and didn’t particularly care at the moment if he collided headlong with someone. Fortunately, aside from clipping someone as he hurtled past, Niko reached the southern gates of Ilirea with little trouble. He slowed here because of serious congestion as people entered and exited. But once outside the walls, he stepped off the path and cast his mind out to find Darek’s mind. As Darek had stated, it was three miles south of Ilirea, far from the road - and surrounded by a large number of other, foreign minds. That wasn’t a comforting thought as Niko took off running again.

It didn’t take too long to finally reach the large group of individuals that Darek was with. Niko gradually slowed as he neared the group, not wanting to startle them too much. Because as he drew closer, he could see that the group was comprised entirely of humans. He wondered what Darek was doing with so many humans this close to Ilirea. He came to a stop just outside the little encampment the group seemed to be setting up and just stood there. Soon, people started shouting and pointing at him. They kept well back from him as the shouts spread through the camp. This merely rooted him more firmly in place. He recognized the language! It was the common tongue that Mchumba had taught him over a century ago! He shuddered at the memories the sound of the language brought up and shoved them deep down. As he did so, he reached out for Darek’s mind. ‘Get over here, please, and explain what in the name of the Riders you are doing.’

[dantieduurden]

" Calm he is a friend to me." Darek said to the group of humans in the ancient language as he pointed to Niko. " He shall not harm you for as long as you do not harm him." Darek put in for he could not expect Niko to not defend himself if needed. Then switching to the human tongue that those with him did not speak Darek began. " I am sorry to bother you Niko but I needed both someone I could trust, and a scholar and well you are both." Darek took a small breath before he continued. " But if even I were to walk into Ilirea with this many humans the riders would be expelling me from the city, and well I could not trust them inside the city walls anyways." Darek said for he had seen how they had acted around civilized people, it was one of the many reason he had kept of the roads and instead took the long way back to ilirea. " First and foremost do you understand a word they are saying, because they shall not leave my side since I saved them from the slave markets in Terim, and well I still don't have the slightest idea what they are saying though they do understand the ancient language but can not speak it." Darek then stopped as he thought of the small angel that normally was with Niko. " Where is the little one by the way? I was hoping he would be around, o well. So would you like to know how I came to be the lucky winner of 69 humans or would you rather listen to the ones who will actually approach me?" Darek asked Niko as it was up to him. " There are a few dragon sculptures in it for you if you can speak there language and help by the way." Darek said making it known that he would pay back Niko for his services.

The two tribes began to take actions towards attacking Niko until there Blessed son had told them that the man was a friend. Slowly they returned back to setting up there base camp and began chatting with each other, acting like a tribe once more.

[Elloria]

Niko's eyes slowly narrowed as Darek began to explain the situation. By the end, he was glaring at the younger elf. His mind closed shut, completely masking any thoughts drifting through his mind - but his overly-expressive eyes, now dark grey, managed to convey them just as easily as if his mind was open for the world to see. So Darek had been at the slave market in Teirm? So he had somehow gotten a hold of sixty-nine slaves? So he couldn't understand a word they were saying? Well why hadn't he just urged them in the Ancient Language to leave him be?!? If they understood the Ancient Language, then they would know the truth of whatever he said, even if he didn’t use a spell to compel them. “Addison is delivering a letter for me. I'm unsure if he's returned yet, but whether he has or has not I have not seen him since,” he replied sharply to one of Darek's questions. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. His voice remained frustrated and sharp as he continued. “As for the whys and wherefores of your current predicament, I don’t wish to hear them. What you do in your spare time is your own business and none of mine. For the record, I don’t care how many sculptures you give, I’m going to remain quite irritated with you for some time. I have a routine, I stick to it faithfully, and you have thoroughly disrupted it for today. I’m not pleased in the slightest.”

He heard the group behind Darek begin to mutter about the Son - or Blessed Son, depending on which subgroup was speaking - and gesturing towards him and Darek. The name Inos also cropped in one subgroup, Cushiel in another. He knew of Inos from Mchumba's talk of her mother's faith in the seasonal gods. Something about the Mother's Light and the sun. Darek had apparently picked up some of Mchumba's tribe as it was sold into slavery, as well as another closely related tribe. Go figure. He sighed. His tone softened as he said, “Yes, I understand what they are saying to an extent. They are speaking the trade language of the Hadarac tribes, as well as their individual tribal languages. I can understand the trade language for the most part and snippets of the tribal languages. I studied them all at one point because of...an old friend. It has been years since I've spoken any of it, though.” He looked at Darek, his eyes showing a deep weariness and melancholy as thoughts of Mchumba drifted around behind his iron mental defenses. “Still... What do you wish to say or know?”

[dantieduurden]

Darek thought about Niko's question very carefully before he answered. " If you could teach me the trade language I think that would solve many of our problems. After all I wouldn't have to call you every time one of them spoke to me. And I do need to know how to communicate with them for a few do come to speak to me quite often as..." Darek trialed of trying to think of the right term to use. " Well as a deity or something." Darek finished as he best described what he could understand. " Even the basics would help Niko, and well I can not keep them here long for the residents will soon become reckless if they see a large group of people outside the city for a long period of time. I'm going to find them a new home." Darek ended as he came to a final decision in his mind.

[Elloria]

(This = the three languages used by the tribes. I'll specifiy in-post which one he's currently using to help prevent confusion.)

Niko sighed heavily. Darek was asking for quite a lot, though he only wished to learn the trade language. There were several thick volumes pertaining solely to interaction between the tribes during trading months. He had needed a conversion dictionary just to hold semi-intelligible conversations with Mchumba when she had first started - and she already had a small grasp of the Ancient Language! How long would it take to teach him the basics of the trade language? Should he use conventional methods or try some sort of mental osmosis of the information? He immediately balked at the thought of the second method. His mind was his own and private.

His brow furrowed as he considered all his options. “It would probably take more time than you wish to take to learn the basics from me. I will search the Library upon my return to find the appropriate volume for you. It’s a conversion dictionary between the Ancient Language and Sithao. That is their term for the trade language. Otherwise-”

“You know of Sithao, when Kidaren the Son speaks it not?”

Niko leaned slightly to his left and looked behind Darek. A small cluster of individuals had approached them. These were obviously the few that Darek had just mentioned. Most likely the holy people of their respective tribes. This one spoke in Mchumba’s first tongue - what was it called? It started with a w. Wa...no...wo? No. Wi...Wios? Yes, that was the name of the tongue of the Wiog tribe. Such a simple way of naming things, but it was effective. He addressed the individual hesitantly, but understandably in Wios. “Yes, I know Sithao. As you can hear, I also know Wios.” He switched to the other language he knew they used, albeit with even more hesitations, and addressed the rest. “As well as Mae, the tongue of the Maeal.” Now that he quite thoroughly had their awed attention, he switched into the easier Sithao - the language he had most often used with Mchumba, even after she had learned so many others. “Why do you ask?”

The small group of individuals - as well as the rest of sixty-nine slaves - dropped to its knees as one and bowed low before Darek and Niko. Niko blinked. What had he said or done to warrant that reaction? The one who had spoken first, a man of perhaps middling age and bald, lifted his head but kept his eyes averted. He, too, spoke in Sithao with a few of the Wios words thrown in as well. Not everything easily translated between the tribes, such as the names of the deities they worshiped. “It is said that Kidaren the Son does not speak the languages of this world for He is above them, as are His parents and sister. Only the lesser gods speak to we, the unworthy worshipers of the Four, giving to us the orders of They Who Rule Us All. ... But which god are you? Untao? Adin? Inos? For they all take whatever form pleases them most in any moment and we would know what is the proper name for you, friend of Kidaren.”

Niko blinked again. So Darek was right. These people did think of the two as deities. Well, that certainly explained the fact they had thus far refused to leave Darek’s side. Niko sighed again. Ever since meeting Addison, nothing in his life had remained routine or normal. He wondered when it would stop, if ever. One step at a time. That was how he had to approach this. From what he could remember of Mchumba’s explanations, it would probably be safest to go with Inos/Cushiel the Mother’s Light. He and Undari/Bresia the Father’s Light spoke most often with the tribes on behalf of the Mother and Father. And he was generally on good terms with the Son while the other two apparently tended to alter their stance with the Son on a regular basis. “You may call me Inos or Cushiel the Mother’s Light,” he said in Wios. He mentally winced as he repeated the words in Mae for the benefit of the Maeal. He wanted to be a deity for someone about as much as he wanted to be eaten by Urgals. But while he disliked deceiving these people, it would be easier in the long run to deal with the situation in this fashion. Humans were more easily swayed by emotive religion than rational logic. He switched back to Sithao “We have some business to discuss. Stay here while I speak with the Son. Then I will tell you what His will is.” He looked at Darek and jerked his head before turning and walking away from the group. He would rather finish things in private first before dealing with that mess of people. He stopped several yards away from the group, far out of hearing for a human, and waited for Darek to join him.

[dantieduurden]

Darek listened to what Niko said and with a smile nodded to his friend as he spoke to the others and then called him over to a small patch a few feet away from there hearing. " So you can help me then." Darek smiled as he looked back at all the people behind him. " I do not want to see them be thrown back into slavery, but I can not let them into the civilized world." Darek said looking at Niko hoping he would understand his dimilar.

[Elloria]

Niko rubbed his face in exasperation. This was nothing like when he had found Mchumba. She was one person who had made a strong impression on him. Darek had somehow gotten into a mess with sixty-nine people! Moreover, said mess involved not just any sixty-nine individuals, but people who had been destined for slavery. And Niko highly doubted that Darek had been in the slave market because of an intense desire to free all the slaves there before hightailing it out of the city. He had already agreed to help him, but first he had to know. “Darek... What were you doing in the Teirm slave market? I ask because I know it was not out of a desire to free these people. No one goes to a slave market with that intent in their hearts.” Niko lowered his hands and folded his arms. He looked steadily at Darek. There was no judgment in his eyes, only a sense of gravity. “They go to buy slaves. And that is not an accepted practice in Ilirea. So before this goes any further, tell me. Why?”

[dantieduurden]

A sad smile went to Darek's face as he looked at Niko and answered simply. " i was looking for a companion to keep me company. It gets very lonely when you have no one to teach." Darek then turned towards the slaves as he continued. " The only people that even think about speaking with me are the riders themselves, and the occasional random person looking for a teacher to train them in the material arts. Never anything else until you and Addi came around. After centuries of being alone, you eventually go looking for someone to spend time with. Just to talk to, you do not understand how much a blessing it is just to be able to speak to someone for no better reason then the fact that they actually wish to do so." Darek then looked back at Niko. " So no my intentions were may have been selfish, and not of the best interest, but they would not have been a slave. They would have been free. You of all people I though would have understood that much about me though." Darek said looking at Niko, not with anger or pity, not even sadness, but with content.

[Elloria]

Niko gave a small sigh as Darek explained his purpose for being in Teirm. He supposed he couldn't fault the elf for wanting that small comfort living beings called companionship. He had once given a slave her freedom out of a desire to see her free and to have her friendship. He turned his head slightly to look at the group milling about just a few yards from them. He was looking at them, but he wasn't really seeing them. His eyes were distant with memory as he recalled Mchumba. Yes, he understood Darek's desire for companionship. “You are wrong, Darek. I know what kind of blessing a companion is. However, there is a difference between bringing back a companion and bringing back an army. I don’t want to hear whatever story led to this. I will simply leave it at that.” He looked back at Darek, though there was still a slightly distant quality to his eyes. “I will tell them your will and then depart for Ilirea to fetch what you need. What do you wish for me to say?”

[dantieduurden]

Darek thought long and hard about his decisions before him. Many paths were set before him now, and only one was the absolute right one, but choosing the right one would be extremely difficult. Finally Darek looked to Niko and asked, " If you could go to the riders and explain that the people with me mean no harm, and that we are only passing threw, it would be much appreciated. And if you have any books in the library on there language if you could ask your grandmaster to allow me to borrow them, it would be much appreciated." Then Darek looked back over the wide expansion of people who were now setting up a small campsite for the day. " If you could just tell them to stay within sight of the group, and that none are to leave without asking there leaders, that will be enough I suppose for now. For I would rather ask what they expect of me myself then take up your time." Darek smiled kindly at the scholar before taking out a granite key from inside his deep pockets. " And this is for you. The key to my home, my collection is yours Niko, for some reason I do not see myself coming back here for a long time and I can not see my collection be put to no use. Do with it what you will it is yours now." Darek said with a smile as he handed over the key to Niko.

[Elloria]

(OOC: Fricking finally! Gawd, this chewed up my muse and spit it out for the longest freaking time! Time skip will occur next post unless you wanna end it here, Dare.)

Niko listened to Darek's requests, nodding occasionally. He wondered if his Grandmaster would allow Darek to take the volumes Niko had in mind. If the elf was going to be gone for some time, as he seemed to be indicating, that might pose problems. The Grand Library didn't generally condone its works leaving the city or its surrounding area. So instead he would need to take copious notes. Which was hardly a problem, as he already had practically an entire volume of them. He would need to root around in his personal library for them. As he pondered what the notes would be filed under, he said, “Yes, I’ll inform the Riders. And instruct the tribes before I depart. It will take me a bit of time to get what you’ll need, but it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

As he moved to return to the group, Darek's next words stopped him. Niko looked at the key. The implications didn't seem to want to set in just yet. His body, however, responded automatically. His hand reached out for the key that Darek obligingly dropped into his grasp. His fingers curled possessively around it, testing and relishing the weight of the granite. As the words finally sunk in, he blinked several times. “Your...collection?” He stood frozen for a moment longer before nodding and pocketing the key. “Thank you.” He turned back towards the tribes and approached them. In smoothly flowing Sithao, Niko relayed Darek's instructions and assured them that he would be returning shortly with certain items that the Son needed to continue their journey. Satisfied that they understood the situation, he bid them farewell and turned back to Darek. “I shall return in a few days. I will contact you when I leave the city and will meet you here.” He bowed to Darek, then turned and took off at full speed back to Ilirea. He had much to do in a relatively short time.

[dantieduurden]

Darek waited for Niko to finish speaking and then with a kind smile said , " Thank you Niko. This is to delicate a matter for Dantie in his state of mind. And as a scholar you were my first choice for knowing this language. Thank you very much." Darek said again as he watched his reaction to the key.

" Do not rush on my account. As long as they know not t kill anyone I'm sure we can wait as long as needed be." Darek said as he saw the happiness in Nikos face. " And no thank you. A colection is nothing compared to the knowledge you are giving me. It is the least I can do." Darek said with a smile. " Now go. I shall be here waiting." Darek said with a smile as he looked over the tribes of people.

[Elloria]

Niko stretched just outside the southern gates of Ilirea. A large bag lay beside him. This was why he was stretching - one didn't take off at a dead-run with a bulky, heavy bag like this. But it contained all his notes on the Sithao language. It would be more than enough for Darek to become fluent in the language. And he wanted to deliver them quickly. He hadn't yet informed Darek, but the Riders wanted the half-elf and his “uncouth tribes" to depart from Ilirea as quickly as possible. Preferably before the week was out. It had taken four days to gather all the materials Niko wished to give Darek. That should be plenty of time for him to begin marching the tribes away. Satisfied at last, Niko picked up the pack and shouldered it. I am on my way, Darek. I shall be there momentarily. He took off at a sprint. He couldn't afford to waste anymore time. Some time later, he began slowing once more. The tribes had come into view and, as with the first time, he didn't want to alarm them. He stopped just outside the perimeter of the campsite and waited for Darek to approach.

[dantieduurden]

For the past four days Darek had waited for any sign of Niko in the surrounding area. He listened to the bugs in the ground all the way up to the birds in the sky. Only a few had seen the elf in the past four days and he began to wounder if he had gotten the elf in trouble. " Should I go see if he is ok." Darek thought but then realized he could not for the tribes would follow him wherever he went. So he was realized when he heard Niko's mind reach out to his own and tell him that he was coming. Darek happily sent a mental image of where he and the others were waiting camped in for the past four days.

Darek smiled and walked over to Niko as he appeared before him and the tribes. " It is good to see you Niko, I was beginning to fear you may have gotten in trouble or robbed. Not many things have seen you in this world in the past few days and I do not have the power in me to scry." Darek said kindly as he went to envelop him in a warm hug. " I hope you didn't have to much of a hard time moving the collection. Darek said not worrying to much about what was in the satchel at the moment. Sure he may not have been alone ll this time, but one way conversations were starting to tier him.

[Elloria]

Niko stiffened slightly as Darek embraced him. Though he had become close to elf hybrid, he was still not completely comfortable with displaying such affection towards him. He awkwardly patted Darek's back before stepping out of the embrace. He coughed slightly. “No, I don’t suppose they would,” he said quietly. “I was caused no trouble, save in hunting down all my notes on Sithao. The Library did not wish to see one of its tomes leaving the citadel for an undetermined length of time. So I found my own.” He handed the large pack to Darek. “That should help you immensely. By the time you finish it, you should be fluent in Sithao.” He shuffled his feet slightly. Now came the awkward part. With dark, deeply troubled eyes he said, “For this, I have had no time to bother with your collection. I had to work quickly. You see...the Riders wish you to take the tribes away from here as quickly as possible. And by quickly, they meant by the end of the week.” He looked over the tribes moving about behind Darek. He saw several of the spiritual leaders from before milling about at the edge of the camp, eying him and Darek. “I wanted to leave you plenty of time to prepare for that because I knew your journey would be long.”

[dantieduurden]

Darek looked to Niko and with a smile said to him. " Thanks for the warning. Do not worry by nightfall we shall be far away from here. And thank you again Niko." Darek said with a smile. " Until next time then." And with that he went to the tribe and spoke in the ancient language that it was time for them to move to their new home.

closed