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Post by VecaVjestica on Aug 10, 2009 23:47:54 GMT -5
"You're right, that isn't very sensible," Barax said, making Nura laugh. This was one of the bulges in her otherwise high-quality armor of sensibility and practicality, but hey, that only makes her human...or, at least, she hoped she was human. Sometimes, it was hard not to think of why she was able to do all the things she was. People of the Terran race was not arcane and her talent certainly was. She was often scared of finding out the truth about her origin, even though there were few things she wanted more. "I'm not saying I don't understand why you'd get involved, I'm just concerned for your safety. I'm sure we can figure out some sort of arrangement, though I would very much prefer if we didn't find ourselves in a situation where we had to," Barax went on, but Nura no longer felt like talking about this. She explained her actions and warned the Templar of the situations her temper might take over her brain. Her duty was done. "I hope for the same," she told him sincerely, "If this morning was an example of an eventful journey, I'd prefer ours to be boring."It seamed, though, that Barax agreed with her point on the King's orders, and she was glad for it, because it meant he wasn't just some brain-dead soldier who followed orders and never thought about them. But he also seamed very interested in getting as much clarification from Nura as he possibly could. "By all means, take your time. With the story, I mean, not with the soap," he told her, laughing, "Though I'm more concerned about the lack of towels, personally. Because eventually, we will have to go inside, and Ma doesn't take kindly to soaking wet people dripping water all over her floors. Da will probably just laugh his ass off, so we won't have to worry about him."She chuckled and rubbed the home-made soap into Barax's skin, all over his back, shoulders and forearms, and then rubbed some of it on his short hair. She than handed him the soap to run elsewhere while, in a sudden attack of servility, she gave him a massage, starting from his head and moving down to his neck and shoulders. From the knots she worked out, it seamed that he needed it. She noticed many scars on his body and it struck her as strange that he lived long enough to carry them. Some of those injuries seamed pretty serious, judging from the traces they left on him. "Don't worry, I brought some towels. Your mother gave them to me," she assured him as she went about her business, "And as for the story...well...I'll try to make it short." And she did, but it was still much longer than most people would care to listen. It sometimes seamed to her that the whole deal was more like some romantic saga than a series of events that actually happened. But he asked and she felt like she owed it to him. He was under orders to put his life on the line for her; it was only fair that he knew what he was getting himself into. "All I know of my grandmother is her name, Fidela Bensen, that she was a daughter of a rich merchant, and that she died because she conceived a child out of wedlock. Her father tortured her because of it and her mother just stood there and watched until, one night, she didn't send her maids to free my grandmother and ship her out of town with one of the trading caravans in town. She died shortly after giving birth to my mother," she started, feelings like sadness and anger waking up inside of her, "My mother was born with a talent to be able to communicate with animals, heal people, make plants grow better...she was almost like the Spring Fairy. But this gift was a curse and she was kidnapped and tortured for it. She suffered her fate for years, until she became pregnant. Then she killed her jailer and ran away. Some months later, she gave birth to me. I inherited her hair...and her talent." Nura sighed. Tears were filling her eyes, but she struggled against them. "The King knows what I can do because of what happened with his Necrid guards," she added a moment later, when she calmed down a bit, "See, I don't really have any control over my abilities. Sure, I can heal at will and talk to animals and babies, but it works even when I don't want it to...kind of like hearing or the beating of a heart. You can't stop it at will. And it seamed it brought the Necrids back to life. Now the King wants me to be at his disposal, because a healer like me is useful to have around...but I think he's also a little scared of my talent, or maybe of being accused of employing a witch, or loosing his entire Undead Corps, so he's keeping me away on a safe distance." This was the best explanation she could come up with. After all, Nura wasn't a mind-reader. The King's motives were as vague to her as they were to Barax.
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Post by Trippy Hare on Aug 12, 2009 8:12:02 GMT -5
Barax was stunned as Nura started massaging him- it seemed a little too close, given how they hardly knew each other at all. After a startled twitch, his sore muscles overrode his brain, and allowed him to fully enjoy whatever it was she was doing. He nodded in agreement when his brain registered that she had said something, but he couldn't recall what it was- something about being boring? Seemed an odd thing to say while massaging someone, but then again, Nura wasn't exactly a typical lady. He felt her hands start working down to his shoulders- no doubt she saw the rather large scar there. "That one was from my first suit. The Templar Corps didn't formally exist yet, it was... more of a mercenary outfit, and the armor designs were essentially experimental. An early design failed, and the cabin exploded. That scar was from the burning hot steam that launched me out of the cabin. This one-", Barax said, pointing to his right side, where a jagged line crossed over his ribs, "was from a design that had a chair in the cabin. The chair wasn't secured very well though, so when I moved, it came unbolted from the floor, and I fell sideways into a control arm." Barax sighed, almost happily, at the memories of his days in training, before the Corps was formally adopted into the Wael military. "But enough about me. I'm not particularly good at telling stories, really. So feel free to change the subject," he added lightly. He took the offered soap and began washing his legs and feet, murmuring acknowledgment as she told him about the towels. "That's good. How much grief did Ma give you in that brief window of opportunity? I'm sure she took full advantage of it just being the two of you, even if only momentarily," Barax added, chuckling. His parents were well-intentioned people, but had a tendency to be overbearing whenever the opportunity presented itself. "And as for the story...well...I'll try to make it short," Nura said. Barax sat up a little straighter, somewhat surprised. He had been under the impression that they would discuss it later, during a night's camp. If it was important enough that she should tell him now, it would behoove him to pay attention. Barax set the soap down and listened intently, as Nura began to speak. "All I know of my grandmother is her name, Fidela Bensen, that she was a daughter of a rich merchant, and that she died because she conceived a child out of wedlock. Her father tortured her because of it and her mother just stood there and watched until, one night, she didn't send her maids to free my grandmother and ship her out of town with one of the trading caravans in town. She died shortly after giving birth to my mother." Her voice started to become thick with suppressed emotion- Barax recognized the subtle change in tone, as his Ma and sisters had often tried to hide how they were feeling around him. He was the youngest, after all, and nobody in the family expected him to really understand the hardships that the Shadens encountered. Nura paused, and Barax swore he heard her sniffle. "My mother was born with a talent to be able to communicate with animals, heal people, make plants grow better...she was almost like the Spring Fairy. But this gift was a curse and she was kidnapped and tortured for it. She suffered her fate for years, until she became pregnant. Then she killed her jailer and ran away. Some months later, she gave birth to me. I inherited her hair...and her talent." Nura sighed heavily, wearily. Barax nodded, deep in thought. Did that mean Nura hadn't been teasing him when she said she had controlled the ants? It would certainly explain a lot. As far as Barax knew, magic wasn't something terrans were capable of- but he didn't know for sure. Maybe it was just a rare gift. "The King knows what I can do because of what happened with his Necrid guards," she added a moment later, after another pause. Apparently, she had no idea just how horrifying what she had said was, because she was so casual when telling it. Barax, however, felt his heart stop. Necrid?! He'd heard stories, of course, but real Necrids? In service of the king?! He could feel every muscle in his body tensing, he wanted to turn around and cover her mouth, splash her, force her under the water- do anything to get her to keep her voice down. Saparte was a sleepy little town- but if anyone heard of a witch who could talk to beasts and spoke of the undead, there'd be a lynch mob burning down the house in minutes. Barax felt his veins turn to ice, as a deep irrational fear seized his brain and paralyzed his body. He could almost see his life flash before his eyes. "See, I don't really have any control over my abilities. Sure, I can heal at will and talk to animals and babies, but it works even when I don't want it to...kind of like hearing or the beating of a heart," Nura continued, completely oblivious to just how dangerous her words were. "You can't stop it at will, And it seamed it brought the Necrids back to life. Now the King wants me to be at his disposal, because a healer like me is useful to have around...but I think he's also a little scared of my talent, or maybe of being accused of employing a witch, or loosing his entire Undead Corps, so he's keeping me away on a safe distance."The moment Nura stopped talking, it was as if boiling water had been pumped into his icy veins. He spun around, sloshing water all over the place, and clamped his hand over Nura's mouth. He quickly raised a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture, before slowly uncovering her mouth. "Please, Nura, listen to me," he whispered, almost silently. "What you just told me- you cannot tell anyone else, under any circumstances. It's more dangerous than I can possibly explain to speak ill of the king," he hissed, his eyes widening in fright at the thought. "Especially something as unnatural as that." He looked around the barn frantically, looking for any shadowy movement, listening for any hushed footfalls or whispered voices. His parents were chatting amicably about something, and their animated chatter drowned out any ill-boding noise. "I'm not saying I don't believe you," he added, when his nerves had settled a little. "My family owes him much, as do I. But I've noticed some changes in him, that I am not sure what to make of. Even still, we must be cautious from now on. These things you've told me- they absolutely cannot be repeated to anyone else."Barax sighed, rubbing his eyes wearily. This was too much, far too much for one single Templar to deal with! It was bad enough he was tromping about the countryside, acting as the jailer he did not even remotely want to be- but this? A conspiracy involving both his king and the undead? And what if the ghost stories he'd heard as an army lad were right- what if the lord of the unnatural things- the Lich- was real? What could it all possibly mean? It was far more than he'd bargained for when he'd set out for Swordstroke Moors a fortnight ago. It seemed like it had been years- decades- since then. The memory of how insulted he'd felt, when he had read his marching orders. He'd been incensed at the thought that a Templar should stoop so low as to serve as a doorman at a dingy frontier bar. Now, not even a Lunar later, and it was as though his entire life had abandoned him, and a newer, darker life had seized him by the throat. With a sinking feeling, it occurred to him that he will probably never be able to go back to the life he had- the boring one, the one that paid him just enough for food and lodging, and a bit extra for his aging parents. The life he had foolishly wished would be more exciting. His thoughts returned to where he was now, and the company he found himself in. "We should go inside," he said quietly. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I'm a little scared myself at the moment. Thankfully, my parents are noisy enough that nobody could have overheard, so you and I are the only ones who know," Barax said, giving Nura a wan smile- that dropped when he saw the expression on her face. The guilty expression. "You didn't tell anyone else, did you?"
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Post by VecaVjestica on Aug 12, 2009 9:09:04 GMT -5
Nura listened to Barax' story without any comment. She was petty sure he wouldn't want to hear what she had to say. To risk peoples' lives to test contraptions that serve no other purpose than to kill and destroy!? She'd kill every single one of people responsible for it, starting with whatever madman invented the Templar suits. What was it in human nature that drove them to such self-destructive behavior, she never understood. "How much grief did Ma give you in that brief window of opportunity? I'm sure she took full advantage of it just being the two of you, even if only momentarily," Barax inquired with a chuckle and Nura was happy he couldn't see her face, because she blushed, remembering some of the thins Kya said back in the kitchen. "Not much, really. She showed solidarity with me...you know, the oh, poor us, the women, for the silly men we ended up with kind," she chuckled, remembering the look on Kya's face after all the commotion that happened during dinner. She skipped the part where she practically told Nura to feel free to fornicate with her only son. That was just too embarrassing. Barax listened to her story in pretty much the same silence. For a moment, Nura even wondered if he heard her at all or has he lost himself in his own thoughts. But she got her answer the minute she was done, wen Barax suddenly jumped and slapped his hand on her face, covering her mouth. She tried to fight him of, or at least vocalize a protest, but all she managed to do was scratch his shoulders a few times and mutter screechy mutters. Only when he raised the finger of his other hand to his mouth, signaling her to be silent did he let her go. "Please, Nura, listen to me. What you just told me- you cannot tell anyone else, under any circumstances. It's more dangerous than I can possibly explain to speak ill of the king, especially something as unnatural as that," he ordered her in a hissing whisper and all the kindness Nura felt for the man just a minute ago had dissipated into thin air. How dare he!? It wasn't her fault his King - yes, his King, because Nura will never accept that...that... person as her ruler! - was a manipulative, cold-hearted son of a bitch! And then he went on and on, giving her orders to not speak about this, as if she was some feeble-brained idiot who didn't already know she shouldn't! When he was done, Nura frowned, pulling herself away from the Templar, insulted by his innuendo, ad not even his apology made her feel any better. "I have been accused of being a witch and the spawn of the Devil more times than you have had pie, Templar," she said indignantly, "I know what needs to be kept a secret. And it wasn't like I've been yelling of the top of my lungs, you know. I wanted to leave this until a more opportune time came, but you insisted to hear it now." She sighed, trying to take control of her emotions again. They had just ended one argument and here they are, jumping into another. Not smart, and certainly not mature. "I'm sorry, but you're doing it gain - treating me like a inapt child," she told him. It was an awkward apology, but it was the best she could do under the circumstances. "I only told you about this because this is something you need to know," she tried to explain. She looked and sounded tired...and she felt like it, too. "It's always the same - if I stay in one place long enough, sooner or later someone will notice that I never get sick, that my gardens are the best, my animals the healthiest, and people who are so ill they fell to their deathbed suddenly liven up," she spoke, her big eyes fixed to the now calm water in the tub, "Then they will call me a witch and, even though I never harmed anyone, I'll be found guilty of all evils in the world. And you..." She looked up to Barax, feeling guilty. "Now you are under the orders to keep me safe. Have you any idea how much danger you are in with me? A strange girl that makes strange things happen, with letters from the King and a Templar for accompaniment? I am used to laying low, and I can do it very well on my own, but your precious King and his stupid need to control everyone has made it nigh-impossible for the two of us together."
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Post by Trippy Hare on Aug 14, 2009 7:04:35 GMT -5
Almost the moment he'd finished talking, Nura's eyes narrowed at him- which meant she was mad, for some unfathomable reason. All Barax could think of was the pie he was missing- instead he'd get to be yelled at for no reason at all. It just wasn't fair. "I have been accused of being a witch and the spawn of the Devil more times than you have had pie, Templar. I know what needs to be kept a secret. And it wasn't like I've been yelling of the top of my lungs, you know. I wanted to leave this until a more opportune time came, but you insisted to hear it now. I'm sorry, but you're doing it again - treating me like a inept child," Nura said, barely disguising the anger in her voice. Barax's temper was starting to heat up- he most certainly had not insisted on hearing her life-s story, he had in fact wanted to go eat pie, and worry about it later! "What are you talking about?! I never insisted on anything- except drying off and going inside before the water got so cold as to pose a health risk! I wanted to go eat some bonnieberry pie and have a nice, relaxing night, sleep in a bed, and pretend for a little while that I hadn't been given orders that effectively made me a jailer and a prisoner!" Barax said, hissing through his teeth. The last thing he needed was for his parents to hear the shouting and come barging in. It was like he was a child all over again- the awkward, stilted conversations, the constant hazing, the way his family managed to completely strip away any confidence he might have scraped together. Nura might have felt jealous of him for having a family, but it was hard not to feel a twinge of jealousy of her for not having one. "I only told you about this because this is something you need to know. It's always the same - if I stay in one place long enough, sooner or later someone will notice that I never get sick, that my gardens are the best, my animals the healthiest, and people who are so ill they fell to their deathbed suddenly liven up. Then they will call me a witch and, even though I never harmed anyone, I'll be found guilty of all evils in the world," she rattled on, as though deliberately ignoring him. Sure, it was nice to know something, but now wasn't the best time. At all. Barax mentally chastised himself for speaking at all- he should've just left well enough alone. Then he could be sleeping comfortably in a warm bed with a full belly. And what is it you want me to say? That I'm sorry simple country folk are so easily scared? That I'm sorry you were orphaned? Well I am- but there's nothing I can do about any of that. It's not my fault for my orders, either- but since we're going to be stuck together for the foreseeable future, is getting angry and upset at every single thing I say really worth it? You say you know not to discuss- certain things- and that me telling you not to is treating you like a child. Well how was I supposed to react, hm? It's just like before- you do something you admit is foolish, then get mad at me for acting accordingly! I've never met someone so opposed to being agreed with!" Barax continued, before turning his back to Nura and climbing out of the tub. "And you... Now you are under the orders to keep me safe. Have you any idea how much danger you are in with me? A strange girl that makes strange things happen, with letters from the King and a Templar for accompaniment? I am used to laying low, and I can do it very well on my own, but your precious King and his stupid need to control everyone has made it nigh-impossible for the two of us together."The water was starting to get cold- which reminded him that he had dry clothes, but she did not. He dried himself off, tied the towel around his waist, and turned to face her again. "Look, I didn't ask for this either. I'm not a jailer, I'm not even a policeman. I've made a modest living keeping trouble from happening, I certainly don't wish it down upon myself- and I especially don't like being blamed for things I have nothing to do with. So maybe- just maybe- it isn't my fault we're in this, either. Did you ever think that maybe I'm giving up a lot because of these orders, too? I'm every bit as jailed as you are, and I've got just as much right to be upset and angry at the situation as you do. Or are my feelings irrelevant?"Barax dried himself off quickly, before tying the towel around his waist. "My sisters left some clothes here that would probably fit you. Would you like me to fetch them for you, or would that be treating you like a child?"
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Post by VecaVjestica on Aug 14, 2009 7:33:03 GMT -5
Why was she even trying, Nura wondered. Barax didn't even listen to what she had told him, because if he had, he certainly wouldn't accuse her of blaming him for everything, because she wasn't. She was scared for him and felt responsible for the trouble he was forced to be a part of thanks to the King's orders. But he was obviously angry and needed to vent, so she let him, even though she had to bite her tongue real hard not to talk back. How dared he claim he didn't ask her to tell him what she had right away. "By all means," he said, "Take your time. With the story, I mean, not with the soap." Those were his own words, he spoke them mere minutes ago! And now he denies them!? How could he!? Put she kept quiet. Being attacked so openly, so directly, by someone for who's ill fate she felt responsible for, it felt like whips lashed out on her naked skin. She really didn't know what to say, anyway, because it seamed Barax closed up to her and refused to hear the sense in her words. Even her calm face was now plainly showing her feelings, as she had no more strength to keep her composure up. She just sat there, in the water that was getting cold, and waited until he finished. He, on the other hand, decided he had enough of the bath and quickly dried himself up. With a towel wrapped around his waist, he turned to her, bitter and angry. "My sisters left some clothes here that would probably fit you. Would you like me to fetch them for you, or would that be treating you like a child?" he asked crudely. Nura decided not to comment. She stood up, water dripping off her, and stepped out of the tub. "There is no need," she replied meekly, walking towards the manger, where Shine was tied, "My saddlebags are still here, an in them my clothes. I'll change and be inside shortly. You go. Have your pie. There's no need to wait for me." Will he think she was ignoring him? Provoking? Fishing for sympathy? She didn't care. She just wanted him to leave so she could put on some dry clothes.
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Post by Trippy Hare on Aug 14, 2009 8:15:03 GMT -5
"There is no need. My saddlebags are still here, an in them my clothes. I'll change and be inside shortly. You go. Have your pie. There's no need to wait for me," she said impassively. Barax grimaced- how was it that every single thing he said was always the wrong thing to say? "I'll be in the kitchen, then," he replied, before walking back into the house. He really hadn't meant to sound so angry, but the evening had been far more stressful than he'd anticipated. And then Nura dropping a bomb about the king and the undead and all manner of oddities as though she were discussing the weather! Then getting angry at him for reacting as though it weren't! Barax had grown up around seven women- his mother and sisters- and though frustrating at times, none of them were so impossibly complicated! He continued to fume as he got dressed- his mother had laid out a clean uniform for him, though when she had found the time to clean it was a complete mystery. There was a note pinned to it, explaining that she and Da had gone to bed, and asking that he and Nura not make too much noise and be up in time for breakfast. Barax rolled his eyes, half irritated and half surprised that she hadn't instructed him to conceive her a grandchild on the spot. He quickly changed and went down to the kitchen, were two fat slices of bonnieberry pie= each with a spoonful of fresh cream atop it- sat waiting at the table. Barax felt a pang of guilt- it was such a shame he and Nura couldn't just get along. Then she could enjoy such a rare treat too, and they could be in good spirits, and not drag each other down like a pair of leg chains. He sighed and sat down, pulling the nearest slice of pie towards him. It tasted wonderfully sweet and tangy and sticky, just the way he liked it. But it couldn't quite disguise the taste of guilt and remorse. He decided to seize the initiative, and crept through the house quietly, so as not to wake his parents. His stealthily snuck into the unoccupied bedroom- his sister Maya had lived here last, and Maya was about Nura's size. Knowing Maya, she had probably forgotten to pack some of her clothes, and then proceeded to forget about them once she got back to Tinabar. That meant there was definitely some of her clothes here- which Ma had doubtlessly washed and folded. A quick search turned up more than he had expected. Maya had left a rather nice dress- nothing formal, like a gown, but still a rather nice garment. It had a layer of dust on it, which meant it had been here for quite a while, and Maya had most definitely forgotten about it completely. Barax slung the dress over his shoulder, then walked back into the kitchen. He carefully picked up both plates, balancing them in one hand while he used the other to turn the doorknob. Feeling somewhat triumphant, he made his way back to the barn. It occurred to him that Nura might still be changing, and he didn't want to risk barging in- or spilling pie onto Maya's dress as he tried holding both plates in one hand again- so he leaned over and kicked the door twice lightly. "I brought you a slice of pie," he offered, feeling the familiar awkwardness again. "Truce?"
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Post by VecaVjestica on Aug 14, 2009 10:08:50 GMT -5
"I'll be in the kitchen, then," Barax replied in a tone that seamed cold to Nura and left. She didn't waste time, and quickly got out of her wet clothes. She dried herself with a towel and sat down at a nearby bench to dry her feet as well. She didn't want to get them dirty, walking around on the barn floor without shoes or socks. She had a pair of soft leather shoes by her side, to put them on a bit later. But first, she had to dry up her hair. It was a irritating job, but it had to be done. She untied her braid and let the wave of flaming red hair spill down her back. She combed it and let it air-dry, and then wrapped the towel around her body. She didn't intend to put her clothes on just yet - she didn't want them to soak up the water from her hair. There were people waiting for her, but she doubted they'd wait for long. She didn't feel like pie anyway. She hated that the fight with Barax escalated so strongly, all because of a stupid misunderstanding. Why couldn't he see that all she was worried about was his own safety? He was in danger because of her! Sure, he was a soldier, and as such, lived a life of constant life threat, but this was different. Now she was the cause, and she hated it. To be responsible for someone else's misery...it felt terrible. And he was obviously miserable. He liked his life just the way it was - much like her - and now, like hers, it was taken away from him. It was a pity he didn't understand her. It was a pity she didn't know how to explain herself to him. They were forced to be in each others company, they couldn't spend that whole time fighting...could they? She shrugged to the thought. It was an awful one. She didn't enjoy making him feel bad...slightly uncomfortable, yes, but not bad. If only he could see it... Deciding that it was time to return to her company, Nura began putting on the dry clothes she had prepared. And just as she put on her shoes and undershirt, she heard two dull thumps on the barn door. "I brought you a slice of pie," she heard Barax say. Nura sighed. She must've lost track of time and took too long. He's probably even madder at her now. "Truce?" she heard him say. She ran up to the barn door and opened them. "There was no war to begin with," she replied calmly and let him pass trough. "I'll be dressed soon," she told him, "You sit down...or don't. So whatever you want." She felt like she was saying all the wrong things again. Then she noticed the dress he was carrying. It was really pretty, much fancier and better than anything she ever owned, and gave him a confused and curious look.
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Post by Trippy Hare on Aug 17, 2009 3:18:59 GMT -5
"There was no war to begin with," Nura replied impassively. Barax felt himself bristle- it almost seemed as though Nura contradicted everything he said just on principle. He bit bark a bitter retort, and took a deep, calming breath. There was no need to get upset. It was just fatigue- physical and emotional- that was egging him on, nothing more. It was also possible that Nura had seen how easily his parents got under his skin, and had decided to try it out for herself. It was working rather well so far. "I'll be dressed soon. You sit down...or don't. So whatever you want," she added. Barax noted a resigned, almost weary tone. Maybe that was it- they were both tired. It had been a long day, after all- and his parents were emotionally draining. The prospect of retiring for the night set a whole new daunting train of thought into his brain, as his parents only had one room readied for them. So either he'd have to sneak into another bedroom in the hopes that it hadn't been turned into a study or a workshop of a knitting room, or he and Nura would have to sleep in the same bed, without killing each other. Barax noticed her eyes looking over the dress, and her face had a puzzled expression. To be fair, he hadn't really thought about why he had taken it, or what he would say- but it was too late to think about that now. "My sister Maya has a terrible memory- she left this here, years ago from the look of it. Since she hasn't come to claim it, it may as well be put to good use. You look about Maya's size, so hopefully it fits you," Barax said. "It may also make us less conspicuous while travelling- by means of making us stand out more. If passerby think you are a well-to-do socialite, they would see me as bodyguard. It's not exactly common to have Templar guards, but the Corps did start as a mercenary organization, so there are quite a few personal security templars out there. So we'd be able to 'hide in plain sight', relatively speaking."He sat down on one of the nearby milking stools, and started eating his pie again. "So in other words, it's a present for you, and it may make it easier for us to travel, in that we'll be more noticeable, but less memorable," he said, trying to suppress the sheepish smile threatening to play out across his face. "I figure it wouldn't seem so out of place for the two of us to be seen together if people had a readily available reason we would be in the first place." He crammed more pie into his mouth, to keep the sheepishness away. It was most certainly delicious- it always was, but this seemed to be sweeter and firmer than he remembered. His Ma must have gone to greater length than usual to make it- but it had certainly been worth the effort. It almost made him feel a twinge of guilt at the charade he and Nura had pulled over his parents. But then again, nobody had explicitly told them, so it wasn't his fault that his parents had gotten the wrong impression. "Also, before I forget- my Ma only prepared one bedroom for our stay tonight. So we need to discuss sleeping arrangements, as I don't know if sleeping in the same bed is a good idea."
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Post by VecaVjestica on Aug 17, 2009 4:33:17 GMT -5
Nura listened to Barax's explanation about the dress without words. The dress really was beautiful. Her hands ran down the delicate fabric, relishing the feeling under her fingertips. It looked like it was made of some light material, fit for the summer heat, maybe a fabric made by combining of silk and another material, like cotton or linen. It was smooth and a beautiful shade of green, with ornamental embroidered decorations on the sleeves. The neckline was widely open, but not deep, and the dress looked like something Maya would wear on fairs and family celebrations. Her heart danced like it often did when she was a little girl and she wished for a shiny new toy or a delicious colorful sweet she would see in a shop window or at the cart of some street vendor...but her mother was always there to explain they cannot afford such things. Potatoes weren't glamorous and sweet, but they were necessary. Candy wasn't. And then she grew up, and noticed boys, and trembled at the thought of going out to a dance in a pretty dress, her hair lifted in a tall bun, with embroidered slippers on her feet...but by this time she learned not to ask. She never felt resentment towards her mother. She knew that, if it was up to Arian, Nura would be dressed like a princes every day and had a life of leisure, song and happiness. But she couldn't give it to her. She could only teach her to survive and not to dream, to spare her the pain of lost hopes and disillusionment. And so Nura knew that she had to refuse taking Barax's sister's dress, no matter how practical his idea seamed. "So in other words, it's a present for you, and it may make it easier for us to travel, in that we'll be more noticeable, but less memorable," the Templar said, seating himself down on a nearby stool, "I figure it wouldn't seem so out of place for the two of us to be seen together if people had a readily available reason we would be in the first place." He ate his pie with a grin, as if he just said a good joke. Nura knew he had valid point - if they had a cover-story, like a rich lady traveling with her bodyguard, it was possible people would not be so curious about them...but that didn't change the fact that this was someone else's dress and not a very suitable traveling garment, at least not when you traveled by horse instead of a carriage and slept on the ground instead of in reputable inns. "Barax, I can't take this," she told him, even though her heart felt heavy as she did. She wanted that dress with the kind of desire only a young woman who has never owned a beautiful dress, never danced and never had fun with her peers could feel, but to take it would be against everything she was ever thought - to be proud and practical and not wish for things that didn't have an everyday use. "I like your idea, and we could buy a dress or two on our way to Sureeta Dawn, but I can't take your sister's dress just like that.""Also, before I forget- my Ma only prepared one bedroom for our stay tonight. So we need to discuss sleeping arrangements, as I don't know if sleeping in the same bed is a good idea," Barax added later. Nura nodded. She didn't understand why they needed a sleeping arrangement - she often shared a bed with her mother, and sometimes complete strangers when the necessity called for it, so she saw no problem here. It wasn't like they were lovers or attracted to each other. If they would turn their backs to each other, they could easily sleep in peace. But he obviously thought the idea of two of them in the same bed as something indecent, and she didn't want to complicate things further, so she decided not to comment and simply got along with it. "I can sleep on the floor. I wouldn't be the first time," she told him.
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