NationStates Jolt Archive

Amir shows up, dressed in his usual silks and rising a lovely white stallion. He dismounts in front of the Excalbian embassy and ties his horse to a post. "I am here to see the Lady Kule. I believe she is expecting me."

*bump*

*bump*

An Imperial Marine, in blue dress uniform with a white cap and the golden shield and crossed sword emblem of the Holy Empire of Excalbia, saluted the silken clad visitor. "Just a moment, sir."

The marine turned and stepped into the entrance hall of the embassy. A few minutes later, Dr. Amber Kule emerged smiling. The embassy's science attaché wore a pair of military-issue fatigues with a green vest and brown knee-high boots. She wore a large backpack and had a number of instruments dangling from her belt.

Dr. Kule nodded as the marine saluted her and returned to his post. She walked out of the gate towards Amir.

"Good morning, Amir," Dr. Kule smiled as she spoke, "it is good to see you again. I am very much looking forward to our trip."

Amir dismounts. "Good morning, radiant lady." Walking up to her, he takes her hand and bows over it, kissing the air just above it. "You look lovely, as always."

Amir helps Amber onto the horse before mounting again. He starts to guide the horse through the street, heading for the gates of the city. "So, of everything you've heard of, what would you most like to see?"

A number of things, mostly scientific, ran through Dr. Kule's mind, but a small, undernourished part of her pushed them aside. She leaned into Amir and smiled like a schoolgirl. "To be honest, I'd really like to see where dragons live - in their natural habitat and all..."

"Alright, hold on." The horse rides into the countryside. For all of that day they ride through the fields of Shieldcrest. Farmers are hard at work on either side of the road. They see all the usual livestock, cows, chickens, mules, pigs, but nothing more exotic. Around dusk, they come to a small town of wooden buildings. Amir dismounts at the local inn, tying the horse to a post and offering Amber a hand down. "We stay here tonight."

Dr. Amber Kule rides along, making occasional small talk and ask a few questions here and there. While the countryside is not that different than Excalbia and while the farms are not unfamiliar and the livestock common, the dress, customs and techniques employed appear to be from a different era. And, despite her best efforts, Dr. Kule can’t resist taking the handheld PC hanging from her belt and recording a few notes. She also takes a large number of digital photos.

By the time they reach the small town, the doctor is, frankly, ready for a good night’s sleep. She takes Amir’s hand and climbs down from the horse. She stretches and takes her pack off the animal and shoulders it look. She looks around with a smile, admiring the simple charm of the small town. “Looks like a lovely place, Amir. I must admit that I am curious to see what the inn is like.”

Amir smiles pleasantly. "We can tour the town in the morning, if you'd like." The eshu gets the door, holding it for Amber. Wooden tables fill the inn, a roaring fireplace in one wall. Locals eagerly eat warm food and drink cider, chatting and laughing.

Amir walks up to a pleasantly plump barkeep. "I'd like two rooms for the night."

"30 dross."

Amir nods. "Very well." The eshu reaches into his pouch, laying the price down on the surface of the bar.

When the barkeep gives him his keys, Amir takes them, handing one to Amber. "We're next door neighbors, tonight." He climbs up the ladder, heading for his room.

"Awright, 'en, no hanky-panky smoochy smooch wit' youse twose!" joked Frothywats Bumblestew. The barkeep was furious--"Sir, I've already told you that you can not harrass other peop--"

His voice was cut off by the dimming of the lights and the sound of an entire squadron of B-52's overhead. Not just any B-52's. These were painted gold, and had awesome lasers. "Damm you, Commanda' Cobra, ah'll gitchou!!" screamed Frothywats, though he had partially-chewed chunks of pretzel left in his mouth.

((ignore))

Dr. Kule takes the key. “Thank you.” She reaches into one of the pouches on her belt. “May I pay you half?” She asks, pulling a few coins out as she follows Amir up the ladder.

Coming to the second floor, she feels the unmistakable sensation of hunger. “Amir, after we put our things in our rooms, could we go down for a bit of dinner? I’d love to meet some of the locals and hear some more of your stories. By the fire, perhaps.” She smiles warmly at Amir, not even realizing that she is.

OOC:
The Resurgent Dream telegramed me to tell you that they are having technical difficulties with the forums. They will be back as soon as possible.

OOC: Thanks.

Amir shakes his head. "Let me show you the country."

He smiles at her next question. "Of course. Knock on my door when you're ready."

The room is simple enough. It has a double bed, a small wooden table, and a chair. There's a bronze chamberpot and a bucket of water for washing.

Dr. Kule takes off her heavy backpack and lays it on the floor near the bed. She takes off her military-issue belt with its various pouches and drapes it over the back of the chair.

Taking a seat, she pulls out her handheld PC and quickly records some notes about the trip and her first impressions of inn. Then, after placing the device back in its pouch, she washes up quickly and heads next door to Amir's room.

At the door to the eshu's room, she knocks and waits patiently.

Amir opens the door immediately, grinning at her. "Shall we, lovely lady?" He escorts her downstairs, pulling a chair out for her at one of the tables. "What would you like?" he asks her as he takes a seat across from her.

An attractive young redhead in a moderately short brown dress made of heavy cloth approaches the table with a swagger to her step and a grin on her face. "What can I do you folks for tonight?"

A couple of the locals look nervously at Amber. A few are hostile and a few leer with overt lust. Most, however, seem simply curious and shy. They murmur quietly among themselves, dressed as simple farmers.

Dr. Kule blushed slightly at Amir's compliment. "Yes, thank you, kind sir."

Amber followed Amir down to the warm and cozy dining room and took the offered seat. "Thank you, Amir. You are very kind."

Amber settled into her seat and eyed the clientele. Most looked to be simple farmers. The seemed pleasant enough, though a little shy. A few looked at her with an odd gleam that she might expect if she were dressed for a night of clubbing on the Right Bank, but not in dirty fatigue shorts. She simply shook her head and dismissed those looks. But a few looks of genuine anger were harder to forget.

"What would you like?" Amir asked her as he took a seat across from her.

"A beer - ale - perhaps. And," Amber looked around at what the locals were eating, "a stew perhaps? Something hot and hearty, I think."

As the pretty, redheaded waitress approached - Amber chuckled at the idea of calling her a 'serving wench' - Amber leaned towards Amir. "Any idea what that is about?" Amber subtly nodded her shoulder towards one of the glaring, angry men in the corner.

Amir frowns a little. "Just ignore him. If he and his friends get out of hand, I can handle them."

Amir then turns to the serving wench, smiling politely. "Good evening, Nina. We'll take two bowls of rabbit stew and two ales."

Nina smiles and winks. "Of course, tall, dark, and handsome." She winks at Amir giggling faintly and heading back to the kitchen.

Amber suppresses a sudden, unexpected and inappropriate flash of jealousy towards the waitress. She forces herself to smile and nod. "Thank you."

Then, turning back to Amir, she adds, "I see the staff here are familiar with you. So," she says as her smile returns, "where are we exactly and what is the plan for tomorrow?"

Amir ponders. "We're in a small hamlet just outside of town, called Marlick. Tommorow we turn south and head for the border with Fireforge. We're going to try to make our way up the Pareil Range to the high altitudes where dragons are often found."

Amber beamed. "So, how long is the journey to Pareil Range? You know that I'm anxious to see the dragons, but if there are any interesting things to see on the way, I'd be more than happy to, um, extend our trip."

Amber blushed slightly and turned her head. When she did, she caught sight again of an angry farmer. Amber leaned across the table towards Amir. "Amir, take a look at those guys over there. Is there a problem?"

Amir smiles gently at Amber. "As would I. One can hardly spend too much time in the company of such a lady. As for other wonders, we might well see knights of Shieldcrest and some of the more interesting domesticated life. Still, Shieldcrest is kept rather quiet and orderly, too much so for my taste. Nothing truly exciting is overly likely until we get into Fireforge."

Amir follows the human woman's gaze, frowning slightly at the man who's glaring. "Don't worry about them, doctor. Seriously. I promise. You're perfectly safe in my company, especially against surly farmhands. He's simply provincial and close-minded. You'll find it an unfortunately common trait among Shieldcresters. It is the most conservative kingdom and also the largest, with a population of two hundred million at the last census."

Amber nods. "The rural districts in Excalbia are among the most conservative in our country as well. But, then, our whole country is rather conservative and - how'd you put it? - too quiet and orderly. I think that's why I was so excited about coming here. Everything here is just so... exotic."

She turns back to Amir and smiles. "The knights sound interesting. Of course, we have knights in Excalbia as well, but, for us, it's merely a ceremonial title - an excuse to be called 'Sir Whoever' and where a shiny medal." Amber's smile turned a bit mischevious. "I'm guessing Shieldcrest's knights are little closer to the 'real thing.'"

Amir smiles lightly. "I do hope I don't disappoint, dear lady?" He winks wryly.

Amir nods. "Your average knight of Shieldcrest goes about in sidhe plate, a magical style of armor made only in the best forges in Fireforge, where, ironically, it is almost unheard of. The armor is very strong as metal armor goes and creates almost no restraint on movement. Truly amazing, though still of very little use against bullets. Militarily speaking, it's obsolete outside the dreaming. Still, it is something to behold. It seems to shine with this special kind of chivalrous radiance. Combined with the pure-bred horses they ride, the normal appearance of the sidhe, their shining lances...oh, knights of Shieldcrest are truly something to behold! Of course, they appeal begins to wear off if you talk to them. Never have you met such a stodgy, militaristic group of..."

One of the angry men jumps up at this point. "I have held my tongue so far because you are of greater blood than I. I ignored that you brought that foreign witch in here. I ignored your disrespect for the laws of nature. But I will not hear you insult our noble knights to a foreign whore!"

Dr. Kule turns around, startled as the angry man jumps to his feet. She turns back to Amir, a worried look on her face.

"Amir?" She asks anxiously, even as her hand slips towards the large cargo on the opposite side of her shorts.

Amir's face freezes. His expression is calm but ice cold as he rises slowly and dispassionately. "I do hope, sir, that you were not calling into question the honor or the virtue of the lady with whom I keep company. For, you see, had you done so, I, as a gentleman, would have no course but to demand satisfaction of you for the insult. And I am afraid I wouldn't like that at all, not sporting, you know, an eshu adventurer against a farmhand whose greatest experience of battle is his annual drills with the county militia, holding a pitchfork. So, my dear, dear, sir, I would kindly ask you to repeat youtself."

The farmer gulps visibly, taking a step back. "I...I just said I thought your girl was right pretty, Master Eshu, sir." The man slowly sinks back into his seat, the other angry men trying to look away.

Amir sits back down quietly as the serving wench returns with their food and drink. "There you go, sir, ma'am."

Amir smiles warmly. "Thank you, miss." he replies.

"Anything else I can get for you?"

Amir starts to tell her there isn't but pauses, looking to Amber. "Anything else you'd like, dear?"

Easing her hand back towards her lap, Amber sighs.

As the waitress lays the food on the table, the warm savory smell triggers the return of her appetite. "Thank you," she says to the young woman smiling.

"Anything else I can get for you?"

"Anything else you'd like, dear?" Amir asks.

Amber looks at the stew, sees that it is healthy portion and that it is accompanied by a generous piece of fresh bread. She shakes her head. "No, no thank you, Amir." She looks up at the woman. "No thank you, Miss."

Amir nods. "Nothing else for us, thanks."

As the waitress sashays off, Amir begins to eat. "Are you alright, dear lady? You looked quite flustered." He reaches out and gently places one hand on top of hers, meeting her eyes. "No harm will ever come to you in my presence, not while I draw breath, Dr. Amber Kule."

Dr. Kule looked into Amir's eyes. So many thoughts flooded her mind that when she opened her mouth to speak, nothing came out. She took a breath and tried again. "Somehow, Amir, I know that to be true. I... I don't think I've ever felt so... safe and... at peace as when I'm with you. Thank you."

Amber's hand felt warm beneath the eshu's and that warmth gradually spread to her whole body. She felt her face flush, but didn't care; she wanted the moment to last. But, after a moment she realized that their dinner was cold and people were still gaping at them.

Amber slowly and reluctantly pulled her hand away. "I should let you eat before your stew turns cold..."

Amir's face flushes as she mentions the soup. For a moment, he looks more like a loveshy schoolboy on his first date that a dashing eshu adventurer. Turning back to his stew, he begins to eat again, quiet for a long moment.

After a minute of silence, he smiles wryly. "Well, we've addressed the subject of where we are and where we're going. I've complimented your beauty at sufficient length for one dinner, not that words could ever truly do you justice. I've told you about my life and my adventures. Now, perhaps, I might get to hear some more about the life of Doctor Amber Kule?" He smiles hopefully, taking another swig.

Amber smiles as Amir's face flushes. At least I'm not the only one blushing here, she thought.

She took a spoonful of soup and tore off a piece of bread.

"Hmm. I'm not sure the life of Dr. Amber Kule is all that interesting. I was born and raised in a small town outside of Landing - our second largest city. I went to the University of Landing and earned a degree in anthropology and sociology. My PhD is from the Excalbia University in anthropology and archeology.

"I've been on excavations in Southern France, Spain, the Middle East and South America. For a while I spent my summers at 'digs' and spent my winters teaching mostly disinterested undergraduates at Windemere University - that's a small city on the Southern coast of Excalbia."

Amber took another sip and shrugged. "After a few years of teaching, I frankly got bored. I guess I just realized that I wanted to be more than just an academic. So, I accepted a position at the Ministry of Technology as a field researcher." Amber smiled. "When I learned that we would be sending a science attache to our new embassy here, I fought for the assignment. It seemed a wonderful opportunity to explore a new world, meet new people and see culturals that many of my people had long written off as mythological." Amber's smile took on a slightly shy quality. "Meeting you, Amir, has been an extra, unexpected measure of good fortune."

Amir smiles a little at her statement. "Actually, I am very interested in Doctor Amber Kule." He left out the 'life of'. Perhaps it was a slip of the tongue?

Amir listens quietly to her life story. "That sounds very interesting, actually. It's the story of someone deciding who they want to be. What could be of greater interest than that?"

Amir finishes up his food and drink. "Well, my dear, anything else you'd wish to do before we retire?"

Amber finished her soup and downed the last of her ale. "Actually, Amir, I think a short walk in the fresh air might be nice before bed. Would you care to escort me?"

Amir rises, pushes his empty bowl in front of him. "It would be my pleasure, Doctor Kule."

The eshu offers her a hand up. As she stands, he bows over her hand with a dramatic flourish, kissing the air directly above it, like a proper gentleman. "I do hope the meal pleased my dear lady's palate."

He offers Amber his arm, starting towards the door. Amir walks with her a little ways outside of town, with winter fields on both sides of them and a cool breeze blowing. The air is very fresh, open and with nearly no pollution. A few cows and horses and sheep graze in the surrounding fields. In the distance, the mountains can be seen, a lovely purple in the distance. Amir gestures with his free hand. "There...that is where we are going to find our dragon. It should be about three more days journey. I hoped you packed warm clothes. If not, we'll pick some up in the town after this. They have a lovely little shop."

Amber stands and takes the eshu's arm. "The meal was lovely. And the company was even better. Thank you."

Amber finds herself pulling close against Amir's arm as the evening's chill touches her arms and legs. Yet, she has no thought of going inside. The night is so clear and peaceful. No highways, no bright cities, only the fields, the animals and the stars. And, of course, Amir.

She follows Amir's hand as he points to the mountains in the distance. She feels her pulse quicken at the mention of a dragon.

"I hoped you packed warm clothes," Amir says. "If not, we'll pick some up in the town after this. They have a lovely little shop."

Amber looks down at her fatigue shorts and boots. "Well, I have some gear packed, but looking at those mountains I think a stop in that shop might be a good idea." She pulls closer to Amir, but feels the air growing cooler. Reluctantly, she looks at Amir. "It is getting late. Perhaps we should go back and turn in for the evening..."

Amir smiles as Amber pulls close. Feeling her shiver, he removes his jacket, such as it is, and drapes it over her shoulder. "There..."

The eshu does seem quite pleased that the woman leans close. But he makes no move to pull her closer than she already is. It isn't disinterest, of course. His interest is obvious enough. It's just all part of being a proper gentleman.

He follows her gaze down over her outfit. "Your clothing still fascinates me, somewhat. It is very exotic from my point of view. What do you call that garment that comes down over about the first quarter ((OOC:If they're longer or shorter, he obviously would have said the appropriate fraction)) of your legs? It is like part of a pair of breeches."

As Amir draps the jacket across her shoulder, Amber nestles close to him, hoping that his arm will remain around her.

She chuckles as he mentions her clothes. "I have noticed that you find my wardrobe a triffle... exotic. I find that... funny and sweet. Back home, I'm considered a bit boring on the clothing front." She glance down again at her clothes. "The shirt, shorts and boots are all military issue. I find military fatigues - standard field uniforms - comfortable and practical for long trips. Unfortunately, this is a summer uniforms." She shook her head. "At least I did bring regular pants with me and a jacket." She looked up towards the snowcapped mountains. "However, I don't think they'll be enough for up there."

"Well, maybe we could use a warm drink when we get back to the inn."

Amir obliges, leaving his arm around the woman.

The eshu laughs a little. "Any man who finds you boring, doctor, is a fool." He pauses, thinking a moment. "May I call you Amber?"

He takes another look around. "I doubt they will. You'll likely need a heavy coat, fur-lined boots, thicker pants, and so on. I believe I'll also get you a local gown like a noblewoman might wear for your business in the capital. I want to make sure everyone sees you as the princess you are. After all, we'll be clothes shopping anyway. Also, we will need equipment to make our camp."

Amir grins. "I think I would like that drink." He turns with her, heading back into the inn. "What would you like?"

"Please, Amir, call me Amber."

Amber is surprised how comfortable she feels with Amir. She has had only a few relationships in the past and each of those evolved slowly, almost painfully, over time. Yet, she already feels more at ease with Amir than she did with any of those men.

"Hmmm," Amber says with amusement as she listens to Amir talk about shopping. "I've never been one to wear dresses and I've never thought of myself as a princess. But, if it is the custom, then perhaps, it might be best to purchase a gown. I'll have to ask you to help me pick it out; I'd have no idea what to look for..."

Amir grins. "I think I would like that drink." He turns with her, heading back into the inn. "What would you like?"

Amber looks thoughtful. "I'd really like a hot cocoa, but if they don't have that, any hot drink - maybe a mulled wine - would be nice."

Amir nods. "Thank you, Amber."

The man grins wryly. "Well, Amber, I'll gladly help you. However, it is going to be dreadfully difficult to choose a gown for you. I mean, how can one select when the gown is being modelled by a lady who would look radiantly gorgeous in anything?"

Amir holds the door for the doctor as they return to the end. "Two hot cocoas, please." he calls to the serving girl.

The waitress smiles over flirtatiously at the eshu. "Coming up, darling."

Amir smiles back slightly at the wench before getting Amber's chair for her. "My lady..."

"Thank you," Amber says taking the chair. Her cheeks are flushed from the cold and she pulls Amir's jacket tight around her even as she feels the warmth of the fire.

As Amir takes a seat, she looks across at him and smiles. "Thank you for the lovely walk, Amir."

After the waitress brings the drinks the drinks, Amber lifts hers in both hands, enjoying the warmth of the cup. Then, she hold it towards Amir. "To our adventure!"

Amir nods. "Of course, Amber."

Amir raises his as well. "To our adventure."

He sips from his mug before setting it down, looking Amber in the eyes. "I do believe I am growing quite fond of you, Doctor Amber Kule." He gives a small smile before lifting his drink to his mouth once more.

Amber's face flushes, but she manages to return Amir's look. She gazes into his eyes. "I'm growing very fond of you as well, Amir," she says before retreating back to her cup.

She finishes the cocoa and looks at Amir with a smile.

"Thank you for everything. I..." her words fail her for the moment. So many emotions are racing through her mind. So many and so soon. Suddenly, she finds herself questioning her own instincts, which are clearly telling her one thing while her reason tells her something quite different.

She stands awkwardly. "Thank you for... the best evening I've had in a long, long time. But, urm, I guess its late and we'll need an early start in the morning. I, urm, think I should go to, erm, go up to my room and get ready for bed."

Amir nods. "I shall retreat to my room as well. Shall I wake you in the morning or await you downstairs?"

He offers her a hand up the ladder before climbing up himself. Unlocking the door to his room, Amir waves lightly before turning in for the night. He heads immediately for bed, dreaming eagerly of the next days adventure.

Amber stetches. The long ride, the meal, the walk and the warm fire have finally caught up with her and she is genuinely tired. "At the moment, I fear I may oversleep, so please wake me."

She accepts Amir's hand up the ladder. She goes to her room and returns Amir's wave before unlocking her door and heading in. She crawls straight into the bed and drifts to sleep thinking of Amir.

Amir awakes when the sun peeks through his window. Almost as soon as he is awake, he's alert, hopping out of bed, washing, and dressing quickly. Stepping across the hall, he raises a hand to knock on Amber's door. Pausing, he slips down the ladder into the inn proper and orders a fine, full breakfast, loaded with fruits, vegetables, juice, eggs, bacon, biscuits, and some of the finest pancakes in the kingdom. While it's cooking, Amir slips out of the inn to a nearby field where he sets to picking wildflowers. Returning to claim the meal, he takes the meal in one hand, the flower stems in his mouth, and awkwardly makes his way up the ladder. Setting the flowers aside a moment, he knocks. As he lifts them up again, he calls out "Amber, dear, might I come in a moment? There's something we should discuss before you get ready for the day."

When her alarm went off, Dr. Kule rolled out of bed and stretched. She climbed out of bed and washed up as best she could.

Opening her pack, she pulled out a pair of fatigues and her army-issued jacket and dressed quickly.

She sat at the small table and quickly typed some notes into her handheld PC. When she was finished, she placed it and her other equipment back into their pouches. Her pouch laded belt and pack were ready to go when she sat down and put on her boots.

She was just lacing them up when she heard a knock at the door.

"Amber, dear, might I come in a moment? There's something we should discuss before you get ready for the day." Amir's voice was pleasant and put a smile on Amber's face.

She hurried to the door and opened it. "Of course," she said, "please, come in."

AMir slips in and shakes his head lightly. "I was hoping you wouldn't have gotten ready yet. I meant to bring you breakfast in bed." He holds up the tray. "I did, however, bring you these."

Setting the tray aside, Amir bows and hands the flowers to Amber. "I hope you like them. They made me think of you."

Amber takes the flowers. "How sweet. They're beautiful, Amir." She leans in and gives the eshu a quick kiss on the cheek and then takes a step back.

"Unfortunately, breakfast in bed is out, but we could still enjoy breakfast here together." She gestures to the table. "It'll give us the opportunity to talk without fear of interruption." She takes the tray from Amir and placing the flowers on it, carries it to the table.

In a moment, she has laid out breakfast and placed the flowers into a spare glass.

Amir sits, beginning to eat politely. "So we can. Anything in particular you would like to speak of before we get started?"

Amber blushed. "Well," she stammered, "really, I just wanted to spend the time alone with you." She smiled shyly as she dug into her breakfast.

She made some small talk with Amir over breakfast - talking about the town, the shop they were going to and other little things - then, Amber was finished and anxious to get the journey started.

Once Amir was finished, she said, "Should we visit that little shop and get me suitably equiped for the rest of the trip?"

Amir smiles. "I can't say that sounds like an unpleasant way to pass the time."

Amir makes small talk as well. He smiles animatedly and tells the story of every little thing as though it were an epic, weaving tales to fascinate and impress his audience.

The eshu rises. "So we shall." He offers Amber a hand up, escorting her to the horse. As before, he helps the lady up and starts off at a reasonable pace to the neighboring town.

The next town on their journey is substantially bigger. Amir does not find an inn. It is still morning. Instead, he ties the horses outside a large wooden building marked simply "Seamstress." He offers Amber a hand down and steps inside. An older boggan woman rocks in a chair in one corner of a room filled with midieval type clothing of all styles.

The old woman rises from her seat, wagging her thick, bushy eyebrows with a smile. "How can I help you two?"

Amir smiles. "The lady is looking for some clothes for mountaineering and a court gown."

Amber enjoys her breakfast with Amir.

When they are finished, she takes her pack downstairs and helps arrange it on the mount, then takes Amir's hand and climbs on the animal.

She enjoys the ride, noting the countryside. At several places she unobtrusively snaps a few photos.

In the town, Amber tires to make mental note of every building and all the different kinds of people she sees and of what they are doing. After Amir hitches the horse to a post near the Seamstress' shop, Amber accepts his hand and climbs down.

She follows Amir into the store. She pauses to check several of hanging garments as they make their way to the back. When the old boggan woman rises and greets them, Amber turns and nods. "Good morning, Ma'am"

Amir smiles. "The lady is looking for some clothes for mountaineering and a court gown."

"Maybe in blue and gold," Amber offers helpfully.

The woman approaches Amber. "Well, dearie, let me get your measurements." The woman approaches Amber with a small measuring tape. "Spread your arms, dear." She measures the length of her arms. The boggan goes on in this fashion, getting exact measurements for arms, legs, waist, chest, hips, feet, etc.

The bogganess smiles as she finishes. "Now, if you two will wait outside. This'll take a few hours."

Amber nods to the woman and turns to Amir. Once she has the eshu's eye, she smils and leans towards him. "I guess we need to go find a way to pass a few hours. So, what is there to see in town?"

Amir shrugs. "There's a smithy, some farms, the townhouse of the local squire, that's about it in this town."

Amber smiles and slips her camera out of her pocket. "Do you think people would mind if I took pictures of the sights?"

Amir shakes his head. "I would hardly see why they would."

Taking her arm, the eshu walks her through the streets of the quiet little town. The townspeople stare a little but none are overtly hostile, as they were in the last town. Most people seem curious but go about their daily business.

Amber enjoys the time she spends with Amir wandering the streets of the town and taking pictures of the town and the people. Soon, however, a couple of hours have passed and she turns to Amir. "Do you think the seamstress is ready for us?"

He nods. "Most likely." With that, he turns, heading back to her shop.

The boggan woman, for her part, is standing near a heavy but fashionable coat, a warm, all-body woolen undergarment, thick winter pants, and an exquisite dress of light blue with golden lining. It all fits Amber perfectly and seems to be newly made.

Dr. Amber Kule smiles as she enters the shop. She nods at the boggan woman. “Hello. I see you’ve finished your work.” She examines the coat with a satisfied look and nods. Her mouth twitches slightly at the undergarment; she can almost feel it itch before trying it on. But the smile is firmly back in place as she looks closely at the dress.

“Excellent work, Madam.” She turns to Amir. “Wouldn’t you agree, Amir?”

Turning back to the woman, she asks, “How much do I owe you, Madam?”

Amir nods. "Of course. It is boggan work. Who else could sew all this in a few hours?"

The boggan smiles a little. "Only unobserved. And it'll be four hundred dross, dear lady."

Amir holds up a hand. "I'll cover it."

Amber looks over at Amir. “Amir, please, I can’t let you pay for everything. The Embassy does give me an expense account,” she says with a wink.

Amir nods. "Very well. I will have to find something else sweet to do for you." He winks back, smirking. He waits while she pays.

"Shall we get back onto the road then?" He helps her back onto the horse after packing the clothes. Climbing on himself, he starts towards the mountains once more, trotting at a goodly pace.

Amber pays the boggan woman and compliments her again on her work.

Following Amir back to the horse, she secures the purchases in her pack, and where the don't fit, she ties them to the sides of the pack, then she mounts the horse, with Amir's assistance.

As they ride towards the mountains, Amber finds herself ever more leaning against Amir. With her head nearly resting on his shoulders, she watches the sceanery go by and chats amiably with her guide.

Amir points out each little hamlet and village along the way. He points to the clouds and the animals and the people, speaking animatedly the entire way. As the day fades into night, they find themselves beginning to climb. Amir guides the horse over alongside some mountain rocks. "Perhaps we should camp here, lady?"

Amber enjoys the ride and listening to Amir. She asks him to pause several times to take pictures.

As they come along the rocks, Amir suggests they make camp. Amber looks over and sees a breathtaking view of the valley below just a few steps from where they stand.

"Oh, isn't this beautiful! It reminds me of the Borodea Mountains on the border with the Confederation. Or rather, what they must have looked like before there were train and highway crossing and fortresses." She touches Amir on the shoulder. "I think this would be the perfect place to camp."

Amir puts his arm around Amber. "I don't know what the Confederation is. Still..." He gazes out over the valley, smiling. He gestures to a small hamlet in the distance. "That's where your dress was made. There's the road."

Amir turns back towards Amber, looking directly into her eyes. "Yes, the view is very lovely here."

Without thinking Amber gives Amir a brief kiss on the cheek. Then, she starts to dismount.

"Should we set camp then and prepare dinner? I'll explain what the Confederation is over our meal," she says with a laugh.

"That sounds like a lovely idea." Amir says as he hops down. He begins to unpack, setting up a small tent and building a fire. Retrieving a pan, he places some meat in it and begins to cook it. He sits on a rock by the fire, gesturing for Amber to join him.

Amber opens her pack, retrieving some of the food she has brought - sealed packages of vegetables, some coffee and a small pot and some Excalbian sweets. She joins Amir by the fire. "I thought these might contribute to our feast," she says as she places the pot with water and coffee in the fire and opens the vegetables.

Amir smiles slightly. "I think they make a lovely contribution. Now...about this Confederation?"

The sunset over the mountain is truly a lovely sight. The sun's soft, setting rays gently sink below the vast peeks of the mountains. The shadows of the mountain can be seen slowly increasing to the west. Amir flips some of the food, making sure it heats evenly.

"Well," Amber says leaning against Amir, "if my country, Excalbia, were over there," she reaches across Amir to point to the valley they came from, "then the Confederation would be over there," she points to the far side of the mountains. "They're basically the same ethnic mix as we are, and were founded by settlers from our country. But they wanted a republican government, not a monarchy. We generally get along with them, but there are some tensions now. Their leaders seem to under the sway of some cult that worships capitalism and economic theories."

Amber gives a little laugh turns back to watch the fire. "Oh, I think the coffee is ready. Would you like some?"

Amir nods. "No nations really border Mists. We're situated nicely in the Indian Ocean. We get along rather well with most other nations. We haven't had a purely external conflict ever since we almost went to war with Androtia. Do you know anything about them? I haven't heard them mentioned in international news in quite some time. We have been hearing a lot about Ilek-Vaad lately and a fair amount of Pantocratoria, due to Queen Eleanor's latest crusade."

Amber sighed. "It must be nice to live in a nation that knows such peace. Excalbia has been on the verge of war with Upper Virginia for a generation. And," she shrugged and her face took on a weary aspect, "and now, it looks like the shooting has started. And, on top of that, these crazy cultists are in charge of the Confederation and no one knows what that will mean."

She turned back to Amir and smiled briefly. She shrugged and continued. "I can't really say that I've heard much about Androtia, not since the blockade, nor have we really had any contact with Ilek-Vaad, though I've certainly heard of them." A lighter look returned to her face.

"Now, the Pantocratorians we know very well. Everyone says they're our greatest allies. The heir to the throne, Prince Joseph, married their Emperor's daughter, Princess Anna. It was on TV and it was a beautiful wedding. Our Emperor gave them their own country to rule." Amber shook her head. "But there is something about that has always made me uneasy." She laughed a bit. "Now Excalbia can be a very smug, self-righteous place - we don't call ourselves Holy for nothing! But, Pantocratoria seems to be self-righteous in a cruel way. At least, they've always seemed to have had a cruel streak to me. But, then, very few people in the Empire would agree with me. In fact, if Sir Adam knew I'd just said that, he'd probably send me home as unfit to serve." She shrugged. "I guess I'm just a bit of an eccentric by Excalbian standards..."

Amir nods a little. "That sounds much like we used to be with Akaton. Back when Her Imperial Majesty was still just Princess Aiwyn, her marriage to Emperor Draconis cemented a very strong alliance. Of course, once High Queen Corrina vanished, that alliance grew into this whole Empire of Mists idea. I'm not sure how I feel about that whole thing, though. I'm very fond of the Akatonis, mind you, but...I don't really think of them as my countrymen."

He shrugs slightly. "Pantocratoria...we held off on any attempt at relations during Princess Irene's government for...obvious reasons. With the new government, the situation is significantly different. However...I'm still not sure how well it will turn out. We do try to be friends with all people."

He smirks a little. "I am particularly interested in becoming friends with the Excalbians, or, rather, one in particular."

(OOC: The Tasha thread is here: http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=7676591#post7676591)

Amber blushed and turned her head as if pulling away, yet slid her body closer to Amir. Clearly, she learning to enjoy the attention and flattery. "I think we may already count each other as friends, Amir."

Amber was thinking of adding something and taking things a bit further when she smelled burning food. "Oh, our dinner," she said grabbing a towel and snatching the pan from the fire. "Maybe we should eat before... um... we ruin dinner," she said with a sheepish smile.

Amir laughs a little. "I suppose we should at that!"

The eshu eats, looking lost in thought. "You have told me of your lands, your government, your neighbots. I would be interested in learning something of your faith. I understand there are three gods?"

Amber chuckled. “I’m probably not the best person to ask about religion; I’ve never been the most religious person. But, I do know the basics.” Amber settled into a more comfortable position.

“Christianity believes in one God who exists in three distinct persons – the Father, who is the creator; the Son, who is the revelation of the Father and the Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, who is God’s active presence in the world. They – we, I guess – believe that God created the world and gave sentient beings free will and that of its free will humanity has turned its back on God. So, God the Father sent the Son to Earth to live a human life and to be the perfect example and perfect sacrifice to restore those who believe to a state of grace.”

Amber shrugged. “Catechism paid off, I guess.” She smiled. “So, tell me what you believe, Amir?”

"I believe in the Orishas. I believe that between them the mighty Orishas formed the heavens and the earth and that each of them spawned one of the many races of the world as their especial children, save Olorun only, whose love is for all the people of the world. I believe that Eshu, the Orisha of Chance, brought forth my people and ever watches over our luck. He sets a path for us which we follow to our destiny so long as we stay free and trust in our luck."

“Interesting,” Amber says, the scientist in her momentarily taking over, “have you ever experienced one of these Orishas? And, if they spawned every race, then who would you say spawned us?”

As the words leave her mouth, Amber regrets sounding like a scientist. She quickly turns and puts some food on a plate and presents it to Amir with a smile.

Amir takes the food, eating a little before he continues. "I suppose humans must have been created by an Orisha, though I do not know which one. I have never seen a true Orisha but it is rumored that the aura of power, beauty, and nobility which surrounds the oba is an aura of the Orishas, granting the oba their right to rule. In the deepest parts of the dreaming, it is a truly breathtaking sight. Though..." he takes her hand gently, looking into her eyes "...hardly the most breathtaking I have ever seen."

Amber smiles and eats in silence for a time. After finishing, she hands fills Amir's cup with coffee and takes some for herself. She sits close to Amir and leans her head on his shoulder, looking at the stars and the mountain peaks. "Do you mind?"

Amir laughs a little. "Do I mind having a woman as brilliant as she is gorgeous leaning against me? I don't think many men would." Smiling softly, he runs his hand through her hair. "I feel forward saying this. I have only known you a week or so. But...Amber, I am beginning to care for you a rather great deal."

Amber turned and looked up at Amir. "I think I'm feeling the same thing, Amir. You are most remarkable man. And I'm not speaking as scientist." She laughed lightly. "I think that's why I'm feeling this way - you make me forget I'm a scientist. No one has done that for a very long time."

Amir smiles shyly, gently taking her hand. He raises her hand to his lips, very gently kissing the knuckle. "I should have waited until we were in the dragon's lair to make my intentions known. Surely in a wyrm's hoard there would be a fit gift to offer."

"This trip and your company are gift enough, Amir," Amber says before pulling the eshu towards her and kissing him. "You are very sweet."

Amir kisses back passionately, running his hands through her hair with a gentle but firm touch. After he finally breaks the kiss, he smirks slightly. "I am glad you are satisfied. If I could, I would pull the sun, the moon, and all the stars from the very heavens and give them to you in a silver crown."

"I do not need a crown. Just you," Amber says softly. She starts to say something else, but stops herself. Clearly, differing emotions are waring inside the young scientist. Finally, she simply leans back, deciding to follow Amir's lead...

Amir laughs ever so lightly. "That you have. That you have." He just holds her, content to sit with her for the moment.

Suddenly, loud footsteps can be heard coming down the path from higher up in the mountains. "Do you smell that?" says a voice, guttural, rugged.

"Yeah, smells right tasty, it does." says another voice, not too different from the first.

"Well, let's go get us some." says a third loud, stupid voice.

Amir frowns, putting a finger to Amber's lips to indicate for her to be silent. He whispers very quietly. "I need for you to climb behind these rocks and nestle yourself into the spot at the bottom beneath the slight overhang. I need you to be absolutely silent. There's no time to explain."

Amir then pulls away, reaching for a stick and holding it in the fire. He turns once to see if Amber has followed his instructions.

Amber briefly considers going for the gun she is carrying in her bags, but the urgency in Amir’s voice convinces her otherwise. She scampers as silently as she can over the rocks and crawls into a crevice under the overhang. She finds that the ground is hollowed out under the rock – an abandoned den of some kind – and she folds herself into it.

Amber holds her breath and is suddenly thankful for the brief military survival training she had before being posted overseas. She doesn’t make any noise, but does rest her hand on the hilt of the knife holstered in her belt.

The sound of footsteps gets louder as three redcaps, horrific creatures with grey skin and jagged yellow teeth, approach Amir, spears at the ready. "Hey, eshu boy, where you hiding the eats?"

"They're in the pan." Amir answers simply.

Another of the redcaps grunts. "You know what we mean. You're hiding some tasty, tasty human."

Amir frowns a little. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Where is she?" the redcap insists.

Amir sighs. "She went over those rocks." He gestures to Amber's location with a grimace. The redcaps, able to smell that the scent does indeed come from there, begin to eagerly rush over. When they are on the very top of the rock, and Amir times this very carefully, the eshu rushes them, shoving as hard as he can. Two redcaps go tumbling, rolling down the slope instead of stopping at the level where Amber is. The third wheels as Amir jabs him hard in the eye with the hot stick, thrusting through to the brain before tossing the creature down the mountainside. He then hops down to where Amber is, offering a hand. "Are you alright?"

Amber scampers out of her hiding place, her face ashen and her hand still resting on her knife. "For a moment...," Amber looks at Amir and seems to calm down. Then, she just throws herself into Amir's arms.

Amir blinks, putting his arms tightly around her. "You didn't really think I would have shown them to you, did you, love?" He leans forward, kissing her lightly. "Let's get back up to the campsight."

Amber shakes her head at Amir's question. "No, not really. I mean, I didn't think you'd willingly give me to them, so I knew you had a plan. It's just, well, I didn't know what would happen..."

She smiles at his kiss and leans more into his arms. She nods her agreement to go back to the campsite and goes with him, still in his arms.

Back at the campsite, she gently pulls away. "Do you think there might be more of those - what did you call them - 'redcaps' about?" She goes over to her pack and pulls out what looks like a small pouch. "The Marines at the embassy insisted I bring this." Amber pulls out a small but deadly looking machine pistol and turns to face Amir.

"I'm by no means a marksman, but I did get enough training to be proficient in this." There is a slight hint of disgust in her voice. "And, since we didn't know what might be out here, the Marines insisted I take armour-piercing shells. Would this do any good against those 'redcaps'? And should I start carrying it?"

Amir nods. "A bullet'll kill a redcap. Not permanently of course but...that would just be barbaric anyway. It might be nice if you carried it."

He takes her hand gently. "I promised I would never let anyone or anything hurt you while you're with me and that's a promise I fully intend to keep."

Amber puts the gun back in the holster and tucks it into her belt. She returns to the fire and takes a seat, motioning for Amir to join her.

Amir sits next to Amber, putting an arm around her. "It's amazing. You, I mean. You're amazing."

"How so," she asks with a smile.

Amir blushes faintly, looking down. "I've known you for such a short time and yet I find myself caring for you so deeply." He leans forward, kissing her lightly again. "I've been around a good deal and never felt like this before."

Amber kissed back. "I find myself growing very attached to you, Amir."

She kisses him again. When she pulls back there is an almost heartbroken look on her face. "Perhaps it'd be best if we got some sleep now," she says without conviction.

Amir frowns a little, running a hand through her hair as he studies her expression. "What's wrong, Amber? You look rather sad for an occasion such as this." He takes her hand, squeezing gently and looking deeply into her eyes.

Amber looks at Amir. "Amir, its just... I find myself wanting... but..." She clearly is having trouble expressing what she feels. "I guess I'm just afraid," she says finally, "of jumping into something too quickly. But, I'm also afraid of passing up on somethi... someone very special."

Amir holds her hand gently. "We can go as slow as you wish, dearest, as slow as you wish." He releases her hand slowly, stepping back. "We should go to sleep. I will see you in the morning."

Amber nodded and smiled weakly. Then she crawled into her sleeping bag and tossed and turned fitfully before finally drifting into an uneasy sleep.

Amir climbs under his blankets, falling fast asleep. He drifts awake during the night at one point, glancing over to Amber. He notes the tossing and turning with a faint frown but eventually drifts to sleep once more.

In the morning, Amir drifts awake with the sun, getting up and beginning to cook breakfast over the fire. He doesn't wake Amber, though the aroma fills the air rather swiftly.

Amber awakens slowly to the pleasant smells of breakfast cooking over the fire. She rolls over and smiles at Amir.

"Good morning," she says, pulling herself up in her sleeping bag. She stands and stretches. Feeling the warming sun on her face seems to dispel the fears of the previous night.

She walks over to Amir and begins helping with breakfast. "It looks like it'll be a glorious day," she says as she sits beside Amir next to the fire.

A chance glance at the rock outcropping reminds her of the previous night's adventure. "Amir, those... creatures that you called 'redcaps' - what are they? And do they really eat humans? Would they eat you?" As she asks her questions, her voice is a mixture of curiosity and anxiety.

Amir smiles to Amber. "Good morning, sunshine."

He frowns a little at her question. "They have been known to eat humans. They occasionally eat other fae as well but it's far less common. So, yeah, they could have eaten me, I suppose."

Amber shivered at the thought of her and Amir ending up as a meal for those... creatures.

"So, if they are so dangerous, why aren't the hunted down? Why isn't something done about them?"

Amber shakes her head, then catches a glimpse of the sun shinning on the distant peaks. "Oh," she gasps, "that is beautiful!" She turns to Amir with a smile. "Redcaps or no, I'm so glad that I'm here with you, Amir."

Amir shrugs a little. "Do you think we should? I mean, can we really just round up twelve million sentient beings for crimes they have not actually committed yet? It doesn't seem like the kind of thing that we could get away with. And Eleanor would raise a fuss like no other. She loves the creatures."

Amir pauses, looking out at the sun. "And I to be here with you, dear one." He lightly takes her hand, squeezing lightly.

Amber feels herself relaxing at Amir's touch.

"Well, when you put that way, I guess it would be a little... uncivilized to round up people for crimes they haven't actually committed... yet." She turns, a hint of playfulness returning to her voice. "But, really, how could anyone be fond of such creatures?"

"Oh," Amber looks at breakfast cooking in the pan, "looks like breakfast is ready. Shall we eat and get on our way?"

Amir smiles, kissing her lightly on the cheek. "Eleanor is quite fond of them. They make good soldiers, or so she believes." Amir shrugs his shoulders lightly. "Who knows how they think down in Wintermore? I've only been there a few times for the adventure. But I can't say I like it much."

Amir nods, looking back to the food. "We probably should." He gets up and sits quietly down around the fire.

Amber prepares plates for Amir and herself and sit beside him at the fire. She enjoys the simple meal in quiet warmth of the eshu's company. When they have finished, she helps him to begin striking the camp and packing for the next stage of their adventure.

Anticipating colder weather, Amber puts on some of the gear purchased from the boggan woman the day before. Also, anticipating the return of the redcaps, she hooks the holster of her machine pistol to her belt.

Amir smiles warmly, dressing himself in warm clothes as well. He takes Amber in his arms and holds her a moment. "Are you ready?"

Helping her onto the horse once more, he mounts it himself. They travel miles up the rocky mountainside, the seemingly endless fields of Shieldcrest laid out below them for as far as the eyes can see, like a vast ocean of grain and field.

Amber wraps her arms around Amir as they ride and leans her head across his back. She watches as the endless fields pass before them.

"Amir," she says after some time, "can you tell me a bit about the history of Shieldcrest?"

Amir nods a little. "Of course. Shieldcrest is the first place the fairy races returned during the Homecoming and where the Homecoming War began. To be honest, the fault was mixed. The power mad sidhe, King Martin ap Gwydion, wanted unlimited control over all Shieldcrest and the human lords wanted to exterminate all fairy in their domain. In one of his many cruelties, Martin was threatening the honor of the widow of a human opponent who had fallen honorably in battle. It was then that Timon, first of the Timonian Dynasty, stepped forth and challenged Martin, challenged the very king for the honor of a human peasant woman. Both men died in the battle, though Timon one, living to limp to lie beneath a tree. When Timon sank beneath the tree, it burst into flower instantly, in coldest winter, a sign recognized by human and fairy as the mark of a true king. People of all races flocked to his daughter, Corrina, acclaiming her the queen of Shieldcrest and the high queen. It was Corrina who signed the treaty guaranteeing peace and freedom to all peoples of the empire. Not wishing for it to seem like the whole island was ruled by Shieldcrest, Corrina took only the title of high queen and abdicated the throne of Shieldcrest to her younger twin Danwyth. Only recently, Danwyth was murdered by an unknown party. Having no son, his throne went to his youngest sibling, Nianki. For a variety of reasons, the older Beatrice was held to be unfit to inherit the land."

"Really," Amber says, "what made her unfit?" Amber continues to watch the countryside. "Your people are so long-lived, your history is really like a personal history, isn't? How many of your people were alive already when those events took place?"

Amir answers the first question simply. "Grand Duchess Beatrice ni Balor." He speaks as though that says it all, as though no further explanation could conceivably be needed.

"My people are not simply long-lived, my dear. Barring certain very special means, which you will forgive me for not sharing, I will never die, at least not as you understand the term. If slain, I will return in a matter of decades, perhaps less. I will exist much as I do today in a thousand years or a thousand thousand years."

The eshu smiles a little. "Not most. Nearly half of the general fairy population, including all of the higher nobility. Though Grand Duchess Vicotira was not in the world at the time. That part is trickier to explain. You see, we didn't all return at once and we took the forms of different ages, regardless of our true age. I returned to the world as a boy of a mere six years, though I was truly centuries old at the time of the Homecoming."

Amber's eyes widen as she listens. She has heard some of the reports of the ages of the people in the Resurgent Dream, but she had dismissed many of them as myths. "Amir, can you tell me more about the Homecoming? Where had you been before and why did you return? And, what was it like for you, especially in the form of a six-year old?"

Amir laughs a little. "I wish I could tell you where. It is generally accepted that we came from Arcadia, a land of eternal summer and beauty. The Light of the World still shines there as brightly as it did in the Springtime of Existence, or so they say. But our memories prior to the Homecoming are weak and faded. In truth, none remember what life was like for us before that time."

The horse continues to climb, the ground growing ever rockier. The path now seems to be between two peaks and the rather glorious view on either side is blocked by solid rock. "As for the Homecoming War, there were hundreds of battles of human against fairy. Most of them, and almost all the largest, were in Shieldcrest, though Wintermore and Bilbtoria also saw rather brutal fighting. Farinor and Holista were virtually untouched by war. Fireforge was...somewhere in between. As a child of six, I felt like any child in a war. I was scared and horrified by what I saw going on around me. Those who had taken adult forms, however, shielded me from the worst of it."

Amber listens with rapt attention. “It almost sounds as if your people came from heaven. As anyone ever suggested a connection between your people and angelic beings?”

She holds Amir a little more tightly as the path grows bumpy. “So, did you have parents as humans would understand the term?”

Amir laughed a little. "No, no one's ever suggested a connection of that sort. I imagine the Christians would be quite upset if anyone ever did, and the Aesin too, for their part. The sidhe did do some research a while back to see if they were related to elves. Turned out they weren't. But angels...that's likely to create quite the controversy. Certainly seem arrogant to suggest."

Amir holds Amber tightly, making sure she doesn't slip. Once they reach the top of the crest, he stopped the horse, staring out over wide, environmentally stunning expanse below. He just sat there for a long moment, letting her speak.

At the top of the crest, Amber wrapped her arms tightly around Amir and leaned her head on his back. "This is beautiful," she whispered.

After gazing for a few moments, she looked at the eshu. "So, what was your second childhood like after the return? Did you have parents? Have you had a family here?"

Amir nodded a little. "I essentially had a father. There was an eshu who took an older form, he took me in, raised me. I don't see him much anymore. I miss him some days."

As they gazed out over the landscape, the silence was interrupted by a loud male cry. "Hello! Is anyone up there? My name is Bynarr ap Dougal. I'm a judge, a Firefoprge judge. Please, you have to help me!"

Amber looked at Amir. “He sounds like he’s in trouble. Do you think it might be more of those terrible redcaps?” As she spoke, Amber’s hand slid cautiously towards her machine pistol.

Amir nodded. "Perhaps he..." The eshu quieted, looking out over the view. In the distance, an indistinct figure was flying towards the mountain at a rapid pace.

"What is it," Amber said following the eshu's gaze. Then, she saw the something flying towards them. She could make it out and reached into the pack slung behind her on the horse and fished out her field glasses. "Do you recognize that, Amir?"

As the shape got closer, its form gradually became apparent. It had great, leathery wings, a long tail, and a scaly green hide. Its mouth was huge, spewing fire and baring great razor teeth. Four taloned feet hung on the ends of four powerful legs. The beast snarled a little, turning downwards and heading towards where the voice had come from.

Amir nodded faintly, holding Amber tight. "Redcaps are not that man's problem, dearest. This is what we came to see." With that, he hopped down from the horse's back, tying the animal to a nearby rock. "We can't bring him with us."

Amber nodded as Amir spoke. "I hope we'll be able to help that man without harming this wonderful creature..."

She was careful to grab her digital camera and her binoculars as she dismounted with Amir and followed him towards the rocks. She snapped a couple of quick pictures of the dragon until another snarl sent her hand towards the reassuring feel of the pistol.

Amir sighed just slightly. "Amber, my dear, I very much doubt we could harm this creature if we wished to." At that, he began down the side of the mountain, watching his step carefully as the dragon flew ever closer.

Amber nodded and smiled. If Amir felt it was safe to continue, then she felt safe to follow. She went down the side of the mountain with Amir, taking pictures whenever she could.

A brown-haired sidhe man, dressed in torn gossamer garments of red, gold, and black, was sprawled on the floor of the cave, clutching at a bloodied and twisted knee. He looked up as the two entered. "Please...help..."

Amir rushed over. "Can you move at all, m'lord?"

Even as he spoke, the great dragon arrived at the mouth of the cave, behind Amber, Amir, and the wounded man. It opened its maw wide in a roar.

Amber crouched beside the injured man. She removed a first aid kit from her backpack and offered it to Amir. “This might help…”

When the dragon blocked the cave and roared, Amber’s first instinct was to reach for the gun. But looking at its size, she realized Amir was right; the weapon would only enrage the creature, but not harm it.

She took her flashlight and shined it back into the cave. “The cave seems to go much further back.” She turned to Amir. “It might be our best bet to go in deeper and try to find a passage too small for the dragon…”

Amir nodded. "That may well be." He bent down next to the man, hoisting him up and moving deeper into the cave at a brisk pace, keeping Amber in front of him. The walls do indeed narrow as they move further back, eventually getting beyond the ability of the dragon to reach them. The beast lets loose a fierce roar from behind them, fire licking at their heels.

Amber led the way deeper into the caves, her flashlight casting a pale circle of light in the gloom. As flames scorched the rocks behind them, she found a narrow side passage that angled up and back. She thought it would afford them decent protection from the dragon’s fire.

She cautiously poked her head into the passage and shined her light around. She saw nothing alarming and turned to Amir. “This way,” she said.

She found a relatively flat spot on the cave floor and gestured for Amir to lay down his burden. Amber reached into her bag and retrieved a small electric lantern, which she set up next to the injured man. Then, stashing her flashlight, she again offered the first aid kit to Amir. “What do you think the dragon is after, Amir?” She looked around the cave. “And do you think this passage might have another opening?”

The man is somewhat self-uilluminating, being shiny and such. Amir shook his head. "He might just be hungry. And I'll have to make a passage. Amir crouched to the ground, looking around for a good hunk of chalk or a similar marking rock. "Can you help his leg?"

Amber nodded, not certain what Amir was doing, but willing to trust him.

She bent over the man. "Is there anything else damaged, sir," she asked as she checked the leg.

The leg didn't appear to be broken, but the knee was certainly damaged. Amber did her best to stop the bleeding and dress the wound. Then, she used some bandages from her bag and immobilised the knee.

Bynarr shook his head with an elegance such an injured man shouldn't have been able to muster. "It's just my leg."

Amir, finding a good piece, began to draw a doorway in the face of the cave, singing loudly in Arabic as he did so. Amir began to emit a faint gliw, as did his piece of chalk and the doorway itself.

Amber nodded to Bynarr and finished immobilising the knee. "Could you tell us what happened, sir?"

As Amber asked the question she looked over at the light coming from Amir and the drawing he had made on the cave wall. She couldn't quite figure out what was going on, but she mentally noted what Amir was doing - the gestures, the Arabic words, the drawing.

Then, she turned back to Bynarr. "Do you need some water," she asked as she pulled a bottle of water out of her pack.

Bynarr grimaced. "I was hiking. I fell. This was the only shelter I could make it into."

Amir finished what he was doing, the drawn door opening as a real door would, revealing a corridor. "Get him through here and hurry."

Amber turned at the sound of Amir's voice and gaped at the doorway. "How? How did you do that? What is it?" Seeing the seriousness on Amir's face, Amber didn't wait for an answer to her stammering questions.

She quickly stuffed the medical kit, water bottle and electric lantern back into her pack. She stood and pulled up the injured man. "Lean on me, sir," she said as she helped carry him through the doorway.

Amir grabbed the man's other side and the three moved quickly through the corridor. A few minutes later, all three of them stumbled out on the part just on the other side of the peak, just in time as the corridor faded back to solid rock. "Nice trick, isn't it?"

Amber eased the injured man to the ground and looked back where the doorway had been. She looked at Amir and sputtered for a few moments. Finally, she said, "Calling that a nice trick is an understatement! Is it somekind of teleportation? Is it a natural ability or something you learned?"

Amber smiled and shook her head. She could see that she easily spend a lifetime with Amir and never learn all his secrets. But, she was thinking it would certainly be fun to try. "I have so many questions!" She looked anxiously back at the peak. "But I'm not sure this is the place to ask them. Are we safe here or should we keep moving?"

Amir laughed. "If it were teleportation, we wouldn't have had to walk. I just made the rock go away for a bit. It is something I learned. All fairies know a few tricks like that. We used to be much more powerful in ancient days. Now, it's hard to effect many things. Magics are difficult to use outside the High Kingdom and harder than they used to be even here. In the days of our glory..." Amir sighed whistfully. "Those days are gone now. If we want a place in the modern world, we're going to have to develop more modern weapons, more modern engines...more modern friends." He smiled gently to Amber. "Still, I'll make sure I show you all I can still do. Now, help me get this man to the horse. We need to head back to town." He put an arm under the sidhe, starting to help him towards the horse.

Amber nodded and placed herself under the injured man's other arm. With Amir she guided him back towards their horse.

Amir helped place the man on the horse and set it back down the path. He let himself trail a little behind the man, whispering to Amber. "Looking at His Lordship, still think I'm pretty, m'lady?"

Amber smiled at Amir and leaned over to whisper in his ear. "Beauty is more than appearance, Amir. And to me, you are the most beautiful man I've ever seen..."

Amir opened his mouth to speak and found himself without words for the first time in his life. He struggled to find something suitably poetic, something suitably extravagent to tell Amber how he felt. Finally, he settled on the simplest statement in the world. "I love you."

Amber blushed bright red. But this time, she didn't hesitate or over-think. She leaned over and kissed Amir. "I love you, too," she said.

Amir ran his hands through Amber's hair, pulling her to him and kissing her passionately. He held it for a long moment before pulling back, grinning. He took Amber's hand gently and moved down the trail, heading home from the adventure.

FIN?