A Tisket, A Tasket (Invite Only)

[Ilista]

Mid Imperos In the Season of Autumn
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum


It had been the oddest of occurrences, that day back upon Archadoons’ shores. The sea elf had swam great lengths from the island of Iefferon to the harbor and scoured the bay, she found her items as she had left them although there was no sign of the dress she once wore on the rocks of the jetty, the telera sound her sack of realms tied securely and laid beneath a stone as long as her torso. The sea maid would have to make her way to the wilderness to see how her clan had faired and if her clothes remained, but for now, she would walk along the shore and view the wreckage of the town that was.

What had been so curious in this brief visit to the lands of Archadoon to see how it had faired in the weeks of her absence, before she ventured back to the warmer seas of Iefferon to perhaps ask for a certain companion to accompany her to the human city away from the island, or even merely to return there and silently give up her quest, the Telera received a message.

That was an odd occurrence. No one ever sent messages to the sea elf; then again, no one usually knew where to find her… but on the other hand, she knew very few. So it was very much a new and exciting exchange for the woman. Especially since it promised information on where the missing Elensar could in fact be found.

She trudged along under the spackled sunlight that fell through the leaves of the trees above, through the wilderness, her bare feet moved through the grass, the cowl that hung against her back was dripping still with the water of the river, her hair glistened with her, and skin moist from her, and in the early candle marks of high brightening, her heart sang in the foreign surface forest.

She was certain this was the place, certain that this was where, come the night fall, answers to her beloveds disappearance would be given. Not far from the river but within the trees Ilista sat in a contented silent and took the time to let the grass tickle her fingers and toes and looked to the sky and the leaves of the trees that grew so very high above her head.

Ilista had swam from the bay of Archadoon down the coast to the Sea of Diana via ship bottoms, passing sea creatures, and her own body built and cultured for water travel both sea and fresh water, were no barrier for her. The thought of traveling across land was daunting at first until the rivers had been pointed out, and they ran almost from the sea to the forest and gave the woman relief, for there was protection, travel, and possibly food , all her worries were taken care of, and soon she would be reunited with one who had been her friend and protector, confidant and intended, the thoughts that had begun to plague her mind, that had began to cause her doubt faded with ever stroke of her arm, and setting sun that brought her closer. She would find Elensar and together they would return home and bring relief and joy back to their families.

Hours passed and it made little difference, she was more aware of the passage of time than say other elves, it was the way of her kind, busy and curious. Even with such importance of this meeting, in the light of the day she laid in the grass looking at the plants up close and comparing the blue sky above to the blue sea below. Dusk neared and with care the telera who with her brought little arranged that she had, washed off the leaves and blades of grass, from her skin, her cowl, her hair. Her hair itself carefully arrange before the pulling up of her cowl and to sit under a tree in the darkness. The wet material protected her from the passing wind and kept her skin both moist and a tad warm. The night and the cold had little effect on the visiting elf, although her sight was no dark vision it was better in the poorest light than that of the full day sun.

For many nights the Telera prepared like a bride to see her groom, and many mornings as the sun rose did she move back to the river to slip beneath its waters and sleep away to dream of the coming night.

[Lichen]

It was a nice evening in the Dolwoods, cool and relatively calm without being chilly enough to bring prickles to Ilista’s skin. The suns were just setting in the far corners of the world, bringing their shine to other continents and leaving the forest behind with the first few stars peeking out. A beautiful time to be in the woods, with the wide-eyed creatures of the darkening just starting to creep out, their brightening counterparts heading towards safe places. They had the right idea of course, for while dusk was a beautiful time to be in the Dolwoods, it was also an exceptionally dangerous one. For there were many things that crept out into the cooling air, not all of them friendly.

Firoatha Yelkith, for example, was none too friendly a person. Sent by her mother to guide the twins to their play place and keep them from harm, the eldest daughter was a bit annoyed to be here. Her pace reflected this – rapid, wide strides that carried her at a great pace to their destination. As she grew close to the location her siblings had specified, she and the two guards their mother had sent paused. ”I assume you wish to go and speak to the creature yourself,” she said, ”so we will wait in the woods around you. You’ve but to say the word and we’ll come leaping to your rescue, little brother.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but she did disappear into the bushes, leaving Ab’reth to speak to the girl himself.

oocWasn't certain if Ar'ileth was coming or not... and I imagine mamma Yelkith would send an escort with you all.

[Ab'reth Yelkith]

It was all a game. It was a vicious, though lovely little game where men and women were the pieces and their hearts led them around the board. It’d all begun with a male. He’d been a beautiful boy, an elf, one that some fisherman could’ve caught at sea.

Elensar. His name was Elensar, and Ab’reth could recall how he’d fought back at first. He’d been difficult. He’d been a thorn for the slave keepers, and so found his way into the twin’s company. From there it had been a slow, but entertaining process of stripping away the male’s life, sanity, and soul. Ab’reth had loved it. There was starving, the heat, the cold, the pain and pleasure. One after another, time and again, and poor Elensar, he talked.

Ab’reth asked questions of the bad little slave, and he told his keeper everything. Elensar told Ab’reth all his little secrets. He opened up his life, and told stories of his life, his youth, and as the stories unfolded there was always some common thread. There was always mention of his female, his darling Ilista, and this peaked the vysstichi’s interest. The attention of a Yelkith, even a male, was a very dangerous thing to draw, but the lightborn had.

A scheme had started to form in the back of his mind.

The faith saw love as a flaw, a weakness. It was a wrong, and so, the young Yelkith had started some wheels in motion. It all started with a message, sent out of the nearest human city, and ended here, with him, crouched, with his less charming sister in the forest.

He listened to what dribble poured from Firoatha’s mouth, and he eyed her pretty throat, playing with the thought of how he’d wish to cut it open. More than any slave girl, he’d love to see his elder drowning on her own juices, and Ar’ileth one step closer to being heir, but he couldn’t do a damn thing. He couldn’t expect to best her. He couldn’t expect to best her and her guards. It was a pity, but he gave Firoatha a harmless little smile none the less.

He didn’t say a thing about her tone, or that he didn’t need a babysitter, but how he wanted to gouge out her eyes.

All she got was a smile. They’d deal with big sister later.

As Firoatha vanished into the woods, Ab’reth started his slow approach towards the animal. The quiet one was in no hurry as night took its proper hold. His feet slid into the leaf litter on the forest floor. He tried to move slowly, and keep low, hiding in the dark. Then a thought struck the male, and the little smile he wore grew. It widened into a wicked look as he spotted the sea elf. His hand never went for his weapon, and his back straightened.

“Ilista” Ab’reth said simply, firmly, though he knew her, and had known her for years. “So… Elensar was right… he’d said you’d come for him…”

The young elven male was taller than Ilista, and with a dark look in his red eyes, he looked down on her.

“My name is Ab’reth. I sent you the letter, and I have him. He belongs to me…” It was a small lie, all part of the game. “but I’ll let him go for a price. A slave for a slave.”

The vysstichi’s smile widened, as though she had any choice in the matter of becoming a slave.

“Your servitude, for his freedom.”

[Ilista]

Something whispered in the darkness, and it was a strange thought Ilista had, as she noted an odd silence had fallen upon the forest she had spent a few brightening within. Her name spoken, even as the small creature rose and eyes of the lightest hazel rose up to meet red orbs that looked down upon the small woman, surely not only from the males great height.

The gentle beating of her heart rose only slightly but its pulse seemed to fill her head driving out all thought all sound but the tall elven males’ voice. Elensar lived, and somehow, he belonged… to this man. This dark elf, the ones from the story of Llan who reached out to rule all, stories were just stories, but Elensar, this one knew of both he, and she. What could she do?

“I have come very far for the Teleris, Elensar. Please allow me to see him for my self, Ab’reth, be there breath in his lungs and beat in his heart, I will willingly take his place in your care, and he shall have mine in freedom.” Ilista exhaled softly, she neither begged nor glared, and perhaps she should, yet sadly the thought that the one before her would bother to speak falsely never occurred to the woman, even with the mention of such practices as slavery. She took his words to mean what they stood for, and in truth it would have made little difference. So great did her heart long to see the missing Teleris again that she had no choice but to venture forth with this the closets lead she had since she left her home behind her.

It was to be suspected she supposed, when land walkers look at you more strangely than usual when you ask for directions it should be a well enough warning, but what other options had she?

Eurydice laid waiting in the realm of Hades, how could Orpheus not follow.

[Ab'reth Yelkith]

Stupid.

Ab’reth had to smile, the girl’s love for her male was so foolish. She’d offer herself up for him. She’d give herself over to them, for him. It was so moving that the male was tempted to roll his eyes at her mislead romanticism.

Little fool.

“He’s alive…” Ab’reth said coldly, though his state, more than that he was among the living wasn’t assured. The female, however, had given herself up to a new life of slavery, and there was no time to begin her training like the present.

“Strip.” the male said. He was still smiling, but it wasn’t lust in his eyes, but a love of violence, a need for a little control. If she did what she was told, the cow would be lead away. He’d take up her things, and guide her through the dark forest. His sister and her men would surely take up behind them.

They had a long way to the arc before the morning reached them. Exposed to the cold, the damp earth and clawing brambles, Ilista would be led away. If she ran, they’d cut her down, and Elensar would die. If she ran, she’d kill him; or worse, insure him a long life of torture and misery.

[Ilista]

She smiled back, not a word said, the dark elfs’ smile was not kind, and she had seen the look before. Many thought she was a fool before she left, and more so after, but how could she explain what they did not already understand. Elensar was hers, had proved himself more than any other of being her husband, as one who loved whom she loved, who protected her and the child she protected, who stayed to face whatever danger was to come. Their hearts had been one, and even if that did not remain true, it was her duty, as his intended, his friend, by honor, to find, tend, and return him be it within her power, to their home.

Ilista undid her cloak with little expression, no shame as her body near its natural state save the loin cloth and breast bands, Thelyri had little use of clothes beneath the waves, the bands would be eliminated in her home, under the water they were used solely for nursing mothers, but it gave the surface dwellers less start as it seemed similar to their beach wear at times.

Upon her left forearm was her blade, the obsidian was cheap and perhaps a bit worn but it served its purpose with food and would work in a pinch. With cool eyes she unbound the sheath from her arm and laid it atop of the cloak. With little thought but the gentle arched brow the telera unbound her bands and loin cloth and laid them with the rest of her clothing. The small pile taken away the sea elf followed behind Ab’reth she followed with a sickening sensation she could not explain or care to express, the elf put her ill at ease, and her eyes took in the night forest as if it would be the last time she saw such beauty.

In silence she followed Ab’reth, neither the cold, damp, or dark effecting the telera, all being natural elements from her own home, and lit enough not to have cause for echolocation. The distance was neither hard nor harsh since they walked and while the telera winced with trailing scratches along her ankles and legs she made next to no sound after the first few bloody lines.

She was compliant, and gentle of nature, but she kept her eyes on the dark elf before her, she didn’t like the questioning feeling Ab’reth gave her, the concept of both deceit and distrust was all but foreign to the sea elf, yet still her guide made her as wary as swimming past a Jorel Worm cave, one could only hope the end was not as messy.

[Ab'reth Yelkith]

Ab’reth didn’t gawk at the elven woman as she undressed. He’d seen women without clothing enough times. It didn’t shock him, or strike him with some uncontrolled need. The young male wasn’t as foolish as some of his gender. It was likely he’d have the female. He’d make her scream, of pain or pleasure. He’d make the girl beg, and it was that thought, that fact that gave the male reason to smile.

He took her clothing, her little knife, her money, and whatever shame the telera had. He took her freedom, and if it offered any amusement he’d take Ilista’s life. Ab’reth would do it all with a smile.

For the moment he didn’t say anything else to his new pet; there was no need.

They’d be home in Herozzal soon enough.

ooc: going to pm lichen about a new thread in the yelkith compound.