Callista was a bit hesitant to speak with the creature but she couldn’t see the harm in just talking. ”It would be ungrateful for me to show my sorrow in front of the people when the Khal has done so much with their prosperity in mind. I cannot speak ill of those who have raised me as family when they could have disposed of me long ago. Others have lost much more than I have and I shouldn’t be selfishly thinking about the past when others suffer now. They accuse me of infatuation when all I see is someone in pain and wish to help,” she sighed. Her fingers itched to idly stroke the creature as she spoke, even though she knew she couldn’t touch it and even then she assumed the barbs would not allow it to be touched casually.
"But here, you aren't in front of the people. You are strong all of the time, in front of them. You don't even allow yourself to slip in front of your hand-servants. That would get so exhausting. Once in a while, you have to think about your own welfare, make sure that you have what you want, what you need. That way, when life call you to be strong again, you can walk with confidence. Look at my ixiptlatli as an example. Even wasting away, he spends all of his energy towards his duty. If he isn't careful, he will be unable to help anyone because he hasn't stopped thinking about how he needs to act for everyone else." The small serpent yawned, it's head weaving back and forth on the princess' dainty arm.
"There will always be a time when someone needs you. You won't always have time to see to yourself. When you find it, be selfish. They may not understand, but a generous spirit like yours will burn itself out if you don't rest."
"There will always be a time when someone needs you. You won't always have time to see to yourself. When you find it, be selfish. They may not understand, but a generous spirit like yours will burn itself out if you don't rest."
His words didn't help much and she only felt worse for her outburst. Already she was thinking of someone other than herself, unable to heed the serpent's lecture. ”I must always be strong, any misstep and not only could I lose everything but the people could suffer too. If the people should see me rebel, they too may take it upon themselves to do so and war is nothing I stay here to keep the memories of the old ways alive so that if things should change, the people can return to them. Is Eida still attempting to do his duties? He must be in so much pain, I can't see how he will recover well doing that,” she said, a little sad that her visits in order to try and distract him from his injuries had likely been futile.
It wasn't the best progress, but she was opening up. Her heart would be hard to sway, but if Jaeda could redirect it instead...
"Rebel? Princess, I never suggested anything about disobedience. I just suggested that you be aware of your personal needs, and take time to rest from that exterior you put up for everyone's sake. Find someone you can be open with, so you can ease your own stresses.
As for Eida, I'm not sure he would rest even when on his deathbed. He conjured me so that he would be able to meet and confer when necessary. He drains himself so that he can be so dutiful. Misplaced guilt for what happened with the Nahuatl, I imagine. What he needs is someone to take care of him so that he can get stronger, because he will not rest while there is something he can do. The medicine men are only changing bandages and saying that he will recover in time, that isn't enough."
"Rebel? Princess, I never suggested anything about disobedience. I just suggested that you be aware of your personal needs, and take time to rest from that exterior you put up for everyone's sake. Find someone you can be open with, so you can ease your own stresses.
As for Eida, I'm not sure he would rest even when on his deathbed. He conjured me so that he would be able to meet and confer when necessary. He drains himself so that he can be so dutiful. Misplaced guilt for what happened with the Nahuatl, I imagine. What he needs is someone to take care of him so that he can get stronger, because he will not rest while there is something he can do. The medicine men are only changing bandages and saying that he will recover in time, that isn't enough."
"Just talking to you would be considered disobedient," she smirked slightly. Little acts of rebellion she could handle, it was the large very public ones she knew must be avoided. "I find plenty of time to rest, especially where I am here. My mother used to bring me out here to play when I was a little girl because my rowdy cousins didn't come out here." Her smile faded as the memory passed and she listened to Jaeda's words with increasing concern.
"I hope your being here isn't taxing him at all. If that is the case I will march you right back in where you belong and tell him to stop working myself." She sighed, looking around wishing there was something that she could do. As her eyes fell on the trees an idea came to her head. "I know, what I can do. I shall ask the goddess for help. There are many of this trees that I know well but not all of them. Surely in this vast place something can be found."
"I think you may want to make yourself scarce in her presence," she said as she set off towards the heart of the orchard.
"I hope your being here isn't taxing him at all. If that is the case I will march you right back in where you belong and tell him to stop working myself." She sighed, looking around wishing there was something that she could do. As her eyes fell on the trees an idea came to her head. "I know, what I can do. I shall ask the goddess for help. There are many of this trees that I know well but not all of them. Surely in this vast place something can be found."
"I think you may want to make yourself scarce in her presence," she said as she set off towards the heart of the orchard.
Jaeda said nothing as Callista told it her story of her childhood. It watched wistfully as she took the bait and ran with it. The serpent dissolved into a black mist the flowed back into the emerald on the princess' hand.
The eye stared unblinking out at the world, and the demon smiled.
The eye stared unblinking out at the world, and the demon smiled.
The princess headed back towards the entrance of the orchard with a small bunch of what looked like sky blue durians carried in her skirt. They were cool to the touch and gave off a minty scent. They were perfect for the salve Persica had told her how to make. As she walked she talked to the serpent about nothing in particular, asking about what life was like in the Nahuatl capitol and the kinds of foods they ate. Her spirit was lifted knowing that there was something she could do to help someone and she was hardly paying attention to her surroundings.
Sanjuro made his way to the orchard at a careful pace. It reminded him of home, in a way, so many trees and the essence within him swirled with energy.
He heard the voice of the person he was looking for nearby and stalked his way towards her, slowly coming into view so as not to startle her.
"Princess Callista, to whom do you speak?" he asked softly, as entry to this orchard was barred to most everyone.
When he saw what it was his brow furrowed. He bowed as she turned her gaze towards him.
"I see." he knew he hadn't completely hidden the disappointment from his voice.
He heard the voice of the person he was looking for nearby and stalked his way towards her, slowly coming into view so as not to startle her.
"Princess Callista, to whom do you speak?" he asked softly, as entry to this orchard was barred to most everyone.
When he saw what it was his brow furrowed. He bowed as she turned her gaze towards him.
"I see." he knew he hadn't completely hidden the disappointment from his voice.
Callista stopped in her tracks as she saw the figure come into view. Her light conversation ceased too as she tried to not look nonplussed.
”Sanjuro, how nice it is to see you. You never visit the orchards,” she said with a slight bow. ”I am merely talking to an illusion, this has nothing of real substance,” she added as she waved her hand through the apparition to show that the thing in her shoulder was not really there. Callista felt her stomach turn, she felt bad for disappointing the guardian and his simple word went right to her heart.
”Sanjuro, how nice it is to see you. You never visit the orchards,” she said with a slight bow. ”I am merely talking to an illusion, this has nothing of real substance,” she added as she waved her hand through the apparition to show that the thing in her shoulder was not really there. Callista felt her stomach turn, she felt bad for disappointing the guardian and his simple word went right to her heart.
Sanjuro rose, waving his hand dismissively.
"Words can be just as dangerous, Princess Callista, but it is beginning to seem I can no longer protect you from such dangers." he allowed himself a weary sigh. "I came to speak with you about the battle. But it would seem we are not alone. Why is Eida's... pet... here with you? Why is it not with it's master?" it was taking a large amount of willpower not to draw Izayoi and see if the blade's magics would disrupt the demon's illusion.
"Words can be just as dangerous, Princess Callista, but it is beginning to seem I can no longer protect you from such dangers." he allowed himself a weary sigh. "I came to speak with you about the battle. But it would seem we are not alone. Why is Eida's... pet... here with you? Why is it not with it's master?" it was taking a large amount of willpower not to draw Izayoi and see if the blade's magics would disrupt the demon's illusion.
"I assure you I act with the utmost caution," she said even though she knew it wasn't true. Again she was following what her heart told her was right not necessarily what her head was telling her. Still she was unsure of why the Khal's shadow had taken so much notice of her as of late and the things she was doing.
"Eida has arranged for Jaeda to be out so he can continue his work while he is predisposed. If you would like to speak to me, I have some things to attend to but you are more than welcome to join me. I will send the spirit back where it came from when I retrieve some items I need and you may rejoin me in my quarters after."
"Eida has arranged for Jaeda to be out so he can continue his work while he is predisposed. If you would like to speak to me, I have some things to attend to but you are more than welcome to join me. I will send the spirit back where it came from when I retrieve some items I need and you may rejoin me in my quarters after."
"Apologies, my lady, I did not know you had been given any duties." he said with a bow. "Please, allow me to assist you in your tasks." he moved forwards and began to take the items she'd been carrying. He looked at them strangely.
"Are you using these to cook? There are far sweeter things in this place." he knew a much more common use for the plants, but wondered if she would speak plainly. As of yet she hadn't been.
"Are you using these to cook? There are far sweeter things in this place." he knew a much more common use for the plants, but wondered if she would speak plainly. As of yet she hadn't been.
"I do not have official duties but the results will benefit the Khal's cause." It was close to the truth, although her real motive certainly wasn't for Shono's benefit. "The fruit are Labiatae Durian. They typically only grow in the south and are not for eating but to make medicine for burns." Her eyes darted over to the Azuma waiting on his disapproval.
"I already have a vial of this salve made, my lady, and am trained in it's application. If it shall help the Great Khal, you need only direct me where to apply it." he said. His words were true, but spoken in hopes to coax whatever it was she was hiding from him.
She sighed, he didn’t understand what she was trying to but did not fault him. ”The salve you have will likely not be enough, Sanjuro. It is for the sorcerer who lays in bed badly wounded from flame covering his entire body. Eida's burns will take too long to heal for the Khal to make use of him, so I petitioned Persica for a remedy. These durians are it. I need to step inside the infirmary to collect some things, if you'll excuse me."
She stepped quietly into the infirmary that was still full of patients. After collecting a few satchels of herbs, some honey and some wax, she took her path around to the room where the young sorcerer lay. He seemed to be asleep but it was hard to tell with him, so she smiled and took his least injured hand in hers as she spoke softly. "It was nice visiting with your soul today. I must leave this with you but will return with it soon along with something to ease your pain. I am sorry, Jaeda I must leave you for now," Callista apologized as she slipped off the small emerald ring and placed it under Eida's palm, surprised at the strange intelligence seemed to flow away from it.
Once done, she exited the room and motioned for Sanjuro to follow her again back to her quarters where she hoped no one would bother her while she worked the simple mixture Persica had instructed her in.
She stepped quietly into the infirmary that was still full of patients. After collecting a few satchels of herbs, some honey and some wax, she took her path around to the room where the young sorcerer lay. He seemed to be asleep but it was hard to tell with him, so she smiled and took his least injured hand in hers as she spoke softly. "It was nice visiting with your soul today. I must leave this with you but will return with it soon along with something to ease your pain. I am sorry, Jaeda I must leave you for now," Callista apologized as she slipped off the small emerald ring and placed it under Eida's palm, surprised at the strange intelligence seemed to flow away from it.
Once done, she exited the room and motioned for Sanjuro to follow her again back to her quarters where she hoped no one would bother her while she worked the simple mixture Persica had instructed her in.
Jaeda couldn't do anything but watch as the ring slipped off of the princess' finger. With a jolt, the serpent's consciousness was snapped loose of the tie it had made, returning to the rings that Awilix yet wore. "Well, it was interesting, and the girl is fixing Eida for you now. Chanekeh is still rather displeased with my existence, but I don't think he will stop me from speaking in turn at the meeting."
Meanwhile
Eida's eyelids fluttered when Callista hid the emerald ring in his hand as the spell broke and the magic returned to him. He kept his eyes closed for now, he heard Chanekeh speaking at her side, and refused to be 'conscious' for whatever words the wraith had for him right now. She would be back soon by the sounds of it. She was too stubborn not to.
Meanwhile
Eida's eyelids fluttered when Callista hid the emerald ring in his hand as the spell broke and the magic returned to him. He kept his eyes closed for now, he heard Chanekeh speaking at her side, and refused to be 'conscious' for whatever words the wraith had for him right now. She would be back soon by the sounds of it. She was too stubborn not to.
Sanjuro again took the items from her and fell into step behind her.
He set the materials down where she pointed and stepped back, interested to see what she was capable of.
"What insights did you glean on tour journey, if I may ask?" he began, not exactly good at small talk.
He set the materials down where she pointed and stepped back, interested to see what she was capable of.
"What insights did you glean on tour journey, if I may ask?" he began, not exactly good at small talk.
Callista worked diligently to prepare the salve because the sooner it was done the sooner Eida would be relieved of his pain. When Sanjuro brought up her trip, the look on her face darkened as she struggled to not think of the horrors she had seen. ”It was very enlightening. I was able to converse with may of the Khal’s elite during our travels.”
"Perhaps then it will please you to know you will have more such opportunities very soon." he said.
He stopped her hands and showed her a more efficient way of what she was doing.
"I am impressed, where did you learn this?" he asked.
He stopped her hands and showed her a more efficient way of what she was doing.
"I am impressed, where did you learn this?" he asked.
"I hope those are the only opportunities I had there that I shall repeat," she said as she kept her mind on her work. The princess flushed when his hands stopped hers, surprised that he would so boldly touch her. "You have worked diligently for the Khal for so long, I fear you may have missed a few things. My grandmother taught me what she knew of medicine and over the years I have continued to practice it so that I may help those that suffer."
Moderators: cyranax Callista (played anonymously) Eida (played anonymously) Kellian Roux (played anonymously)