Where The Mountains Meet The Desert

JP with White_Caribou and Cindy

The land was quite beautiful in its own right, Islana remained quiet as she took in every rolling hill, green valley, turn in the river and the life that surrounded them. Despite the heat and Islana's present state, there was calmness in this place the young woman hadn't expected to find anywhere on this trip.

The people here were unknown to the redhead, the houses like none she had ever seen but part of her wanted to jump off the horse and experience all of it. Maybe, had more to do with the fact that these people seemed to be free, a freedom no longer within Islana's grasp.

The site of the wild horses gave her mental images of jumping on one and riding off, rescuing Hunter, getting River back, getting back to her friends. Closing her eyes for a moment, a single tear fell. At this moment, more felt like a luxury she couldn't afford.

Even with those thoughts, it was impossible to miss how astounding the Armat Caravanserai was. Forever these feats of ancient architecture would bring to mind Boyce and the excursion with him and Wim. She could just imagine the scholar's excitement upon seeing this. Glancing up at Kaithak, she was eternally grateful to have been gifted the falcon; the only one with whom she felt a closeness with. Any movements forward towards that with Shaila seemed to be odd given the power dynamic between them.

There had been a shift in atmosphere between the women, once Islana had lied and said she was fine, though she wasn't sure why. The huntress highly doubted the dark haired woman wanted to hear how she actually felt. What difference would it have made anyway?

Quiet prevailed between them, though she expected orders from Shalia, at least on protocol, at some point. For now, Islana would just continue to take everything in and try to not overheat.

A tall, skinny man with tanned complexion and shaved face was standing ahead of a small group of soldiers. He greeted the riders as they approached.

He bowed deeply to Shalia extending his hand to help her out of her mount, casting a curios look upon the young red hair accompanying the witch.

"Greetings Shalia Nix. On behalf of the Ihlara clan we bid you welcome." He said in the words of the Odonine but his accent was different, as if the words were less rigid than those that lived in the peaks of Fang.

The Ilhara were still Odonine even if noticeably unique, but so far out from her that Shalia almost forgot they were the same native group. She hesitantly took the man’s hand and climbed down from the horse, careful to steady herself on legs weak from sitting so long.

There it was again, that touch-starved sensation that made her fingers twitch because everyone was just out of reach and alarmed by the very feeling of her skin. And yet, the roughness of his hands and the softness of Islana's face when she had held them did not comfort her like they should have. Like she was breaking a self-imposed rule. Exchanging something forbidden.

Shalia had decided that the coat would smother her at this rate and left it on the horse. As she made her way down, she gave a stern look to Islana as if to give warning, hoping the woman would be wise enough to keep her head down. Though, a woman like her didn’t exactly blend in. She may have to be separated throughout this which was a troubling thought, but arriving with the respected envoy offered her a shield. The two even shared a mount who must have been exhausted by this point, but the heat was cruel to them all. Thankfully they had a chance to refill their waterskins in the river on the way and Shalia desperately splashed her face with the cool water.

She nodded her head in greeting. “Honored. Your settlement is impressive. A change of scenery is good for the spirit once in a while.”
Her sunburned body stingingly said otherwise.

But knowing Fang and being in the village most days grew boring, and of course she never left the mountains, so she wasn’t lying about it feeling somewhat refreshing to get out of. And the Armat Caravanserai really was a marvel to witness.

“Is there some place my companions may rest away from the sun? These conditions are challenging for us,” Shalia slowly wiped the sweat from her chin as she spoke.