Soothing Worry With Optimism

JP with Omni and Lorem

Some time in the middle of the night...

Once again, Voah's trauma from Ypogeios triggered an inner alarm to wake up and keep moving. It was getting easier, especially sleeping next to another person, but she knew that it would take at least half a bell to get back to sleep. Her heart was beating out of control. Residual flashbacks of chasing footsteps echoed through her mind, a lingering side effect of the mould.

She sat up and started some breathing exercises, thinking of Tarmen, wondering how he was recovering and if he was still plagued like she was.

Gonyaul slowly curled up more and more on his side, to combat the lack of heat, after Voah had left their sleeping entangled pretzel embrace. Eventually, he started being aware of his senses. At first it was the sense of smell. He felt like the incense was imbued into his clothing and hair. The euphoric smell was pleasing and relaxing.

He probably would have gone back to sleep, if it weren’t for the fact his sense of touch alarmed that Voah was missing. He awoke and easily located her sitting up.

Stretching he asked, “All alright Love?”

He received no response but her deep breaths and a long exhale, before she turned her head toward his call. It was a loaded question.

"I'll be alright."

Gonyaul reached out and placed a warm hand on the small of her back. He could tell something was bothering her.

“I know you will. May be faster if you willing to share.” He began to sit up so he could be next to her.

It wasn't the deep dark reach that pressed on her mind now. It was their destination.

The comforting gesture that met her back already began its calming wonders. She closed her eyes. Maybe sleep wasn't going to be so evasive tonight.

"Thinking of all of the things... this immortal prophetess. It sounds like witchcraft to me. Perhaps the worst kind. I don't have to tell you how that makes me feel."

Gonyaul listened and put a comforting arm around her. Should she wish to lean her head against him, his shoulder was available. Based on what she told him about her path it made sense why this brought with it emotional distress.

“It could be. Or maybe not. I no see why we get involved with such things. But if must, we face together side by side.”

She took the shoulder offering.

"I suppose you are right. We don't know enough about the place yet. But right now, I don't think our home waits there."

He gave her a light squeeze. Home to him was now wherever she was. “I no let bad happen if in power. Plus, no magik work near me.”

“You ever been a holy city? Or desert?” He was wondering what to expect.

He instantly realized after he said it, of course she had been to a holy city before as an arbiter.

She hadn't expressly told him about the shrine cities and he didn't go into detail about where in Mizar he had traveled either.

"I have visited or lived in every shrine city in Mizar at some point or another. Our convoy stopped at each one regularly. They were magnificent way-points dedicated to the Pillars. That's where we found the best employment and resupplied before traveling the next leg of our circle. My mother's family came from Cambena's shrine city, they lived as Aspects in a sort of palace there. Until she met my father and joined him on the road. But I have never been to a desert... the only deserts that I have heard of in Helias are rumored to be in the Forsaken Lands..."

From the sound of his question she inferred that he had never been to a desert either. Perhaps she had been too hasty in her decision and deal making to get as far away from the Inquisition as possible and as quickly as possible. She decided to be optimistic. He survived in a hostile jungle after all.

"We will figure it out together, nnn?"

Gonyaul smiled in response to optimism. He rested his head gently atop hers.

“Yes will. Good team. … I am excited to see new place and do new things. When arrive we won’t have much, will need figure out how to fit in and earn keep. I imagine no let me build house wherever want with surroundings.” He was jesting. But it was a concern. They were trading most of what they had to get there. Being in a city meant earning an income in order to live from his past experiences.

"We still have time. Let's be sure to ask the Atsigani more about these things. When we reach this crossroad..." she tried to remember the name. "Desmen. We might get more information to help us resolve the decision. We already made a deal with the horses, but maybe it can be altered for assistance if we find that our road should go an alternate direction."

She was reassuring both herself and Gonyaul that the future was still pliable.

Voah laid back down and pulled him along into a relaxing embrace.

"I think... as children... we would have been the best of friends, my Zovyan... if things had been different... I mean."

She wrapped his arm around her waist. Side by side they would find a way to solve all of life's problems.

"I'm so glad we found each other."