Ilma'rokko (Starlight Stallions Stables)

[Peach]

The only wooden building in the city sat at the edge of a small, grassy area, separating it from the white marble and stained glass. It was a high-quality wood, firm and varnished with no signs of decay. This was the type of store that was fit for a holy city. Large windows, empty of glass with their shutters flung open, were cut into every side of the shop. The lively smell of horses and the sweeter smell of hay lingered together in the air, combined with the sharp odor of leather. Two small stone circles stood on either side of the large door, their contents overflowing in a tangle of flowers and greenery. They were obviously not cared for often, their overgrown look giving them a wild and carefree feel.

The soft whinnies of horses could be heard nearer to the openings, combined with the soft and pleasant humming of a female voice. Inside were two long rows of stalls, each occupied by a equine creature in varying sizes and colors. They all seemed happy and well-fed, the sign of a stable that took care of its occupants. A door in the back led to a large, round manger that housed a few more animals getting their daily exercise. The overall aura of the store was pleasant and happy, a friendly place for any customer to shop. During a clear day, sunlight streamed through the large windows, illuminating dust particles in the air, the wind causing them to dance like small orbs of light. The atmosphere seemed almost magic, as if the very. ground of the stable had been blessed by a druid.

The gentle tune was coming from a Moriquendi girl, average in height with the slender build of the elves. She had an almost whimsical appearance to her, as if she were only partially real, consisting somewhat of a dreamy matter beyond the comprehension of a mortal. She was clothed as a worker, with a wrap-around skirt of a bright orange color and a deep blue tunic embroidered with silver. A scarf of the same material as her skirt was tied back over her marble-white hair, a short portion falling out from the back of it. Her facial features were delicate, a petite nose and mouth giving her a feminine physique. Eyes of an almost-florescent bright sky blue were framed by long alabaster eye lashes. A bucket containing equipment hung from her slender fingers, its contents making a light metallic clanking sound.

A rather tired-looking human was shoveling manure in the shadows near the back of the store, a hand reaching up every once in a while to brush mousy-brown hair out of his equally brown eyes. His clothing was a faded red shirt and leathern trousers, his feet shod with heavy leather boots. They were the clothes that only a slave would wear. His eyes stayed cast downwards whenever a customer entered, no cry of plea escaping his thin lips. He had a feeling of servitude surrounding him, the work without pay taking a toll on his attitude. The movements of his muscular arms were slow and deliberate, not in any sort of hurry. Every so often, the dark elf's intense gaze turned upon him, their usually mystical glance turning into a hard expression that conveyed the need for speedier work. The only sound that the human made was deep in his throat, alerting the Moriquendi girl of an arrival. Overall, he was barely noticeable, the kind of average and bland person that could almost disappear. The elf looked up from her work, blinking once in acknowledgement. "Vedui. May I ask what you are in need of?"

[Tiyribi Andares]

Timestamp: Dianara, Fifth Cycle of Ioannes, Summer.
Era X of the Age of the Darkening, Mageocracy of Julos the Mad.
Paradigm: Truce between Demios and the Merfolk.

The Starlight Stallion Stables had to be one of the most interesting buildings in the entire city of Ethgan'tor. Not even the glory of the Tiri'yaana could compare with the oddity of the wooden-encased stables sitting so contentedly in a stretch of emerald grass. A gentle smile crossed Tiyribi's pale features as she regarded the business carefully, thin arms crossed against an even thinner chest. She hadn't been around a horse in patterns, at least since she had left Midpoint. Even there, though, the horses were kept from the enlistees and were reserved for the dedicated cavalry units. A deep sigh left the young Pale Elf as she listened intently to the sound of the animals housed inside, smelling their earthy fragrance. More delicate Elves would have considered such a scent disgustingly revolting; to Tiyribi, however, it reminded her of pleasant memories and a more idyllic time.

Her old love of the elegant animals wasn't the only reason Tiyribi found herself at the Ilma'rokko. Owning a horse was a practical convenience, as well. Travelling the Empire by horse rather than by foot would save brightenings, even cycles, depending on the distance. And, perhaps, Tiyribi would find herself a compassionate ear on the more lonely stretches of her wanderings, or at least a comfort that she wasn't alone. Another small smile reappeared on the Esh'lahier's face as she began to move forward, padding softly toward the front entrance of the stables. Instinctively her hand moved to pull out the leather pouch holding her coins, anxiously fingering the discs through the fabric. A horse would probably cost a good amount of her finances, but it'd probably be worthwhile in the end.

Approaching the building, Tiyribi's attention was caught by the woman's soft humming, turning the amethyst gaze to meet the azure one of the shopkeeper. Tiyribi smiled shyly, a bit abashed that she had interrupted the Elf's song. "I beg your pardon, but I came to see your horses." The Esh'lahier words sounded odd, even in Tiyribi's own ears, due to her ever-present rural accent. "I'm interested in purchasing one, preferrably a mare, for travelling as well as the occasional sprint. I confess my knowledge of horse breeds is a bit out of date," the Dark Elf confessed, "but I do not want a stout draft-horse sort of breed. I'd prefer one who could run and gallop easily and athletically, if this is possible. Of course, all of this depends upon price." Tiyribi's fingers twisted around her pouch once more, as if reluctant to give up her small store of gold coins.

[Peach]

A look of surprise clouded the Esh'laheir girl's eyes as a customer entered the building. It wasn't common for the elves to seek solace in animals, a mistake, when she looked at it. Creatures were accepting of one's faults, and quite useful when it came down to things. Almost like a slave, but less moody... After glancing to see if her own was still working his fingers to the bone, she stopped her singing and walked merrily over to the pale elven woman, bucket ringing with its contents every step of the way. Smiling dreamily, with the hint of her mind being elsewhere, the girl listened to what her first customer of the brightening had to say for herself. General comments, when one boiled them down. Or even looked at them directly. It's time that we stop stocking those work horses... No one seemed to want to buy the stocky mares. Always riding off into battles, or going on great adventures, they were. Maybe something that she'd try out herself, if the mood struck her.

A spark of greed temporarily shone in her shockingly blue eyes as the Esh'laheir inspected her sister's money pouch. Graceful horses did, indeed, bring in the gold. "We have many choices that fit your description." Immediately, Tiyribi could recognize some of her own accent in the child's voice. Her smile faltered for a moment as she studied the petite woman in front of her... Why ever would this one need to sprint? The heat of battle was no place for one of her stature. But, again, it wasn't fitting to argue with the coin carrier. Motioning for Tiyribi to follow, the pale elf walked past the working man and into the pasture. "Palamino's are lovely, yet their coats do require maintenance. Perhaps a Buckskin? They're hardy, and fit your requirements." There were many horses, from all different back grounds and provinces, in stalls and grazing in the pastures. There, the Andares could find almost any four-legged beast of burden that she wished for.

"I know that this doesn't pertain much to business... but I recognized your accent. Are you of the Eli'tha?" A genuine smile lit up her face, hopeful in all aspects. "I'm Kitiera." Turning her gaze away, the young Esh'laheir swallowed heavily. Offending this woman wasn't high on her list of priorities. She seemed important, somehow. The attire, the way she carried herself. Would one of the rural people really act in this fashion? "Well, anyway, the price depends on the horse. They can range anywhere from two hundred to a thousand crowns... The supplies, including the saddle, will cost around a hundred fifty all together."

ooc: Yay, the shop is used! Feel free to describe the horse that you want.

[Tiyribi Andares]

Mmm yes, indeed. It had been much too long of a time since Tiyribi had been near horses or smelled their musty fragrance throughout the air. Some might have thought the scent repulsive, but to Tiyribi, it was the smell of a home she had once so loved. It reminded her of good, green earth during the primavera and the bright dance of sunbeams along the trees at the very first sight of the suns each morning. It brought back images of a more idyllic time, when tragedies were refrained to a lack of a meal and disappointment came only when flowers withered and died. There was something about the basic tenets of nature that reminded one of the importance of simplicity in life, a thought that was awful lost in the bustle of the main cities of the Empire. It amused Tiyribi to no end that such a stable could be found among the cold white marble of the metropolis of Ethgan'tor. It seemed so out of place, as if it had been transported from the outside in without a thought about its blending with its surroundings. Perhaps, though, Tiyribi wasn't the only Esh'lahier who harbored such a love for the natural. Dark Elves they might be, but their natural regard for Carmelya and her creation had never left their hearts.

Tiyribi turned curiously as the woman asked of her accent, her eyes narrowing out of a mixture of confusion and self-consciousness. She had recognized and known well the source of Tiyribi's natural slur to their native words. It wasn't that surprising; most self-respecting Esh'lahier were well-acquainted with the fanatical sect of the Eli'tha, but few had directly confronted Tiyribi about her origins. Still, Kitiera's tone was anything but accusatory. She seemed to understand, or at least feign interest in, knowing more about Tiyribi's roots. And, if the young Lady Andares wasn't mistaken, Kitiera's own speech resembled a bit of Tiyribi's own. A faint smile traced its way across the pale lips as Tiyribi regarded the female Elf carefully, her head tilted curiously to the side as her mind attempted to divine what Kitiera's true motives were. Perhaps Kitiera was from an Eli'tha background as well? Tiyribi knew many of her people often travelled to the secular world of Ethgan'tor to trade their agricultural goods for the luxuries unavailable to them within the Sherian. Many became enamored with the public life and shunned their religious order to dwell with the mainstream Esh'lahier. It wouldn't be surprising if Kitiera fell into the latter category. In a way, it was even encouraging.

"Yes, I...I am," the Pale Elf answered Kitiera's previous question, her voice stammering uneasily over the admission. The tense of her verb was incorrect, but Tiyribi truly did not wish to explain her life story at this moment. "It has been a long time since I have met anyone from Jon'qui. Is your family of the Eli'tha as well?" Polite conversation never hurt, even if it was about a rather delicate subject.

The Esh'lahier's attention slowly turned from Kitiera to Kitiera's stock, amethyst gaze skitting over the animals with alert curiosity. Tiyribi had lived among horses during her early life, but it had been eras since she had rode one. Breeds hadn't been important at home; horses were kept for their ability to perform farmwork well, not their aesthetics. Tiyribi had always hated that tradition. Horses were such beautiful creatures; it was a shame to breed them to produce barrel-chested lumps only fit for pulling a plow through a field. The Elf, now that she had made up her mind to invest in an animal of her own, wanted one to be proud of, one who could ride easily and freely wherever Tiyribi wished. Her eyes settled on a particular horse stalled in the corner of the buildings, its white coat gleaming within its dull surroundings. Its back was flecked with grey hairs between the colorless, stretching out to a matching mane and tail. Tiyribi couldn't see the head of the animal, but she imagined such a creature to be regal and proud, precisely what a horse ought to be. The slender legs gave away its race as an Elven Windstepper, matching the overall litheness and delicateness of its entire body.

"There," the Esh'laheir pointed, her own pale hand extending toward the matchingly pale horse. "Is that horse for sale?"

[Peach]

"They are, ma'am." A look of sheer delight in meeting a possible relative, or at least one who knew about the culture of the Eli'tha, was apparent on her child-like face. Tiyribi didn't look anything like one from Jon'qui... That fact made her all the more interesting. Her amethyst eyes would have caused her to be looked down upon by many passer-by's, even more in her hometown than the city of Ethgan'tor. There, the Esh'laheir had become more tolerant towards abnormalities, even come to embrace them in more artistic professions. Still, the Andares would be seen as different, whether in a positive or negative way. Around other dark elves, it wouldn't be surprising if she had the feeling of never quite fitting in. Kitiera had never faced the interchangeable pleasure and pain to the extreme that Tiyribi had most likely felt... Even if some did look down on her for having a rural heritage. That was something that, as the noble probably knew, could easily be hidden.

"Sent a few here from Jon'qui to start this establishment. I'm the only one left though." The girl frowned, glancing about the almost-empty stable. "Rest of them couldn't handle the city." Sighing deeply, she looked at the dark elven woman out of the corner of her eye. Would the lady understand, and not dismiss her as a foolish adolescent for straying so far away from her comfortably simplistic home? Well, apparently Tiyribi had, as well. Too bad elves could get so hypocritical at times... "I still work here, though, and help out the other Esh'laheir." Kitiera stopped baring her soul for a moment, long enough to let her customer pick out the horse that she wished to purchase. She'd always loved this part of the sale. The animal that a patron of the stables chose often spoke many unsaid things about their personalities. Details that would never be given away on a regular basis. Like many girls her age, Kitiera oftentimes wished for knowledge that was not hers to own.

The white horse said a few obvious things about Tiyribi... She obviously valued her people, who were similar in color, and was not afraid to flaunt this fact. Perhaps she loved beauty, as well, not just a creature that could do her work for her. Self-sufficient, then, maybe. Continuing with her silent analysis, the young pale elf whistled shrilly, causing the desired horse to neigh and trot over. To those unfamiliar with the training of horses, such a display would seem almost magical. The head of the horse, as Tiyribi had guessed, did not have any flaws that one could see. A small silver diamond decorated its forehead, and soulful brown eyes looked about in almost a sentient way. "It's for sale, yes, but more expensive than the horses of darker coloration." Scratching the beast between the ears, Kitiera bit her lower lip and closed her eyes in thought. Although she wouldn't usually have any major qualms about it, the Esh'laheir didn't feel quite comfortable with depriving Tiyribi of any grandiose sum of crowns. "How about... The horse and the tack for seven hundred crowns."

The shop keep grimaced inwardly, unable to make such a sale without a few self-reprimands. Yet, if a deal bought time, Kitiera could talk to this new-found connection for a few minutes longer. "Any specifications on the type of saddle that you want? Or do you prefer to ride with just a woolen blanket?"

[Tiyribi Andares]

Quiet amethyst eyes regarded the younger Pale Elf carefully, Tiyribi's cautious mind regarding Kitiera ever so slowly. It was strange; in all Tiyribi's brightenings in the Holy City, she hadn't met a single soul originating from the lands of the Eli'tha in all her wanderings. Now, when Tiyribi had entered the Ilma'rokko for the simple transaction of purchasing a horse, the young Lady Andares met with another female of similar backgrounds. A soft, demure smile crossed her colorless features as Tiyribi listened attentively to Kitiera's explanation to her presence, recounting with some mixture of either regret or aversion; Tiyribi couldn't tell which. In a way, Tiyribi felt much the same. A part of her longed for the idyllic surroundings of the village of Joi'qui and the simplistic, easy-going ways of her people. It seemed so less complicated and less worrisome when she remembered back. But eventually her mind turned to the more unpleasant memories of the strict discipline and the shameful outcasting for breaking what they viewed as their holy laws. Yes indeed. Desire was tempered by revulsion.

Help out the other Esh'lahier...just what sort of assistance did Kitiera provide to her fellow Pale Elves? Tiyribi prayed the younger Elf wasn't one of the numerous fanatical evangelists the Eli'tha were notorious for sending to the city of Ethgan'tor in an attempt to convert their fellow brethren. Even as a child Tiyribi had thought such people positively annoying, what with their random arm-waving and yelling, demanding repentence to singular worship of Carmelya or damnation forever into the deepest pits of Aeternia. "Do you enjoy your work?" Tiyribi asked softly, hesitant to breach the rather uncomfortable question. She couldn't simply ask the girl straight-out whether she still held to the old ways of the People. The deep slurring accent Tiyribi carried might have been enough to identify her as a former Eli'tha, but the Elf had long-since fallen from the ways of her parents and embraced different, more 'heretical' religious orders. Tiryibi certainly didn't relish the thought of descending into an argument of theology with Kitiera, particularly when she only wished to purchase an animal.

"Does Ethgan'tor suit you, Kitiera? I know many of our...People...dislike the crowds and the secular ways of the others." It was non-committal, at best, but the slight hesitation in the middle of the phrase didn't exactly serve to aid Tiyribi's goal of discretion. Sighing quietly to herself, the young Lady Andares returned her gaze to the animal she had previously picked out of the pack, her bright, sharp eyes studying every line and curve quite carefully. Seven hundred crowns was a good deal of money to part with, but the horse was more than worth it, both for pure aesthetic pleasure and utilitarian pursuits. Ah, it'd be ever so nice to feel the movement of a beautiful beast underneath her frame once more. "Yes, that'd be quite agreeable with me. Seven hundred crowns it is." Her thin fingers reached carefully past the leather drawstring of her money pouch, intent upon pulling out the necessary crowns in exchange for her purchase. "I'd prefer an English-style saddle, if you've had one. I doubt I'm skilled enough in horsemanship to ride an animal with merely a blanket, although it seems a pity to labor this creature a'tall."

[Peach]

'Enjoyment' was a rather strong word to describe a job with. Kitiera didn't hate her work, no, but nor did she find delight in selling animals. It wasn't that she had a particular moral obligation against it... But the stables could get simply boring at times. With only herself, and a slave that was all but forbidden to talk, the Esh'laheir who was entering what was supposedly the most social time of her life, had no one to turn to. Only her imagination, where she made up wild stories with herself as the main character, or the equine creatures that she so carefully brought up. "Sometimes I wish that there could be more people to talk to... One could almost say that the horses communicate, in a way. But it just isn't the same." The Eli'tha frowned with though and mild disappointment, patting the horses' neck for reassurance. It was as if she was loathe to let the beast go... But that wasn't the case. The customer was the one that Kitiera hoped would stay. Once Tiyribi had her hands on her purchase, there would be nothing to keep her in the shop that smelled of fresh straw and living things.

"It was difficult to get used to, at first." The dark elven Lady would know this as a fact. Arriving to a large city such as Ethgan'tor directly from a more rural scene was quite an overwhelming experience... One that those born in the city could never feel. At first, the close proximity of people, and that certain thickened feeling in the air, had frayed Kitiera's nerves to no end. In that time, her work became her escape. Out in the pasture, she could at least imagine that she was alone, without thousands of citizens milling about her. Eventually, however, she began to take solace in crowds. The Esh'laheirian girl could become anonymous out in the streets, no one knowing her name or her profession. Her dark secrets, her dreams. All were safe inside such a large place. And yet, this was a mixed blessing. She didn't have anyone who truly knew her... Not even her very own family could claim that anymore. The city had changed the Eli'tha, placed her in its ancient mold.

And yet, there were still flaws in her act. She would always hold a piece of Joi'qui inside of her... No matter how deeply buried it was. "But now, I think that I like it. And their religion doesn't bother me all that much, if that's what you mean. My family taught me about the Temple before I came here, so I wouldn't be surprised." She smiled at the irony of that, since she had been quite shocked upon her arrival. In the classroom, it was hard to fathom a place that worshipped so many gods. Kitiera was not a Mystic, and didn't peer into any philosophical realms. Seeing was believing, for the adolescent dark elf. "Honestly, I'm confused about Aetheria now." With all those deities up there, how did they keep any semblance of order? Which one was she supposed to worship? Shrugging, Kitiera brushed off the slightly uncomfortable topic, and made her way to where thee saddles were kept.

"Do you mean this?" Standing on tiptoe to retrieve it, the girl unhooked a small saddle with no horn from the wall. The dun-colored leather was polished to a sheen, the only decoration that it possessed. Although simplistic, the item was finely made, and durable for most situations. "Its water repellent, so you will be able to ford rivers without worry." Holding the saddle out to Tiyribi, the petite entrepreneur took the offered money and led her customer to the creature. "I hope that everything is satisfactory to you, ma'am"

[Tiyribi Andares]

The smallest glint of pleasure brightened in the lavender depths of Tiyribi's eyes as she listened to Kitiera's words that sounded so much like her own once had, recalling within the elder Pale Elf feelings, thoughts, and memories she had forgotten existed in the memoirs of the experiences of her life. Communication had been prominent in her first family, albeit strained and a bit unnatural to account for the great wallops of respect demanded from the children toward the hierarchy. Still, Tiyribi had found her escape in her country romps or befriending a particularly minature creature, finding in them the companionship she so often lacked in her own people. It was more than likely, though, that Kitiera was referring to the gap between herself, as a true member of the Order of Eli'tha, and the secular world of the Esh'lahier within Ethgan'tor. Dropping her gaze almost disappointedly toward the floor, the realisation that she had never experienced such a discrepancy struck at Tiyribi's very marrow. Perhaps she hadn't been a true Eli'tha at all. Her accent did, of course, add a bit of self consciousness to her relations with those of her own kind, but she had never felt it awkward to accept the ways of the mainstream Esh'lahier. Perhaps her parents had been right to turn her away.

"Your horses are beautiful creatures," the Esh'lahier said softly, rubbing her long fingers against the bridge of the animal's nose and thoroughly relishing the tickly feeling across her skin. "They hold an intelligence that's almost like people, indeed. A swish of the tale, a look of their eyes, a stamp of their feet...it all speaks volumes about what's really being thought behind their pools of darkness, what they really see of Telath and what they think is right or wrong. There aren't many who understand anyone, let alone one of the Eli'tha amid a sea of secular, but I think in their heart of hearts the horses know and they understand." Offering a small smile as her hands slipped away from the horse's nuzzle, Tiyribi's gaze turned ashamed to the side, as if embarrassed at her bit of outpouring of emotion. Dark Elves they might have been, but such openness with a stranger about the private thoughts of one's mind was inappropriate no matter its source.

The religion of Ethgan'tor was, to put it lightyl, all-encompassing. Although Tiyribi didn't hold to the monotheistic ideas of the Eli'tha sect, she found Ethgan'tor's acceptance of souls from any deity's walk rather distasteful. The Aetherian Pantheon of Gods, let alone Planetars, was large indeed, but only certain Gods truly earned or deserved the respect of the mortals on the planes beneath. Why, exactly, Ethgan'tor felt it necessary to worship every deity who had ever been perceived, whether actually a part of history and the physical workings of Telath or simply a fictional thought and character was quite beyond the young Esh'lahier. Sighing inwardly, the Elf offered her pale palm to the curious nose of the animal before her, glancing sideways at Kitiera. "I can imagine. The change behind Joi'qui and Ethgan'tor is, to be blunt, traumatic. Still, the Tiri'yaana is a beauty to behold beyond any structure ever crafted by lesser hands. The hallowed recesses of Carmelya serve their purpose well, although it shames the righteous that the Mother Goddess is not given her due singular respect." The old terminology flew off Tiyribi's tongue as if she was reliving the religious services of her childhood.

Turning her head to take full view of the presented saddle, Tiyribi smiled broadly, half at herself in abashed bemusement. "Yes, indeed, that's precisely what I desired. It's quite up to my expectations; I'm quite pleased with it. Thank you for interpreting what I so poorly worded." Her hands folded and nuzzled the horse's cheek further, her mind already imagning what relaxation she could derive from such companionship.

[Peach]

Sometimes it seemed that those beasts of burden held more intelligence than a 'person' ever could. Their minds, obviously, of a different kind. Driven towards survival and service, the creatures had the capability to fulfill lives full of only their primordial desires... Humans, Elves, any sentient race, were over-complicated. Their mere understanding put them at an evolutionary advantage. With the ability to gain war, they also were able to wipe out themselves or whole other races. One could already see the Esh'laheir gradually fading away... Suppressed as they were, it wasn't a surprise. Would the pale-skinned be eventually driven out of society altogether? Or perhaps melted down into its all-encompassing fire? But, people were unlike horses in almost every way. Their form of wisdom gave them the capability to refuse orders, to keep dignity. Even if letting another ride on one's back helped to eradicate extinction, it wasn't likely that a two-legged being would comply. "It's best not to think of them as people. You'll only become depressed by the work that they do..."

A statement that would have turned the stomach of a Naturan light elf. In actuality, however, it was rather true. Giving a horse a name, treating it as a brother, only summoned bad feelings. If Kitiera recognized them as a race acceptable in society, she would feel more like a slave trader than a shop keep... Which was partially true. In her defense, however, she would bring up once again that four-legged animals did not think like people. In her beliefs, captivity did not bother them in the same way. The Eli'tha girl kept herself distant, raising the creatures well, yet not without a hint of chill in her nature. "I like to think that Carmelya is pleased enough by the support that the Eli'tha give her. It is not necessary to make all follow that path... For then our ways would become mainstream, our society obsolete." In any other city, it would be quite strange to hear such words coming from a child... Maybe it still was.

"That's my job, ma'am. There is no need to thank me."

[Tiyribi Andares]

A half-smile crossed Tiyribi's pale features as she regarded Kitiera's comments carefully, amethyst eyes dropping to study the stable floor in an effort to hide the mixture of slight confusion and curiosity dancing within their depths. Yes, it was odd to speak of such lofty thoughts in the midst of a stable, but where better place could one begin to fathom the mysteries hidden beneath the beautiful exteriors of the most magnificent creatures to ever grace Telath? The ancient stories had said the Ke'trala were the second-born of creation, but a part of Tiyribi's mind liked to imagine that horses, as well, were adopted as a chosen child by one of the Aetherians. They certainly had beauty and wisdom enough. Perhaps that was what Kitiera had meant. Horses were not on par with the mortals currently inhabiting the Material Plane; they were a different breed, of a different thread. They were connected to their world in different ways, viewed it with different thoughts. They occupied a different rung in the ladder of mortal hierarchy and, as such, did not belong within the circles of the other races. Such thoughts were frought with yet more questions left without answers. Tiyribi's pale fingers crept up to rub against her chosen horse's nuzzle, idly scratching at the skin. Only the creature itself could answer the mysteries of its creation, as it ought to have been.

"Ah, yes," the elder Pale Elf murmured at the mention of their shared cultural backround, her mind turning from the questions of the present to thoughts of the future, "I s'pose you are correct indeed. Is it not taught within our people that our separation is what grants us strength? And yet, it is hard to say that the rest of society ought to be deprived of truth." That is, if one truly believed the Eli'tha precepts were indeed truth. That question ever-haunted Tiyribi's mind, no matter how many times she attempted to shoo it away. It was bordering on blasphemy against all she had ever held dear within her childhood. And yet it was the truthful questioning of an honest soul. Where was the balance between natural curiosity and firm faith? "It is hard to say what would change if the ways of our people entered the society of the secular, even here in Ethgan'tor," she continued, her voice falling to barely over a whisper. "But then again, who can guess the future." Another smile, this one more demure and half-shadowed with a distant sadness than the bemusement of before, graced Tiyribi's pale features as she regarded Kitiera once more before burying her gaze within the face of her chosen animal.

A shake of the head sprayed small tendrils of pale hair against both Tiyribi's and the horse's cheeks in response to Kitiera's last comment. "Still thanks I would give you. You've cured my ignorance about many things, not only horses but life itself. It was indeed a great honor the Gods bestowed upon me to make your acquaintance. It has been long since I have been graced with the conversation of one of our people." The doubt ever-existing within Tiyribi's mind reminded her the lack had been more personal choice than circumstances, but Kitiera certainly didn't need to know that. "Are there any other formalities needing my attention?"

[Peach]

If Kitiera had known the noble's outlook on animal life, then she would have been more than a little bit confused. The Eli'tha girl, no matter how sweet and innocent her outward intentions seemed to be, was not so soft and light at heart. One could say that not understanding the creatures that she rode kept her genius riding skills from reaching absolute perfection... But, then again, who's opinion really was correct? Perhaps the beasts of burden had been blessed, and deserved better treatment than they received. It would not have been a hard thing to believe, what with their speed and grace, their willingness to become a companion to a race not their own.

Was it Phedos that did so, blessing the creatures with the agility that he had given his elves? Or was it Carmelya, the goddess of life, giving her touch of friendliness to the usually unbending animal kingdom? If Kitiera believed any of this, she likely would have supposed that the equine had a god of their own, long forgotten and buried in the sands of time.

And yet, she rarely philosophized abut the beings that had been put under her care. More than the average Esh'lahier, and surprisingly so when viewing her religious past, the girl's spirit followed a shadier way. She thought herself to be truly better than those earth-scented beings, the one in command as she streaked across grassy plains. In her mind, it only seemed natural that a horse would bend to every whim of her xenophobic will. Yes, she had accelerated her studies with those warped ideas, but she had also severely crippled many things to come in the future. Coupled with her feeling of superiority to the equines, Kitiera's racial pride had been blown to a disproportionate size. It was a good thing that she was no noble, had no hope of being involved in politics...

Surely, she would cause the downfall of some innocent and trustworthy town. So much hatred in a body so small, pent up anger disguised in more aesthetic packages, made her the pinnacle of one looking at life in entirely the wrong way. One only had to look at her human slave to see how well she thought of the light borns.

To Tiyribi, however, she was nothing but sweetness. A sugary mystique, nothing but whimsy showing in her sky blue eyes. "I suppose so..." A small smirk, edged with sharp words unspoken, twitched at the corners of her delicate lips. The one before her, likely, had been a prized child in the society of the Eli'tha... So unquestioning towards their rather simple way of life. It was no wonder that Kitiera's own family had eventually left, leaving her alone to tend to the stables. They had sensed something different inside of her, the taint that Tiyribi had yet to realize. A world in which everyone followed the ways of Joi'qui would be boring, indeed.

What of luxury, what of undeniable sin? The girl could never return to her people, not after seeing what the rest of Telath had been like... The agony and the lust that enraptured her with its dark charisma. "It isn't a problem, I enjoyed the conversation as well. You are free to take the beast as you please, and to return if you are ever in need of anything else." Some day, the Andares would be. A horse defiantly did not live as long as an Esh'lahien elf.