Returning Favors (Kalinda)

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Month of Junctior in the Season of Autumn, Era XIV PF

Overlooking the swamplands from the west, the Prince of Har’oloth stood defiantly atop a small knoll, his silver hair flowing gently behind him in the autumn breeze. The cool crisp air was soothing against his charcoal skin, not because he was laden with heat, but rather because it reminded him of the first time that he’d laid eyes upon the surface world many, many eras ago. As the formidable swordsman stared into the horizon, tears no longer streaking his visage as a result of the glaring sunlight, he remembered the days of his youth, the days when House Kitrye’veresi were no more.

The scene replayed in his mind all too vividly, from the arrival of Vincent and his mercenary soldiers to the assassination of Matron Kal’adriel and her immediate family in the throne room. Faust and his father, Kymril, were the only nobility to survive that nightmarish day. However, it hadn’t been Kymril who’d accompanied the Prince of Har’oloth to the surface. No, it had been Sparrow, Faust’s longest friend and a loyal comrade in the present. During their plight from Vincent and his malicious cohorts, a woman named V’lara from House Chaos Dawn, an outcast mystic working as a lowly vendor on Har’oloth’s first plane, had come to their rescue in exchange for the promise that they would include her among the ranks of House Kitrye’veresi upon its resurrection. But that wasn’t the only thing that she’d requested of them.

The enchanted mithril dagger…

Below the Prince of Har’oloth’s vantage point sat the home of Vyarin and Moriath, two sisters living in the swamplands east of Vortex. The former, alleged by V’lara to be a druidess of minor power, claimed ownership of the dagger that Faust had been tasked to retrieve. Of course there was no way of knowing if the coveted weapon rightfully belonged to V’lara or not, but the Vysstichi Lord was more than prepared to do whatever necessary to return the weapon to the mystic in Har’oloth. Despite the imprudent promise that he’d made to her as a child, Faust D’Rinishad never went back on his word. She had saved his life, and she had saved Sparrow’s life. He was indebted to her.

His billowing cape swirled about him as he descended the small hill and towards the sisters’ residence. His crimson eyes, still flecked with the same vigilance known to him as a child, settled observantly upon the miniature home, wondering if his endeavor would proceed unchallenged. Faust sincerely hoped that a transaction could be processed without too much hassle. Surely the Gods knew that he possessed enough wealth to purchase a small province, but sometimes intrinsic items were unattached to price tags. And if this magical mithril dagger was as unique as V’lara claimed, then Faust supposed that it was going to be a very long brightening.

Still, in the end he recognized the value of following through on his promise. V’lara could have turned Faust in a long time ago, but the fact that she hadn’t indicated that her loyalty was neither to House Chaos Dawn nor any other power in Har’oloth; V’lara’s loyalty was to V’lara alone, and if she truly believed that being a member of House Kitrye’veresi would ennoble her status in society then so be it. Only a fool would contest another powerful mage entering the ranks of House Kitrye’veresi. With this thought in mind, the dark elf steeled his gaze and continued down the hill, determined to finish what he had begun many years ago.

[Kalinda]

This was a different part of Arium, one that most people avoided if they could help it. They moved to Vortex or Nexus if they could, maybe even to Evile or to Paxia now that the orcs had been taken care of, but only the poorest of the poor tried to eke out a living in this wilderness. Only the poor, those that had fled from the law and a few hunters and farmers, strange looking people with stranger behaviour, caused by the loneliness that one often suffered from out here, lived here. The people of Vortex, the supposedly civilized people looked down on them when they came into the city to sell their wares or buy a few sorely needed things.

The house was nestled between a couple of hills, on a small patch of dry grass. All around him Faust could hear frogs, and once a large insect with wings that shimmered in all the colors of the rainbow flew past him. The air was moist, and thick clouds of mist gathered near the ground. The sky was overcast. Old trees with intensely green leaves surrounded the house. It was a simple house, wooden, with a roof made of straw, a door and a couple of primitive windows that were covered with hides.

A couple of thin, malnourished looking chicken could be found in front of the house, eating seeds that somebody had thrown onto the ground. A girl was there too, a slim, blonde girl in a linen dress, carrying a basket full of laundry.

[Faust D'Rinishad]

With the city of Vortex at his backside, the Prince of Har’oloth trotted down the hill without a second’s delay. His wind-swept silver hair flowed languidly about his shoulders, wrapping around his face and occasionally swiping him in the eyes. The dark elf casually batted the locks aside, hopelessly tucking a few behind his elongated ears until the breeze shifted them out of place again. Peculiarly, the dark elf was accompanied by no one this brightening. His flanks were escorted by nothing but thin air, and his only companion was the sheathed long sword that bounced rhythmically against the outside of his right leg.

He was returning to a part of the past that few knew about. Faust D’Rinishad had not always been Faust D’Rinishad; no, he had once gone by Faust Kitrye’veresi, the youngest son of Kal’adriel Kitrye’veresi, Matron Mother of the First House of Har’oloth. He seldom used his real surname nowadays, having exchanged it long ago for his non-biological family’s last name. Yet strangely, they were closer to him than any blood relatives ever had been. They were his family. Still, despite his disconnectedness to House Kitrye’veresi these brightenings, Faust could not ignore his former obligations to those who’d helped him in the past, for those responsible for saving his life.

As the small cottage materialized into view, the dark elf vigilantly eyed the landscape, taking note of the scurrying chickens, the ramshackle building, and the handful of frogs camouflaged by the green grass. He remembered that the rumored owner of the home, Vyarin, was a druid of mentionable power. Could it be that some of these creatures were hers? The thought was not completely far-fetched, and Faust knew one or two druids who had accepted familiars that were far from practical companions. Keeping this in mind, the dark elf bit on the lower portion of his lip as he watched a golden-haired woman travel about outside.

“Serale!” Faust called out, thrusting a hand up high to rivet the woman’s attention. His crimson orbs instinctively darted to the windows then, scanning for silhouettes that might be peeking out at him. V’lara had told him that Vyarin had a half-sister, a woman whose features were predominantly human. Slowing in his stride as to not alarm the girl, the Vysstichi Prince smiled faintly in greeting.

[Kalinda]

The girl turned around as Faust called out to her. As she saw him, she dropped her laundry basket and all those clean and still wet clothes landed on the ground, in the mud. She would have to wash them again. A hand went to her mouth, and her eyes widened in shock. She stood there, frozen for a moment, and then she dashed into the house. “Sister! Sister!” she cried. “There is a vysstichi standing in front of the house! It’s not one of your Har’oloth people again, is it?”

Faust couldn’t hear what her sister answered. Both women were inside the house now. He could only guess what passed between them. The only thing that would be obvious to him was that the blonde had been in deep shock over his appearance. She had even left the door open. Only the chicken were unaffected. They were busy eating their seeds and making whatever sounds chicken made.

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Had he known that the blonde woman was going to react the way that she did, he would have introduced himself along with a bouquet of flowers, well, perhaps not, but at the very least with a more innocuous approach. Frowning as the woman disappeared into the house to warn her sister, the Prince of Har’oloth shook his head disappointedly. He hadn’t expected this. He was aware that the color of his skin did not generally bode advantageous for first impressions, but he hadn’t experienced such a reaction in many years now –especially not in Vortex.

Shrugging to himself, the dark elf drew the folds of his cloak tighter around his shoulders, instinctively clearing his hand of all distractions and weaving together a simple spell, Elemental Armor. Not knowing what to expect anymore, he cautiously approached the front door. “Moriath!” He called after her, remembering the half-sister’s name. Sighing gloomily, the dark elf paused at the threshold, one of his hands curling into a ball as he knocked against the doorway. “Please, I need to speak with you and Vyarin about a matter of grave importance…I mean neither of you any harm.”

Glancing inside the house, the Vysstichi’s darkness-pervading eyes scanned the shadows for any signs of the sisters, and his elongated ears attuned for the sounds of shuffling feet or shifting limbs. Distinctly remembering that Vyarin was the most dangerous of the pair as she was a druid, the dark elf prepared himself for just about anything. He’d originally wanted this endeavor to be a peaceful one, but he suspected that it might be anything other than that now.

[Kalinda]

The house was nothing special. The room behind the door seemed to serve as a combination of a kitchen and a dining room, with a wooden table, two chairs and an old hearth. In a large cauldron soup was boiling, and there were dried herbs hanging from the ceiling. A thin, black cat sat in the middle of the room and regarded Faust. It’s eyes were a deep yellow and full of intelligence. Druids could shapeshift. Had Vyarin turned into a cat so that she could spy on the intruder?

No, she hadn’t. The moment Faust looked inside the house, a woman stepped into the kitchen. She was darker than the other one, with black hair and red eyes that betrayed her vysstichi heritage. She was thinner than her sister, less beautiful, with a long nose and hands that were rough from the work in the house and in the garden.

„You scared my sister!“ she said accusingly. „What do you want here anyway? I severed my ties with Varelinen. I don’t want to have anything to do with her or her family anymore. Tell her that. I’m going to wash myself clean of her vysstichi blood.“

[Faust D'Rinishad]

The dark elf turned slowly to regard the druid, his hands lowering innocuously by his sides. Studying her with a short-lived glance, the Vysstichi Prince nodded slightly. “I assure you, milady, that I too want nothing to do with Varelinen or her consorts,” Faust clarified, his silver brows ascending curiously as the woman continued to rant about cleansing herself of her dark elven blood. At least one thing was clear: Vyarin was not fond of the Matron of the Third House of Har’oloth.

“And I apologize both for scaring your sister and coming unannounced. It was rude of me.” he continued, frowning sincerely as he held his hands up to demonstrate his harmlessness. “I understand the value of privacy, and I regret having intruded on yours, but you see, there is an important matter that I would like to discuss with you. Afterwards I promise that I’ll leave as quickly as I came…”

His eyes searched the woman’s own, hoping that at the very least she would give him the few minutes that he needed to discuss the matter of the dagger –and perhaps a little bit more. “But first, and I hope you don’t mind me asking, would you tell me the cause of the rift between you and Varelinen? I don’t mean to pry, but I too have my qualms with the Third Matron of Har’oloth and I was just interested since you mentioned it…” It was a rather subtle way of garnering information, that is, by giving a little to receive a little, but the Prince of the Undercity really had nothing to lose by a sharing a small bit with this strange woman.

[Kalinda]

„But you look just like one of them!“ Hips on her hands, the druidess glowered at him. “Just like one of Varelinen’s people. Unless you can prove that you are not in any way associated with her or that family of hers, I’ll believe just that, thank you very much.”

She stopped for a moment and took a look around. “Mori, where are you?” she called out to her sister. “Don’t hide like that. We aren’t cowards. I have everything under control. Varelinen’s slave won’t hurt you.”

But Vyarin’s sister didn’t come. That didn’t exactly improve the druidess’ mood.

“You should have thought about the impression that your intrusion would make beforehand”, Vyarin told him. “You have five minutes to explain yourself. And no, I won’t tell you exactly what has happened between the Matron and me. It’s none of your business. Let’s just say that she and I had a major disagreement and stopped being friends.”

She sat down in one of the chairs and offered the other one to Faust.

“I’d offer to make tea as well – to show you that unlike you I have good manners – but I don’t think five minutes are long enough for that.”

“So would you please just start telling me what it is that you want from us?”

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Vyarin’s caution, although irritating to be the recipient of, was warranted nevertheless. The Vysstichi Prince could personally testify to being overly prudent at times, but it was this prudence that had saved his life on numerous occasions. And considering the extent of Varelinen’s power, Vyarin was not unwise to stress excessive vigilance when dealing with the dark elves –especially one completely foreign to her.

“Your skepticism is understandable, milady,” the Prince of Har’oloth said, sighing apathetically and then retrieving a small medallion from his pocket. The necklace, bearing the emblem of House Kitrye’veresi’s crescent moon, sat inanimately in the center of his palm as he held it out to her. “I am the youngest son of Kal’adriel Kitrye’veresi, the former Matron of House Kitrye’veresi. My name is Faust,” Gifting the druidess some time to absorb the information, the dark elf paused and glanced over the woman’s shoulder for her sister.

Whether or not she appeared, Faust continued, “While I respect your right to privacy, I have nothing to hide myself. Your sister, V’lara, saved my life many patterns ago. In exchange for her help I agreed to award her an esteemed position among the ranks of House Kitrye’veresi, a position I’d more than willing to lend you as well if you’re tired of your…” He glanced pointedly to the surrounding swamplands. After a second thought, he decided to withhold what he was originally going to say. “…well, if you would like a change of scenery. You and your sister both…”

“But there is an item that I am looking for, an enchanted ardentium dagger that I would be more than willing to pay for or provide whatever else you might want for it…” Faust’s crimson orbs flickered upwards then, analyzing Vyarin’s features curiously. He suspected that she might prize the possession as much as V’lara did, but it was worth addressing from a more cordial angle as opposed to simply demanding it outright.

[Kalinda]

„So you are a Kitrye’veresi?“ the druidess asked. „Your people are only marginally better. I’ve heard a few stories about your aunt.“

She didn’t seem to be particularly impressed. She didn’t seem to have changed her mind either. Vyarin still looked as if she wanted nothing more than throw Faust out or turn him into a frog, a toad or some other kind of embarrassing creature.

„You know V’lara?“ She looked surprised. „Tell me about it. Why did she save your life? And why are you looking for that dagger?“

„What would you do if I said I didn’t have it anymore? Would you believe it?“

Meanwhile Mori peaked around the corner. The woman was too shy to face Faust, but she really wanted to know what was going on now.

The mention of V’lara and the dagger had caught her attention.

[Faust D'Rinishad]

“My aunt is dead,” the Prince duly remarked, shrugging apathetically as if Alaret’s demise meant nothing to him –and it didn’t. Although no one (aside those involved) had made the connection between Alaret’s assassination and her nephew, the Vysstichi Lord wouldn’t have denied any allegations had they come his way. As far as he was concerned, it was for the betterment of all of Har’oloth that Alaret Kitrye’veresi was no more.

The dark elf’s crimson eyes met the druidess’ as she asked her question, and a shadow of a smile appeared along the sides of his lips as he briefly considered his response. “Not long after my mother’s death, the surviving Kitrye’veresi were hunted down like dogs. Your sister provided me with a magical disguise that I might escape from my pursuers unnoticed. I owe her my life for that.”

Suddenly noting the glimmer of interest in Vyarin’s gaze, the Vysstichi Prince spared a glance to her sister and then turned back to the druid. “Your sister mentioned very little about the dagger, only that it was intrinsic to her. And I have good reason to believe that you do carry it, Lady Vyarin,” the dark elf casually said, matching the woman’s stare once more, “In the event that you did, I would be more than willing to reward you handsomely for it. If you parted with it, though, I would similarly be willing to provide compensation for information concerning its whereabouts. However, know that if your information proves misleading, my comrades and I are –very- aware of how to find you…” the dark elf shrugged, purposely withholding any hostility from his tone despite the prospective threat.

[Kalinda]

„I know that she’s dead.“ Vyarin didn’t really seem to be interested in hearing more about it. All that mattered to her were Chaos Dawn, her sister and that vysstichi that was standing in her house right now. “Her daughter is Matron now, isn’t she?” She shrugged. He didn’t have to answer if he didn’t want to. She was much more curious about his encounter with V’lara.

“So she saved your life ...” she murmurred. “I wonder why she did it. She wasn’t exactly a saint. What did she say to you? That you reminded her of one of her children? Did she think you would shower her with gold and jewels if you survived?”

“I might be able to remember where I put that cursed dagger”, the druidess decided. “Give me something of equal value. Apologize to my sister. I don’t particularly care about the esteemed position among the Kitrye’veresi that you mentioned – there are certain advantages to living out here – but my sister is tired of the swamp. She’d rather live like one of those noblewomen, wear silk gowns and get married to a fine young gentleman.”

“Isn’t that so, Mori?”

Her sister blushed furiously and ran away from the door. She didn’t want anybody to see her face right now.

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Vyarin’s skepticism was impossible to miss; for whatever reason she hated the dark elves, she made no attempt to mask her disdain. The Prince of Har’oloth had a difficult time biting his lip to refrain from pressing his curiosities upon her, but self-control enabled him to smile meekly as Vyarin continued to rain one insult after another upon her sister.

“Yes, Alaret’s daughter, Rilvin, is the Matron of House Kitrye’veresi now,” Faust politely answered, “And your sister made no mention of her children; in fact, only now am I aware that she had any. She requested one thing: a position in House Kitrye’veresi, a reward that she is more than deserving of considering her charitable actions of the past. But if she wants to be showered with nothing more than gold and wealth, that could be arranged as well. Those who help House Kitrye’veresi, you will discover, are handsomely rewarded.”

As Vyarin bade him to apologize to her sister, the dark elven prince glanced to the shadows where the timid woman lingered. “I truly am sorry. It would have been nice to have two more additions to the halls of House Crescent Moon, especially such lovely ladies as yourselves,” Faust smoothly said, nodding with finality as he reached into his pocket and procured an enormous bag of crowns, “This should more than enough to compensate you for the dagger, much more actually.”

Considering the druidess and her sister’s ramshackle house, Faust supposed that they would be able to purchase a small mansion with the sum he was gifting her. “Should you ever reconsider, milady, then my offer stands. Now, if you would be so kind, why is the dagger so important to your sister? What is so special about it?”

[Kalinda]

„She had a few, but I have no idea why she didn’t mention them. Maybe she didn’t feel a need to tell the story of her life to a stranger.” Vyarin shrugged. “It’s not V’lara that should be showered with wealth though. It’s poor Mori here. The girl is a hopeless case, and I can’t help but wonder what I did that the gods decided to burden me with such a sister. Don’t get me wrong. I love Mori, and she does have her moments, but I want her to be cared for.”

As Faust apologized the girl named Mori glanced around the corner and watched Faust as if he were a big, dangerous looking dog, and she wasn’t sure if he would bite her. “Really? A fine Lady? Me?” she asked. “Are you sure?”

Meanwhile Vyarin took the bag of crowns and looked into it. “How many crowns are in there?” she wanted to know. “I’m too lazy to count them right now. As to why the dagger is so important to my sister, it’s the material it’s made of. She’s told you of that, hasn’t she? And it’s enchanted in some way.”

She looked at her sister who was still standing in the doorway and watching Faust suspiciously.

“Now I could just cast a spell on you, turn you into an animal and keep both money and dagger, but I’m a nice woman. I really am, and don’t you dare to laugh at me. I think I’m beginning to remember where I put that dagger. Do you swear you are going to take my sister with you and find her a husband? She particularly likes elves.”

“I need to be able to conduct my experiments in peace. Mori will get half the money. I’ll use the other half.”

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Faust’s silver brows rose as Vyarin openly admitted her disdain for Mori -although he’d expected such from the bold druidess. Her contempt for her younger sister was more visible than the shadows at nightfall, but fortunately, this was something that might work in the Prince of Har’oloth’s favor. If Vyarin truly desired for Mori to be taken from her, then it was a service that the Vysstichi Lord could easily provide. “If you would like, I am certain that I could find a home for her, even in House Kitrye’veresi if she wished it.” Faust offered, shrugging apathetically. “Of course, if nobility is not her calling, I know a number of kindly families that would take her in…”

Glancing at Mori as she basked in Vyarin’s subtle compliment, Faust merely smiled. Vyarin’s younger sister was innocent, peculiarly so, and it was almost as if she’d been some locked up slave for the past several decades. Perhaps that possibility wasn’t so far-fetched considering the sisters’ isolated home in the swamplands.

“There’s five thousand crowns in there, milady.” the dark elf nonchalantly said, hardly concerned that the payment could have procured an entire home in Vortex. Although it was a hefty price to pay for a dagger that wouldn’t even belong to him, Faust understood the immeasurability of a good ally. Nodding as Vyarin explained that the dagger was enchanted (something that he’d known already), the Vysstichi Prince merely shrugged. In all honesty it hardly mattered to him why the weapon was so precious to V’lara.

"In that case I thank you for your mercy." Bowing humbly as Vyarin boasted of her benevolence in not transforming Faust into a toadstool or some other lowly creature, the Vysstichi Prince concealed a becoming grin from his lips. Vyarin could not begin to imagine who she was dealing with, but for the sake of the druidess’s pride, Faust did not debate her logic. He could have removed Vyarin’s tongue by the time she entered clara, but she didn’t need to know that. So long as she had the dagger, Faust had no qualms about her arrogance. “Elves…I’m not particularly fond of them, but I am sure that it can be arranged. But yes, I promise that she will be well taken care of.”

“And you will have your peace to conduct your experiments soon enough.”