Memories and Horses
Log Info
- Title: Memories and Horses
- Place: H03: Malifre Stables
- Summary: In which Rune struggles with a painful memory, but is distracted from that by the prospect of a race and time with her beloved mount.
The Malifire Stables. A small castle-like structure that holds two long stable buildings on either end of it, the building itself shaped like an 'L'. The stables themselves are filled to the brim with box stalls, horses rare and common alike find a home in these hallowed halls. As if in welcome to the visitor presently there, the emblem of Serriel may be seen proudly blazed on the building and on the saddles near the equipment.
Without his armor, without his weapons, there stands Jacob Ben-Mezd, dressed in common clothes, adorned with bits and red and grey, with gold trim as befitting of the priesthood of the War Goddess. He has a horse, a beautiful white mustang, by the stirrups as he leads it out of the stable, taking a brush to the skin and hair, as if to clean the beast.
For the moment, he is alone. But he's happy to do his work.
For if a Phurai Dae is anything? They are, first and foremost: Horse Lords.
For a time, Jacob is on his own, surrounded by the sounds of the stable, the shifting of hooves and the occasional sound from the beasts still within their stalls. This quiet is only slightly interrupted as a soft, musical voice speaks in a language that he doesn't understand. Where the tones are familiar, the rhythm and flow of the words are entirely different from the common Tradespeak.
Rune, it appears, is having a conversation in Sildanyari with a bay stallion which she is leading out from the stalls. The beast is smaller than your average warhorse, but easily large enough for the smaller half-elf. She clicks in the back of her throat, the sound affectionate as she leads the beast out into the yard.
The foreign words continue as she stops to stroke the stallion's face, leaning in towards it with a sort of tender affection. Her smile is bright, warm, and without any of her usual reservations.
That is, until the horse whuffles and nudges her, causing her to look over in Jacob's direction. Some surprise shows in her features, followed by a raise of one hand in greeting. "Jacob!" She hadn't really talked to him much since their encounter outside the Temple of Eluna, where she'd had that... dramatic reaction to his touch. "Hey." She offers, almost shyly, perhaps feeling a bit bad for all of that.
No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. Jacob bonds with the steed before him, feeding it a sugar cube out of his offhand with a smile growing on his features. "One day, my friend, I would like to take you to the Vast...where the chaos and the plains will be traversed, until pehraps we reunite with my tribe. I think you'd like them, once you get past their ability to be rowdy."
Jacob smiles, though strangely, he turns his eyes towards the most beautiful sound he's ever had the pleasure of hearing: It's in a tongue he doesn't understand, but the musical voice is wonderful. It's soothing to the spirit. Calming...even his horse is starting to breathe a little slower, as if attuning to the deeper meaning behind the words.
Yet even still, Jacob turns his attention to the woman leading her horse, a smile towards her that was warm and sweet when she greeted him with the same. "Rune!" He remarks, standing from where he had sat and he approaches her, a kindness in his eyes.
"How are you? Did you meet with Telamon?"
Even if she seemed shy, Jacob had long since buried such a thing. Though he looks her over, as if to try and see if any additional harm had been done, looking for bags under her eyes...a deep concern still present.
..yet, she shined like the sun.
Another whuffle sounds from the stallion, who nudges against Rune's shoulder and starts to mouth at part of her hood. "Shh." Again, that tenderness is obvious, a deep bond of animal and rider. Taking hold of the bridle, she starts to walk in Jacob's direction, the horse trailing after in a relaxed fashion.
"I did, actually. Both Telamon and Cor'lana." Rune answers. "He's recovering well and is back home." There are still dark circles beneath her eyes, but it does seem that some measure of that weight has been lifted from her shoulders. She seems to hesitate, though. It's as if she were thinking how to frame something, her brows forming together slightly before she adds, "It's... not all good news, though. Apparently, the Werewolf who took Telamon put some sort of curse on him. One that prevents he and his wife from being close to one another."
Her hands clasp around one of the bridle straps, lips pressed together. "They seem to be doing alright, but... I can't imagine what it must be like for them. To not be able to be close to one another, especially after everything that happened."
Thankfully for Rune, Jacob does not notice her horse playfully nudging Rune towards Jacob, encouraging her to speak with him.
"Oh good." Jacob seemed relieved that both Cor'lana and Telamon were alright, though he noticed the dark shadows under her eyes that imply a lack of sleep and stress, but it seems to be doing better just by her general demeanor in this moment. He frowns softly as she speaks of the curse.
"Oh no..."
His hand rests over his heart. "Serriel protect them. No curse has been able to keep those two apart to this point...I have no doubt that we can figure out a solution to their plight - even if it means meeting the beasts on the field of battle once more."
He shakes his head. "The thought is heartwrenching. But thankfully, unlike many others, Cor'lana and Telamon have us." Jacob smiles softly to her, his hand moving to rest on the mane of her horse.
"..I...wanted to apologize to you. I didn't mean to touch you in a way that would cause your ire." Jacob lowers his gaze to the ground.
"The one who placed the curse is dead." Rune explains, giving a slight shake of her head that sends a few strands of blue-tipped hair across her forehead. "Apparently, this was his last blow against the two of them." Only those sparce few moments ago, the half-sil had seemed lighter in mood, as if being alone with her horse had lifted a little of that, but in talking about it again, that worry shows in the set of her brow.
"The Werewolf, Zalgiman, he loved her... Cor'lana, that is." Rune's nose scrunches at this, "Though, I wonder just what sort of love drives a person to those sort of cruel acts." Her hands shift, drawing down to the reins. "Since he couldn't have her the way he wanted, the Werewolf chose to make it so they couldn't be together physically at all." She makes a 'tssh' sound, shaking her head again, "It's petty bullshit if you ask me."
There is some anger there in Rune's voice, obviously protective of those she considers friends. "That's not real love, if you ask me. It's possession. No one /owns/ another person's affections." Her lips press together, looking out over the stable yard.
As Jacob moves, laying a hand to her horse, the large bay gives another whuffle that draws Rune's attention back. She murmurs something else in her native tongue, which has the beast mouthing slightly. His change of topic has Rune tilting her head. Then, she just seems to quiet for a time. It's probably an uncomfortably long time, too.
Eventually, she answers, "You didn't cause me 'ire', Jacob. It's just..." These words are soft-spoken. There is another long pause. With Jacob looking down, he may very well miss the quick widening of Rune's pupils and the sudden stiffness that follows. Then, there is a sound like a cough. Rune releases the reins and steps away, her breathing picking up.
GAME: Jacob rolls Heal: (9)+7: 16
"Dead?"
Jacob is aware of this werewolf it would appear. "I know that name...so it was a tact of revenge. Of jealousy." Jacob shakes his head. "You're right. There's no love in his actions. Love must be given freely, without restraint and without hesitation. It's too precious to be something so..light in another's mind. When it's twisted like that, I feel as though the Gods weep."
Jacob notices the anger in her eyes. It was hard /not/ to be angry, but Jacob manages to keep composure, only saddened by the news. "The only kind of love that drives that kind of monsterosity is the kind is the kind that has been perverted beyond all recognition that it's no longer love, but some poor decrepid version of it."
Yet, even still, she's attempting to say that he didn't cause her any problems, and as he turns to look at her, he notices those widening of her pupils and the sudden stiffness that's taken over her. Shortness of breath only confirms his quick suspicion. "Rune..." He doesn't command, he doesn't raise his voice. It's soothing, all, as he approaches her. "Breathe, Rune." If she lets him, he'll attempt to reach for her hands, as if hoping the warmth of them helps soothe her.
"I'm here for you, you're okay."
It's quite likely that Rune would have agreed with Jacob's sentiments, were she in the headspace to really process most of it. Instead, something most certainly seems to have taken hold. A bit of sweat breaks out, and prior to each breath, there is a rough cough. It almost sounds as if she were drowning on the air itself.
Jacob's words seem to play into the memory steeling her senses, though it was a different voice and different hands at the time. The two things seem to play over one another, past and present.
Then, the horse steps forward with a clip-clop of hooves and lays his head over one of her shoulders, butting into face and whinnying. That sensation, that sound, that action, it's different enough to give her a reprieve, allowing Rune to realize that what she's seeing and feeling isn't real. It's just her mind replaying things.
She coughs again, but this time it is more intentional, pulling just one hand from Jacob's grasp to cover her mouth in the process. "I'm fine..." She rasps, shakes her head, then seems to take a couple of deep, intentional breaths. "I'm fine." The second time, she sounds more sure of herself.
As her breathing starts to settle, though with some effort, it's obvious that Rune is embarassed for the outburst. Just as before, it seems to be something she has little control over. "Sorry." The word is a whisper. "I can't talk about it..." Her eyes look away, ashamed. "Ask Hark if you have to. He can tell you what happened. I'm sure he remembers."
Something has taken hold...and there's a rough cough.
Was she choking on the air? Or her body was forgetting to breathe and forcing it to happen? There couldn't have been a blockage, unless she was coughing on an overproduction of saliva-
Stop thinking medical.
The horse's clip-clopping and Jacob's squeezing hands seem to have had some kind of positive effect in steeling her mind and bringing her back to herself, a paired effort to comfort her from a panic attack that she was experience seems to have helped refortify her. Thank the Gods.
One hand escapes Jacob's grasp while she covers her mouth with a more intentional cough.
"I believe you." Jacob says, though he seems to have forgotten he still has one of her hands. "Don't be." He whispers back to her. If she allows, he'll try and turn her face back towards him with a free hand, a light, guiding touch, one that's brief. "It's okay. I can talk to Hark if it's necessary, but it does my heart no small joy to know that you're alive, you're well, and you're doing better today. Every step is part of the journey." Jacob smiles brilliant and warm to her as he starts to step back to give her space, in the case he was suffocating her by being too close.
The effect doesn't pass immediately, but it is clear Rune has been dealing with attacks like this for some time. From what little she has said, it's been over a year since the horrific events in Am'shere in which she was killed, and only a matter of weeks since her return to Alexandros. Perhaps some of the shame and struggle is part of the reason she had isolated herself for so long.
She doesn't resist the pull of his hand which draws her eyes up to look at his mismatched ones. "I hate it." Rune whispers. "I'm never free of that day..." Others had reassured her that time would eventually ease matters, but soemtimes the past seems far too close to the surface. "I'm sorry, again. That's twice recently..."
At that, the horse whinnies and bobs his head before pressing a nose right into Rune's cheek. That happens just about the same time that Jacob steps back, and it leaves her making a surprised sound, reaching to grasp the horse's nose. She murmurs another string of her native tongue, and then strokes the horse's face.
This seems to have her think, as if trying to find a way to deal with the situtaion. "Would you... like to go for a ride, Jacob? I've always found it helps clear my head." He did have his own mount out for tending to...
It doesn't pass immediately, no.
But every effort counts. She doesn't resist the pull of his hand when he draws her eyes to him, the touch on her chin gentle and calm yet when he meets her eyes, his cheeks seem to ever so slightly flush. She was beautiful, absolutely so, and even still, he nods ever so softly to her. "I know you do." His voice is barely above a whisper. It's intimate yet, but also intending to speak to the very heart of her.
The horse presses it's nose against her cheek, though as she does so, Jacob starts to laugh. When she apologizes, Jacob shakes his head. "Banish the thought. No more apologies, alright? You have nothing to be sorry for." He smiles softly to her, squeezing her hand softly as he chuckles.
"I would be delighted. Perhaps a race, if you're in the mood?" Jacob turns his attention to her with a big smile on his face, friendly and warm.
In that brief moment, there was a hint of color that formed on her freckled cheeks, but it seems that her horse has other ideas about how to better distract her from those darker places. The beast blows a bit of warm breath towards Jacob, as the stallion were smelling him and finding him unfamiliar.
Rune doesn't confirm that she won't ever appologize again for the fragile part of her mental state, but she seems glad enough to put it aside, at least for now.
"A race?" She asks, some of the shadows lifted from her features. "You really think that I would stand a chance against someone who has grown up in The Vast? I mean... aren't your people pretty much born on horseback?" She may be tesaing there, just a little.
Reaching for the saddle, Rune pulls herself up onto her mount, settling herself in place with some familiarity, but she doesn't quite have the seating of a trained rider. "We can try, but... I've only really ridden Tinwe for travel. So don't laugh too much at how bad of a rider I am." The horse gives another whuffle, tossing his mane.
Seems Jacob and the Horse will need to have themselves a little debate on how to best raise Rune's spirits!
Though it appears as though they both agree the steed has a better idea than Jacob does. All the same, He approaches his horse, taking the saddle he had placed on the side of one of the stable boxes and he takes the time to strap the saddle on properly to his steed, his hand gently brushing across the nose of the horse.
"There you go...you ready, my friend?" His horse snorts in his face, a chuckle coming from him. "Sass-mouthing again, are we?" He chuckles, brushing the mane of his horse as he mounts it, clicking his tongue to get the horse to move forward at a steady walk until he's close enough to Rune to communicate iwth her.
"I think you'd stand a better chance than you think. I wasn't the best rider in my tribe, you know." He smiles at her.
"Worse can scenario, you can ride with me if I laugh too hard." He winks playfully.
GAME: Rune rolls ride: (20)+4: 24 GAME: Jacob rolls Ride: (7)+1+4: 12
While Jacob prepares his mount, Rune takes a moment to adjust her position, murmuring more Sildanyari in hushed words to her horse, who seems to be listening with one twitching ear. Patting the beast's neck affectionately, she turns them both in a slow circle. There is still a slight tremble to her fingers, a leftover remnant of just how close she had been to a full blown panic attack. However, having something to /do/ seems to have largely focused her mind.
The cleric's playful wink is met with a look of challenge in return. "Alright, a bet then." There is that glimmer in her eyes that he had seen once in that tavern fight. "You win, I'll take a ride with you tandem." She lifts one brow. "I win, you owe me a home cooked dinner from your people." At least the stakes are not /too/ high, it seems.
Rune waits until he has joined her, "Once around the stable yard and back to here." She sets the terms. "Ready? Go!" Leaning forward, half-elf spurs her mount, giving a 'cha!' of encoruagement as she lowers herself against the horse's back, kicking them forward into a quick pace.
Amused, Jacob turns his eyes towards Rune when she makes that bet, the look of challenge in her eyes surprising him, but he's happy to return it in it's entirety. "Oh? I didn't figure you for a betting woman." Though that glimmer in his eyes finds that one in hers, the one he had seen in the tavern fight, the one where they kicked so much ass it was unbelievable.
"Deal." Jacob smiles at her happily and he pats his horse. "Come on, my friend, let's show her how fast you are."
And when she says 'go'? He BOLTS with her, keeping pace with her through most of the race, his face contorting into a look of pure joy that she might not have seen before. He /lived/ to be on horseback. He loves being on a horse. As they race each other, they're neck and neck for awhile, until her horse suddenly /wakes up/.
What the hell did she say to that horse?
Because it leaves Jacob and his horse in the /dust/. Completely. She might as well look over her shoulder she's so far ahead.
She might even wait a few seconds for him to pull up next to her. "What on earth did you feed that horse?" Jacob chuckles, shaking his head.
"Never...have I /ever/ lost so soundly. I do believe you gave me false hope!"
"Hah." The laugh easily to Rune's lips. "Little do you know, my friend." Apparently, there is a story there, but that seems to be one for another time. There is a race to run!
There is some subtle advantage, given that Rune is smaller and lighter than Jacob, but that only gives her so much. For that time that the two run neck and neck, she is leaned low over the neck of her horse. There is a quick glance to the side, her blue eyes appraising. Then, she calls soemthing out in Sildanyari, snapping the reins and Tinwe takes off, hooves kicking up dirt behind him.
In the end, she manages to round the stables first, surprising a few stablehands in the process who duck back to avoid both riders. It seems that impromptu races are not common around here. She pulls up her horse at the end, allowing him to walk out the rest, slowing to give the beast time to cool down. Tinwe huffs, but is getting quite enthusiastic praise in the her native tongue as she all but croons to him.
Jacob's comment draws another of those soft laughs. "I promised him his favorite treats." She admits, not looking at all ashamed at that little bit of equine bribery. "But, I wasn't lying, you know. I'm really /not/ that good of a rider." She smirks, patting the bay stallion. "I just happen to have a very good horse."
Little does he know indeed.
Yet, she gambles accurately, defeating him soundly in the race. There's plenty of advantages that she has over him: she's smaller and lighter, bearing less weight on the horse than the muscular, broad-shouldered man she races against. If he was wearing armor, he would be even slower. She's leaned in low, giving her more capability for acceleration, while Jacob seemed more relaxed.
Maybe he underestimated her?
Such excuses only lessen the bitter taste of Jacob's crushing defeat. She rounds the stable first as he follows behind her, throwing his head back in a laughter. "You....that's very clever, actually. I should do the same with Saul here." He pats his hand on the Horse's muscular neck, a shake of his head. "I think you two just managed to balance each other out. I didn't think you'd win, but..."
He lifts his shoulders in a shrug.
"A deal's a deal. I suppose I owe you some meal of my homeland. A date is owed." He winks at her.
BLATANTLY flirting.
"Seems you get a prize one way or the other." Rune replies, lifting one eyebrow towards him as she continues to remain perched upon her horse. "I'll look forward to it." The smile she offers in return is a bit more on the shy side.
"I'm going to go take Tinwe on a bit of a longer trail ride. He needs the exercise since we've been cooped up in the city these last few days." With a pat to the horse's neck. "I'll see you around, Jacob." She raises one hand in a parting gesture, and then nudges her mount again, heading out towards the road.
"Me too." Jacob shyly replies, his sun-kissed skin turning a slightly rosier shade as a blush flushes it's way across his face. "The bet did seem a little advantageous. Though I should count myself lucky for it. I'm happy I lost - I rarely get to share my culture with others /and/ spend time with a wonderful woman at the same time."
He smiles warmly at her, as she seems to announce she's taking her leave. "Then ride well, Rune. I'm excited to see you again. Maybe next time I'll have better luck on horseback." He smiles softly at her, and with a click of his tongue to the back of his throat, Saul starts to trot again in the opposite direction.
A stupid smile on Jacob's face remains.