Here There Be Wyverns

Posted on 12 Apr 2023 @ 4:57pm by Warrior Kylandro (Kyle) de Arzo & Rogue Nazri Arisant

1,674 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Once Upon a Codex
Location: Rivain, Dairsmuid
Timeline: Ten Years Ago

The human and qunari left the seer's home and were headed toward Kyle's place when Nazri took hold of his friend's elbow. 'I'd love to rush back to your place. You owe me my next lesson you know, but do we need to pick up some supplies first? What exactly do we need to go after these things?"

Kyle paused and considered Nazri's question. "Right. Perhaps we should head over to the market first, especially if you need more arrows or other equipment. The most dangerous thing about Wyverns is their venom. A while back I spent an afternoon observing two adult specimens. I was hunting for herbs in a female wyvern's territory, being careful to stay downwind and avoid her. Along comes a male, and I hid. Truthfully, I'm not sure if they were fighting or mating, but when the male buggered off, and the female went to sleep in the sun, I gathered up a bunch of fresh venom and sold it for good coin." Kyle grinned at Nazri. "We can pick up a supply of vials in the market. And while we're there I can stock up on oil for," Kyle unsubtly palmed Nazri's backside, "your next lesson."

Nazri grinned hugely at Kyle's comment." Scented ones I hope, applied slowly and liberally."

"Sounds like you have some experience with scented oils," said Kyle with a raised eyebrow. Perhaps Nazri was not so innocent as he'd presented himself. Which was all for the better, Kyle wouldn't need to hold back quite so much. And yet, he was enjoying their student and teacher game. "Your next lesson will start with show and tell, I think."

"I'm up for that," Nzari replied, without further comment. He was indeed as innocent as he portrayed, at least experientially. But he'd injured his leg a year or so before and scented oils had been used to treat it. The massage had evoked, a reaction from him, and his imagination had drawn conclusions.

"Are wyverns immune to their own poison, or immune to it? How deadly is it for humans, or my people?"

"It didn't look like either of those two wyverns I saw going at it were bothered by the venom of the other. I'm not sure how deadly it is to humans or qunari, but I suppose it might depend on how much venom a person is exposed to. We can buy venom antidote in the market, just in case. It's made from the venom, I know that much. I'd ask Loreta for antidote, but she doesn't deal in poisons."

His expression turned more serious. "We could get a different type of oil. Flammable. Or would burning them defeat the purpose?"

"Good idea. I'd imagine that killing the wyvern by burning it won't damage the heart or the venom sacks." Kyle gave Nazri another suggestive pat. "And if we purchase scented personal oil and flammable oil from the same vendor, we might get a discount."

"A discount might be nice," Nazri said with a sly grin, "all I ask though is we don't confuse the two."

"Not to worry." Kyle returned Nazri's grin. "We'll store the flammable oil with our weapons, and the scented oil on the bedside table."

The pair were just entering the market when the qunari continued, "How long will it take us to get there?"

Kyle paused to consider, his demeanor more serious. "About an hour to reach the wetlands. Then we had better scout the area thoroughly and identify the wyvern we plan to kill. Make sure there aren't any surprises, like another wyvern lurking nearby." He looked up at the sky to judge the time. They'd had a leisurely morning, and with a trip to the market to collect supplies, and another 'lesson'… "We can set out this afternoon, camp overnight, and start scouting in the morning."

The grin returned to Kyle's face as he led Nazri to a stall with a variety of scented oils on offer. "Do you have a particular favorite?"

"I don't," he replied shyly, "I've never really done this before. I just don't want anything, to feminine or fruity. Other than that it's up to you. Any suggestions?"

"Hmm, I recommend you smell different bottles until you find one that appeals to you." Kyle picked up a bottle himself, read the label, opened the lid, and inhaled deeply. "This one is a mix of ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon. You'd smell like a gingerbread man." Leaning closer to Nazri with a glint in his eyes, he whispered, "Guess which part I'd want to eat first."

Nazri chuckled, "I can imagine two places, I guess you'll just have to surprise me." He wasn't sure if he wanted to smell like a gingerbread man or not, so he picked up another bottle. It had a more earthy, musky odor to it and he quickly set it back down. He sniffed two others; one was a mix of tropical fruits and coconut, and the other that smelled like cinnamon and honey.

He held up the fruit-infused one to his companion. "This one, or the one you picked up. You choose."

Setting down the bottle that smelled like gingerbread, Kyle leaned over and sniffed the bottle Nazri held. "I like this fruity one." Then raising his voice to catch the proprietor's attention he said, "How much for this one, and three bottles of lamp oil?"

The question initiated a friendly and rapid back-and-forth of haggling. A few minutes later coin exchanged hands, and Kyle held three large bottles and a smaller, decorative bottle that he packed carefully into his bag. "What else do you want from the market, Nazri?"

"A new string for my bow," the other commented, "and some arrows with different fletching on them. Not too romantic, I know, but I intend for both of us to come back in one piece."

"Oh, and maybe a bottle of nice wine to celebrate all kinds of things."

"I like the way you think." Kyle took Nazri's hand and led him toward a stall that sold ranged weapons. "I don't know much about bow strings and arrows beyond trying not to get shot, but this vendor has a good reputation. If you don't like her wares, there's another Bowyer on the other side of the market."

Unlike his lover, Nazri knew all about bows and arrows, they were, after all, his weapon of choice and he was quite good with them. The vendor was an attractive, youngish woman with ebony skin and hair short enough that it could have belonged on a man, but her buxom figure did away with any notion of masculinity.

"Can, I help you?" she asked with an accent that was difficult to pin down.

Nazri went on to discuss what he was looking for and after a brief search and a negotiation that lasted a good ten minutes, they arrived at a price.

"Well," he said as they were walking away, "How about that wine?"

"Hmm, there's more than one wine vendor in the market," Kyle considered their options, then led Nazri around a corner and between stalls, stopping at one to buy fresh bread, and another to purchase cheese. They came upon a stall at the edge of the market, less organized than most, where the middle-aged proprietor, Antivan by his accent, was in the midst of making a sale to a woman in a gown and wearing an Orlesian mask.

When their transaction was complete and the vintner promised to deliver the bargained-for case of wine, Kyle said, "Miguel, I'd like you to meet my dear friend Nazri." The emphasis Kyle put on the word friend implied something more. "We're looking for a wine suitable for a celebration. A private celebration."

"And you're expecting a discounted price," Miguel rolled his eyes. "A pleasure to meet you, Nazri. What are you celebrating?"

Nazri's eyes cut between his friend Kyle and the wine seller, "The consummation of a successful hunt," he said with a coy smile.

Kyle found himself unable to do anything but nod and grin.

"Oh-ho! I see. A wine for young lovers." Miguel winked at Kyle and turned to pull two bottles from the crate behind him. "I've just the thing. A red Nouveau! Light, fresh, and fruity."

As Kyle paid Miguel, the Antivan proprietor leaned in and stage-whispered, "This one looks like a keeper, my young friend."

"I think so too." Kyle carefully packed the wine bottles with the bottles of oil in his pack, then took Nazri's hand, and said, "Anything else you want from the market?"

"Oh, there is a whole list of things I want, but I'm afraid we might be arrested for doing them in the market. Besides, I think it's better that our only audience is each other."

"It feels good, by the way, holding hands with you. I'd never get away with this back home."

Of all the things Nazri has told him about his home, not being able to hold hands with someone he liked truly demonstrated its oppressive nature. "Well, here in Dairsmuid, few people will notice, and fewer still would be critical of such a sweet public display of affection."

Kyle looked up at the sky and judged the angle of the sun. "The day is half over. I propose we go back to my place and prepare for our hunting trip. Loreta didn't say she needed the wyvern heart urgently." He pulled Nazri a little closer and lowered his voice. "If you like, we could set off in the morning, and get an early start."

Nazri looked over at Kyle, a coy grin on his face. "I think getting an early start sounds like the easiest decision in the history of decisions. Of course, I don't know how much sleep we'll be getting."

Regarding Nazri with half-lidded dark eyes, Kyle turned toward home, pulling Nazri by his still-clutched hand. "All the more reason for us to get to bed early."

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