Vocational Pursuits

Posted on 01 Feb 2023 @ 2:42pm by Rogue Nazri Arisant & Warrior Kylandro (Kyle) de Arzo

1,502 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Once Upon a Codex
Location: Rivain, Dairsmuid
Timeline: Ten Years Ago, after post 'A New Start'

Kyle locked the door to his apartment behind them. "Loreta, that is, Seer Madraso – don't call her by her first name until she invites you to – her rooms take up the rest of the second floor. There is a hidden door between, but it doesn't open. And, well, I tried it when I first moved in, and Loreta knew. I seriously thought she would kick me out, but she didn't." Kyle shook his head and led the way down the stairs and around the building to the front shop entrance.

It had rained overnight, and the earthy, fresh scent of petrichor overlaid the usual background stink of the city. The 'closed' sign that had been in the window when they'd gotten there the evening before was turned around to 'open.' Kyle gestured to the shop's door handle, indicating for Nazri to enter first. "Ready?"

Nazri wasn't really sure he was. He was a little intimidated by the whole thing, especially after Kyle's warning.

"I guess," he said, moving half a foot closer to his new friend, "Will she know about...us? Will that bother her?"

About us. Kyle liked the sound of that. "She probably knows," He squeezed Nazri's hand, then loosened his grip to let Nazri decide whether to continue holding hands and winked. "Won't bother her a bit… as long as we don't make a lot of noise at night and keep her awake."

Nazri wasn't sure what the significance of holding hands was, but he knew it had to mean something or Kyle wouldn't be doing it. Later he'd ask about it, for now, he just entwined his fingers with that of his friend. "I will endeavor to remember not to moan too loudly.

Kyle chuckled. "Then I shall endeavor to help you forget." He opened the door himself.

A bell on the door rang as it opened. The two teens were greeted by a myriad of herbal top notes, jumbled together so that it was difficult to identify individual plants. Underneath was the scent of oils, raw alcohol, vinegar used to draw out and concentrate medicinal properties into tinctures, creams, salves, and potions. The walls were lined with shelves containing these products, along with books and supplies customers might use to create their own medicines. To one side was a round table covered in a cloth embroidered with star constellation, and surrounded by five comfortable chairs.

A short, elderly human woman emerged from a door behind the counter. She wore a flowing green and purple tunic over baggy trousers and leaned on a mage's staff that doubled as a walking stick. Her single braid of waist-length white hair fell over her shoulder. "There you are, Kyle. I have a job for you." The way she spoke, without preamble or greeting, gave the impression she was expecting them. "Well, then. Show some manners and introduce me."

"Seer Madraso, this is my friend Nazri. He'll be staying with me for a while."

Nazri didn't quite know what to do in this situation, so he gave a low bow out of respect. "I am honored to meet you, ma'am."

"Heh. Damn right it's an honor." The old woman ambled past him to the table and paused at the chair with the most padding. With the end of her staff, she pointed first to a chair across from it, then at Nazri. "Sit here, friend Nazri. Kyle, be a good boy and make us a pot of tea."

She likes him! Kyle gave Nazri an encouraging smile, then hurried to the back to make tea.

Nazri was fairly sure that the woman being short with him, was just part of an act, especially from the smile Kyle was giving him, but he wasn't certain about that. He sat down as instructed but he was still a little apprehensive. He hoped it didn't show.

Loreta regarded Nazri with piercing brown eyes that held wisdom, curiosity, and no small amount of amusement. "Tell me about yourself, Nazri, Kylandro's young qunari friend. What brings you to Dairsmuid? What is it that you seek in life?"

Meanwhile, in the backroom, Kyle found that the full kettle was already heating, and Loreta's teapot was prepped with leaves. Of course, Loreta was expecting them. He set three cups on the tray along with a pot of honey and waited for the kettle to boil.

"My people as I am sure you are aware, are unified. No, that's not the right word. They are uniform. There is very little individuality. Everyone is supposed to fit into a specific role."

"That is not what I want. I want to be me. And I have certain talents. I can manipulate shadows, though I am not that good at it yet. My people want to lock me up for it. I rather object to that."

"Besides I have fond memories of Kyle and, uh," he blushed an interesting shade of ochre, "and now fonder memories still."

Loreta's gruff exterior slipped away completely. "You can manipulate shadows, hmm? Now, that is interesting. No wonder the Qun wants you." She leaned back in her chair, then turned her head and called out to Kyle, "You'll find cookies in the pantry."

Kyle had poured the tea and was just about to bring the tea tray through. He stopped at the pantry and added a paper bag from the bakery across the street to the tray. He soon set the tray on the table between Nazri and Loreta and sat next to Nazri without comment.

Loreta opened the bag and took a rough disk coated in confectioner's sugar from the bag, then handed the bag to Nazri, fixing him with her gaze. "Are you looking for work, a teacher, both, or something else?"

Nazri deliberately kept his eyes away from Kyle though he knew his efforts may have been fruitless in that regard. "I definitely need a teacher, that much I know. I'm a pretty good hunter and could probably make a living that way. You know supplying merchants with meat and such. But I wouldn't mind having something more steady."

"And, I could work with Kyle."

Loreta grunted though anything she might have communicated by the sound was obscured while she consumed the messy confection. "I can teach you some techniques to enhance your control, although it must be good already to have gone undetected by the Qun as long as you have. The seer's art I practice is generally taught only to women, and it seems your arcane talents lay elsewhere. I will make some discreet inquiries into an appropriate teacher."

"Until then, I have a task that needs doing, that I was reluctant to ask of Kyle alone. But together, the two of you may be able to accomplish it." She turned her gaze finally to Kyle. "Even with two of you, it will be dangerous."


Nazri stood to his full height. "What is it you have in mind? I'm pretty capable and I know Kyle is too. Whatever it is, we can handle it. Especially if you can find the kind of teacher that I need."

"If Kyle says yes of course"

Kyle leaned back in his chair and regarded Loreta warily. Besides ordinary errands, she often asked him to gather herbs and other potion ingredients. Especially plants that grew in areas that were difficult to access, or harvesting was dangerous because of the other creatures that roamed those places. "Before we agree, you'd better tell us what you want."

"I've been asked to prepare a potion that requires a difficult-to-obtain ingredient. A wyvern heart." A frown added additional creases to Loreta's lined face. "Where there is one there are likely to be more, and a wyvern was sighted in the wetlands to the east of town. They are extremely dangerous."

Turning to Nazri, Kyle said, "I think we can handle killing a wyvern if we're careful. What do you think?"

In truth, the qunari didn't know a lot about wyverns. He'd heard about them of course but didn't know much detail. Still, if Kyle was confident. So was he.

"Sure, let's do it. You said they're not loners usually. Do you just need one heart?"

"Young man," Loreta paused to make sure both Kyle and Nazri were giving her their full attention. "Do not underestimate these creatures. Killing one of these beasts will be dangerous enough." She was quiet for a moment, chewing a confection thoughtfully, then added, "If by chance you do kill a second beast, it is possible one of my colleagues would buy the heart, but one is enough for my purposes."

"We'll be careful." Kyle stood up, then went around the table and gave Loreta an impertinent kiss on the cheek. She grumbled but did not pull away. To Nazri, he said, "Let's go."

Nazri nodded and stood to his feet. "Of course, Kyle, let's go. You think we have time for another lesson?"

 

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