Zou visits the Drunken Rat Tavern

[Aura Thesin]

Aura didn't notice Lo'en stiffen at her touch, intent on Zou. He seemed to get worse, to shrink away from her hand, and when he disengaged himself from her hand, she didn't follow.

She listened to his discourse, watching as he became better nearly instantly. Her heart sank, for it seemed that he was right about her presence affecting him negatively. Before now, their bodies had only touched incidentally, a brush of his hand on her arm as she took the seat he held out for her, brushing shoulders as they walked back to the table.

And now he stood before her, inviting herself and Lo'en to his house for food. Despite having eaten the stew not long ago, she was still hungry due to a few days of little to no food on her way to Marn. But if she affected Zou in this manner...

"I don't know if I should. Especially if I affect you ... however it is I affect you." Aura smiled self-consciously at the obviousness of the statement. She opened her mouth to say more, but a shout from behind her and down the street caught her attention.

Through the clear evening air, the sound of several men working up courage could be heard drifting from down the street. A drunken shout rose up above the general tumult, carrying better through the mostly quiet evening.

"... an' we'll take her back ta me house, an' when wer dun wit'er ..."

What would happen to the mysterious person they were talking about was drowned out in raucous laughter that was only getting closer. Aura's instincts told her that she would know soon enough what would happen. With a panicked look at both Lo'en and Zou, she whispered as she glanced fearfully down the street towards the noise, "If we're going, we need to go now."

[Zou]

Zou, Jaspen, and Aura continued here:

http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1704

[Ra'Nali]

Ra'Nali sighed. There was a serious failure in communication failure, and now she wanted proof? Rubbing his eyes he though for a moment, just how he could possibly prove to the blind woman he was a healer, and that he could actually heal. Putting his messenger bag on the table, he opened it and pulled out his knife. A simple thing, no ornate decorations or anything of the sort, just a simple, long, knife. Gently he ran it across his left hand, it easily splitting open the skin, blood quickly escaping from the gash.

"Your hand, i am going to touch it." He warned. Reaching out he gently pulled her hand up, and placed his left hand under her fingers. Laying her hand back down, her fingers would touch the cut, causing him to grimace. "Cut." He said, stating what she was feeling.

Slowly the cut began to shut under her fingers, she would feel the skin seaming up like a zipper, in less then 15 seconds, the wound was closed. "No Cut." He'd state as he let go of her hand, retracting his left hand into his sleeve and wiping the blood off on the inside. "Can do to your eyes." He visibly shuddered at how stupid he sounded, she probably though him an absolute imbecile, it truly did hurt to much to use all the words of a sentence, so he only hoped he could prove later he was actually intelligent.

[Caiomhe Feryn]

Cai felt herself tense at the scent, metallic and heavy, drenching the air. She could almost picture it, the metal-laden thick substance pooling somewhere that she couldn't see. Already unnerved, she would have outright slapped Ra'nali as he grabbed her hand had he not warned her, and even with the warning it was hard to resist reaching her other hand into her leather pouch at her belt.

It would be so easy to escape this crazy town, Cai mused as she subdued the urge to crumble the sleeper herbs. First she would smash the herbs, which would give everyone near her in the tavern a sudden urge to lay down and doze off, and then she would stand and leave. She wouldn't hurry, but a smooth exit could be quick as well.

Cai pulled herself out of her wistful thoughts. There was a man here who could possibly help heal her eyes. It wasn't certain, but she had to give anything a try at this point. Seven years without sight was too long for anyone.

Her fingers, sensitive enough to pick out the different patterns in a woven blanket simply by the feel of it, brushed lightly against the sticky blood on Ra'Nali's hand. The gash was not deep, she could tell, and as she left her fingers hovering just barely above the skin, she could feel that the cut was seaming itself up.

Her eyes, milky green and somewhat disconcerting, widened. "Me eyes..." she murmured, barely breathing out the words. it was likely he couldn't hear it, but he could clearly see her expression as she desperately sought out where she thought his own eyes should be. As usual, she missed by a few inches, looking over his right shoulder, but she was clearly intent.

"Ye could a be doin' that tae me eyes?"

[Ra'Nali]

A a small smile curled over Ra'Nali's pale lips, the look Caiohme had, it was proof he had her. Hopefully she can actually help my lungs, he thought as he slipped the knife back into his messenger bag. Of course, he couldn't bring her sight back instantly, he needed to make sure to stress that point.

"Yes. But it takes a long time." He whispered, straining to get the sound out. "Is that okay?"

He gently clasped his hands together, hoping she would say yes. His mined reeled with the thought of his lungs being just a little better, all the things he could do, how much he could get done. Maybe take up archery again, or maybe take a journey, see the rest of the world, maybe get into politics, try to get a seat of power in Marn. A crazed look came over him, though he quickly caught himself, he was getting way ahead, after all, she hadn't even agreed yet. And even if she did, what if whatever she made ended up not working.

His green eyes scanned hers, his smile growing, she would agree, that look on her face was as much of an answer as a yes would be. He began to think about where they could hold the healing sessions, it would have to be some place he could lead her too...which was a problem, he had to check maps on how to get back home each night.

[Caiomhe Feryn]

Cai couldn't believe it. She'd searched up and down the length of the contienent, in huge cities and little villages, asking anyone and everyone about healers, but there had been nothing. Not one single thing.

But here, in this backwater city that she'd never even heard of before and probably wouldn't have paid much attention to if it hadn't been right on her route eastwards, there was a healer who said that he could help her. A little breath of only slightly amused laughter escaped her.

Had she been a more wary person, she would have thought it some plot. Just as she was giving up some of her hope that drove her on, this person appears and says he could heal her. Cai sighed and sat back in her seat, eyeing (sort of) Ra'Nali critically.

Her words were sharp when she spoke, and a little condenscending. "Ye would be a'doin' this out o' the gudness o' yer heart, I expect?" She didn't wait for an answer but went on to say, "Acause people allus be a'wishful o' sum kinda payment. What es et ye want?"

She continued to stare at him, having finally located where the pale spot of his face was against the dark of the tavern walls. Sometimes her stare unnerved people and she wondered if it would do it to him. A thought crossed her mind and her lips twitched up in a mocking smile. She probably wasn't behaving like he had expected her to, but as far as Cai was concerned that was perfectly alright. A girl couldn't make her way in life by being predictable.

"Er et may be that I can be a'guessin' what ye desire. Ye be wantin' mesel' tae fix yer own problem, yea? Sae I save yer life an' ye fix me eyes. Seems like'n I'd be doin' more fer ye than ye fer me." It was only lightly accusatory. She thought to offset her words with a small smile, then thought better of it and remained calculating and challenging.

[Ra'Nali]

Ra'Nali's eyebrow was raised by the remark, was this just a front? Trying to appear like she had control of the situation? Or was she really not as desperate for a cure as he thought. Pondering a moment on this, was she really even saving his life? True, the stress his body was under, if left unchecked, would probably kill him alot sooner than he would have other wise died, but still, calling it saving his life was a bit much, perhaps ridding him of a major annoyance, but not saving his life.

"Life isn't in danger. But can pay too, if it's really needed." He had plenty of money saved, it wasn't like he spent it on anything really, some books here and there, and food, that was about it, no real creature comforts to speak of.

He coughed lightly into his hand, his face contorting from the sharp pain it caused. Really need to stop talking, he thought, but then again, some pain now for a chance at no pain later, he'd keep his mouth shut on the fact the talking was hurting him.

His stomach would make a faint growling sound, though with the blind ones heightened hearing, she probably could hear it. If it seemed like they we'll be here much longer, Ra'Nali thought, I'll offer to buy food.

[Caiomhe Feryn]

Caiomhe almost laughed. Almost. She tried not to let her humor show, but there was a bit more of a lilt in her voice than there had been before. "Ye ere nae dyin'? Sae ye say, sae ye say. Though, et be a'soundin' tae meself that the reaper man, he's got his skeletal hand a'reachin' down yer gut and his scythe against yer back. An' ye say ye ere nae dyin'!"

She said that almost on the verge of laughter, and she seemed to be improperly amused by the thought of death, and it was causing her own voice to catch in her throat. She calmed herself with a deep breath, though a smile touched her lips. "I em sorry. It's jest, ye sound like a dyin' man tae meself. Now," she said, taking another quiet gulp of air to stop her giggles, "A'gettin' back tae business."

She tapped her fingers along the length of the table, a strange rhythm that Ra'Nali would not likely know, and seemed to be thinking. After a few minutes of this she snapped her third finger and her thumb together and nodded, almsot to herself. "I em thinkin' I can help yerself. I donnae know how long et could'a take, but I thinkin' I can."

Cai took another sip of her wine, turning her sightless gaze into the fire. To see! It would be grand, she thought. The wort part about being blind was that she remembered seeing, remembering the colors of spring and fall, the deepest blue of the ocean and the many shades of reds and oranges of wildflowers. To be able to see all that again would be wonderful, but she had her doubts that he could actually mend her eyes.

[Ra'Nali]

Ra'Nali couldn't help but smile a little himself, the fact she was amused amused him. He rather enjoyed her little comment about the 'reaper man'. He waited till she was done mocking his comment. Resting his chin on his hands which were propped up by his elbows on the table, he gazed at her patiently, waiting for her answer, listening to the beat tapped out on the table by her finger.

She finally said what Ra had hoped she would, she would help him it seemed, and just like with his healing of her eyes, it seemed the time table was up in the air. The small smile on his face grew as he spoke. "Glad to hear. When and were, good place for you?" The raspy whisper showed no hint of excitement, something he would have actually preferred to convey.

No more troubles with my voice soon enough, he thought to himself as he leaned back in his chair, gently folding his arms. Hunger softly gnawing at the back of his mind, but that was fine, this was much to important to interrupt for food.

"If more payment than sight is" He paused to cough. "Necessary, have money, like said before" Deep in his mind he laughed at himself, how stupid his speech sounded, but that wouldn't be a problem soon either. His lips curled into a smile once more.

[Caiomhe Feryn]

Cai tapped out the rhythm again, like she didn't really know what she was doing. She nodded a bit, not really in answer to his question, and sipped at her wine again. This man was interesting enough, she supposed, albeit a bit boorish in his conversation.

His comment finally registered in her mind. She gave a rough laugh, not really amused by his offer of gold. "Ye be a'savin yer pennies. Ye thinkin' I'm a'gonna be pain' fer the herbs fer the potions fer yer cure? Ye ere. I willna spend me own money en ye."

She figured that she was getting the better end of the deal, because it seemed like he used his magic to heal without any tools or plants, like she needed. Cai didn't use magic, exactly, she just had a really good knowledge of plantlore and she liked to play guessing games.

A somewhat morbid smile twisted up the corner of her mouth, though Ra'Nali would not have a clue what she was grinning about. Whenever she didn't know an exact cure for an illness she guessed and checked, often with interesting results. being that many cures were only mild forms of poison... Cai felt her smile widen a bit, then she covered it. It wouldn't do to accidentally poison the one who could possibly fix her eyes.

[Ra'Nali]

He watched the smile spread across her lips with a bit of confusion. Should I really be so confused? He asked in his mind, she was going to get her sight back, that was a pretty good reason to smile. His empty stomach would send an annoying discomfort to his mind, trying to get him to remember it, though he simply pushed any thoughts of food down.

"Acceptable, did not expect you pay for herbs." Leaning forward in his chair he'd rest his elbows on the table. His pale hands gently wringing each other, his bright green eyes scanning her over once more, this was risky, ingesting some strangers concoctions at her word they would help him. She at least had proof that he had healing powers, he had none she could make brews to help him.

"I gave proof, you do the same." Or this isn't happening, he was going to add, but a pain in his throat stopped him, for the best, he thought, if he pushed that hard, it may turn her off from the whole deal, just from this short conversation he got the feeling she was the type you did not push around, probably best to make her feel like she was in control of the deal, that she was getting the best part, getting away with a steal, so to speak. "I will pay for proof too."

[Caiomhe Feryn]

Cai raised an eyebrow. "Proof?" She asked quietly, not really smiling any longer. She crossed her arms and leaned forward as well, bringing her face closer to his in order to hunt out the dark sockets on his face where his eyes would be. She looked where his eyes were for a moment and then she sat back. "Look, whate'er yer name be... ye can offer meself proof o' yer healin' magics. I cannae dae sae. Ere at least, nae as well as yerself can." Her mouth twinged down at that last bit. She didn't like being bested in anything.

"I can make'n ye a potion, ere a drink that I em thinkin' will help ye, but I donnae know exactly. Mine own art o' healin' esnae as precise as yers." She stopped again and ran a hand through her hair, teasing a few knots out of it idly with her fingers. "But I cannae sae well here. I donnae know this town, I was'a simply passin' through en me way tae the eastern parts o' this world. Sae iff'n ye know a place that's calmer an' quieter than this'n tavern, I could begin fixin' ye a cure."

It was true, what she'd said. Cai sighed irritably. She'd just intended to pass through Marn and Shim, maybe stay a night and enjoy a few comforts of moderate civilization, but now it appeared that she was stuck here. Stuck here with a healer who was, despite what he seemed to think, the reaper's prize soon come. Cai liked talking about the reaper.

She waited for an answer and thought about what she considered to be 'the reaper.' She'd been young when she first seen him, very young, and just learning the healing arts. She'd been thinking about various cures and poisons, and it had been then that the thought had first crossed her mind that many cures were poisons. She'd thought about that for a while, and then went and hunted down one of the plants that her mother had told her was a mild poison. She ate a few of the berries, and waited to see if it would kill her.

She'd lost her lucidity first, and everything around her became hazy and muted. A shadowy figure carrying a scythe was near her, and she talked to him. About what, she couldn't remember exactly, but he'd told her not to eat any deadly poisons. Of course, being Cai, she disobeyed even the reaper and built up immunities, but she'd seen the reaper a few times since.

Wrenching her thoughts back to the present she took another sip her her wine, frowning as the level in the glass seemed to be almost flush with the bottom of the glass. That wasn't good... she didn't want to order another, though. Partly because it was easier dealing with people with only two glasses of wine, and also because she didn't want to humilate herself trying to find the barkeeper.

[Ra'Nali]

Coughing that same death rattle of a cough like he had been for the past three years, he mentally frowned. If only she would just do it here, get rid of some of this pain, shaking the thought from his mind, replacing it with the lesson that the man whom once filled the father figure of his life taught him so long ago.

Patience, the man Marius would always tell him, even in the harshest of weather, or the most uncomfortable of situations, the hunter has to be patient to line up a shot just right. Marius may have been a fool, defending my witch of a mother, his thoughts mused, but he did have the occasional bursts of insight.

The coughing had stopped, and Ra'Nali interlaced his long pale fingers. His house would do for the setting of her test, it was quiet, big, roomy, and in general relatively empty. His gray green eyes burned brightly hope. He never knew how much getting rid of the thing that plagued him, or at least the symptoms, meant to him. Things he did not even realize he missed he began to long for, hunting, talking, staying in a crowded place for extended periods of time without being thought to be on deaths door step; I'll have it back, he thought, I'll have it all back.

"My home?" She would have to make do with that answer, the pain of even barking that out would be apparent in the words. Ra flinched, but his eyes never lost that fire burning in them; i'll have it all back, his mind reminded him once more. Fun, opportunity, ambition, things these things were the first to go when his health did, content simply to be alive, such things that made life more enjoyable became trivial. Now though, now he could consider many things, new ways to help the city, maybe even leave the city to go on a trip, he would return of course, but a certain wanderlust had begun to brew inside.