Thar Shaddin

The silence stretched for a long time between the dancer and the bowman. Chezak's eyes remained riveted on Arusa, watching the telltale signs of someone not only lying to others, but to herself as well.

She was telling the truth about being here for the Tera, of that he was certain. But the rest ... well, she hadn't known who he was until Hoshen had said his name. Knowingly fraternizing with an exile was grounds for exile in it's own right, so it was to her credit that she hadn't simply gotten up and walked away when she realized who he was.

He watched her for another moment, watching her busy herself with adjusting the sweetness of her tea. He shrugged, as it was no concern of his if she wished to risk exile for the Tera. He would have been nearly willing enough to risk exile to study one of the Tera too, had he not already known what exile really felt like.

"Suit yourself," he said. "I am more concerned with Amm anyways. She's impatient, and I doubt she'll be happy with this delay. Once she feels she is capable of moving again, I suspect we will be leaving immediately. You're welcome to come with us, of course, but I believe delays such as this," one hand gracefully waved at the pieces of luggage on the floor next to their table, "may upset her. I think we will need to outfit you appropriately for traveling, and perhaps teach you the best way to pack for a long journey."

Chezak smiled slightly, more amused at the thought of her reaction than trying to be friendly.

Narrowing her eyes at Chezak, her lips pursed, Arusa was silent for a moment. She considered the situation, the word's of the man before her, and briefly weighed the risks against the potential for gain, if there was indeed anything she could take from the situation. It was just a shifter girl, in the end, wasn't it? A rare race, significant in regards to some Tian Xian culture, but were the Tera really so different from other shifters?

However unreasonable the decision might be, Arusa knew that she could not walk away from this opportunity. With a sigh of resignation, she turned away. "Can't we just take a carriage or something? It's not that expensive, and we'll travel so much faster. Besides, the girl might get herself hurt again, and then what will we do?"

Of course, if Chezak had decided that they should walk, Arusa imagined he would have a good reason – to his mind, at least – for choosing to do so. She took a long sip of her tea as she half-listened to his excuse, before placing the cup aside.

Then, as she failed to stifle a sudden yawn, something Chez had said gently twigged at Arusa's mind. Curiously, she asked, "You call the girl Amm; is that her name? She never mentioned it. And speaking of the girl, how much do you actually know about the Aniz?"

Light bloomed and faded, Hozu with it. Amm stood alone in a vast rightness, everything she wanted. She stood ankle deep in water, and looking down saw tadpoles and flies and other forms of life. No An. No Tera. She lifted her head and stared out. Free, alone. Like the flutter of a wing she switched her forms, contracting and expanding. Pain. What was this? She looked down, and saw a void in her body. Wrong. No. Stupid. Stupid, stupid Amm.

No healer for Amm, to keep her form stable while she slept the healing dream. Her body did not want to shift. I am resting it said to her. It demanded respect. It demanded to be left in one shape as the knitted flesh remembered its purpose.

She opened her eyes and left the perfect resting dreaming behind. She was in a strange place, with strange things and smells. She felt bruised and tired, but not as if she was actually bruised. She knew she was healed , but the shadow echo of warning pain still remained to tell her that she still needed rest. She had duty to perform. How could she rest in a stranger's reeds?

Amm struggled upright. "Crane. Fish." She demanded, cross with her limbs for being so sluggish.

The healer, seated next to Amm's bed, watched her eyes struggle open. She didn't see him at first, which was for the good, but when she began to sit up, he made his presence known.

"Easy, little Aniz," he said, gently placing a hand on her chest which should, in her weakened condition, easily keep her lying down. "You need rest; your body requires it. You have been healed, made whole again. Your friends are not far away." He spoke in a slow, measured way, in order to be sure that Amm understood him.

Once it was clear she understood, he turned and hurried out into his waiting room. He slipped across it silently, white robe brushing across the floor, and entered another room. He reached down and shook the shoulder of a teen boy, who rolled over sleepily and murmured something incomprehensible.

"Get up, you lazy lout," the healer said, giving the boy a cuff on the side of the head. The boy rolled over and peered at the healer out of one eye, then groaned and sat up. The healer glared at him, then said, "I need you to go to the Inn of the Traveling Mule. Look for three people: two elves, one male and dressed for the woods, the other female and dressed in expensive clothing, and a human male, also dressed for the woods." A brief pause, then, "Well, get up, boy! Don't just sit there gawking!"

The healer turned and left the room, heading back to his charge, while the boy quickly got dressed and ran out the door.

**************************************

Chezak shook his head. Carriages didn't normally travel the distance they were going to travel. Most set out late morning, and stopped before dinner time. A carriage would take them to the next town or village, and they'd have to hire a new one in that town. A person walking at a good pace could easily travel farther in a day than a carriage could.

Carriages were also more often attacked by bandits and outlaws than people on foot. Carriages meant money; money meant food, clothing, and drink to bandits. Of course, Arusa would know very little of any of this. She rarely troubled herself with anything beyond the end of her arm ... where the silver mirror rested.

With another shake of his head, he said, "I suppose we can talk to Amm, which is her name. I'm sure I'd mentioned it, but things have been a little strange since we met her." Chez pursed his lips, thinking. "The Aniz Tera are hard to explain. Not a lot of people know more than their names and that they live in the swampier regions of Tian Xia. They keep to themselves, and can't stand outsiders. They've killed humans and elves who have gone into the swamps in search of them, which is one reason why it is strange to see one outside of the swamps."

He frowned, rubbing a finger along his angular jawline. "Aniz Tera hate humanity. I don't know what Amm is doing out here, whether she was exiled or chose to view the wider world. It is rare for any Tera to come out of the swamps, so I am curious to see what, exactly, she is up to."

He finished speaking, looking up at Arusa. It was probably the longest he'd spoken to someone in years, and it felt strange. Slowly lifting his tea cup, he took a small sip. Placing the cup idly on the table, he leaned forward, elbows on the table, fixing Arusa with his gaze.

"And what are you gaining from coming with us, little dancer?"

Arusa raised her eyebrows at Chezak's description of the Tera, surprised at the idea of such hostility from creatures so small and child-like, even if they were shifters. After all, they were insects, weren't they? Not vicious carnivores like werewolves or bear shifters.

"And what are you gaining from coming with us, little dancer?"

"Hmm?" Arusa leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. She considered, for a moment, refusing to answer the question out of spite alone. But realistically, if she was going to be traveling with this man, it would do no harm to curry favour, at least for the time being. She had nothing to hide, and she could easily assert her dominance at a more appropriate time.

"Well, as you say, it's a curious situation," Arusa began, absently considering her fingernails as she spoke. "I'll admit I have no specific intentions, but if this is really so unusual, it may be worthwhile to follow the girl. Besides, we were already headed in the same direction."

The young woman glanced across at the exile briefly. "I've yet to decide if it's truly worth the trouble it may cause, but... for now, I will remain with the girl. She clearly needs someone to look after her... Are you sure they're really so dangerous that they could kill a man? The poor thing couldn't even heal herself."

Amm saw things that made no sense. She lay on a soft platform with cloth draped over it and herself. It was stifling, entangling. She groped for her spear but did not have it. Rage fear she pushed at the sheets. No capture, determination grit lingered at the tilt of her chin and the flare of her nostrils, down into the deep breaths she took. She looked. Stranger things. Walls, floor. Unknowns scattered about. She did not see her weapons or food, but there was evidence others had been there. Her eyes flared with brilliant color as she looked, drawing upon fae ancestry and dragonfly ability to inspect the details of her capture.

Her eyes snapped towards the healer as he entered, and she vibrated warning to him in a fighting posture not even a Stranger could misinterpret.

Chezak pursed his lips in thought. He supposed that was as good of an answer as he would get from Arusa, but it wasn't really good enough.

However, before he could reply, the door swung open, and a boy not much older than sixteen rushed in, letting the door shut behind him. Chezak's attention was drawn to the boy immediately, and the boy, who was obviously looking for someone, paused as he saw Chez looking at him. The boy nodded to himself after a quick glance at Arusa, and made his way to the table.

Chez kept his silence as the boy approached. Fidgeting nervously, the boy stopped at their table. He gave them each a quick glance, then said, "Is your other friend here? Maurice says you should come back."

Chezak looked at the boy, still standing, fidgeting and waiting for them to come with him. His gaze swept from the boy to Arusa. "Shall we?" he asked in a neutral tone.

Arusa frowned at the boy, who in turn seemed to be avoiding her gaze. Normally, she'd find that amusing, but at this point, she was in no mood for awkward youths. Or more walking.

"Shall we?"

Her eyes flicked briefly over Chezak, but the man's expression was as unreadable as his tone. This had all better be worth it, Arusa thought as she took a final sip of her tea, displeased by the thought of abandoning it, and rose swiftly to her feet.

"Very well," Arusa announced, as though it were her place to lead. "I should have a quick word with Hera before we leave... if she is still here. One moment."

Arusa left the room briefly, but did not take long to return to Chezak and the messenger boy, who both seemed eager to leave. Fortunately, Hera had been in the same room she'd been staying in for the past few days and, however bad her attitude this early in the morning, the girl had reluctantly accepted Arusa's request to gather whatever belongings the dancer chose to leave behind.

"That girl really needs to learn more respect," Arusa muttered to nobody in particular, as she strode across to their table and glanced down at her luggage. "Now," she said, and turned her attention to Chezak. "I suppose all I need is a change of clothes, hm?"

Without waiting for a reply, the dancer took one relatively small bag and quickly threw only her more comfortable traveling outfits into it. Once this was done, she swapped her shoes, barely resisting the urge to take out her frustration on her bags, and straightened once more. Throwing the bag over her shoulder, Arusa left towards the healer's shop without another word.

The stranger did not move, and silent communication passed between them as their eyes locked. Recognition bit fuzzy deep in her, and though she did not practice uncertainty she felt it. He was calm, stoic like water passing around her fingers. She relaxed, and he gave her a look she understood too well. Healer fuss, healer mess. Cranky stubbornness took over, and she turned her head away from him pointedly; a tera way to stuff fingers in ears, like she'd seen a small stranger do. It was rude, and she meant it that way.

"Spear," she said. This was not tera, to be welcoming and grateful. She had not walked flown to where she lay. Amm knew discomfort, and shared it freely.

Chezak shook his head as Arusa disappeared back to her room. He leaned back in his chair, not showing his desire to leave, taking a few small sips at his tea while he waited. She wasn't gone long, and he left his tea half finished as he stood. He indicated for the boy to lead the way, tossing an amused look at Arusa as she murmured about someone needing to learn respect.

"Respect is something earned, not generally freely given, though some give respect freely and stop when it is lost." His answering murmur also sounded as if it was to no one in particular; indeed, he didn't even look at the girl as she gathered up her bag and made her way to the doorway. The boy slipped out ahead of her, leading the way as Chezak left last. He glanced over his shoulder in time to see Hera come out to retrieve Arusa's bags, a scowl plain on her face.

**************************************

Maurice watched the Tera, staying clear of her for the moment. It wasn't that she looked particularly threatening, particularly as weak as she would be, but her request for her spear was one he wasn't about to grant.

Stepping to one side, he pulled the door partially closed, revealing her spear leaning against the small table that held his various instruments. He raised his eyebrows, then slipped the door back to its spot. He held his hands up to show her he meant no harm.

"I don't think you'll need your spear here. Your friends should be on their way back. They will be here soon." He spoke slowly and enunciated his words, hoping she wouldn't misunderstand and attempt to put holes in him anyways.

As she followed the child's lead, Arusa was beginning to feel increasingly self-conscious, now fully aware of the fact that she was accompanying an exile... and in public, too. It was much to the dancer's relief that the walk between the healer's and the inn seemed shorter the second time traveled, the boy easily finding the shortest route back. Well, at least he's useful, Arusa admitted, as they walked briskly through the morning crowds. If only the Tera girl could be so, we wouldn't need this boy's assistance.

Unsurprisingly, the boy lacked manners, as evidenced by his entering the healer's shop before Arusa and Chezak, who were not only his seniors, but his master's patrons. And what happened to that human custom of "ladies first", as they say? After all, this is a human city, isn't it? But all that would come from complaining at that point would be further delay to their departure, and all Arusa really wanted was to get the damned Tera and leave Dalouxia.

So the dancer followed the youth inside and stood quietly, waiting for Chezak to deal with the healer and the Tera so that they could actually leave.

Calm soothing healer handed dumb minded stranger was without thought. Reason did not meet, formed two separate ponds whole and without ripples. Watch-well-those-who-know-better she rebuked, sharp abrupt jerks of hand and knee. You-will-die-death-of-stupid-and-slow. She formed the minute signs with exaggeration, meant to be insult to one deemed imperfect.

Amm was wounded for An. For clan. For stupidity brought with impatience. For young. She had to get to young. To place of skins. With spear in hand.

"Spear," she said, louder, echoing with a long sweep of her arm. She swung to glare at the dumb wingless stranger, and was mincing him with eyes and expression when crane walked in.

"Spear!" Louder, louder, for they were blind. Wingless, disgusting strangers. Why-leave-me-with-brainless-slow-unknown --

Mid tirade in broken twitches and tight lipped fury Amm stopped. Remembered. Stupid mistake. She swallowed, straightened and wobbled to her feet. Unhappy she put her palms together, closed her eyes in willing blindness and dipped her head. Open eyed, she glared at crane, holding gratitude as she waited for him to witness her silent honor.

Chezak slipped in the door after Arusa. He heard Amm's frustrated cry for her "spear", and quickened his steps, slipping past Arusa and into the room Amm had been resting in. The healer was backed up by the door, and Amm was glaring at him, small, child-like creature that she was, seated on the bed. The relief in the Maurice's eyes when Chez walked in was immense, and he pointed behind the door as Amm turned to the elf, again calling louder for her spear.

Maurice slipped past Chezak and out the door, and Chez began to move his hands to sooth the Tera, half turning to pull the door away from the wall and grab her spear.

Amm was no longer quivering her body in the minute movements that he could barely read, when he was lucky. He understood not even a fracture of the body posture the little Tera used, only the tiniest variations between the degrees of anger, shame, or happiness. But this posture ... this was new, unexpected from the fierce Amm ... and it was something he understood.

He paused, somewhat taken aback, his hands fumbling to stillness as the movements and posture slowly registered. He knew there was an answering pose, but his mind couldn't pull it from the recesses it had been relegated to. Slowly, he bowed his head in return, his fingers moving quickly to apologize and explain.

I am not Tera. I do not know the correct response. I am honored to have been able to help you. It is what traveling - a pause as he fumbled for words - humans often do for each other.

Chezak eyed Amm for a brief moment, then, without taking his eyes off her, he reached behind him, pulling the spear from behind the door. He grounded the butt of the spear on the floor, dipping his head, fore- and middle fingers crossed on the hand holding the spear, other hand placed palm out over the middle of his chest; the pose said it was an honor to return the weapon to her. He didn't think he had gotten the pose just right, but he hoped she would forgive him this time.

He waited, holding the pose, ignoring Maurice and the boy staring at him with eyes wide, ignoring Arusa. He waited for Amm to take the spear, and he hoped she wouldn't put it through him.

Amm pulled herself from gratitude without saying anything more, though irritation clung to shoulders and hips. She jerked the spear away from him, arranging it about herself. Just as the ground was naked without the native tough stalks of grass, so too was she naked without her spear. Everything else came because of it, the frogs in the reeds and the flies over the water. Her covering. Wrong without it. Elbow to wrist she gave a quick and basic acceptance and dismissal to Crane, and glared at anyone who was too close to her.

"We go," she announced, weaving bad ugly stranger place, worth less than useless into her steps, ignoring persistent aches and dizziness. Out the door, grabbing up her sack as she went, not looking back. Even like flies they had little mind to think of their zipping pathways, they would follow her. Strangers were like that: irritating and too useful and needful. Pests were part of the whole, with a part to play. But strangers had no benefit, no usefulness. They were disease. Plague upon the soft grasses, rainless months of summer or winter.

A crane had saved her, together with fish.

Amm banished the thought from her mind as she set her feet upon the dusty river path strangers used when they were unable to cross through true, plant filled land. They'd saved her very life, but that didn't shouldn't matter at all. Hozu was dead. Anything everything else could only settle at the edges of that stagnant water, outside of its truth.

Chezak's head came up when she took the spear from him. He watched her almost stalk from the room, and knew there was some message in the way she moved. He thought it had something to do with the word 'useless', but he didn't know if it was meant for him, Arusa, or the healer.

She disappeared out of the room, and Chezak straightened. He patted Maurice on the shoulder, placing another coin into his hand, murmuring, "For your troubles. Thank you for your help." He slipped past the healer and into the main area, following Amm to the door. He knew she wasn't in any condition to walk far, but he would allow her to lead for now.

He gave Arusa a shrug and a lifted eyebrow as he approached her, then waved for her to follow the Tera. "Apparently we're leaving." He gave her a half-smile, one corner of his lips turning up slightly.