Adventures with creatures

[makesthings]

From here.

After leaving Ava, Sam's days were busy, because while he wasn't at Belisaere, he was still close to it. He had been planning on traveling farther south to connect with Nick and check on a few Charter Stones, talking to Ava simply sped everything up.

Getting a Paperwing took a little longer than he expected and he remembered how much he didn't like them. He preferred to get from one place to another closer to the ground, he felt more secure. Up in the air, the Charter felt farther away even though the Paperwing was swift and imbued with the Charter.

After dodging one rising storm, he landed not far from the North Road and the Wall and sent the Paperwing back to Belisaere with a whistled spell, it wouldn't do for traveling now. He adjusted his belt to get his sword hanging properly and started towards the Charter Stone that he called out to him, there was a structure near it that had a door.

Comments

[hadyougoing]

Ava has no idea how long she's been nursing this coffee.

In fact, by now 'nursing' is too strong a word: She's mostly in a subdued staring match with her coffee.

She has on the necklace Sameth made her, the shirt he gave her, and-- as threatened-- sneakers. Also in evidence: a dagger the size of her forearm, sheathed.

If anybody asks (who isn't Elle or X), it's totally Sameth's and not hers.

[makesthings]

The door opens for Sam, he was worried he might have to push, but it does.

He looks around for Ava and when he spots over walks over, "Ava."

[hadyougoing]

"Hey!" Ava says, jumping to attention with what is nearly a literal jump.

"What's up? Did you find Nick?"

[makesthings]

"No, he's on the other side of the Wall still, but we're close enough that I should be able to bring you over. Could I have your necklace? I think I know what to do to make you in Life enough to be safe,"

Her jump startles him and he clutches his hand for a moment.

[hadyougoing]

"Sure," Ava says, slightly sheepish.

She undoes the clasp and holds the necklace out.

"... For the record, what are you gonna do exactly?"

[makesthings]

"A combination of an illusion and giving you some Life, it won't last long but it should be long enough,"

He takes the necklace, then unsheathes the knife on his belt to nick his finger before concentrating on it as he traces Charter Marks and gently sings. Its a complex and powerful spell, but one that should keep her safe in the Old Kingdom.

[hadyougoing]

Ava watches closely, although it's not like she knows from this type of magic. She wouldn't notice if anything was going wrong, much less be able to stop it.

... And maybe this is the wrong time for paranoia.

The immediate future holds so many more exciting opportunities!

[makesthings]

The blood mixes with the Charter and there's a glow of warmth as the spell is absorbed,

"That should work. Do you have a cloak? That might make you stand out less."

[hadyougoing]

"... Noooo," Ava says.

"I could ask Bar if she'll let me borrow one?"

[makesthings]

"That would be a good idea. Once we get into Ancelstierre, I think you'll be fine and if need be, I can craft a disguise for you,"

There's no one out where they are but the Wall has the Perimeter Guard.

[hadyougoing]

Now that's an interesting idea.

"Watch my stuff," she says, getting up.

A minute later she's walking back, wrapped in a cloak of a nondescript, gray-brown shade.

"Ta-da."

[makesthings]

"That looks good,"

Yes, he'll stand out when they're in Ancelstierre but Nick's in danger and this close to the Wall, he'll do better as himself. He walks to the front door and opens it onto a place not that different from the back of Milliways.

[hadyougoing]

"Well, good to know I'm staying fashionable."

Ava's got the dagger strapped to her hip by now. She glances through the open door, frowns at Sameth--

Here we go.

And steps through.

[makesthings]

The door opens from a small building, its hard to tell what it once was, but now now it has a roof, walls and a door which is what counts.

Sameth heads towards a road that stretches in front of them, stopping to rest his hand on a great stone that sits by the road.

[hadyougoing]

Ava follows cautiously, hand drifting lightly to her necklace.

It feels warmer than before.

[makesthings]

"I haven't heard from Lirael yet, so we're going to head towards the Wall. We probably won't meet anyone until we're closer and I'll explain to the Perimeter Guard,"

He starts down the road where in the distance, the Wall is just visible.

[hadyougoing]

Her nose wrinkles.

"Are we gonna have to go through, like, customs?"

[makesthings]

"Sort of, yes, but I'll explain you to them,"

Being a prince can be useful.

[hadyougoing]

She's about to repeat explain? in an incredulous tone, but then she remembers oh, right.

Sameth has pull around here.

"Whatever works," she decides, glancing from him to the surrounding countryside. It's not all that different from Milliways: kinda cold, a lot of grays and greens. Feels bigger, though.

And it's apparently a lot more dangerous.

[makesthings]

"I hope it will,"

The road is in good condition but fairly empty, the Southerling refugees are in other places and there aren't many reasons to travel to the Wall.

[hadyougoing]

Ava tugs the cloak a little closer around her as they go.

"So-- we don't know anything new?" she says.

"How long has it been out here?"

[makesthings]

"About three days, I went as fast as I could but some of my other duties slowed me down."

[hadyougoing]

She frowns.

"But no news on the mummy."

[makesthings]

"Lirael said she had some ideas from her research, but I don't know the details."

[hadyougoing]

Ava sighs, hrumphily.

"Awesome."

[makesthings]

Sam nods and keeps going down the road, it won't be too long before they start to see signs of the Guard as the Wall grows nearer.

[hadyougoing]

Ava keeps most of her awareness on the road ahead, but saves some of it for her periphery and the tingly area at the back of her neck.

Milliways Security excepted, she hasn't really interacted with any kind of law enforcement. She dimly recalls that the last time she did, her body count was a lot lower.

[makesthings]

This part of the road is fairly safe for where they are, but Sam keeps his awareness open as he's hoping that they'll come across Lirael.

As they walk, the Wall starts to come closer as it dominates the landscape with its stone that's filled with magic.