Post by Kit on Mar 20, 2011 2:06:53 GMT 10
Title: Foregn Travel [5]
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 477
Pairing: Kalasin/Wyldon
Round/Fight: 1/C
Summary: Wyldon surprises himself.
The emperor’s birds had pined.
They had been given doors. The Wildmage, rueful and small and smiling as she tidied away her chaos, let new skies into their heads. But they would not go. And while they were fed, they were not seen. Princess Fazia, her head full of steel feathers, would not have them even for hats.
Kaddar tried. But Ozorne had crooned to them. And they did not know what freedom was.
“Daine told me to visit them, once I’d married.”
Kalasin’s voice was almost lost in the rustles and flaps all about her. She knelt, letting seed spill in a swift, clicking stream from her hands. “I was terrified, you know, and so sure I would miss everyone. And Daine said—well. ‘See the birds, Kally’” She let a hint of northern burr into her words, surprising her listener.
“I didn’t even like birds,” she continued. "The world is too full of winged creatures that—”
“—abominate.” Wyldon looked down at her, noting that three striped finches were already making themselves comfortable in her hair. She was nodding slowly, careful not to dislodge her visitors. His lips twitched. “I am not sure that is actually a word,” he admitted.
The Empress laughed. “Numair told me one could make a verb out of anything.” She shrugged, reaching up to her shoulder to stroke one finger over a bright blue head. “Learning Old Thak, I’d have to agree.”
“In this, my lady, I must defer to your superior wisdom.”
“Are you being funny?”
Was he? “It has been…an experience, knowing you here.”
“Since I’ve gone a bit native?” She sighed. “And you’re different by yourself, you know.”
“There are some things, my lady, which a man should not ever have to hear from attractive women.”
“Even if they’re complimentary?”
“In my cause, especially then.”
This time, her laugh was loud and strong enough to set wing-beats all about her. “I’d ask if you were flirting, my lord, but then the sky might fall.”
“I can’t say it’d be any harder than being funny. And you did ask. You were merely backhanded about it.”
“Backhanded?”
“Coy.”
“Wyldon.”
They both paused.
“You won’t leave Tortall again, after this. Will you?”
“No,” he told her, slowly. “I’m not fit for it. But if I am—”
“—asked?”
She raised an eyebrow, a small movement letting her hair, tangled and feathered as it was, shift down her narrow back.
“Dangerous.” The words weren’t for her. Not truly. But she did flush.
“You can call me Kally, you know.” Her words were soft. Hoarse. She was on her knees before him, and now birds were flying away as she lifted her hands. Opals caught bright light that soaked air almost too thick to breathe.
Her hand rested quietly on his hip.
“No, my lady,” said Wyldon of Cavall. “I can’t.”
QC by: journeycat
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 477
Pairing: Kalasin/Wyldon
Round/Fight: 1/C
Summary: Wyldon surprises himself.
The emperor’s birds had pined.
They had been given doors. The Wildmage, rueful and small and smiling as she tidied away her chaos, let new skies into their heads. But they would not go. And while they were fed, they were not seen. Princess Fazia, her head full of steel feathers, would not have them even for hats.
Kaddar tried. But Ozorne had crooned to them. And they did not know what freedom was.
“Daine told me to visit them, once I’d married.”
Kalasin’s voice was almost lost in the rustles and flaps all about her. She knelt, letting seed spill in a swift, clicking stream from her hands. “I was terrified, you know, and so sure I would miss everyone. And Daine said—well. ‘See the birds, Kally’” She let a hint of northern burr into her words, surprising her listener.
“I didn’t even like birds,” she continued. "The world is too full of winged creatures that—”
“—abominate.” Wyldon looked down at her, noting that three striped finches were already making themselves comfortable in her hair. She was nodding slowly, careful not to dislodge her visitors. His lips twitched. “I am not sure that is actually a word,” he admitted.
The Empress laughed. “Numair told me one could make a verb out of anything.” She shrugged, reaching up to her shoulder to stroke one finger over a bright blue head. “Learning Old Thak, I’d have to agree.”
“In this, my lady, I must defer to your superior wisdom.”
“Are you being funny?”
Was he? “It has been…an experience, knowing you here.”
“Since I’ve gone a bit native?” She sighed. “And you’re different by yourself, you know.”
“There are some things, my lady, which a man should not ever have to hear from attractive women.”
“Even if they’re complimentary?”
“In my cause, especially then.”
This time, her laugh was loud and strong enough to set wing-beats all about her. “I’d ask if you were flirting, my lord, but then the sky might fall.”
“I can’t say it’d be any harder than being funny. And you did ask. You were merely backhanded about it.”
“Backhanded?”
“Coy.”
“Wyldon.”
They both paused.
“You won’t leave Tortall again, after this. Will you?”
“No,” he told her, slowly. “I’m not fit for it. But if I am—”
“—asked?”
She raised an eyebrow, a small movement letting her hair, tangled and feathered as it was, shift down her narrow back.
“Dangerous.” The words weren’t for her. Not truly. But she did flush.
“You can call me Kally, you know.” Her words were soft. Hoarse. She was on her knees before him, and now birds were flying away as she lifted her hands. Opals caught bright light that soaked air almost too thick to breathe.
Her hand rested quietly on his hip.
“No, my lady,” said Wyldon of Cavall. “I can’t.”
QC by: journeycat