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Post by Bee on Dec 4, 2010 0:33:56 GMT -5
Ananta had heard of the place only by reputation—it had a poor one. He couldn’t be going there for any respectable reason. Maybe it was connected to the people who were attacking him. Maybe he was involved in bad business himself. She hadn’t before entertained the idea that the people attacking Dev might have a good reason for attacking him. She had accepted him as the victim without thought. She still believed that he was. The story would eventually out, perhaps at Dubhan. She felt no rush.
She didn’t let her expression betray any opinion on the matter, in any event. She merely nodded, and asked no questions.
She thought she could do some good there. Perhaps shut down a shady operation. Perhaps just keep Dev out of trouble.
“I’m headed that way as well,” she said, mildly. It wasn’t a lie. She was, as of five seconds ago.
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Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Dec 4, 2010 0:33:59 GMT -5
Dev’s whole body twitched in disbelief. For all that he had known the woman the lesser part of two days, a person who politely gave bandits the option to opt out of a fight, and (as far as he knew) made a habit of disabling, rather than killing opponents, did not seem the likely sort to willingly step foot in such a depraved place as Dubhan. But perhaps he was making assumptions; it was possible stoic politeness was just a quirk, and not indicative of Ananta’s personality--and profession, whatever that might be--as a whole.
In addition to his poor ability to read people and deduce their motives--which always made him feel a bit twitchy around strangers and acquaintances alike--there were the number of so-called coincidences quickly stacking up. He supposed it was possible, if they were heading in the same direction and thus taking roughly the same route, but her timely arrivals left him feeling disquieted.
“Business?” he asked conversationally, wondering if she would answer.
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Post by Bee on Dec 4, 2010 0:34:14 GMT -5
“Business,” she affirmed, seriously. She did not elaborate. She leaned back and ate as much as she felt comfortable eating. She hadn’t made a great deal of food, but it wouldn’t carry well, and she disliked being wasteful. There was a little trickle of stream off in what she thought was the general direction of Dubhan—she had come across it when patrolling last night.
What tiny bit of food remained in the pot, she tossed, and resolved to wash the dishes when they happened upon the stream. Cleaning was not a tedium she had patience for. Her brain had long ago classified that under Things Other People Did, and while she had learned to cook for herself, she still disliked the natural consequence of preparing food. She glanced at Dev and considered bringing up a fair division of labor the next time she made a meal.
“Shall we?” she inquired.
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Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Dec 4, 2010 0:34:26 GMT -5
He could not remember at any point during the conversation agreeing that they would be traveling together; heading in the same direction and traveling together were too separate events, and though they were easily combined, Dev resented the assumption. He thought about arguing--he had every reason to, namely that he didn’t trust her--but found himself slipping on his pack and murmuring an affirmative.
He argued, rationally, that it was better to have her close and keep an eye on her, if only to keep her from popping up unexpectedly again along the way like she seemed wont to do. A very small part of him just wanted the company, even if it was in the form of a suspicious stranger.
Dodging along gamely, he snuck occasional glances at his impromptu companion. He didn’t generally get close to people, not willingly, but he couldn’t help but be curious about her. It would be nice to confirm whether or not she was at some point going to stab him, among other things.
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Post by Bee on Dec 4, 2010 0:34:37 GMT -5
Not asking had been the right thing to do. There was no argument, no discussion; just the rustle of items and then the press of their feet against rock and sand. This is the way she liked things to go. Smoothly.
She let Dev lead them on, but kept an even pace with him and occasionally took the lead herself. Theoretically she was supposed to know how to get to Dubhan. She cared enough about her little lie for the moment to pretend she knew where she was going.
She ignored the curious looks he sometimes sent her way. She felt distantly entertained by the notion she might be befuddling him somehow—but it wouldn’t do to let her amusement show, so she didn’t. She wondered how long he would keep it up. It was, judging by where they where to where she thought Dubhan was, going to be a long hike.
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Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Dec 4, 2010 0:34:43 GMT -5
It wasn’t horribly far to Dubhan from where they‘d started; nestled on the edge of the Ixchel Ravine, it was roughly a hundred miles travel. Three days, at the very most. And an easy journey, beside. The path skirted the worst of the wastes by fair miles, and the terrain was relatively flat.
The monotonous landscape and silence of his companion was such that he sometimes forgot she was there, caught up in a walking daze. It happened often while on his own--lost in the stillness of the landscape and his own thoughts--but was disconcerting now when he came back to himself, and remembered his companion. He wondered if she noticed.
In consideration of his wounds, they stopped early the first night. The wound on his stomach was warm to the touch and slightly inflamed, signs of infection; he drank a cup of tea dosed liberally with turmeric, and fell asleep listening to the wind.
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Post by Bee on Dec 4, 2010 0:35:01 GMT -5
Ananta had been more than half-tempted to pick up Dev while he was sleeping and carry him along, just to expedite their trip, but toting his dead weight half the night would probably be more taxing than was worth it. The sleeping issue was becoming a slight annoyance. Not so much that she couldn’t occupy herself while the night passed; she was good at that. It was the thought of time better spent elsewhere. Making forward progress, for example.
She was not accustomed to waiting for other people to take their rest, and stopping everything she was doing for six hours could easily make the jump from minor nuisance to legitimate irritation. But it was a problem with no immediate solution. Dev needed sleep, she didn’t. Neither of those factors were going to change.
When Dev woke up at last, they quickly resumed their travel. The second day passed much the same as the first, barren of excitement. They still did not move as quickly as they could, so as not to press Dev’s injuries, but they covered a respectable amount of ground.
Ananta was somewhat pleased, at least, that her presence seemed to deter an onslaught of random attackers.
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Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Dec 4, 2010 0:35:10 GMT -5
It was late afternoon on the third day when they were finally within sight of Dubhan; the sight of sprawling dilapidated buildings had the anticipation that had nipped at him with increasing persistence all day roar to the forefront. Instead of continuing that last mile into town, however, Dev forced himself to stop.
“I’ll be camping here tonight,” he offered as explanation to Ananta, any pang of regret over her continuing on without him--why regret? they were still practically strangers--all but superseded by the impatience gnawing at his gut.
Dev forced himself through the motions of setting up camp in an attempt to calm himself, before inspecting his wounds. The infection was gone from the wound and only the vaguest tenderness remained; his other wounds were all but forgotten.
He would go through some basic rotations--he’d been lax in his training the last few days, eager to arrive--to loosen muscles, and prepare for tomorrow.
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Post by Bee on Dec 4, 2010 0:35:28 GMT -5
Ananta spared his decision nothing more than a blank glance and a nod. Taking the night a mile off was better than sleeping in the place itself, but it wouldn’t deter any rotten sorts who wandered about. She didn’t think the sort of people who frequented Dubhan would keep themselves to the city proper, especially at night.
But she supposed that’s what she was there for. She kept a vague eye on him while he set up his little camp, did some of her own stretches while he did his, and when he finally went to sleep, she headed off to scout the area. She wandered closer to Dubhan. It was surrounded by a tall wall of stone and mud. One could scale them if they were dedicated. One might break something if they fell. There looked to be piles of rope ladder in places; she assumed people left more often by those than the smallish gates. It was easy enough to memorize the façade and mostly likely routes of escape, should it come to that.
She was not curious enough to enter without Dev. She desired neither a fight, an attempted mugging, or to appear more suspicious than she might already look.
He was still at the camp, asleep, when she wandered back, a few hours later.
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Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Dec 4, 2010 0:35:37 GMT -5
Dev woke long before the sun brushed the eastern horizon and was surprised to have slept as long as he had; he supposed he was still feeling the lingering effects of infection to have slept, so long despite the nervous anticipation that had plagued him the evening before. He felt--calmer--than he had, and better off all around for a night of sleep.
He didn’t see Ananta in the immediate area, though her things were still there; hunting, perhaps? He felt a twinge of guilt for slinking off while her back was turned, as it were, but he quickly dismissed the feeling. Not only did he not owe her anything--not exactly true, but--he had the distinct impression that she wouldn’t approve of what he was about to do, besides.
He packed up his things, tucking the pack in a small hallow where it wouldn’t easily be found, and made his way to town.
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