Arc 720, 22nd of Ashan
The early morning fog had lifted, giving way to a crisp but bright trial in Scalvoris Town. The vast reflection of sunlight that blanketed the surface of the Hollow Sea, was interrupted by the outlines of masts and sails of the cogs and caravels that rested peacefully against the docks.
The break was early, but the town itself had been alive for some time. The scents from bakeries were fighting to cover the stench of offal from butchers nearby. The skylarks, having woken before dawn, had sung their song until they were drowned out by the hubbub of the local markets and the creaking of heavy-laden carts trundling over cobbled streets.
And in one part of the city, outside the Order of the Adunih Outpost, stood Darius and Yeva. They had both risen early. Darius knew Yeva would be excited, and so he'd been careful to get out of bed as soon as he'd heard the rooster's call, so there could be no risk of a panicked rush. He'd worn some of his finer clothes which, in all fairness, wasn't saying much, but he would at least be much more presentable the second time he saw Faith than when he had first met her on Ishallr. He had managed to comb his hair and run a razor through his beard, trimming it and making him look much less dishevelled than he'd been on the small ice island. He hoped that might count for something.
Darius turned, looking into the honey brown eyes of his good friend. He knew there would be nerves for the young woman along with her inevitable excitement, and he offered her a gentle smile. He, too, felt a sense of anxiety. The real Faith Augustin was much more approachable than he'd expected her to be when they'd met, and they'd shared a few harrowing moments together, but he still couldn't claim to know her well. Even so, he was optimistic that Yeva would be as comfortable in her presence as he eventually was.
"Ready?" he asked quietly, his gravelly voice gently rumbling from his chest. "I'll be nearby, if you need anything."
Once Yeva responded, he entered through the open door of the small building, and approached the reception area. He knew it probably wasn't his place to speak, given Yeva was herself a member of the Order of the Adunih, but he couldn't resist, expecting the small act to be his last involvement in the meeting of the two women.
"Excuse me," he gently greeted the person behind the desk, offering a polite smile as he did so. "Is Faith Augustin available? Yeva of Rharne is here to see her."
The break was early, but the town itself had been alive for some time. The scents from bakeries were fighting to cover the stench of offal from butchers nearby. The skylarks, having woken before dawn, had sung their song until they were drowned out by the hubbub of the local markets and the creaking of heavy-laden carts trundling over cobbled streets.
And in one part of the city, outside the Order of the Adunih Outpost, stood Darius and Yeva. They had both risen early. Darius knew Yeva would be excited, and so he'd been careful to get out of bed as soon as he'd heard the rooster's call, so there could be no risk of a panicked rush. He'd worn some of his finer clothes which, in all fairness, wasn't saying much, but he would at least be much more presentable the second time he saw Faith than when he had first met her on Ishallr. He had managed to comb his hair and run a razor through his beard, trimming it and making him look much less dishevelled than he'd been on the small ice island. He hoped that might count for something.
Darius turned, looking into the honey brown eyes of his good friend. He knew there would be nerves for the young woman along with her inevitable excitement, and he offered her a gentle smile. He, too, felt a sense of anxiety. The real Faith Augustin was much more approachable than he'd expected her to be when they'd met, and they'd shared a few harrowing moments together, but he still couldn't claim to know her well. Even so, he was optimistic that Yeva would be as comfortable in her presence as he eventually was.
"Ready?" he asked quietly, his gravelly voice gently rumbling from his chest. "I'll be nearby, if you need anything."
Once Yeva responded, he entered through the open door of the small building, and approached the reception area. He knew it probably wasn't his place to speak, given Yeva was herself a member of the Order of the Adunih, but he couldn't resist, expecting the small act to be his last involvement in the meeting of the two women.
"Excuse me," he gently greeted the person behind the desk, offering a polite smile as he did so. "Is Faith Augustin available? Yeva of Rharne is here to see her."