Protecting the World (Elyna)

[Kylar]

17th Zi'da

Kylar walked towards the riders camp. As he was working under Malcolm, he had opted to camp with the main force of the military. It was the fifth break and Kylar had struggled to sleep that night. Had it not been for Crimson's comfort, he would have probably not slept at all. But he was ready and willing to talk to Elyna, and do whatever else she asked of him. After all, he was a Skyrider under her command. Be it orders to follow or conversation to have, she was the one he should go to.
Up his sleeve was his dagger and his crossbow on his back. On a normal expedition his guard would be down, but after the recent events he'd been through he wasn't prepared to lower his guard for a second. As such, Crimson was woken by him and had the dagger by her side in case she needed to use it. After all, who knew when she might need it.

After some time, Kylar arrived at the small group of riders that were setting up. He didn't recognize any, but he never made it his business to. He was here to do his job, and trying to know everyone would be near impossible. Until he had to work alongside them he didn't have much business knowing of them anyway. After all, he would spend too much time worrying while they were out doing things and he was elsewhere.
If anything, that was why he avoided attachment to people. He worried, a lot, about everything. The last thing he needed was a large group of people he wanted to save but couldn't. Crimson was enough to worry about, now he had Atashi, Faith and Malcolm in the mix and it was all looking rather unfortunate for him on the 'not worrying' side of things.

Kylar scanned the crowd for a while, pacing around until he found Ser Elyna. She seemed to be doing something, but he decided to approach her nonetheless - perhaps he could help. When he arrived in front of her, he gave a salute.
"Sorry for the disturbance, Ser. How can I be of assistance?"

[Elyna]

Elyna was knelt on the ground. Snow melting into her breeches and seeping through the join in her boots, where the leather was stitched to the sole. With the constant snow, she felt as though having damp patches on her knees was becoming a permanent fixture. But, with the pad of the Volareon rested on her lap, she had the best opportunity to part the creatures toes and ensure nothing was caught in the rough skin. A thorn left to fester, or an errant pine needle trapped between toes could cause the creature to go lame. In infection could cause a lost toe, or foot or leg. The woman would suffer the embarrassment, as the rest of her unit did, of appearing a little scruffy if it meant their mounts were properly cared for.

Toes and pads checked, Elyna set the paw down and looked up into a pair of dark eyes. The volareon let out a huff of breath beside her ear, which saw her shiver. Shaking her head but smiling, the captain pulled a strip of dried jerky from her pocket and threw it vertically into the air. Trying not to wince as the animal leapt, snatching it out of the sky and settled back down. Snow and ice scattered everywhere and Elyna herself covered in misplaced snow and mud. She sighed and turned to watch the skyrider approach.

“Kylar, isn’t it?” She stood up, knees stiff from being awkwardly crouched for so long. She brushed the worst of the snow from her trousers and leather jerkin before finally rubbing her hands through her hair, like a dog trying to shake off the snow from its fur. Finally she straightened.

“I was under the impression that you wanted to discuss something with me?” She tilted her head to the side. He’d asked to speak to her the previous trial after all.

[Kylar]

He waited patiently for Elyna to finish, before she turned around and addressed him. Had he not been a skyrider himself, he would probably be confused as to the state she was in - but he understood. He'd done the job a few times, and seen his fellow riders to it much more. He definitely understood. As she looked to him, he stood tall in his black armor - his chest decorated with the single wing he had earned.
"Yes Ser, Kylar Fulthar. It's a pleasure" he said politely. Despite seeing Elyna before, their conversations had been few and far between. This felt like his first formal introduction, which he felt was strange considering her rank compared to his. He should be working at least a little closer to her, or so it would be normally. But despite not being a rider, it was Malcolm who agreed to take Kylar in.

"I did, Ser. But I would also like to help as much as I can. Perhaps I can work while I talk?" he asked. He wanted this impression to be a good one, as it was their first official one. Although, last time they had met he had a crossbow aimed at her now-shadow's head, so perhaps the first impression was far gone. Either way, his services were hers. He respected this woman, and he needed to be on her good side as much as he could be. His eyes turned to the Volareon, trying to distract himself from the topic he wanted to ask her about.
"Ser Elyna, I have a few concerns. As my captain, it's only respectful that I come and speak to you about them" he said, trying to avoid beating around the bush. He just had to get it out. He took in a deep breath, the discomfort evident on his face. After a few trills of pause, he continued.
"Recently, I was wed to a beautiful woman - one you met once I believe. As you know, she came with me on this expedition. But, recent events..." he said, voice fading at the end. She would know what he was referring to. Best to avoid it. Besides, no beating around the bush. "Crimson, my wife, may be pregnant" he finally said. He took in a deep breath, feeling himself start to shake a little. He hoped that Elyna assumed it was the cold, but it wasn't. It was fear and uncertainty.
"When it was just her, I thought I could protect her - train her enough that if she needed to she could fight to survive. But now it's different. I've never been a father, nor have I ever loved a woman as much as I love her. I need her safe, Ser, and I'm scared that she isn't."

For a few trills, Kylar stopped to think. What did he want? Her safety was vague and broad. But what was the safest option?
"I don't want her at risk here. There are a few people I trust here, as well as myself. The best option for me is that she stays by my side at all times, meaning me and her avoid as much of the battle as possible. Another that would make me comfortable would be if she could stay with Faith and Padraig, two I believe you're familiar with. I trust them, and they know how to fight. They can keep her safe for me."
Now the fear kicked in, as he took a deep breath for his last option. "If neither of those will work, then I request she gets sent home - with me by her side"

[Elyna]

The woman couldn’t help but smile at his desire to prove himself and carry on working. She gestured to a pot of oil “you can help me run this through this one’s feathers,” she led the way to a smaller Volareon. The creature caught a sniff of the oil and dutifully spread out ink coloured wings, holding them above the damp ground. He watched Kylar with a sharp eye. Elyna showed the young man how to fan the feathers gently and add a tiny droplet of the oil into the base, “the Volareon have their own oils to protect them from the weather, they run it from the base to the tip, this though, this is a little extra help when it’s cold and wet. Much colder here than they’d usually chose the live.” She watched him work, giving a few smaller pointers to help him improve.

It was then that he started talking and her heart sunk through her stomach and to her boots. She bowed her head, considering her answer, giving a smile of congratulations as the wedding was announced. She smoothed her fingers through a feather, straightening out the plumage that had gone ary. She let out a slow breath of air and looked up at Kylar, “I can only offer congratulations on your marriage and your expected baby,” the smile she gave was genuine, but fleeting. Of all people, she felt that she could understand his predicament. Yet…yet this was an army camp.

“Kylar, Crimson is not safe here. Even if she weren’t pregnant, you are here as a skyrider first and a nothing else second. You’ve joined the Iron Hand whilst you are here, on this mission, it is your responsibility to put the ‘Hand first. I…I understand, truly I know why you felt she should join you and as a warrior, or longbowman she is valuable to us. I cannot allow her to remain here, if she will require an escort or armed guard. There aren’t enough of us to detail a protection. I’m sorry,” the words fled her tongue but she held his gaze. Any warmth in her gaze had faded to sadness, “if you leave with her… then you are deserting your post,” she shook her head, “don’t…rush into anything. I need to consider this,” she drew in a deep breath and pushed her fingers up, through her hair. “How far is she?”

[Kylar]

Kylar took Ser Elyna's advice on the oils, spreading it gently over the wing. As the Volareon was watching him, he slowed down. He knew that going fast in front of a startled animal would do the opposite of help the situation. Besides, this wasn't his Volareon, he had to be precise for the sake of whoever was due to ride this one. It was his duty, after all.

The captain's words sent shivers down his spine. He already knew it, but to hear a higher ranking member say she wasn't safe here was painful. He considered his options. He couldn't desert, he knew that much. He'd be in prison, and that would do him no good. But he couldn't send her back alone, they were too far out and she could easily be attacked with no means of defending herself. He might never see her again. He didn't want a permanent guard, just a guarantee that when she needed it, she wouldn't be alone. But nobody could guarantee that, and he knew it.
"Well, it was late Vhalar, just before the last expedition with Ser Malcolm, so not that long" he explained. He took in a sigh. "Captain, I trust Ser Malcolm with my life. I would never desert his cause, no matter what. He saved my life and I hope to one day save his. But it's too late for Crimson to go home on her own, which means when I'm not in combat I'll never leave her side unless I trust she's with someone else."

Kylar looked to his captain with a serious look. He respected Elyna, and it was obvious she hated giving him this news, but he had to tell her everything. "I gave her my best dagger. Should someone attack her, she knows what she needs to do - even if it's one of our own. Anything she does with that dagger falls on me."
For a moment he fell silent. "I hate even saying this to you, Captain. I hate even thinking it, I truthfully do. But after recent events, I need to look out for her" he explained. "When I went away with Ser Malcolm, I got myself injured. I could barely stand myself for letting that happen, and for that I let Crimson suffer. I need to be there for her, now more than ever before. We have a child to raise, and I plan on raising it with her. No matter what."

He took a moment, then saluted once more.
"I'm sorry for the ramble, Ser. Let me start again. My name is Kylar, and I'm here for the Iron Hand. I'm no deserter, Captain. Never will be."

[Elyna]

Elyna did a quick calculation of numbers as Kylar gave his answer and her brows lifted in surprise, “I’m surprised she can tell so early,” she admitted before shrugging the sentiment away. When she’d found herself pregnant with Elsie, it had taken a good sixty trials for her to realise that things weren’t exactly…normal. Then, she hadn’t exactly planned to fall pregnant by the husband of another woman.

The skyrider smoothed her fingertips over the feathers, working from the join of one wing whilst Kylar worked on the other. Taking care to gently itch the space between body and wing, which had a tendency to trap mites in the creature. This animal was healthy, and the woman suspected that the cold weather prevented the mites from being too active, but the volareon had a tendency to appreciate the scratching sensation in a place they found harder to reach.

Elyna listened to his impassioned commitment to the cause and nodded. They needed more skyriders and knights like Kylar that much was certain. “If you want to make arrangements for someone to stay with your wife, you will need to make them. If we reach a point when an attack on the Qe’dreki is planned, I imagine there will be a number of people left behind in camp, with guards. It is probably the best chance you have at keeping her safe, and performing your own duty.” As she spoke, the captain continued easing the oil through from the base of the feathers. It coated her hands and wrists and smelt faintly of lemongrass.

“I’m relieved to hear you’re so committed,” she looked up at him and smile suddenly, realising that no word he’d spoken had been a lie. The expression was quick to fade and she let out a slow breath, “but if your…ambition in life is to be a personal guard for your wife and child, Kylar, this may not be the career for you. As a skyrider, you will often be away from home. Your wife, your child will not be able to accompany you; and it is dangerous to be a soldier. We will always do our best to protect our ranks, but you’e choosing the life of a warrior. You put your life at risk. If you were a smith, or a baker, there is always risk in the world that an accident could happen, but your business wouldn’t be death.” She tilted her head to the side, she didn’t want to put him off his chosen profession, but his ideals were conflicted with the reality.

The woman couldn’t help but wonder at her own choices in life. She and Malcolm both lived dangerous, reckless lives. They’d left a baby behind in Andaris in the care of her parents. The noble woman dropped her gaze, “it’s hard to leave a child behind, Kylar. It’s a hard thing to let the person you love, set off to fight for the crown; because at that point they’re making a choice. The same choice they make every time they leave. That leaving and working for something, larger, greater, grander…is more important to them than staying behind, with you.”

[Kylar]

"The child is no certainty, but it's suspected. Either way though, she's more than enough reason to worry" he explained. He focused his attention to the Volareon again for a short moment, making sure not to hurt the creature in any way. If anything, he was just grateful to have the distraction. He scratched under the gap between the torso and wing, as he saw Elyna was doing.
"No need for guards, Captain. I have someone in mind. Besides, I gave her the best dagger I own - perhaps she could learn a few things while she was here for both now and the future" he said confidently, not taking his eyes away from the Volareon. He trusted his wife, and although he didn't want her to be in danger it was better safe than sorry

Kylar listened to her whole talk before replying. He felt sorry for the Captain, and whether it was out of place or not he intended on reassuring her the best a clueless Lotharro could. He went over to her side of the Volareon, having near enough finished with his. He knelt beside her and smiled sincerely.
"Your words sound like that of experience, and for that I'm sorry. But...I wish to reassure you, and make you a vow as a rider under command of Ser Malcolm and the Iron Hand" he said, with a half serious tone but keeping it comforting. "I know the risk of this fight and this role, Ser Elyna, and I know that might mean risking my life. I never want to hurt my child, or my wife, or anyone who cares for me even a slight bit. So, the choice is a clear one."
He put his hand on his wing and closed his fist on it for a second. He felt pride holding it. "I'm not quitting the riders, nor am I dying on my wife and potential child. Nor will I let myself die for either you or the Warden, Captain. Instead, I will train. I will train my hardest and perfect myself. I made a vow to both myself and my Immortal that I would save everyone I could, and I plan on keeping that."

After a short pause, he smiled as sincerely as he had on this entire expedition to Elyna.
"I can do both, Captain, and I truly believe that. All I can't promise you is that the battle will be more important than my wife. Nor my child or friends. As a matter of fact, nor you, Captain. I fight for the people, be they civilians or soldiers. By definition, that means the fight is never more important."