[240104.09 Ancient ch`Rihan: Deep south]
The warped woman, clad only in her doji, sits on top of a small rock in the middle of a hotspring. While it is snowing, the water and the air around her is pleasantly warm. She is aware of the observing presence, as she has been for the hours it has tailed her through the woods. Confident with her prowess, she does little more than keep her Kaleh near by, but otherwise does not tense for action.
A shriveled old man, but who moves through the foliage as if he were someone a tenth of his age, moves camouflaged up to the hotspring. The old man approaches further, crouching behind a large rock, and peeking out to observe.
In a slight to her stalker, Aemhig steps off her rock, and back into the water for a nice scrub. She had come to love these moments in baths-- in real water, and dearly regretted that she would have to give it up sooner than she liked.
"Ah," the monk steps out, his mushroom shaped hat looking more like a wort on his rock, than a man with a hat. "shadow woman... au'rh a long way from home..."
Aemhig continues to 'ignore' the old man, but for her peripheral vision. Sitting down, she opens a flask of rice wine she had stolen from the tavern the night before, and sits, waiting for him to introduce himself, and get at what he wanted. The man waits for himself to be acknowledged, before losing patience. "Care to tell me what io of au are doing here?"
"One of us, me, being myself, tired and dirty, is taking a bath in a relaxing spring old man. Were I more than 'io' people, I would be doing other things. As it is, I am not, and am not doing other things."
"I meant this far south." the man takes a few steps forward, though is obviously confused by her total lack of direct speaking. "Ninte people are much more to the north."
"My people are the trees, the stars, and the declared. We are everywhere. north and south and east and west. What riddles this, old man, do you speak at me, and why should I care to answer?" the captain lets her dish/cup float on the warm water around her.
"I speak to au because of the greatness I sense in au." He grins and takes a seat, enjoying the mostly unobstructed view.
"Speak on." Aemhig calmly replies, leaning against a rock as if it were a pillow.
"I saw au take on that farmer... au are easy to underestimate. But au have the same mark of the Vhorani as the others."
Tracing a finger over her tattooed left arm, some what absorbed in her own memories, she replies indirectly. "Were those who bore this mark, and those who bore these marks upon to me here, would this warm bath be the warmer, and the greater pool of blood be spread out across the globes..."
"Ninte mind is fog, child..." the monk grunts. "But au are still capable of focus, as the lightning bolt in the storm."
"Aye." she picks up her cup dish and drinks from it elegantly. "I suppose I make it so. What is it au wish of the young t`Rihu old monk?"
"I simply wish to offer my services, as a dedicated priest, and native of this place, so that I make be a part, however small, in ninte destiny."
"Destiny is of mine, and mine, to catch and create old monk. Still, in some small way, all of us may partake of the destiny. If you would..." she stands, her sword at her side, the water running streams off her chest. "Lead the way further south, to the house lords hearths. There is a war we must put to an end"
The old man's eyes move up "Ie, that I will..."
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