Shadows 10.1
Jun. 22nd, 2007 10:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
measured_wordsI know, i know - but as I said, it is easier to carry around a book and write in it than to work on things that require my laptop. I have kinda sorta started a new Pieces bit though, that might be considered exciting...
Shadows 10
Hadyn sat outside, staring blankly into the shallow pool. The lotuses had hall closed their blossoms for he night, and koi flitted darkly between their stems. Teah rested quietly beside him, watching the fish and dreaming of bigger prey. The wizard sat immobile, but his mind was restless.
He knew he should be sleeping, but lately he would just lie down, mind racing – waiting. Waiting for something to happen as soon as he let down his guard. He knew it was counterproductive to wear himself out this way. He was long accustomed to insufficient rest, but this was pushing him to new extremes and he wouldn’t be able to keep it up much longer. His attempts to circumvent his own self-destructive thoughts had all failed so far. He fought the effects of sleeping draughts, and the tonics to calm his mind had less and less effect. He still had some of the fear quelling potions that Lendrick had given him, but those worked better in full panic attacks. They didn’t last long enough to help with this constant state of nervous tension. His own supplies were running low, especially bitter haglia, and it was getting harder to escape he manor to take care of his own errands. Ever since he’d accused Abe of hiding information that could be useful to stopping the cult, she’d limited his freedom and time. They didn’t trust each other and the situation was unlikely to change.
The timing was poor. Knowing that Ja’yari was out there, searching for him – to kill him – made him feel harried. His concentration was shot and he could tell this displeased the old hag as much as his perceived insolence. Hadyn was a powerful wizard. He lived in what was probably the most secure city on the continent. He had allies (at least one) who would come to his side in minutes if called. He had Teah. He had, in desperation, a demon that was as committed to the preservation of his self as Hadyn. But he didn’t feel *safe*.
He frowned, digging his long fingers into his familiar’s dark fur. :Take me there.:
She rose without response, leading him into the shadows. He paused, pulling the words for Greater Invisibility from his scattered memory. They came more easily than he’d feared: maybe this really would work.
Teah directed him out into the city streets. He couldn’t see her, but could sense her movements through their telepathic bond, and followed down into the lower city. They moved away from the grander manors of the rich and noble, past the smaller domiciles of the less rich merchants, and into the arena of the ignored and overlooked. More people walked the streets here, even at night, and Hadyn’s frayed nerved turned them al to potential dangers. Nevermind that he had spells that could kill half the street if necessary – he was aware of his irrationality, but it rarely seemed to matter. It was one of the reasons he was reluctant to try this plan. It might not work – it might just give him further cause for paranoia.
Teah looked for him, showing through her eyes the dark crevice in the alley that she pushed her way through. Hadyn found it a few minutes later, with Teah waiting just inside the dingy basement. This was in the market quarter, and she had watched the place for a solid week to be certain of its safety. This section was scarcely used because it wasn’t secure enough to protect any goods from theft. A thick wooden door at the other side of the room was barred with rusty chains. Discarded rags and broken glass proved that the area had been used by some of Shiroeki’s homeless, or its less reputable underclass, in the recent past.
:Down here,: she thought at him, poised over a dark hole in the floor. It had been covered by a sheet of heavy wood, but Teah had already shoved it aside. It looked quite dusty save for a few paw prints. :There are no fresh scents: she confirmed, looking back at him once before she leapt into the pit.
Hadyn waited, peering down into the opening before he lowered himself down. It was round, with stone walls like a well, but there was a stone floor about fifteen feet down. He brought a rope, and secured the grapnel as best he could to one of the stones in the wall before he climbed carefully down. He could have used a spell, but wanted to save his strength just in case.
The shadows, at least, held few threats. Teah could easily navigate by scent, and Hadyn could see well enough even in the in the pitch black tunnels. After he retrieved his rope, she led down through a complex of what appeared to be disused sewers. Hadyn was briefly reminded of his explorations of Trylith’s sewers with Piove, Valentine, Sterling, Triskin, and the other local knights of Esthalos. Hopefully he would not encounter any undead down here, or any Crimson Sorcerers. Surely Teah would have seen signs though – he trusted her senses.
The rock of the walls was covered in lichen and moss which thrived on the trickle of water that dripped down from the city above, leaving occasional shallow puddles on the floor. Hadyn did his best to avoid these, but his long kimono trailed through some despite his efforts. He would have to clean up before he returned to the villa. He was considering this, and also the extra equipment he would need to transport to make this work (having already made some inquiries with some discreet local vendors), when Teah stopped at a threshold and looked back.
He stepped past – the chamber looked adequate at first glance. The stone walls were reinforced with brick here, and the space was bisected by a sturdy looking archway.
:Nothing but rats has been here in many years,: Teah reassured him. Hadyn was already inspecting an Imperial glyph carved into the arch, marking the reign of the Emperor during whose reign it had been built. If he was reckoning his dynasties properly, it meant this construction was several centuries old.
:It will serve,: he replied after some further consideration. :Have you explored beyond this point?:
:Yes. More tunnels, more rats. That is all.: She sat in the doorway, tail flicking back and forth. She was watching him, trying to assess his feeling. Teah was worried, he knew, and was hoping this undertaking would settle his mind. Or at least provide some needed distraction.
He sighed, hoping for the same. He could bring in more equipment tomorrow, but he needed to at least temporarily secure the shelter first. Two of his more destructive spells effectively sealed the exits, caving in the ceiling of the tunnels outside. The rubble was loose enough to allow some airflow, but would prevent all but the most determined from finding the chamber. He cast Alarm, planning toward the place more thoroughly later.
Hadyn paused, considering briefly the venture he was about to undertake. Then, carefully assuming an air of confidence, he shrugged. Pulling out of his pack a sharp knife, a shallow glass basin, and a wineskin that contained a solution of seawater and certain preservative herbs that he had prepared ahead of time, he spoke – not sure if he was addressing himself or Teah.
“Shall I begin?”
Shadows 10
Hadyn sat outside, staring blankly into the shallow pool. The lotuses had hall closed their blossoms for he night, and koi flitted darkly between their stems. Teah rested quietly beside him, watching the fish and dreaming of bigger prey. The wizard sat immobile, but his mind was restless.
He knew he should be sleeping, but lately he would just lie down, mind racing – waiting. Waiting for something to happen as soon as he let down his guard. He knew it was counterproductive to wear himself out this way. He was long accustomed to insufficient rest, but this was pushing him to new extremes and he wouldn’t be able to keep it up much longer. His attempts to circumvent his own self-destructive thoughts had all failed so far. He fought the effects of sleeping draughts, and the tonics to calm his mind had less and less effect. He still had some of the fear quelling potions that Lendrick had given him, but those worked better in full panic attacks. They didn’t last long enough to help with this constant state of nervous tension. His own supplies were running low, especially bitter haglia, and it was getting harder to escape he manor to take care of his own errands. Ever since he’d accused Abe of hiding information that could be useful to stopping the cult, she’d limited his freedom and time. They didn’t trust each other and the situation was unlikely to change.
The timing was poor. Knowing that Ja’yari was out there, searching for him – to kill him – made him feel harried. His concentration was shot and he could tell this displeased the old hag as much as his perceived insolence. Hadyn was a powerful wizard. He lived in what was probably the most secure city on the continent. He had allies (at least one) who would come to his side in minutes if called. He had Teah. He had, in desperation, a demon that was as committed to the preservation of his self as Hadyn. But he didn’t feel *safe*.
He frowned, digging his long fingers into his familiar’s dark fur. :Take me there.:
She rose without response, leading him into the shadows. He paused, pulling the words for Greater Invisibility from his scattered memory. They came more easily than he’d feared: maybe this really would work.
Teah directed him out into the city streets. He couldn’t see her, but could sense her movements through their telepathic bond, and followed down into the lower city. They moved away from the grander manors of the rich and noble, past the smaller domiciles of the less rich merchants, and into the arena of the ignored and overlooked. More people walked the streets here, even at night, and Hadyn’s frayed nerved turned them al to potential dangers. Nevermind that he had spells that could kill half the street if necessary – he was aware of his irrationality, but it rarely seemed to matter. It was one of the reasons he was reluctant to try this plan. It might not work – it might just give him further cause for paranoia.
Teah looked for him, showing through her eyes the dark crevice in the alley that she pushed her way through. Hadyn found it a few minutes later, with Teah waiting just inside the dingy basement. This was in the market quarter, and she had watched the place for a solid week to be certain of its safety. This section was scarcely used because it wasn’t secure enough to protect any goods from theft. A thick wooden door at the other side of the room was barred with rusty chains. Discarded rags and broken glass proved that the area had been used by some of Shiroeki’s homeless, or its less reputable underclass, in the recent past.
:Down here,: she thought at him, poised over a dark hole in the floor. It had been covered by a sheet of heavy wood, but Teah had already shoved it aside. It looked quite dusty save for a few paw prints. :There are no fresh scents: she confirmed, looking back at him once before she leapt into the pit.
Hadyn waited, peering down into the opening before he lowered himself down. It was round, with stone walls like a well, but there was a stone floor about fifteen feet down. He brought a rope, and secured the grapnel as best he could to one of the stones in the wall before he climbed carefully down. He could have used a spell, but wanted to save his strength just in case.
The shadows, at least, held few threats. Teah could easily navigate by scent, and Hadyn could see well enough even in the in the pitch black tunnels. After he retrieved his rope, she led down through a complex of what appeared to be disused sewers. Hadyn was briefly reminded of his explorations of Trylith’s sewers with Piove, Valentine, Sterling, Triskin, and the other local knights of Esthalos. Hopefully he would not encounter any undead down here, or any Crimson Sorcerers. Surely Teah would have seen signs though – he trusted her senses.
The rock of the walls was covered in lichen and moss which thrived on the trickle of water that dripped down from the city above, leaving occasional shallow puddles on the floor. Hadyn did his best to avoid these, but his long kimono trailed through some despite his efforts. He would have to clean up before he returned to the villa. He was considering this, and also the extra equipment he would need to transport to make this work (having already made some inquiries with some discreet local vendors), when Teah stopped at a threshold and looked back.
He stepped past – the chamber looked adequate at first glance. The stone walls were reinforced with brick here, and the space was bisected by a sturdy looking archway.
:Nothing but rats has been here in many years,: Teah reassured him. Hadyn was already inspecting an Imperial glyph carved into the arch, marking the reign of the Emperor during whose reign it had been built. If he was reckoning his dynasties properly, it meant this construction was several centuries old.
:It will serve,: he replied after some further consideration. :Have you explored beyond this point?:
:Yes. More tunnels, more rats. That is all.: She sat in the doorway, tail flicking back and forth. She was watching him, trying to assess his feeling. Teah was worried, he knew, and was hoping this undertaking would settle his mind. Or at least provide some needed distraction.
He sighed, hoping for the same. He could bring in more equipment tomorrow, but he needed to at least temporarily secure the shelter first. Two of his more destructive spells effectively sealed the exits, caving in the ceiling of the tunnels outside. The rubble was loose enough to allow some airflow, but would prevent all but the most determined from finding the chamber. He cast Alarm, planning toward the place more thoroughly later.
Hadyn paused, considering briefly the venture he was about to undertake. Then, carefully assuming an air of confidence, he shrugged. Pulling out of his pack a sharp knife, a shallow glass basin, and a wineskin that contained a solution of seawater and certain preservative herbs that he had prepared ahead of time, he spoke – not sure if he was addressing himself or Teah.
“Shall I begin?”
