Noon in Secstial

[Ayvajin]

The sun was high in the sky blazing down over the village of Secstial. A sharp wind blew through the streets, rustling up sand and dirt and whirling them around. There was a promise of a sandstorm to come from the west, but the people paid the warning from the breeze no mind. Sandstorms were a normal occurrence in the desert village, and the people had gotten use to working around such things.

The Madubi was buzzing with people at this hour which was normal. Many villagers came to the market place to get food for the next meal around this time daily. Living in this desert environment had made these people strong and heat resistant. The scorching sun would not stop these people from living.

Ten years had passed since Ayvajin had last been in Secstial. She knew she was overdo on seeing the village again, but time, like the desert sand, seem to always slip through her fingers. There were only few from the village who knew the necromancer anymore. The Sceras, the family who took in Ayvajin when she was an infant, had passed away. What remained of the family were great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of Ayvajin’s parents. The necromancer recognized them as family, but they distanced themselves from her.

Ayvajin let out a sigh as her eyes scanned the Madubi. The village never really changed over the years which was why the necromancer loved it so dearly. A smile slipped across Ayvajin’s lips as she tossed her loose, long hair back over her shoulder. She had decided to get a few things from the marketplace for her to eat for her dinner this night.

The necromancer walked down the street, looking into the stores in the Madubi. She had decided to wear something simple instead of her usual dress. She wore a sleeveless white shirt that fell down to a white skirt that stopped above her knee. Upon her feet were laced up sandals; their laces going up to her knee. Upon the necromancer’s back was her sword.

Ayvajin stopped in front of one of the stores that was selling fresh bread. Her light colored eyes scanned over what was being offered.

[wingzteh1st]

Ran'Cris yawned and wiped the sweat from his brow. This place was nothing like his home in the icy hills of The Forsaken Land and yet exactly the same. A village of strong hard people with wills of steel, and maybe a coin or two in their pockets to spare. On the display stand before him he had various ancient gilded daggers laying out, not his most valuable merchandise by far, but you had to show off what you thought a person could afford. All around him people scurried about and a strong gust of wind blew sand into his face. He almost growled, almost. Can't scare away potential customers with acts of bestial rage. This wasn't home after all.

Ran'Cris scanned the crowd and the fellow merchants lining the sides of the street. Common folk for the most part, with a beggar or two sheltering beneath shoddy tents trying to soak in shade like a valuable resource. Maybe even more so than the money that their empty hands grasped for. Suddenly a few stands over (at a baked goods stand) someone caught his eye, she was beautiful; and from the looks of her dress, well off as well. Now Ran'Cris was not one to swindle, and even if he was, he knew instantly that this person was not one to be swindled. He knew her type instantly, a Necromancer. Strange to find one so far south as this. But perhaps, with a twist of luck, she may find some thing of use in this pile of assorted artifacts.

Raising his hand in a friendly gesture he called out with a toothy smile (hopefully not too toothy)

"Ah! Madam, I implore you, Come and view my modest collection of antiquated items! Collected from every corner of the map. Perhaps you may find some thing that interests you! Alas, you may think I a swindler, but surely a woman of your experience and intellectual depth will be more than capable at pointing me out a fraud! Truly Madam, you have nothing to loose and only your scrutiny will tell if any items i possess are worthwhile to you! So come now, I don't bite!"

[Ayvajin]

A short moment passed before Ayvajin realized that someone was calling out to her. The necromancer seemed always distracted by her thoughts, and this moment was no exception. Her eyes slowly drifted away from the fresh bread that was in front of her over to the werewolf merchant who was calling out to her.

“On the contrary, dear werewolf, you would have to bite or you would be unable to eat,” Ayvajin said, her voice soft as she walked over to where the werewolf was selling his goods. “But if you were referring to biting me, well, I already have no worries of that.”

She gave a slight laugh, a sparkle in her eyes as they looked at what the werewolf was trying desperately to sell. The necromancer knew she would take no interest in anything that he was selling. Ayvajin was one to only buy necessary items which included: food, water, clothing, medicine, and weapons when needed.

“What makes you believe that I would take an interest in any of your goods?” she asked him directly. “I am one to only buy what I need for survival. Tell me why I would need any of these extra items?”

[wingzteh1st]

The Necromancer seemed startled being drawn from her personal revelries, a quick frown fluttered across Ran's face. Maybe slightly too boisterous he muttered quietly to himself before she turned to face him.

"Ah, Madam. How right you are! I wish no quarrel with you good Necromancer, I meant no threat and I am most certain you could easily take care of yourself,"

He made a deep bow to his waist, "But I assure you, I would as soon as bite you as bite myself,"

Smiling, Ran'cris righted himself again "But not for a lack of desirability I might add,"

Eyeing the necromancer carefully he noted several things, "By the look of things you most certainly speak truth! You are a woman of simple yet elegant tastes, your taste in jewels is most certainly exquisite. These daggers," Motioning with his clawed hand "Are least of my inventory, I implore you, take a look upon my jewels for I think they would be of more interest to you. Even were you not to buy from me this day I can at least feel accomplished on the basis that a beautiful woman has taken a gander upon my jewels,"

With a large smile he crouched down and brought up a small leather box which he opened revealing a rainbow assortment of different uncut raw jewels.

[Ayvajin]

Ayvajin gazed down upon the gems in the box. She was not one to buy jewelry. The only jewelry she had ever bought was traditional jewelry from Secstial. All the other gems and jewels that she possessed were gifts from those she had helped over the years with her work in exorcisms. Those gems were truly rare and most had come from Avalast and the Daydren Caves.

“I enjoy your enthusiasm, but I must say that none of this interests me,” the necromancer said as bluntly as possible. “Good try, though. I am a simple type of woman. I tend not to look for jewelry and gemstones. If they are given to me, I accept them for I am not one to be rude. Sorry that your quest for making me a buyer of your goods must end.”

[wingzteh1st]

"Well now, I don't see it as a loss Madam Necromancer, I see it as a blessing of insight into the workings of a Necromancers mind. And you are truly most admirable,"

He packed up his small box of Gems and locked it and began gliding around behind his stand packing up.

"There appears to be a sand storm of some magnitude sweeping its way across the desert this day. I plan to have myself and my wears in shelter before it arrives,"


He once again wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to face the beautiful necromancer. Her eyes were stunning by all accounts and he couldn't stop from staring for a moment, shaking his head he smiled and turned away.

"Good mistress, I am simply a man traveling through this town, I came from the deep southern desert where I actually collected these daggers in what was left of some stone ruins. I am originally from the Forsaken Lands and I am not familiar with this town. Would you be able to suggest a place where I could stay for the night or possibly just to wait out this storm? If you could I would be more than grateful, and for your assistance I will purchase you that bread, that you were about to earlier. And I won't hear any argument about it!"

The wolf man smiled and packed away the rest of his goods in the carrying pack upon his donkeys back where a cat lay lazily in the sun basking itself like a snake. The man stroked the cat gently and turned around to face the Necromancer kicking up a little cloud of dust.

"Now as for that bread, I insist you allow me to buy it for you,"
He smiled once again still hoping it wasn't too toothy.

[Ayvajin]

The necromancer looked away from the werewolf down the road to where she could see some of the desert laid out beyond the town. She fell silent in thought as she gauged how much longer it would be before the sandstorm would hit the village. Ayvajin looked back to the merchant after a long moment.

“You are quite far from the Forsaken Lands and in a far different climate. The desert would definitely be the extreme to the tundra. You are quite out of your element, werewolf.” She sent him a smile, hoping it would warm up her previous words.

“There is the inn where I am staying at for a few days. They take in travelers quite often for a very small fee. But if you were looking for some place to get away from the coming sandstorm for a few hours or so, I would say for you to simply go to the Quicksand. It is a tavern not too far from here. I could even take you there.”

Ayvajin paused in her words for a moment as she thought about his offer to buy her the bread she had been about to buy before the werewolf had started to talk to her. “There is no reason for you to buy this stranger the bread she seeks. I can handle paying for it.”

[wingzteh1st]

The Werewolf's smile brightened, but he quickly hid that away.

"Now certainly, you can allow me to purchase you a glass of wine at The Quicksand before showing me to the Inn. I wouldn't mind your company, and you look as though you can use one. But perhaps I'm just projecting my need for one on you,"

The wind rushing down the street suddenly picked up and the cat laying on the donkey shrieked digging its claws into the canvas covering the merchandise. In the distance a dust devil could be seen rolling across the sandy dunes kicking up clouds of dust into the atmosphere. Behind the dust devil a seemingly solid wall of the brown was rolling across the dunes as far as the eye could see.

"If you were still in need of that bread I would suggest you purchase it from the look of things. We wouldn't want your fine dress to get dusty now would we?"

Ran'Cris slipped out from behind the curio stand and gently took the necromancers hand kissing it briefly in a bow and he rose.

"My name, is Ran'Cris. But you can just call me Ran. It's a pleasure to meet you ... It just struck me, that I do not know your name, How rude of me, I assure you I am usually far better mannered than I am right now, It must be the heat getting inside my skull and fuddling my senses,"

Ran snapped his fingers and the donkey behind the counter followed him out, the cat stretching and slinking under the burlap canvas draped over the goods and fastened with a leather belt.

[Ayvajin]

Ayvajin gave a slight nod of her head as the werewolf formally introduced himself to her. “I am Ayvajin,” she told him with a slight smile. Her eyes looked away out toward the coming sandstorm. “I think I still have time.”

The necromancer was quite unconcerned with the sandstorm coming into the town. She had dealt with many of them while growing up, and she was use to the winds and the thick amount of sand that came with them.

Ayvajin turned from Ran’Cris and walked over to the bread stand. The baker was starting to pack up. The necromancer purchased her bread after a few quick moments of talking to the seller. She sent him a smile as she took the bread she had just bought.

“Come on,” she said to the werewolf, gesturing down the street. “It’s a short walk from here.”

[wingzteh1st]

Ran'Cris followed the Necromancer down the street for a short distance looking at the surrounding buildings, but mostly at the necromancer who's hips drew him in with every step. She was like nothing he had seen before, not in all of his travels had he found a creature as tantalizing and stimulating as this Necromancer leading him on.

Succubi couldn't compare in the least, they generated an aura of sex and scandal nothing more. This creature, this necromancer was a whole other species of mysterious seduction. When she moved she flowed like water and created a whirl pool of the mind. It was hard to believe a creature such as this had banished demonic spirits and could control the swirling vortexes of death that lay just beneath the fabric of reality.

She glowed with a subtle power that was languid in appearance, but seethed in every step. An ocean of Energy just beneath her silky flesh.

When he realized that he'd been staring he looked away noticing shop keepers closing up before the storm staring in his direction with raised eyebrows. He whined and tried to play it off as if the billowing ominous cloud of whirling sand looming just out of the city was making him nervous. Not that it wasn't a complete lie, he had only been into the southern wastes a couple of times before, yet never experienced a sand storm such as this.

Back home when the occasional traveler would cross the path of the packs territory, he would sit for hours some times and listen to the stories that they told him of different lands such as the sandstorms of the southern wastes which could tear flesh from bone. This was when he was still young and fresh on the post of sentinel. There was more than one occasion he'd been scorned by the beta for catching him slacking off.

But now experiencing one he was glad for the distraction from the mesmerizing Necromancer walking in front of him.

"Stop for a moment if you please," Ran had eyed a stable and he brought the donkey over and payed the stable boy to take in the donkey and the goods for a while.

"Remember boy, if anything happens to these good, you'll be playing in blood," He let the boy see a toothy wolf like grin and that more than did the trick.

"Yes sir," the boy responded quickly.

Now in reality if something happened to the artifacts the donkey carried it would jut be troublesome at most, the selling of the artifacts was just a hobby after all. The true treasures were the memories floating around in his skull of how he came about acquiring the items. They are truly what he lived for.

And another memory came floating up, the necromancer. It appeared nothing could distract him long from her. Ayvajin, a unique name, he had never heard anything like it.

He turned toward her and smiled, "Thank you for stopping, shall we continue?"

[Ayvajin]

“It is fine,” Ayvajin responded with a smile as the werewolf stepped back over to her. “You should be kind to the stable boy, though. You never know what might end up in your food or your water in a town like this by a simple insult or a threat.”

The necromancer’s smile widened a bit more as she turned and continued to lead the werewolf down the street toward the Quicksand. She had always known the people of Secstial to be very close to one another, and it was quite understanding why. A human village anywhere had to be a close knit society. Ayvajin knew personally how hard humans struggled to live in the world. She had seen many get discriminated against just for being what they were, humans. She knew that when humans were grouped together, they all looked out for each other.

Ayvajin glanced back at Ran’Cris. “Please, do not take my words as threats,” she told him. “Take them more as a warning. I have traveled all over Yviex, and I do know what people are capable of, especially humans.”

She turned back to look in front of her as they approached the tavern.

[wingzteh1st]

Every smile she passed back at the wolf send shivers up his spine, and his hair stood on end. He was surprised at the reaction but met smile by smile.

"Oh believe me, I understand, I too have traveled the world. And I have also witnessed the injustices brought upon humans. They look at danger so bravely yet they are still looked at as if someone had just told a fine joke. The bravery of the human is astounding, it is their one great ability that most discredit. Strength shouldn't be decided by the ability to move mountains with ones mind, or uproot a great tree with a hand. But by the quality of their resolve, the strength of their character and heart. Believe me when I say I'm not like most werewolves, I only do what is necessary I avoid blood shed when possible. Those paltry items on that ass mean little to me. It's the memories that I truly value. That boy could take all of it and I wouldn't bat an eye. But if he tried to take my cat I might just make good my promise."

Ran laughed to himself and looked back at the ever looming closer wall of sand. It would be upon the town in a couple minutes. He was glad the tavern was in sight.

"I take it you are from this village, you have the same demenor of the rest of the citizens her concerning this sand storm. You will have to come to tell me how a necromancer of your standing would have come to grow up her Ayvajin,"

The pair entered the Tavern, Ran'Cris with one last look over his shoulder at the menacing cloud of sand that would be soon making its way down the streets of town.

[Ayvajin]

Ayvajin stepped into the tavern, her eyes wandering over the walls and the tables. The Quicksand looked the same. The tavern seemed to always be dimly lit by candles even during the day. The necromancer had always enjoyed the dark coolness of the bar. It was always soothing, especially during the hottest days in the desert.

The necromancer made her way around the tables, finding an empty one for her and the werewolf to sit at. She found one along the east wall of the tavern and sat down. Ayvajin turned her attention back to Ran’Cris.

“I really do not need anything to drink,” she told him. “If you want wine or beer, you go ahead and get some. I really do not need it.” She gave a smile, pushing what hair had slipped down in front of her back over her shoulder.

The necromancer was being truthful, though. She never drank much of anything, nor did she eat that much. She still enjoyed the sensation of drinking and eating, but as she aged, the need for food and drink lessened.

“I would not want to be a bother to you, either,” she said, taking off the sword that rested on her back. She set it down beside her chair.

[wingzteh1st]

The air was indeed cooler in the tavern, but inside his head he was on fire, the woman in front of him was more intoxicating than Avalastian Whiskey. By the time they approached the table Ran was more than ready to sit down, his head was spinning.

"Well, If you are sure Ayvajin, I won't bother you about it. I'm sure you have your reasons."

Ran waved over the barmaid and with a quick smile and the tossing of a gold coin to her awaiting hand he purchased a bottle of red wine which the maid brought over promptly. Even that minor distraction he was grateful for. It gave him a chance to clear his head. He looked back toward Ayvajin and smiled.

"You couldn't bother me if you tried, truth be told I enjoy your company, your smile is refreshing and not to mention your the most beau..Uhm" He stammered "Entertaining woman I've met in quite a while!"

This woman had him by the tongue, Unable to form coherent thought he took another sip from his bottle and nearly choked. No woman did this to him, he prided himself on his abilities to speak to women but this one muddled his thoughts more than the heat did. Even the way her lips formed words was pushing him toward the brink insa...

"What brings you down into this desert?"

[Ayvajin]

The necromancer ran her fingers through her hair as she thought for a moment, her eyes moving off to stare in the distance. She seemed to do this quite a bit when she thought. Her memory was sharp, but at times, her memories would all group themselves together in sequences that made no sense at all. To say the last, Secstial brought back some fond memories.

Ayvajin’s eyes flashed back over to Ran’Cris. She paused as she thought of a clear response that would not be flooded with emotions too great for her to describe.

“I use to live in this village. I spent my childhood here. As an infant, I was dropped off upon my parents’ door which is why I am not like the people here. I am not human. For all I know, I might not be completely a necromancer. People have tried to call me djinn for my magical strength and partially because of my nature in general. They say I am enchanting, but I have never understood this.”

The necromancer pulled her long black hair in front of her. She let her fingers slip through the locks, enjoying how they felt underneath her touch.

“But I come back to the village every once and a while to see how things are. To make sure that the village is prospering.”

[wingzteh1st]

"Admirable, the way you treat your homeland. I'm truly starting to miss mine. Though you must think the Forsaken Land unbearable coming from such an environment as this," He jestered toward the door where outside you could see the sand storm rolling across the street with the wind roaring down the narrow valley the street made. Ran'Cris took a swig from his ale, " I know I couldn't have lived in a location such as this, I wouldn't be able to enter my wolf form for fear of overheating,"

The patrons of the bar didn't seem to stare which he found surprising, but then again. This place was one of the few places in the world where Humans truly held power. Mainly because none of the other races wanted to deal with the heat.

"Where do you plan to travel next?"

[Ayvajin]

Ayvajin thought for a moment as she thought about her journeys. She had been up to the Forsaken Land almost countless times in her life already. The Sanctuary was in those lands and the necromancer had been to see the ancient Nyrivex.

“I have been to the Forsaken Land several times already,” she told the werewolf, her eyes turning back to him. “I can bare the extreme cold just like I can bare this extreme heat. Neither one bothers me. I have grown accustom to both. I have learned to dress appropriate as well. It is just hot and cold, and I have almost become completely immune to both.”

Ayvajin smiled slightly as she thought about his next question. “I am to go up to the Sanctuary, actually. I wanted to seek counsel with Nyrivex about the problems that are arising throughout the lands. He is very wise, and I hope that he will be able to help me understand why all of this fighting is happening.”

[wingzteh1st]

Ran'Cris thought a moment before responding. Taking in the beautiful cool reflective eyes of the necromancer before him. They weren't even of the same species. There was no way he could steal a kiss from this one. Not if he attempted for the rest of his life, he was after all a wolf and she a necromancer the chances were not in his favor. He longed to be with his family again, his brother would want the proceeds from his travels. So he was going to head home, and a potential traveling company may lighten his journey back into the north.

"Well, since you are heading back into the north, you should allow me to accompany you," He smiled broadly, "Sure I'm a little rough around the edges, but I assure you on a cold night there's nothing like listening to a werewolf sing at the warmth of a campfire. And I'm not just some frivolous salesmen. My official title is High Sentinel for the Frost-Fur pack. I serve as main ambassador when I'm out and about and an Elite Sentinel when I am home amongst my brothers and sisters. I've done my share of fighting and I'm not one to hide behind others, If you will have me. I can assure you that you'll have a faithful friend and companion, and no one with hostile intent will find themselves within a fifteen mile radius of you,"

[Ayvajin]

The necromancer thought for another moment. She never minded company. It made it easier for her to travel when she had someone else traveling with her. The dead were a nice lot to talk to, but the living Ayvajin could relate to as well. Not to mention, she was constantly talking to the dead.

“Alright, I shall allow you to travel with me,” she said with a kind smile after a moment. “But I would request that you keep up with me. I tend not to sleep that much for I do not need sleep to operate. There are some days that I travel through daylight and throughout moonlight. Which I hope will be alright with you.”

Ayvajin sent him another smile. This was true. The necromancer did not need sleep even though she forced herself into sleep quite a bit to keep her sanity. She always had enough energy to keep going which was why she was glad she was her age and of her strength.

“I was planning on leaving Secstial in the morning to start my journey up north.”

[wingzteh1st]

"Well, Well, Well, I'm just learning new things about necromancers all the time. I'm excited at the prospect of traveling with you. As for the sleep issue, I seldom tire in my wolven form. It feels much more natural to me, It's when I travel like this that exhausts me. It feels more like a forced transformation. Only one I enjoy wearing for short periods of time. Though i will need sleep, every other day would be more than fine with me,"

The smiled slipped slightly from his lips as he contimplated. He could go for several days without sleep, but he would need it.

"And if I Do need sleep," he continued, "I can always stop, rest, and catch up with you, It wouldn't take me long after all if I'm running,"