Aloy was left standing there, musing, as she watched him go.
Why weren't more people so open and accepting like him? He was not only understanding, but sympathetic. Erend had been able to make her smile in a moment when she had been consumed by animosity for the tribe. He offered information freely without any semblance of censorship, and had offered her the possibility of a new life in Meridian when her objection to Nora law became apparent. She hadn't even considered leaving the Sacred Lands to make her home somewhere else before now. It simply hadn't crossed her mind that there were other options. Erend's offer was like the opening of a giant door Aloy never knew existed. How many other tribes, settlements, even cities were out there? One thing was for certain. If she joined the Nora, she would never see them.
A hissing sound caught Aloy's attention. She turned to face the noise - it was Vala, shaking her head back and forth with mock disapproval as she make a tsk tsk tsk sound between her teeth.
"Flirting with the enemy. Really, now, Aloy?" Vala said with a cheeky smile.
"Flirting? Hardly," Aloy said, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.
"Are you kidding? He was awfully flirty with you. I couldn't help but overhear some of your conversation, and from the way you were looking at him as he walked away, you're interested in him, too."
Aloy stared at her new friend, uncertain if she was just pulling her leg.
"You didn't notice the way he was smiling as he spoke to you? Or how suggestive he was being? I mean... He asked you to go with him to Meridian, right? Everybody knows the Nora don't leave our land. You two had just met. Am I right?"
"You are. I thought he was just being friendly. You think he's... No, surely not." She waved a hand in the air to dismiss the possibility.
"Girl. He also said he wanted to talk to you more after the Blessing. He's interested in you!" Vala gave Aloy a playful shove on the shoulder to make her point.
Aloy had no experience with men. Realizing her conversation with Erend had involved some romantic interest was exciting. She hadn't given any thought to romance in her years growing up in the wilds, with her focus solely on training to win the Proving.
She allowed herself a small smile, her eyes distant with the spark of a dream. Her heart was aflutter like leaves on a tree in the wind.
"Come on. We've got to get to the Blessing - that is, if you're coming to watch," Vala said.
"I'll watch," she replied. "Why not?"
The two of them made their way down the path, avoiding the occasional drunkard wobbling by, keeping up with the flow of people heading the same way. Aloy watched as young acolytes lit the lanterns lining the main pathways and common areas; they would all be lit before the sunlight was completely extinguished. The top of the sun had already dipped below the horizon, and the light in the sky was dying. Dozens of lantern lights flickered into existence in the matter of a few minutes. The darkening landscape came alive with their warm glow.
Soon they reached the branch in the path where they turned right, crossing a vaulted wooden bridge to the ceremony area, a circular plateau on the mountainside with a wide platform to one side. A crowd was already gathered around the area, growing by the minute. Aloy caught sight of the High Matriarchs standing to one side of the platform, where they waited with the young Nora who were to participate in the Blessing. Vala weaved her way there as the outcast slacked her pace to hang back in the crowd and watch.
With all the people standing there on flat ground, visibility of the ceremony site was nonexistent. All she could see were faces and the backs of heads, the air full of idle chatter as everyone waited for the ceremony to begin.
A bright swath of orange stood out across the crowd in a half-circle around the site; Aloy realized it was the headdress of the Carja priest. The people all around her were constantly moving to make room as more filed in from the village; heads moved just enough for her to catch a glimpse of the priest's face. The hair on the back of her neck stood up without warning, instinct alerting her that she was being watched. It wasn't the priest. He was staring with subdued curiosity at the lanterns sitting on the ground, waiting to be lit. The crowd continued to shift as Aloy pressed to the front for a better view. Then she saw him.
Erend was looking right at her. His pleasant gaze crossed the space between them with an electric shock that traveled down Aloy's spine to the tailbone as it seized her heart.
He was standing beside the priest, arms crossed, with a playful expression of expectation on his face as though he'd been waiting for her to spot him. He broke into a broad grin as she saw him, and gave her a wink.
She looked back at him unabashedly, smiling.
Erend uncrossed his arms then and turned to the priest, clapping him on the shoulders and leaning in to tell him something in the din of voices. Whatever he said, the priest appeared unamused and irritated, looking down his nose as he turned to look at Aloy as well - but she thought she saw a hint of a merry twinkle in his eye as he spotted her in the crowd.
A hand on her arm startled her. It was Vala.
"There you are! Teersa said to bring you up with us if you want to participate. I think she has a plan. Are you in?"
Aloy looked around at the crowd, imagining all their eyes on her as she knelt with the other participants, unwilling to be thrust into the spotlight without warning like this, but she realized every person there except the Carja visitors had been part of this ceremony at some point in their lives. This was her only chance. Would she regret missing out? It would be just another splinter in the forest of things separating her from the tribe. And yet... Rost had been so adamant about finding her place among his people. That made up her mind. She didn't care enough to do it for herself, but she would do it for Rost. "Let's go."
Vala led her through the throng of people, holding hands to prevent separation until they reached the edge of the platform where the High Matriarchs were standing on the ground with the other youth. Teersa caught sight of her and strode forward.
"Aloy. I know this might feel like a strange ceremony to you, based on your circumstances, but I made a prayer lantern for you." She reached out and took Aloy's young hands in her own withered ones. "Please don't feel obligated to participate. I just wanted to give you the same opportunity as the others. It's in the middle of the back row, the... the only one without a family sign."
"Thank you. That was very thoughtful of you." She retracted her hands. "But why doesn't it have Rost's mark?"
Teersa grimaced. "I'm afraid I can't tell you, dear. Suffice to say that... Rost's mark is not one you would have wanted to inherit. Its meaning is not one of family or togetherness."
"Whatever it means, it was his. I have many questions, and I'm here for answers. You know that, right?"
"Of course. Should you win... we can tell you about your mother, but nothing more. Some stories were not meant to be told."
Aloy paused, years' worth of simmering anger on the verge of erupting. She took a breath through her nose and huffed it out, relaxing her hands when she realized they were clenched. "I'm here to learn about my mother. Everything else... can wait. I guess."
"Alright. Now listen. I'll be addressing the crowd to get everyone to quiet down, deliver a brief message, then I'll call the group to kneel beside your lanterns. A flame will be passed around to everyone; when we raise our hands, you will all light your lanterns at once. As the first lantern takes flight, the Matriarchs will recite a passage. The ceremony is over when the last lantern has faded from sight, and you will be free to leave for the night."
Aloy gave Teersa a brief bow of the head in curtailed courtesy and turned to face Vala. Behind her, Teersa returned to the group of matriarchs. One of them hissed, "Blasphemy...!" Aloy heard Teersa shush her with an exclamation of "Sisters!"
"That was really kind of her," Vala said. "You should know she has always been on your side. The other matriarchs weren't keen on letting you run in the Proving, despite the law. I don't know what they have against you. I think... they feel threatened by you, for some reason."
Aloy's eyes glazed over as she stared past Vala into the crowd. "Threatened by me? I don't understand."
"Neither do I." Vala put a thoughtful hand on Aloy's shoulder. "We should focus on the Blessing for now. You can worry about losing the Proving to me later." She flashed a competitive smile.
A confident smirk spread on Aloy's freckled face. "I'm not the one who should be worrying." An acolyte passed small torches to Aloy and her competitors. She glanced through the crowd as the Matriarchs took the stage, spotting Teb standing with someone who could have been his brother. He brightened up when he saw her and gave her an enthusiastic wave. Aloy waved back.
The murmur of the crowd dissipated in honor of the Matriarchs. Teersa stepped forward, a lit torch in one hand. "Brothers, sisters, we are gathered here today to witness the Blessing of these fine young men and women. For countless generations, this tribe has honored the strength and dedication of our youth while inspiring them to rise to the challenge of the Proving. This ceremony is the spark that will light their way to success at sunrise tomorrow." She addressed the aspirants. "Each of you have brought a lantern, crafted by your mother as a token of her support. Come forward now to claim your place by its side."
With an alienated twinge of her heart, Aloy moved forward with the rest of the group as they dispersed among the waiting lanterns where they sat on the earth, making her way to the back of the group to the one without a mark. She knelt in front of it, facing the stage as the others did, and waited. She gripped the unlit torch with anxiety.
"Motherless savage," came a harsh whisper from the youth to her right. Even as an outcast, Aloy sensed the gravity of this ceremony's importance, and was astonished that someone would dare to defile it with such hateful words. She turned to face the slanderer; it was a young man with short blonde dreadlocks down to the tops of his ears, and a single streak of blue painted from his forehead down over his left eye.
It was the child who threw the rock at her all those years ago, hitting her just above the eye.
She gave him nothing but a look of pure contempt before turning back to face the matriarchs on the stage. He would not ruin this experience for her. She focused on the details of Teersa's garments - the blue dye at the bottom of the front panels, with arching stitches to symbolize the mountains of the Sacred Land, the fine white rabbit fur lining the edges of each separate piece, the sash of golden metal leaves dangling at her waist.
"All-Mother's love is a flame whose light brings warmth to us all. Receive it now with open hearts." Teersa handed the torch to a younger Matriarch, likely a symbol for All-Mother's eternal youth. She walked slowly among the lines of aspirants, holding the flame out to light their own torches. The Matriarch reached Aloy at last; she received the flame to her torch and held it, waiting.
As soon as the last aspirant beside her had received the light, Teersa spoke. "In honor of your mother, light your prayer lanterns."
In honor of your mother. Did she exist? Was she here, watching? Was she dead? Aloy gripped her torch tighter, hesitating as the other lanterns began to rise around her. Whatever there was to learn about her mother, she would find out tomorrow. But for now... Her heart seized with sadness. "In honor of Rost, and all he did to help me get here..." she whispered, reaching into the lantern's core and lighting the wick. The flame warmed the air inside the paper cylinder; it slowly lifted off from the ground and took flight. She stood as the other youth did, head craned back to watch them ascend the air, keeping her eye on the only one without a family mark.
The Matriarchs on the stage raised their hands to the sky and spoke as one in strong, steady voices that resonated in the cool night air.
"All-Mother, hear our prayer. What is the child, but a mother's hope that takes flight? A glowing flame that climbs the air, set free to the wind, sailing the sky til it fades and falls. So, from one to another passes the chain of life."
There was a prolonged, reverent silence as everyone gazed at the sky, watchful and reminiscent of their own ceremonies.
And then, as the lights continued to rise softly into the sky and almost out of sight, a shock. The entire tribe spoke in unison at some cue that Aloy must have missed as she followed the lights trailing in the sky.
"All-Mother breathed life into all of us. As your brothers and sisters, we will support you, guide you, and protect you on your journey." Aloy looked around, face after face glowing in the dim light. They continued with a Nora blessing. "May the earth be light beneath your feet, the wind behind your bow!"
As the tribe finished speaking, the last lantern faded from sight in the soft blue-black of the night sky.
Teersa delivered a dismissal to the aspirants. "Go now, with the light of All-Mother's love to guide and inspire you, and with the strength of the tribe to support you. Rest with confidence in your success, and when the sun rises, breathe and believe in yourselves!"
A low murmur bubbled up from the crowd as they shuffled past each other to leave down the narrow vaulted path, the air full of the soft crush of leather brushing leather. Aloy could feel the unwelcome gaze of her adversary on her back; she looked through the group of her peers and made a beeline for Vala.
Vala saw her coming. "What did you think of the ceremony?"
"It was... beautiful. I'm glad Teersa made a prayer lantern for me. She's really making an effort to include me, no matter what the other matriarchs think. I see what you were saying now."
Vala nodded. "It was a thoughtful gesture. Glad you could take part in it after all."
"Did you hear what that jerk said to me before we lit the lanterns?"
"No. Who?"
"The boy with the blonde dreads over there. He called me a motherless savage under his breath, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who heard it."
Vala's expression reflected disappointment and fatigue. "That's Bast. The bastard. He was conceived through an affair. When his mother got caught cheating, she and her lover were cast out from the tribe. She was allowed to stay until the baby was weaned, and then he was left in the care of her husband. She lost the right to name her child. Her husband chose a name out of spite."
"Wow. That must have been quite the scandal."
"I'm sure it was. Anyway, it's safe to say Bast has his own problems. He resents his mother for dishonoring herself and her family, but if she hadn't had the affair, Bast would have never been born. He just wants to be normal. It doesn't excuse his behavior, but it might help you understand him a little better."
"I see. You'd think he would be more empathetic of others with family issues."
Vala sighed. "You would think. But he's just so... angry. I'm sorry he said something to you."
Aloy spotted Olin speaking to Erend and the priest from Meridian. "There's someone I need to talk to. I'll see you later, Vala."
She fell in with the stream of people leaving the ceremony site, allowing the flow to carry her to where the three men were standing, the priest in bright orange ornamental robes, Olin and Erend in their metal and leather armors.
"...the gift of eloquence," the priest was saying. "From the introduction to the lighting of the lanterns and the benediction, she wove a vision of their goddess with support from the tribe into a beautiful tapestry blessing the future of these youth."
Olin was standing with his arms crossed, an eyebrow raised, clearly unimpressed. Erend's posture was more relaxed and receptive. He was facing her direction as she approached and broke into a smile as he saw her.
"Aloy! We were just talking about the ceremony. Obviously none of us have seen it before, but I guess you haven't, either. It was nice and short, at least, but I know a half dozen Oseram tinkerers who could put on a better fireworks show." He grinned, then thought better of his remarks. "Oops. Hope I didn't throw a wet blanket on your... sacred ritual. It was nice, really. So tell us, what did you think?"
Aloy paused. "It was... lovely. I'm sure it would have meant more to me if I had a mother." How could she redirect this conversation to Olin and his focus? Even now he was only making eye contact with her begrudgingly. Something was definitely shifty with him.
The priest spoke. "May the sun shine with brilliance upon you, my dear. That must be quite the burden to bear given the focus on one's mother in your culture. "
"It's... not my culture," Aloy said somewhat under her breath, casting her eyes toward the ground and suddenly feeling like she didn't want to discuss her sob story with these strangers. She had already told Erend more than she expected to in their conversation earlier. He was so easy to talk to that the words just came flowing out in a river.
Erend sensed her unease and gestured between Aloy and the priest. "This is Reverent Irid, a Sun-Priest of Meridian. Irid, meet Aloy."
Irid extended a hand toward Aloy; she knew what to do this time and shook his hand eagerly.
"A pleasure," the sun-priest said. "As I was saying, I've heard for years that the Nora tribe is led by women, and that women are revered in their culture as their deity is female, but witnessing this sacred ritual in person has been an illuminating delight. Usually the distance between our tribes shrouds Nora ways from Carja eyes. But here, among you, I see a beauty that shines true, even though we differ in our beliefs."
"That's very open-minded of you," Aloy said.
"Thank you. The sun shines on all peoples of all lands. If you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go see what the matriarchs may be willing to share with me about their other ceremonies and customs. This has been a truly fascinating visit and I wish to learn all that I can while we are here. Good day, Aloy, gentlemen," he said, giving her a bow and leaving the three of them.
Aloy looked at Olin. Perfect time for a change of subject. After a brief pause, she said, "I still can't believe I found someone else with a device like mine. How long have you had your focus, Olin?"
The Oseram scratched the back of his head as he answered. "It's been a while now. I'm not sure how long, really. Months. Maybe a year."
"It comes in handy on delves, doesn't it?"
"It does."
Erend was looking at them both, suddenly realizing his friend's device might actually be more than a piece of jewelry from the metal world. "Wait. What does that thing do?"
Olin was silent. He wasn't going to offer up any information that he didn't have to. Either he was a very private person, or he had something specific to hide.
Aloy explained. "It shows us things. When I activate it and look at an object, it tells me things about that object."
"Tells you how?"
"It's hard to explain. But it does more than that. I use it to track prey when I'm on a hunt, or to track machines that I'm trying to avoid as I'm traveling. It highlights weaknesses, shows me their patrol paths, and more. It's especially useful in the dark. It can see somehow better than I can."
"Well I'll be a skinny boar!" Erend exclaimed. "Where can I get one?"
"There might be more scattered in the metal ruins. Who knows? Take Olin delving with you sometime and see what you can find."
Olin made a face. "Erend on a delve?" He guffawed. "Forget it."
Erend looked at his friend with affected offense. "Why the hell not?"
Olin couldn't help but chuckle. "You know damned well you're clumsy, and loud as a longleg. Most ruins have a horrible echo. We'd barely get past the entrance before every machine within a mile would be on top of us."
Erend made a dismissive "Pssssssh. We'd be able to take on anything that came our way."
Olin shook his head, chuckling again. "You're not invincible, you know."
Aloy had to get them back on the subject. "When we spoke earlier, you flinched like you were in pain, or frightened. Did your focus show you something when you looked at me?"
"No, girl, I told you. It malfunctioned. Happens all the time."
"Never happened to me. You're not a very convincing liar."
"Do you always accuse people you just met of lying?"
"Only the ones who aren't telling the truth."
"Whoa, whoa whoa," Erend interrupted. "Cool your fire, you two. What's this about?"
Aloy turned to Erend. "He's hiding something from me."
"Fire and spit, girl, I'm a plain-hammered man with nothing to hide. If you don't believe me, that's your problem, not mine."
Aloy crossed her arms. "I don't understand. We have this device in common, but it's like you can't wait to stop talking to me. Why?"
Olin sighed. "What's the big deal with us both having a focus? You have this fascination with it that you just can't let go. If you're trying to make a friend, this is a strange way to go about it. I already have all the friends I need," he said, glancing at Erend, who looked at Aloy with embarrassed shock.
"I'm used to being shunned by the tribe. I thought an outlander might be different." Aloy turned to go, but was stopped by a hand on her shoulder. It belonged to Erend.
"Look, this conversation got out of hand. I don't think either of you meant any harm. Can we just let this thing go?"
Aloy turned back to look at Olin. She had nothing to say to him.
Olin spoke. "I'm sorry. It's nothing personal, I promise. You should... try to enjoy the rest of your evening. Big day for you tomorrow." He turned to Erend. "I think I'll head off to get some extra sleep. We have a long trip back to Meridian. You should try to get some rest, too."
Erend waved a hand dismissively. "I will, but not so early. Rest easy, friend. I'll see you in the morning."
Olin left the two of them standing together.
Erend put his hands on his hips and rocked back on his heels, letting out a sigh. "Well, that was... interesting."
"Sorry about that. Maybe I was too forward with him, but I've learned to trust my instincts, and they're telling me something is definitely off with your friend. Did you notice he didn't want to tell you anything about how the focus works?"
"I didn't, but now that you mention it, he did go quiet when I asked about it."
"Why would he want to hide that from you? Hiding information from a stranger is different from hiding it from a friend."
"Maybe he thought I'd tell Ersa about it. If Ersa knew someone in Meridian had a tool like that, she would probably try to requisition it for the Vanguard."
"It's a possibility," Aloy said. "What does your gut tell you?"
He looked down at his stomach. Gave it a friendly pat. "It's saying I need a drink," he said, exasperated and looking for a distraction from the Olin conversation. "I've tried some Nora brew since coming to town. Not bad... little yeasty," he said with a scrunched-up expression that said he was describing it generously "Drinkable, though. I think I'm going to head to the alehouse. Care to join me?"
"I don't drink, and if I were to start, tonight would not be the time. I can't risk losing tomorrow after eighteen years of training."
"Fair enough," he said with a nod. "Join me anyway, if you want to. You don't have to drink. I'd enjoy the company, and maybe you'd enjoy the distraction."
Aloy eyed him for a moment, then glanced around the settlement, wondering what else she could be doing. Not much. Chatting with Vala or Teb would be about it. There would be time enough after the Proving to talk to them both, but who knew how long Erend would be in town. Her stomach was full, and she didn't have anything else to do to prepare for the morning. Maybe it would be a good idea to take her mind off the pressure of the Proving.
Just as Erend thought she was going to turn him down, she shrugged and said "Okay."
They strode down the mountain side by side in a comfortable silence. They passed by Vala talking to a friend of hers by a campfire to one side of the path; Vala saw Aloy with the outlander and made an exaggerated expression of surprise, then gave her a wink and returned to her conversation. Others who noticed the two of them together were not so kind.
A withered old man who was speaking loudly to himself made his thoughts very clear as he spotted them. "Good number of candidates this year. Tribe needs more braves. Machines causing problems. Ohhh! Sweet All-Mother's mercy! Outlander and outcast, together! Filth attracts filth."
Aloy and Erend shared a dubious look, but kept walking. There was no point in arguing with a loopy old man. They continued to walk until they reached the lower areas of the settlement, where the drummers' stage stood circled by various establishments, including the alehouse. It was already buzzing; most of the Nora had apparently come straight down the mountain for a drink as soon as the Blessing was over. A man came out carrying a mug of ale in each hand. Erend held the door open as he passed and poked his head in the doorway.
"Full up inside. I'll squeeze through to get a drink and meet you back out here." He went through the door and closed it behind him.
Aloy looked around. There were people standing and chatting everywhere, many with drinks in their hands. She made her way over to the side of the mountain; although near the base, the area was still elevated enough to have wooden railings along the mountainside overlooking the meadow fifty feet below. She rested her elbows on the railing and gazed out at the countryside in the darkness. The blue lights of a pair of watchers rose and fell in a pattern as they walked in their familiar lurching march. The lights of the striders they were protecting blinked in and out as the machines lowered their heads to graze. A gentle breeze blew her red hair about her shoulders, individual strands dancing around slender braids and tickling her neck.
She was lost in thought about Rost, feeling hurt and confused about his decision to leave her, when Erend found her.
"Uh-oh. I can see those wheels a-turning," he said, handing her a tankard with an explanation before she could protest. "It's just water. I thought you might be thirsty."
"Thank you," she said, accepting the tankard and taking a long drink. Erend watched her gulp it down. "I was thirstier than I thought."
"Well, good," he said, satisfied, taking a drink of the Nora ale and making a sour face.
"What's the matter? Nora brew not up to snuff?"
"It's really - earthy - and... yeasty, and, well..." He stared intensely at the tankard. "Okay, it sucks."
Aloy laughed.
"It's a far cry from the stuff my people make in the Claim. We Oseram are really good at a few things - forging, fighting, and brewing. Most of the booze in Meridian was brewed by Oseram."
"The Claim? Is that where your people are from?"
"Yes. Meridian is far west of here. The Claim is to the north of it."
"How did the Oseram react to the new Sun-King?"
"They were overjoyed! An end to the red raids? The mad king, dead, and a new one put on the throne with the help of our people? We nearly drank all the brew we had in storage in a week!"
Aloy grinned. "Must have been some celebration."
"It sure was." Erend took a large swig of the ale, grimacing perhaps a bit less this time. He held the tankard up to examine the liquid, tilting it one way, then another. Aloy heard a strange buzzing sound and saw movement in the tankard. "There's a fly in my ale!" He tilted the tankard slightly, dunked a forefinger in the ale and flicked away the struggling insect. "He was probably enjoying it more than me." With that, he tilted the tankard high and in a few swift chugs, the ale was gone. His face soured as if he had just drunk rancid goat milk.
"If it's so horrible, why drink it at all?" Aloy said with a laugh.
"Eh, after a couple, you don't mind the taste so much. If you'll excuse me, it's time for round two." He took Aloy's empty tankard and left her standing by the railing.
She sighed and looked around at the Nora chatting and drinking noisily, their peals of drunken laughter piercing the rhythm of the drums nearby. A young woman perhaps a few years Aloy's elder was glaring at her.
"You shouldn't be talking to that outlander scum," she spat.
Who did she think she was? Why were so many Nora so nosy and judgmental? It was getting ridiculous. "Look, just because you can talk to me today doesn't mean that you should. Why don't you keep your hateful opinions to yourself?" She turned her back on the woman and leaned on the wooden railing, staring out at the meadow in the night.
"All-Mother is disgraced by the footsteps of these unfaithful foreigners upon her land. We should be sending them away, not inviting them in for a drink. It's bad enough to invite an outcast-"
Aloy turned her head to address the woman, unwilling to give her full attention. "Are you a matriarch? No? Then shut the hell up." The woman's expression darkened, but she strode away without further comment.
Erend returned with a fresh tankard of ale for himself, and a refill of water for Aloy. "Are all Nora so hospitable to outcasts?" He leaned casually on the railing next to her.
"Many, but not all. I made a couple friends today."
"You won't see behavior like that in Meridian," he said, taking a thoughtful sip. "Anyone spouting that kind of hatred is thrown out of the city. Sun-King Avad is determined to keep the new Meridian open and welcoming to all."
Aloy turned to look at him directly. "What is it like? How would I get there?"
"Imagine a high plateau in the desert, with a rocky mountain ridge nearby. A narrow path is cut into the side of the mountain, with bridges between some gaps, and a long bridge between the mountain and the plateau. Meridian sits safely on the plateau. You can only get there from the mountain pass, or the giant elevators on the far side of the city that drop down to the maizelands below."
"It sounds impressive. Much bigger than anything here."
Erend nodded. "It was built by the Carja, who have a flair for architecture. All of the buildings are made of stone, and the city spirals out from the center. To get there from the Sacred Lands is a long journey directly West. Eventually you'll start seeing broad stone arches over a stone path; this marks the beginning of the road to Meridian that eventually slopes up onto the mountainside. All you have to do is follow it."
"I'll remember that. Although... What's an elevator?"
"You'll have to come to Meridian to find out for yourself," he said with a grin. "They will take your breath away. Hope you're not afraid of heights."
"I wouldn't make a very good Nora if I was afraid of heights," she said, laughing. "I spent the past eighteen years running along the brave trails on the mountain and jumping off cliffs."
"...into water?" he asked.
"No. Many of our trails end in places that are hard to get down from unless you backtrack on the same path you took to get there. On your way here, did you see anything odd sticking out from the cliff edges?"
"No. I was enjoying the scenery, but didn't notice anything like that."
"On your way back to Meridian, look up as you go. There are wooden anchor points lashed together with machine cording that stick out from the cliff edge. We rappel from those."
Erend raised an eyebrow and took a long swig of his ale. "Rappelling and jumping off a cliff are two different things."
"Are they?" Aloy gave him a wry smile. "Let's just say I enjoy a good adrenaline rush."
"You don't - you're not serious -" he stammered.
Aloy just stood there, smiling.
Erend shook his head. "Let me get this straight. Instead of securing your rope to the anchor point and rappelling down like a sane person, you take a flying leap off the cliff and somehow anchor yourself on the way down?"
"Pretty much."
"You're - you're crazy," he said, taking another drink of ale.
Aloy realized his eyes were starting to look glazed, but then they suddenly lit up. She turned to see two men approaching.
"Bash! Gil!"
"Erend," they acknowledged together.
The three of them clinked tankards and drank. Aloy laughed at their pained expressions. As badly as they reacted to the taste of Nora brew, they insisted on continuing to drink it.
"Staying out of trouble, I hope?" Erend said.
One of the men spoke. He wore brightly colored clothing with light armor. He had long, straight, maroon hair and a handsome face with slender features. "Mostly. Had to pull this idiot away from a fight he almost started just now." He pointed to the alehouse. "One of the Nora brewers was in there as Gil was loudly proclaiming how terrible the ale was."
The other man, wearing heavy steel armor, protested. "It is terrible. I would have dragged some of our own brew out here with us if I had known the grog here would be this bad." He ran a hand through his short blonde hair and scratched the back of his head.
"Aloy, this is Gilgrund," Erend said, nodding toward the second man, "and Bashir," he said of the red-haired man. "Gents, this is Aloy. She's running in the Proving tomorrow."
Bashir raised his tankard. "To Aloy." Erend and Gilgrund raised theirs as well. "May your feet be swift and carry you to success." He paused. "You're not drinking?"
"Not tonight. Just water."
"Probably wise," he said in a low voice, more to himself than to anyone. "To Aloy!" They clinked tankards together again and drank.
"You guys sure like to drink, don't you?" she asked.
"That would be a fair assessment," Bashir said.
Erend spoke up. "Not much else to do in our free time. I guess you could say drinking is our hobby."
"That doesn't seem very healthy."
Gilgrund spoke. "Maybe not, but I think all of our traipsing around the desert and battling machines balances it out." He thumped his chest. "Healthy as a boar."
"...and just about as smelly," Erend said, wrinkling up his nose. "When was the last time you had a bath, Gil? Fire and spit, you stink!"
"About a week ago."
Erend spewed his ale. "A week?! Why haven't you bathed since we got here? Hammer and steel, Bash, you've got to keep this hooligan in check!"
Bash shrugged. "I told him to bathe as soon as we got here. You might as well tell a ravager to go jump off a cliff."
Erend sat his tankard down on a short wooden table within arm's reach. "Gil, go take a bath," he said with the incredulous irritation of a parent. "That's an order."
Bash drained his tankard. Gil glared at Erend as Bash began to drag him away.
"Let's go, you stinking bastard. Pleasure to meet you, Aloy. Good luck tomorrow!"
"Those two were entertaining," she said to Erend when they were gone.
Erend shook his head. "They're two of the best fighters in Meridian. Bash there is the only Carja in the Vanguard. He fought so well for us when we retook Meridian that Avad gave him that honor. Ever since he met Gil, they've been inseparable. Might as well be brothers."
That explained Bashir's unusual clothes. "I see. So Gil is Oseram, then, judging from his armor?"
"Yup. Brought the two of them along on our little expedition to help keep us all alive. Bash is an even better scout than Olin, and an incredible archer. Gil and I? We're good at smashing things." He picked up his tankard from the table and drained it. "Mind if I grab another?"
"I've got to get going. It's getting pretty late and I need to get some rest." As much as she enjoyed talking to Erend, she wasn't here to watch him drink himself into a stupor, which seemed to be his goal at this point.
Erend's face fell. "Oh - right. Of course. I'm sorry if I kept you up later than you wanted."
"Not at all. It's been fun." There was an awkward moment where neither of them knew quite what to say before Erend's conscience kicked in.
"If you're going straight to your quarters, I'd be happy to escort you. Keep any rabid, anti-outcast Nora at bay."
Aloy laughed. "I'm sure I could handle them myself, but I wouldn't mind the company."
Erend gestured toward the path up the mountain. "Shall we?" He held one hand to his torso and offered her his elbow in playful politeness.
She took it, smiling, and they strode off together up the mountain. Their walk was mostly quiet until they reached a drunk man on a roof, singing loudly at the top of his lungs. Aloy realized it was the same man she had seen earlier.
"He's been up there all day! I saw his wife yelling at him this afternoon."
"I need to drink with that guy," Erend said with a chuckle. "Too bad we're leaving tomorrow."
Aloy removed her arm from his elbow. "What? You're heading back to Meridian so soon? Didn't you just get here yesterday?"
"We did. It took us longer to get out here than we expected. The Sun-King asked us to get back home quickly."
"So I probably won't see you again."
"Not unless you make a trip out west!"
They smiled at each other warmly. Aloy wasn't sure quite what to say. She could easily see the two of them becoming fast friends, but the distance between the Sacred Lands and Meridian was great. As a Nora brave, she would be forbidden from leaving.
"Well... It was a pleasure. I hope you and your men get home safely."
"Good luck in that Proving thing. Maybe I'll see you in Meridian someday, who knows?"
She didn't have the heart to remind him that, after tomorrow, she wouldn't be allowed to leave. Aloy gave him a parting smile, turned and walked up the steps of the lodge, past a glaring Resh, and went inside.
Vala, Bast, and a several other competitors were already there, beginning to wind down for a night of rest. The fireplace was lit, with flickering candles scattered about on bedside tables. Bast crossed his arms as he spotted her.
"Oh, great. The outcast is here," he said loudly, nudging his buddies. "You'll be in for a nasty surprise tomorrow when I win the Proving."
Aloy rolled her eyes. "Are you going to shut up? That would be a surprise."
Bast strode forward and invaded Aloy's personal space, standing over her with the gleam of fire in his brown eyes. "You should show more respect."
Aloy gazed up at him coolly. "You should mind your own business."
"Teersa shouldn't have let you in. Your presence here is blasphemy."
Vala spoke up. "Bast, listen-"
Aloy held up a hand to silence her friend. She looked up at Bast and spoke gently. "It's not my fault that I'm an outcast, any more than it's your fault that you were born a bastard."
"Who - who told you-" he stammered.
"We can't change the past. All we can do is take charge of our future. What kind of future do you want for yourself, Bast? For the tribe? Are you going to perpetuate the shunning and slandering of the innocent, when you yourself are one of them?"
Bast clearly had no idea how to respond to this. Aloy recognized a flicker of concession in his eyes, veiled beneath a burning fury.
"We are the future of the tribe. Its path is ours to decide. Will our legacy be one of compassion and fellowship, or hatred and division?"
She stood staring at him for a moment, letting that sink in. Then she went to her bunk, removing her bow and quiver and placing them in the small wooden chest at the foot of the bed. Vala sat down on the bed next to Aloy's, giving her a private look of approval. Over by the fireplace, Bast and his two friends were murmuring incoherently to each other.
Aloy removed each piece of armor from her clothing, setting them in the chest, too, until she was down to her leathers. She drew back the deerskin covers of the bed and slipped her feet inside. She sat there for a moment, calming the swirl of thoughts in her mind, taking a long, deep breath and exhaling slowly from her nose.
Vala spoke. "You've had a busy day. Sleep well, Aloy."
"Sleep well, Vala." Aloy blew out the candle at her bedside and lay down to sleep.