Raven sat huddled under his blanket next to the entrance to the tent. Sometime during the night, when he was sure that Shade was asleep, he had crept inside with two more blankets; one he crumpled under her head for a pillow and the other he laid over her for extra warmth. Raven had let the fire die down to better watch for movement, careful not to let it grow to small to keep Fayvr warm as he slept beside it. For all his outwardly gruff demeanor, the old Daeva deep down was as soft as Brax fur. It had given him hope that he too could mantain a gentle soul after having to harden his heart so many times. Fayvr, in his day had been just as deadly and brutal with his blades as Raven was now. The older Assassin had swum a similar sea of blood and reached the other shore. After what had happened on this last mission, especailly after what had happened just inside the tent, Raven wanted so badly to sit and talk to his old mentor, he needed to, but there wasn't time. Shade must be taken to a safer place. He had to get her home. Sitting in the dark, it came to him. Raven now knew where to take her and to whom.
Shade woke warm under more than just the blanket she went to bed with. Her head resting not on the cold rug, but a soft makeshift pillow. She sat up, streatching. The sun, having crept over the high mountains painted a shadow on the tent flap. It must be his. He sat once more away from the warmth of the fire that was available to him. He did this for her. Thinking these things, her heart softened to him.
Raven heard stirring from within the tent. Shrugging off his blanket, he rose and went down to the fire to fetch Shade something to eat. Returning, he called her name softly." Shade, it is me. I have brought you something to eat." He pushed the bowl inside as far as he could reach without breaching the threshold. He waited a moment and then fastned the flap that covered the doorway off to the side to let the early morning light stream inside. " There is coffee or I could fix you some tea if you would prefer." He said staying low to the ground not looking at her directly.
" Tea would be nice." She said.
Nodding he backed a few steps away before turning to go back down the path to the fire. Mug in his hand, he returned to her. Croutching just outside, he placed the tea within her reach, but made no move to enter. Pulling out his cube, he produced a wad of waxy paper, some clean bandages and laid them by the mug of tea. " Here, I made this salve from the herbs that grow just over the hill. It is just field medicine, but it will help ease the discomfort of..." Raven swallowed, leaving the rest of the words unsaid.
Shade took what she was offered. She noticed the fresh bandages wrapped round his wrists and palms. " The wounds on your back..have their bandages been changed?" She asked.
" They are fine." He said flatly, not looking up.
"Please let me at least check. What happened last night wasn't your fault. You didn't know what you were doing." Shade said taking a step toward him.
"You are not to blame. I gave you my word to keep you from harm. I made a bond between us, a bond I broke with my own hands." He said leaning back and away from his claws subconsciously.
" You were fevered and in pain." She said, her eyes brimming with compassion for the suffering she saw in him. Battered and bleeding she had found him chained to the pole under the tent. Even though he had spoken to her harshly, he had also laid his head in her hand. The look on his face telling her the poor soul could still be saved. Half dead, she had found him out in the sand. The spark of hope within him while dimmed still burned. He had given his escape a valiant effort. She had gone looking to see if her efforts had been in vain and finding him laying lost among the dunes knew without further help he'd never make his way home. Shade had not risked her life to see him perish in such a way.
"When you are ready, we depart." He said softly, as he backed away from the tent. her words were kind, but Raven would not hear them.
After making her preparations, Shade left the tent and went to join the two Asmodians at the cookfire. Raven was speaking to the older one. " I am going to take her to the hermit up on the hill." He said to the other. "I must see her safely home. I owe this Elyos my life."
" You're in no condition to be going off like this, boy." Fayvr growled. He'd seen the younger Sin wounds, his emaciated frame and witnessed him go down on all fours by his fire earlier that day. Knowing Raven well, he had no doubt that the night-maned young male would push himself well beyond his limit to repay this debt. He also was all to aware that the other could be bleeding to death and not say a word.
" She cannot stay here. You said it yourself." Raven countered. Hearing her approach, he turned, not sure what she had heard. Rising from beside the fire he asked if she was ready to leave.
" Yes." She said softly. She nodded respectfully to the older Asmo that had aided them before following Raven as he walked away from the fire.
Raven paused, not looking back. " I will return." He said to Fayvr and then continued up the hill to the right of the camp. The grade grew steeper. As he walked he said to the girl who trailed after him " If the pace we keep is to brisk or you need to rest, please let me know." They crested the hill and just before they descended down the other side, Raven stopped. " This path is steep, take your time and be careful." Halfway down the slope, Raven stopped once again. " The animals up ahead are not as friendly as those by Fayvr's camp. Stay close to me." he advised her. Almost in the dell, he pulled up short again. A bit to quickly for the grade as he heard Shade struggle to stop herself from running into him. He moved off to the side of the path. " Brax are normally gentle, but they spook easily. We will wait for these to pass." he said as a family group of the large hairy beasts ambled up the path of least resistence. After the hulking herd moved on, Raven continued to lead her down the path.
It was only after they had passed thru the dip in the path and were partially up the next rise that Shade spoke. " Do you have family?" She asked.
Avoiding her question for the moment, Raven left the path to pick some Vinna that he saw growing nearby. " Here, eat some of these grapes. They are as nutrious as they are sweet." He said offering her a clump of purple fruit. He popped a handful of them into his mouth to show her the grapes were harmless.
" I have a large family." He said answering her earlier question. " Actually, when I implied that my name would keep you safe in Morheim, it is more because of my surname than my own. Shadowsong's are one of the oldest and most influential families in Morheim. It is more the blood that runs thru my veins than anything I personally have ever done that will keep you inviolate. " He said self-deprecatingly.
" Anyone who could speak such as you have it's turning feral." She said hoping to lift the miasma of his own making she saw him descending into.
He exhaled sharply thru his nose, a smirk she could not see curling one side of his mouth. " It is just a bit further. Watch your step."
" What will you do when I am home? " She asked.
"Report." he said without emotion.
" You need to seek treatment for your wounds. You need to rest." She said her voice vibrating with her concern.
Raven had no time to make an answer. On the path up ahead an earth spirit hovered on one side and a Fungi tarried on the other. Holding his arm out to stop her, he surveyed the situation. Drawing his daggers he said. " Go up the trail ahead of me. I can better protect you from behind. Do not worry. I will be right behind you, just follow the path." he said, making eye contact for the first time that day. His gaze was steady and so were his hands. He knew his eyes blazed with the firey red hue of his people and hope this would not cow her.
Nodding quickly, she did as he had instructed. Raven followed a blade length behind her, ready should the creatures on either side attack. Once they cleared the danger, he quickened his pace to pass her. He lead her up the path and to a trail that branched off of it. Taking her to the first set of stairs, he told her to wait as he went up those and another set that lead to a small house.
" Kistig." He called in a tone she had not heard him use before.
An Asmo came out of the house. Seeing Raven, he began bowing and nodding his head submissively, his hands clasps before him.
"I need a favor. " Raven said standing with that relaxed, slightly feline pose many of his profession could be marked by. A deceptive slouch adopted to hide of the lightening fast reflexes coiled ready to spring.
" Favor? Yes, yes what kind of favor?" Mousey haired man whined, working his hands nervously.
Raven took a few steps from the mage and looking to Shade as he beckoned her up the stairs. " A delicate one." Raven said to the twitchy alchemist as the Elyos approached coming to stand behind him.
Eyes widening even more, the mage ceased his bowing and scraping. " Ah, yes, yes I see. Delicate indeed." He breathed at the sight of the Elyos who came to hover meeking behind Raven.
" Can we talk inside?" Raven asked, looking about.
" Yes, yes. Inside would be best." The Alchemist said motioning toward the open door.
Raven entered first eventhough he had little worry of danger laying inside. It was more a muscle memory that compelled him to do so. He exited the cottage nodding to Shade to enter. As she did, he followed close behind. Kistig crept in behind them,last, closing the door behind him. Feeling Shade stand close enough that he felt her breath on the back of his arm, he turned to her.
" You are safe here. Kistig can be trusted." Raven said softly to Shade. The last sentance he said with his head turned to bore his flaming eyes into the Alchemist who stood by the door. Turning back to her, their eyes met. Shade looked up at him, her eyes fearful, but she did not shy away from him. Contrary to what he expected, she steped closer.
" Kistig, you know the safest routes into Eltnen. I require you to lead this lady there, I need you to take her home." Raven said in a commanding tone.
" Oh! Just that? " The mage sighed in relief. " Yes, yes not a trouble in the least. Kistig knows the safest roads , the easiest paths free from prying eyes. Rave can trust Kistig. " He said the words tumbling over each other as he scurried out.
Wiping a hand over his face with a sigh, Raven walked to a log that served as a seat for the flighty alchemist. Wearily, he sank down on it leaning just the tops of his shoulders against the stone wall. Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes, exhausted.
Shade, seeing Raven go from commanding presence to slumping against a wall went to him with worry. She guessed he hadn't slept, having seen him sitting outside the tent when she woke. She didn't know if he had eaten anything more than the grapes he had shared with her earlier. The journey here had been long with many steep climbs and descents. Thinking of the state she had first encountered him, she reached out her hand to touch his brow. The Asmodian made no move to stop or avoid her hand. He was warm, but he didn't burn like he had in the desert. Going to the door, she snapped her fingers, ordering the mage to bring water and a blanket. Loosely she laid the fur hide given her on Raven's lap, setting the water beside him.
"You need to go." He said to Shade without opening his eyes. " Not one hair nor nail, Kistig." Raven said, his voice filled with the promise of unspeakable pain.
" I'll be going then." She said, rising from his side and going to the door.
" Shade!" He called out to her. " Do not take this the wrong way, but I hope in my heart of hearts that I am never called to repay the debt I owe you."
" You owe me nothing." She said softly as she walked out the door.