Chapter Fourteen
By the time evening rolled around, a nervous anticipation hovered over the colony like a thick fog. No matter where you went, you could see the unknowing fear in the eyes of the Hylan citizens, although if Devona was honest with herself, it shouldn't have come to much of a surprise. The Hylan Colony had been founded nearly thirty years ago by those looking to get away from the Guild Wars plaguing the human lands. For many of the people here, this colony was all they knew.
One last full meeting of all citizens was called for after the evening meals, in order to make sure that everyone was sure of the plans and how they were being coordinated. It was probably a good thing too, as the fears and questions were numerous.
"How are we to be expected to survive with nothing more than we can quickly carry?"
Idori, the aged governor of the colony sighed, "We've been over this several times. All you should need is food and water to last at most three days. Nothing else is required. Anything beyond that should only be taken if you are absolutely convinced you can handle the extra burden without slowing you down. I know this may sound harsh, but we will leave you behind if you are too slow."
"Then how will we survive once we reach Ascalon? How do we know we'll even be allowed in to begin with?"
At this point, Coran leaned into Devona's ear. "From this point on… I might need your protection."
"Coran! You can't…" The warrior said frightfully, "They might…"
"They deserve to know, and to have their fears assuaged." He answered grimly. "I can only trust that the people will accept it. If not… just keep your blade ready."
Coran stood, and gently nudged Idori aside. "That will not be a problem at all. These four behind me indeed came from Ascalon, but not because I sent for them. They were looking for me."
The second questioner was understandably perplexed, and the murmurs of the crowd shared his curiosity… summed up in one simple word, "Why?"
Coran took a deep breath, and noted out of the corner of his eye that Devona had indeed stood and took a position just to his right, her hand on the hilt of her Rinblade… just in case. The shadows playing off the evening sun behind him also indicated that her three friends had followed suit. Coran found the gesture comforting.
"I have a slight bit of a confession to make." The prince began, not even a hint of wariness in his voice. Devona marveled in that slight change. Years before, the mere thought of addressing any large group of people had made him nervous.
Coran gathered his thoughts one last time, then thrust into the heart of the matter, "Contrary to what I, and Idori, and his council may have led you to believe… I did not lose my memory at any point in time. I have always been perfectly clear about who I am… Coran, son of Adelbern, and Prince of Ascalon."
There was a deep thoughtful silence that could have meant anything among the masses following that admission. Coran took advantage to finish his own thoughts, "These four brave souls came from a long, dangerous quest to inform me that my father and all my older siblings have passed on. Thus, I think you now understand why entry into Ascalon concerns me little."
The murmurs started again, this time reflecting uncertainty, and perhaps even denial. "I do not wish to claim anything about my father's actions. I understand you felt abandoned by my family and the country we rule." Then his voice grew stern, another change from the quiet, sometimes overly passive young man Devona had known. "Nonetheless, we don't have much time to argue this point. If you do not trust me because of my name, then you are free to find your own way. I'd much rather think your own personal observation would hold more weight, but if not… I will not waste any more of these good peoples' time on you."
That quite adequately served to squash any dissent festering among the colony's inhabitants.
"Good." Coran finished, noting the silence. "Now, Idori can fill you in on the particulars, and we can begin to make our leave. Everyone must be ready at dusk. I cannot stress that enough."
Cynn was used to skintight clothing for the most part, but this near seamless, one piece black… thing… was another animal entirely. If it truly was the same stuff that the "Shades" (the name given to Yuu's regiment of scouts and assassins), wore, she was amazed they ever had time to do anything at all.
She had just managed to pull the uncooperative material over her hips when there was a knock on the door leading out to the hall. Instinctively, she said, "Come in, and make it quick."
With that prompt, Mhenlo stepped inside, then yelped as Cynn screamed, throwing her hands over her chest. He ducked back into the hall and covered his eyes as Cynn howled accusingly, "You perverted little monk! Thought you could get a free peep?"
"You were the one that bid me enter!" Mhenlo shouted back. "How was I supposed to know you were indecent?"
As Cynn silently acknowledged that point, she noticed that his neck and cheeks had turned a bright red, offset by the dark gray iconic tattoos already there. A mischievous grin slowly pulled at the sides of her mouth, and the pretty little elementalist knew right then that she could have some fun with this.
"Did you think maybe I wanted to give you a view?" She then asked, half accusing, half suggestive.
"I… of course not!" Mhenlo replied, backing away, trying with all his might to keep his eyes behind his hand.
"That's a shame." Cynn answered. "Because you know… I'd be willing to do a trade… I'll show you mine if you show me yours…"
Mhenlo felt it was fortunate that he was covering his eyes, because he was certain they would have burst from his skull otherwise. "Wh… wha?" He responded oh so eloquently.
"You heard me." The elementalist asserted. "Let's see what you have to offer. It's only fair…"
Her poor victim was now no longer sure if this was a wonderful dream, or a horrific nightmare. He gave thanks to Dwayna that he hadn't yet changed into the black form-fitting suit he had been given, as he feared it would have left little of his… current state… to the imagination.
"That probably wouldn't be prudent... I was just sent to see if you had everything in order…" Mhenlo began, totally lost as to how he should proceed with the disturbing direction this small task had taken.
Cynn then abruptly growled in frustration, and again, Mhenlo was thrown off by the elementalist's swift change in demeanor. She freed one arm momentarily to completely shove Mhenlo away from the door, and snapped, "I'm fine, but I don't want to see you approach me again until you become a man."
The door then slammed loudly, and Mhenlo finally found himself able to decompress and think logically again. Nonetheless, he remained dazed as to what had just happened. "I suspect there was a better way to have handled that…"
Devona did not like leaving her armor behind. She felt vulnerable, and it was not a pleasant sensation, even as Coran repeatedly assured her that she was likely more safe in the black material she now found herself in.
"You must understand, my dear… that just because we can't see something… doesn't mean it isn't there." Coran repeated. "Energy is all around us, and only a small amount of it is in the form of visible light we see."
Devona sighed. "Meaning…?"
"Well, let's put it this way… when you see a tree, or a river… you're actually not seeing those things exactly… but the energy they are reflecting in the form of light." The prince tried to explain, "Among the energy spectrum, light is a very small band. For the Charr… and the dwarves, if I understand correctly, they have a slightly broader range of energy they can see."
He drew a long line in the dust on the table in front of them. "For the sake of argument, let's say this is what Sslani calls 'The Electromagnetic Spectrum'. The energy that humans see as 'visible' light would reside about in here…" He then drew two small intersecting lines that did indeed frame a very small section in the center of the larger line. "For the Charr, their low limit is a bit further." He added a third line, barely to the right of the second. "In this range lies what my teacher called 'Infrared Energy'. The heat our bodies generate actually falls in this category."
"So you're saying that the Charr can actually see the heat in our bodies?" Devona asked.
"Yes!" Coran nearly chirped, glad that Devona was getting a grasp of what he was saying. "Humans have generally assumed that the Charr have better vision than us, because they seemed to be able to see things so well in the dark. In fact, in terms of clarity of sight, I'd wager the Charr actually see slightly poorer than humankind on average… they can just see more along the spectrum than we can."
"And these suits help prevent that." Devona stated.
"Correct. The suits are designed with insulation fibers that keep heat from escaping. You'll probably feel awfully warm and sticky, but that really can't be helped. Coupled with the shrouding techniques of the Shades they'll use during the day… we should be nigh invisible to the Charr as we move through their lands."
"You know, you could have just said, 'the Charr can see the heat from you, and this suit prevents them from doing that."
He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I need to remind myself I'm no longer in the academy."
"Coran dear, you've been making complex out of simple for years before you were ever in Sslani's care." Devona retorted with a wry grin. "It's actually one of your endearing traits."
"Endearing, am I?" Coran said with narrowed eyes as he closed the distance between them. "Funny, that wasn't what you called me as I left for Tranquility Temple about five years ago."
"Well, I was a young girl then. I thought you were more than you really were. Now, with age I've come to realize how mellow you are."
"I'm mellow now, am I?" Then Coran ended Devona's teasing.
Devona had to admit his kiss had much more power and intent than their first, which had been a swift, secret exchange as Coran had been preparing to leave Ashford Abbey. He was clearly no teenager anymore…
Yuu's cough interrupted them, and while Devona was blushing furiously at being caught, Coran didn't seem to be perturbed in the slightest.
"Can I help you, Yuu?"
The now shrouded woman remarked almost coldly, "Just to remind you how adamant you were that everyone be ready by dusk." She then gestured towards the small window that now perfectly framed a setting sun.
"Oh, yes, you're quite right, my dear. Shall we be going, Devona?" Coran offered his arm once again to the warrior, who took it with a half smile just before Yuu escorted them towards the exit.