Until Journey's End

[Sorano]

Relief filled her essence. “I see. Thank you for clarifying that for me.” She offered him a smile, wide and genuinely happy. As her smile stole her features, his thoughts stole his own. “Perhaps once we are settled on the ship, and set sail, I’ll tell you my story if you wish.” With a nod, she dismounted, leaving nothing behind though.

She handed the reigns to the boy, searching his features and filing them away deep within her memory. They seemed so precious these days. A small gasp escaped her lips as her eyes fell upon the beauty of the vessel before them. It was glorious.

Her hand quickly shot out toward the man known only as Captain. “An honor sir. Thank you for the ride, may Tellus bless you for your assistance.” With a nod and a smile, she quickly hurried to the side of the massive boat, leaning over and breathing in deep the smell of the water as it danced up the sides. Like a child, she was giddy.

[.deceitful.]

[right:9opc2lv7][/right:9opc2lv7]

While Sorano made her way to the ship's side, Valentine turned to Captain. "You will be rewarded for this handsomely of course." He needed say no more, the two of them already knew the terms by which an agreement had been reached. There was no reason to say anymore aloud, that did not warrant it. Not to mention, you never know what listening ears may percieve.

A brow lofted. "My packages, ne?" Captain swept his arm side, pointing in the direction a row of doors. "To da left pardner." The drawl came easy, and Valentine nodded, then called out to Sorano. "Oi! I'll be just a moment." Escaping to the obscurity of the small room, Valentine tore the wrapping from the package, and nodded in afirmation to himself. He was satisfied.

While he was in the room, a gentle lurch alerted him to the fact that the ship had begun it's passage. Right on time, he thought. He loved it when things went as planned.

Stepping out a few minutes later, he breathed in the fresh river air as it set his blonde locks dancing all about his face. Walking as surefooted as he had on land, he crossed the deck, ending at Sorano's side, now casually adorned in ebony, with a green shirt and an elegant white tie. Cane tucked under his right arm, he appeared refreshed and reanimated.

"So, how about that story? Ne?"

[Sorano]

The conversation between the men was lost in the air between themselves and her. The ocean spray shot up the side of the ship, creating a beautiful pattern upon it. Crossing her arms, she lay her head down, and with a deep sigh exhaled just as she hear the voice of Valentine. He was heading inside, for a reason that was not her business, and with a wave, she told him his words did not go unheard.

With a forward thrust, the ship was in motion. The wind whipped around her with a freedom words could not describe. It seemed like only moments before Valentine was at her side again - freshly dressed and looking rather fine. With a smile, she again nodded to his words and drew in a breath.

“I wish I could remember the story in its entirety, but truth is, I can’t. In fact the only thing I can remember before these last three days is a man I met, and the man I seek.” She stood erect now as she spoke, her body rocking naturally with the sway of the ship. “The Gods have sent a message for him, I message I must deliver, but I know in my heart that finding him will prove to be the most challenging task I will ever know.”

She leaned her hip upon the rail as she looked ‘cross the vast sea before them. “I remember a great cry from a beast so mighty, and my eyes opening to a world I did not know. “Ask no questions. Know no answers. Carry on anew with firearms from the Gods.” his words will forever be carved within what little memory I do have.” Her lips perked slightly at the thought.

“It was at that time I received these.” Slowly she reached inside her jacket, wrapping her hands lovingly around the grips of the revolvers, only to display them for his eyes to behold. Platinum and Gold shimmered in the light. They were truly breathtaking. “I was told that, that very moment was significant for so many, that these gifts from the Gods are living entities that will defend me, and shoot true only for me.”

Her eyes met his as she exhaled loudly, brows furrowed as she searched her thoughts. “He explained little to me really, his world beckoned him for his return. Before he left me, he challenged me, only to prove that his words about Xolomon and Xeshua” she showed each as she spoke their names “ were more then true. These weapons are beyond extraordinary. One might say their capabilities are limitless. That is, if I can control myself, and them.”

Her words ceased. Already she felt she had given him more then enough to swallow at the moment. If he believed a word she said was another story. But the honesty that shown in her somber hues as she spoke, the seriousness on her face: she prayed he would believe.

[.deceitful.]

[right:pxeqnc1r][/right:pxeqnc1r]

While Sorano told her tale, the ship's progress gradually carried them further and further from any signs of civilization until finally, they were alone, passing through the wilds that the river crashed and foamed it's way through.

About the time she drew to a cease, Captain once more made his appearance. Casting a rolling eye at the pair standing where the spray could mist over their visage, he grinned widely. "H'ar be the second stage...hold on to ye bums!" Lifting a hand, he circled his forefinger in the air, shouting aloud, "Get the engines started ye lazy arses!" The crew jumping to action; it only took a solid minute. The sails came down, the masts were canted back at an odd angle, and the stern shunted open to reveal two huge mana engines.

Valentine grabbed the rail, accouncing cheerily, "Here we go!" The ship rocked, lifting slightly out of the water in sync with the loud boom of the engines igniting and firing, their speed increasing as the - now smuggler's ship - went whisper quiet. "That's always exciting." Turning to face Sorano once more, his head cocked to the side. "That's a mighty...exclusive story you've got there." Despite his initial need to question her story, he found her open honesty to be a bit overpowering. It helped that he had an extremely open mind. "But, I'll bite. Until you give me reason not to, I'll believe you. But - " He lifted a finger. "I've been meaning to tell you."

His eyes searched her's. "Understand me clearly, I have no problem with you or your beliefs. But there may be others who do. For instance, the General we ran into at the mines. Speaking of gods and miracles and the like might do more to hurt your cause than help it. Choose wisely the times you speak of such, and learn to judge people's initial reactions so you can know how to proceed. You may be loath to hold your tongue but when there are others whom you must go through to achieve something - you must compromise. ...ne?" He took a deep breath.

Then smiled and gestured to Xeshua and Xolomon. "So they're godly. Sounds pretty powerful. I know you say abilities are limitless but what are their qualities? Anything specific, ne?" Fingers abandoning the crown of his cane, he pointed at the treeline zipping by the speeding ship. "And, show me." Undercover of the hat's brim, his eyes glinted in the deep pool of shadow. "Show me what you can do."

[Sorano]

Silence. So often a blessing in disguise, other times a curse.

Her eyes did not waiver from his as the captain made his rounds once more. Second stage? And all at once a few things happened - Xeshua began to hum loudly to her, telling tale of the mana engines, confusion stole her features, and the ship leapt from the water just as her arm wrapped around the rail.

Hiding the excitement in her eyes was futile, and finally she broke the trance like state that had held her so intently only for her senses to take in everything around her. Like a child she was in awe, yet she knew she more then likely shouldn’t be, though, she couldn’t even remember a ship like this.

"I'll believe you. But - I've been meaning to tell you."

His words broke her excitement and once again her attention was his. She understood all he was saying. It quickly became evident that the General saw her as unfit to do any bidding with him. With a nod she confirmed his words. “You believe, that’s important to me.” She offered him an almost coy smile and listened as he went on.

She had almost forgotten that within her hands were the revolvers, she thought herself lucky she hadn’t dropped them when she had wrapped her arm about the rail, but something told her losing these weapons was a worry she wasted time upon. Her warm tongue whipped across her lips as she searched her memories for the answers to his questions.

“Xolomon is my strength and uses Renovatio’s Miasma to fire concussion blasts. He also nullifies mana and other energies, including my own.” She inhaled deeply, freeing her mind, she knew she spoke the words he had spoken to her, and yet, so many she didn’t understand fully. “Xeshua uses the elements of mana firing rounds that can change landscapes, or using the element within itself.”

She closed her eyes, surely there was more, more she needed to remember, even though this memory was so fresh it seemed so dreamlike. They had heard his challenge, wanting to see what she could do, still he didn’t understand, it wasn’t her skill, it was theirs.

Xeshua found herself placed back into her holster, as her hands tightened around the grip of Xolomon. From between the sights, the trees came into view. Her legs were shoulder width apart, elbows slightly bend, spine stiff and flawless, both eyes open. “One, two, three, and four my friend. Those.” With an exhale, her index finger pulled back, with a slight bit of concussion, a rather large bullet fired from the end of Xolomon.

A careful eye would note that as soon as the oblong projectile was freed, it separated. Once, twice, four times. The four orbs quickly flattened into very thin discs, and within seconds, one after another four massive trees, about midway from the base of the trunk, fell over. “Well done.” a self satisfying smile crept over her features, nothing could describe the feelings they bestowed within her. A feeling she knew not to let overpower her. Her posture went lax as she placed Xolomon back into his holster as she turned toward Valentine.

[.deceitful.]

[right:ceq28dc3][/right:ceq28dc3]

Valentine was a miser of information; some pocketed gold and precious stones, he pocketed knowledge.

As he did now, lending an attentive ear to her words more so than his eye. A low whistle of appreciation swept from pursed lips as he considered the appointed powers of her revolvers. No wonder she'd called them godly, even in his calculating mind, he could see the far reaching potential she held in those two simple instruments.

For a moment he found himself admiring her stance, not for it's rigidity nor it's purpose; more for the lush feminine lines she possessed and irrefutable charm.

All that was washed away in a tide of surprised as she demonstrated and he stared - albeit only for a moment; at the speeds they were traveling, the evidence was soon swept out of sight, vanishing into the skyline of reality, but lingering solidly in the realms of his mind. "That - " he whipped around to her, his eyes alight with interest, "was an absolutely marvelous display! Amazing!" Settling his back to the rail, a hand rested on hers.

"You know, I think you have no reason to worry. As long as you have good common sense you should be able to use those to achieve nearly anything." A charming smile, a sparkle of even teeth and a kind eye were all turned her way. "I'm starting to think you should have more faith in yourself. Well then!" With a jaunty twist, he adjusted his hat. "Being that you've only had them a few days so far, why dont we spend the next hour exploring some of your limits?" And if she agreed, that was indeed how they would spend the next hour, studying her, Xeshua and Xolomon's skills, and how she was able to use them. In that time, they would see the lights of Loxxian.

If nothing else, it would go a long way toward satisfying Valentine. And perhaps, she might even learn something.

[Sorano]

Her gaze held his own for a moment. The moment in fact, that admiration peaked as a glint in his eyes. Her mouth twitched into a half smile as his hand lay atop her own. “Thank you, their skill cannot be denied.” She did not try to move her hand, nor did she find the gesture uncomfortable. Pleasant was more the word for it.

Crimson traveled across her cheeks to kiss upon the bridge of her nose at his kind words and charming smile. “I’m not sure that it’s so much a lack of faith within myself as it is my lack of knowledge. Knowledge of my weapons, my life.....everything.”

Her voice was small as she spoke. There were no words she could muster to make him understand that she truly was a blank canvas, much like a child trapped within the body of a woman. The frustration must have stolen her surreal features as she nodded to his words.

“That sounds lovely Valentine, thank you.” Reaching back, she once more placed her hands on the grips of the revolvers. Between her thumb and index finger would be the first place she felt them while her fingers slowly curled inward. Slender lips parted slightly in a silent gasp. They knew her thoughts, fed off her emotions it seemed. She belonged to them as much as they did her.

[.deceitful.]

[right:ios2nkbn][/right:ios2nkbn]

A curious head tilted aside; mind working on her words, deconstructing them.

Too, the sheer frustration rolling over her typically serene features gave Valentine the impression that there was an inner turmoil that Sorano either: wished not to speak of, or could not appropriately articulate. A mental note was made to delve further into this vein if she so allowed, in the future.

"My pleasure." Again his gaze swam over the beautiful instruments that appeared more artifact than weapon, more relic than tool, and more sacrosanct than pragmatic. Perhaps they really were divine. "So, let's see what else you - they - " A correction that he amended swiftly, as he'd come to realize from her vernacular exactly what she meant. " - can do, ne?" It wasnt just for her good; Valentine really wanted to know what Xeshua and Xolomon were capable of.

In this manner the time would pass, the forests would pass, the river would pass, and all the world stood still while they progressed onward, both in knowledge and in distance. Sorano's porcelain hands must have belched fire and flame dozens, no hundreds, perhaps even thousands of times. Over and again, without fail. Before they knew it, trees and impromptu targets became lights and scattered homes. Sandbars and floating logs became private wharfs and docked boats.

The outskirts of Loxxian were no more the distance, they were just beyond it's borders. In accordance, the Captain made his way onto the deck, barking a few orders. The changes the ship underwent, transforming it into a marvel of the high seas, reversed, instead giving it the appearance of your run of the mill sea craft. They settled back into the river with a lurch and a massive spray of crystal clear water.

It was time.

[center:ios2nkbn][.finis.][/center:ios2nkbn]

[center:ios2nkbn]Continued In: The Banter of Gulls[/center:ios2nkbn]