Hell to it All!
This morning was a mix of emotions. First I woke up way too early and caught word of Bal Vyr muttering to himself, “Oh, like hell you’re gonna keep it between the two of you.”
“What?” I mumbled.
“Oh, go back to sleep. They would feel bad if they knew they woke you up,” the Drow instructed. It took me a second to register who ‘they’ were, but once I heard the door knob twist, I bolted straight. I watched as Cloudbreaker and Abu walked in. They looked remarkably clean. Both stopped in their tracks as they realized Bal Vyr and I were watching them.
“Where did you guys go?” I asked.
“Oh... uh,” Cloudbreaker uttered, “We- we were, um. We got some chickens,” he finished holding out some dead chickens.
“You went chicken hunting? And you’re just getting back now?” I asked skeptically. Abu and Cloudbreaker looked nervously at each other.
“Do I smell perfume on you guys?”Bal Vyr interjected. Both men looked wided eyed back at the Drow. I noticed the scent too and immediately I felt... embarrassed I guess. Maybe jealous too, but why was I surprised? It would seem clear that Cloudbreaker didn’t have eyes for me and it was probably for the best.
I turned over in my bed and let Bal Vyr continue to work out of the men what they had specifically done that night.
When I woke back up, the Drow was relaxing in the corner of the room. I went and washed up before returning and offering to get Bal Vyr something to eat. He took the offer and quickly I went downstairs to fetch him something.
As I came around the corner I immediately noticed Cloudbreaker at the bar. Dale wasn’t in yet, but having helped the Innkeeper the night before, I felt comfortable enough to help myself. However, as I approached Cloudbreaker, there was something drastically different. He was resting his arms on the bar, staring at a loaf of untouched bread. I saw his shoulder shake a little as he took in a quick breathe.
“Cloudbreaker? Are you... alright?” I asked cautiously.
“I honestly really don’t know,” the Goliath wept as he quickly rubbed his eyes. By now I was standing next to him and could see the tears on the bar table and the hint of red in his eyes.
“Wow, you’re actually crying,” I said astonished. It wasn’t that it was a bad thing he was crying, but it was so unexpected of him.
“It’s just (sniff) bread is the best thing humans have,” Cloudbreaker sobbed, “Us Goliaths don’t have it. It’s my favorite thing about man!”
I gawked for a moment at the Goliath.
“I’m going to grab Bal Vyr some food real quick, then I‘ll be right back,” I informed him slowly. Cloudbreaker sniffed and gave a nod of his head.
I gave Bal Vyr his food and as I began to leave he asked if I would check in with Abu about his ring of disguise. I agreed and quickly left the room.
There were a few patrons down stairs going about their business. Cloudbreaker still sat alone at the bar. I sat down next to him and out of the corner of my eye observed him trying to compose himself. He had his face covered by his right hand while his left hand rested on the bar top.
I felt myself begin to reach out to grab his hand, but stopped myself. That’d give you away! I scolded myself. So? I debated,You’re making this too big of a deal. It’s a nice gesture. So with a deep breath, I reached out and grabbed Cloudbreaker’s hand. I pulled it toward me, the Goliath for a moment tensing up before relaxing.
“Hey,” I said as soothingly as I could, “Is the bread really that good or did something happen last night to you and Abu?” I gently rubbed the top of his hand, partly out of fidgeting and partly to comfort him.
Cloudbreaker sniffed before turning his head to look me in the eyes. His gaze was firm as his deep blue, luminescent, and pupil-less eyes bore into mine.
"The bread is stale. It's yesterday's,” he said flatly. I furrowed my brow as I studied his face. I gave a small shake of my head in disbelief.
"I dont mean to be insensitive, but it doesn't seem like stale bread would warrenty such an emotional response from you,” I replied as I took his gaze again. Cloudbreaker let out a long sigh.
"I miss speaking in Gol-Kaa. It's so much easier to be... coy, but for people to understand you,” the Goliath said as he looked back at the loaf of bread. I cocked my head and almost asked ‘why’ when it came to me.
"Oh!” I said, my head racing. Bal Vyr was in the room, so where else could we go for privacy? “I need to exercise my wings. Let's go down to the docks,” I said, pulling on Cloudbreaker’s hand to get him to come with. He looked at our hands, a small smile breaking his lips. However, once he got to his feet, I let go. “Maybe you can teach me some Gol-Kaa on the way. Like how do you say hello?" I added as we walked out of the Inn.
"Well... we don't necessarily say ‘Hello,’” Cloudbreaker mentioned. I gave him a quizzical look, “You see, 'Hello' is just a neutral greeting. You can say it without a thought to it. In Gol-Kaa, every word has meaning. So when you say it, you mean it. If you want to greet me, all you need to do is call me by my name."
I pondered a bit. I never thought much about the words I said having no meaning, but it made sense how casual one could be in their speech.
"Humans tell me it's a strange language," Cloudbreaker suddenly added. I let a soft snort out.
"Humans can be arrogant about what isn't familiar or made by them,” then more seriously I said, “So when greeting you, simply calling you by name is like saying hello, right?”
"Yes- well, sort of,” Cloudbreaker let out another sigh, “I try to keep the common I've learned and Gol-Kaa separate, so I don't begin to blend them and their conflicting practices. It’s not that I don’t want to teach you, but the last thing I want, when I return to my people, is to sound or act alien like."
“Oh,” I said, "That’s understandable. However, I would enjoy learning your language so I can communicate with you or your people when the time comes you're reunited with them,” I persisted. If I’m to roam with Goliaths one day, I would like to blend in as quickly as I could considering how very different I am.
"That’s a good point.” Cloudbreaker slowly said. We walked a few paces in silence as he pondered. The streets were beginning to fill with life as we made our way to the lake.
“I'll teach you what I can,” the Goliath finally said, “but I doubt I'll be able to make you fluent. There is no proper substitute for living in a Goliath tribe for a while, to see how it really works. So, if you want to say hello in Gol-Kaa, you should say my name in Gol-Kaa."
"Is your name, in Gol-Kaa, much different from what I know it to be now?"
"Well, you already know my wish name and my family name-”
“Wish name?” I interrupted.
“Yes. A’aluke is my wish name. Kolothiae is my family name. But my current name, my honorific, is roughly translated to Cloudbreaker. In Gol-Kaa, it’s Kamagath.”
"Ka-ma-gath,” I slowly said, a smile creeping on my lips. It was as though I had learned a secret.
We continued to discuss the significance of names, the Goliath asking if the Angelic did something similar. I explained that most names held no meaning, but that our animals typically received Angelic names to highlight a quality or appreciation. If people were given an Angelic name, it was a nickname and one could have many nicknames depending on who gives them.
When I spoke of that, it reminded me of Bor... I hadn’t thought about him in so long. My second father after my own had died... When I arrived in the Kingdom, he began to call me Yuk Bur (You Buhr). It means Big Fire. For the longest time I thought he called me that in reference to my anger. How quick I was to it. But many years later, I realized he meant it to how strong my spirit is. Despite the obstacles I’ve faced, somehow I’ve always managed to rise above them.
Cloudbreaker thought it quite peculiar. He mistook such names and meanings to be presumptuous like the ‘wish’ names in his culture. I reminded him that when an Angelic name is given, it’s typically after someone has gotten to know you. Hence why our birth names typically held no meaning. Who’s to say who we’d become when we grew up? I then added, since he seemed disappointed by the lack of meaning in our given names, that we eventually give mean to our names. Who we are, how we live, what we become, that is what gives our name their meaning.
The Goliath smiled, seeing some of the logic behind that. He then went on to explain his name. A’aluke, his wish name, means ‘Like Father,’ and Kolothiae, his family name, means ‘of the people that pray on the summit'. Then ‘Kamagath’ means great mountain. I cocked my head curious why we called him Cloudbreaker. He explained it was a simile; a mountain so great that it pierces the clouds, or a cloud breaker.
I admire the depth to his name. It’s poetic.
With that, I then asked if he was suppose to be like his father one day. He smiled and said it’s kind of funny he was given that name. He has a brother who’s 10 years older than him. One would think he should have received such a name, but alas, with Cloudbreaker’s father being the chieftain of his tribe, it would have seemed too soon to have given his first born such a name when in a few decades time he could take over for his father. Let alone, his brother was nothing like his father as it turned out.
“My tribe had such hope in me as I grew up and my father became older. But alas, I’ve been exiled... I worry now what has become of the Vath'ul-Mak'ai. Either my father leads them still, weakening every winter, or another, lesser man has taken his role. Either way, I worry about them." Cloudbreaker finished forlorned. We had arrived to the docks by then and part of me envied the Goliath. Though he missed his family... as least he could take hope knowing they’re out there somewhere.
"At least you can take heart that you have a chance to be reunited with them,” I said with a heavy heart, “As for me... I'll never see my family again." Instantly I realized how depressing that sounded. I also didn’t want Cloudbreaker to pity me.
“Well, I’m going to fly for a bit. I'll be back in a few,” I mentioned as I walked to the edge of the dock and took off over the lake.
As I flew about, landing on the docks ever so often for a quick rest, I remembered one of the reasons we came out was for Cloudbreaker to explain what happened last night. Yet... part of me didn’t want to pry too hard. If he was out with women last night, as Bal Vyr suggested, I didn’t want to know.
“Okay, that’s all,” I said as I landed for the last time on the docks. I sucked in the cool morning air as I walked back to Cloudbreaker, wiping the sweat from my brow.
"Blackwing... about last night,” the Goliath began. I watched him closely nervous about what he would disclose, “I don't remember everything that happened, but I don't think it's because of what I had to drink yesterday evening."
"If it wasn’t the drink that has made these memories faint, then where you two attacked?" I asked cautiously. Cloudbreaker shook his head.
"I don't know- well I don't think so. I feel like we were magicked, but I cannot say for sure".
With that, I focused on the magic auras about the Goliath. If there was anything lingering about him, I couldn’t detect it over the auras of his mark.
“Well I can’t see anything different about you. Is there any details that you remember that would suggest why you believe it was magics used against you?
"Um... I feel really good. I'm not hungover at all and I'm pretty sure last night went south fast. And because of... breakfast. I don’t understand why I was crying. It doesn't make sense for I'm not sad.
"This is the most I can remember Blackwing. I get little flashes of a red corridor, chanting, spinning, an egg, and a bright white flash of light. Then Abu and I woke up in the gutter. We both felt great. That just doesn't feel natural to me..."
“Chanting?” I questioned, “Do you remember what was said?”
“No.”
I furrowed my brows, "Hmm. That is curious...” part of me wonders if he had fallen in with the Heinul cult... but I didn’t want to think about that, nor did I want to bring that up.
“Well I suppose it's a good thing you've returned safely... or at least for what we can tell," a coy smile then creeped upon my face, "So... no rendezvous with women as Bal Vyr hinted at? You do smell nice."
"Ha! Bal Vyr has a wild imagination and likes to stir up trouble!” Then with a more grave look continued, “I must say... I certainly wasn't all clean (and perfumed?) until we woke up in the gutter. It's like we were... washed or something after that white flash. The idea makes my skin crawl."
I gave nod of my head as my heart began to race. At the mention of the Drow’s wild imagination and his love to cause trouble, I knew I needed to speak. How certain I was Bal Vyr would use the closest opportunity to make my crush on the Goliath a huge scene. And seeing I was alone with Cloudbreaker, I figured it was time to get it over with.
I could feel my cheeks burn as I spoke "Well, speaking of Bal Vyr and his wild imagination... I figure it’d be best if you heard this from me than him...” Oh how intently the Goliath looked at me. I took a deep breath and jumped, “I like you Cloudbreaker... a lot,” I then looked away, unable to keep his gaze any longer, my next words rushing out, “I don’t plan on it effecting the party nor do I expect you to like me in return more than a friend... I just thought you’d rather hear it from me than from him-” my voice caught as I felt the Goliath take my hand.
My head jerked up to look Cloudbreaker in the eyes. They were so intense that I felt a lightness about me and I barely caught him saying something in Gol-Kaa.
“What? I exhaled.
His smile broadened as he said, "That means I like you too, Blackwing.” Then with a soft chuckle and a mischievous grin he added, "Though I fear I do not know the proper steps involved in courting an Angelic. Perhaps you could instruct me. I wouldn't want to mis-step."
A nervous laugh escaped me as I gave Cloudbreaker’s hand a squeeze. “I've never been courted...” I confessed, “I’d say it’s similar to what the Humans do. Angelic would hold hands, hug, and kiss- but um, yeah...” I then began to ramble with nervousness, “Of course courtship was so you can find your one true companion,” I paused a moment as I remembered home. “The Kingdom was about family and making those strong relations. That matters not though. This is very much new to me as I imagine it is for you to court an Angelic. So either court me like you would a Goliath or we'll figure out our own way of doing this.”
"Well, I get the feeling that we should find our own way of doing this then,” Cloudbreaker began, “Us Goliaths don't really 'court'. It's usually much more direct. Most of us have grown up alongside our future mate and one day just decide to... bed together. And that's that. First children by spring-" he suddenly stopped and with wide eyes, realizing what he had said, added "That's not what I'm suggesting! I..."
I placed my free hand to my face as I laughed at Cloudbreaker fumbling over his words. To have thought I was nervous.
"I really don't have any idea what I'm doing here, do I?" he asked with a light chuckle.
“It’s okay. I’m liking the hand holding so far,” I said. The Goliath looked at our hands intertwined.
“They are so small...” he spoke with a soft look.
“Hey,” I said, getting his eyes back on mine, “I know must seem brittle to you, especially the night you took me to Pelor's temple, but I assure you I’m more durable than I look. I know I'm stronger than the average person,” I assured him.
"Yeah, I did notice then that. You hardly weigh anything... Yet you’re so strong despite not weighing more than an infant Goliath. I guess magic runs through your blood!"
“That it does,” I responded. I then looked around and noticed more people beginning to go about their day, "We probably should head back. I need to find Abu and ask him about Bal Vyr's ring. Oh!” I exclaimed remembering yesterday’s meeting with Garth, “Weren't we to tell the others about that job with the Sylphsbane Clade? "
Cloudbreaker rolled his head back as he let out his own exclamation, “I completely forgot about that what with Bal Vyr doing his weird ritual thing! Let’s go do that now!” he added, pulling me along. It felt really nice holding the Goliath’s hand. And I must say... I haven’t felt so happy in my life since the time Meryth and I were in our youth...
As we walked back, I did have one thing I was curious about. Cloudbreaker made it seem that Goliaths just paired off. What I didn’t understand was how was it made known to the tribe?
"Cloudbreaker, is there any ceremony to it? Before they... 'bed?'”
“Ceremony?” he questioned.
“In the kingdom we have a gathering to which family and friends can witness the two promise each other with forever. What humans call a wedding, but more simple and humble in comparison to them,” I explained.
"Oh... Um not before usually... Sometimes after. My tribe didn't, but the Kakualak had some kind of simple ceremony that involved a blessing from Theleya that I saw once. I wouldn't know how to perform it. It certainly wasn't a promise of forever. I think it was more of a... fertility blessing. It's hard to promise forever when your mate could be dead by next winter."
"I suppose that would seem silly in the mortal realm,” I said as I realized how ridiculous forever must seem to mortals, “Even I am unsure if I am immortal or not. I've certainly have had a lot of close calls."
We finished our walk in silence. I felt a little embarrassed having asked about wedding ceremonies. It wasn’t like I was thinking about marrying the Goliath. It’s a possibility sure, but what if he thought that was where my head already was... oh well. I focused my attention to making sure I found Abu and asking him about the ring on Bal Vyr’s behalf.
“Hey," Cloudbreaker said as we turned onto the road Larland’s Chalice Inn was on, “Do we say anything to the others?”
Immediately I felt nervous. Bal Vyr did not make my crush seem like a good thing and I really didn’t want to make our relationship a big deal with the group. Yet at the same time, I didn’t want Cloudbreaker to think I was ashamed of our relationship.
“If we do,” I said thoughtfully, “let’s try to be mindful of how we act. We do have this party to work with and... I don’t know. It would seem Bal Vyr was concerned about us happening.”
Cloudbreaker squeezed my hand, “Well, our relationship is none of their business anyways right?” I gave a small smile and enjoyed a few more seconds of holding his hands before reluctantly letting go as the Chalice came into view.
✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻
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