Var & Ellah's Calamity - Part I

Var and Ellah's Calamity - Part I

Var stumbled out from behind a wide oak, shafts of moonlight illuminating his grey cloak. Slashes of fresh blood glisten red across the right side of Var's  arm as he moves a tangle of vines away from the short fence. A cabin sat away from the rest of the clump of  buildings shadowed in the night. Var pulled himself over the fence. 

He paused as a high pitched whinny echoed from a building out of his sight. "Calm yourself." Var whispered, dropping the rest of the way down. He crouches low on one knee and checks his bandaged leg, before prowling to a window to the cabin. 

"Looks empty enough" Var mutters to himself.

The window looks into an empty kitchen with a view of a darkened hallway. The space is well furnished, clean, and quiet. Next to the window is a sturdy wooden back door, which is locked.

Var limps over to the door. He tests the knob, feeling it's locked.

"Malakas" he curses, pulling a thin knife from his boot to begin working on the lock.

The lock is well made, but eventually it gives way. The door creaks softly as its pushed in to reveal the darkened kitchen, complete with wood fire stove, a preparation table, and a wide hearth. The hearth is cold, meaning it's likely that no one is home. A doorway to Var's right leads to the hallway which is paneled with rich, dark wood and lined with a thick rug.

Var shuts the door gently before taking off his gloves and flexing his fingers.

"Finally out the cold" Var sighs, "Hopefully whoever lives here keeps something in the pantry."

He turns to the kitchen, and begins rummaging in search of a meal.

On the far counter he finds a bread box with a full loaf contained within. He also discovers a second door leading to a pantry that had been tucked out of sight from where he had entered on the other side of the fireplace. Within he finds mostly dry goods - coffee, tea, beans, a tin of ginger snaps - but also a door to a cellar, where he hits the jackpot. Several fine varieties of whiskey and wine are stored here, along with some cheese, mushrooms, and cured meats

Var pulls out a smooth stone from a pouch. He shakes it, causing light to emit from the stone. Var wanders down into the cellar grabbing a handful of foodstuffs before pausing at the whiskey

"That I could really use" Var breathes.

He grabbed a random bottle, adding it to his bundle, before making his way back up the stairs. His right side aches as he climbs the steps.

"I need to get some rest." Var winces.  

He climbs the stairs before turning to the hallway in search of a place to rest.

A creak of the hallway stairs to his right causes him to immediately duck back into the kitchen. With a thud, a knife lands in the wall where his head had been less than a second before. A vaguely familiar voice swears at him as a figure jumps the last few steps into the hallway, a crackling, bluish glow emitting from the licks of electricity beginning to encircle their pulled back hand, reflecting off of their horns.

Var drops the bundle as he jumps back, his hood falling back to reveal eyes covered in ash.

"Daimon!" He curses.

 As he reaches for a bone on his belt, his eyes catch the glint of light off the horns of his attacker. His eyes trail down to meet the gaze of a familiar face.

"Wait? I know you?" Var asks.

Unfortunately for Var, the tiefling doesn't seem interested in answering questions at the moment and makes contact with her electrified hand, briefly stunning her intruder. She does, however, pause upon glimpsing the shrike talisman on Var's belt as he is knocked to the floor.

"Godsdammit," she hisses, stepping back and pulling her knife from the wall.

"What the hell are you doing in my house?" She demands of him.

Var spasms as the energy passed through him. His knees hit the floor as pain subsided.

"Shelter" Var gasps. "I was just passing through, I had no idea this was your home.”

Ellah reaches up and lights a lamp hanging from the wall with a line of stained electricity from her hand. As it brightens the kitchen and she looks down at him, her eyebrows raise in mild surprise.

"Wow, you look like shit," she notes in a conversational tone.

"Thanks, I was trying to impress," he says with a smirk. "You should see the ones that did this." 

He waves at the blood stained rags holding his leg together.

"They got worse.”

He pulls himself up, grabbing the fallen bundle.

"I'm sure," Ellah says flatly, eyeing the bundle of stolen food and then his injuries as she sheaths the knife and tucks it away in her boot. In the light, he can see she's dressed casually in a loose black tunic and what appears to be riding breeches, her hair loose and makeup minimal compared to what he'd seen of her before.

"You should know I don't offer anything freely. I could do you a favor and house you for the night, but I'd expect a favor in return down the line.”

He blinks, as the full weight of the situation hits him. He drops the bundle on the table, then straightens, letting the light hit his ragged cloak. He wears his usual red tunic and grey pants tucked into leather boots.

"Apologies" Var says, bowing his head slightly. "It's been a long few days. I am short on coin at the moment. But I do have... skills.”

"I have strings already tied to me" He says, brushing his hand across the bone medallion. "This would need to stay between us.”

The corner of Ellah's mouth twitches upwards in amusement.

"What? You don't think Siveria approves of me?”

Var's eyes shift down.

"I would not want to disappoint her," he says, a look of concern passing over his face before his smirk returns.

Ellah barks out a laugh.

"Right. If you're scared of her, just say so," she teases.

"There's a guest bedroom upstairs to your left if you find my rates reasonable, plus a bath. Don't get blood on my sheets. This whole place is new.”

"Respect is healthy practice, where I was raised," 

Var rebukes. "I owe her that." 

He looks down at the blood and torn clothing down his right side.

"One favor..." Var says, extending a hand.

Ellah looks down at his hand and there's a half second of pause before she reaches out and shakes it once, quickly releasing it, as if physical contact is unpleasant.

"Sure. I'll keep secrets from my roommate out of respect," she says slyly.

"Roommates?!" Var chokes out. "Here?!"

He looks around.

Ellah grins widely at Var's discomfort.

"Relaaaaax. Not here. Just in Evermire. Anya too. This is just where I escape to do my hobbies.”

A brief grin twitches across his lips before he speaks.

"I could use either one of them right now," he whispers to himself.

"Hobbies?" Var says, one eyebrow raised. "What does someone like you do for fun?”

"Hmm," she hums, giving him a once over, her eyebrow raised suggestively. She gives him a quick, smirking grin.

"Well, Thorn Rose Stables is where Ms. Sinclair and I keep and train our horses. Stick around long enough tomorrow and maybe I'll give you a tour.”

Var grabs the bundle from the table.

"Come morning I will be able to... recover. But let's see, when dawn comes," He grunts. "Till then I think I'm going to stop this bleeding and get some rest." 

Var gestures upward then pauses as he makes his way to the guest room.

"Thanks for not going for the kill" He spits out, red tinting his cheeks.

Ellah leads the way upstairs and waves her hand dismissively, a smile playing on her lips.

"Well, where would the fun be in that?" She asks sweetly. "Guest room there, baths there, my room there. And just so we're clear, if you try entering my room at all during your stay, not even your dark lady will be able to help you," she tells him, her voice and expression momentarily icy before she flashes him a pleasant smile. "Goodnight."

She disappears into her room and he hears the click of multiple locks.

Var stands frozen for a moment, staring at the closed door. He shakes himself back to reality.

"Focus, Varpheus," He whispers to himself. "That one means it, it's not like Teslyn." A sad smile hangs on his lips as he says the name.

He drops the bundle and his pack in the guest room before heading to the bath to clean up. He merges refreshed and with clean bandages. Var closes the door while whispering a soft prayer.

Like the rest of the house, Var finds the guest room and bathroom quite comfortable and full of amenities. The door of the guest room even locks, offering some feeling of safety. The room is furnished with a writing desk, wardrobe, nightstand, and a four-post bed. The bedding is soft and comfortably warm, and Var manages to drift off, sleeping light and restlessly.

In the morning, he is awoken by sun shining through the slit of the heavy curtains and the smell of coffee and bacon finding its way to his room. Upon arriving downstairs, he finds Ellah in the kitchen, a mug of black coffee set next to a plate of bread with butter and preserves and a side of bacon. There is a kettle and more meat left in a pan on the stove and the bread, preserves, butter well, and an extra mug are set on the preparation table.

As he enters, the tiefling casually glances at him, then goes back to what she is doing. She's dressed in a fitted teal tunic with embroidered sleeves tucked into clean riding breeches and boots, her hair and makeup done up properly this morning. She holds a book in one hand and a piece of chalk in the other. Var spies runes running up one side of the doorway, marked in thin lines with the chalk. Ellah occasionally takes a drink from her mug.

"There's coffee," she tells him in a vaguely bored tone, by way of greeting.

Var steps into the kitchen dressed in a black tunic tucked into tight grey breeches stuffed into black deerskin boots. His head is freshly shaved but his face is noticeably absent of any makeup. He grunts at her offer, moving to grab a mug.

Var pauses at the door, cocking his head to look at the runes. He looks puzzled for a moment but turns back to Ellah. 

"Trying to keep something out, or in?” he asks, eyebrow raised. He begins making a plate and filling a mug.

Ellah simply chuckles, cross-referencing with the tome, and adds another rune.

"I just got this place, so I don't have even half of my usual security measures set up. You understand if after last night I'm feeling a little more urgency to get that taken care of." She glances over her shoulder and flashes him an unsettling grin.

"I have excellent taste, a handful of enemies, and no reason to not ward my doors, even if I don't outright hate the company I've got."

She takes a drink of coffee and turns back to her work. "Did you sleep well? You're looking slightly less destitute this morning.”

"Smart plan" Var chides. "You never know who might come knocking in the night.”

He takes a seat at the table. Sipping on his coffee. 

"Ah, yes" He says, as he flexes his right leg. "Much better now I have had to focus on healing. I am still getting used to what I can do these days."

Var begins picking at the bacon on his plate. 

"You are looking..." He stops suddenly as his eyes catch his own reflection in his mug.

"Sorry, I am not proper yet!" Var winces, covering a mix of panic and embarrassment. He rushes over to the hearth, pulling out ash and soot rubbing it across his eyes.

 "Ah," he breaths out in relief. "Eyes masked and soul shrouded, Lady bless me," Var whispers to himself, before retaking his seat and continuing his breakfast.

Ellah turns at his unfinished statement with an annoyed look, then raises both eyebrows as she watches him don his markings.

"Siveria really knows how to pick 'em," she mutters at his display. "Well, congrats. You've regained your chimney-sweep chic.”

Var gives Ellah a pointed look, disgust crossing his face.

"I never understand how any of you go walking around with your eyes, your soul, exposed for all to  see. It's barbaric," Var jeers. "Though I am not sure it matters to your kind." 

He tears off a chunk of bread, looking a little vexed as he finishes his meal.

Ellah's jaw tightens and her eyes narrow.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" She asks him, her tone icy as she turns towards him, closing the book with a snap. All of her politeness and pleasantries, even the sarcastic ones, are gone. "I am my own kind, thanks, and I wasn't obligated to let you stay.”

A tight smirk moves across Var's face. As he locks eyes with Ellah, a flash purple moves over his left eye. Var opens his mouth, smirk turning to a wicked grin.

"Obligated?" Var cackles, breathing growing ragged. "I will show..." 

He stops suddenly, taking in a deep breath "No," he whispers, his posture deflating. "You are right, not my home, I should not offer insult, even when provoked. It is rude." 

Var breaths out. "Let's try this again." 

Var straightens in his chair, calm tone returning.

"You are looking lovely this morning, Ellah. Thank you for the breakfast,” He states, offering a short bow. "I do not want to be in your hair long. I will take my leave." 

He moves to stand.

If Ellah had hackles, they'd be raised, and she watches him with an unflinching expression, her eyes hard. After a moment, she sets the book down on the table and finishes her own coffee. When she speaks again, her own voice has returned to a polite and casual tone, though a thread of tension, acting almost like a warning, remains.

"Good. I have horses to exercise. Though one thing, if you run into anyone on the grounds, I go by Miss Harmony in these parts. You'll refer to me accordingly.”

"As you wish, Miss Harmony." Var declares, bowing low, mocking tone absent from his voice, now. "I need to make it back south. I told Gwen I would be back in 3 days. It has been a week now. I was not expecting to run into as many issues as I have," Var explains. “I should have brought Thunder with me.”

"Thunder?”

"A draft horse," Var states. "I.. borrowed him from my sister's Inn back in Merriwin.”

"Ah, yes, a borrowed draft. Sounds like quite the mount. Maybe next time he could stomp on your enemies for you if he's not too busy bucking you," Ellah quips, her arms crossed, expression still sour. "Sounds like you need to hoof it.”

"He's more used to pulling a cart than having someone on his back. He is a good horse but not used to what I needed him for." Var shakes his head. "That is a lot of miles and rough going." 

He places his mug and plate on the counter.

"Maybe I can find something on the way back," Var puzzles to himself. "I could 'hoof it' faster with a proper companion.”

"You have mentioned this is a stable… Thorn Rose Stables? You would not happen to have a horse you don't mind parting with for a few days?" Var asks in a joking tone.

"Well, I might have, but we've already established that you're 'short on coin',” Ellah shoots back.

"Hmm. True.” Var pauses a moment to think.

"An offer then. Three." Var looks serious. "Three times you can call on me for any task, and I will not question it or you. You can ask anything of me, except my soul, which is pledged elsewhere. In exchange, you grant me horseflesh for the road south. I cannot risk running into... anyone else.”

"Okay, first of all, don't call it 'horse flesh.' That's weird and unsettling," she tells him, giving him a 'ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ' sort of look. She pauses and gives him a once over.

"Fine," she says after a moment, her air of polite professionalism returning. "I'll lease a horse out to you for a month in return for three favors. If at the end of the month my horse is significantly injured or dead, I'll be coming for your kneecaps too. Hell, depending on the horse, if you like them enough and come by some actual money, perhaps I'll even sell you the horse outright after that.”

Var looks confused by the initial remark, but carries on.

"Those are terms I can agree to."  Var says, rubbing a hand on his knee. "I promise to treat them as if they were my own blood. No kneecaps should need caving in.”

"Then it's a deal. I'll show you to the stables."

She moves to the hallway, heading for the front of the house. "On a related note, how much horse experience do you have?”

"I rode often as a youth but I have not had need to ride these past few years." Var answers, moving to follow Ellah.

"Ever ride dressage?" Ellah/Harmony asks, shooting him a grin over her shoulder and she grabs and slips on a wool riding vest from a hook by the door.

"No. Most of my experience is bareback. Never needed anything fancy. A moment," he says, before running upstairs.

He comes back down wrapped in his tattered cloak with a small pack over his shoulder.

"I imagine I can catch on quickly.”

"Good to know," ‘Harmony’ says with a smirk as she leads him out the door.

She gives him a general tour, pointing out the different points of interest of the stables, such as the pasture, the stablehands' lodgings, Ms. Sinclair's house, the indoor and outdoor arenas, and the stables proper complete with runs and courtyard. She also makes mention of the separate training facilities and riding trails in the area. The whole operation is quite impressive, and although Var seems a bit out of place, the staff seem very good at minding their business. Harmony wraps up the tour at the part of the stables where her horses are kept. Two Solarean Sporthorses, one dappled grey on black and one a pangaré bay with sabino, look up at her approach. On the other side of the aisle, a black stallion with a bald face looks up briefly from his hay before returning to his meal unbothered, while the other horse, a hotblood of some kind with a leopard blanket, sticks his head out of his stall and headbangs for their attention. Another hotblood, a mostly white horse with a black hat marking, watches on from a few stalls away.

"These are all mine," Harmony says, gesturing to the first four. "The gray and black ones, Rapha and Magick, are my primary mounts and I won't be leasing them. Mayhem," -she points to the blanketed hotblood who now has his tongue sticking out- "Is a... bit of a project, but he's fast. Very fast. And also likes jumping, for better or worse. Cleo," -she points to the dappled pangaré bay mare, who has poked her nose out of the stall and is observing Var with curious and intelligent eyes- "Is less fast, but very well trained. She's a show horse trained in dressage, so as long as you don't randomly cue her for that, you're golden. Thoughts?”

"Quite the little horse paradise you have here. A very well put together operation.” Var seems genuine as he observes his surroundings. "I could definitely use someone who will listen. I don't expect trouble on the way back but, I didn't see it coming on my way here so... Better to be prepared.”

He motions to Cleo.

"How does she handle trails? I may need to get off the main road to avoid patrols.”

"We can find out. Care for a little trot around the woods? Helping me exercise my horses would be a good way to get back on my good side," she says with a sly smile.

"Sure. I could use the warm up." Var replies, a smirk flashing across his lips for a moment. He moves to approach Cleo.

"Eseís vlépo, Cleo" Var greets, warmth entering his voice as he runs a hand along the mare's shoulder.

Cleo watches him approach and gives a grunt, allowing him to touch her. She turns her head to sniff at him. From the next stall over, Rapha also seems to be watching the situation unfold.

"We are going to get to know each other for a bit and take a ride and see if we are a good match," Var soothes, a small smile on his lips.

He checks over Cleo for any burs or sore spots, getting her used to his presence and voice. Seeing the mare is comfortable with his touch, Var grabs a brush and pick from the wall before giving Cleo a quick grooming. Looking satisfied with his work, Var turns to Ellah.

"Miss Harmony," Var says, returning to his typical serious tone. "I think she and I will get along well enough, I'll get her tacked up, we can find out if we are a good fit in the saddle." 

He frowns a moment before cocking his head to the side.

"Cleo is a rather short name for a horse though, What is her official name?”

While Var tends to Cleo, Harmony busies herself with grooming and tacking up Rapha in the stall next to them. She signals one of the stable hands to bring out Cleo's saddle and bridle out for Var. 

As she is groomed, Cleo maintains a watchful eye on Var, giving a slightly judging side eye as he works. She is patient, however and doesn't seem to find anything to fuss about as he works.

Harmony raises an eyebrow at Var as she leads Rapha into the hallway between the stalls, the grey mare flicking her tail impatiently. In response to Var's question, Harmony just points to the name plate above the stall door with a smirk. "Calamity Cleo," it proclaims.

"Ah... yes," Var exhales, a weary look on his face. "Obviously." 

Trying to ignore his lapse in awareness, Var snaps up the tack from the stable hand as they approach.

"Kháris, child." Var grunts in thanks, earning only a concerned glance from the stable hand, he moves back to Cleo.

"I hope you do not live up to your name this day."

Var finishes attaching the brindle, before throwing on a fresh smelling saddle pad and getting to work on the girth strap. 

"I am rusty, but I am told you listen well as long as I know you cues. Lucky for you, I am quick to learn," Var comments to the mare.

He does a final check over once he has all the tack secured. Once content everything is in place, he pulls the bundle from his back placing it on the ground. Unrolling the pack he reveals a long curved blade, the wide tip marred with rust and long gouges in the metal, a thick rough wood handle, disconnected from the blade, sits next to it.

"Télos. All for this." He murmurs, running a hand along the blade, a flash of sadness touching his face. Shaking himself slightly, Var rewraps the bundle, securing it to the saddle.

"I think I am ready on my end," He states, grabbing the reins and pulling Cleo forward. "Though you will need to remind me what this 'dressage' is all about.”

"Relax, she's only Calamity on the bad days," Harmony reassures him as Var takes the saddle. Cleo snorts proudly in disagreement. She only has good days if you ask her.

Harmony raises an eyebrow at the blade, but says nothing. She mounts up into Rapha's saddle, the mare lazily flicking an ear back as she does.

"The point is for you to avoid dressage," Harmony notes with a grin. "I'll take you on a quick trail ride so you two can get used to one another. If you decide she offers too many flying lead changes, there's always Mayhem," She teases, nodding to the bay stallion who is wiggling his lips at Cleo, earning an amused nicker from the mare and a sigh from Rapha.

Var looks perplexed by the odd display from the nearby stallion. "Unique creatures," he comments. As he follows to the exit, Cleo pulls forward reluctantly as she seems to keep glancing back at the stallion. Once outside, Var pulls himself into the saddle, giving the mare a pat in thanks.

"You and Rapha have the lead,” he says, gesturing forward. "Just don't lead me off a cliff," he whispers to himself.

Cleo perks up in attention as he mounts, seeming to be all business about it. Her ear flicks towards the pat and she politely gives a small nicker in return.

Harmony gives Rapha a quick nudge with her heels and the grey warmblood takes off at an active walk, moving towards the gate that leads to the forest trails just beyond the pasture.

"Move,” Var commands, urging the mare forward with a gentle squeeze of his legs. It takes a few strides but he finds a rhythm in the unfamiliar saddle, letting Cleo follow Rapha's lead.

Cleo flicks her ears back at the command, but sets after at a casual pace Rapha at the squeeze. She stays just behind and to the left of the other mare, out of kicking range, and shakes her head and neck as if also settling into the feeling of having Var on her back.

As the pair approaches the gate with their horses, Ellah turns Rapha enough to reach down and open the gate, waving Var and Cleo through, then shutting it after everyone is through. Afterwards, she flashes Var another grin and gives Rapha a kick, setting the grey sporthorse into a canter towards the woods. At this, Cleo straightens at attention, her eyes and ears locking onto the other horse, but awaiting Var's command.

"Quick learning it is," Var chuckles, a wide grin spreading on his face. He takes a deep breath as he balances low in the saddle, before snapping his heels back to the mare's flanks.

"Go! Show me a little of that Calamity!" Var laughs as the mare shoots forward.

Cleo doesn't need much encouragement, quickly understanding what is being requested of her. She walks briefly before cleanly transitioning into a canter after Rapha. Cleo's movements are neat and precise, and she keeps one ear back to monitor Var.

Harmony leads them across the flat stretch of grass and then turns left along the treeline for several yards before steering Rapha down one of the wider forest trails. The trail is clear with no obstacles for the horses, though the occasional low branch must be monitored for by the riders. Rapha almost clips Harmony with one and Var can make out a short string of swears at this.

"Watch those horns," Var chides, moments before his hood snags on a dangling vine.

He grows quiet as he starts to focus on keeping pace. As they round a bend he urges Cleo to move up closer to the leading pair, giving her a gentle nudge with his heels and a click of his tongue.

"She seems to be responding well, does she take specific calls or does she prefer leg cues?" Var calls to Harmony, glancing down Cleo's shifting ears.

Harmony flips Var off at his comment, but otherwise focuses on the trail ahead.

"Oh, she's got lots of leg cues," Harmony tells him, her grin apparent in her tone as she urges Rapha on a little faster to keep their lead. They head around a bend.

"Hmm," Var hums to himself. "How about this…" He crouches slightly forward in the saddle bringing his legs back to kick at Cleo's flanks.

Cleo's ears flatten and she gives a bit of a hop about it, tossing her head back and almost beaming Var in the forehead, forcing him to sit up. She turns her head slightly to give him some side eye, as if communicating something along the lines of 'would you quit playing around back there?'

Pulling up straight in the saddle Var cocks an eye at the mare.

“Easy girl," Var rebukes, "just getting the feel for things. But I take it you want proper riding. Fine, business it is." 

He stretches, bringing himself up tall in the saddle and eyeing pair riding the lead. He takes note of how Ellah moves in the saddle, paying close attention to where she makes contact with Rapha as they pick up the pace. Var's grin fades from his lips as he attempts to mimic the leading pair's movements.

Cleo seems much happier with the feel of this and stretches out her neck as she picks up some speed after making it around the bend.

Ellah and Rapha seem to work together naturally, and Var recalls that the grey mare was stated as one of the tiefling's usual mounts. He assumes they have been riding together a while. Ellah steers Rapha with a firm hand, anticipating issues, which mainly constitutes taking Ellah a little too close to tree branches, seemingly on purpose.