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"Boy, am I beat!"
Everyone turned their heads to Yin'la. She raised her arms high over her head and arched her back, shifting onto her tiptoes to get a full body stretch. She dropped her bag haphazardly to the ground and sat atop it.
"Why don't we make camp for the night? We've been going for a while. I'm still exhausted from emptying that goblin camp."
"That happened days ago." Gale responded as he set down his things. "We have a lot of ground to cover if we're going to make it to Moonrise."
"Moonrise? Don't get ahead of yourself, istik . We must find the crèche." Lae'zel grumbled her response as she set down her belongings and sat, legs criss-crossed, on the ground. She balanced her sword in her lap and began the process of hand sharpening the blade.
"How do we know this crèche is even going to help us? It sounds useless to me." Shadowheart rolled her eyes as she sat down across from Lae'zel, keeping a respectable distance. She smirked when Lae'zel glared over at her, her mouth starting to open to say something mean.
"Now, now, let's not argue. We have the time for both. I'm sure the crèche is on our way, we can stop by." Yin'la smiled as she waved her hands, trying to swipe away the rising tensions.
Lae'zel scoffed. Yin'la kept her smile as she looked at the other gith. Lae'zel would've torn her a new one if she knew how Yin'la felt about her. Even when she was being prickly, Yin'la couldn't help but like her.
"Fine." Her grunt was barely audible. Yin'la could compare her to a stubborn child.
Yin'la motioned for her companions to gather around as she removed her violin from her back. Gale was first to sit near, always excited for a good tune. Shadowheart shifted her spot slightly, keeping her eyes on the grumbly gith. Lae'zel maintained her position, choosing to ignore everyone as she poured her attention into her weapon. She would be lying if she said she didn't appreciate Yin'la's music every once in a while, though. It wasn't often that she indulged in such frivolous entertainment.
"I wrote this song about a very pretty lady." Yin'la quipped as she nestled her violin beneath her chin. She adjusted her hand around the neck, her fingers pressed to the strings, as she drew the bow across.
The first chord was a bit harsh. It was intentional, the pretty lady that sat just a few paces away was also harsh in the beginning. The rough tones melted into hard, deliberate sounds. Determined, deep chords like a battle ballad. Yin'la's face reflected the effort it took to play such a complicated tune, her brow furrowed and eyes glued to her fingers. Her pursed lips were the exact opposite to her usual, smiling face.
At this point, Lae'zel's attention was diverted towards the bard. She found herself interested in this particular song. She envisioned herself rushing into battle, Yin'la at her back playing this tune. Her features softened as she watched, Yin'la sapping all of the attention for herself.
The bridge approached, the battle that was waging hitting its peak before softening into a sweet and melodic tone. Gale and Shadowheart could picture a lovingly crafted poem spoken in tune. It was lovely, though the transition was harsh. Perhaps that was the point? Yin'la's features softened, a dreamy air cast across her face. She smiled as her fingers danced over the violin's strings. This was her favorite part of the song, the part that was recently added a few nights prior. She cast her eyes to Lae'zel, who sat, entranced, at this point. Yin'la wondered if she knew the song was written for her.
With a few final strokes across the violin, the song ended. Yin'la lowered her instrument and looked at Gale and Shadowheart. "That's all I have right now. What'd you think?"
“Well, there were some parts that were rather harsh on the ears but, overall, I enjoyed it.” Gale offered his honest critique as Yin'la listened, intently. She was glad that he picked up on the roughness of it.
“It sounds like this pretty lady of yours is quite the wildcard, isn't she?” Shadowheart teased.
Yin'la laughed. She wouldn't say Lae'zel was a wildcard but the thought drew a smile to her lips.
“Well, Lae'zel?” Shadowheart's attention turned to the gith. “What did you think?”
With a scoff, Lae'zel spoke, “if you find a use for it in battle, I could appreciate it more.”
“Of course, I don't know why you expected any less from me. But, I do have to get opinions before I bring it to the battlefield.” Standing, Yin'la tucked her violin back where it belonged on her back. She turned to cast her gaze over the mountains in the distance. “I'm going for a walk, we can pick up when I get back.”
“Take your time, I'm going to get back into this book we found rummaging around at the grove.” Gale found a nice, shaded spot to sit as he produced the book from his pack and dove right in.
–
Yin'la followed the muddy dirt road to get a better look at the mountains that awaited them. She frowned. That walk was going to suck.
“Yin'la.”
Hearing her name, Yin'la turned to see Lae'zel approaching from behind. When she approached, she crossed her arms over her chest.
“You're more of a fool than I thought if you think going ahead on your own is a good idea.”
“I had no intention of it. I just wandered a little farther than I thought.” Yin'la smiled cheerily. “Did you miss me?”
“Don't inflate your ego.” Lae'zel grunted. “I simply came to make sure your insides were still intact.”
“Generous of you. I'm sure you wouldn't do that with anyone else in camp.” Yin'la’ teasing didn't go unnoticed.
Lae'zel, despite her hard demeanor, flustered. She would never admit to it, but Yin'la was right. “Silence!”
With a giggle, Yin'la approached her. She touched the sides of Lae'zel's face gently, persisting despite Lae'zel's natural instinct to flee from her affections. Even Yin'la was surprised when she decided to accept her touch.
“Why do you treat me like this?” Lae'zel asked, softer than her usual tone. “I'm not like these soft istik. You should know better than to act as they do.”
“It's because I like you. Theres nothing wrong with accepting a culture different from your own. It's a beautiful thing, the way others care for each other.” Yin'la's voice dropped to a whisper as she tucked rogue strands of hair behind Lae'zel's pointed ears.
“It's a show of weakness.”
“Everyone has a weakness. You just happen to be mine.”
Lae'zel suddenly softened. Her gaze relaxed, her posture shifted. She caught herself lost in the feeling of Yin'la's fingers on her skin. “The way you make me feel should make me angry, but I can only feel at peace. How do you do this?”
“I'm not doing anything to you. You can't deny yourself the pleasure of your own emotions.” Yin'la frowned. “I know the crèche taught you otherwise. But there is so much beauty in feeling and living free. Being rejected from my crèche was the greatest thing to happen to me. Break out of your box, we'll be free together.”
Lae'zel scoffed at the notion. Finding love in an ally could lead to disastrous consequences in a fight. But…she found that she didn't care as much as she should. Maybe Yin'la was right. Lae'zel didn't feel a spark of magic compelling her mind, she knew her decisions were her own.
“What does freedom look like to you?” Lae'zel questioned, hesitant hands finding their way to Yin'la's. Lae'zel embraced them with a gentleness she didn't know she was capable of.
“Traveling this land. Experiencing everything, new food, new styles, new people. Bringing my music where I go and watching the light in others’ eyes as it touches them. And doing all of that with my muse by my side. If you'll have me.” Yin'la was honest, Lae'zel knew that. “There would be nothing more perfect than that.”
Lae'zel silently lamented. There was too much she needed to get done. So much blood to be shed for Vlaakith. But she would admit, she would like to have Yin'la by her side through it all. She would write the most spectacular works documenting her gruesome escapades.
“I would have you by my side but my duty to our kin is my utmost priority. I must fulfill Vlaakith's will.”
“But why do you feel such a need? Because you were told that is what has to be done? Or because you genuinely want to do it? Think of what we could accomplish. Here. Together.”
“Enough.” Lae'zel pulled away from Yin'la's touch and immediately missed it. “Vlaakith's will is my destiny. I won't allow you to deprive me of that. This land has tainted your views, turned you into a heretic. Or, perhaps it is that ghaik tadpole you have nestled behind your eye.”
Yin'la recoiled at the sudden shift in Lae'zel's mood. “No, I just want something better for you. You become one of Vlaakith's chosen and then what? You die? That hardly seems right. You could be so loved and appreciated here by these people, almost as much as I love and appreciate you.” Yin'la's words were desperate. Lae'zel found herself softening again.
“All I ask is that you consider it. Consider me.”
Lae'zel had grown quiet. She thought to herself, casting her eyes away from the distraught gith before her. When she had finished thinking, she regarded Yin'la again. “I will consider it.
Yin'la smiled and Lae'zel would never admit it, but the sight melted her heart. The sheer joy that illuminated her face brought her a warmth she never knew she needed. Perhaps this realm was softening her up.
“Thank you.” Yin'la drew herself close to Lae'zel again and brushed her knuckles against the taller gith's cheek. Lae'zel sighed softly, pressing further into Yin'la's touch. How beautiful it felt to be loved.
Amidst the softly rising tensions, Yin'la leaned in close to Lae'zel and pressed her lips against hers. Lae'zel accepted, pushing her lips further against Yin'la's. Her hands found a familiar resting place on either side of Yin'la's neck just as Yin'la had taken Lae'zel by the waist. The kiss continued for another moment before Yin'la broke free, letting out a soft sigh.
“We should go back.”
“Yes. And then we head to the crèche.”
Yin'la grinned, taking Lae'zel by the hand and leading her back towards the rest of the party. “Of course.”