Chapter Text
Vivenna had been through a difficult week. Sneaking through the Fused defenses surrounding Cultivation’s Perpendicularity had been no small task. Followed immediately by interrogation -and near execution- by the Horneaters who had caught her in their Ocean. Her survival of both was either pure luck, or one of the Shards had blessed her. More likely it was the Nightwatcher, and she had yet to discover what her curse was. Perhaps her luck would spiral in the other direction soon, though hopefully that wouldn’t happen until she was done in Kharbranth.
She’d managed to find a caravan leaving the peaks and heading in that direction. With a few spheres, she’d been able to join them. However she hadn’t been able to get a spot on a wagon, apparently the Horneaters didn’t treat people with lighter eyes differently. That made sense to her, but was awfully inconvenient, and she had to settle for riding on a chull.
Riding one was a novel experience, she’d only ever seen them pull wagons. Hers was outfitted with a saddle similar to that of a horse, though moved much slower. It reminded her of days in her youth training to sit on horseback and be paraded around Idris.
The crustacean also reminded her of an ongoing argument she’d had with Beard about which animal was more intimidating. At least with horses it was clear when they became upset, and they couldn’t take an arm off.
But Beard was gone now, there would be no resolution to their lighthearted disagreement. She felt guilt churn her stomach like Skyeels fighting.
Vivenna was so busy feeling sorry for herself that she nearly lost the rest of the caravan. She looked around, realizing her chull had wandered off the road. She tugged on the reins and steered the beast back to where the others seemed to have stopped.
She pulled up beside the Horneater woman who had been in the front, she was climbing down from her wagon and stretching.
“Why are we stopping?” Vivenna asked, the words sounded more commanding than she’d intended them too.
“We are waiting to meet other half.” She said in heavily accented Alethi. “From other peaks, better to be in groups these days, yes?” Unfortunately Unkalaki was a language she hadn’t picked up, and she had no means to manipulate connection.
Vivenna nodded begrudgingly, “Alright, how long until they arrive?”
The woman shook her head. “You are impatient for one who swam with gods. Spren should have taught you to wait. They will be arriving after the noon.” Vivenna didn’t understand much about the Unkalaki religion, so the reference was lost on her.
She nodded to the woman, then decided her sore muscles would benefit from a walk. She paced a circle around the cluster of wagons, chulls, and people.
Oddly, the Horneaters only made up about half of their number. The rest seemed to be Alethi or Herdazian. They would have just been selling wares in the peaks, as well as buying supplies to sell in Kharbranth’s port.
During her third lap around their caravan, she saw another making its slow way towards them. She stood and watched them arrive, waiting until she was absolutely sure it wasn’t a group of bandits or some similar threat.
Around her, people began to greet one another. Calls and names were shouted, the two groups merging into one. Like many drops of rain colliding to form a puddle. A very loud puddle, people cajoled and wove around each other, suddenly Vivenna felt a bit claustrophobic, and shoved her way through to the edge.
Once she was clear of the crowd, she made her way back to her Chull. Noting that this caravan brought a few horses and ardents into the mix. Both of those seemed familiar to her, they had monks and horses on Nalthis, which made her more comfortable around them
She hopped on to her mount, waiting until the group finally began moving again. Slowly forming a long line of carts on the road. Vivenna followed to one side, watching grass retreat as they passed, like a crowd around a highborn Lighteyes.
Vivenna heard someone and turned quickly, hand on her sword’s hilt. However it was simply a kid, in one hand they held an emerald mark. “I was asked to tell you that Brightness wants to see you.”
*****
Vivenna unfortunately recognized the ‘Brightness’. Despite not actually being a part of Vorin nobility, she played the part well. Her form fitting purple havah went down to the ankles, embroidered with flowing lines of silver going up to the high neck. A long safehand sleeve lay across her lap. She had sharp, angular features that reminded Vivenna of the statues that were soulcast directly from the bodies of dead soldiers.
A large black sun hat sat atop her long braids of hair, a thin veil around the hat’s rim to protect from strong sunlight. “Please, sit.” The woman offered, removing the hat and leaning forward, dark skin reflecting the dim sphere light.
Vivenna obliged, sitting across from her. “Why are you here Khrissalla?” She demanded.
“Rusts alright.” She said, some of her propriety deflating. “Not even a hello? It’s been what… fifty years? On this side at least.”
“I’m not in the mood for small talk right now, and besides you wouldn’t ask me to be here if you didn’t need something.” Vivenna matter of factly, trying to study the scholar’s expression and glean what her intentions were.
“I just wanted to say hello to a fellow outsider, it’s rare we cross paths like this.”
“Do not call me a fellow , we aren’t part of some team. I have my goal, and you yours.” The hurt in Khrissalla’s expression gave Vivenna a glimmer of satisfaction, which made her feel immediately guilty. She didn’t have to be antagonistic simply because she disapproved of meddling in other worlds. “Excuse me, I’m just a bit frustrated right now. I’ve been riding on a chull’s back for the past few days, not everyone can afford such lavish accommodations.” She gestured to the fine carriage.
“Oh this is positively ancient compared to Scadrial’s recent developments, so this all feels rather dated to me, but novel nonetheless.” She leaned in close and whispered conspiratorially. “They have wagons that move with no horses.” She said excitedly. “I have spent the better part of a decade there, you know. The developments in the southern hemisphere’s culture are absolutely fascinating. They have this drink that’s like melted chocolate-” She trailed off as Vivenna crossed her arms, Khriss cleared her throat. “I’m here to visit the Palanaeum in Kharbranth. When a planet falls into conflict we like to double check the major libraries so no important bits of history are destroyed. I also plan to spend time studying there, though that is of a personal nature. I have some research on this planet’s investiture I’d like to conduct.”
Vivenna couldn’t detect a lie, however Khrissalla had centuries to practice deception so she couldn’t be certain. But something didn’t add up. “Alright, but why are you traveling with this group rather than going straight from the perpendicularity?”
“Because after coming through the Perpendicularity I decided to take a detour to the other peaks, I enjoy being a tourist from time to time.” Khriss sat up a bit straighter. “Is Vasher here then? Last I remember he was still on Roshar.” The question was genuine, Khriss was blissfully unaware of the old wound she’d just ripped open in Vivenna’s chest. She would have to spend the next hour bandaging it to forget.
“We’re no longer… I’m no longer associated with him. I have no idea where he is.” Vivenna could feel frost growing in her ribcage, acute and numb. A surge of emotions rose in her chest, but she subdued it.
“I will stay out of your way, so long as you stay out of mine.” Vivenna nodded and stood up, though she had to hunch over to do so in the confines of the carriage.
“Are you certain? I wouldn’t mind having another Worldhopper along to talk to.”“I’m afraid so.” Vivenna stepped from the cart while it moved, and went to retrieve her chull.