Chapter Text
~#~ CHAPTER 1 ~#~
Alhaitham checked the clock for the third time in as many minutes and sighed. “Archons help me, if you’ve just lost track of the time and are out there talking someone’s ear off…”
He stepped towards the front door, swung his cape around his shoulders and grabbed his sword from where it hung on its peg. Settling everything into place, he opened the door, stepped outside, pulled the door closed and locked it behind himself. He looked in both directions and finally turned and walked towards the gate out of the city.
He nodded to the guards as he stepped through the gate and then, just outside the city walls, he stopped and waited. As expected, Cyno wandered up a couple of minutes later and stood beside him, mirroring Alhaitham’s stance, staring up the path in the direction of Vanarana. “Well, you don’t have a spade, and your cape is in place, so I’m guessing we’re not going grave digging this evening?”
Alhaitham gave the briefest glimpse of a smile as he shook his head. “Not this time, no.” He sighed heavily. “He was due back hours ago and it’ll be getting dark soon.”
Cyno frowned at the scribe’s words. “He’s a grown man, you know? If he wants to stay out beyond curfew then that’s his prerogative. Mind you…”
Alhaitham grimaced. “Exactly. He could, but bear in mind this is Kaveh we’re talking about…”
Cyno nodded. “What do you want to do? Or rather, what do you need me to do?”
“I…” Alhaitham paused. Other than needing to prove to himself that Kaveh was safe and well, he hadn’t really made any hard and fast plans. “Could you check in with Tighnari? Check he hasn’t ended up in Gandharva Ville? I’m going…that way.” He pointed up the path directly in front of them.
“And how exactly am I going to get word to you if I find him?” Cyno asked with a frown. “It’s not like I can just let you know through the Akasha any more.”
Alhaitham shrugged. “I’ll stick to the path and leave a trail if I need to leave it. I’ll make sure it’s obvious enough that either you or your matra can follow, even once dusk starts to roll in.”
Cyno nodded vaguely. “I’ll check in with Tighnari and then come and find you. Alhaitham…” He paused briefly and sucked in a short, sharp breath before continuing. “…don’t make it two of you that I need to be searching for.”
“I am not Kaveh.” Alhaitham rolled his right shoulder around in its socket and grimaced. “I do not wander off without paying attention to my surroundings. I don’t follow small animals around in case they’ve been abandoned and I have absolutely no intention of getting lost. Now go. Find Tighnari, find Kaveh if you can and then come find me. If you have him then all well and good but if you haven’t then we can combine our efforts and cover the ground in half the time. Agreed?”
Cyno let out a loud sigh, turned on his heel and strode away down the path that would ultimately lead him to Gandharva Ville. Alhaitham rolled his shoulder again and set off in the opposite direction, away from the city, away from civilisation and, hopefully, towards his missing roommate.