Vane: The Business Trip

[gorgonfondness]

The supplies were packed and the goodbyes were said. It was officially time to leave.

Mia walked to the edge of the city and unrolled her magic carpet at her feet. She knelt down on it and gestured to Draco to join her.

"Ready?" she asks with a smile.

Comments

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco gave her a nervous, tight smile, and then went to kneel down on it carefully.

"I think so."

[gorgonfondness]

She shook her head with a little laugh before sobering up. She closes her eyes for a moment and concentrates hard.

If Draco had been there, he would have sworn she looked a lot like she did when Vane had to defend against the Grindery.

And they slowly rise up in the air. Mia opens her eyes, still very focused, and they start to sail smoothly over the landscape.

Like Mia said, not as fast as broomstick flying, but much faster and much safer than walking.

It's not long before they're passing what remains of the Grindery.

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco quietly watched as the moving landscape underneath them. He glanced toward Mia, but didn't dare speak or try to take her hand so she could remain focused.

[gorgonfondness]

Good thing, too. It's taking all her willpower to stay focused.

The Grindery, after all, was where she had first told Nash that she loved him. But that's in the past and that's where she intends for it to stay.

She wouldn't mind telling Draco she loves him there sometime, though. It would certainly make a better memory than the ones she has associated with that place.

It's not long before they're flying over the mountains of the Nanza Pass. They'll be stopping in Nanza when they get there for a rest.

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco just continued watching the scenery quietly, and hoping to Merlin he didn't fall off.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia continued to focus as Nanza came into view.

"Nanza is right below us," she says, continuing to concentrate.

And once she says that, she slowly starts to lower the carpet. The barracks of Nanza are becoming clearer and slowly but steadily closer.

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco nodded, and continued to observe. Quietly making mental notes about the area for future reference.

[gorgonfondness]

And they smoothly land on part of the fort, Mia slowly getting up and shaking her head clear.

"One stop down, two more to go before we reach Lyton," she says, clearly in more of a mood to talk. "Speaking of which, how far do you want to go today? Lyton is too far east to get there before nightfall by carpet, but I can get us close. The only catch is, if we don't spend the night in Iluk, then we might have to camp."

The real question she's asking is, "Do you want this done quickly or comfortably?"

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco considered the idea, and then remarked with a casual shrug, "Well, part of me being here is to get more familiar with other area, yes? I guess not too far, and stay in Iluk you said?"

[gorgonfondness]

"All right," she says with a nod.

And then, once he's standing up, she takes the carpet and heads for a door to one of the towers leading downstairs to the open area below, a statue of Althena visible against the wall.

"Let's get to the statue. That trip left me tired. And hungry."

All around them are travelers of every sort. Salesmen, women, children, the elderly, all of them conversing and being escorted by tall, muscular, tanned men. It's obvious that this is Kyle's domain.

As they go down, one man on the way says, "Lookin' for the Boss? He's still away with Jessica."

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco nodded, glancing around as they walked along. Wondering why the escorts and if the area was dangerous.

He then said to Mia, "I suppose we should go wait somewhere?"

[gorgonfondness]

"What, for Kyle? No, he and Jessica are still on their honeymoon. Usually he has to give clearance or you have to hire an escort if you want to go anywhere beyond Nanza, but they know me here."

They reach the statue and Mia places her hand on the foot of it.

"Ah, that's better," she says, feeling and sounding distinctly refreshed. "From here, we'll have to take the south entrance and continue that way until we get to Iluk. We can wait just inside the gate before leaving."

No monsters on that side. Not that it would be a problem since Mia could take them out easily. With brute strength, if need be.

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco glanced up quizzically at the statue, and paused before placing a hand on it as well.

"Why would people normally hire an escort? Is it that dangerous around here?"

[gorgonfondness]

Remember how refreshing and invigorating Luna's songs can be?

Well, that's how Draco feels after placing his hand on the statue.

"It can be if you don't know magic or another way to defend yourself. Sometimes the elderly or people with young children have to come through here. We could go by foot if you want. I should be able to handle anything that comes up and it won't be as intense as carpet flying, but flying would be faster."

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Draco took his hand away with surprise, and stared up at the statue. Curious, though there was no spell or potion.

"Interesting enchantments on this," he quietly said.

He added, "Er, I suppose flying would be better for now. At least until I knew better spells for dealing with what's out there."

[gorgonfondness]

Not quiet enough for Mia to ignore.

"Althena is a loving mother. My faith about her divinity may be called into question, but I know that never stops being true," she whispers to him.

She gives him a nod at the carpet suggestion.

"Well, you'll have to go out there to learn sooner or later, but that doesn't have to be now. And I know I'll have enough work like that in the cave in Lyton. Besides, the monsters in Lyton are worth more silver, as they're more difficult to fight."

In short, no big loss if they fly over the rest of the Nanza Barrier.

"Here, we can still eat over here," she says, leading him to the south gate. The guard nods them through the first door and she stops short of the second.

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

Still glancing toward Althena, and remembering his own mum, and how distant they were now, he asked quietly, "...Loving. Even to outsiders?"

Draco then glanced back at Mia, and listened to her idea. He then nodded, and went to follow her.

[gorgonfondness]

"Draco, if the legends about the Blue Star are true, then the people living there are Althena's children, too."

She sets out the carpet and sits on it, as if she intends to have a picnic.

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

"Hadn't thought of it that way." Brief look back toward the statue, and he then focused on Mia again. Sitting down by her, and looking for supplies.

[gorgonfondness]

She waits as he looks. After all, she left most of the food packing to him since he was the picky one.

"We'll probably do this again tomorrow at the hot springs right outside of Meryod Woods. Only men can use the springs, but anyone's welcome to use their statue of Althena."

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

"Why only men there again? Afraid someone like you would be too much for them?" He slyly asked, as he found food. A few items he tried to test levitating them to the carpet without using his wand. Shaky, but seemed to be working. But it was easier with such simple spells, and he'd been practicing.

[gorgonfondness]

She blushes modestly.

"Because springs are treated like bathhouses. You do know that those are for public baths, right?"

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

"They what? How is that?" He's English, and public bathhouses went out around the time of the Roman Empire falling.

[gorgonfondness]

She blushes even deeper.

"I mean, people of the same gender bathe together at the springs. That's generally why they're reserved for either men or women but not both. If I was going to do that, I might as well let people photograph me for Hot Girl News."

[dragonofgrey.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I see. A bit like Master Salazar's estate in Egypt. Only it was private though people would bathe outside."

He looked decidedly pink at some of the memories from that time.