Unwrapping the Layers of Truth

[kahl]

As his fingers glided through her hair, Erev's eyes closed. Tiny tingles of energy ran along her spine blossoming out along her shoulders and along her hips. Once it was twisted up and pinned, he moved away and Erev opened her eyes. She reached back and felt it lightly with her fingers. Erev had never had her hair up off her neck before. The Dyrisae never wore it this way until old age, or if selected as a spiritual leader, but even then, usually they would shave it.

"My neck is cold," she grinned. "This is new to me." Erev rubbed self consciously at her bare skin. In spite of her state of undress when first found, she felt surprisingly more exposed now than were she in her simple leathers and furs.

Turning her head this way and that she stretched her neck. "This is as your mother? Is pretty?"

[Melara]

“It’s beautiful,” he told her. Reaching up he touched her cheek lightly with the backs of his fingers a moment, then lowered his hand and smiled at her. “You are beautiful.”

[kahl]

Taking his hand back, she raised it and pressed her palm to his. Erev examined the lengths of their fingers beside one another.

"There you two are," a voice suddenly blurted as Euclid rounded the corner. "Everyone was in a panic that you just disappeared."

Erev blinked at him then emphatically stated, "we are here."

"Yes," he chuckled. "I see that...and speaking much better."

The young woman shrugged off the compliment and gestured to Aagi, whose hand had snapped away from hers the moment Euclid appeared. "Aagi and Nell help me very much." She tapped her head, "and I know again."

"You remember," Euclid nodded. "So it's coming back as Nell thought. That's good."

"Yes, this is good."

Euclid joined them int he grass, looking wisely between them. Her pinned hair, the necklace about his neck, the holding of hands. Smirking at Aagi, the tow-headed soldier teased, "you seem relaxed. What have you two been up to?"

[Melara]

"Just talking," Aagi said. "About the differences in cultures and what Erev wants to do now. She has decided to stay in Melhane for now."

[kahl]

"Yes," Erev announced proudly and with a nod. "Aagi is here, so this is good."

Whatever hesitation the other man might be feeling about the growing feelings between them, Erev did not seem to share this same concern. Beaming a smile at Euclid she took his hand and examined the length of his fingers next to hers as well. Being taller, Euclid's were longer than hers and Aagi's. Whatever significance this held, Erev did not share it.

Instead she released his hand then held up the Orchid. "Aagi give me this, from up here." She pointed to the top of the wall past the hedge rows. "It is his favorite. My favorite also."

The young woman seemed to be absorbing the language as she heard it and spoke it. Rarely did anyone need to repeat a word in dialog before she remembered it and filed it away. It seemed to be a trait long held in the Queen's bloodline, this natural gift for language.

"Does Euclid have a favorite also?" she asked.

He grinned, "ah yes. One moment..." He rose with a raised finger, then turned and strode off. When he returned he held a peony, the white petals seeming to drip off, barely clinging to the bud. It was heartier than it appeared though, and no petals actually fell.

Erev's eyes lit up as she accepted it, studying it in awe. "It is beautiful. Like...this." She pointed at a puffy cloud amidst the vibrant blue sky.

"Cloud?" Euclid supplied.

"Yes. It is like a cloud in my hand. So pretty, and the smell is very good." She smiled and tucked it in the shoulder of her dress so that it adorned her breast just beneath her collar bone. The orchid, however, she still cradled like a precious gem.

"I am not to learn more today. Do Aagi or Euclid know of thing to do?" she looked between them.

[Melara]

Aagi shrugged, looking at Euclid. If he had any jealousy over the other man giving her a flower, none of it showed on his face or in his voice. “We could take her to see the horses,” he said. “Or it is nearly practice time. She could come and watch Ikaze, Yuki and I do forms.”

[kahl]

Perking up, Erev looked between them. She had seen horses before. Perhaps not the groomed show horses of the Royal stables, but horses nonetheless. The Colorless Winds, however, she had never even heard of until Aagi.

"What is this 'forms'?" she asked, recognizing the names of his mentors.

Euclid chuckled, "we have a winner. Exercises it is then."

[Melara]

Ikaze and Yuki were already there when the other three arrived. Ikaze’s hair had been unbound and drifted near his ankles as he turned from his wife and looked at Aagi. “I was hoping you would join us,” he said. “Are your two friends going to join as well?”

[kahl]

At the question, Erev stepped forwad and eagerly asked, "I may do this, yes?"

Yuki flashed a dazzling smile. "Absolutely. But you cannot do so in such a heavy dress. Come...I have something else you may wear."

As she led the young woman inside, Euclid stepped forward to Ikaze and bowed his head respectfully. "If it's alright, I am merely going to watch. I am technically here to relieve Aagi of his guard duties, so it is best if I keep watch over Melhane's new...uh...royal member."

- - - -

As Erev shamelessly stripped down in front of Yuki, the older woman sized her up. "I am quite impressed," she noted. "You have excellent muscle tone...limber."

"What is limber?" Erev asked as she tried to manage the sash as Yuki wore hers. Yuki stepped forward to help her.

"It means...flexible and strong." Seeing the girl still didn't understand she explained, "A branch is stiff and breaks when it is dead, but when the wood is green, the branch bends and does not break. This is limber."

"Limber..." Erev nodded. "I like this word. I want to be limber and strong. It is Dyrisae way to be this too. It is a good thing, yes?"

"Yes," Yuki smiled warmly.