Protector of the Heart
Log Info
- Title: Protector of the Heart
- Place: Am'shere - Wuja Docar
- Summary: Inhelk comes to talk to Rune about his concerns for his son, and they speak of matters of the heart.
It is only a day or so after the reality of Harkashan's situation was brought to light, revealing the truth about his connection to the strange dragon from beyond this plane of existance. During that revelation, Rune had also finally given up on trying to obfsugate her relationship with Harkashan, meaning that his mother very much knew of their connection. It is only a matter of time before his father hears of it as well.
At the moment, Rune is loading up her mount with supplies as she and some others appear to be packing for a trip back to Alexandros. Lizard-hide leathers as well as other Am'shere products that make for proper trade goods are being loaded up as she ticks off a few things on a piece of paper. In that moment, the rogue looks far more like the bookworm that she was raised as.
"Still need to pack another case of spices for Mictlan..." She murmurs to herself, tapping a pencil against the page thoughtfully. "And then travel food and water. Hmm."
"Spices."
The heavy thunderous voice of a man so large, his shadow envelops Rune in her entirety as he approaches. A large box of spices on his shoulder. He then slowly kneels down, and puts the crate down on the ground. A crate containing multiple boxes. "Ocuir said you liked these spices." The large man, Inhelk, remarks.
Unlike Harkashan, the enormous man's scales do not gleam. Most of them black, with red marks that only happen to barely betray his red scale heritage.
Off to the side, she might spot Ocuir leaning on her cane, seated on a hotrock near her house. Staring at the goings-on. No doubt smiling a bit at the revelation of spices.
Suddenly, a shadow passes over Rune and it blocks out her ability to really see the writing on the bit of paper. Looking up slowly, she squints her eyes at the dark-scaled Makari who blots out the sun. "Oh. Thank you. I was just about to give her a visit and ask about these." Despite being half-sil, Rune's draconic is remarkably good, even managing some of the gutteral undertones that many of those from Alexandros tend to miss.
"The Makari of Mictlan have been appreciating me bringing back these little pieces of home." She explains. Despite the shadow still looming over her, Rune leans to the side to raise a hand in greeting towards Ocuir, showing her appreciation before she reaches for the box, "This will probably have to go on Harkashan's mount. I think Tinwe is already overloaded as it is and the quick-claw has more carrying capacity."
There she goes, talking like a nerd again.
"Hrrm, it is good to remember your origins." The large man answers when Rune speaks of the Sith-makar in Mictlan appreciating bringing things from their home.
Around the large man's side, Ocuir raises her walking stick and turns her head. One eye still looking at her. The other watching who knows what.
"Think he will actually name his Quick-claw?" Inhelk asks of Rune. "Last I talked to him, he'd not come up with a name for them yet." He then rises back up, leaving the crate on the ground for the time being. Looking down at Rune, making conversation for the time being.
By now, Rune has gotten used to the strangeness that is Ocuir. The female had been through a lot, if the stories she was told are anything to judge by. So, eccentric as she may be, there is a certain respect from the rogue.
Of course, she had yet to figure out which of Harkashan's kin had been the guide that her mother had used back in her travels. Even some thirty years ago, Ocuir may have been well beyond her years trapsing through the forest. It isn't something that Rune dwells on at the moment, though.
Instead, she hefts up the box and starts making her way over towards the various mounts, setting it down closest to the Quick-claw before answering, "Probably. He's pragmatic, so I imagine it won't be anything too creative. Probably whatever pops to mind the first time a stablehand asks to register it under a name in the logs."
For her own mount, Rune reaches up and scratches at the bay stallion's chin, getting a whinny in return. "Then again, I can't fault that, myself. Right, Tinwe?" The name has no draconic equivalent. The horse bobs his head. "It means star." Rune explains, with a motion towards the distinct star blaze that the horse has on his forehead.
There's a long rumble from Inhelk as Harkashan's pragmatism is mentioned. It's no wonder who Harkashan got that tone in his voice from. "She told me he was remarkably accepting when she explained what had happened." Inhelk then mentions suddenly, clearly showing a sense of worry. "I hope she was speaking truth in that." No doubt talking about his own mate.
He glances over to the horse, considering the star-mark for a moment, but seems to wish to speak of his son more instead. It's not that he doesn't care about the matter of naming and horses, but rather, looking to create a tie. To gain understanding.
"Nasir says I should ask you, says you have the most insight into Harkashan out of all us those he travels with." He rumbles like a worried father.
And then Inhelk gets to the actual crux of the matter. It's not hard for Rune to realize that he wasn't all that interested in mounts and horses. Turning towards the large Makari, Rune tilts her head as if she were appraising him in some ways. Maybe it's due to her negative experiences with her own father. The two are very, very different people.
"It... wouldn't surprise me if Harkashan suspected some of what Nasir told him, even if he didn't know the specifics." Rune explains, her voice softening a bit even while still continuing in the harsher tones of the draconic language. "I also don't think he blames you for the choices made to protect your people. Knowing him, he would probably have given himself willingly if you'd asked him as an adult."
Her lips press together, teeth catching on her lower lip. "I think... he's trying to figure out what this all means for him. What the dragon wants. What impact it will have on him and his choices." Her brows show a hint of her own worry. "I worry about him walking into danger because the dragon is distracting him, but... he seems to think that is something that will lessen with time."
Inhelk's intense expression softens further when Rune takes her time to consider the matter. Softening for him, yet speaking to him in a draconic manner. He lowers his posture a bit, so he's not being quite so imposing over her.
Though they've gotten a certain amount of impression of him on the first meeting, the man is someone who cares for his offspring. It's a bit different from the usual Sith-makar egg-laying parents are involved. Most of the time, the Caste takes on the role of family not long into a youngling's life.
"He was a smart one, even at a young age. Took more after his mother than his father." He rumbles. "Always worried for him. He wasn't as strong or as big as any of his egg-sisters." He points out. "I hope you are right." He then rumbles, huffing through his nostrils for a moment. A bit of flame coming out.
"I worry what our bid for life and territory might do to him down the line. So I share your worry of distraction." A warrior knows quite well what it means to be distracted.
"So... you will keep him safe, yes?"
As someone who has lived among the Makari, their clan structures are far stronger than individual family ties. Claimed family having deeper bonds than blood. It is how Harkashan claims Skielstregar as brother despite blood connection between them. For Rune, who lost her closest family tie and the remaining one is stretched to a breaking point, it is heartening that Harkashan has people who love and care about him.
"Strength comes in many forms." Her head tilts, looking up towards him and inclining her head. His strength is obvious, whereas Harkashan's may be less so, at least to many Makari. "Strength of will. Strength of mind. Strength of heart." Her lip quirks slightly. "Some people who may not seem strong at first glance, can hold incredible power."
She may be talking about herself in that regard, at least somewhat, but also those like Telamon, Cor'lana, Mikilos, or so many others of their friends and allies who may not look ferocious, but have power beyond normal understanding. Rune is far more straight-forward than that.
The question on if she would protect him, it draws a soft laugh from the rogue. "We protect each other." She responds, tilting her head slightly as she rests a hand against her mount. "But if it comes down to it, I've already given up my life once for him. I'd do the same again in a heartbeat if the choice came down to it."
There's a deep intone rumble from Inhelk once more as Rune speaks. There's a light in those eyes of his. Following that quirk of her lips. Speaking of strength in other factors. He is a warrior, and favors warriors. But, as one might remember, he isn't mated to one. So he understands this perhaps on a more personal level than most folk take at face value.
But as the topic shifts to her own sacrifice, his eyes soften further, and he suddenly reaches down and kind of... picks her up and hugs her to his chest.
"I heard Kyfe speak of this death. But I had not understood it was for my boy." He rumbles, squishing her a bit hard. "Thank you. Warrior Rune." He rumbles.
The sudden shift and hug against the broad chest of Inhelk draws out a little sound from Rune, one of surprise. It's not that she minds such displays of affection, but they certainly aren't expected, at least among many of the Makari that she knows. "Easy there, big-guy." Rune coughs once, and then pats him on the chest.
Then, the words of thanks come through her and Rune shakes her head, "No thanks needed. He's important to me and I wasn't about to let the Charneth take him." Her words carry more meaning now, perhaps, knowing the acts of the Charn mages in recent days. If she had not taken his place, it is possible that Harkashan could have been used for yet another of their experiments.
"I'm sure he'd have preferred I didn't, but he's as protective of me as I am of him." Giving another little shove at his chest to free herself, Rune slides down onto her feet and straightens, still dwarfed by the massive Makari. "I've been trying to get stronger so it doesn't happen again." Even if she's come far too close to death a few too many times as of late.
Inhelk puts her down after the pat on the chest, and puts her down. At the mention of the Charneth, there's a deep grunting sound. "The Charn have taken too much of our people." Something that he seems to be counting Rune as part of.
He then glances aside, but cannot find Harkashan at the moment, so he looks back down at Rune.
"It is good to be strong." He then remarks, patting her shoulder in that same way Harkashan sometimes does. It's just that Inhelk's hand is so much bigger than that one.
"Be careful. After all, it is not just his body to protect. But also his heart."
The similarities and differences between the two Makari are striking in those moments when certain character traits show through. The massive size of Inhelk's hand compared to Harkashan's and yet the behavior is still the same. "It's something I'll keep working on." Oh, she may never be as physically strong as her Makari kin-folk, but that doesn't mean she won't be able to stand on her own just fine.
And then, he has to talk about matters of the heart. There are signs in the shift of her weight and the way she holds herself that suggests that Rune may not feel quite as confident in that area. "Harkashan has always been the one who was more confident when it comes to that." She admits.
"I second-guessed myself to the point things never got started at all before my death. Then afterwards I wasn't brave enough to try to pick things back up. He was, though." There is a soft smile on her features, though, seemingly glad that Harkashan could fill in where she had weakness in that area. "I never had the best mentor when it comes to matters of the heart, so... I'm sure I'll fuck up a fair time or two. He's pretty patient with me, all things considered."
Inhelk... laughs. He listens to Rune first of course, smiling. But when she points out that she will fuck up a fair time or two, he laughs. Boisterously. Loudly. A hand to his chest as he lifts his hand up to the air and then pats her shoulder a few times. Firmly. Leaving an ache.
Softskins. So soft.
"Ach. Fucking up is part of the fun, little one." He remarks to her. "Nasir was the patient one with the two of us. And believe me..." A look. "She has repeated many times that there were factors that required /much patience/. But we made it work." He nods his head a few times.
"You will figure it out. You have a lot of time to do so." He rumbles.
The hard pats to her shoulder are bound to leave a bruise, but Rune accepts that this is part of the boysterous enthusiasm that seems to be part Inhelk's character. Too bad she hadn't turned on her enchanted scale amulet, it might have helped.
"So you're saying there is always one saint and one fuck up?" Rune asks, raising her eyebrows, obviously a bit amused by the parallel. Nasir is the small, patient shaman to Inhelk's bulky warrior nature, where Harkashan is the large, patient shaman to Rune's family issues and tendency to handle things with daggers first and questions later. There are amusing parallels.
His comment about having time, though... that draws her brows draw down. "I hope so." Her lips form into a thin line, one of acceptance and understanding, "If the worst were to happen, I wouldn't begrudge him finding happiness, though. Maybe even nestlings of his own someday." Because there are things that Rune knows, very well, that she cannot offer him.
"Hrrrm, I do not think you have to worry about that." The man answers her with a furrowed brow. "I think, if the worst were to happen, Little Lava would go through the underworld to get you back." Inhelk remarks, closing his arms.
"Or at least, that's the idea I get from Nasir. I admit, I have not spoken to Harkashan about this myself." He adds, motioning a hand outwards, then closing his arms once again.
"But I do know one thing about the boy. He's never been... one to chase after getting himself nestlings. He left our family at a young age. But the way he holds himself, I do not believe he has changed as much as he'd like to think about some things." He notes.
"Now... is there anything else you need for your travels?"
There is a soft laugh at the idea that Harkashan might try to seek her out and drag her back, even in death. "I wouldn't put that beyond him, no." Rune admits with a shake of her head. "It's not a place I would wish on anyone, though. At least... it wasn't for me."
Leaving it at that, Rune seems reluctant to say anything further on that matter. Instead, she seems to just tilt her head. Harkashan had said similar comments, so hearing them conformed by another seems to add weight to it. "Well, if nothing else, there are likely hatchlings who could use homes, scaled ones or soft-skinned."
Rune did have a strong protective instinct when it comes to children, but she also doesn't seem to have that much concern over having them of her own. Perhaps, instead, that role is meant to fall elsewhere.
Looking to the mounts and then back to Inhelk, the sudden shift of conversation has her smirking, taking that as a sign that their talk is over. "Just trail rations and water. That's all that was left on my list."