Ancient Texts and Witches Brew

[Asher Mossa]

Asher had long wished the Mandragora were not on Ryloth, but that would defeat the purpose of what they were. His recent return to that wish was because of the woman who was on his ship as it touched down on the surface of the dark side of the planet. [member="Iseult Yver"] could not see in the darkness as she was Hapan. He had observed her struggle with it just hours before as he helped escape the confinements of her carnival prison. The gift of farseeing which she had no control over had landed her in the hands of those who would exploit her for it. What none of them knew, or perhaps they had and did not care, was that she could not control the visions at her will. The future was a tricky thing, but so was farseeing. It did not just giver her glimpses of the future, but allowed her to dive into the past.

Iseult had experienced that with Asher. Lylek had decided that everyone he met needed to know the details of his past it seemed, and it frustrated Asher. Despite the knowing, Iseult had not treated him with pity. In fact, Asher seemed to get the impression she admired him despite the tragedies which seemed to follow him around. That was neither here nor there. The spirits had not sent him to her because he needed a companion, but rather they had sent them there because they wanted her. They had called to her, but her prison was not one that she could escape alone.

The boarding ramp lowered and the cool of the desert night rushed into the ship. Parts of the nightside contained some forest, minimal, but enough that they were not immediately assaulted with stale and dusty air to breathe. Asher had taken her hand again knowing that she would not be able to see. Were she a jedi they would have taught her force sight by now, but the woman had no such formation. Whatever skill and talent for sight that she had was not developed at all.

The trip to Ryloth had been spent explaining why he was taking her there, but the spirits had already shown her what she needed to know. It seemed awkward to tell her that they were there and where he was taking her now, because she had seen this all already. Asher even imagined she saw the way he took her hand to lead her down the ramp and toward the altar where the eternal flame and grimoire were kept. All she had to do was touch the book, or drop her blood into the flame, and she would be connected to them. One of the spirits would claim her, and while Asher did not know which, he knew that Lylek was eager to make his case.

"Don't be nervous, and whatever you see during this, allow it. I can't know everything they have shown you, but what I can tell you is that they will weigh you, judge you, and decide. Only can claim you, and when they do it will be final. You will know who has claimed you based on your mark. For instance, when Lylek took me, he cut my flesh."

He lifted his sleeve enough that Iseult would be able to feel the scars Lylek had left behind. Not all had the same pattern, but this was Asher's. Doashim left a branded mark, and Jart left a mark which appeared as a tattoo. Regardless, one of them would claim her, and one of them would mark her, but not until they had tested her.

"I cannot touch the book with you. I will be there, I will wait with you, but once you touch the grimoire you will be on your own until the spirits release you. No matter how long it takes, I will not leave your side, and I will be there when you come out of the trance."

From there Asher was silent. The stone altar would come into view soon enough, and the task at hand for Iseult would be pretty clear from there on out.

 

[Saraya Arenais]

The journey from Miranda to Ryloth was particularly exciting for Iseult. The only part of a ship she'd ever seen were the cargo-bays and even then she had been amazed at it all. For the majority of the ride Iseult had spent her time soaking in every single wire, button and light within the ship with curiosity only a child could muster. Almost the minute she had stepped aboard she'd borrowed some more suitable clothing from Asher. A simple pair of brown trousers and a white linen shirt. Both of them were extraordinarily large on her skinny frame and hung off her like vines off a tree, but they were a million times better than the fortune teller costume.

Asher had spoken a little on what their task was to be once they landed but it hadn't sunk into Iseult's mind until she felt the ship touch down on solid ground. She had seen it in the vison, of course, but they went by so quickly and in such a blur it was often hard to remember the finer points. Once the boarding ramp had been lowered she caught her first glimpse of the planet Ryloth. To be honest, she couldn't really see anything. Beyond the bright lights of the ships interior lay a planet of pitch black. Iseult was reluctant to leave the safe yellow glow she'd been standing in for a while now, but when Asher took her hand she had no choice.

The moment she set foot on the planet a strange noise fluttered into her ears. Calling out to her was a soft melody that sounded like it belonged in a dream. Iseult could do nothing but turn her head in the direction it came from. Though the ground underfoot was soft and free of debits Iseult kept stumbling, which only made her clutch Asher's hand harder. She couldn't help but laugh at the first words from Asher's mouth since they stepped planet-side. The idea that she could control or allow her visions was still an incredibly wild one, what made him think she would be able to refuse a vision bestowed on her by the spirits?

'When someone says don't be nervous the first thing you do is feel nervous.'

The idea of being judged by something or someone wasn't exactly appealing, but in the end it would all be to her benefit, she remembered that much from the vision at least. The last part of his little speech caught her attention fully. There had been no sight of any injury or cuts in the vision, nor had she seen any blood. She reached out to stroke her nimble fingers across the expanse of his arm. They crossed over ridges and bumps that made an intricate pattern stretching just beyond his elbow. Iseult grimaced and pulled her hand away gingerly.

'Did it hurt?'

The question was moot regardless of his answer, Iseult had thus far neglected to tell him that she couldn't feel pain. It didn't matter if it was the tiniest pin prick or a great gash extending the length of her arm, she felt nothing. She didn't ask for herself though, she asked for him. From what she could make out with the tips of her fingers the cuts must have been deep, deep enough to cause a lasting scar. The notion that she felt empathy for him regarding something she'd never experienced herself was confusing, but the feeling was there all the same.

Asher confirmed her task again and all Iseult could manage was a nod. The gentle song that had called out to her was now screaming, dragging and pulling at the core of her soul. She felt her heart racing against her ribcage, beating in time to the quiet steps they took across the grassy ground. Thus far she had been relying on Asher to guide her through the unknown terrain but as they neared the source of the magnetic pull Iseult wondered how far he would take her. She swallowed hard against something that was trying to crawl its way out of her throat.

'How far do we have to go?'

[member=Asher Mossa]

 

[Asher Mossa]

"Fair point," Asher replied to her statement about being nervous. It was an odd thought as he remembered back to the time he touched the grimoire. There had been a group of others with him, and after watching several touch the book, he had no fear or nervous anxiety. There was something in him which had wanted to help her feel at ease, and his attempt seemed to make her nerves come out even more.

Did it hurt? Asher lowered his sleeve. Had she seen the entire amount of skin the scaring took up, she would not have asked the question perhaps. This wasn't the moment to dance around any of the issues or answers that Iseult was seeking. Asher nodded, and spoke with a direct and definitive tone.

"Yes, and for a good two days after. Wherever your marks form, I will have bindings ready to bandage the wound."

Asher was not leaving her, that much was clear. This was not a process she was going to have to walk alone until she touched the grimoire. He would be waiting for her when it was done as well. Only she could make the decision for herself, though in a way this was the cost of her freedom and rescue. The spirits rescued her because they wanted her. They were calling to her, and he could see on her face that she heard and felt their pull. It brought a smile to her face knowing that he found another that belonged among their ranks. Another witch had been found, and Asher had brought her home, a home she could not see. Even if she had not been blinded by the darkness, the side of the planet they were one was constantly night.

"About another one hundred paces. The eternal flame should come into view soon. You should be able to see it glow, though I cannot say I am an expert on how your blindness works. You're Hapan, aren't you?"

There were some Hapans among the Confederacy, so Asher knew of their difficulty. They lived in a place of the galaxy that was far brighter than the rest, and their eyesight was different because of it. Even if their eyes could adjust to darkness, the night of Ryloth would still keep them entirely blind.

The flame should have been in view for Iseult now, especially as they neared the stone steps they would have to climb.

"There are seven steps beginning now," he said unsure if she could see them, or if the flame's light was enough for to be able to adjust. "The grimoire is ten steps in front of you after that. Once we reach the top you will be on your own. Just follow their pull."

"Let her go now, Asher... let her come to us..." Lylek commanded, and Asher did as he was told.

[member="Iseult Yver"]