Time passes slowly (Tags: Axiar)

Good relationship with his father? In his mind it was as good as he could have ever hoped. Because he had a father now, and that was more than he'd had before. That relationship he knew though, was different than many father-son relationships. At least, different than others he could remember seeing, but in defense of that relationship with his father, he was hardly willing to become critical of what affection his father gave him. He was far more ready to accept and appreciate what he had.


Had Nox admitted to thinking of him more than she usually thought of others, Axiar would have been pleased. Likewise, she should have known that he rarely showed such open affection for others. Even his own father -his last known living relative- was barely on that list. Such a show was rare. So, when he smiled up at the sky in response to her, taking her hand for a gentle squeeze, it could only be that he was truly thrilled that Nox was determined to leave the Settlement to return home with him. Even if she wanted to keep her secrets. 

Secrets were simply something they'd have to learn to live with.

Nevertheless, Axiar had given her one last chance to back down from his offer to take her away from this place. Perhaps as expected, she only confirmed her willingness to go with him. Certainly the girl's courage never ceased to amaze him. Being independent as she was, would only serve her well in the future, going to a place like a cothold ruled by the Chorong. For that, he was grateful. 

Lips parting in a chuckle, Axiar closed his eyes for a moment, once more appreciating the brazenness of her verbal response. "I'll admit you're right. This time."

Curling his fingers through her own more securely, he thought that in the future he'd be glad to have her at his side; the two of them being together. 

"I suppose I should prepare myself then, if being a public enemy of Telgar does not scare you. What can?"

The question was rhetorical and aimed more at teasing her, though he pondered what trouble she might be inclined to getting into if something like being labeled a traitor didn't bother her. Of course, her freedom of choice was obviously valued over any label society might pin on her, and that sort of thought would fare well in the community of rebels. Perhaps she would fit in quite well, there.

"I will come to get you then. In a few days. We don't have to say anything to your parents unless you prefer it that way. It may just be easier to leave a letter."

Secrets were normal to her. She kept her own secrets all the time. There were things that other people did not need to know. There were things she didn't want people to know. If they couldn't figure things out on their own than she wasn't going to tell them. Dumb people shouldn't be given the answers to their questions, they should be forced to look into things for themselves. And that was the same for anything someone wanted to know about her. They had better be willing to do some of the digging themselves because she was not going to be forthcoming.

Noxaura smiled at the feel of her hand being squeezed. She was happy. One did not need to know her secrets to know that. Axiar was of course going to have to get used to her being right. She enjoyed it far too much to allow herself to be wrong very often. "Yes, well you had better get used to that. I'm not accustomed to being wrong." Or being told she was wrong for that matter.

"A little fear can be good. I don't intend on living my life afraid. It is better to acknowledge the fear and then do what you want anyway." It was a bit thrilling to do things that initially might scare her. She might even say the adrenaline created a sort of high for her.

A few days sounded like eternity. She had been patient till now. She really had been. Half rolling to her side so that she could look down at him, "I'll write them a letter." Despite being agreeable her eyes were a little troubled. "Days." She said, pliantly. "Sounds like forever." With a sigh, she moved back to lying on her back, looking up at the sky. She'd waited longer but with him there it was so much harder to wait.

Glad that Noxaura proved once again that she did not lack the courage to leap head first into the unknown future, Axiar looked over at her. Watching the expression in her eyes as she  propped herself up on her side to meet his eyes, and finished talking, the man nodded. 

All was well, then. Save the fact that she did seem a little impatient. He couldn't help but smirk at that. Her impatience was kind of cute.

"Have your things ready as soon as you can. If something happens, I may need to come for you earlier than anticipated." He still had the feeling that the Chorong were planning something big and that it might not just have to do with whatever was going on at Southern Telgar right now.

...Days later...

As Axiar had suggested, she had packed right away. She didn't want to be unprepared if anything should happen to his plans. There was a small nagging thought that he might not come for her. What if he decided on his own that it was too dangerous? Or maybe he would back out of it because he was unsure of their future together in a way she never would be?

Her anticipation had not gone unnoticed by everyone. Her half-sister made a comment about her pacing around the shop for days. Noxaura was impatient to leave. Pacing was a way to keep herself distracted. She was still able to sell things and in fact when she had someone in the shop to sell too, it was easier. Time went by faster.

In fact, she probably would not have bothered to man the shops at all save for it's ability to make time go by a little faster for her. She was packed and though it wasn't much, she had a couple of her outfits, her special things and that was about it packed into a small bag and a pouch. She also may or may not have dipped her pretty little hands into the family's marks earned at the shops. Her share, she figured.

Noxaura was pacing the shop when she saw Axiar outside, talking to another young man. FINALLY! She made up some excuse that she needed some air and went out into the street till she caught up to Axiar. "Hey!"She said, trying to get his attention and greet him at the same time. "You made it." She said more quietly. If she had interrupted their conversation she wasn't sorry.

It wasn't but a few paces from the shop where Noxaura's family ran their business that the two rebels, Axiar and Yeoun had been talking, discussing that the peace in the region may just break in the next few days. Though Axiar had no idea what murder was about to transpire in Telgar, he recognized the authority of the Chorong's heir, and beyond that, knowing that he served as an extension of their General Galedon, Axiar felt no reason to question his comrade. 

Yeoun having noticed Nox's approach before he did, the conversation abated as Axiar turned to look over his shoulder at her. Joyful recognition in his golden eyes, he was suddenly glad he'd already informed Yeoun that he was taking a person back to the rebel cothold with him, though he doubted Yeoun would be heading the same direction. They would likely part ways very soon. Both of them had their own business to attend.

"Noxaura."  

Axiar's voice broke what would have been an uncomfortable quiet between them all, given the fact that Yeoun stood near him still, but in stony silence, his countenance appearing not the least bit amicable. Instead, his eyes seemed unnaturally dark, perhaps even severe in their scrutiny, but he said nothing to reveal if his manner may simply have been due to the topic of discussion they'd been on about moments earlier. 

Axiar continued, "I was going to look for you soon. It seems we'll be making a run for it, today."

Not inquiring as to whether or not she was ready, Axiar assumed that she was. He assumed her to be a capable girl and if he questioned her he would only make her defensive. It would be more fun to watch her efforts to keep up with him when they made their escape from the Settlement before anyone else could catch up to them -or discover that she was gone. Of course, he had no real doubts that she would fare just fine. 

After pausing for a moment, he interjected quickly before Nox could respond verbally; whatever the case, he dind't want to be considered rude for not introducing Noxaura to a man who was probably in her eyes clearly a comrade. 

"Noxaura, this is Yeoun. Yeoun, the lady I informed you of."

He wasn't sure what else there was to be said. Nox could strike up the conversation if she wanted, but the way that Yeoun eyed her made him unsure of whether or not she'd be so inclined. However, if the girl was indeed inclined, Yeoun would not avoid polite words with her. Yeoun might be skeptical, but he wasn't rude.

Her usual, curious self. She wondered about what the two men might have been discussing before she had come over to them. It was likely something she wasn't supposed to know, which only added to her interest. Beaming at Axiar, "Today." She acknowledged the plan. Of course having been packed for days, letter written too, she did not have to prepare. All she had to do was grab her bag. The small pouch of valuables, she kept near and dear to her so she happened to already have it on her person.

"A pleasure to meet you, Yeoun." Noxaura said as she had been trained over and over again to do. Having no idea who he was, or how he knew Axiar, Noxaura was not sure that it was a pleasure. But the young woman could act, better than most, and the lie rolled off of her tongue in such a way as it would sound believable. She did not apologize for interrupting. It simply wasn't in her nature to do so. Even if she apologized it would be a lie to say so. She was not at all sorry for interrupting. She'd been waiting for Axiar for much longer than this other person.

In the moment after, she stood next to Axiar and took his hand in her own. The gesture could easily be hidden by the skirt of her dress should anyone be looking. Gossips were everywhere, especially among these Holdless. They could not be trusted but even if they told things to her parents, it was too late. She was leaving.

"I'd offer to take you to my parent's for something to eat or drink but they are not accustomed to young men coming around with mysterious occupations." Not that her sister didn't have a suitor but he was dull as dirt with a steady occupation. One that their parents approved of.

Mysterious occupations, was it?  The woman's words made Yeoun quirk his brow in a way that was barely noticeable, and lasted no more than a split second, though his eyes had fixed on her even more intently. Yeoun knew that Axiar must have told her his affiliation since the man was taking her back to the rebel cotholds with him, but he had to wonder just how much she'd told him. He doubted that the man had revealed more than he was supposed to -or information where he wasn't supposed to. Still, the words had made him curious for a moment.

When Nox resorted to more briefly exchanged pleasantries, Yeoun finally reacted with a courteous if not somewhat shallow bow from the waist. She was a lady after all, and deserved to be treated with due respects.

"Miss Noxaura." Again acknowledging her, if he'd been the same person that he was several months ago, he would have afforded even greater gestures of kindness in this instance. Given his current position however, he was rarely inclined to show kindness in an overt manner. If one day he were going to take Galedon's place as the head of the Chorong, he had to appear a model of immovable and uncompromising force in front of his future inferiors -Axiar being one of them. There were other eyes which may have been watching as well. 

For all of that, Yeoun regretted, but he could not show it.

Turning his gaze back on Axiar, Yeoun cautioned, "I will need those writs before you leave here. Have them delivered to me as soon as you can." The man's eyes danced once more between the couple now holding hands before giving the two of them a fair warning. It was likely something Axiar had already worried about, but if this was all he could do to show them his kindness, Yeoun would say it. Though, it also half-sounded like a threat, to his own ears, knowing that if Axiar ever betrayed the rebels, he now knew the man's weakness which might be used against him -Noxaura, "Use caution, from here. The more you care for her, the more danger she will be in."

Understanding all too well, but with never the intention of not fulfilling the missions given him, Axiar bowed his head in deference to Yeoun, acknowledging both the warning to care for her, and the threat that Yeoun might pose if he were betrayed.

"As requested."

With that, Yeoun bowed his head once more in the direction of the lady and turned to leave.

Axiar at that point, had his eyes on Noxaura to gauge her expression. He hadn't intended for her to meet Yeoun, but it may have happened one way or another. He just hoped that any of this became a deterrent to her having decided to escape with him.

"Nox. You should collect your things. Is there somewhere that would be easy for you to meet me in just a few minutes?"  He had this one last thing to accomplish, and then they could be on their way. He had runners waiting outside the gates of the hold for them, but he'd planned on escorting her to that point, and helping her carry her things. He had no idea how much she might have packed. He also didn't know if she might run into any trouble, if her family caught her sneaking out with packed bags.

[which would be funny if happened unexpectedly >D ]



Weeks earlier, Axiar and other agents had been sent out to steal the imprints of official seals used by a few select minor holders and their stewards in order to conduct their hold business. The rebels had used them to produce forgeries of documentation with false directives that would confuse the Hold Guard. Likewise, they would provide fake correspondences that, when found, provide connections between the present 'coup' in the south to those whom the rebels wanted to take the blame. Those who would be held responsible for the uprising would obviously deny their involvement, but the evidence would be clearly stacked against them in several ways, as arranged by the Chorong. And there would be the use of official seals to be attested. What holder did not highly guard the use of his official seal? He would be considered incredibly negligent to suggest that someone else had used it. Those holders would also have no explanation for just how such forgery got into circulation. They would have no real way of defending themselves.

In the mean time, Yeoun would be helping Rihan 'discover' some of those being framed by coming upon a couple of those forgeries himself, presenting them as proof to the future Lord Holder.

It was a trick that they would likely use again to their advantage, when it came to Sorcha's assassinating Lord Holder Matoi as well. They would create confusion and miscommunication within the Hold's walls, giving her the opportunity to escape by redirecting guards to other locations throughout the compound, leaving her path relatively free of obstruction. Getting her into the hold would not be as difficult given that she would be entering as a worker, not easily suspected of her unlikely affiliation. Yeoun too, would be entering secretly to provide her assistance. 

Before he and Noxaura left Telgar River Hold then, Axiar needed to procure the forgeries that Yeoun was expecting; that way, in a couple of days he could present them to Rihan. 

So, Axiar awaited Nox's response, growing ever more eager for the day to progress to that point where they could leave here together, and start their own future.

Yeoun was respectful, if cold, toward her but Noxaura did not seem to care. There was obvious business between both men. She didn't need to know what, nor did she think it was something she was supposed to know. Her fiance seemed to act normally and so she concluded the men had done this sort of thing before. Yeoun might be Axiar's superior from what it looked like. Still there was nothing she could say.

Even as the half-threat was issued by the Rebel, she didn't feel at all unsure of her future. Squeezing Axiar's hand in encouragement she smiled at him because being his weakness meant she could also be his strength. They would be able to rely on one another for whatever they needed. He should not worry about his profession bothering her. If it had she would have said so before.

She of course could not know that there might be times where she might find it too close to Holdless activities to really understand it. Noxaura wanted to believe everything they did together would go right. Everything would be perfect. A happy ever after tale. First thing was first though, she let go of his hand, resisting the urge to kiss him there in front of so many people including her sister who was likely watching from the shop front.

"I'll be quick." She said, turning her head to look over her shoulder to see him for another moment before she finished walking back into the shop. "Excuse me." she said, brushing past her sister and rushing up to their shared room. Her packed bag was ready, waiting for her.

Slinging the leather bag over her shoulder, she walked back down the stairs to see her mother and stepfather with her half-sister.

"Where are you going?" Her mother asked, truly at a loss for what was going on.

Noxaura's smirk was not what they were expecting, "I don't exactly know. I'm not going to talk to you about it. Everything is in the letter I've left on my bed."

"She was with a young man." Her sister interjected.

"In what way?" Her step father asked, obviously assuming the worst. Someone had taken advantage of her. Though Nox thought it was a bit unfair to assume she would let anyone take advantage of her.

"They were holding hands..." Her half-sister again, her voice growing softer.

"Is that all?" He asked, making sure the other girl knew how serious he was taking this. Hopefully no such ideas perverted his own daughter's mind.

"That is all I saw." She confirmed.

"I don't have time for this." Nox said, looking at the people blocking her way out. "I'm leaving. Read the note."

Her mother and step father were not moving. "Are you leaving with a man?" Her mother's voice trembled in disappointment.

"I am. We're engaged." She would wait for the shock to hit and then make a break for it.

"ENGAGED!" Her step-father shouted angrily. He was supposed to be marrying her off to some other merchant, surely. Noxaura did not care. It wasn't her concern. After all, he hadn't consulted her about whom he wanted her to marry.

"Yes and I'm leaving." Noxaura managed to get past her mother and her step father, who was now shouting that she was not welcome back if the man left her destitute, unmarried and ruined. As if she would ever return to this shells hole.

Noxaura soon arrived where she was to meet Axiar. Hopefully he had enough time to do what he needed.

After Yeoun departed, Axiar watched Noxaura rush off to collect her things. Watching after her for a moment, his gaze looked beyond her, reaching toward the shop where she and her sister had been working earlier. Suspecting just as Nox did, that the other girl had been watching, he deliberated over whether or not he should run his errand and then linger near her home to make sure that she escaped without having her path impeded by her family. Trusting though, that she would know best how to escape, he decided to leave it up to her. Though... if she were more than half a candle mark in making it there to meet him, he would return to find her. Just in case.

Axiar finally turned to run off in another direction, zig zagging his way through tight alleys until he reached the obscured back entrance to a shop. Glancing in both directions to make sure he wasn't being followed or watched, the rebel slipped inside without a sound.

Making his way to the interior of the shop, he managed to find the owner easily. The man promptly recognized that he was no longer standing there alone, but it was with a bit of a start. He'd obviously not heard Axiar coming up behind him until he got there.

"Oh! I didn't hear you come in."

"Are they ready?" The rebel leveled an impatient stare on the man responsible for the forgeries and fake seals.

"I do."

The store owner picked up a parcel with the necessary items wrapped in a cloth and tied securely so that nothing came loose.

"If you want to check that everything is there. But I assure you I wouldn't deceive you." If not just to protect his own livelihood.

Axiar was too cautious though to not double check the contents to assure they hadn't been betrayed, so he snatched the package from the man's hand and opened it. Seeing that everything was there, he quickly retied the contents in the cloth and dropped a few marks into the man's palm.

"It seems you you value your life. You should always do so. It is in both our interests to work for mutual benefit. If I hear you ever betray us, I will return; and if you still value your life, you'd better not be here."

Turning on a heel to exit through the same back door from where h'd come, Axiar checked to make sure he wasn't followed or being watched as he left.

Moving down the alley, he spotted a white chalk mark on the wall as he passed, and knowing that to be a sign, dropped the package on top of a barrel as he walked by. Not stopping to see who came after him, another man showed up only moments later, collecting the package and tucking it into his satchel, heading off to the next point of delivery. Axiar however, was free of his duty here, rushing to the place where he would meet up with Noxaura.

It was too out of the way to head back to her house at that point, though he'd backtrack if he had to. So, for now he took the shortest path to their meeting spot. It only took him a couple of minutes to reach the location, and it was to his relief that Noxaura was already there. She couldn't have been there for long though, waiting.

Rushing up beside Nox, Axiar said nothing, but grabbed her hand. Giving it a squeeze for reassurance, he looked into her eyes to see the excitement at play there.

"Ready? If we hurry, I know of a cothold we may be able to reach by nightfall." They'd be able to sleep comfortably there for the night.

Axiar let go of her hand to reach for her bag so that he could secure it to her runner. His own runner was already packed with his few belongings in a saddle bag, some food and water in another. He's prepared everything earlier that day and left the runners tied outside the gates to the Hold so that if there was a need to make a hasty escape, everything was already prepared for them.



When the were ready to leave, Axiar led the way, heading south east, away from the hold. It would be good to put the place behind them, with a free and open road ahead. It was lucky that they hadn't had any difficulties making their way out of town. He might have to ask later whether or not she'd had a run in with her parents. Either way, they were on the road now, and needed to ride a good distance to get to their first stop. It would be best if they could stay the night at cotholds or other way points where possible. Sleeping on the side of the road under the stars was great unless it was deep autumn and the cold northern winds were already blowing out of the north, off the frigid mountains. Which it was. And the winds were.