Metaphysical Mojo

[Arkyn Rane]

--Midvinter; Beornskald System

Midvinter was kriffing cold. Cold enough to freeze piss, spit, and sweat. Close to unbearable, if not for the thick pelts of snow monster fur that I'd fashioned into clothes, boots, and a nice, thick cloak. I'd gotten them off a trader from Hoth; beneath the cloak, I had my trusty heavy blaster, a high calibre slugthrower pistol, and a pack full of provisions. My blaster rifle was strapped to my back. The one thing I'd learned during my brief stint with the Jedi?

Be prepared.

I coasted across a vast field of rolling dunes of snow on a heavily modified speeder bike. The frigid world was painted in increasingly darker blue hues by my fur lined thermo-goggles. As I passed what looked like the same pseudo-town/city for the third time, I deigned to entertain the fact that I might be lost. Fracking fantastic. If only I had learned some sort of Jedi mojo magic that could point me in the right direction...

The Force wasn't showing me anything. No ideas, no inspirations, no rippling patterns... Oh...there was something. It was faint; fleeting almost, little more than a wisp, like a gentle breeze in an empty field, unseen and unheard. And it was pointing me, vaguely, towards the town I'd been passing.

Well then.

I wasn't sure how the locals felt about offworlders. This was my first foray to Midvinter. I'd heard word from a few spacers that there were gems to be found in the depths of its mountains, and a few warrior types had spoken of their high quality armor and weapons.

I personally preferred blasters and slugthrowers. I wouldn't mind some armor though; something spiffy to go with my dashing smile and wicked good looks.

I angled my speeder to the settlement and hit the thrusters.

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Rildonmark​

​

​

Home to the mighty horse warriors of Clan Sabina and the steward of the Clan, Aerin Firebrand. It is the end of winter and already the first signs of the thaw appeared as the sun sat heavy in the sky. The foals had survived the winter and strong for it, with the bit of the cold all but gone they are set free to herd among the forests and grow even stronger with exercise. Her feet crunched through the fresh laid snow, a light coating in the village sat on the roofs and ground but would soon turn to sludge with heavy foot falls. Aerin's breath issued from her mouth in the form of a white mist with each breath she took, her Älk fur pulled around her body to cover her brown leathers and sword and saber and as she made her way toward the stables she sensed a strange presence through the force. The presence of an unknown signature who seemed to be circling Rildonmark, with no real purpose or direction.

A lost soul? she would keep track of it in case there needs to be a rescue, the climate of Midvinter unforgiving to those that do not heed her warnings. Approaching the wooden doors to the stables, Aerin hear the first sign of a speeder, the sound sitting heavy in the air which travelled into Rildonmark. An Offworlder, that much was certain but she wondered what business this being has to come here to Rildonmark. As the Chieftain was away in Tháinbroek, Aerin is left in charge and so as Steward she would await the arrival of their unexpected guest.



[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

The village was a sprawl of snow-topped, triangular houses and buildings in haphazard groupings that led up to a mighty structure of similar design, only many times larger. Smoke billowed from chimneys, the black fumes slashed to bits by icy winds. I could just make out the distinctive smell of herd animals. It was noticeable, but not quite yet pungent, not nearly as loud a smell as nerfs or banthas.

I slowed my speeder to a calm, steady drift, following the zigzagging lanes created by the buildings. There were a few people about, here and there, watching me with as much curiosity as I was watching them. My furs were a good deal thicker and fluffier than theirs, and yet, no one seemed cold. I smiled and winked and waved, but didn't stop to speak. My gut told me to keep going, so keep going I did.

The smell of herd animals grew stronger. All of a sudden I could hear them, neighing, whinnying, hooves clopping wetly against slushy snow. I came to a stop beside what I assumed to be a stable. By the tracks leading away from the building, what I was hearing wasn't the bulk of the herd. And from what I was feeling, this was where I was supposed to be. By the Force, half-trained Jedi powers were weird. Why, of all things, did I feel compelled to go to a stable?

I pushed my goggles away from my eyes, left my speeder leaning against the stable's side wall, and walked around the corner to the front of the building. And that's when I saw her. She was standing by the stable doors. Something in me clicked when my eyes fell across her, a sort of vibrating, resonating thrum. The Force hadn't led me to a stable. It had led me to her.

At least. I thought it was a her. I couldn't really tell, through the fur. My instincts were leaning towards her being a girl. The only thing I could really make out was locks of vibrant red hair.

"Yo!" I called out, immensely glad for remembering to wear snow shoes. I could kind of feel her in the Force, or rather, what I thought was her, and it was a pretty novel experience. Everyone felt different in the Force. "I'm Kale." I thrust out a gloved hand. "Kale Arkin, smuggler slash spacer extraordinaire. You wouldn't happen to know the way to any gem-filled caverns, would you? I seem to be slightly lost." Then my brain caught up to my mouth. "Er, that's if you don't mind me 'requisitioning' any gems I might find in the aforementioned caves." And just like that, my mouth took off again. "What's the name of this place, anyway? And is there somewhere I can get some fresh cooked food?" Yeah, I had provisions, but freeze dried nutrient goop paled in comparison to real meat and veggies cooked over a fire. I was already margining some sort of juicy, salty steak...


[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

All two meters of her pushed off the wooden wall of the stable and walked over to the one known as Kale. A slight smirk on her face, these Offworlders can really talk, which she did not mind so much, they would always give away a lot of information in the process. Kale dressed in some sort of white creature, and as she approached him she recognised it as being from Hoth. Aerin had been to Hoth, well crashed there really and encountered one of the creatures he now wore as protection against the cold. She wondered if it might be the same creature, now wouldn't that been ironic.

Standing only short distance from Kale, Aerin took his hand in greeting. "Aerin Firebrand, Steward of Clan Sabina at your service", she began in polite fashion with a slight bow. "This is the village of Rildonmark". It wasn't a particularly cold day today, not by Midvinter standards and Aerin pushed back the hood of her fur. Like her, she could not make out much of him, all coated and concealed in goggles, gloves and boots. His signature strong enough in the force, quite a powerful man it would seem but untrained and raw. She remembered being this way once herself.

"A smuggler, how delightful", she grinned, knowing what he seeked was not too far away but he would need a guide to get there. "As for the gems you seek I am sure something can be arranged there. But first come with me to the Mead Hall and find some food".

Aerin did not wait for his response but began to walk through the streets of Rildonmark. On the way, some of the villagers stopped to hail her or send a nod her way, but soon the double doors of the Hall stood before her and she pushed them open. Inside the Hall was warm and inviting as it always is, the smell of roasting meat in the centre hearth filled the air and the crackling of the fire flicked at the fats. Not many man and woman of Rildonmark in today and so they would have relative privacy to conduct an arrangement about these gems.

Choosing a long table, Aerin peeled off her fur and laid it over the end of the long seat. Her below waist long red hair spilled out of the coat and down her back only a thin braid graced her hair and pulled back pinned behind her head. Taking off her long sword Aerin placed in on the table before taking a seat.


[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

"Aerin Firebrand, Steward of Clan Sabina, at your service," she began. "This is the village of RIldonmark."

I didn't realize how tall [member="Ærin Firebrand"] was until she was standing right in front of me. People called me tall -- she was two inches taller, at least! Polite too. And important. I didn't now exactly what a Steward was, or even what one did, but I knew an important title when I heard one. There were brains to go with this beauty.

After she bowed, I returned the gesture, a little awkwardly, I'll admit, figuring that it was probably a good idea. Then she pushed her hood back, and another realization struck me: she was pretty. She had long red hair that was drawn back into a ropy braid that disappeared down her back, and eyes as blue as a clear sky. A curved smirk spread across my face, and I pushed back my own hood, and my goggles too.

I immediately regretted it. She might not have been bothered by the cold, but I was. I was from Tattooine, for Force's sake, and this place was no desert. I wouldn't be surprised if the frikking sun was made of ice.

"A smuggler, how delightful!" she said, grinning. I'm not ashamed to say that I was smiling like a fool, at this point. I'd been busy smuggling and treasure hunting and avoiding the Hutts for months now; that didn't leave much time for pretty girls, to say nothing of pretty girls that I'd been force-led to! "As for the gems you seek," she continued, 'I'm sure something can be arranged there. But first come with me to the Mead Hall and find some food."

I could of kissed her, if I wasn't certain she could kick my ass. "Sweet," I said. "Food sounds bloody perfect right about now. Just lemme' grab my bike..."

I collected my speeder and followed her to the Mead Hall, the massive building I'd noticed when I first entered the village. The Valkyrians seemed pretty respectful of Aerin. They nodded to her, or hailed her, and she returned their gestures. Soon, we were passing beneath the tall doors and entering the Hall itself. There was a hearth in the center of the room, spitting the most beautiful fire I'd ever seen. Force be good, it felt heavenly in here. Warm enough for me to shake myself out of the furs. My standard slate grey flight suit was thin enough that I wouldn't be too warm.

I laid my furs on the bench of one of the trestle tables that surrounded the hearth, and took a seat across from Aerin. "So, before we start in one those gems..." I settled further into my seat, unable to stop the content sigh that slipped out of my mouth. "Is there a Mister Firebrand? Oh wait, no, that isn't what I wanted to say. Lemme start over." I cleared my throat. "You wouldn't happen to be a Jedi or something, would you? I'm no expert on the Force; far from it, in fact, but every now and again I stumble across something or someone that the Force thinks I should know. And, well, I'm 99.9% certain the Force led me to... you." I ran a hand through my hair, pushing it away from my face, and smiled self-deprecatingly. "That didn't sound quite so cheesy in my head."

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

The warmth of the Hall tingled on her face, creating a rosy hue appear on her cheeks. The a fire is forever life giving in the Hall and she soon felt comfort. Valkyri are cold adaptable but that does not mean they don't feel it too. Aerin turned in her seat and raised her arm to summon Red Beard, her trusted protector who had fought alongside her in the battle for Midvinter. He soon arrived said nothing in his usual way, but Aerin ordered two full plates of roasted meats and vegetables, mead and bread. All the while Red Beard eyed off the Offworlder, before leaving to gather the order.

Her attention returned to Kale, sitting there in his flight suit and helmet hair from the hood of his fur. Tall, lean and sports a handsome, appealing face and with the gift of the gab. "I am no Jedi, but a force user. However, I have friends who are", she reached down on her hip and removed her lightsaber and placed it on the table, "And have trained in the use of the force".

Placed on the table between them is their food, Red Beard returning promptly with the roast and drink before leaving.

"I find the force does strange things, you coming here to me portents a meeting beyond our understanding and for what purpose is yet to be clarified. There is more then just gems on your mind I think".

"Eat!", she said starting on her own food and indicating for Kale to do the same.

"How strong is your arm?", she asked. "You will need me to take you to the caves in the mountains near here and we will need to travel of horse back .. your bike will be next to useless".

".. And no. No mister Firebrand", she smiled as she chewed.


[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

Aerin lifted her arm and another freakishly tall Valkyrian approached. He had a thick red beard segmented into braids, and might have been a mute, for all the words he said. His face said enough; he was giving me the stink eye while Aerin ordered us some grub. I almost scowled at him, but decided it wasn't worth it. Scowling took too much effort; I'd rather smile instead. He was probably upset that I was so much better looking than him. And I was about to share a meal with an Amazonian bombshell, while he was relegated to fetching our food.

Yep... I was winning.

"I am no Jedi," Aerin said, "but a force user. However, I have friends who are." She reached down to her hip and pulled out a lightsaber. "And I have trained in the use of the force." Seeing her saber reminded me of the lightsaber I had hidden in my boot. Honestly, I'd forgotten the darn thing was there. Like I said, I was more partial to blasters. Besides that, I didn't run across Sith very much, and my lightsaber talents didn't extend beyond awkward blocking and blaster bolt redirection. Taking cover was easier, quicker, and far less hazardous to my health than twirling around a beam of super heated plasma.

Then the bearded dude returned with food and drink. My stomach gave a gentle rumble in anticipation. Aerin spoke further about the Force and our meeting, made note of my jumbled thoughts, and then proclaimed, "Eat," so eat I did. And boy was it good. I could certainly get used to this. Fresh cooked food shared with a gorgeous redhead? What could be better?

It was hard not to pig out, but I managed, barely. Everytime my eyes flickered up to Aerin, I was struck by a strange feeling that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It was familiar, in a way, and almost exhilarating. In fact, it felt a lot like --

"How strong is your arm?" she asked. "You will need me to take you to the caves in the mountains near here, and we will have to travel on horseback... Your bike will be next to useless."

Horses, huh? I could ride a horse pretty well. I'd ridden my fair share of four-legged beasts during my travels, though most of those had been larger, and certainly smellier than horses. I'd also been under the threat of death or dismemberment on most of those rides, so I can't say that I had enjoyed them. Having a pretty girl along, as opposed to being chased by bounty hunters or man eating monsters might help with that. Especially since I thought I might be --

"And no, no Mr. Firebrand," she said, smiling.

-- infatuated. I gave a wolfish grin. "That's fantastic... Unless, of course, there was a Mr. Firebrand at one point in time, and he died gruesomely, in which case it's not fantastic at all." I took another bite of food to keep myself from saying something else, but my silence didn't last long. "Say... I've been meaning to learn how to use the Force more adequately. Think you'd be up to teaching me a thing or two?" I gulped down my mead and wiped the excess from my mouth. "And in case you were wondering," I said, waggling my eyebrows, "I don't kiss on the first date."



[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

She sat up straight backed while regarding Kale. He is asking a lot of someone he only just met, but Aerin had encountered the likes of him before today, but the force told her he has no ill intent. At least not of the malice kind. Other feelings however she detected, there is an attraction and she is red blooded enough to see he is attractive and appealing. She in turn is just as cheeky as he is. However, it takes a strong disposition to attract Aerin’s eye, but she found herself admiring his snow kissed red lips.

“Pity”, she responded to his flirtatious nature with her own and reference to a first kiss on a date. “I do”. A jest of course which would be clear with a growing smile.

“I am a maiden”, she simply stated. “As for training I could show some things to assist your development. We shall have time as we travel to the mountains. It will take us overnight to get there and after we have supped we will arrange the food supplies, bedding and horses and leave on the morrow”. The gems in the mountains near her home are Aerin’s source of acquiring credits as well. She will harvest them when required to exchange in order to buy her way around the galaxy. The Valkyri have little use of them, save for gifts or jewellery, because Midvinter runs on trading goods for goods or services, the barter system. Credits are simply worthless.

“What kind of training are you after?”, she asked having not seen his saber but blaster, and felt his force strength which is untapped and strong. Behind them both Red Beard appeared carrying a large skewered boar over his shoulders, as he approached the hearth be placed the boar on the spit, this boar would be the menu for the evening meal for those that come to the Mead Hall. Immediately the heat from the flames began to cook the raw meat, but would take time to slowly roast it entirely.

He had heard the conversation and held a frown on his face but as her protector he would speak. “Aerin, do you think it wise to go up into the mountains as thaw has begun?”, he asked paying little attention to Kale. “You know full well the dangers of avalanches, I do not advice that you travel”.

“We will take the south road, it is a longer journey but the safest .. and we will be fine”, she placed her hand on her friends arm to reassure him. Red Beard does not know of her force abilities, let along the force itself, but regardless he stands as advisor and protector. “If you are not back in two days from this moment I will come for you, .. both”. Red Beard would not say more but returned to his work.

[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

"Pity," she said, blue eyes almost twinkling. "I do."

Oh. Well then! I managed not to blush; what sort of scoundrel would I be if I let a few words get me flustered? I figured she was joking, anyway. She didn't seem like one of those types.

Not that I knew anything about those types. Scouts honor!

I was a little unclear on the term maiden. I figured, given the context, that it meant she hadn't been married, ever. But it could also mean, given my understanding of the linguistics, that she hadn't been touched that way at all. Like, ever. Considering I'd spent most of my life living amongst criminals and degenerates -save that brief stint with the Jedi - I hadn't met very many people like her.

She agreed to teach me a few things, mentioning that the journey would take a day at least, and given the necessities required to survive out in the frigid wilderness, we wouldn't be leaving until tomorrow, after the proper supplies had been gathered.

"What kind of training are you after?" she asked.

Good question. "I've got the basics down, mostly. Even learned a few lightsaber forms, not that I'm any good with them. What I need is refinement. Less a teacher, and more a tutor. Or a coach, even." A hot coach, my brain supplied. I smiled at the thought. "After I get a good grasp of the basics..." I trailed off with a shrug. "I don't know, beyond that. I can't say that I know everything the Force is capable of."

The bearded one returned then, with a massive boar impaled on a stick. He set it on the spit and turned to face us. He was frowning. This one doesn't approve, I thought. He spoke his peace, paying me little mind. What was I, chopped liver?! But then he said that, if we weren't back in two days, he was gonna come for is.

Then I felt bad for my disingenuous thoughts earlier. This guy was a regular hero!


[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

She pushed her plate to the side having finished her meal, but pulled her tankard of mead in front of her as she listened to Kale talk about his force abilities or rather lack of them. Aerin nodded her understanding, it was actually good he did not want a full time master, she would have accommodated him had he did, but she liked the idea of him having freedom to train with others in areas she may not be able to teach. It is what she did and Aerin had found it most beneficial, as she had trained with Sith and Jedi both.

"You live by a code Kale?", she wanted to know what was in his heart when it comes to integrity. "I don't think you are the kind that would follow the Jedi code, but what is your personal code?".

Red Beard returned with a plate full of sweet cakes and placed them between Aerin and Kale, and left again. Five big burly Valkyri entered the Hall and took up seats on the long table on the other side of the fire. They had been in on the road for days and had arrived to take shelter for the night and sup. Red Beard attended to them bringing a large tray of mead before their food would arrive. Aerin turned to take a look at the new arrival, her eyes falling over their weapons hanging by their side, their dress told her they are from the northern clans and had been loyal to the previous king. It had not been that long since the battle and emotions still raw to some.

Without saying a word, Aerin nodded to Red Beard, giving him the signal that she had noticed the northerners and she stood up and moved around the table to sit beside Kale. It was the better position to watch the men. "You will need lodgings for the eve, there is accommodate here in the Mead Hall if you prefer that, or I have a spare room in my home, the choice is yours". The Mead Hall has very good accommodate as she does, so either would be most comfortable for Kale.

"Drink up! the mead will warm your blood". Aerin allowed her eyes to fall over his face, a nice profile with a sharp nose.


[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

A code? Yeah, I had a code. Can't say it was anything fancy, but it had come from my father, Force rest his soul, who'd gotten it from his mentor, who'd gotten it from his mentor, and so on and so forth. "Never ignore a call from help, steal only from those richer than you, never play cards unless you're prepared to lose, don't pilot under the influence, always be prepared to make a quick getaway, and if someone has to die, make sure it's for a karking good reason."

The bearded one brought out a tray of sweet cakes. More Valkyrians entered then, all of them freakishly tall and heavily muscled. And smelly. Aerin got up from her seat and sat herself beside me. She certainly wasn't smelly, for all that she'd been working with horses. Maybe that was the infatuation talking.

"You will need lodgings for the eve," she said. "There are accommodations here in the Mead Hall if you prefer that, or I have a spare room in my home, the choice is yours".

As if I would choose to stay in the Mead Hall. I noticed her briefly eyeing the other Valkyrians, but didn't think much of it. Not when she was so close to my face. Did my breath smell? Probably not. I'd brushed, flossed, and gargled this morning. If anything, my breath smelled like sweet cakes. I'd eaten two of them already.

"Drink up!" she exclaimed. I half expected an accompanying slap on the back. "The mead will warm your blood." My blood was already warm. Force-be-good, she was pretty. I was starting to think I had a thing for red-heads. Or maybe it was just Aerin?

"If it's all the same," I said, taking a nice, long drink, "I'd rather stay with you." I waggled my eyebrows. "I have to ask... are all Valkyrian women as pretty as you?"


[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

She could not help but, smile before a laugh escaped her lips. "That is an honest code. Much more so than that of the Orders", her eyes fell on the northerners again, they are eating the fare provide by Red Beard and drinking, that was good. Aerin caught Red Beards attention once more with a nod to the northerners which would tell him to keep up the mead to them. Drunk Valkyri are more easy to fight that way, if it came to that. Which more oft than not, it did.

But a stranger in their midst had not gone unnoticed by one of them, his eyes firmly on Kale as he ate over his plate. Kale is not in the slightest Valkyri, his face more refined as is his body, strong she did not doubt but he is not the thick built mountains of their stock. Besides, Kale is clever and resourceful that much is very apparent, where as Valkyri men are ... dull. Not all of course but mostly.

"Of course, I have bedding for you", but she blushed with his next question and shifted somewhat uneasy in her seat more so from surprise. "Oh, well .. I never really thought ... ". the sentence was never to be finished.

"Hey you boy! whats a pretty one like you doing in man's clothing", the man that had been watching Kale finally spoke up, his curiosity getting the better of him. Not only that, but he had recognised Aerin. "You the Kings hand?. You give him a hand in his bed chamber as well", the others laughed.

Red Beards, cloth hit the top of the counter behind which he worked and his hand went to his sword. Aerin stood up, likewise her hand crossed her body to the hilt of her sword. "You that Shieldmaiden of Dawnbringer, you cut down a friend of mine at Tháinbroek", the beefy man stood and his sword left his side.

"The war is over northerners, many friends were killed that day. I lost many too". She moved around the back of Kale and to the side of the table. As she did so she whispered to him. "No saber, no blaster". This fight would be done the Valkyri way. She felt his first move, easy enough to do as he began a lumbering run toward her.





[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

I couldn't help but laugh. This was like the start of a bad joke. Five Vallyrian's walk into a Mead Hall... now all I had to do was keep myself was becoming a punch line.

No blaster, no saber, she said. What was I supposed to fight with, my fork? I assumed blatant displays of the Force were out too. That left fists, feet, elbows, and knees. Oh, and the plates. And my chair.

Honestly, I wasn't all that concerned. It would've been stranger if this trip was a piece of cake. But this? This was just another day of the week. Danger was a constant companion in my line of work. Defying death had grown from a hobby to a habit. Not a great habit to have, mind you, but it was better than some. Like spice. That had been a teeeerrible addiction. Thank the Force for Jedi healers.

Really, I was just annoyed that they had ruined our meal. I'd just gotten Aerin flustered!

As I climbed to my feet, one of the big, hairy brutes rushed at Aerin. The bearded one claimed another. That left three dance partners to choose from. Who to pick? Or was it whom? I was pants at grammar.

The one with the foul mouth spoke up. "I'm gonna open you from crotch to collar bone, pretty boy," Hm. Well then. I supposed he'd suffice.

I smirked and said, "Your mother thinks I'm pretty too, you sleemo schutta kung." Ah, Hutteese, such a good language for insults.

He growled, understanding the spirit of my insult if not the letter. Face twisted in rage, he unsheathed a long sword. Letting out a primal yell, he leaped over the table to get at me, taking a brief detour around the crackling hearth.

I snatched up the plate of sweet cakes and flicked it at him like disc, then did the same with my plate, only I aimed at his feet. The first throw only pissed him off, but the second slipped under his foot and sent him sprawling. He hit the ground with a heavy thud, sword skidding across the floor.

It stopped right at my feet. I might have helped it along with a nudge. Or three.

Thinking that I could use the sword like a pseudo lightsaber, I picked it up. It was pretty hefty compared to a lightsaber, but if it became a problem, I could always use the force to mitigate the weight.

The other two goons weren't so idle anymore, and the clumsy one was climbing to his feet...

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

In a long sweeping arc, Aerin unsheathed her sword, the blue focusing crystal embedded in the pommel of the hilt pulse with force energy. "You are a visitor to our Clan and you treat our hospitality so?", she asked as swords clashed. "I find you rather rude". She added with a lower voice which would only mean Aerin is not happy.

One of her hands came away from the sword hilt and her palm opened as he arm extended forward to his chest, as it hit a powerful force push sent the warrior flying across the tables and into the opposite wall. He hit it hard and with a crunch that would curdle blood to those that would hear it. Red Beard had one of the other man occupied and advancing pushing him back.

"By the authority of the Steward of Clan Sabina I order you to stop!", this a futile order but she had to try, this would not end until the last man or woman was standing, and Aerin was in no mood to slumber just yet.

In this moment of pause she turned to see how Kale was faring against the mountain men. His resourcefulness doing him justice as she watched the flying plate, a grin crossed her face as she took the moment to look him over more, but hoped by her application of the force he would know this was not off limits to use. Even though she had seen nice looking men in the galaxy before, he is truly handsome, but she had the feeling he knew it too. And she had to wonder if he had the arrogance to go with it, she hoped not, but time would reveal this to her.

The next warrior came for her but this time she sense hesitation in his mind. More clever than the others, he realised the fight was one sided, even though he did not understand the strength of the Shieldmaiden, that was something uncanny to his eyes. "You are the one that parted a wall of fire!, you are a witch!".

Aerin uncurled her fingers on the hilt and took a firmer hold, she moved with deliberate steps toward him, her sword by her side with her arm surging with force power. Her eyes set to his and would not divert, no words now but firm gaze to speak of her intent. The warrior stepped backward and Aerin smiled knowing she had only moments before this was over.

Only her right arm raised the sword, force strength to raise it high before bringing the blade down on the mans arm. The steel bit into his flesh as she pulled it along the skin, her intention to cut rather than removed his limb.

"Be that a warning to you and your people of the north, do not come here with ill intent or you will see war again. Do you understand?!", her voice remained low and firm.

[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

I saw Aerin send one of the brutes flying with a well placed, expertly timed Force push. My eyes might have widened a bit. I mean, I knew that she was a Force user, and talented enough to take a student, but knowing wasn't quite the same as seeing. It was actually kind of intimidating. And sexy. The way her eyes narrowed when she sent him flying -- I almost sighed.

The ringing clang of metal reminded me where I was and what was going on. The bearded one was engaged in a sword fight just ten feet away, on the other side of the table. My own foe was inching ever closer, wary now that I had his bantha-poker. One of his comrades came up behind him, blade already unsheathed. And Aerin, the minx, had drawn her own blade to face the last of the smelly dudes. He didn't look very confident -- almost afraid, in fact.

I wanted to watch her in action, but Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dumb rushed me. Dee pulled a dirk from behind his back, and Dumb brandished his longsword, attacking with an overhand cut. Blood pumping, I batted his sword aside. I might not have really meshed well with the Jedi ways, but I still remembered their teachings. Namely, the practice of Soresu and Shien.

I am a rock, I told myself. A mountain. Passive and immovable. Dumb and Dee attacked in tandem. I swept left, then right, then left again, turning away their increasingly frantic attacks. I heard Aerin's warning, but so did they, and frantic soon turned to desperate.

One went low, the other high. I stepped back, lifted my leg above the one blade, swept aside the other, settling into the rote movements I'd learned those few years ago. And then the bearded one was there, his foe already dispatched, injured, I saw, but still alive. Dee moved to meet him, and I shifted my entire stance, a hint of aggression settling in my shoulders. I breathed deeply, and opened myself to the Force.

Power thrummed in my veins.

Dumb came in again with an overhand cut, with all his momentum and weight and strength behind it. Only a fool would've attempted to block such a blow, and I was no fool. I was the Force.

I snapped my hips and pivoted, just barely stepped aside the downward singing blade. Strands of hair fluttered to the ground. I smacked his blade further down to clang against the floor, stepped into his guard, and elbowed him in the face. I hit him so hard it hurt me.

He fell with a groan, and I stepped back to survey the situation. Was the crisis over? Only time would tell, I guessed.

"Thanks for ruining a good meal, wermos."

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

The fight for the most part was over. The northerners had stopped mainly due to injuries and one knocked out still slumped by the wall. Red Beard and Aerin sheathed their swords and stood in front of the men. "Red Beard have some men escort them to the borders of Clan Sabina, make sure their horses heads are pointing north. I believe that their business in the south is concluded", she moved close to one of them. "Take a message to your Chieftain .. if I see any of his men in Clan Sabina lands again I will send them back with only their heads, now get out of here". Soon enough Red Beard order men from the nearby sables to assist and the northerners sent on their way.

Aerin, took in a deep breath as she turned to face Kale once more. A smile creeping over her face, "A little insight into Valkyri culture, expect to see that often if you visit again".

Picking up her coat and threading her arms through the sleeves of the dark Álk coat, she tired it fast around her waist. "The night is fast approaching, and we need to rest for the journey tomorrow", she stood tall ready to leave. But before she did Aerin's force threads snaked their way to Kale, she stood focused her eyes penetrating his as her force aura licked against his, forming a connection through the force. "Do you feel that?", she said softly. "Go and find your bike, I will return to my home and I want you to find me, use this connection", the training started now. "I will have something hot waiting for you". With that she turned and left the mead hall.

Aerin made her way long the snow covered street to her home, it was located toward the edge of Rildonmark near the base of the mountain, a simple home in the Valkyr way save for the interior which is influenced by her journey through the galaxy. There is signs of modern technology around the house, a data pad, a control panel on the wall for communications to friends and leaders of groups but what would be about all.

She pushed open the front door and found the fire alight in the hearth, low and she quickly moved to reignite it by placing some wood to allow the embers to burn the wood. The main room holds many of her possessions, namely her armour in the corner, shield, bow and quiver. Although the furniture is modern, she holds no attachment to it, she had learned not too, as she had in the past, had to move quickly and leave behind what she had gathered. But his place is her home and she would never leave it.

The large pot still held water and Aerin placed it over the growing flames to boil, she would make Kale some tea on his arrival to warm him and sooth him for the nights resting. Once that was done, Aerin made herself comfortable, removing coat and leather jacket, her sword she placed by her armour and she sat to wait for Kale.









[member="Kale Arkin"]

 

[Arkyn Rane]

After Aerin gave the necessary warnings and threats of death to the northerners, as I learned they were, and Redbeard had collected a coalition of men to escort them away, Aerin turned her attention to me. I sort of still had the guy's sword.

"A little insight into Valkyri culture," she said, an almost rueful smile spreading across her face. "Expect to see that often if you visit again."

So that was a common occurrence? This place wasn't so different from home. Territory disputes happened all the time on Tattooine. Generally there were more deaths involved too, mostly due to frantic blaster fire. Spacers could be jumpy. "If I visit again? Was that an invitation?"

She put her furs back on, and I moved to do the same.
Night was coming soon, she said, and we'd need our rest. Then I felt her touch my mind with a dozen gentle hands, tendrils of energy lapping against me like gusts of wind.

"Do you feel that?" she asked, voice soft.

My answer was short and succinct. "Yeah..." My lips spread in a fleeting smile. Feeling people in the Force, really feeling them, was trippy and disorienting, and with Aerin, it felt good.

She wanted me to find her using the Force, and said that she'd have something hot waiting for me. I didn't even have the wherewithal to make a joke. I hadn't exactly neglected the Force after leaving the Jedi, but I hadn't been privy to much mind-touching, not since meeting my sister, Iella. The sensation was still strong in my mind, the faintest wisps of her presence still clinging to my thoughts.

She left, and I waited a bit to give her time to reach her home before I left as well.

………………​

It didn't take me long to find her home. I didn't know very much about manipulating the Force beyond the basics, but feeling it? Well, once upon a time, before I'd learned to shield my mind, I would smoke deathsticks to dull my Force sense so as not to hear the thoughts and feelings of the people around me.

Suffice to say, my Force sense was probably my greatest ability, whenever I deigned to use it.

The home was mostly timber, like all the rest, and cozy looking, with smoke billowing from its chimney. I parked my speeder out of sight and entered the abode.

It was warm, with a sort of archaic feel, thick wooden beams crisscrossing the ceiling. And there was Aerin, stunning in the firelight, with two steaming mugs.

"I could get used to a place like this."


[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Kale Arkin"]

"Then make yourself at home", she sprinkled the fresh herbs into the hot water and handed Kale the mug. "I sensed you, you found me with ease. That is good, you are strong in that talent. What other talents do you have?", she asked as she offered Kale to come sit by the fire. "Leave you coat by the door, you will not be needing it now".

Aerin decided the floor was the best place for her tonight and so she sat cross legged on the Ëlk fur before the fire. "We shall rise before the sun and prepare the horses. So we will go to bed soon", she indicated with the mug the direction of his room, just located off the main room. "But before we do, tell me more about yourself".

She lifted her mug to her lips and sipped, the warmth of the tea soon had her body comfortable as well as the fire. The company is pleasant and easy on the eye and she had the feeling he had a interesting story to tell about his life. Her eyes looked him over fleetingly as she tilted her head to regard him.

 

[Arkyn Rane]

Aerin could have been a dancer. I'd seen enough of them to know, after near about a decade spent in various cantinas and bars and spaceports throughout the Rim. She had a warrior's grace, not quite so soft as a dancer's, but beautiful all the same. She flowed when she moved, like a stream that eased down a mountainside to grow into a river that cut through stone. I'd first seen glimpses of of it during our walk to the Mead Hall, in her stride, her almost loping gait, and again, during the fight, when she'd dispatched two of the Northmen.

But here, in her home, I decided that hers was a soft grace. Absent furs and jacket, I could help but notice the curves of her hips, the hollow at the base of her throat, her long, angelic neck. She was pale marble, as delicate as she was strong. Her legs were as long has hyperspace lanes. Oh boy.

I needed a shower. A cold one, preferably.

I shook myself free of my furs and hung them up, then joined her on the furs that lay beside the fire. I accepted the tea with a quiet, "Thanks," and immediately took a sip. I peered at her over the rim of the cup. The flickering orange flames sent shadows ambling across her face, and her hair seemed all the redder for it, as if the auburn tresses were tiny whips of flames themselves.

She had praised me for finding her so easily, and I'd tried to shrug it off, but a bit of warmth rushed to my cheeks all the same. She asked after my skills, and then, my past. The two were entwined, the former born of the latter. My answer, thus, includes both.

"I was born on Tatooine. My father was a smuggler. My mother..." I shrugged, unable to look away from Aerin's face. "I never knew her. I think she might have been a Jedi -- I mean, I had to get these powers from somewhere, right? Anyway, after dear old dad got his hands on a protocol droid to babysit me, and a decent, respectable crew, he started back smuggling. He smuggled everything and anything to anyone and anywhere. Within reason, mind you. And I, ever the dutiful son, wanted to continue the family tradition."

I took another sip of the tea, and felt warmth spread from my chest on down. "Only, I had a bit of a problem." I tapped my head. "My mind wasn't my own. Not quite. It was open to the thoughts and feelings of everyone and anyone around me. I can't quite remember exactly when it started, but by thirteen or so, it was unbearable.

"I turned to drugs. Deathsticks. They made it bearable. Dulles the roar to a trickle. Space was the best drug. Out amongst the stars, I co find peace. Not so many minds to hear. I built droids, modified hyperdrives, tweaked shields... I can build a ion cannon with my eyes closed. Engineering, more than anything, was -- is -- my passion." Another sip. "And then, when I was... fourteen or fifteen, I think? -- we ran afoul of pirates. They were a nasty bunch. Slavers. They decided to keep me, and killed the rest of us, or sold us. My father died.

"Things were pretty bad for a while. They weren't very nice people." I ran a hand through my hair, pushing my bangs away from my face. I hadn't really thought about those years in a long while. I'd forgotten how depressing it was. "I was angry all the time. Fearful. Hateful. To this day, I'm still not sure what happened, but one day, I got fed up. Couldn't take them. Their thoughts. Their feelings. And then one day... I snapped. Blacked out. When I came to, the pirates were dead.

"I freed the slaves and sold the ship, cashed in their bounties. I used the money to buy my ship. I started smuggling on my own, alongside a RX pilot droid I'd redesigned and built years before, and a snarky little Arnine model astromech. I kept out to the rim, mostly, smuggling for the Hutts.

"I was doing a job one day, on my way through Republic space when my hyperdrives went out. A bloody Jedi found me." I gave a rueful shake of my head. "And of all the Jedi that could have found me, this particular Jedi turned out to be my sister.

"Her name was Iella. Iella E'ron. She's dead, now. But back then, her and her master cured me of my addiction, helped me learn to shield my mind, and even helped me deal with a dopa-maskey sleep kung Hutt I'd been working for.

"I joined the Jedi afterwards. Spent some months at the temple with the younglings. I learned to move things with the force, make myself stronger, faster, more durable. I learned the basics of all the lightsaber forms, though I only ever took to Soresu and Shien. I tried to train under a knight, but he was a bit of an ass, and j didn't care for him. So I left, started back smuggling, and branches out to exploring and treasure hunting. I even did a little policing on a few backwater planets in the Outer territories, and managed to join a crew of maniacs on a job to raid a Vong worldship. Not my brightest idea.

"Then I found out about this place, about the gems, and the armor, and decided to come have a look myself." I smiled. "And then I met the prettiest girl in the whole star system. And, well, now I'm here." The warmth of the fire and the tea was making me drowsy. I blinked, slowly, and let out a yawn. "It's been ages since I slep anywhere other than my ship. Arnine is gonna blow a bolt when I'm not back in the morning.

What's your story? You're like, some sort of royalty here, aren't you?"

[member="Ærin Firebrand"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Kale Arkin"]

She had decided she had sat to close to the fire, Aerin began to feel the heat, but it was not the heat from the flames, but rather the thoughts coming from Kale. She could not read them, or intrude on them but she sensed his male attraction to her. She is guilty with a feminine gaze upon him too, watching as he ran his fingers through his longish hair, watching the way his mouth moved as he spoke and the firm cut of his jaw line, all of which she wondered what it might be like to touch.

His story as she had suspected, was filled and interesting, and sad. Most people in the galaxy are touched by sadness in little form or big and each carries the scars along their journey through life and live it the best they can. Time is not a healer, but helps one to cope with such things. Kale has lost much and yet young as she is and will in time learn from the lessons life in a hope to have a happy existence for the most part.

However as she recounted his history, she sat back as he mentioned the former grand master of the Silver Jedi. Aerin had not met the woman but knew of her well enough, she had been the grand master when Aerin had arrived on Voss, not long after it was reported she had been killed. "Master E'ron is your sister?.. I knew of her. Did not have the pleasure of meeting her however. By what I know she was a very powerful Jedi, had to be to be grand master, I am sorry for your loss". The situation is sad and she feels for him, but this also spoke of what Kale might become if he wished for it. If he is as strong as his sister, he is most powerful indeed.

"Part of the life lived on Midvinter is one of isolation and so we know nothing of drugs, at least the ones you speak of. But since I have ventured off world I have learned much of the ways of the rest of the galaxy, some hold much beauty and others, well". She looked down into the bottom of her mug before her eyes looked back into his face.

"Royalty? yes and no", she began as she thought about her life. She smiled. "I am a Steward of Clan Sabina, which means I am in charge when the Chieftain is away, he is my cousin". she rolled her eyes at the thought of the Thawbearer. "It is a little complicated, but my father, Chieftain before Thawbearer, was not my biological father although he raised me as his own and loved as much. My real father was the previous king, a The Usurper. He is dead now. Not a nice man, he had seduced my mother and in their affair she conceived me. But my parentage had been kept from me for many years. But one day my mother told the truth. I did not take that well as you could understand. And my actual was a tyrant I hated him. Then one day I met a man who would reveal to me his identity, Thrand Dawnbringer the rightful heir to the throne. I immediately offered him my sword and after sometime, I stood by his side in battle against The Usurper. We won the day and Dawnbringer was placed on the throne".

"He is good friend and I his Hand, but I find little purpose here now and so I travel only to return home, which is sweet when I do". She smiled now, a happy smile, as her journey home this time round had found her in the company of Kale.

"But you tired, I suspect I bore you with my words and we have to get up early". Aerin said with a small slice of cheek as she teased, but she stood up and placed her mug by the fire, before putting on a large log that would burn through the night to keep the house warm for the morning. "You will find everything you need in your room, but if you need something come and find me. Good night Kale".