Kieran sighed softly. "I have seen much of Ishar, where I am from, and I have seen the main road from there to here. And of here, I have seen only where i went with you." He replied, not knowing if she was listening, but figuring he had best answer her questions regardless.
“Huh. Well, you’ll get t’ see a lotta places now.” Elara said, glancing back at Kieran for a moment. “I’m carted e’rywhere for diplo shit. An’ since yer stuck with me, you’ll be carted ‘round too.”
Kieran nodded. "Alright." He replied, looking over at her. I suppose that's as good a way as any to travel. This way, maybe I can find somewhere to go after this is over. If I earn my freedom. I want somewhere where i wont be looked down at because of my species. Because I used to be a slave.
Waiting outside of the palace for them was a singular carriage, surrounded by guards on horses. It wasn’t as formal as the usual carriages used by the King, but it was enough to obviously belong to someone well off. Maybe a duke or noble.
“Matthias!” Elara called, greeting the guard closest to the carriage door with a wave. “Any clue where we’re headed?”
“Hianta is up first, Magpie.” The guard answered, swinging down to pull open the door for her and Kieran. “I hear they've got good curry.”
Kieran was silent as he followed her. Hianta? Interesting. I've heard good things about it. He thought, redoing the loose bun that kept his hair from falling into his face. As long as we don't go back to Ishar…I don't want to go back there unless i have to. Then he blinked. But I will, if that is what is required of me.
“Haven’t has curry in forever.” Elara mused, motioning for Kieran to climb into the carriage first. She always sat by the door, needing to be close to a hypothetical escape route to ease her mind. “Hey, ktherion, you a fan of spicy food?”
Kieran climbed in. "Tell me what ktherion means first." He replied, looking at her expressionlessly. In truth, he was just curious as to what, exactly, she was calling him. It didn't really matter; he had been called almost every name in the books. He answered to just about anything anyone could call him.
Elara made a face, climbing in after him. “Do I have ta?” She asked, plopping down and setting her bag in between them. “It’s a pain in the ass t’ explain, translation wise.”
"Try." He replied with a shrug, looking at her with emotionless orange eyes. "Whatever it means, i have been called worse." He blinked, looking away as he remembered some of the names he had been called at various times by various owners.
Elara blinked, shaking her head at him. With them boarded, the carriage began to move slowly, gaining speed. “Fuck. Well, kther essentially means stone. Cause y’know, you don’ really show much emotion.”
Kieran nodded. "And…ion?" He asked. So it means stone something. He thought, looking at her. But stone…what? Head? Heart? Brain? He shrugged slight, adjusting the sleeves of his shirt again.
“It don’ really…have a meaning.” Elara said, nose scrunching up as she lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “It’s typically added t’ words when they’re made int’ nicknames or somethin’. Callin’ ya stone wouldn’t’a made much sense on it’s own.”
"Oh." He replied with a shrug. "That makes sense, I guess." He was quiet after that as the carriage began to move. He sighed softly, tapping his fingers on his pant leg to try and distract himself from the fact that a carriage was, in fact, a small, enclosed space. Something he absolutely hated.
Elara leaned against the side of the carriage, closing her eyes and fiddling with her mother’s dagger. “Ya never answered my question. Spicy foods? Or ya more o’ a flavorless guy? I’ll tell ya now, if ya consider salt a seasoning, I’m morally obligated t’ never even look at you again.”
Kieran sighed. "I don't care about the flavor of my food, so long as it is food." He replied, looking at her. "Where I grew up, i couldn't exactly afford to be picky. Because if I didn't like my food? Well. I didn't get any more." He shrugged slightly. He had learned to eat everything he was given very early on.
“Makes sense.” Elara said, nodding once. She kept her eyes closed. “Growin’ up, it was whatever we could afford.” Or steal. “You’re gonna get t’ try an insane number o’ foods though. I’ve had e’rythin’ from bread t’ squid in the past year.”
Kieran nodded, looking out the window. "I see." He said. Why am I talking so much? I could get punished for this! Some part of him panicked. He swallowed. She asked, i answered. That's all. He told himself, smoothing a hand over his left horn to calm his nerves.
“The glass swings open.” Elara said randomly, referring to the window on Kieran’s side. It wasn’t really all that random, as she was paying more attention to his movement than she let on. “Inward. ‘S jus’ a bit fragile.”
Kieran jumped slightly, then nodded. "I see. Thank you." He said softly. He didn't open it, preferring to lean his forehead slightly on the glass, looking out. As long as i am out before it is dark, i will be okay. I don't know…how well i could handle a dark, enclosed space. He sighed softly. I know how well. And it wouldn't be good.
Hianta is only a few hours away. Hopefully, we'll make it before nightfall. Then I can make a quick stop by the Wolf’s Maw. Elara mused to herself, looking like she was falling asleep. She was wide awake though, and likely wouldn’t sleep much at all that night either.
Kieran was silent, watching the scenery go by. It was interesting to watch, as he hadn't had much opportunity to travel. So he watched as the scenery went past. Trees, roads, lakes.
Elara only spoke again as the sun began to set, her eyes open now as she peered out of the window on her own side. “We’re gettin’ close, thank the gods. My legs’re so damn stiff ‘n’ I’m hungry as hell. Ya alright? No’ motion sick, I hope.”
Kieran looked up. "I am fine, your highness." He replied, looking over at her. So long as we stop before dark. He thought with a soft sigh.
“Roman throws up e’rytime he’s in a carriage. Jus’ makin’ sure.” Elara said with a shrug, unsheathing her dagger to play with it. Something to do. “Guessin’ maybe half an hour t’ an hour left. Slow ride t’day.”
Kieran nodded. "Ah, i see." He replied. He touched a hand to his horn again with a sigh. An hour…and how long until sunset?