Beauty and Ravens
The morning was beautiful, the sun cresting over the Vilothric mountains. The steep angle of the light bathing the city in a glorious golden light as it cut through the dense fog. It had been raining that night as the hurricane season shifted away from the eastern sides of the Range. The cold northern air rushing through the Pass to mingle with the humid gusts of wind from the south.
The streetlights still glowed pleasently, the fog making the light just weak enough to not kick over and shut them down. The King had commisioned them a few years back after visiting the Fort, he told the Commander station there, he disliked how the glowbells struggled to grow. The delicatly spun spiders webs glinted in the golden light, in the crook of the iron light fixtures.
The man continued his slow walk through the city as the rest of the deziens busied themselves about their days tasks. The Fortess demanded most of everyones attention, the constant needs from the Naval force stationed along the Namoux Wall that spanned the pass. The man had always wondered what the Namoux were so terrified of that they felt the need to under take such a massive and complex task as a fortress bristling with battlements and undsurface defensive structures.
"Only the gods may know these days"He thought to himself. He stopped by one of the bakeries along his path, taking in the sweet smell of rolls and confectionaries. The warm amber light spilling out the shop's display window, filled the brightening street with it's welcoming invitation. The man stopping into the shop to chit chat with the owner while he busied themselves with the usual flow of customers.
"Elander, my Friend. Busier than usual today isn't it?" The man asked, slowly walking up to the counter, ignoring the line of patrons. They side eye'd him, but dismissed the breach in etiquette when they noted that he wasn't buying anything.
"Oh it's been alright, old man. Off on your walk to that rotten bench up on the ridge again?" Elander responded, thanking his customer, handing off a plain brown bag with a few fresh loafs in it.
"Am I that predictable? Well, old men must need habits you know, at least this one keeps me out of my dusty old home." He chuckled, thinking back to his morning where he spent the begining of his day sweeping up the chips of plaster and cobblestone. His house had been falling apart for many years now, though he didn't mind. The roof kept the rain and cold out, he couldn't afford to make it pretty again. He didn't need much, he never wanted much, he enjoyed the view his home gave him over the harbor. He enjoyed watching the ships bob and list in the waters, the fog rolling along the waves in the morning.
"Well, I suppose you are right. Why won't you let me help you at least fix the walls for you? They need it, you know?" He told the old man, turning to open the ovens behind him, pulling out more fresh bread, filling the small shop with the intoxicating aroma.
"You needn't trouble yourself, there is a beauty in imperfection. A detail, at least in my opinion, wouldn't trade for the world." He said with a smile on his face, leaning on the counter.
"You followers of Azu are something else. Content with whatever is given to you, even if a bit of plaster and paint would do wonders." Elander commented, not so loud as to offend his customers, but just loud enough for the old man to hear. He laughed, he knew his faith was a bit odd to the uninitiated. They had a way of walking through life with a this is fine attitude, as long as the beauty of the world exists it will be alright.
"Well all things concidered, I don't want to pull you away from your shop. As I said, you needn't trouble yourself with humble old me." The old man said back, straightening to leave. "It was good to see you again, Elander."
"Hold on, old man." The baker lifted the counter top that seperated the shop from the customers and the back area with the ovens. He walked over, handing him a bag with a few loafs of sweet honied loafs. They were still warm, the steam still escaping from the bag. The baker returned back to his work with a wave to the old man.
"You're too kind" The old man began, but Elander only smiled back at him. Gensturing for him to continue his stroll.
The old man had finally made it back to the top of the ridge that overlooked the city, sitting above the fog line of the town. He had set up a wooden bench up on the ridgeline many years ago, planted a few juniper trees as well. Those first few trees now lined the hillside running up to the ridge. The sound of seagulls mixed with the caw of ravens, purusing the ripening berries.
He was still thinking about how his legs were not going to let him do this much anymore in the coming future. His joints creaked and popped as he made his way up the paved trail that lead to one of the mountian pastures owned by a local farmer. He had been trying to get a supply of sheep going for years, now. The image of the bench and it's scenic over look still in his mind, he was caught by surprise by someone already here.
A beautiful woman, a pale complexion, with long billowing raven black hair. Though by all rights she was stunning, what drew the old mans attention was the fact that her eyes never ended. They continued on in great waves, staring knowingly back at him. He forced himself to focus, doing so he noticed the many other eyes that bobbed in and out of her hair, barely perceptable in the billowing wind.
Her eyes burned with a divine fire reserved for the gods alone. Though not casting any light, they still erased the gloom of the patchy fog around the pair. She tilted her head, a faint smile on her lips. "Come, sit with me."
The old man shook his head clear, she appeared as a normal woman again. Though her features remained much the same, her long black hair still streamed behind her in the low wind. Her kind amber eyes and round face made no illisions to hide what he had just seen. He walked over and sat with the woman, his knees popping as he did so.
"It has been a very long time since I was last given the opportunity to view my goddess. Not since I was a much younger man, when I first began to see the beauty you had weaved into our world." The old man began, out of the corner of his eyes he could see she turned to face him, though she didn't at the same time.
"Yes is it has, I see you have been treated kindly in this place, I am pleased that you have chosen such a lovely spot for your prayers." She said to him, her sweet voice filling his ears. "I know, I see what your intrest in her is, but we can't yet." She spoke to herself, sounding as though she was continuing a conversation with someone else.
He had long known her excentricities, so long as you didn't comment on them she would leave it be. "Have I done a good job, trying to bring some beauty to this world?" He gestured out to his juniper grove, including his view and bench in the process. He paused, thinking to the baker and her own teachings. "Ah, isn't it better to experience the beauty of the world and the people in it? I feel as if that is the true treasure I have made here."
She placed one of her delicate hands on his, she was grinning from ear to ear. "Now that, is what I wanted to hear. Beauty takes the shape of many things, it need not be so obvious. She built this all with the others so that we may enjoy the world to it's fullest."
"She? Mistress?" The old man asked, though still positively glowing at the praise from his god.
"Hmm? I didn't say anything like that. Let us just enjoy the world for a moment." She said, never taking her hand away. The sound of the waves off in the distance, the toll of a harbor bell as its sound rolled through the fog. The old man felt the warmth of her hand in stark contrast to chilly wind that tried it's best to cut through his jacket. Though, he enjoyed the feel of the damp air on his face. He enjoyed the moment of being alive.
The sun now higher in the sky, clear crystaline blue. The sea and sky blending together on the horizon. He knew though, that the sun was still struggling to filter though the dense fog that still clung to the city streets. If had concentrated enough, he could have picked out the streetlights and their plesant amber glow. The sound of the wind through his juniper grove, lulling him to a peaceful frame of mind. He finally noticed the seagulls weren't here, though the ravens stayed. Watching from their perches in the trees.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, something seemed off. Though not threatening. He pushed it away from his mind, turning to look upon the woman gracing him with her company. She really was gorgous, healthy and slim. The way her cheeks stayed that light hint of red, her eyes like a star on a moonlit night. Then again, what did he expect from the literal goddess of beauty in the world. He was humbled that he was even given the opportunity a second time in his life.
She didn't seem to mind the old man just staring at her, though she did continue to mumble to herself in some conversation with an unseen companion. He rested his other hand on hers and contented himself to enjoy this for as long as he was able. Begining his prayers as he had done hundreds of times before. She smiled as he talked about all the woderful things he had seen the last few days. No matter how small, there was beauty in everything, a worth not measured in gold.
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