Will Of Infinity

Navigate - Part 2

Val left Saakhi and Minar outside, letting them handle the horses as he entered the home he shared with Oorja. It was closer to the workshop and had a clear view of the training field, a compromise of both their interests. It wasn't that he was worried about Oorja refusing the presence of the Por siblings, but Val had heard enough times from Minar that his tendency to drag in people he thought needed help could always do with a little warning.

It was ironic, coming from her considering her history with the same habit, but he knew well what she meant. It was also a little exciting, to finally call her Minar again.

"You look happy," a voice broke him out of his thoughts and Val saw Oorja roll in, his beard having grown out a little more from the last time they'd seen each other. The parchment shade of his vest was strikingly contrast to his skin and made him more defined than he already was. Some people considered that he drew eyeballs due to how he moved but Val knew that most of it was because of how he looked.

In control. Commanding.

"I had a good trip," he replied, waiting until Oorja had come closer before leaning down to press his forehead against his, grinning at the raised brow, "You've been working harder than usual, I see. The new ramps look nice."

"They're just extensions," Oorja brushed it off and leaned back to look at him scrutinisingly, "Ezhil was right, wasn't he? You've brought guests."

"You'll like them," Val declared as he moved around the other man to go hang up his satchel, "The older one even helped us against an elephant at Jevadhi. Minar had it under control for a while but then things went out of hand and Saakhi had her back. She's a pretty good shot."

He didn't hear a reply and turned around to see Oorja frowning at him.

"She isn't objecting to Saakhi calling her that, so I figure that we can get back to Minar too," he explained with a shrug as he walked back to the centre of the room, "Besides, you've heard about Paher Mahir."

"They're really from Agapura?" Oorja cut to the heart of the matter and Val knew what he was asking. It always came down to this for him, this unnamed fear that was only superimposed by a quiet fury that had changed forms over the years but still burned low.

"They're nomads," he answered and met Oorja's gaze without judgement, "Mahir died before Saakhi could join her job and they weren't sent to get anyone."

A tumble of noise from outside alerted them and Val moved to the window, hearing Oorja come up beside him to check.

"Ohhh, that's disgusting," Saakhi ducked behind Minar, one hand clutching a shoulder as she hid her face behind the woman holding a wide basin, "Drop it, just drop it."

"If I drop it, they'll come out," Minar tried to move forward and ended up dragging Saakhi with her, looking over her shoulder, "It's just snakes, don't tell me you've never seen them before."

"They're peeling off!" Saakhi moved forward and caught sight of the contents of the basin before hiding her face behind Minar's shoulder again, making a gagging sound, "Why would anyone think this is normal?"

"They're shedding ," Minar corrected as she balanced the basin when she was being pulled at, "It's natural for them to do this and we're just helping them with the water. I told you to stay with the horses, you're going to make me drop this and then it's going to be a mess you really can't handle."

"I can handle anything," Saakhi replied even if her voice clearly said otherwise as she didn't let go of her death-grip on Minar's shoulder but allowed her to put the basin down by the corner, scrunching up her face as they finally moved away. Once they had walked a few feet back, Saakhi pretended like she hadn't been on the verge of pulling Minar's arm out of the socket a few minutes ago, rubbing her palms together as she looked around.