Witch in which place?

[witchwatcher]

Grendyne groans and starts pulling on her boots when the alarm goes off. Again. She quick-marches to the broom hangar, sits on her machine and is handed a plethora of loaded weapons by attentive corporals.

"Two flyers in one day? They're getting way too common."

"It's worse," the commander informs them, "South Karlsland got hit with three at once. We're taking Lytee's express and sleeping there. You can sit out if you absolutely need to, but Freya's still recovering so we could use you as a comms relay."

"No, I'll come. I just reserve the right to complain about it."

The 42nd United Forces Witch Wing takes off, bracing to fight yet another city-destroying monster, and assembles into a perfect synchronized formation as Lytee charges her teleport power.



...This is not South Karlsland wilderness.

Near the Golden Coven capital, in Aurum

Near Savarasse, in Thilanushinyel

Near Whately Academy

With Unbitwise

Comments

[witchwatcher]

"I want to go home and report in some time tomorrow. I'd like to rest before trying to return home, though. It's been a long day." And she took a bit of a beating in this morning's fight, which takes a toll on the body even if Angel's special healed it right back up. "We could see if the Gates work between worlds tomorrow. Where can I bunk down for tonight?"

[speak_softly]

"We're near enough to fly to Karahelanderialigor, where the dragons live, and there is room enough there for all the dragons and their Bonded," says Rosheverel. "But the dragons live very close to an elven city, so you might benefit from learning some simple points of elven etiquette before travelling there."

[witchwatcher]

"I only mind learning etiquette a little bit, and I suppose it's necessary. It makes sense that yours would be different than mine."

[speak_softly]

"First, among adult elves it is considered rude to ask direct questions. I've been among humans often enough that I am not troubled to think of you all as constantly speaking under War Manners, but most elves outside of immediate, acknowledged emergencies will be uncomfortable about it, and some still are even then. If you don't wish to work at learning how to make indirect requests according to established custom, you can phrase things as 'it would be good to know' whatever information you desire, and be thought acceptably courteous for a human."

[witchwatcher]

"That seems very strange to me. Wouldn't... I think I would find it difficult to teach and learn, or to talk of anything of import, under this rule. But I'll try."

[speak_softly]

She smiles slightly and nods.

"Second, elves consider it rude to directly address or acknowledge someone who has not indicated that they wish to interact. An elf meeting a stranger will say, 'I See you', and wait for the stranger to say it back, and if they do not, then the elf who spoke first will politely act as though the stranger is not present."

[witchwatcher]

She just nods, not wanting to find a polite way to 'ask' if there's anything else.

[speak_softly]

"That is as much as I think you will need to know in order to interact comfortably with any elves you may see at Karahelanderialigor, but if you are interested in learning more I wouldn't mind discussing the subject further."

[witchwatcher]

"Nah, I'm good. We, uh, I am ready to fly to Karahel-place whenever you are. It's still relatively early, though, so maybe not yet."

[speak_softly]

"I see no strong reason to wait," says Rosheverel.

[witchwatcher]

"Then we may as well go now. I'll want to clean my Steelwing when we arrive, preferably with tools designed to work metal."

She climbs aboard her flying thing. "I can fly fairly quickly with this, though perhaps not as quickly as a dragon."

[speak_softly]

"We'll see," says Saravasse. Rosheverel produces a sort of leather harness which she attaches to her dragon, and then she climbs on Saravasse's back and attaches herself to the harness and Saravasse takes off.

Dragons prove to be respectably fast.

[witchwatcher]

They're faster than Gren can comfortably keep up with, at least. She relaxes visibly and into the dragonbond as soon as they're in the air.

[speak_softly]

When the Steelwing's pace is established, Saravasse slows to match it.

They fly over variously forested land for a while. It's very pretty. There are some truly impressive trees around.

Then they approach a rockier area, including a steep hillside or gentle cliff (depending how you look at it) with a multitude of large caves. There are some other dragons there already. No visible cities nearby, but maybe elves build very unobtrusively.

Saravasse lands on the hill. Rosheverel dismounts and detaches the flying harness.

[witchwatcher]

She was nervous about having enough room to land, but thankfully anywhere big enough for a dragon to land is enough for her as well. She carries her heavy-looking metal contraption easily, following her two bondmates.

[speak_softly]

It turns out that Saravasse has a comfortably dragon-sized cave of her very own, with two smaller rooms adjoining it. Both are cozily furnished and fitted with doors.

"This is where I stay when I stay with the dragons," says Rosheverel, indicating one of the rooms. "That is where my last co-Bonded stayed," indicating the other. "I hope it is to your liking."

[witchwatcher]

"It's fine. Private, at least. I may wish for coffee, or at least tea, after I have cleaned my machine and disarmed my weapons... As I said earlier, I was expecting to be teleported into battle, not into a dragonbond. I hope nobody will be alarmed that I have weapons."

[speak_softly]

"I will see about finding you some tea," says Rosheverel.

"You have a dragon. No one will be alarmed about your weapons," says Saravasse.

[witchwatcher]

"Is it usual to... It would be, ah, useful context to know the expectations people here have for those in a dragonbond. I know I can trust you both, that's undeniable, but I'm finding this whole situation deeply strange. And thanks, Rosheverel."

[speak_softly]

"Whatever other weapons they might have, it's expected that a Dragonbond Mage of whatever variety could cause a great deal of destruction if they chose," says Saravasse. "One trusts that they will choose not to. And that co-Bonded will quietly keep an eye on each other to make sure no one is going to the Dark. If you carry your weapons openly and aggressively, then people might start to be alarmed, but just having them isn't all that surprising, and will be even less so once you explain about the Neuroi."

"While I am getting tea, I will explain the unusual circumstances surrounding my new co-Bonded to Ithoriosa," says Rosheverel.

"Who will go on to explain it to everyone else, yes, good thinking," says Saravasse.

Rosheverel smiles. "Then if there is nothing else for now, I will go do those things."

[witchwatcher]

"I suppose I could cause a lot of destruction now. I won't do that without excellent cause, of course. Thanks again, Rosheverel."

And she starts breaking down her gear, unplugging fuses, oiling the internal mechanisms of the Steelwing.

[speak_softly]

Off goes Rosheverel. Saravasse curls up near the back of her cave. No one comes up to bother her or her new Bondmate.

Rosheverel comes back maybe a quarter of an hour later, with a basket containing assorted teas and tea-related items.

"Ithoriosa has been informed. Soon I expect we will be hearing about which dragons would like to meet potential Witch Bondmates. In the meantime, here is your tea."

[witchwatcher]

"I admit I'm not sure who would make a good potential Bondmate. Those with useful skills and abilities and those with with personalities not liable to do things like going to the Dark are not always the same people."

[speak_softly]

"I recommend that you favour the latter," says Rosheverel. Saravasse snorts.

[witchwatcher]

"I've never been a very social person, so I don't think my judgment should be the only way to decide who to introduce to some dragons... I'm heavily invested in defeating the Neuroi, of course, but it seems like there's probably problems in this world that could benefit from a new sort of magic as well."

"...I'm better at talking like this than I thought I would be. The elven language supports elven manners."