Batbayar of the Crags

thecragman:

Scoffing gently, Batbayar crossed his arms as they came to the stream, surveying the area around them thoughtfully. “As long as you do not intend to pose a threat to my fiancée – to cause her harm…Then that is fine. We shall be friends.”

He offered Hanae a smile in turn, the warmth not quite meeting his eyes this time. “You are one of our own, and we do intend to bring you back to the fold, but I will not stand by if I think that you or your Lady will be of trouble to Jaliqai.” Especially given the threat that her own uncle posed.

Batbayar didn’t want there to be more than one snake in the fold. And besides…it would be a shame if he had to get rid of Hanae.

Hanae listened to Batbayar as he spoke, the stream trickling quietly in the background as he did so. The first of many warnings from those of Jaliqai’s tribe she presumed. Through the thinned sole of her slippers she felt a rock underfoot.

“ That is more than fair and I can assure you that neither of us have ill intentions. ” Hanae replied earnestly. “ Aika would never harm those she loves nor would I. ” To a fault, in Aika’s case.

The handmaiden had sworn to herself, however, that should being apart from the crag people prove as a overwhelmingly safer alternative she would do whatever it took to extricate herself and Aika. After breaking free from Manami they would never be made to suffer anything terribly unfavorable to themselves again.

Perhaps that was the truth -- but did Jaliqai qualify as someone that Hanae loved? More likely it would always be Aika who she sided with, whether it was to his fiancée’s detriment or not. Still, for the time being he would take her word for it.

Nodding, the hunter reached out to clap a hand against Hanae’s shoulder, though more gently than he might have done to Jaliqai. 

thecragman:

“Of course I do,” he chuckled, smirking just a little. “So that is what we will do…” 

Batbayar took a deep breath, settling into the idea. “I assume this is why you volunteered to come hunting with me?” Hanae was concerned for her Lady, if nothing else. That much was certain. 

It was only logical to suspect that she would make certain that he came to the conclusion that she wanted him to, so that Aika’s safety was assured. 

He wasn’t entirely imperceptive then.

“ In part ,” She confirmed, not averting her eyes for even a moment until she spoke again with a smile, “ but I do also know nothing about crafting and setting snares. ”

Neither did Aika, she imagined, unless Jaliqai had taught her during that year she had been away. How long that year had felt. It was hardly long enough to decide upon an engagement and had circumstances been different Hanae would have absolutely objected to it.

Scoffing gently, Batbayar crossed his arms as they came to the stream, surveying the area around them thoughtfully. “As long as you do not intend to pose a threat to my fiancée -- to cause her harm...Then that is fine. We shall be friends.”

He offered Hanae a smile in turn, the warmth not quite meeting his eyes this time. “You are one of our own, and we do intend to bring you back to the fold, but I will not stand by if I think that you or your Lady will be of trouble to Jaliqai.” Especially given the threat that her own uncle posed.

thecragman:

Pursing his lips, Batbayar nodded. Of course. She was right that it would spread them thin…And though the tribes could occasionally all be united, and though they all sat under the banner of one Elk Lord, they were not the Fire Nation…and they had not spent one hundred years at war with foreign nations the way that the Fire Nation had done.

It would not be a small skirmish at the border with the Fish Folk from Shipwright’s Cove. 

“Then we will have to convince Jaliqai that we should continue South,” he decided. “But…It will have to be as though she decided it for herself.”

That didn’t surprise Hanae. Jaliqai seemed to be the stubborn type.

“ I see. ” She narrowly avoided yet another muddy puddle. “ Do you have experience in that? ”

She hoped so. It would be easier if he had seeing as Batbayar had known her for so long. He would have that advantage.

“Of course I do,” he chuckled, smirking just a little. “So that is what we will do...” 

Batbayar took a deep breath, settling into the idea. “I assume this is why you volunteered to come hunting with me?” Hanae was concerned for her Lady, if nothing else. That much was certain. 

thecragman:

The more he learned, the more concerned that Batbayar grew. Jaliqai was hunting this woman who would surely be the end of her instead of the other way around, and had agreed to take yet another woman’s life in exchange for the luxury of marrying a girl who could barely bring herself to hold a proper conversation.

Vexing was the word he was looking for, surely.

What had happened in the time between when they had last seen one another that had put his fiancée on such a reckless path? Without Lord Jing at her side to temper her, perhaps Jaliqai was a danger to herself and their tribe. 

“I wish I knew more of the Fire Nation’s politics,” Batbayar almost growled. “It would make these things far easier – obviously you don’t agree with pursuing her, yes? Your concern is that it will cause a conflict between our peoples that we will lose…”

From what little she knew the people of the Northern Crags would absolutely lose against the Fire Nation. They were more industrialized, had more money and more likely than not had a larger army.

Hanae took a breath, making sure to softly phrase what followed. “I feel that we may have more than enough concerns as it is for the time being. Attempting to assassinate the Fire Lord’s sister would only spread us thinner.”

Pursing his lips, Batbayar nodded. Of course. She was right that it would spread them thin...And though the tribes could occasionally all be united, and though they all sat under the banner of one Elk Lord, they were not the Fire Nation...and they had not spent one hundred years at war with foreign nations the way that the Fire Nation had done.

It would not be a small skirmish at the border with the Fish Folk from Shipwright’s Cove. 

thecragman:

Batbayar made a sound of consideration in the back of his throat, the sound of rushing water drawing nearer with each of their careful steps through the bush. “She fought against him in the war, did she not?” 

Not that that really mattered, in some cases. It was just better to know all of the facts. He could make a more informed decision that way, after all.

Hanae frowned.

“ She did. ” She replied, keeping her voice as hushed as their steps through the tall wet grasses. “ Any other Fire Lord would have killed her. The fact that he has not speaks volumes. ”

It was more than just allowing her to live. She had recently made an appearance at a celebration, if the rumors were true. That was much more than simply not executing her.

The more he learned, the more concerned that Batbayar grew. Jaliqai was hunting this woman who would surely be the end of her instead of the other way around, and had agreed to take yet another woman’s life in exchange for the luxury of marrying a girl who could barely bring herself to hold a proper conversation.

Vexing was the word he was looking for, surely.

What had happened in the time between when they had last seen one another that had put his fiancée on such a reckless path? Without Lord Jing at her side to temper her, perhaps Jaliqai was a danger to herself and their tribe. 

thecragman:

“I thought the current Fire Lord had no children?” Was he not too young? And she was a princess? He had heard of only one princess, and as far as the news had traveled, she had been deposed. 

“ He doesn’t ,” She sighed. “ just his little sister, but I wouldn’t underestimate that attachment… Some people cling rather closely to their siblings .” As Hanae well knew from her time in the Cove.

How Aika would cope if Jaliqai were to harm Manami…. It was hard to imagine.

Batbayar made a sound of consideration in the back of his throat, the sound of rushing water drawing nearer with each of their careful steps through the bush. “She fought against him in the war, did she not?” 

thecragman:

“It’s difficult to say,” he admitted. “If he still believes his brother to be alive, then we are not in need of extreme haste.” But they did not know whether the news had already traveled back North. Naturally, Jaliqai had not sent word, no doubt. He had not either. But there were other ways that such things could make their way back to his people.

“But if he knows then we are being foolish taking so much time going South,” Batbayar observed. “I know that this is…important to Jaliqai. This woman that they are hunting…She killed Lord Jing…And he was my father too. I wish him avenged just as much as Jaliqai does.” 

It felt as though he had had little time to process the loss of his mentor. Batbayar wished that they could simply sit and mourn. It was past the time for that.

He pressed his mouth into a thin line. “It’s a difficult situation. Difficult to know what to do…Or how to proceed. If getting to this wedding ensures that we will be able to pass back to the Crags unmolested, however…then I suppose it is the best course of action to take. If this woman is as important as you have suggested then I think it is foolish to pursue her further. The man that Lord Jing and Jaliqai were working for is powerful himself, and he will take care of her if it is necessary.”

Batbayar paused for a moment, listening, silence falling between them before he started to proceed once more.

“I don’t agree with chasing after her shadow, but I cannot just tell Jaliqai we’re going home either. In the end, it’s her decision. I can only weigh in and hope for the best.”

What a relief it was that he was reasonable too.

“ I agree that assassinating the princess ,” former princess, “ of the Fire Nation is an unwise choice. The current Fire Lord favours her and it could lead to war. ”

Conversely the Fire Nation’s former princess killing one of their lords was not a wise decision either…- then again he was supporting Ozai who sought to take the throne from the present Fire Lord.

It was a precarious situation in general.

thecragman:

In its own way that was reassuring…Batbayar worried too, though, about what might happen if she wasn’t coy enough to play the games of politics…Much like Jaliqai could be. Too honest. Too straightforward. 

“It might be up to the two of us to navigate the landscape for them,” he murmured aloud. 

Batbayar stepped carefully over some foliage, footsteps near silent as he proceeded forward. 

“There’s a stream that runs through here,” he noted. “We’ll set a few more traps there and then circle back to camp. We don’t have enough light left today to do a proper hunt.”

So Batbayar considered himself politically or socially savvy, good to know. Something to feel relieved about and yet to keep an eye out for at the same time Hanae would know less about the current political climate in the crags than he would, much less.

Hanae nodded in agreement to both of his statements. She made careful steps behind him so as not to alert any nearby game of their presence.

Her voice was quiet, a whisper, “ How grave do you think the situation is with Lady Jaliqai’s uncle by now? ”

“It’s difficult to say,” he admitted. “If he still believes his brother to be alive, then we are not in need of extreme haste.” But they did not know whether the news had already traveled back North. Naturally, Jaliqai had not sent word, no doubt. He had not either. But there were other ways that such things could make their way back to his people.

“But if he knows then we are being foolish taking so much time going South,” Batbayar observed. “I know that this is...important to Jaliqai. This woman that they are hunting...She killed Lord Jing...And he was my father too. I wish him avenged just as much as Jaliqai does.” 

It felt as though he had had little time to process the loss of his mentor. Batbayar wished that they could simply sit and mourn. It was past the time for that.

He pressed his mouth into a thin line. “It’s a difficult situation. Difficult to know what to do...Or how to proceed. If getting to this wedding ensures that we will be able to pass back to the Crags unmolested, however...then I suppose it is the best course of action to take. If this woman is as important as you have suggested then I think it is foolish to pursue her further. The man that Lord Jing and Jaliqai were working for is powerful himself, and he will take care of her if it is necessary.”

Batbayar paused for a moment, listening, silence falling between them before he started to proceed once more.

thecragman:

He wondered if ‘friendly’ meant more quick, through the teeth, rambling on about one thing or another. He wasn’t certain how Jaliqai could stand that for long periods of time if that was truly what it meant.

“I know that she is trying…” Batbayar ventured. “But I don’t know how well she and I will get along.” He gave a sigh.

“But I do want to get along,” he clarified, “I do not…want it to be like it is with my father’s wives. Always competing with one another and attempting sabotage. It was never nice being around them, not like it is with Jing’s wives.”

She took a slow breath. The fact that Aika and Batbayar had the same concern was encouraging to some degree. That particular scenario was one that neither of them wanted, but few people truly wanted conflict. Many people wanted to have their way above all, however, so if Aika and Batbayar could not get along there was still the risk of significant conflict.

“ It won’t be like that. ” Hanae assured. Aika was not one for unnecessary social conflict, or social anything with a few exceptions. “ I’ve known Aika for over a decade and she is not one for starting any nature of social intrigue. . ”

Hanae on the other hand, often did whatever was needed in that particular arena.

In its own way that was reassuring...Batbayar worried too, though, about what might happen if she wasn’t coy enough to play the games of politics...Much like Jaliqai could be. Too honest. Too straightforward. 

“It might be up to the two of us to navigate the landscape for them,” he murmured aloud. 

Batbayar stepped carefully over some foliage, footsteps near silent as he proceeded forward. 

thecragman: 

Batbayar nodded. “You seem close now,” he observed. “She always goes straight to you when she feels…uncomfortable.”

It was something that Batbayar had noted early on. No matter how Jaliqai and Aika claimed to love one another, when it came down to it, Aika was not comfortable with Jaliqai. At least not entirely.

“Over a decade worth of time spent together daily.” She supplied with a small smile. “I have been in her service since she was small.” They both had been small, much too small to be handling the situations they did. If Lord Matsuo had not been so distracted by the war, Aika’s mother not so consumed by her novels and fluffy dogs perhaps Manami would not have had the opportunity to take as much fear and influence as she did over time.  It hadn’t all happened in the matter of one night afterall. Hers had been a slow, cautious process of pushing boundaries and pressing buttons every so slightly more than she had the day previous.  “You’ll see that with time she becomes quite friendly with most.” The handmaiden lied, dismissing any unwanted thought that might take hold. Not that it even mattered though, Manami had already told Jaliqai what Hanae had long suspected. It likely had not and would not be brought up in conversation between the two cragpeople for some time yet, she assumed.

He wondered if ‘friendly’ meant more quick, through the teeth, rambling on about one thing or another. He wasn’t certain how Jaliqai could stand that for long periods of time if that was truly what it meant.

“I know that she is trying...” Batbayar ventured. “But I don’t know how well she and I will get along.” He gave a sigh.

thecragman:

“That’s true,” his gaze softened a little, thinking about Jaliqai, and how he had felt for her when they had first met. 

“I was exasperated by Jaliqai when we were first engaged. She wasn’t like a girl is supposed to be. She was strong and tough, uncompromising. We fought all the time…But we learned and grew together too.” In every aspect but one, perhaps.

“Was it like that for you and Aika?”

So Jaliqai hadn’t originally even been his type really. That was interesting to know.

“In a way,“ she admitted, ” the first month or so she wouldn’t even speak to me.”

Barely even looked directly at her. Growls, scratches and then quickly running off. Frankly back then, based purely on what she had witnessed, she would not have thought that Aika would grow into as high-functioning of an adult as she wound up being.

“That changed over time, of course.” Hanae did not elaborate further. It would do little good to explain how close they had become and how they were both in their own way actively complicit in Manami’s crimes.

Batbayar nodded. “You seem close now,” he observed. “She always goes straight to you when she feels...uncomfortable.”

thecragman:

Batbayar smiled gently. “It’s the same for me,” he divulged, “the last time I saw one of the brothers I recognise was at his engagement. He didn’t know who I was.” Surely Hanae’s sister had known though, if they were only a few years apart from one another.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? To have one family that you grew up with for so many years and then…another family all together as well.”

Hanae nodded as Batbayar made the connection. True, she had not been sent to be a future spouse to Aika, but she had obviously been sent as a companion other than Manami in addition to being a servant. In all honesty though she was hardly delegated the tasks of an ordinary lady’s maid and the situation she had navigated through on a daily basis was far more dangerous.

“It is ,” She agreed quietly, looking up at Batbayar. “ and we didn’t really choose either of them, but we care for them just the same .”

She cared for Aika at least. Manami was a different matter entirely, though on selective occasions she was what was best for Aika. Terribly rare occasions.

“That’s true,” his gaze softened a little, thinking about Jaliqai, and how he had felt for her when they had first met. 

“I was exasperated by Jaliqai when we were first engaged. She wasn’t like a girl is supposed to be. She was strong and tough, uncompromising. We fought all the time...But we learned and grew together too.” In every aspect but one, perhaps.

thecragman:

“You have a sister?” His expression brightened with interest. “How much younger is she than you?” 

Batbayar could relate. He hadn’t seen any of his own family in decades. He barely remembered any of his younger siblings, and he was certain that there were more whom he had never become acquainted with. 

“You must miss her.”

Hanae smiled, her answer smooth and not entirely honest. “A couple of years.”

Seven years. Relations between her mother and her mother’s husband had been tense after the discovery of her pregnancy, but she did not want to discuss that. It really wasn’t anyone’s business but her family’s- unless she felt it would improve her situation and Aika’s.

“I do miss her.” An honest answer this time. “The last time I had seen her was at her engagement party.” Hanae had only arrived because the lords and ladies of the cove had been invited. She was brought along by Aika, who by then felt closer to her than the woman wrapped in indigo silks who did not seem to recognize who she was at all.

Understandably as they had not seen one another in a decade.

Batbayar smiled gently. “It’s the same for me,” he divulged, “the last time I saw one of the brothers I recognise was at his engagement. He didn’t know who I was.” Surely Hanae’s sister had known though, if they were only a few years apart from one another.

thecragman:

A chuckle. “I take it you were not close at all, then.” 

It was a pity…But Batbayar supposed that there were many who were not close to those who raised them. He had been but fortunate that his father figure had been kind and supportive. 

He glanced down at the woman by his side, eyes lingering perhaps a little too long at the place where her throat disappeared beneath the tight collar of her robes. Sniffing quietly he turned his gaze away and up toward the sky. It smelled like rain again. 

Hanae did not pay any attention or mind to where his gaze had momentarily lingered. It had only been a few moments.

“ Not particularly, no. ” She began carefully, “ I was sent to be in Lady Aika’s service when I was twelve years old however. I have not seen him in over a decade. “

There hadn’t been much reason to, or time.

“ I was close to my little sister, but again after coming into the service of Lady Aika ” and to an unofficial capacity, Lady Manami, “ there really wasn’t much opportunity to see her .

“You have a sister?” His expression brightened with interest. “How much younger is she than you?” 

Batbayar could relate. He hadn’t seen any of his own family in decades. He barely remembered any of his younger siblings, and he was certain that there were more whom he had never become acquainted with. 

thecragman:

“We can leave them overnight if necessary,” he assured her. “Snares are designed to be left; they’re like…little hunters that you spread out through the woods while you hunt bigger game that takes longer to catch.” Indeed, most of their meat came from snares where hunting was concerned.

Batbayar picked up a good sized stick, waving Hanae away slightly from the trap so that he could demonstrate just what it might do. He let the stick catch in the rope and the trigger snapped. The noose bit into the stick partially, pieces of it spraying up with the violence of the motion.

“Once caught they are not likely to go anywhere unless a predator comes along before we do.” Always a very real danger as well, of course. 

Batbayar removed the stick, casting it aside before carefully going about resetting the snare. He stood away from the trap, dusting off his trousers before turning his attention fully to the handmaiden once more.

“You said that your father was of our people, and your mother a dignitary,” he ventured. “What is your mother’s husband like?”

“He was a tax official.” Hanae said, willing any negative emotion from her voice as she turned her head from where the snare was set. “He was good with numbers and value assessment.”

She had little sentiment regarding him really, a dull resentment that he too treated her with little sentiment as well. She was a girl living under her his roof ; a stranger, a guest that was neither welcome or unwelcome.

“He was level headed. Not given to unpredictable temperments.”

A chuckle. “I take it you were not close at all, then.” 

It was a pity...But Batbayar supposed that there were many who were not close to those who raised them. He had been but fortunate that his father figure had been kind and supportive. 

thecragman:

“Well…” he considered the question. “Animals are not stupid. We must place it so that it looks essentially natural,” Batbayar explained, “however it must also be strongly rooted in the ground, or the snare will not be effective.”

As illustration, Batbayar took out his hunting knife, quickly whittling off the end of the stick into a spike before driving it hard into the ground. The y-shaped end faced the ground now, waiting for a smaller stick to be placed along with the twine in Batbayar’s pocket.

“You need a spring pole too, and one that will act as the trigger. One also for toggling which will make the trap work.” He assembled a variety of sticks as he spoke, putting them all out in a line for Hanae to see. 

After a pause he gathered them back together and started to put together the trap. “You must wrap the snare line like so….” he demonstrated the wrapping motion, securing the trap in place and moving away just slightly to allow Hanae access to the finished product. “And you’re finished. Just don’t let the line get stuck under the fork, or the trap won’t work.” 

Batbayar stood with a grunt, stretching out his back a moment. “Of course, the best way to know where to set the trap is by observation. I saw that there was a trail through here, so I chose this location because chances are there are many species of small game that come through here.”

Hanae observed each step carefully, distracted only briefly by his arms. Luckily there would no hand to hand duel between him and Aika… at least she did not imagine so. She was quick though, so as long as she kept out of his grasp Hanae believed Aika would manage in a hypothetical situation such as that. Or at least she guessed, Hanae knew little of combat personally.

“How quickly would we need to get to a trapped animal before it sprang out, do you think?” It was a rather unspecific question now that she thought of it. Surely a clawed or fanged animal would have an easier time escaping than one that was not.

Her stance shifted somewhat while a small rodent scurried through the brush past her foot.

“We can leave them overnight if necessary,” he assured her. “Snares are designed to be left; they’re like...little hunters that you spread out through the woods while you hunt bigger game that takes longer to catch.” Indeed, most of their meat came from snares where hunting was concerned.

Batbayar picked up a good sized stick, waving Hanae away slightly from the trap so that he could demonstrate just what it might do. He let the stick catch in the rope and the trigger snapped. The noose bit into the stick partially, pieces of it spraying up with the violence of the motion.

“Once caught they are not likely to go anywhere unless a predator comes along before we do.” Always a very real danger as well, of course. 

Batbayar removed the stick, casting it aside before carefully going about resetting the snare. He stood away from the trap, dusting off his trousers before turning his attention fully to the handmaiden once more.

thecragman:

“Perhaps…” he agreed reluctantly. He would have to, eventually. He would. 

Turning from the topic of his dream to the task at hand, Batbayar held up the thick, forked, stick that he had successfully foraged from the forest floor. “This will be your anchor. We’re going to create a motion-activated snare. No bait needed. Animal passes through and snap, it will catch them by the foot,” he explained.

Hanae moved closer to examine the stick. It was her preference to listen and watch closely the first time a lesson was taught instead of needing it repeated to her in the future more than absolutely necessary. Not that she would necessarily mind being taught more than once by Batbayar. She did not mind his company and at present Aika was failing at making a more comfortable connection with him, not that she hadn’t anticipated this.

Aika wouldn’t speak a word to her when they had first met as children. Wouldn’t even look her in the eye.

“How do you know where to place it?” She asked quietly, uncertain of how loud she should be speaking while hunting in such a way.

“Well...” he considered the question. “Animals are not stupid. We must place it so that it looks essentially natural,” Batbayar explained, “however it must also be strongly rooted in the ground, or the snare will not be effective.”

As illustration, Batbayar took out his hunting knife, quickly whittling off the end of the stick into a spike before driving it hard into the ground. The y-shaped end faced the ground now, waiting for a smaller stick to be placed along with the twine in Batbayar’s pocket.

“You need a spring pole too, and one that will act as the trigger. One also for toggling which will make the trap work.” He assembled a variety of sticks as he spoke, putting them all out in a line for Hanae to see. 

After a pause he gathered them back together and started to put together the trap. “You must wrap the snare line like so....” he demonstrated the wrapping motion, securing the trap in place and moving away just slightly to allow Hanae access to the finished product. “And you’re finished. Just don’t let the line get stuck under the fork, or the trap won’t work.”