Svarik and the company I :)

[VisAnastasis]

" If you say so, kind guest. But please, do eat, and bid for second portion, if you'd like. " Cernunnos whispered, not believing Svarik as much, but not wishing to go into argument of such a thing. He was a little withdrawn with it, and the air around them grew a touch colder, but he still wished to put that discontent behind, and he managed to smile gently at him. " By the way, I desire to thank thee for your song. I, alas, have no gift of healing or weaving music, and neither does my little Emil, so it's always a pleasure for me to hear songs... It's usually awful quiet around here.  "

[Mirach]

"It's my pleasure. I'm glad to bring a song into quiet," Svarik smiled. "Will you allow me to play for you for the last hour before we'll have to leave?"

[VisAnastasis]

" It depends.. " demon said slowly, thinking it through. " When are you planning to leave? " he bid then quietly. " If you are to leave today, alas, I'll risk sounding like a bad host, but I'd rather if you left sooner than later - sooner you leave these forests, the better, even by flight... Whatever you do, you must not choose to fall asleep there at night... " he bid them, as he was, like Emil predicted, worried for their safety, and rather than his own pleasure, he was more worried about making sure they have the best odds of escaping the treachery of the forest.

[Mirach]

"Oh, no," Svarik smiled. "We are staying at the other fortress for the night. We already agreed on that with Emil, we will leave tomorrow in the morning."

[VisAnastasis]

"Really? " demon's aura brightened up a bit. " In that case, I will be very obliged to you if you'd play for me again - though maybe rather than in last hour, it may be better if you would be so kind as to do it while i make dinner, so we would lose no time we could be spending teaching little Xia words. " he said, and then, he added shyly. " I do not want to impose myself... But I would be grateful if you would do me one kindness. In the morning, before you leave, please do come again for a moment. I will miss seeing your faces, so I desire to bid you goodbye before you leave us and wish you good luck on your journey. I will be ill in early morning, but if you'd give me a chance and an hour or two, I could prepare you a meal for the go, so you may have something warm to eat tomorrow for lunch. Would you please allow me the honor, if you're not in the rush, kind guests? "

[Mirach]

"I will play for you while making the dinner, but I would like to do so also before leaving, maybe just half an hour then, but one when you can focus just on the music. And we will come tomorrow before leaving too. We will have breakfast with Emil while you recover, and you can make us some lunch, is that alright? Today, I was hoping that you could also offer some guidance to Erdel about his new nature and abilities as well. Being a human before, it does not come as naturally to him as to the others of your kin..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I can not do half of what I once could - but I can still give the proper advise. There is much you all can learn still of our kin. Lot is in the book I borrowed you, but lot is just what comes naturally. I will be pleased to help out understand your instincts and powers as much as I can, little one. " he turned to Erdel, speaking to him kindly. " I just am not sure where we can fit such lesson... We were supposed to continue teaching Xia. But if you come in the morning, while I prepare the lunch for your companions? If we are to speak of such things today, only a little basics getting covered, I fear, it would probably take us at least an hour or two from our precious teaching time... "

[Mirach]

"It will be harder, but I can teach Xia without a translator too," Svarik said. "But I have no way to help Erdel. Maybe it would be better to take that hour or two now, there is still time until sunset. We can just have something quick for dinner if we don't have time, or eat with Emil." He smiled with some embarrassment. "You must be getting an impression I'm avoiding your cooking from this. I'm sorry, it's really not so. The help you can offer Xia and Erdel is just more important to me... and Erdel can confirm to you that I really am not used to eat much still, despite the efforts of my friends..."

[VisAnastasis]

Indeed, it did seem much like Svarik was avoiding his meals, and Cernunnos grimaced sadly for a moment, as it stung a little to feel his cooking is underappreciated and unskilled, it being something he enjoyed doing for his guests, and one of few his abilities not affected and worsened by his illness. He managed to smile a little, though, to try to reassure his guests it's alright.

" It is not polite to force guests to do what they do not like... I won't force you to eat, kind little one. " he whispered gently. " If not today... I am going to skin meat and prepare you twice the portion in the morning, for the journey, so it may last you bit longer, then? You just must tell me which meat do you like, so I can make you a best treat... If my help pleases you more, than I will do all I can to help your friends, kind little one. Would it be alright if we used half an hour first to teach Xia a little more? " he bid then both. " Little Erdel has been outside for quite a long time. I'd prefer if he'd rest for a little bit more, and drink all his tea, before we focus on figuring out his powers.. "

[Mirach]

"Yes, we can do it that way," Svarik nodded. "And maybe tomorrow we could stay for the lunch to make up for it. There should still be enough time to get to the sea and spend a day or two by it, shouldn't it?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I wouldn't want to delay you so much... I can see you have little time of your journey, and you've already gifted me with two wonderful days... " critter whispered, despite it was obviously a great temptation to bid them. " Earlier you go tomorrow, more at peace I'll be about your safety. At worst case, a very early lunch would be alright - perhaps around 9 in the morning or so... But for your safety, I bid you, you should leave with plenty of time ahead of you to seize the day. I used to have a power to levitate myself as a form of flight, and from what I can recall, if you leave by the 10 in morning latest, you should reach the sea and still have some time to enjoy its charm before sun comes down, and find shelter in some good family, kind guests. That is how I would advise thee. "

[Mirach]

"Let's see..." Svarik murmured, counting on fingers. "We have seven days, and today is the second. If we can get from here to the sea in less than a day, then we don't have to rush so much. We can stay until noon here, then stop by some nice places on the way and make a camp for night to continue to the sea at the fourth day. That would leave us with two full days at the sea, and if we leave early on the seventh day, we can still stop here for an hour or two on the way back..." He looked at Erdel to see if he approves.

[VisAnastasis]

" Ser Falcon told me to, um...Bring up one particular subject to you, when I can. He said I should do so cunningly, but I fear, I am not much skilled or into all that.. " vampire blushed a little, huddling closer in his blanket, covering himself with it shyly. " Falcon bid me to convince you sometime during journey, to extend trip from 7, to 10 days. Interesting things come up, and he had marked enough interesting places to entertain your curiosity to endless possibility, he said. He is preparing to look after things as if you would be taking longer time, he said... So, will you, my king? " he bid with a trace of hope in his voice. " I can speak in my own and in name of ser Falcon that I hoped you may take a good brake on this trip, sire...And rushing everything makes for a bad brake, if I may say. Those three additional days can make a great difference. I wouldn't want to feel, that for the sake of my and Xia's interest, sir, you used up all the precious time working on our understanding and abilities... I'd too, like ser Falcon, feel much happier if you'd take a bit longer, to deal with everything.. " he smiled compassionately, knowing how much baggage king has to take brake from. " I am just a very poor at convincing, alas... If you permit me to suggest, I support your plan, and look forward to stooping by here on the way back, I would just add three more days for our travel in between, if you agree... "

[Mirach]

Svarik bit his lip, considering it. "I wanted to take ten days... but just seven for the journey, and three before taking up the duties to be with Falcon and Lipka and Irden... I don't like being away for so long, especially with Falcon dealing with all his own worries. Right now we are just a day behind, so maybe we should just take that one day more, making it eight. If something delays us further, it's good to know we still have two more days in reserve."

[VisAnastasis]

" If you wish so, your wish is my command, sire. " Erdel whispered, and then he smiled. " Falcon will just be rather disappointed if you do not take more time, that's all I am saying... " he shrugged innocently, sipping the soothing tea.

[Mirach]

"I guess he might be..." Svarik smiled a little. "Well, we shall see then. If we have some time left, we can still spend a day or two here before returning..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Nothing would please me more than having you come for a little while again, kind guests. " Cernunnos tied in to their conversation shyly. " But I'd dare to ask, to give you an adivse - to take one day at a time. Do not plan too long in advance. And for right now, to seize the day, we yet have half an hour with Xia beforehand... Every moment is precious. If there is something you need translated or see as priority in learning, the best time for it is now... "

[Mirach]

"I agree, one day at a time," Svarik nodded. "With having more of them it's possible. And I don't have anything particular in mind right now, but let's ask Xia what she would like to learn..."

[VisAnastasis]

When they asked her, Xia grinned, and clapped her paws.
"Books, books books" she sighed, and made a familiar square, grinning at Svarik adorably, like ever, tolerating all their methods of teaching, but just being in love with books.

[Mirach]

"Oh, right, I almost forgot to give you those I brought for you..." Svarik said, and leaned to find the two books in the bag. "She just loves books... Would it be too much maybe, if we started to teach her the letters? That way she could read them herself, and learn new words on her own when I'm asleep, so that she's not bored in that time..."

[VisAnastasis]

"To be honest, I probably know not the modern writing as well. I judge it probably changed over time, and would be pleased if you gave me a brief lesson along with little Xia, so I could read the books you borrow me, not just look at pictures... " Cernunnos noted gently, but from serene and soft, king could feel his interest suddenly growing once king took out the books, and creature raised its eyebrows suddenly, as if they peaked its curiosity. " Why... What is this marvelous book? How do you make pages so compact, and elegant? It does not bear scent of animal skin... Is it really a parchment? With some special treatment done? Or is it something new? " he took one of the books and inquired it with fascination, passing over pages with his long nails with delight, bringing it close to his face, observing reflection of ink upon the candle light, smelling the peculiar scent. With it, another peculiarity of the demon's character was brought to light - his soul inclined to inventing and creating new things, and an undying curiosity and marvel at every new invention of the new world, and excitement to figure out how it works and where it came from, and for him, it was obvious - isolated in his little world, it was the invention of the new kind for him, as he had never seen a paper book before.

[Mirach]

Svarik smiled, glad to be able to show to Cernunnos something in exchange. "It's paper. It's made from wood, by cooking it with some chemicals to remove the hard part, bleaching and pressing it. And I'll gladly teach you the letters together with Xia. Just explain her first what letters are, please"

[VisAnastasis]

" I would love that. Yes, please, let us do it! These signs are so wavy and beautiful, I'd love to understand them!" Forest God exclaimed heartily, with childlike wonder, and he eagerly got to learning something new and expanding his knowledge.

[Mirach]

"It's quite easy to read once you understand the system," Svarik started explaining, and after each bit he waited until Cernunnos translated it to Xia. He explained the general principles first, and then just went through the letters and which sounds they represent. 

[VisAnastasis]

Demons were very sensitive to melodies, having their own language founded on whistling and melody nuances, and Svarik's lessons came very easy to them, and both enjoyed them very much, and it was adorable watching two demons, one young and one old, trying to figure out something together.
" It's so beautiful, sensitive writing, kind little prince. " Cernunnos exclaimed heartily once all rules were explained to them and they started to get the hang of it. " Almost as beautiful as if demon put it together. I just love how it reflects the words.. It's like poetry.. " he said, and he slowly, with bit of hardship, started to read the story, little clumsily, but with obvious delight.