Limits
----
Talos, Casiama, and Sigismund had been on the march for three days now, trudging along the southern shorline of the Villjord peninsula in northwest Isbrygga.
The region was harsh, desolate. Sterile. It reminded a man of the Badlands north of Solais, but of course colder. The snow pack made it quieter as well, so quiet that one could only hear the snow crunching beneath the footsteps of man and the waves crashing against the rocks below.
Jagged peaks rose to his right for most of the journey, blockading the peninsular inland from a wanderer's feet. The sea toiled endlessly to his left below a never-ending cliff face. An intermittent sprinkling of pine trees were the only features which broke up the isolated view, and the occasional deer or rabbit would offer sustinence.
There were no roads here, as the locals preferred to travel by sea. Yet the trio had still made good time in the past three days due to Casiama's forward scouting, as well as a pinch of support from favorable weather.
Until today. The wind howled, and snow fell on the party once more. The light was already setting behind the tall, sharp peaks before them, and Talos had asked Casiama to locate proper shelter for the night.
The trio luckily came across a small, unused cave in the side of a mountain as dusk neared, and decided to make camp there lest they find nothing better further ahead.
Casiama was just summoning the camp, willing her tents, sleeping rolls, and lanterns into their appropriate positions. Sigismund worked on the fire, a far easier task than had been anticipated on account of the large amounts of driftwood about. Talos relieved himself by the entrance of the cave, staring out over the icy sea as he wrote his name in the snow.
The fire finally roared to life, and Sigismund quickly added further kindling. When he was satisfied it would not burn out, the driftwood was added.
"Cass, I've been meaning to ask you. Why don't we just, uh, go to your... plane to sleep, instead of hoping to run across a cavern each night?" Sigismund asked.
Casiama spun on her heel, having just completed summoning her and Talos' bedroll. "Oh. I guess you wouldn't know, but teleporting people to my realm takes a lot of energy. It's tiring. I really only have the strength for it but once a week, and it's difficult even then," she explained calmly to the nodding, scarred man by the fire.
Casiama brought a hand to her mouth and giggled, realizing his ask had been the first sign he'd made of being uncomfortable in the Isbryggan wilderness.
"Ah. Just thought I'd ask," he replied hastily, returning his gaze to the fire.
"Anytime Sigi... we're good enough friends now, you know. You don't need to be shy around me," Casiama reassured. She heard Talos' footsteps on the stone behind her, and immediately realized the reason for his bashfulness.
"Say, Sigi," Talos said with a smirk, "remember years ago, when we were camped in Imperia with the Moons during that one winter? And I vowed to avoid the snow from that day forward?"
Sigismund nodded, smiling. "Yeah. That winter was... gods, I still haven't seen snowfall that bad in all my years." His eyes shifted to Casiama, who had almost tuned out of conversation as she rummaged through her pack. She smiled to display her attentiveness. "The snow must have been piled up to the first story windows of every building. The Emperor had to gather two dozen fire sorceresses just to clean up the streets."
"That's awful," Casiama pouted.
"though the worst part was sharing a room with Talos for a week. He used to snore terribly back then," he continued, the elf giggling sweetly. "and the whores, dear gods."
"Oh? Whores you say?" Casiama asked, eyes flickering slyly towards Talos.
Talos was seated, unlacing his boots for the night. "Sigi, don't get me in trouble now," he smirked.
"No, tell me Sigi," the elf asked with a squint. Casiama wouldn't be mad, of course, but she certainly enjoyed pretending that she would be. Sigismund did not know this, and deflected.
"Eh, forget I mentioned it. We were all hounds back then, Cass. And none were as fine as you anyway."
"Aw!" Casiama exclaimed with perked ears. Talos rolled his eyes, finally finished with his boots. The elf nudged him playfully with her foot, blushing. "Sigi called me fine."
"You already knew that, honey," Talos smirked. Casiama bent down with locked knees to place a wet kiss on his lips before rising once more.
"You know Sigi, there's plenty of room in our tent, if you want," the elf offered sweetly, having not summoned Sigismund's tent as of yet. He shook his head.
"And listen to you two whisper sweet nothings all night? Not a chance." Talos and Casiama chuckled, glancing at each other deviously. They knew he was right.
Casiama pointed opposite the fire, summoning Sigismund's tent for him with a flick of her wrist. Sigismund didn't look up from the flames, having grown accustomed to the deed.
"It's nice, though, you know? To see you two happy. I'd known Talos as a pitiful young exile from Evora for so many years, yet to see all that change in Rinoc when-" Sigismund paused abruptly, realizing what he was about to say.
When he saw Talos with Alanna.
He wasn't quite sure if he should mention it.
Talos cleared his throat a moment later, finishing the thought for him. "Yeah. The world's been pretty kind to me this year."
Another minute of silence. Casiama banished most of her armor, then pulled a thick white fur cloak from her ethereal storage and sat beside Talos, leaning against his shoulder softly. Sigismund spoke next.
"Cass, do you mind if I ask you something else? Something personal?" She nodded with a warm smile, her eyes fixed to his. "Vex... erm, told me that you had agreed to a... strange living arrangement. With Alanna."
Casiama blushed, but her gaze didn't waver. "She speaks true," she answered, draping her fur cloak over Talos' shoulders beside her. Her head fell atop his shoulder. "Alanna and I will love Talos equally. Is it really strange to you?"
Sigismund coughed. "Well, uh..."
"Yeah, Cass. It's pretty strange," Talos said with a smirk. She nudged his shoulder with hers.
"How so? Do human women not share?" Casiama asked innocently.
"I can't speak for all of humanity," Sigismund replied, shifting nervously on the floor, "but in the Empire, at least, it's unheard of."
"Could be considered strange, even," Talos added sarcastically with a raised finger. Casiama elbowed him under the furs.
"Don't complain!" she teased him. "I thought you would be the strongest proponent, honey." Casiama paused, drinking in her man's smile. She continued after a moment, explaining the situation further for Sigismund. "It's a... somewhat uncommon arrangement in Tor Valliya. An ancient custom, but one that has been dying out recently. My father still follows it, of course, like all kings. He has
seven
wives."
