[Darkness]

At the bottom of the inscription canyon, two figures stood. At least, one stood, while the other sat lazily on a rocky outcropping that poked up from the canyon's floor. It was still a few hours from dusk, but the deepness of the canyon made it so that shadows covered the bottom for almost the entire day. It was not so dark as it would be when night fell, but the darkness was enough that to completely perceive the strange writings that covered the entirety of the cliff's walls, additional light was necessary. And so, by the foot of the figure who still stood, a small oil lantern sat.

"How much longer do you think this will take?" asked the sitting figure, a woman with long, flowing black hair. She wore a fine blue dress, with black along the hems. The skirt was divided down the middle for riding, and a measure of dust covered much of it. Clearly the effort of getting to the bottom of the canyon had not been entirely... immaculate.

"We've only been down here a few hours, Ahvraeninn," said the other figure tiredly. He had dark brown hair, and wore a long, dark cloak. "I need time to copy some of these writings down. It's amazing... I never thought I'd see the like of it. This canyon! In the space of a day, they say, it was torn in the desert, these glyphs already spanning the length of it..."

"Yes, yes. That's all very good." It was clear that Ahvraeninn had heard something similar many times already. "But it took us hours to get down here in the first place. If we left now, we still wouldn't make it before night fell. Do you plan to camp the night down here? Vaerek?"

It was clear that Vaerek was no longer listening, engrossed in copying the writings down to a small book he had procured from one of his pouches as he was.

"Vaerek!" Ahvraeninn shouted.

"Hmm? Oh, what? Sorry. Did you say something?"

Ahvraeninn sighed, clearly exasperated. "Do you even know what any of it says?"

"What? The writings? No, of course not! I've never seen anything like it before in my life! But it's all so amazing!" Vaerek immediately went back to copying down the glyphs. It seemed clear to Ahvraeninn that she wouldn't be able to get his attention, even, for quite some time. When he got excited about learning something, or the opportunity to learn, she had learned that it was often better to simply let him learn it. It looked like they would have to camp out on the canyon's floor that night after all...

[MA-53]

It was late in the afternoon when Ageurn saw the pair at the bottom of the canyon. He wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand as he considered them. It was nearly as odd for him to be there as it was the two of them, and both situations together were just damned unlikely. Once again his curiosity got the best of him. He decided it warranted some investigation.

Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back. He couldn't help but smile at the thought.

He took a sparing sip from his water skin and started heading down the face of the canyon.

His years of journeying hadn't left him unconditioned. He barely made a sound climbing down the rocks. If it hadn't been for the dust and sand he wouldn't have been noticeable in the relative dark of the canyon. The various cacti and lichen made the descent easier, providing convenient ledgess and handholds when the natural road failed. In total it only took him 20 minutes to get to the bottom.

[Darkness]

The pair at the bottom were silent, save for the scribbling of Vaerek's pen across the tome and the small burning sound of the lantern, along with the occasional shifting of cloth as someone moved. As it was, it would've been enough to drown out whatever minimally quiet sounds came from Ageurn's direction. Of course, Vaerek was so engrossed in his work that he wouldn't have heard if Ageurn had fallen down the cliffside, bringing half the canyon with him.

Ahvraeninn, however, likely would have heard such. But it was very unlikely she could hear the minuscule noises he was making. To make it even more difficult, upon her rock, she sat facing away from where Ageurn climbed down. She looked nowhere but constantly at Vaerek, and seemed most of the time to be barely in this world at all, perhaps instead somewhere within the hidden recesses of her mind.

Nevertheless, as Ageurn seemed about halfway through his descent, she seemed suddenly to shift back into this reality, he eyes focusing upon the back of Vaerek's head.

"Vaerek. Someone comes. They descend the path behind us."

Her voice was quiet, and uncarrying. She had not moved, so to Ageurn, even if he payed close attention, it would not likely seem as if anything had happened. But Vaerek tensed for a moment, stopping in his work, before continuing.

Ahvraeninn, meanwhile, opened herself to her magic, letting it fill her. Her senses were sharpened with it inside her, and she was prepared to take defensive actions on a moment's notice if it became necessary to do so. She could not tell, but she thought it was likely that Vaerek had taken similar measures. Best to be on one's guard, since in the failing light near to anything could be coming down to talk or attack.

[MA-53]

Ageurn crouched on the ground at the cliff wall, trying to decide how to approach this odd pair.

Introductions like this are always awkward. he thought to himself. He couldn't quite figure why they were there. Clearly the glyphs on the cliff walls interested them. He saw one of the figures writing in a book as it examined the markings.

Scholars aren't the types of people I expect to find this deep in the desert. He eased his longsword out of its scabbard just an inch. Still, their story couldn't be any stranger than mine.

He decided to go with the direct approach.

"Good evening!"

[Darkness]

The pair sat in silence for the remaining seconds, both intent on their surroundings -- though both were doing exactly what they had been doing before. Vaerek busily scribbling in his book, and Ahvraeninn staring at him disconnectedly.

At the greeting, Ahvraeninn's coolly composed face turned to stare at Ageurn. Vaerek also looked up from his notes, his face a bit more shocked than Ahvraeninn's, as if he had not expected anyone to be here other than them. And neither Ahvraeninn nor Vaerek would have expected to find anyone else. Since Maldenar's destruction, few people entered the desert -- except for soldiers of Aderon and Forlon. And since the stalemate that had been produced by the ravine, even they had left. Most sought routes that went around the desert.

After several moments of silence, Vaerek spoke. A glance at Ahvraeninn showed that she seemed content to simply stare at Ageurn, as if evaluating his every action. Vaerek, too, took a moment to evaluate him.

"Good evening, warrior."

Another moment of silence.

"I am Taerindain, and this is Isadora."

[MA-53]

"Good to meet you, Taerindain, Isadora. I am Ageurn. I know you must be thinking the same thing about me, but I have to ask. What brings you to the middle of the desert?"

[Darkness]

Vaerek opened his mouth to speak, but Ahvraeninn spoke first. Her face was calmly composed, and she gestured to the cliff walls. "We are studying the runes. They are an amazing thing. Of a language known by no man on Earthia, and they were already present on the cliff walls when the ravine opened."

Vaerek glanced at Ahvraeninn before speaking, as if making sure she would not cut him off again. "Why are you here, Ageurn?"

[MA-53]

Ageurn paused for a moment before proceeding.

"The basic reasons for my being here are personal. I suppose you could say I am on a pilgrimage. I hope my arrival didn't cause you any alarm."