Revna Engel 💀

+ “Your weapon is quite beautiful,” she nods towards the axe in Meraad’s hand. “I have not seen many like it.”

+ Three waxwings descend and squabble briefly over the piece before one makes off with it. It takes its prize to a branch before swallowing it whole. Revna chuckles and quickly throws another piece as more birds join the fray. +

“Oh, yes. Of course.”

Revna reaches for the peach, careful not to touch Meraad’s hand as she takes it. With her knife, she deftly cuts a berry-sized piece off and holds it up before tossing it towards the exposed roots of the tree. +

+ Loyalty.

She removes her hand with a small smile, and the spell dies out.

+ There’s a rush of emotion emanating from the bird, muddled and unclear. Revna sorts through it, while continuing to push aside the heat that seems to be growing… louder? Finally, she finds what she is looking for and brings it through Ellisia, the feeling pulsating through them both. +

+ As soon as their skin touches, Revna feels the heat again. She keeps the smile plastered to her face, even as a small hint of worry creeps into her thoughts.

*Deep breath.*

Ignoring the sensation for now, Revna channels her magic through Ellisia’s hand to Rune. +

Revna blinks, slightly surprised at Ellisia’s enthusiasm. It was most welcome, though, and made her feel oddly comfortable with this woman she had just met.

She smiles softly at her outstretched hand and gently flips it so that Ellisia’s palm rests between Rune’s skull and her own hand. +

+ Revna sets aside the apples she was holding and reaches into her boot, producing a small knife a moment later. She flips it open and turns to Meraad with a shy smile.

+ The birds seem to take note, and a small family of waxwings gathers in the branches as the pair sit.

“They should like the peaches,” she says, motioning to the curious birds above them. “As long as the pieces are small enough.” +

“Meraad.” Revna repeats, hoping her Nevarran accent isn’t butchering the pronunciation. “It is lovely to meet you.”

She steps through the open gate with a grateful nod. “Thank you.” Revna leads Meraad toward a stone bench sitting in the shade of a willow tree. +

+ She shakes her head, and he settles once more.

Ahead of them, a small green space comes into view, the iron-wrought fencing bathed in moonlight. “The garden?” she asks, grateful for the distraction.

+ “It is impressive that you found him at all. The Necropolis is well-suited for those who wish to disappear.”

A small shiver runs down her spine as she recalls her own experience lost amongst the dead. Rune peers over at her with concern, his talons digging noticeably into Santi’s shoulder. +

She had heard of mumblings of a Crow tracking a target deep in the catacombs, and by the end of Santiago’s tale, she is nodding in recognition.

“Oh yes, I remember! The spirits were very excited when you caught up to your target.” She glances up at him with a smile. +

+ The parcel contains a small jar of hot pepper jelly and a note that reads: “Happy birthday, my friend. - Revna”

The ink is smudged, with the clear imprint of a bird's talon in one corner.

A raven with a cheeky demeanor and otherworldly feathers lands on Santi’s windowsill. He drops a small parcel at the elf’s feet and greets him with a cheerful “tok-tok”. The bird mischievously eyes Santi’s coffee before tilting his head and leaving, as if called by someone unseen. +

+ The reactions are not entirely surprising, but she shakes her head in disappointment all the same.

A minute later, they come to a stop in front of the park, and she looks up with a smile, brighter this time. “I don’t believe I caught your name. I am Revna.”

+ “Truly. I am simply a bit… flustered,” she finally manages to say. With a small, hopefully reassuring smile, Revna motions toward the park.

As the pair begins to move through the crowd, Revna notices a couple of less-than-friendly glances thrown in her new acquaintance’s direction. +

“Ah, no!” Revna scrambles for a moment, trying to find the right words. The thought of making such a kind woman feel unwelcome is unthinkable, and she takes a deep breath before trying again.

“I—Sorry. I mean to say that your company is welcome.” +

+ “The marks are… involved, yes. Yet I must admit that I did not make them. While Rune was not an accident, my finding him certainly was.” That is what she thought, anyway.

“I can show you something if you are curious. Although it would require me to touch your hand.”

Revna smiles easily at Ellisia, and resists the urge to touch her shoulder reassuringly. She’d always find curiosity to be an admirable trait, even if she is unable to give her a complete answer.

“Yes, I love to learn as well,” she hums, considering the answer. +

+ They turn another corner, and a soft breeze blows back her hair. Rune makes a sleepy grumble as the air ruffles his nonexistent feathers. “May I ask why you visited the Necropolis?”

+ “Oh yes, they have certainly changed! More graves, for one,” she laughs softly. “Some new flower species as well, very beautiful. A new level appeared, too. We woke up one day and there it was, waiting. Always exciting when that happens.” +

Revna touches the satchel at her side, feeling the coin purse within. Should they not find anything to bring along the way, she’d make a donation.

She smiles brightly at Santi’s mention of the Necropolis gardens and picks up her pace to walk alongside him. +

+ But he was no longer welcome at the market, and she didn’t have the coin to pay for that sort of damage again.

+ Revna looks down the street, eyeing a small corner park. “It is just there. But I am sure you have somewhere more important...”

She trails off, embarrassed. It was tempting to call Rune to ease the awkwardness she was feeling. +

“Oh, not far. I um… Sorry.” The line moves, and she steps forward, handing the seller the coin with a shy smile.

“I had planned to bring them home,” she says, narrowing her eyes at the split skin on the peaches in the crook of Meraad’s arm. “But perhaps those should go to the birds instead.” +

+ Pulling the arm back, she reaches out again with the other. “I appreciate your help.”

+ “I— um,” Revna struggles to find her words and curses internally. “Yes, th— thank you. I am okay.”

She offers a shy smile and reaches out to take the fruit from the kind stranger. The movement makes her wince, her shoulder sore from the impact moments before. +

Focused on gathering the fallen fruit as quickly as possible, Revna startles at the sound of a voice clearly addressing her. The blush on her face deepens as she turns to see a qunari woman, a *beautiful* qunari woman, crouching beside her. +

+ “Is it customary to bring an offering to these gardens?” The people of Thedas had many mourning traditions, and while Revna had studied most of them, she also knew that local traditions could vary greatly.