Now, here's the thing. There is a massive surge with having that much power- it's downright thrilling, to feel that dangerouse, that unstoppable. To know that if someone pissed you off enough, you'd become this massive, hulking beast and could just- twitch a wrist and they'd be gone.
I don't miss it. I'd become something like a Were, or even a Were again if I thought I would be in control of myself, of the change. Sure, why not, wouldn't hurt. But it's not something I activly look for or want.
Ann, on the other hand, often mentions that she misses it. That she'd take that power back if only she could, if she ever got the chance. And she told me, quietly, that she felt Farn was the same way.
A mildly disturbing prospect on both counts.
We decided just keeping an eye on him for now was the best- and really, wasn't it the only?- thing we could do. The rest of the day passed uneventfully, with us milling about the ship. I spent most of my time on deck, again, alternating between walking with Ann and Meyone to bothering Alaric to chasing an enthusiastic Conchetta to keeping an eye on Farn. I bounced all over that ship, and still managed to get bored after a couple hours.
As if sensing it, another ship chose that moment to bring itself to our attention. We all stood, watching the ship approch, waiting for a signal, waiting for a fight. So far it had made any agressive actions, but it was coming closer, and coming at us.
Ann's ship, Ann's desicion. I let my hands go to my weapons and waited. We all stood in a circle, Ann at my far right with Meyonne, as always, acting as her huge shadow. Our hirelings were slightly further back uncertian of the course of action to take. They didn't know us very well, at this point, and weren't quiet comfortable putting themselves right in with us, I think. Alaric was beside me, a comfortingly calm and steady pressance. Very little seems to frighten him- although, I can't say that surprises me. We watched the ship approch slowly, and then Meyone asked Ann what we should do.
I jerked my eyes from the ship and to my elvin freind, watching her quietly as she stood in silence. She was chewing her lower lip and if she felt my eyes on her didn't aknowledge me in any way.
"Ann." My voice was low and gentle, a subtle prod. You're in command here, Ann, make the desicion and stop being wishy-washy about the damn thing.
Alaric's rasping voice came from my left, something about being able to burn a vessel. I really hoped he meant that one, not us. I sent an elbow into his ribs sharply, knowing Ann hadn't appreciated the words, and whispered over to Ann again. She needed to do something, damn it, now.
She finally snapped her eyes down to us again, mostly on Alaric, and barked that we would intercept the ship, translated to us by Farn. A silent, heavy breath was pulled in by everyone- you could feel it- and the tension in the air doubled.
At least until the ship grew near, and it's grand beauty was obviouse to all on deck. Magnificent, elegent beauty, enough to make our poor ship look like one of our fishing vessels by comparison.....and flying Talron's colors proudly.
My heart stopped, then caught again and began to race. I looked over at Alaric, eyebrows in my hairline. He didn't look even mildly surprised.....in fact, he looked like a little boy reciving a gift. I knew he was Talron's old friend.....but just how old?
What the hell was going on?
A few men came aboard our ship, and Alaric stepped forward to greet them; two carried a chest, one a bottle of some kind of wine. Ann stepped back, but I stayed put, refusing to move. Nothing and noone with Talron's colors frightens me or intimidates me.
Except, sometimes, the man himself.
One of the men adressed me by name, to my surprise. I nodded to him, and recived a bow. My eyebrows went even further up my forehead, if it was possible. In fact, I don't think I had eyebrows anymore, just right then. They came back later, of course. The eyebrows, that is.
The man said it was a pleasure to finally met me, and greeted Ann formally. Ann asked how they'd found us, and the man glanced at Alaric with this odd, smirkey little smile. He said it was easy to find someone you knew well.
Well, then. Is everyone in Talron's command an arrogent, secretive plotter?
I lifted my eyes to Ann, who was a walking stormcloud, her murderouse gaze locked on Alaric. I snickered softly, and turned my eyes on Alaric. He was grinning stupidly, that I know something you don't know kind of grin, and I wanted to slap it off his face. I was torn between angry and amused, and when I looked back at Ann, she promised to kill him.
I told her I'd help.
It worked; the anger lifted from her eyes and she was grinning at me. I smirked back, letting out my breath slowly. This was Talron-related, this was okay, safe, we could relax. For now.
Alaric and the men slipped off below decks to discuss what they had to. Ann and Meyone took themselves off to a corner, talking softly, and I left them too it; then needed.....'privacy'....every one in a while, as obliviouse as they both were- still-are. Besides, I had problems of my own running through my head; if Talron's men had come, did that mean Talron himself had returned? Was he going to leave? Had the empress.....was he.....
Stop that. You have bigger worries then that right now.
I took a deep breath and leaned over the railing, closing my eyes and trying not to let myself get any hopes up or fears going. I tried to produce a mental zone of 'don't fucking mess with me right now', and it seemed to work; not even Conchetta came near me. I almost felt bad about that one.
About a half hour later, then men and Alaric returned. I straightened up slowly and approched, my resolve in my choice firm. From the other side, Ann and Meyonne came, too, and her eyes told me she knew what I was going to ask. I didn't much care if it pissed her off. If there was even a chance, even a hair's breath of a chance that he was back, I wanted to know about it. This was fucking impossible, running all over the world when all I wanted was to root my feet into the earth outside Befrengaurd and not move until I was certian-sure that Talron was returned, alive, mentally and physically okay, and- and-
as mine as he'd ever been.
I 'd come dispite that longing for a number of reasons; one, the primary driving factor, was that Myn was my fault. I'd gotten her into a bad situation, and if this is what it took to get her out again, I wasn't not going to be involved. Another was who Alyssa was.....who's daughter she was. Toby had helped us, and now he needed our help.
Another was Ann herself. She followed me around all over the map when I was sniffing around like a bloodhound for hints of my past. After she'd come to the South with me, I couldn't very well refuse her anything. I owed her, and massivly.
And the final reason was simple. This had to be done. A long time ago someone decided we weren't allowed to live a quiet, normal life of peace and blissful ignorance. Ann, Meyonne, Alaric and I, all of our companions, were set right in the middle of things, and it was our job to make as much right as we could. It wasn't in any of our nature to just let things go. We might want to go home, we might not want to do what we did, but we did it.
I bowed to the Captian of the other ship, and asked politly if I may have a word. He said yes without a pause, and I found myself turning beat red as I asked if there was any word or news from or on Talron.
His turn to lift an eyebrow.
Apperantly, the last they heard was what we knew; he was in the Citadel. No new information on him- no word from him, to them or me.
I asked, then, throughly confused and a little sucpisiouse, who sent them to find Alaric.
And found that it had been Alaric.
I felt the snarl curl up a corner of my lip, heard the growl start from somewhere in the bottom of my chest. I can't turn anymore, but I found that even after being were for just a short time, I'd retained growling when angry. Maybe I did it before, even. I certianly don't know. All I know is that if you're wise, you'll back the fuck up when I did it, because I'm either going to hit or yell.
Alaric doesn't know me well enough to know it, and simply gave a bashful half-shrug when asked why he'd not told us.
Oh yeah, I was growling.
The captian let me know that if anything did happen, he'd let me know- though I wasn't sure how that would come to pass- and then they left.
Annnnd five , four three, two, one-
Ann's voice split the air like a whipcrack, sharp with anger and disapproval. She didn't yell, didn't even raise her voice, but even I was flinching under her hard words and ice cold tone. Ann has a way of speaking that makes you feel like you're about ten years old again, being scolded by an adult.
Alaric, though, remained unappologetic and sullen through the entire speech, and when it was over, shrugged, smirked, gave me a nudge in the ribs and headed below deck. I watched him go with a lopsided smirk.
I think.....I could get into way too much trouble with him.
I took a deep, steadying breath and went back to the railing, this time not trying to exude waves of anger. Just trying to enjoy the ride, and enjoy myself. Still, I couldn't help but watch the speck that flew Talron's colors, watch it until it was no longer visible and then imagine I could still see it.
Just for a second, I'd felt home again. There had been something comfortable and familer in a land that was anything but. I closed my eyes and put my head in my hands.
Stop it. You're being a shit-stupid little girl. Grow up. Get on track, Semie, this isn't a game.
The rest of the evening passed much in this fashion; I tried to distract myself from bleak thoughts and entertained myself bothering my friends until Molholander finally appered in veiw. Yet another airship came up on us about the same time, but apperantly it was one of the city's, and okay.
They said, bluntly, that they were going to escort us in. Instantly I saw the tension start to knot Ann up again; she doesn't like anyone messing with this ship. She's as protective of it as a mother with a baby. Everyone else seemed relaxed and at ease, though, so I took their cue and stayed that way myself, lounging on the railing as we glided in. These people seemed to know us and know what they were doing, and frankly, if this was a bad situation, we were outnumbered and outgunned anyway. Nothing to do but watch and wait.
Ann might be surprised to hear me say that- me, of all people- but in truth I'm actually a pretty big fan of it. And in a situation like this, even more so. You start acting out, and then things really do go all to shit. But if you just relax and stay calm, go with the flow of things until you see the big picture, you can usually end a situation more.....happily.
So I perched on the railing and hoped I didn't fall off backwards, and watched the men and everyone else. Ann was talking to a human officer, but I couldn't hear what over the wind in my ears. We moved slowly compared to our normal speed- at our normal speed, I'd never be sitting where I was now- but it was still fast enough to toss my short hair and drown out what she said. She turned and looked at me. I gave her a lop-sided grin and flashed a reassuring signal to her. Relax. It's alright, I wanted to say. not everyone is out to get you.
Molholander was one of the most lovley cities I've ever seen. Nothing can compare to what Nabudel must have looked like in it's prime- even to what it was as a ruin- but it was a close second. Ann was clearly caught by it, and I had to admit it was an almost graceful looking city.
We docked, and the ship was hooked into place- odd thing to do, from the look on Ann's face- and we were asked to follow one of the men into the city. Like we had a choice. Still, I shrugged and hopped down, dusting off my pants and going willingly enough to the gangplank. I turned and grinned at Ann, making a 'come on' wave and heading down it ahead of the others. Oh, don't get me wrong; I was nervouse, too. Of course I was. But if they were going to hurt us I thought, they probably would have already. I saw no one with cuffs or weapons at the ready, and no one seemed.....agressive or displeased in anyway. Ann fell in step beside me, and I resisted the urdge to grab her hand. She looked purely freaked the fuck out, she did.
Such a nervouse little elf.
They brought us into a building that was teaming with people, but not human people. Elves and gnomes, more then anything else. I tipped my head as the guard gave us directions, then waited for Ann to move. This was her deal. Meyone, Alaric, Thorin, and I were at her back. Even our little hirlings were there, should shit begin to fall down on our heads. Slowly, deliberatly, we started forward again, Ann's breathing slow and deep, a sign she was controlling herself. I kept my body language relaxed and calm, trying to reassure her without words. It didn't seem to be working.
Finally, we got to the proper door, and Ann pressed a palm to it. I met her eyes, and nodded, and then she swung it open.
To reveal and very familer sight. A gnome I'd only met once, who's life we'd saved when I was still new to this group. His name was- is- Master Ron Dangledongledot.
Yeeeeah, you heard that right. Try saying it without sounding like a fool.
I thought Ann was going to collapse, and heard my own delighted laugh break the suddan silence. We greeted each other warmly, all of us, and found that apperantly he'd been here on business. His cousin was captain of the little gnome ship we'd seen before, which explained.....a lot.
He bid us to eat and so we did; though it took Ann longer then any of us to relax and enjoy the meal. Even then, she sat on the very end and seemed disgusted to watch us eat; she's always been a bird about eating, ever since I met her. I know my manners aren't that bad, but I feel downright rude compared to her.
We were told we'd be given proper rooms for as long as we were here, and had full use of the bathhouse.
I choked. Luckily, no one seemed to notice, but I had to take a hasty drink before I started coughing and embaressed myself. Bathhouse which implied naked people of both sexes together in one room naked.
Did I say that part already?
I could already feel the heat in my cheeks, turning my ears pink. Thankful for a dark complexion and black hair, I ducked my head and waiting for the bad moment to pass. By the time it had, Ron was telling us that we would have someone to show us around shortly, and that we should enjoy our dinner and relax. We were welcome here, and we could stay as long as needed. I smiled, thanking him with everyone else. It's nice to be welcomed, for once.
The place was as beautiful as it'd seemed, and startling warm. I don't mean the weather- I mean, we were greeted in friendly manners and people of a few differant races intermingled with no obviouse tension between any of them.
We each got our own room, lush, lovely spreads that made me want to go no where else for my entire stay here. A big bed, he size someone like me could drown in, thick carpet for toe-burry-ing, beautiful colors, the smell of the wood from the furniture overlaying everything, and an assortment of other furniture and nick-nacks. There were even potted plants, which I assumed Ann was happy for. My favorite part were the balconies, all connected and all just about one entire wall.
I'm sorry, can we steal all this?
Joking. I'm joking.
We were shown to the bathhouse, next. It was as beautiful as the rest of the place, with elegent carvings on the walls and statues and such everywhere. The entire bathing area was a giant 'flower', and you could, um- pick a petal. Sevearl people already had.
There were benches and places for clothing and towels. It was huge, open, and I could hear the pleasent sounds of laughter and talking echoing around. It was a lovely place, and if it hadn't been full of naked people I would have been very happy there.
Ann pointed out the huge statues on the walls, life-sized representations of each angel of each land. There were even little plaques underneath that told about each.
One looked very, very much like Toby. Ilasureta.
The Weres had been mentioning her. I shot Ann a concerned look, and got a shrug in reply. She didn't know the anwser to this situation any more then I did, it seemed.
And besides, there were more pressing matters right now.
Like Annwasgettingnaked.
I felt the heat rush to my face again, and not even my dark skin could hide it this time. Her items first, then gloves, then cloak, then her sh-her shirt.
I could not form a complete sentance if I'd tried. She'd just droped her shirt in front of me, showing me all of her, as if it was no big deal. I'd seen Ann naked before- she'd seen me naked, too- but all the same.
Her shoes and pants were next, and I was aware that I was making little fish-out-of-water noises. She gave me a cat-smile and beckoned me in, taking great pleasure in my mortification.
It's rare it's her that gets to be on that end of the pair of us. Meyonne and the others were loosing their clothing, too, completly with any lack of self-confidence. I put my face in my hands and headed inside, not daring to look up, even as I heard Ann slide into one of the petals. Peeking through my fingers, I made my way over to that petal. I removed my shoes and put them under the bench were Ann's belongings had been layed, dipping my feet in next to her and finally, slowly, lowering my hands.
Normally, I would have had a great deal of fun seeing Meyone in the water with Ann. He was in the same petal and looked very content with himself at that moment. I could hear Conchetta and Noman, and to my left Thorin was in the water, women around him like cats to cream. I can't say I blamed them much- he was a well toned, handsome man, and though I couldn't see much where I sat, if he looked like that below the waist, too-
-well. If it weren't for Talron, I might be over there myself.
Wave.
I screamed as a wave of water splashed over us suddanly, marking Alaric's entrance into the water. I groaned as it instantly turned brackish, forgetting my shame in amusment. He hadn't even bothered to rinse! My laughter rang out helplessly, and Ann sent me a tolerant, tired glance. She tried to convence me to climb in with them, that I would enjoy a nice, hot bath, that I needed to wash off the traveling dust, that it felt good, that it was nice.
I would, I did, I'm sure it did, and I'm sure it was. All of those things would still be true later, when the place was less full.
As they bathed, I chattered happily as if totally unflustered, and watched the comings and goings of the bathhouse. I was chatting a mile a minute, but saying nothing. It's a good way to distract someone from noticing something's wrong. Besides, brainless chatter feels good, now and again. No plans on what tatcical moves to make next, or how to stay alive another day. Instead, teasing Alaric for his smell and being teased for refusing to get naked.
No way. No fucking way are you going to get me naked in front of these people.
I was jerked from brainless talk when Ann announced she'd 'be right back'. I followed the path of her gaze, and my jaw set.
Beautiful, dark skinned Elf-ladies, in the petal just across the way. They were beautiful like Ann was beautiful, but in a totally differant way, too. Same perfect, flawless skin, and ears raised into elegent points that stuck out of their long hair. Eyes that were wise and knowing and gentle and so many differant colors.
Long legged and slender limbed, like Ann when she climbed over to join them. I watched her go. Straight, beautiful back, blonde hair cascading in a waterfall, darker with wet. Ears, smaller then theirs, poking up through the wet strands, perfectly curved rear leading down into long, strong legs. Beautiful. She was so beautiful. They were all so beautiful.
I rolled my eyes and forced a laugh, pretending that I was mocking her be right back, when in actuality I found myself trying very hard not to get up and run out.
Conchetta suddanly appered by my side, but in the water, resting her arms on the side and greeting me merrily. I forced my eyes away from the women I so longed to be like and turned back to the girl I was like. She wasn't jealouse of them, from what I saw. She didn't seem to care that she wasn't well-endowed or tall and slender or a goddess to look upon.
Of course, she also wasn't in love with a king.
We talked pleasently for a while, and then suddanly she gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth, her giggles almost hysterical. I turned-
-and yes, actually, Thorin was that nice below the waist, as well. I wished I'd gotten into the water after all, so I could sink below it in shame. My throat closed, my ears burned, and I clamped both hands frantically over my mouth.
Still, I could feel the laughter rush up out of my throat as a very naked, very unashamed Thorin went striding away from Ann, having obviously just spoken to her, and marched past us.
Three woman were carried in his arms.
All at the same damn time.
Their sultry laughter reached my ears, and I fell backwards, howling. Someone- probably Conchetta- hit me for it. But it wasn't hard, and it didn't hurt. I sat up to see our other companions in variouse states of amused embaressement, too; even Meyone.
Ann returned to us a moment later. I watched in pleased surprised as she splashed him swimming by, then hurried over to us, where she knew he couldn't get her back. I raised a brow, my heart lightening. Here we were, playing, laughing, joking, happy.
I guess, no matter how hard things get, we're all pretty okay if we have one another.
As soon as everything had calmed down- and I could speak again- the topic turned back to more seriouse matters. Everyone kind of....converged....on the petal. We decided plans would be made in the morning.....it wasn't safe and it was rather pointless to wander the streets at night. Time to go to our beautiful rooms and get some well earned rest for the night.
That said, Meyone promptly came out of the water- my hand went back over my eyes- and so did Ann. I rose- hand still over my eyes- and, through my fingers as before, made my way back to the door.
My embaressment was not personal in this case. I had no desire to see what I'd seen of Thorin's on anyone else tonight. Thanks. Thanks ever so much.
Ann was still trying to convence me to go ahead and clean up while we were here. I told her I'd do it on my own time, would you leave me alone, elf? Damn. I stared intently at the floor until everyone was dressed, and we straggled out of the bathhouse. Once out, I was in a considerably better mood, and talking happily to Ann as we got back to our rooms. There, though, her teasing and prodding stopped as we came to our respective doors, and she paused in the hallway. Meyone and I stopped, too, glancing at each other and back to her.
Funny, how she bonds us. I don't know what all else Meyonne and I have in commen, and I think if I'd been alone in Fera he never would have stayed with me. But one thing we both do care for, one thing that we do have in commen, is a very real concern for the elf in front of us.
I asked, tentivly, if Ann wanted to share a room. I mean, we always do, only recently have we not. Usually when we don't, something weird or bad happens. Sometimes even when we do, I'll admit, but it was a sense of familiarity all the same. But she turned me down after a long pause, and we agreed that the conecting balconies would have to be enough.
Once everyone had settled in for the night, I grabbed a change of cloths and headed back out. I went back to the bathhouse, which was now nearly empty but for a few people in the very far pettles of the room. I grabbed one in the farthest corner I could, and did what I needed to do. In the clear water, I could see all of me just as I could see all of Ann, earlier.
Short, unevenly cut hair, boring black. Dark skin streaked with freckles across my nose- they looked like dirt smudges. Horrible dirt smudges that would never ever wash off. Blue eyes that would have been pretty but they'd been real blue. Instead, they were muddy silver-blue, almost gray. Stubby-nailed fingers on calloused hands, a non-existant torsoe, breasts that were bigger only because the rest of me bore undesireable weight. I twisted to see, in morbid curiousity. Nope. No butt at all. Not like the deep, sensual curve of Ann's back, leading into her bottom.
Snarling, I hit the water lightly, mussing my reflection.
Ugly. Nothing special at all. What are you thinking? You, in love with a king? You, with a mouth like scum and a body of a child? You, rash, impulsive creature? You, little better then an urchin? Why should he love you? Why, when he has the attention of an Empress? When he could have someone as beautiful and wise as those elves today?
...."I fucking hate being naked!"
I think half the room looked at me. Not for the first time, I felt my ears heat and this time I did sink below the water, with only my eyes peeking out.
About ten minutes later I made my way back to my bedroom, muttering loudly in case anyone was still awake. I wanted them to think exactly what they thought; that I was just, for some odd reason, a prude.
I closed my door softly, locking it behind. I meant to fall into sleep, emotion tiring me out; I though I'd drop off instantly. Instead, though I kept being awakened through the night by the uneasy feeling of being watched. When I'd wake, to explore it, it'd be gone. Or if I still felt it, it would move, as if the person had wings and was fluttering away from my site. Half-way curiouse and half-way frightened, I would fall back into sleep. There was no malice from what I felt.....just the sensation of being watched. I'd sleep for a bit longer, then, abruptly, be awakened again because I swear someone was just there, close enough to reach out and-
-nothing. A gropping hand touching only the darkness of the room around me and perhaps the bookshelf near the bed. Once, I knocked one of my daggers off the bedside table.
That was the most eventful occurance of the night.
I was awakened earlier then I'd like- again- by Ann, the next morning. Apperantly I hadn't been the only one to feel like I was being watched all night. Ann'd had it happen, too. She told me no one else had reported symptoms.
Well, okay then, we should be used to this kind of thing by now.
I asked her which room first, and, rather predicatbly, she said her own. I didn't much care; I shrugged, and off we toddled. We found nothing out of place in her room at all, and were about to give up the search, when Ann called my name softly. I came over to her, and she pointed out the bone shards mixed into the soil of her plant. Alaric was with us, and he came over as well. It was deffinatly odd, to him, and he began to cast a spell after a couple of minutes. He announced there had without doubt been a ghost in the plant, but now it was gone. It'd run away from him. He said he'd banished it so it couldn't return, and instantly I flinched.
I pointed out that we'd spoken to spirits- or things like them, sort of, anyway- before, and what if this one had been trying to give us a message?
Alaric shrugged. What was done was done; the ghost was gone for the moment.
"Well, check out my plant. I had the same problem."
So we switched direction and went back to my room. Sure enough, same issues. But I instisted that Alaric leave it alone; at least for one night. To see what would happen. Ann, though, shoved her plant outside and had Alaric ward her room for twenty four hours. She was not, she said, going to deal with ghost problems she didn't have to.
Alaric and I went to get our proper cloths on, and soon everyone else was joining up with us again. We told our hirlings their jobs for the day- Noman to explore the underbelly of the city, Farn to take the opposit end and see about the nobility here. To our surprise, before we could assign Conchetta, Farn spoke up, mentioning that he'd like to take her with. She was a skilled people person, apperantly, and none of us had a problem letting Conchetta go, if she felt comfortable being alone with Farn.
Then, he added that he'd also like to take Meyone.
My jaw dragged the dust for a moment. Ann's face had gone faintly pale, and her arms folded in that familer, stubborn pose across her chest. Meyone, for his part, was watching Farn with a thoughtful, considering look, although every line in his body was stiff and uncomfortable.
Okay....those two can't be impartial. Guess this is my job.
"Why?"
Farn admited that he felt he needed a 'bodygaurd' of sorts, and we'd have Thoren with us. As Thoren is pretty much a force of nature by himself, we didn't really need extra muscle.
I looked at the pair again, sighing softly. Alaric had taken a physical step back, putting himself out of the argument, and from the way Farn was looking at me, it was obviouse this was my go. I shrugged, glancing helplessly over. Farn had a point; he needed someone to protect him, since he was basically kind of helpless.
I told Ann I didn't see why not, and waited for the protests. Those two had refused to be seperated for more then a few minutes at a time since Fera. The one time I'd forced Meyone to stay back, with me, he'd nearly killed me with his eyes alone, forget the weapon at his side.
Insta-bable. I fell silent and listened to Ann weakly try to defend her choice to keep Meyone, arguements that made no sense, and felt my lips twitching. Goodness, Ann, Thoren is just a man. A large man, but all the same. You're not his enemy. Besides, he'd never catch you even if you did piss him off.
Finally, it was Thoren himself who spoke up, quietly informing Ann that she had nothing to be afraid of from him.
Aww, nice. Good job, Thor-
"Unless you get in my way."
-eeeeannnnd never mind. Ugh. Ann looked like a frightened mouse under the stare of a hawk. It got worse when Meyone quietly agreed to go with Farn and Conchetta. Ann glanced over at me and I wagged my eyebrows at her with a smirk. Her frightened look turned into a glare, and I just grinned. One way to get Ann out of being scared is to piss her off. I'm good at that.
We wandered our sepeate ways- Farn, Meyone and Conchetta, Noman alone, and Alaric, Thoren, Ann and I. It didn't feel quiet right to send Noman off by himself, not when one of us from the larger group could have been spared. But that's what we did, and soon the group of four of us were moving towards the games area.
The people around us- still a mismash of those three races- had all kinds of pets as they walked past us; all kinds of wild animals for pets. Things like I'd not been close to except for Illoria's Demetrious, and he'd not even been a real panther. I edged a bit closer to the group, trying not to picture what sharp claws and teeth could do. Unfortunatly, I'd seen it in person. I'd been on the reciving end already of things with teeth and claws.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, praying that I could do what I'd done best, before the man who'd begin chipping away at my life and sanity had cursed me. Then I put on a confident face, grinned lopsidedly, and approched my first target.
I am no master of the shadows, like Ann is, able to slip away unheard and unseen, stealthy and graceful as a cat. But what you need to get here, is that talking to people is just as infinatly hard as hiding from them. Ann's gotten annoyed at me, before, for taking a long time to say what I need to say. But when you use words as half your weapon, each one needs to be considered and measured.
I am a completly differant person when I'm talking for information, or talking to save our lives. I have to be. Lately it's gotten harder, with the curse around my neck; I tend to say what I shouldn't to just the person it shouldn't be said to, to my lies come through as clear as the water in the bathhouse yesterday.
Today, though, I seemed to be doing just fine. We got pointed to a man who supposedly had the luck of the angels, a gambler in the center of the area surrounded by people. With a thank you and a bow, we headed that way, Ann quietly with head down, Alaric just at my flank, and Thoren's long, long stride carrying him ahead of us. I was forced to take two steps for each of his one.
The man glanced up as we approched. His eyes and face were open but sly, intellegence gleaming in his eyes and a smile at the corner of his lips. I couldn't really put an age to him, but he didn't seem to old, from the looks of him. Older then me, certianly, but then, most everyone was.
He motioned for us to sit, laying out a gold peice. Alaric and I placed our own silver down, and then I nudged Ann until she did the same. Stubborn elf.
And so the game began. And I don't mean cards.
He told us he'd heard that we had questions, and we all took seats, looking at one another uncertianly. Then Alaric's deep voice rumbled near my ear, jumping right in to ask about the emblem. The man barely glanced up from his cards as he replied that yes, he did have something like that, once. He'd lost it, though, which from what he suggested, was unusual.
We asked him what we remembered, but he said not much; what we'd already run over was pretty much what knowledge he had of the thing. Alaric asked if he knew what the writing on it said; the reply was no. He hadn't even known it was draconic. He said that after he'd lost the emblem, he'd seen the man who'd won it pretty often. That the man's luck seemed to change. When I asked how, he said that he'd lost just about everything, yet continued to come gamble....but never again to those specific tables.
As the game continued on, our answers came out slowly- and pretty freakin' expensivly. We didn't learn too much, to be honest, and Thoren was coming closer still to loosing his temper then I would like. The man makes me look absolutly mild. Ann was trying to calm him, but as he spooked her the fuck out it wasn't going too well, and we could all see gaurds headed our way. The man we spoke with held them at bay, though I wasn't sure for how long.
He told us he wasn't sure where his father had won the emblem, and told us there were a couple people in the city that could speak draconic, we'd just have to look. We thanked him, and he appologized to Thoren for the loss of his uncle, still just as calm as anything.
Ann and the man exchanged words for a moment, then, apperantly fed up, Thoren grinned-
-and flipped the fucking table.
I groaned into my hands and Alaric began to laugh softly. Ann followed Thorin out, and our contact began to sooth the gaurds that came over instantly.
Once free of them, I began trying to calm Thorin, with Alaric's help; Ann walked stiff and silent on his other side, her head down and her eyes averted. Still scared of him. I coughed, turning the big man's attention to me.
"Wanna find someone to speak draconic?" I asked, smirking cheekily, and with a scowl, he decided that was best.
And I began to do what I do best.
I walked just ahead of the group, chatting merrily with variouse people and always getting the information I was after. Each one put me in a better mood, each one got my confidence back up. I knew it was a fluke, but damn, if I hadn't missed speaking with such ease, such confidence.
My questions lead us to a huge peice of property, surrounded by gaurds, with a huge wall and massive fences. And no sooner did we find it- the instant it came into veiw- I felt that invisible noose tighten around my throat again. I gasped and my hand went to my neck, feeling frightened now. If someone had gotten around the curse, somehow, or made it null for a bit, then-
-there was a great chance we'd just walked straight into a trap. I half-turned to alert the others, but before I could get the words out, a servent approched us and asked what we needed.
Ann nudged me, and I nudged back. She pushed me, then, and I squeaked, stepping forward. I informed the servent we'd come after being told that there was a scholar here who could read draconian. We were lead inside, after that, to a tent on the manor grounds in the middle of a small, lovely garden.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw what sat there.
Small, for one like him, about Alaric's size, with gray skin marred with red and white patches, like a patchwork quilt. Sharp teeth, sharp claws. Deadly in apperance, and also? Very draconian in apperance. As we got nearer, we could see that half of his face was very human, almost normal in apperance, but the other half.....the other half weas turning draconian, and fast, from what we could see.
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