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Enira
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Renegade
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She was startled awake
by a crash of thunder and swore as her stomach twisted in pain. She glared at the rain washed, lightening filled window. God,
how she hated nighttime thunderstorms. Groaning softly in agony and frustration she closed her eyes wearily. For the next hour
she tossed and turned more, eventually tugging all the sheets and blankets off her bed. When she found herself sitting on
her bed in a tangle of blankets with all her pillows tossed across the room, she realized she needed help. She needed to sleep
so badly, so she dragged herself out of her tumbled nest and wrapped up in a robe. The very long sleeves and skirt hindered
her passage through the palace, but she made her way out of the Shadan wing and into the neighboring wing which housed her
foster-siblings, including some of her very best friends. It dully occurred to her that they might not appreciate being woken
up at--she glanced at the hour lanterns and counted the marks--5:00 D, everyone had gone to sleep at least four hours ago
and no one would wake up for another four hours. She made her way down random halls, bracing herself against the wall with
one hand and holding her stomach with the other. She wandered in a daze that was tinted in green and an alarm in the back
of her mind blared at her. She suddenly felt awake and found herself standing in front of Teyls door. She knocked on the door
and there was no answer. This was odd because on many previous occasions, she had wandered to his room and slept on his couch
after a few hours of talking. Something was going on, and, as if to emphasize this, her head exploded in pain and she gripped
the door handle in agony and leaned against the door unable to support her own weight. Her grip on the handle turned it and
her bracing on the door flung it in hard. She sprawled across Teyls entryway, still hissing in pain. The door banged against
the wall behind it and Nira scrambled in her green tinged haze to shut it behind her. What the hell kind of flu was this?
She thought nauseously. She widened her eyes and clenched her teeth scrambling into Teyls bathroom where she heaved into his
toilet. Not only did she loose her lunch, but sparkly green blood decorated her lips and she was scared. She remembered how
superhumanly prepared Teyl always was and stood up quickly, somehow sensing she had little time, and ransacked his bathroom
cabinets. Spilling unlabeled and alien bottles onto the counter and into the sink, her fingers finally grasped what shed hoped
shed find. She held a bottle of Avalos essence, Expensive Heal-all. She looked at it warily; it would be like Teyl to mislabel
things, but what the hell she was dying. And suddenly her conscious read the message from her subconscious, she was dying!
The drained the whole contents of the fist sized bottle, one sip of which cures any natural ailment. The effects where instantaneous,
she felt HAPPY, healthy, joyous, and a grey veil that shrouded her life lifted. She had never noticed the veil before, but
was glad it was gone. Her last thought before her over dose of Avalos hit her was, what if I had had too much? She
awoke grinning sprawled still in the middle of the floor of Teyls bathroom. She remembered exactly how she had gotten there
and heaved a huge sigh of relief. She stood up and rearranged her robe, which was sticky with the heal-all and had a single
shimmery green handprint, her blood. She drifted into the main room and saw a white note on Teyls ebony black bedspread. It
said: ~ If anyone reads this note, I have failed. Not only am I dead, but so is Nira
~ She
dropped it like it had stung her. Teyl knew she was in deadly danger and hadnt told her, but he was trying to save her. She
was simultaneously angry and flattered. She took the note and put it back where shed found it, impulse. She went into the bathroom and cleaned up the mess she had made. Now she should go back to her room and
sleep, but one effect of Avalos was her wide-awake ness. She cracked open the door to Teyls room and looked at the hour lanterns,
5:37 D. shed only been out for a half-hour at least. She crept out of Teyls deserted room and glanced around the hall, no
one in sight. . Leaning on the wall beside his door she wondered where Teyl would
be if he wasnt in bed, if he was out saving her. The only thing that came to
mind was her room, thats it. Well, shed see him tomorrow if he wasnt there. Actually, she hoped she would, his note had implied that he was in danger too. She hurried along the dimly lit halls to the Shadan wing and climbed the flights of
steps to her own room. Turning the last corner she bumped into something warm
and clothed. It was her foster sister Sora looking quite startled. "What are you doing out
here Nira?" Sora asked surprised. "I'm just going back to
bed, but you're heading away from yours what are you doing?" "I'm...checking on a friend
to see how shes doing." She looked kind of ill at dinner I think. Sora said. Nira looked at her quiet and reclusive foster sister and shrugged. "Well ok, hope shes feeling
ok now." Nira said finally. "Yeah...sure." Sora said
looking at Nira grumpily. Nira walked off leaving her eccentric sister behind. She walked into her bedroom feeling Soras gaze on her, but didnt turn around. Shutting the door didnt seem to be enough and she clicked the lock in place. She was suddenly hugged tight from behind and she went stiff with surprise. "Oh Nira you're alive Im
sooo glad!" Nira turned to find Aesha smiling at her, but then Aeshas face went hard. "I found this on your bed, its Felins
work, his mark. As you know Felin is my spy, my prey, the one I hunt and he's
here!" Aesha was fairly dancing with glee. "Aesha...what are you doing
in my room?" Nira asked, she knew shed been poisoned, but by who? "Oh...I was just sleepless
and wandering because of the thunderstorm so when I passed your door I knocked to see if you couldnt sleep either. There was no reply from inside and it wasnt locked so I came in.
When I did I found Felins note on your bed and got worried, I think he wants to kill you!" Aesha put a lot of emphasis
into kill, she was absolutely possessed by her need to capture Felin, her official assignment.
Nira took the note and scanned it, but she felt a tickle of fear along her spine first.
There was the possibility that a few people wanted her deadbut she tossed away the thought, shouldnt let her fanatic
friend give her more worries. The note read: ~ Shada Nira where are you? Your
life is in danger. ~ She recognized the stylethe
handwriting; it was identical to the one on Teyls bed. Teyl her good friend was
also Aeshas assigned spy Felin. She widened her eyes in dismay. Aesha took this as a sign that Nira feared for her life too and hugged her tight again. "I'll protect you foster
sister, you wont come to any harm." Aesha said determinedly. "Aesha, just let me sleep,
my room is as safe as any other Shada's" Enira said wearily and confused. One
friend was a spy protecting her and the other was a Neven trying to protect her from the spy.
Plus someone, maybe one of them, had tried to kill her somehow for some reason.
To many questions for her mind, for her tired mind. She pushed the protesting
Aesha out her door and relocked it. She sank asleep on her rug not even reaching
her deep green bed. Someone was shaking her
shoulder. She groaned and rolled away onto her back. They brushed fingers down her cheek and whispered her name. "Nira, Nira dear wake up. Im glad youre alive Shada." She heard whispered at her in a quiet voice. Her eyes eased open and she stared, still mostly asleep, at Teyl. "Oh...hey Teyl" she mumbled,
or tried to. "I drank all your Avalos...sorry." She added, he grinned. "No problem at all, glad
you came to my place when you got sick, and I have much more Avalos." He replied slowly, she was having troubles concentrating
on his voice and not drifting off again for some reason. Nira blinked once then grinned remembering something. "Hi Felin." She said and
giggled sleepily. She gasped as he moved in a flash to sit on her, both knees
pinning a wrist each and one hand clamped over her mouth. He seemed surprised
at himself and at her because he lightened his hold on her, then thought better and retightened it. She just closed her eyes and started to drift off. He shook
her with his free hand. "Nira...what do you know? How do you know?" He asked gravely, for him this was a matter of life and death. She mumbled at him through his hand and he frowned.
Reluctantly he released her mouth so she could speak. "Just dont scream Enira."
He said sternly, hed gone back to using her full name. "As if I couldTeyl-" She
had to pause to yawn, then resumed. "Teyl youre my friend, if I was going to tell Aesha I would have already. I just like knowing, I wont out you. I wont even blackmail
you hows that." "I'd kill you before I
let you blackmail me." "But you were going to
save me, dont kill me after that." She said. "True, true, but I still
havent found your enemy so I havent saved you yet, but I will, I swear." And he stepped backwards off her. "I'm glad youre
alive Nira, sleep well." And she watched him slip out through the private passage exiting her bathroom. She wondered how he knew it was there, but hey hes the famous Felin, wow.
She fell asleep again where she lay and this time didnt wake till morning with her favorite Arly Tabby once more curled
up at her stomach, her beautiful cat Flicker, and the sleep stole her again. Avalos
is an odd medicine to take, sleep tends to create better health so shed probably sleep the rest of the day. Actually, she slept undisturbed for the next four. For
the next week after her night of adventure Nira was in a fit of confused suspicious.
Whenever someone so much as looked at her wrong they became suspect number one.
Teyl had gone home whatever that meant, and Aesha was still scouring the Palace day and night, somewhat hindered by
the Royal Rillain guards who are wary of Other Bloods roaming free in the Palace. Nira
hadnt seen Teyl since he left her room that night and had no idea who he suspected.
It could even be the fanatic Aesha who owed her allegiance to her home Realm of Caharn.
Wouldnt that be ironic, Teyl hunting Aesha and Aesha after Teyl? That
would end in an interesting show down. She widened her eyes in horror. The thought of two of her friends fighting to the death was awful, shed hate the one who lived and won. She shoved the thought away, that fight would only happen if Aesha had poisoned her. She didnt know what to think. Teyl could
be playing some twisted game. Aesha could be trying to cover for sneaking around
in her room. Who knew why Sora had been out and about that night, her alibi was
so false. Besides, there were probably countless others sneaking around that
night, her assassin could have been asleep waiting for morning and news of her death.
So many things were possible, whether they were probable or not. She shook
her head frustrated and in her distraction walked into a closed glass door to the outside.
A few of her friends waiting for her outside winced and she blushed with embarrassment.
She slowly opened the door, stepped outside, and closed it. Turning to
her crowd of foster siblings, friends, and possible assassins she sighed and walked towards them for another day of false
fun.
Her friend Fan returned a few days later from his Mother's summer estate where she had summoned all her children for
one reason or another. She almost died of relief; here was one friend who couldn't
have tried to kill her that night. Well he could have hired- she stopped that
thought before it went any further. She would not, could not, suspect everyone, it was making her quite literally nuts. So
when Fan rode up to their hunting party on a new golden horse the color of his hair she hugtackled him the moment he dismounted.
"Oof, Nira glad to see yah too, heh." Fan said good-naturedly before he was buried under piles of greetings and questions
on how his trip to Mom's house was. They crowded around both her and Fan and
everyone pushed to pat him on the back or give him a hug. Nira felt her skin
crawls, too many people. She planted her feet and started digging herself out
of the crowd of chatter. But a glance behind her caught Fan's gaze and the plaintive
eyes and silently mouthed 'help' turned her around. Because the crowd had become
just a general chatter she was able to extract herself and Fan fairly easily. Fan
caught the bridle of his new horse in the hand not holding Nira's and led them a slight ways away.
"But...my horse..."Nira said looking back at where her gorgeous gray mare stood calmly among the human crush. "Heh don't worry
mine can hold two." And he clambered onto his new horse, in a rush to be away from the crowd, then gave her a hand up behind
him. Then he aimed the golden horse at the darker recesses of Mondi Forest and
she shot off at top speed. Fan was not all that comfortable
with being comfortable, so Enira put him on edge most of the time. She could
make him smile and challenge his mind without seeming to even try. Such easy
friendship was suspect, what did she want? After a few months of knowing her
he decided she just wanted company. Despite her miniature court of friends she
was quite lonely and often feeling unnecessary. When she happened to open up
once in a blue moon she said the oddest of things, commenting on how awkward her speech was or how annoying she must be getting. They were so out of the blue that he couldnt help but immediately deny them, but they
were so frequent when she was being honest that he worried sometimes. He now
did his best to make use of her friendship and show her how much he appreciated it, but he and Nira were subtle enough people
assuming that everyone else was much more obvious, often they would miss each others hints and small warnings. He watched her when her face grew dark and little bolts of emotion shot across her storm cloud eyes. He knew dark thoughts warred inside her mind and even grimmer ideas than those she
showed to others grew there. He also knew that her shields were deep and strong
from years of growing up in a careless brutal situation as a young Shada. Some
of the royalty took their situation well, while this little lady did not. She
was not made of strong competitive stuff or born with a mind for flirtation and intrigue.
In other words she was quite out of place as a mighty Shada of Rillain. He
wished he could see her as she was be when she escaped from the prison of the Palace, but to escape that she had to be alone. All this he mused over
while galloping full pace through the woods, on his horse with Nira,to the part of the woods in his own backyard, out beyond
the edge of his small farm. He hoped she liked his little forest as much as he
himself did. They arrived at the small cliff that marked the boundary of his
lands and he stopped his new horse, Dawn, with a quick tug of the reins. He hadnt
thought theyd get here so soon, but he wasnt exactly at his best today. He couldnt
conjure up that warm grin that was so contagious today, and the crowd welcoming him earlier had made him retreat into his
shell. So when hed seen Nira once more pulling herself out of a mass of people
hed been glad when shed helped him away also. The relief on her face after leaving
the crush of friends and relatives had been impressive, he hadnt known that people make her quite that nervous. Grateful for the rescue he had gone off on a spur of the moment ride with her. About three minutes into it he realized they were heading towards his place more or less and decided to
actually aim for there. He somewhat wanted to talk to her today anyways and she
looked in need of a good listener, and here was the perfect setting. So he led
his horse down the roughly beaten path that led to the small grove in the center of his puzzle of forest. While he absently steered Dawn he ran the events of the past few weeks around in his head. A trip to mothers house was never his favorite thing but her yearly inspections of her children were the
worst. Of course she didnt see them as such, she put together a reunion of relatives
and family for the better of allyeah right. They were to dress up in their best
and attend a huge feast where theyd all stay up all night chatting with each other till Mother Dearest called them one by
one to the chair by her to interrogate them on what theyd been up to. Fan was
just now 15 and no longer under his mothers supervision; in fact he had gone out and bought himself a modest farm with his
pension from her. She found it odd that one of her kids would not wish to live
in one of her estates profiting from her wealth. She found it even odder that
most of her children felt this way and so she hosted the annual inspections. Fan
thought that he might take time to visit her and some of his other relatives there if he wasnt forced to go. Fan got to the small part
of the forest, which he loved; it was a circular patch of land a good dozen yards across that was sunk into the ground. He Knew from long hours spent out here in communion with his land that it was once
a volcano under the command of TosaNumi himself. After several decades the blasted
out dish in the cone had worn down and filled in to form a kind of opposite plateau with softly inclined sides. When he had first acquired his land there had been a path looping around and down into the small cone and
he had taken some compost and wood shavings and made the path clearer and safer to walk.
Ever since then he had walked out each day to sit in the very center of his private volcano and let his mind wander
to the Void. So no he took Nira to his retreat, somehow seeing that she too needed
a retreat. He felt somewhat shy at letting anyone see what was his and private,
fearing that anyone would mock or not see the true value. He neednt have feared
Nira would do any of these. In fact, she was staring around her with wide-eyed
awe and amazement. "Why Fan, how did you ever
find this place? Its gorgeous, I didnt know anything could form like this in
nature." Enira said absently as Dawn picked her way down the circular path. "This is my backyard. Its kind of hard to not know your own back yard, unless you live in the Palace I guess."
He said quietly. There was no part of him that added to the magnificence of the
forest, it was not his place to take responsibility. "Thank you for showing
me. Most people keep their treasures to their self." Enira looked somewhat guilty
and embarrassed. "Some things are meant
to be secret Nira, but others are better when shared. That is why you are here."
Fan said quietly. He seemed to say everything quietly and you had to listen to
hear him. Nira had always found anything he said well worth the wait or strain
to hear it. "It is? Thank you for sharing this." Enira said and followed him when he dismounted. He had turned to give her a hand but she had already slid down the other side of Dawn and was crouching
in the grass running her fingers through the greenery. Fan blinked and smiled
to see her so delighted in so simple an object as the ground, but then again there was nothing simple about the ground. It had taken a long time for even a God or Goddess to create a whole Realm when all
their thoughts were focused on it. There were so many links and bonds and delicate
balances, Enira was right to be so fascinated. The
thought also occurred to him then that perhaps, even if she didnt realize it, she was keeping her own feelings safe too. He banished such dreary thoughts and sank down into his usual spot in the center of
the sunken ring. The ring, he liked the sound of that, he had never come across
a name for this special spot of land that fit it correctly but it was his Ring of land, yes thats it. "No Nira it is my place
as much as any place is and it is no secret of mine. The land has its own secrets
and some of us are good at seeing our way through them, I am one of those fortunate and here has what the land has told me. This is the spot of an old volcano from the time of the Gods. It has stood here many centuries and been worn down and filled in.
So no I have this Ring of land that it somewhat blessed almost in my eyes and it is a very nice retreat from reality." The Ring sounded good out loud too and he christened this piece of land as such. "But arent volcanoes pointed
not bowlish. Sorry I cant think of a good smart sounding word to mean bowlish."
Enira wrinkled her nose disgusted with herself. "Um me neither sounds good
enough to me." Fan shrugged, she was being though on herself for no reason again. "This is a volcano after it erupted, many
times. So it lost its cone and became, for lack of a better word, bowlish." Fan
grinned. "I think Ill add that word to my mental list and credit you with its
invention." He added sticking his tongue out her way. She growled at him and
sat down primly opposite him taking on the airs of a true Shada for once. "Oh Farmer Fan I wish you
would stop spreading such lies. A Shada such as myself would hardly do such a
ridiculous thing and if you will not take credit for your work you will never make anything of yourself now will you?" She
said archly trying not to give herself away by a twitch of the lips or sparkle in her eye, and she managed it well he noted. "M'lady it will be my honor
to take credit for the fabulous word of bowlish and spread its use far and wide." But
Fan was not so good at hiding his laughter and the glint in his eye caused Nira to drop her arrogance and burst out laughing
which in turn caught him up and they laughed till they hurt. "Oh dear Fan I havent laughed
so hard in months. I havent even laughed in-" And Nira turned silent and sad.
"Bad things have happened while you were gone Fan, you are right I am here to share things that are better handled when shared."
She looked at the ground hesitant to add to his worries but eager to spill out hers.
She did not wish to cause that dark look in his eyes that he got when he was troubled, and her news was troubling indeed "Go ahead, I have things
I'd like to share also if you would not mind." Enira brightened instantly and he was surprised to be able to see her mood
shifts. She was a talented Empath and could block all of his attempts at emotion
or thought reading and so the only way he could be seeing her so clearly is if she was letting down her shields, allowing
her emotions to show freely. He was silently flattered and wasnt about to thank
her for fear it was on accident. It couldnt possibly be, but just in case. The idea of a trade of burdens for the lightening of both sounded excellent to Nira
and in fact she loved hearing people talk from deep with in. She knew she was
a great listener and worked hard to be so, she cared deeply about those who talked to her and was not too helpful and tried
to put in good suggestions. She was not good with messing around in other peoples
lives, she did not trust herself not to fumble majorly even just with suggestions, but she would try her best. Few people knew this unfortunately, and though being a trusted confidant made her feel happy and needed
she was not one most of the time because no one knew. She was trying to let people
know more and more but still she was anxious, she needed help which she wouldnt let herself ask for. So she took a deep breath and filled in Fan about all of the dreadful night and all of her suspicions since
then and even some of her thoughts and fears. She felt so tight and nervous by
the end when she was done that his thoughtful silence just about did her in. Her
head was faint with embarrassment and her stomach wanted to loose her breakfast but she couldnt run away successfully, not
with out stealing his horse. So she stayed put for the long minutes it took him to think through it all. "It'd solve all our problems
if my mother was your killer." Enira gaped at him: his statement startled her. Far from berating or coddling her it stated one of his problems with a comment on
hers. She grabbed the opportunity to forget her own worries as soon as it was
offered. "What has your mother done
now Fan?" She asked tilting her head worried and questioning. "Oh nothing new. Still trying to buy us all into living with her like a flock of trained peacocks all pretty and showy. Thats how I got Dawn. He waved a hand of in his golden horses general direction. It
was her gift of the year, give us all horses matched to us. Mine matches my hair
incase you havent noticed." He said disgustedly. "I had." Nira put in. Fan blinked surprised but shrugged and went on. "Not that I mind too much. My old mare Gypsy isnt up to cross country sprints these days and she does quite fine
for taking me along the roads among the capital. She loves people that horse,
so does Dawn too, well actually I think he doesnt care one way or the other for crowds.
Gypsy loves the markets and the people and shes so friendly to kids, sometimes she coaxes a spare apple out of one
of the vendors for the children to give to her, tricky old lady. Oh I'm sorry
Im rambling on, wasting your time, not even-" He mumbled quieter and quieter so that even with all her clothes still and her
ears straining she couldnt hear his last words. "Hmm? What did you say?" "Oh nothing. So you been setting fire to anything with your hair lately Nira girl?" Fan asked gaily and she seethed
inside as his change of subject, shed allow it, for now. "Oh Fan! Will you lay off me? Red hair is does not have fire in it
and there is no fire in my veins either, just as green as you." And she thrust out her wrist under his nose so I he could
see the thin green veins tracing long lines beneath her skin. "Oh sure Im sure you dyed
it you witch!" He added accusingly and Nira arched her brows in mock hurt. She
was amazed at how he seemed to forget all about his mother and his rambling. Truthfully
she listened to every word he said, every word she could hear at least. She was
glad to see the sparkle back in his eyes but wondered briefly how it could be there when he had so much trouble hiding his
amusement earlier. Shed assumed he was bad at hiding feelings, especially from
a trained Empath, but he certainly shoved away his sorrow and hurt real fast. Was
he that good at forgetting? Or was he that good at hiding that which other people
did not want to see. Only problem was she did want to see it, what ever it was. She could only help if she knew the truth, but Fan was a puzzle, a tricky puzzle just
like his forest here. She let the confused thoughts spin around her head while
she shot back at him. "Oh a witch? Me? Then I'll turn your hair red too! Would that make your blood red then? Some how I doubt it,
and if I can change hair color and not blood color than my blood is really green and my hairwhat ever color I want." She said
victoriously. "Yeah? Well, well, I'm a farmer so ha!" Enira grinned and laughed.
He always said out of the most ridiculous comments when he was stumped, she loved it.
Enira wandered through the forest kicking at stones and fingering random leaves.
Her eyes followed the scurrying small creatures but her attention was missing.
Today was a blah day with grey overcast skies and no one around to chat at. Through
some odd coincidence all her friends and much of her family had turned up busy today.
Aesha had been called home, as had Fan. Tero and his whole family had
gone off on a picnic in the northern country. Teyl had just disappeared, but
that wasn't too strange.
She sighed and let her mind retreat in on itself as she walked. Her feet
automatically followed the trail she had walked and run along since she had had use of her two feet. She wandered aimlessly past a fallen tree that she'd used as a great bench for over two years now. The cliff that followed the right side of the path was familiar and she considered
scrambling down it to the bottom. Then thought better of it considering her idle
brainless state.
She reached the gazebo at the end of the trail that over looked a deep gorge with a river sliding along it's bottom,
Serpent River. It had this olive green tint in the spring time when the snow
covered bluffs warmed and the snow melted to overflow the banks of the river. At
the very head of the gorge, the tail of the serpent, there was a tall thin line of a water fall with a perpetual rainbow decorating
its mist. The rainbow appeared in early spring after the falls melted and the
winter icefall shattered and floated down stream. It then remained for all of
summer and much of fall till the early winter frosts slowly refroze the mouth of the Serpent River. At the end of the skinny river winding its way through the chasm below her was a wide expanse of lake,
the head of the snake, which was also that eerie green. A group of her siblings
the Shadan had formed a trip to the beaches along the lake for today, a day with sapphire blue skies and golden sunlight. She herself was not the best swimmer and had a few encounters with the lake that she
preferred to forget. When ever possible she avoided a swim in a deep lake and
opted instead for a wade in a river or a soak in the rare hot springs. Then there
was the fact that every so often and unexplained accident happened at the lake. Accidents
happen everywhere but most of the time the Neven can solve them and they are rare. At
Serpent Lake, though, accidents happen once or twice a year, never resolved by any of the officials. It was that little added danger that had Nira going out of her way to avoid the lake, she'd even hidden
and run off rather than be dragged along with her parents on official outings there.
She'd been isolated and even flogged before for her absence, but something told her it was worth it to stay away. She shivered once in the steamy golden morning and pulled her spring cloak closer
about her shoulders. Today she'd put on her brown hiking outfit; loose brown
canvas pants, undyed close fit cotton shirt and a matching brown canvas over vest. She'd
also added her plain green somewhat shabby cloak that she had 'worn out' by the Head Nurse Maid's opinion months ago, and
even back then it was only for the most casual of wear. All in all she was well
outfitted for a day in the bluffs, not just a stroll along the paved paths with hand rails that some of her more delicate
sisters considered tough exercise. She snorted scornfully at this wimpyness but
there was still a sense of unease in the way she crouched by the edge of the gorge and the way she squinted down at the winding
greenish river. Something was odd and she had learned years ago to trust her
instincts. Even before she woke up this morning there had been odd occurrences
in her dreams. Usually some prank or 'accident' planned long enough ahead to
twist her dreams occurred before her imagination had had this long to stew or before her conscious was this super tuned to
her surroundings. Twigs broken by rabbits and the cries of birds in the air were
not yet spooking her, not yet. Her heart was convulsing slightly faster than
normal and she was breathing heavier despite the easy climb. Her nerves were
strung so tight she thought her heart would burst from pressure if her prankster didnt play his trick soon. That was part of the reason she had wandered out today, she rather preferred being embarrassed alone or
with few others around, so the absence of people to follow her out on her hike was down to none. Except of course her assailant. Another reason this day was
almost perfect was the fact that so many of her friends and family had unwavering alibis and couldnt be her ill wisher. One thing that had her set on edge was the memory of her near death that night a month
ago. Her poisoner couldnt be happy, perhaps he or she was hunting her now, maybe
that had set off her dreams and her nerves. But the main reason she had run off
to the bluffs was to escape. To escape court and her troubles and worries in
the wind and trees. To remake her bond with the very essence of the Realm which
had been severed mostly during the cold killing winter. She dug her fingers into
the soil beneath her palms, as she remained squatting on the very edge of the cliff.
Her calves started to complain of the extended position, exquisite abuse, but she wasn't paying attention to such physical
things. She also didn't notice her stomach growl and complain at her dashing
off without breakfast and without packing lunch. It wasn't smart of her to be
so oblivious to herself and her physical surrounds with some evildoer lurking around as her dreams indicated. In fact had she reacted wrong or not reacted at all she would have tumbled head over feet into the gorge
and eventually into the Serpent River. Her assailant saw this period of carelessness
and rushed her from behind. Fortunately for Nira the warning pain in her head
exploded and she sank to her knees clutching her head. From there she saw the
quick feet behind her and rolled under the outstretched arm attempting to push her to her death. With a small cry of dismay her attacker drew back from the edge, much closer than they had expected. The quick grey form withdrew quickly into the trees with barely a sound while Nira's
blinding headache settled down and disappeared. She had been so disabled by the
warning of her doom that she had been unable to react much or even to see clearly her assassin, all she registered was a blur
of grey and maybe brownish hair. Living in Rillain where 90 percent of all people
had brown hair this was small help. That was assuming her true enemy hadn't just
hired someone instead of risking personal harm. She sighed relieved that her
headache was gone, but that was small relief because she had an enemy. Some one
out there, most likely in the Realm, wanted her dead and was finding untraceable ways to do so. She curled up where she'd been crouching before and closed her eyes, but only for a moment because a hand
on her shoulder made her cry out and lurch forward, right over the edge of the bluff.
Only the fact that this person not only didn't wish her dead but also was fighting for her life made their hands quick
enough to snatch her back.
"Oh dear Nira..." She turned to see it was Teyl gripping her wrist and waist so painfully that she cried out. "Sorry! It's just I was afraid she'd already killed you, but she hasn't been here yet and
I couldn't cause your death myself...god no." He pulled her into a tight hug,
which she spun, away from the cliff, out of.
"She?? The one who wants me dead?
The one who poisoned me and tried to push me over into the Serpent River? She
was here, if it's a she, and no I'm not dead. Tell me what you know!" Enira demanded as angry as she'd ever been, excepting this nameless faceless enemy.
"I almost caught her on the way out here...saw her about the night you were sick and recognized her now, I saw it was
a she but nothing more than average brown hair, and that's only true if u assume she isn't using Molding, hope not." Teyl said slowly, he wasn't one to give up any information, even to those in mortal
danger. "But how did you know before I did that I have
an enemy? How could you?" Nira asked
suspiciously, she still wondered if he wasn't just playing some cruel game with her.
"Nira for many peoples sakes I can not tell you how I know things or where I go when I leave Its better if you forget
it and do not ask...please make this easy..." He trailed off not expecting her
too. She sighed aggravated but was content for now to mull over her new information,
which was supposing HE wasn't the one.... NO she was not going to go there, if she had a few definite allies she would stay
sane. If Teyl wasn't on her side then all was lost anyways. She just hugged him.
"Keep me up-to-date on all the info you can spare though, I deserve to know Teyl, it IS my life..." Nira ended. He nodded gravely.
"Yes, because it is your life I will make sacrifices." He added.
"But...what's so special about me? I'm just another Shada Enira said puzzled "Nira, you're asking about my information again silly." He added and dashed off down the trail with a wink. Enira knew a challenge to a race when she saw one. Ral moved along the hallway
towards the kitchens. It was a lazy day with many people being gone. He had decided to grab a bit to eat for the day and then do some random wandering in the city. His path to the kitchens wasn't direct because he had no real reason to get there and was in no rush to
leave, the sooner the day flew by the better. His wife Sora had disappeared early
today before he had gotten out of bed, he suspected she was off at the beaches with the Shadan, especially that one boy Tral. Tral was one of the quiet Shadan who went out of the way to be unnoticed, which was
why Sora had noticed him. Ral grimaced jealously, not that he would admit to
anyone that he was jealous, but Sora was His wife. True they had been married
at 3 years old by their manipulative parents but they were close nonetheless and could count on each other, or so he thought. He had many doubts and suspicions but had never put any of them to Sora because she
could sweet talk her way out of murder with him. It was useless to accuse her
because she'd have him feeling fine about it within half a minute. So he just
wandered and stewed over this on his own. She could have at least left him a
note or let him know she'd be gone. This was one odd day, so many people gone
without warning or notice. He hadn't seen Teyl, Nira, Fan, Aesha, or Sora all
day. He wasn't worried about them but he was having difficulties finding something
to do or someone to talk to. He rounded the corner and sweet smells of bread
and beef stew hung in the air. He had woken up late enough that breakfast was
not an option but what they were serving for lunch seemed more than worth the wait.
He wandered into the kitchen and snagged a bowl of soup from one of the long tables overflowing with filled bowls and
grabbed a loaf of bread and hunk of cheese from two other huge tables. It was
hard work to feed a Palace and the kitchen Rel were fairly flying about their tasks so that he had to dodge and weave to avoid
hitting anyone. Rel were not ordinary servants, they were lesser-born relatives
of the royal family themselves and got much respect for their loyalty and hard work.
Though Ral was not of this royal family or any other, as he was a young Lir from Sperin, he courteously stayed out
of their way so they could finish their tasks on time. No Rel had to fear unwanted
attentions from their masters or a beating if they were bad, being ejected from the title of
'Rel' was bad enough. Without that title one becomes a mere peasant because
upon accepting the title Rel you are sworn to allegiance to the ruling family and you discard all other ties. Obviously the heirs to titles were not allowed to accept the title Rel without odd circumstances. All Rels had a parent or grandparent that is a current Shadan, Tiran, or sibling of
the Tiran, otherwise they were not closely enough related to be accepted into the Rel.
A Rel was not an extremely exciting status to Ral but he was the heir to his parents estates and had a bright future
to look forward too. A peasant whos mother had married a Rel could decide to
be a peasant or a Rel and would most likely opt to be a Rel. Most of the time
those marrying into the Rel are accepted as Rel too unless they have other Titles. Daughters
and sons of Rels can choose their parent's title as Rel or become a peasant upon reaching adulthood, unless they have done
a special job for the Tiran and are awarded a title. Being a Rel was not too
interesting but it was a secure job working for family with anything from sewing and cooking to training horses and hunting. So Ral gave the Rel their due respect like some foreigners didn't and in return they
were much kinder and more helpful to him than to most visiting guests and fosterlings.
Ral wrapped his lunch in a towel snagged from the huge mountain of clean towels ready for use. Tying it in a snug knot he trudged back towards the side doors that lead near the stables. He had worn his knee high riding boots today and a pair of thick canvas jeans so that he could ride all
day if he wanted. He'd also added a loose shirt of light green cloth and had
his brown traveling cloak thrown back from his shoulders. He strolled into the
stables and waved to some of the Rel at work with the horses on various jobs. He
gave the Stable Master's young son Tero a friendly wave when he spotted him exercising one of the newly saddle broken mares. Then he went down the rows of stalls to where his cream and brown mare, Dusk, was
chomping away at her feed. As a fosterling he was awarded all the same treatment
as any Shadan and had been given his own Rillain-bred horse to keep when he had turned fifteen. That was two years ago and he loved his spirited horse who was specially fit to gallop the fields of Sperin
his home Realm. Though he was fostered here he would someday return to Sperin,
probably in the next few years, and take up his Title as Lir of Golden Sea. His
estate was named for the huge expanse of fields in southern Sperin all burnt golden brown in the summer. The large acres of land would be his inheritance along with the responsibilities of a Lir. The Lyr of Dusty Road, the estate bordering Golden Sea on the East, had wished to ally with his father's
great lands and had offered his Heir and daughter Soradi as bride for Ralun. Ral's
father had accepted and they had been married at the fresh age of three, before they could even spell each other's name. Dusty Road was an estate across which the southern trade route crossed, they were
rich off of high transportation taxes but had the title 'Lyran' and not the tile 'Liran' which was second only to the Tiran
of the Realm. Sora and Ral's heir would be Liran inheriting his title, while
the rest of their bunch would only be Lyran, inheriting their mother's. Golden
Road, as the newly combined estates would be called when both their parents had passed away, would be ruled by Liran and the
Lyran siblings could be married off to lesser-born lords with land. Then the
heir's of those lands would bear the title of their highest-ranking parent and the siblings bear the title of the other. All in all it was a good treaty for them and Ral truly cared for Sora even if she
seemed indifferent at times. It was impossible to break the bond of marriage,
when two souls are bound close, except with death. Even so most widows do not
remarry when their partners are stolen from them. So he and Sora had long ago
fought and complained and reached a truce about their partnership. After they
had found some compromises they began to work out how to tolerate and get along with each other. It had worked miraculously well, for Ral's part it was real, he cared about Sora and enjoyed the challenges
of being paired with such a...feisty...character. He grinned and realized he
had been standing outside Dusk's stall lost in thought. He glanced around at
the Rel and found them studiously working on their own tasks virtually oblivious to his presence. Oh they knew he was there all right, but he was no nuisance or threat to be watched carefully so they continued
with their chores. He gathered Dusk's unornamented gear from the post in her
stall and saddled her up for a wander in the forests. He used the worn but sturdy
gear that had once been a fine saddle for a Shadan to parade around with. Ral
hardly needed anything more when it was just him and Dusk out in the woods. He
tied his cloak and his lunch to the back of his saddle and led Dusk out of the stable and down the path past the grazing pastures
and up the trail into the publicly ridden part of the Mondi forest. He planned
today to wander further out into the parts where the courtly Shadan didn't wander idly.
To the untamed part of Mondi where none but the most adventurous youngsters venture.
Having been born in Sperin the Realm of flat expanses of grain and wheat and grass so many trees was an alien delight. He loved to find a nice grove of curving tall trees and climb the tallest one to the
top to see over the hills and bluffs. He knew there would be a time when he had
no free time to visit Rillain and see the forests so he was not going to waste his time here talking in parlor rooms of the
Liran and Shadan, especially not when inter-Realm marriages were not encouraged and he was already married. So he did what he wanted while he was still free to roam. So
today while he roamed further from the castle and closer to the Serpent River he heard stiffled crys to his right and challenging
playful yells to his left. He was concerned for the one who was crying and the
playing youths to his left could be left to their own devices. So he dismounted
Dusk and led her along through the woods further from the yells and closer to the crying.
He stepped past a tree and stopped because the sniffling seemed to be coming from below him. Looking down he saw Sora curled up in a small grey ball crying into her crossed arms.
"Sora! What's the matter dear."
He asked worriedly as he dropped Dusk's rein and crouched down at her side. "Are you hurt?" He asked confused.
"No.." She choked out between sobs. "No," she repeated and this time bitterly.
"No one is hurt"
"Isn't that good?" Ral asked patting her head because he wasn't used to seeing her this uncomposed.
"No not at all!" She spat as she sat up and brushed away Ral's hand. "Nira should be dead! I've tried so hard but I can't do anything right. You'll help
me wont you? You're real smart Ral." She
said with new hope in her eyes. Ral looked down into her brown eyes not believing
what he'd heard. He blinked dazed once and stood up sharply.
"YOU....You're trying to Kill Nira? How could you? Why her? No I cannot help you with murder Sora, I cannot help
you continue." He half yelled apalled at her treachery. She widdened her eyes furiously and stood up to tower over him by a good half foot.
"You coward Ral, I'm a top spy for the Galazi hired to assasinate the Shada Enira, I have no clue why they want her
dead I just follow orders and get rewarded." She said arrogantly.
"Sora you would kill the sweetest Shada for money? You would kill one
of your friends and lie to the rest for money? You have no loyalty." Ral put in still stunned by her daring.
"My loyalties just lie elsewhere than yours, perhaps we are not the best couple and should end this marriage." She said sullenly because she had never seen too much logic in her orders either and
had avoided thinking on them too hard.
"Sora you know we can't do that except by death, you aren't planning to kill me too are you?" He said peeved.
"No no I couldn't even imagine that, you're my husband-" She managed to
get out before he broke in with.
"But we aren't in love! Just good friends pretty much. So killing me or Nira should be just as easy!" He shot and
spun on his heel to head back to Dusk who was inching away from their yelling and anger.
"You don't love me at all?" She said stunned as she grabbed his arm. He turned slowly back to her.
"Apparently I don't even know you Soradi Averga" He said slowly and turned
off.
"Ral! I won't kill her just don't leave me please." She said sounding somewhat scared. She had never been scared
before that he could remember and he turned around in surprise. Sure enough there
was a glint of fear in her chocolate eyes, rare color for a Sperin high blood, and he hugged her.
"I don't want to Sora, but what you've done is very bad, you have to stop"
"But Ral...the Galazi...they'll come for me...kill me..." She said shakily
"Don't tell them you've stopped, simple" He said simply, sounding more
confidant than he was.
"Lie to them?!" Sora sounded shocked
"You lied to us, and they deserve it" He said sternly
"But Ral spying is so fun..." She said as one last arguement
"Sora give it up, you have friends who care for you you don't need their kind of power." She looked up at him considering it and then sighed and hugged him back.
"Fine I'm done"
"Then come appologize to Nira I'm sure she's scared stiff." Ral said and
led her to his horse, but she hung back wide eyed.
"Ral I just tried to kill her just now...what if she gets me hung...what if she hates me...what if that dangerous friend
of hers Teyl kills me on sight...I can't"
"Fine I'll set up a meeting for just you and just her, appolgize for real. She's
a very reasonable girl, besides I won't let my wife be killed and I'll kidnap you back to Sperin if I have to" Ral said determined. Sora smiled up at him and then remembered
who she was. She straightened up dusting off her grey pants and shirt and strode
over to Dusk.
"It would be kind of you to do so" She said and rode of on his Dusk. He grimaced and then smiled ironicly to himself, same old Sora.
Sora rode slowly through the woods towards the Palace. Admitting her crime to Enira would be very hard for her and she was tempted to run off to the nearest Port station and head home to Dusty Road her estate. She knew though that Ral would have to tell why she had left so hurriedly so that Enira could let her guard down. A thought occurred to her, she could say she was sorry and continue the huntno theyd be watching her for just that, watching very closely. She grimaced in annoyance she didnt want surveillance, but Ral had said Nira wouldnt tell anyone so perhaps it would just be Ral, Nira, and of course Tero Niras shady brother watching her. She could still get her assignment done and make Ral happy with her. But Ral would know who had killed Nira and he would not be happy this pained her oddly. Rarely did she give a moments thought to things other than the thrill of being a Galazi on assignment or the idea that she would be a Tira of a large estate when her fosterage was done with. Lately she had been calmed by Rals presence, and had even looked for him a few times to talk. This was not like her the feisty Sperin Lyra who played with whom ever. In fact she hadnt been to visit Trel in over a week! She shrugged, it didnt matter what he thought. Somehow though it did matter what Ral thought, in fact she was blowing her cover and ruining an assignment for him. This out of character action made her bite her lip and tense up so that Dusk broke into a brisk trot moving quicker towards the Palace. She reined Dusk in sharply, she needed more time to think before she found herself among the throng of courtiers in the Palace. Though today that crowd was much reduced
by her efforts, she had given the idea of a beach trip to one of the charismatic young Shadan who had in turn recruited a
good half of the rest to follow him. She had falsified summons for a few of Niras
closer friends so they would be out of the way, so that Nira would be on her lonesome.
It had worked perfectly and now she was grateful for the emptiness of the halls shed return to. So she rode Dusk back to the stables and got her in her stall where she brushed her down giving herself
more time to think. She could do this, Ral was right Nira had been a great friend
and it had taken a lot of will power to stay on her assignment for the Galazi to kill her.
She hung up the saddle on its post and returned the brush to its spot, she then filled Dusks trough with more fodder
and wandered slowly, reluctantly, to the side door of the Palace. It was a servants
entrance but much used as a short cut to the stables by all ranks of people. It
was directly behind a flight of stairs leading to the Shadan wing, also for servants use, and was used more frequently as
an exit and entrance than even the main door. Sora clicked the door shut behind
her and the sound seemed ominous. She was worried about Niras reaction because
she knew by now that for Ral she would forgo her mission, she would cut her ties with the underground and find more legal
forms of adventure. She was somewhat relieved to return to lawful society, but
the same danger that added stress to her life also added spice. Oh well she was
going to do this for herself and for Ral and the Galazi be dammed.
Enira dashed back to the Palace hot on Teyls heels, with his head start she couldnt beat him because they were almost
perfectly matched runners. She turned into the side parlor next to the main doors
and sprawled on a hard green couch, more for looks than comfort. If she wanted
comfort shed return to her room but it got very lonely there because no one was allowed in, her own rule. So she relaxed in the parlor with Teyl, who was spread across another couch, legs and arms every which
way. When her pulse and breath slowed some, a while after Teyls strangely enough,
she curled up hugging a pillow. With the slowing of her pulse her memory of her
assassin came back.
"Teyl why do you always show up right after I almost die?" She asked sleepily,
she would have what answers she could from him, and now.
"Well I've tried to get there before, but your killer is fast, very fast" He replied and grimaced as she flinched at
the word killer.
"She hasnt killed me yet, but Im afraid its just luck so far. You do know
its a she?" She asked calmly. For some reason with him in the room she could
talk about it calmly and with out fear, but that fear just sat below the surface waiting to rise again. She wanted to chain him to her so that she couldnt be alone again, if he was always with her he couldnt
arrive late again.
"Yeah, its a she, couldnt tell much else though" He said. He was very
grumpy at his inability to know more.
"So we know its a she who has poison and motivation. Do you think its
a hired assassin? Do we have a different enemy out there somewhere..." She trailed
off shivering. God she hoped not.
"Who can tell? Itd take a week or so to question all the right people
correctly." He said offhandedly. She
was curious as to who this right people is.
"And how would you know who all these right people are? Hmm?" She asked
knowing she was asking about his contacts and would receive no answer. He just
glowered, he regretted even mentioning that he had contancts.
A very dusty and weary Ralun strode into the room and plopped down in a chair far from them but next to the door.
"Enira, your killer is ready" Was all he said and her heart clenched tight.
"Ready for what?!" She squeeked as she pressed herself into a small ball
into the stiff couch. He blinked bewildered.
"Why to talk to you Shada" Then he realized how his first statement sounded "Oh I'm sorry Ive just had a long walk
back from the woods, my horse was taken."
"Wha?" Enira was very confused but her heart melted with relief, her killer wanted to talk...wanted to talk?
About what?.
"Yeah, Sora took my horse to ride back to the Palace...um I'll go fetch your k-....her here." He stumbled over the
words nervous and looking warily at Teyl. Teyl was looking thoughtful like he
had almost figured something out. She wanted to steal his thoughts from him but
he had the best guarded mind in all of her friends, including Fan. She turned
her attention back to Ral not sure what to say, she had lost all calm and composure and wasnt sure what was going on or what
should happen any more. She sighed.
"Um yeah go talk to her, and me and Teyl will be in a more private spot...um the back room of the library, nice neutral
ground. Ok?" She had a feeling he
was her ambassador from the assassin, he had some tie to her.
"Oh yeah that'd be good, I'll see ya there, but she wants to see you alone." And he turned what should have been peircing
eyes on Teyl, they were more concerned than anything else and Nira felt some strenght return to her, her side had some power. Maybe she wouldn't die, maybe she would work it all out. She would like that a lot, but right now she just wanted to sleep.
Enira flew up the steps that led to the Tiran wing and then turned a sharp left at the first intersection and flew
down the steps leading to the level just below. On that level was the whole of
the Royal library, there were both private and public sections depending on who you were.
Shadan had access to more than most Liran and Tiran had access to all. There
was an absolutely public section where even peasants with no titles could wander in and browse. As a Shada Enira had access to all but the back warded shelves. There
were many small alcoves with rare and delicate books, the alcove given to the accountants was so unused it was dusty. The accountants wandered here to meet once a year with all the books and sheets that
they had organized, then with a flock of pages they carefully copied and stored them and no one would dare rearrange them,
not even the accountants. It was far from the last time the accountants had congregated
and it would be another several months till the next one. So Enira found the
room dusty with lack of use or care and filled with darkened lanterns. She snagged
the chair meant for the Head Accountants use, a big ornate burgundy and emerald thing made of rosewood and lodged in the corner
under stacks of blank sheets. She pulled it up to the smooth but dusty table
and lined them both up. All this was done to try and calm her nerves, she got
picky when she was nervous, and to put on a nice show of strength and composure to her who dared try and take Niras life. When she sat royally on the chair, and stared at the door opposite her at the end
of the table for awhile, she became sleepy again. So she plucked off her hiking
books and loosened her belt before crossing her legs on the table and slouching down in her chair. During the past weeks she hadnt been sleeping and the added stress of an assassin had kept her senses finely
tuned. She felt that relaxation and peaceful nights were on the way and this
hope lent her calm and she lay her head down on the padded arm of the engulfing chair and closed her eyes.
Teyl tried to follow Ral after Nira dashed off but Ral knew Teyl would and used some short cuts that were untraceable
even to him the experienced, if young, spy. Detours through empty rooms which
seemed like dead ends puzzled him and led him to marking them on his mental map of the Rillain Palace, for the first several
dead ends he found the hidey hole or hidden passage that Ral had used. Finally,
when a tunnel from one room passed under the library and stopped, he was stumped. He
backtracked and thoroughly searched the last few rooms hed been in but was forced to admit defeat. So he wandered back to the nearby library and found the alcove Nira had picked out for her meeting spot. He expected her to be either pacing or twitching in some chair, as was her way under
pressure, so he was quite surprised and somewhat disappointed to find her sprawled in an old cozy chair sound asleep. He frowned, now was the worst time to fall asleep what with her assassin coming here
to talk with her. He strode over and shook her soundly awake.
"Nira! I'm shocked at you, you're in danger and you're sleeping! I thought you were smarter than that" He said grumpily. She frowned at him confused and grumpy too, he was interrupting her first nice dream in weeks. Then she blinked in comprehension.
"Oh Teyl you're just pissed that I'm doing a better job of keeping me alive than you are and it's more luck than skill. You wont believe that any old luck could be better than your skill at...whatever you
want to call what you do. You never did tell me exactly why you are like you
are." She added slyly.
"Oh Nira! How do you always manage to slip in something about me in everything
you say to me, this is about you. You were being horribly careless just now and-"
He got in before Nira cut him off.
"Teyl its my life! And right now I'd rather sleep than live because I
havent slept in so long" She trailed off and looked down at her lap blinking back tears of frustration that she'd held back
so often that now she was good at it. She tilted her head and centered
herself till the tears retreated once more and she was calm and composed. Where
was Ral and...her?
"Oh Nira I'm sorry" Teyl said with concern.
"For what you're just trying to help me." She said with false levity.
"You dont have to hide-"
"I'll hide what I want to when I want to and you wont stop me Teyl!" She shot out just as the doorknob turned. She plopped down into the chair she had arranged and shoved Teyl to the side near
another chair. She stared hard at Ral as he walked in cautiously opening the
door all the way until it was flush against the wall. He looked back at her stonily
and stared around the room warily, then with a shrug he retreated out of the room a few paces and motioned to someone out
there.
"I hope you dont mind Enira but she has reason to be wary considering the hostility you must have to her" He reached
out to his left and clasped someones hand. Tugging carefully he drew Sora out
from around the wall. She was looking about her wide-eyed and her hand was shaking. Realizing that both Teyl and Enira's eyes were locked on her she visibly straightened
and put on an arrogant mask. Ral continued to hold her hand and drew her further
into the room to a chair at the other end of the lengthy table. He glanced at
Teyl with as much hostility as Teyl was aiming at Sora.
"Teyl, Sora wants to be alone with Enira, I'll go if you do." Ral said
slowly and firmly.
"I cannot allow her alone with Enira considering..." He said with a hostile glower that covered Ral and Sora.
"Teyl I am not a defenseless baby I will do as I please and you will obey. I
will meet with Sora alone after you have taken her weapons." She murmured in a dangerously low voice.
"But Enira I cannot allow you to be armed and her not...she is in danger too, I seem to recognize that more than Teyl."
Ral protested.
"Well I will not part with my blades and...things, so I guess well just keep what we have and if it comes to an all
out fight then well both be prepared." Enira said in a no-nonsense tone. Teyl and Ral both paled but each was worried about a different female. Sora just sat calm and cold behind her arrogant mask, she would let down her barriers and talk when they
were alone, and not before. Sora was glad though that no one had suggested both
Ral and Teyl stay in, to be under Teyl's hawk like stare was bad enough, but to admit her wrongs and confess to Enira in front
of Ral. She would not have him see her shame, she might be able to do this with
Teyl around, but not until Ral left could she face Enira.
"Boys, are you leaving or what?" Enira asked and Sora lost her far-off expression.
Teyl and Ral both wandered to the flung open door and there was a small encounter when they got to the door as to who
would leave first. Enira sighed impatiently and ordered Teyl to get out now,
Ral followed reluctantly. Enira stood and Sora jumped but Nira just calmly walked
to the door and shut and locked it. At this Sora widened her eyes worriedly and
lost her arrogant mask slowly.
"You're gonna kill me arent you, thought ya would." Sora said in a Sperin
low land accent that Enira had never heard.
"Sora..." She stopped not sure what she wanted to say, "I'm not going to kill you but I am wondering why I should bekilled. Right this moment, truthfully, I just want to get my first good nights sleep of this
month." She looked at Sora grumpily making it obvious who was to blame, but without
the hostility of Ral or Teyl. Sora relaxed a little, a very little.
"Um... I'm part of the Galazi, Sperin underground Mafia, and I have no clue why they want you dead I'm just a tool." Sora said slowly and some what bitter at just being used. "I personally
dont want you dead. It's been hard to stay on mission as I got to know you better. I'm kind
of glad that I quit it but..." And she trailed off seeming on the edge of saying
something.
"Keep going please, I'll not kill you, but I could still turn you in" Enira
added with both encouragement and some force. Sora grimaced.
"I'm not so afraid of your punishment, and I'm surprised you dont plan on turning me in, It's...it's the Galazi, they
dont accept quitters at all..." And she trailed off again this time without more to say.
Enira was silent for awhile.
"Sora you've been a good friend in general, sorta, and I have more to gain from true friends than dead enemies. The Galazi...how do you keep in contact with them?"
Enira asked her eyes distant, thinking.
"Um, I dont, too dangerous, they are just waiting for news to say you died, or for me to come home from fosterage." Sora said curious of what Enira was thinking, but Enira had the best-guarded mind
in their group of friends, except maybe Teyl.
"So cant you just let the rumors of my assassination attempts grow and not do anything?
Not do anything till your fosterage stops and you go home?" Enira asked
hopefully.
"Well..." Sora stopped and thought about this, there was the possibility maybe. "Perhaps, but they wont be happy and
once I'm home I'll be sent on more missions."
"First, would you really mind having more missions? And what happens when
Lira have assignments that they cannot achieve due to their position and lack of time?"
Enira asked, her mind spinning at a furious pace.
"Well...I kinda do like the assignments" She said firmly like she expected Enira to scorn her for this. "And when people
cant do missions the mission gets reassigned...hmm" She said catching onto Eniras idea but not quite sure she had it yet. Enira elaborated for her.
"So you could switch sides, be a double agent. You pretend to be on their
side and fail at this mission but they wont just want to get rid of a loyal Lira so you'll be assigned more, which you could
accept or be too busy to complete. Does that work?" Enira sat as Sora mulled it over. All her nerves were super
tight, she might have a new ally, a stronger friend, and have solved one dilemma for that friend, but only if this worked.
"Yes I think it will." Sora said blinking confused and surprised that
there was some way to get around the Galazi, and that Enira had found it. She
looked at her lap once more conscious of the fact that she had been trying to kill this girl.
She stood up and hugged Enira spontaneously.
"Thank you and...I'm sorry" And she looked sorry too.
"Heh... no problem, I'm happy to be alive, now if you dont mind I'll go take a nap."
Enira's eyes still held hardness in them, wariness, but Sora could expect no more. "Now lets go make sure the guys
havent had a heart attack from worry. You and Ral are real close arent you? And an arranged marriage too..." She grinned.
"Uh yeah I think we are, at least now, he's the one who ordered me here" Sora smiled softly before she put on a variance
of her arrogant mask, more natural and less chilly, and strode out the door. But
her composure flew away when she grinned and hug-tackled Ral surprising him to no end for many reasons. Teyl blinked at the sudden Sora-Ral pile beside him and walked to Enira with a questioning look expecting
an explanation, but he wasnt getting one. Enira shook her head silently and secretly.
"Nira." He said warningly, "I need to know."
"No, Teyl, you dont. You arent my father or Tero..."
"And I'm glad, both of them are absent at your time of danger." He said disapprovingly.
"Now Teyl my father is a very busy man as Tir, and Tero hasnt been assigned to me, no Shadan has an official guard."
"But you may need one little Shada"
"Little....Why you arrogant Lyr you arent much more than a month older than me and far less wise in my opinion! All I'll say, and only to get you to lay off, is that she doesnt want or need to kill
me anymore, I found her a solution, trust me for once Teyl. Not that you have
a choice you couldnt get it from me if you tried." She said archly |
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