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It hadn’t taken long for the Aurelians to finish unloading supplies designated for the temple - once they’d managed to snap themselves out of their stupor, that is. The Blight-Born - Pleiades - had left them all disoriented, like they were buzzing through an anxious fog. The gravity of the situation had settled in with stark clarity. They weren’t just making a trip, delivering cargo to some settlement. They were part of a mission trying to save their kingdom from ruin.

Tia had fluttered around the workers, trying to find a way to help and being waved away each time as they lugged boxes through the new temple to find appropriate storage places. They hadn’t even permitted her to hold open any doors for them. She settled for just staying as out of the way as possible, hands wrapped tightly around the notebook and charcoal she’d been offered. The smooth texture of the cover, the small edge of the charcoal, grounded her to the present as her nerves tried to buzz her apart, atom by atom.

And then finally, the pantries were full, the beds were covered in warm winter blankets, and there was a tall pile of slow-burning logs stacked along the wall of the innermost chamber of the temple, a fire already sending smoke and embers up from a golden dish that sat level with Tia’s chest. The soldiers and attendants all bowed to her before they left, the old coachman taking a moment to pause before her. A weathered, calloused hand gently encircled her wrist. He gave a light squeeze, and Tia nearly burst into tears.

“May the sun’s glory warm you, my lady.”

She could only stare, watching as the Aurelians trickled out of the temple, onto their next task of delivering the remaining supplies to the prince. The door to the temple closed with a heavy thud, echoing through her bones.

Tia was alone.

Tia hadnʻt been alone since… well. She tried to swallow, to clear her ruined throat, even though she knew it wouldn’t work. Her hands tightened painfully against the notebook.

Being alone was dangerous - it meant there was no one to see her fall apart.

In the absence of other people, eyes and ears to see her and judge and define the edges of her personhood, Tia didn’t know how to stop her overwhelming thoughts as they expanded to fill the space, like a surging river overflowing the embankment, like light flooding a field with no trees to cast a shadow. Her shoulders trembled, her body a feeble container for the force of her own emotions. Tia was going to come apart at the seams until she was unrecognizable. It was inevitable.

She wasn’t a person. She was blood, hot and slick as it seeped into the ground. She was strings of ruined flesh, pulled apart and scattered in the wind. She was a voiceless scream, she was smoke and fire and she couldn’t breathe, she was the flash of claws and a field of corpses, she was dyingdyingdying -

A sound like a clap of thunder jolted Tia back together with a gasp.

She was on the ground, curled in on herself like she could hide from her reality. She didn’t know how she’d gotten there. Her knuckles were white, slender fingers curled painfully tight around the hard material of the book. The charcoal had slipped from her grasp, now laying on the floor - the source of the sound. Her other hand had slipped under her scarf, nails digging into the smooth bumps and valleys of her scar.

She forced a shaking breath in, air catching in the tatters of her throat. She forced her fingers from her neck. When she pulled her hand from under her scarf, the edge of her nails were tiny sickles of red. Tia flexed her trembling hand. She sniffled. When had she started crying?

She was tired. That was it. Just travel-worn and overwhelmed from the weight of her responsibility here exhausted, and -

And she hadn’t been that close to a Blight-Born since she’d gotten her scars. She looked down at the book, still held tight in her hand. She looked at the small charcoal on the temple floor.

Another breath in.

Tia ran a hand through her pale hair, messy and falling out of the bun she’d tried to force it into.

She couldn’t just sit here, pathetic on the floor. Even though she desperately wanted to. A wash, she decided. She would feel better without the weight of travel clinging to her skin. Then she could bless the temple grounds, burn the incense - do the work that was expected of her. Tia didn’t know how she was going to manage it. She supposed she didn’t have a choice, though. Not when so much was at stake. A shaking hand brushed the fresh tears from her cheeks.

Then Tia retrieved the charcoal and forced herself back to her feet. She was the Sun Priestess of Dawnhaven once more.

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_{Interactions: Pleiades @The Savant, Flynn @The Muse}

Redacted

____________________________
Eye of the beholder

The woman's request was rather simple of less candles and guessed that she also had a sensitivity to the light and found what she needed far less than before the blight had turned them, she still missed food, water was still unavoidable but food was something she no longer needed. Emotions and energy.. were not as satisfying as what she cooked in some sense. “Of course, I feel the same, I keep my rooms so.” Sya snuffed out most of the candles bringing the room to a soothing darkness that would probably disconcert one of the living.

As the light in the room dimed to no more than a few soft glowing spots about the room she felt more comfortable. It reflected in the pale woman's normal resting face than that of the squinting one from earlier. Giving a gentle smile of approval. The tavern woman's willingness to accommodate her guest was quite enjoyable to see. To her Olivia was just a simple patron no titles or airs and yet she still helped out a stranger in need. The creatures chest felt light with the effort on her behalf. There was something so simple and honest about the moment where Olivia felt herself more so than years past. Indeed being around Sya let her relax to a level the lady had truly missed. "That is better thank you." The lady's voice hinted with kind inflections.

Sya blushed when she noticed the woman's gaze turned to her, she seemed to follow her and had no fear of her eye, ears and even seemed to welcome it. The gesture of tucking a hair behind her ear was so very normal, the lady was well shockingly normal, if you could call any of their kind normal. But it was simple, a gesture you could see anywhere anytime. Her heart that probably did not beat as fast as before picked up a pace, so close she could smell the lady wore a scent and the subtle smell the furs had left on her clothes, the fact was plain. Whatever this woman was, she was curious and pushed through her nerves, Dawn Haven was all about second chances even for those who were considered monsters by many.

Olivia was so close it was conspiratorial, she was inches away now, the proximity was both the most scary and exciting thing she recalled recently. I want you… that was a bold statement but somehow Sya was honestly tired, she pretended to be normal for wider people, Sunni had let her be open but this was different. “I… I have seen them, I am glad you have not. I came close, in those forests, the howls, they drew to me, things… pulled at my mind's own corners… but somehow I kept my head. I am truly glad I am your first.” Sya was genuine and she revealed more detail than she had told almost anyone, it felt lighter somehow. Easier, then the implication of her word choice came to mind and blushed, memories of… no, not that right now. That was a different time in a hay loft.

“I was never magically trained, I had to figure it all out… I'm still unsure if I understand it, surely. But I can try.” Sya broke into a smile a faint one but it reached her eye and she was rather expressive. I'm the gesture. “That's quite a story. I fled my home with almost nothing, what little I could scavenge. I am maybe the last of that place. The Borderlands, I am one of the border folk, we are a rare kin now alas even ember Kin. So much is now blighted.” She said with a little sigh, they lay now heavily in the blight zone and she had felt no desire to enter it again, however immune to its effects and toxins. She did not know how she could refuse if Prince asked her though.

The lady's voice was calm and cool like the night air through an open window. "I confess that magic is not my area. I dont know most of what I can or could do. It's more like a instinct or reflex. I have been able to learn restraint and even that is not as polished as I would like. I know you can understand when I say it is hard to find people who would willingly allow us to practice on." Olivia gave the brown haired woman a shy glance admitting her weaknesses was something again her father taught her from the time of her being a child never to do and yet, she couldnt help herself it seemed around Sya. Was it an ability of the giant blue eye to coax the truth or just her own desire to be free of carrying the burdensome secrete for so long, the ruby eyes creature cared not. Olivia ran to her friends openness with full speed never wanting to be so isolated ever again. Sya was going to be her dear friend, she just had to be!

“I was worse than homeless for too long, until Dawn haven… A merchant helped fund all this, but I am its keeper and left it to my hand.” She glossed over what she did to survive, it was far from a light topic but she wanted to live more than they did. Gesturing to the building with a proud expression. She said mode than she thought, her hands rolling the fabric of a skirt between two pale fingers with hands that seen a less comfortable life.

“I would appreciate that, their are others here but.. some Who do know, I do not feel yet able to trust myself, they serve the Royals directly and … I am still cautious of them. My people were left to die by them… they ignored us, as we sent message and messengers.” Sya was honest, deeply honest and risked opening up herself, an open… well if the eyed were windows to the soul, Sya had a rather large gate. A gate that opened a crack as its iron hinges swung slowly. A crack that let out a fierce emotion and a hot fire that she usually kept locked up tightly.

She talked of her sight , how she could see in the night like prevention in darkness black and how the world was a… pallete of not colour In the darkest night but greys and tinged almost blue. How she could almost see something but could not put her mind to understand it, there were hidden layers and an… another layer that had yet to reveal itself.

Sya talked maybe too much but her heart felt lighter and listened intently to what she said about he needs and plans. But Sya felt a hand in her lap and made a choice, maybe a dangerous one but she had died… what was much after being dead? Fuck it. She died once, she had lived through hell.. why not…

Sya moved her own smaller hand and turned It to interlock smaller hand with Olivia's, intrigued how both their skin was cooler and the fact that her nails felt dangerously sharp, hard but also did not hurt Sya.

Olivia felt herself becoming closer to Sya with every hardship the young woman confessed. The lady wanted to kidnap her and carry the blue eyed girl far from here back to her lands and pamper her like some beloved pet. The royals here seemed to be a far cry to her own rule of justice and fairness. How could someone just let their people die so carelessly? It made her smooth brow furrow to hear such things from those in stations far above her own. She would have words about this after more information was gathered of course. A creature yet still her fathers daughter and his lessons were ingrained into her very sole whether Olivia cared for them or not. It was time for her formal introduction except that would mean she would have to formally announce herself to the area, and that might break her friendship prematurely. "That sounds very brutal. You really are a strong flower to have blossomed under such hardships." The tenderness in her voice carried with it the feelings of sincerity of her words. The creature pursed her full lips in thought on how to best handle such a delicate situation. Her new found friendship was far more important then the decorum of some royals who let their people die so carelessly. Yes they could wait, Sya would have to come first. She watched silently as the tavern woman took her fingers and interlaced the warmer slender digits made her sigh ever so quietly. Certainly no one at the keep would dare to touch the nightmare for fear of losing their soul yet here in the tavern she was making a simple connection that Olivia had always been so envious of common folk for.

How hard it was for the ruby eyed nightmare to not pull Sya close and comfort her from the dark like two lost girls in the woods. A deep stirring in her chest like a dozen tiny bats flapping wildly within her chest as she listened on to the destitute servant girls strife living in the streets like a foul creature. In her lands if there were homeless then they were put to work and given a wage even if it was to patrol the streets at night or clean the land for farming families it was a wage they could claim from the holdings and in turn produced a tie to the land and the families that worked it. Far be it for anyone who knew of the demon of the keep to cross those within its boarders. So peace through fear as her father had always suggested was actually a decent way to rule.

The mentioning of the girls blue eye allowed the demon next to her to boldly gaze into its depth. It was so beautiful to Olivia. Held captive by its grandeur, the lady knew why it had such a deep impact after living in the shadows of her keep for so long not wanting to frighten her people she hid and now beneath this radiant jewel she felt completely exposed! There was nowhere to hide from its gaze and the pale lady felt so deliciously revealed when Sya looked at her, almost to the point of being trapped. More tiny bats fluttered about within her chest.

Lost in her own selfish thoughts Olivia nearly failed to pay attention to the information she wanted to know. This Sya was a treasure she had to keep safe at all costs. The two coachmen it seemed would be staying a bit longer then she had planned. There were other creatures here? In the town boarders?! A protective instinct for her Sya grew as did her black nails albeit slightly as it concerned to her nails.

“You have it. I will call you friend.” Sya said, repeating self when she realized she deviated from the common tongue of her former homeland. It is almost said as an oath than a statement.

The snow white haired woman's eyes went wide at the words! Without court trappings or royal titles she had made a friend all on her own! So utterly ecstatic to the new friend she half caught and suppressed a squeal to where it sounded like one of those tiny bats deep in her chest, cried out for joy. Looking away Olivia took a second to regain her composure, even though all she wanted to do was to hug her friend ever so tightly. The creature from under the bed of her peoples homeland was now with a friend which brought the grand total to two. When her face returned to meet Sya it was of a simple warm smile. "I would like this very much Sya. I will also be your friend and no matter the hardship I want you to lean on me as much as you like." Her body froze not trying to imply things or deeper meanings yet the loosely worded statement she realized invited all manner of misunderstandings. Brave faced she let them stand, if Sya, her friend wished for there to me more to them then the simple kindness, well so much the better.

“I have to run the Inn, but I will help you in my spare time, this room… and the room your coachman has. I can do.. a … longer. term. Lease. Yes.?” Sya said she was still unsure of the wording but gestured. “If you wish, I keep it for you, the basement… has room for goods, and strong room? If you need.” Sya said, wondering if her wording was right.
“I do not know why, but I feel like I should help you, like… something important…” Sya shook her head unsure, the big blue eye of hers was confused but content in a way that could not be hidden. Looking at the red eyes of Olivia, she have the hand a gentle press and well. Sunni made her Mistress…it was her choice… and she made it. Olivia she would aid. “I Live up, near the back. There's a stair back near the way down to the bar, if not, my office is on the hall to mine and the merchants personal rooms. You are welcome to find me there if needed.” She smiled at that, she was proud, her office, her ledger. her quill and ink she practiced so hard to learn to list the accounts.

The pale lady with the faint pink tone to her milk cheeks smiled deviously at the thoughts in her head. "Yes, please come to me and I will see you are well compensated for the rooms." The ruby eyed girls voice sounded a little eager for Sya to visit and talk more. Pausing to reel in the excitement, she continued with a very friendly smile. "My coachmen can help out during the day for tavern chores. I think they would also be happy to find things to do instead of being kept in their room while I rested." Olivia didnt really sleep per say but having people think they could enter the room and possibly expose her to light would be... problematic. "They are brothers, the burly one with dark red hair is john while the one with bright red hair is Alex. They are two of.. the most trustworthy coachmen you'll find. I will ask them to find you for things you may need done. Since I will be extending my stay here for the foreseeable future."

Talking of more light topics, fell to explain dawn Haven, some of its characters and some of the gossip she picked up, such as Lunaris soldiers, to be careful of winged blightborn, but not fear him and lesser topics.

“Anything in particular you want to know?” Sya never really noticed she had not let go of the other woman's hand, nore they shifted closer over time.

And.. Sya did something impulsive. She closed her large blue eye. “Forgive me, but I died once, I saw fire consume the wolf and man conjoined I was treated worse than a beggar, and i… I thought no one would ever be truly comfortable with me.” Sya perspective and her very nature and... deep something changed that day, the day the blight took her, and now she did not hesitate when she saw a chance because who knew if she would ever get one again.

The pale nightmare watched intently as her friend made such a deep confession. Her own face turning to sympathy as she held onto as one of the few human qualities like a priestess's rosary. Her fingers moved slowly caressing the warm skin of her friends hand. "How long are the days here?" Her voice quiet and sincere. "My friend I promise that for as long as you so desire I shall hold you close, and protect you form those dark nightmares."

Sya leaned over the short distance, a matter of inches and leaned up cutely to kiss Olivia. A soft and tentative one as she felt the gentle strands of white Cheekily nudging it from her ear.

Though she could catch a bird in mid flight Olivia watched frozen to Sya's movements toward her. Loosing the focus, her breathing stopped as the brown haired blue eyed girl leaned in closer and closer. So bold it scared Olivia a little. Yet when the full lips of the tavern keeper pressed themselves to the nightmare she impulsively squeezed the warm hand in her own. The ruby eyes bashfully glancing at her friend as the free hand moved up to her lips and with just the tips of her fingers felt the spot where the kiss made its mark. The tiny bats went wild within the cage of flesh. In a simple gesture Oliva hoped her friend would understand the meaning, slowly she carried her friends hand to her lips giving the back of Sya's hand a tender kiss before turning it over and kissing her open palm and smiled with a nod.

________________________________________

Alex and his brother had gotten quite drunk as told to by their lady who for whatever reason retired early. Arm in arm they steadied each other to their room and not caring to lock their door John who had been less eager to be the victim tried to drink more than his brother. There was simply no way he wanted to be sober for whatever she had in mind. The images of the lady slowly climbing out of the carriage was more then enough to feed a dozen nightmares. Where ever she was he just hoped the person was deserving of their lady's attention.

Before they could feel the beds embrace or the softness of their pillows they were sawing logs with John having made it to the bed, and Alex on the floor scaring the mice. Both still fully clothed and oblivious to the rest of the evenings on goings.

mention:
@PrinceAlexus

Redacted

Olvia comments on restraint and their powers struck deep into her heart, it had taken an so much so so much to resist what pulled at her in those first days, tested her sanity and lured her to take the easy route. To fall to the Blight entirely and forget her humanity. To forget everything and just let it be easy. Even now she had to actively keep a check on her Blight born instincts, the whispers that never went away. But those could be kept In check especially as the Inn allowed her to subtly feed and gather her needs without harming persons or them really noticing. It was a luxury and she knew it was a blessing.

Sya just nodded to that, there were no answers needed and she felt the other woman truly understood her nature. Sunni was nice, but he never could understand her on such a level, to such a deep part of them that had been so changed by their rebirth.

Olivia did not leave her much to say in reply but the comments describing her as a flower made Sya Blush and had not refused her hands touch. Even the Prince did not seem able to look her in the eye, he actively had been uncomfortable. This woman let her be freely herself, looked into the eye without flinching and held her hand softly. She sighed softly and it was first to be willing to even consider her in any kind of romantic fashion. She knew of Blightborn who did… things and engaged in certain activities, degrading in exchange for shelter or coin. Sya had stayed
as far away from them as possible and actively avoided those dark dark places.

Sya just nodded to that, there was no answers needed and she felt the other woman truly understood her nature. "We can watch out for each other, and keep each other safe." Sya said with an firm voice and maybe a little hope, Sya had an impulsive idea but resisted it. A friend, a friend was something she greatly valued. Sya did not want to just be protected, but she could try and help her friend out too.

When they moved into business, business that she could manage and knew more about. practical matters did need to be worked out and clarified. “When I can check my Ledgers, I can calculate a long term price, based on your needs and those of your coachmen” She said smoothly, she would have to check the costs and the exact rates that would apply. “I could put strong men to work, we have plenty of work to run an Inn” Sya said cheerfully, the coachman as long as they were trustworthy could be reliable workers.

“My main rule is not to bring trouble to my door, pretty easy.” Sya said cheerfully as she found self moving close to the woman.

That Kiss, such a small gesture to some but it meant so much, she had trusted Oliva and took one huge chance to do that. Sya had risked everything and put it all down on the table. Everything changed with that kiss and they both knew it.

Seeing her so carefully and deliberately act, it must have meant alot to her, no passing fancy or minor thing. She allowed her hand to be lifted without resistance, the act as Oliva kissed her hand alone, nothing more but even that sent strong feelings almost like lightning striking the ground as she placed her lips against Sya's skin in an intimate act. Sya has not had such an act since before her turning was the last time, and even that was a stable boy she had found handsome that felt forever ago.

The question Olvia Asked was a curious one, about the nights here? The days? The sun had not risen for months, you could tell the time but it was shades of greys and blacks. However, who could call them normal? The second part made her blush, it was a commitment and one said with such a voice that it was a vow of a kind, Blight Born had no real church or law courts, no real formal structure. Your word was your bond. Sya took that bond and sealed it.

“This …is close as day gets, it's maybe noon Olivia, but it grows colder with winter's bite. You soon learn to see its…changes and subtle signs.” Sya was Resting against her now, her voice was so soft and light only she would ever hear it. No one else would hear Sya, not man or beast. The kiss had cut her reply before and scrambled her mind's concentration, what she did want was to know what more of Oliva felt like, how she felt curled against her and how it felt not to be alone in the world.

Sya spoke soft as before barely raising her voice or pitch above feelings like to do so would shatter the moment they shared. “Where I am from, Intent means far more than any legal words or papers like the so called civilised lands, If you mean so, please hold so.” Sya was more form a grip on Olvias hand underpinning how such promises mattered greatly to her, though a little also of her cynical view of the two kingdoms and what their promises and treaty had been worth to her people leaked through.

Though she softened once more. “You might find me in your bed if you keep talking so sweetly and acting so temptingly..” Sya said with a side of cheeky flirty confidence that slowly slipped out of a place that had long thought it was lost and never to emerge. This was a glimpse of the older Sya, the Sya that had lived before the blight. The Sya that was so deeply buried, but also the one that would die a second death if betrayed.

Her free hand reached up and ever so tenderly like the finest most fragile thing in the world curled her fingers though the white hair of Olivia, feeling how it was so starkly coloured yet so soft, and ran down over the tips of her ears where the elfen points where. Sya fingers and hands were rougher from her life and time before but her touch and intent were soft as the finest silk. Tracing the line of her jaw, the form of her neck and a hint of strength that lurked beneath as she traced lower, treating her as the most valuable thing in the world.

Looking Olivia directly in her red eyes without fear or flinching Sya saw how the red glowed almost with a sense of power, and she recognised the same that caused her own to faintly shine blue In the darkness. Sya had moved while she had the other woman's attention and sat directly on her lap, one hand interlocked into Olivias and the second was resting on her Back. No words were needed and the shorter Inn keeper could match the other woman's height perfectly.

“Can we stay while, I have so much to do, but… this feels right… hold me and i'll answer your questions.” Sya said cutely and closed that big blue eye so full of intent and A little tear shed but one not of sadness. She moved again to kiss her, to hold her, just to feel the willing and entirely freely given warmth and companionship of another. Sya blightborn instinct was not caring that she had to check on the bar, her instinct had overridden her mind and she just wanted Olivia right this second.

Sya took what she wanted.

@amorphical

____________________________
Eye of the beholder

Sya just nodded to that, there was no answers needed and she felt the other woman truly understood her nature. "We can watch out for each other, and keep each other safe." Sya said with an firm voice and maybe a little hope, Sya had an impulsive idea but resisted it. A friend, a friend was something she greatly valued. Sya did not want to just be protected, but she could try and help her friend out too.

Safe... A word so long disassociated from the pale woman now being used so freely felt, like she might wake from the nightmare of her life. Lost in the fresh new possibilities the single word implied. Certain a word her own people had used to describe the nightmare in the red keep. Her rule while fair was one that gave birth to the peoples fear and that fear was what she fed on night after night. Growing cold as she donned the mantel of monster, demon, and death to her people. In this singular moment the white haired woman felt that heavy mantel slip from her weary shoulders. Lost to her flight of fantasy she failed to heed the words mentioned of cost, coachmen, or trouble instead smiling completely smitten for some time and nodding to the syllables.

To this news Olivia was surprised. She had lived her life after the turn in darkness. So much so that her cycles of hiding from the light had become second nature and now there was no need? Normally the dark creature would have been very skeptical about such a bold statement. The training of her father would have demanded she investigate the information at once! Yet... the nightmare was caught up in a whirlwind of those tiny bats beneath her very pale skin.

“You might find me in your bed if you keep talking so sweetly and acting so temptingly..”

How freely she thought the way commoners confessed without trappings or decorum they expressed their intentions so boldly it made the monster hesitate out of surprise, it would last a mere tick between seconds as she, the creature of nightmares let her icy exterior melt like the snow in spring. The bashful smile played one the woman's visage as she looked at her Sya with a deep longing. Letting her new friend trace her own lines with the warm soft fingertip. "Would that be so bad?" Her own voice a sultry whisper. "The nights are so long..." Tilting her face away to let the tavern keeper see the soft contours of her milk colored neck and how the lines connected to other, more intimate curves. Where she a normal woman Olivia was certain she would have felt a shiver up her spine at such an intimate moment, instead she sat there like a statue of marble in adoration of the beautiful Sya's attentions. Leaving the creature feeling like a creation of art receiving the final brush strokes from the master indulging their latest work of passion.

Her ruby eyes casting shy glances at the blue jewel and the features below the heavenly gaze. In the moment the nightmare faded and the dawn of her life seemed just over the horizon. Whatever dream this was she begged the gods silently to never let Olivia wake. The pale lady forced herself to breath through slightly parted lips still moist from her Sya's affection. For the first time in a long, long time, the nightmare didnt think of feeding, or any dark misgivings. There was a warmth quickly spreading from her chest outward, not from heat, but born of desire.

A quiet whisper Olivia replied, "No more questions..." She sighed as the dark monster encircled her prey with both arms and tenderly pulling her friend Sya to her own figure. When the new found friend so boldly placed her very life in her hands and in her lap she swooned like never before. Allowing her to gently, slowly lean in to every kiss, summitted to every embrace, and shared in ever tenderness. As close as two could become....

Even as the lady lay there, her arms never fully releasing Olivia's friend as if their distance would break the dreamscape she found herself in. Loving kisses to the warm skin of Sya's neck as she cuddled in the afterglow. The monster felt the soft whisper of the pit from within, pleading for a taste. Holding onto her friend Olivia told it no in her mind. Never! This would be the one thing she would keep pure! Free from her hunger, no matter how tempted, or so very close... Oliva would feel her eyes roll and her lungs expand taking in the scent of her meal. So easy it would be to just, the ruby eyes flashed open as she quickly regained control. The pit howled in her mind for food, to slowly drink deep the life that lingered in the arms of the monster. With a silent quiver of her lips she flinched denying that part of her the satisfaction of a easy meal. Denied its feast, the darkness within her growled. Burying her face in the earthen brown hair she tried to hide from the nightmare that was herself. The dark hunger that clawed at her even now in her beautiful dream. Trying her best to protect the few remaining bats that still flew in her chest from the hungry endless void.

Eventually she would have to rise, to dress, and go about the town. Donning the mantel of lady, seeing to the reasons she had traveled so far to the newly formed realm. Yet in the arms of Sya she wanted to live out her life, to just be a simple woman lost in the moment forever, end of times, come what may. The ruby eyes looking over every facet of the rare beauty in her bed with smitten affections. Choosing selfish desire Olivia stayed in the bed refusing to move for as long as she could fighting her inner demon and the threats it so quietly whispered to the pale woman's soul. The very selfish Olivia sighed quietly as the monster embraced her lover so tenderly.

Mention:
@PrinceAlexus

_{Interactions: Sunni-@The Savant}

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Sya was rather comfortable, relaxed and felt entirely content as she lay next to Olivia, things had taken rather the turn and they had forgotten reservations and inhibitions. She felt sore in all the right ways and a deep feeling of satisfaction.

Reaching out to her companion? Lover? Friend? She was not sure how to define her and honestly was not bothered to. It was a rather happy feeling knowing she was there entirely willingly and blushing as she remembered all the places… we'll… Sya reached out to remind herself that the situation was real and could not believe what Had happened except for the rather physical evidence to the fact it had happened. Tracing her hands out, the light touch of a featherlight fingers feeling Olivia lying next to her following the silhouette of her in the faint candle light.

Words were not something she needed to describe her feelings unwilling to move and break the moment that they had so very much shared. Sya had been as much an willing participant has been, feeling a little proud for that part. Sya had explored her task with her characteristic determination and subtle confidence, a lack of experience was not a problem for achieving success it seems.

Sya arched her neck mewing softly from the kisses to her sensitive neck entirely unbothered by the chance there were very likely some marks left behind. The slightly possessive idea gave her more warm feelings than fear. Giving Olivia more to reach and allowing self to be entirely at the other woman's mercy. A shiver that was both fearful and alluring at the thought.

Sya own hunger was not as much a problem with the ease she could feed passively vs a wider pool, it was an ability she had been forced to practise by her time loose without home or help, taking enough to feed but not draw notice and alarm. Perhaps why her own ability had not evolved as some, or she just had no ability to accept it truly until recently… “Olivia” She said revolently as felt the other woman press into her hair that was bound to be a mess. Tracing one hand up Sya found Olivia's hair and ran her fingers through letting them flow through it and soothe her distress. She just had . A feeling.

Sya looked over to Olivia deeply and just closed her eye to sleep for a short time, letting the warmth and comfort of contract with another person's support soothe her. No words, just trust and a need to rest.

…

Sya moved slowly and did not want to disturb her lover but she needed to eventually find her clothes and cloak she had discarded In the room. They had been a little distracted.

The effort to pull that short distance Away was harder than she could think it would have been, sitting up she felt her be pulled back down and shared another slower and more meaningful kiss with the woman next to her. “I have to check on the bar. I do not mind some company tonight though, Warmth is more than just physical need." Sya said with a hint that receded her eye, shameless but she well, she knew what she missed out on now. Looking at the red glow that had started this whole thing when they looked at each other. “I do not regret a single thing” Sya said with a tone soft as she touched and tracing hands had been.

Pulling away cost her several more kisses and a slow intimate embrace which Sya paid happily before Olivia was willing to let her go, the possessive side might scare some people but Sya was well. Into that it seemed. She really had to get dressed or She might go for extra…

Well it would be silly to be embarrassed when they had already. Well done what they had done. Sitting on the bed first she braided her hair into something quick but tidy, a hair stick she found later. However something made her choose a prettier style and one that was a little more free and Looser than a strictly working one adding a small dried Flower from the vase into her brown hair.

…

Before Sya left she moved the candle so the light was defused for Olivia, less direct and more comfortable. Leaning down she picked up the woman's pale Hand copying the gesture of kissing it, and also for good measure her too tempting lips. “Olivia, .. thank you, you made me feel… Well feel again.” Sya said softly. Her actions to not don her cloak to show trust only a few saw from her openly.

Leaving the room….was hard. So hard but she managed it and closed the door softly on Olivias room. She would sort the price roughly downstairs once she had checked on the bar and double check exact details later when her time allowed her to go to her Office.

Bouncing down stairs she came to behind the bar with a cheerful tone, unsure and uncaring if the hood hid her marks of passion down her neck and below her clothes… Olivia had been a little fiesty. Oh and the mark on her hand… That one too…

“Hello Sunni, I hope he is taking good care of you miss” The hooded Sya appeared behind Sunni with a remarkable degree of stealth and a tone that had more than a little mischief to it, unlike her norm moving through the Inn almost entirely noticed.

“Do you need to take a break? You sound a little tired I can take over the bar and you can entertain your guest? Maybe make a nice 2 person selection?” Sya had missed the first bit and assumed they knew each other and honestly she was too distracted and too just got multiple . well…happy times to be entirely grounded in normal Sya mode.

@Qia
@amorphical
@The Savant

---

---

Gripping Orion’s hand, Willis rose to his feet. “Thanks for giving me a chance, man. My name is Willis, but you can call me Willy.” He pointed a thumb to his chest proudly, as Orion escorted him towards Dawnhaven’s gate. “I owe you big time…”

Orion’s gaze lingered on Willy without responding, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he assessed the man before him. Willy’s posture was open, his hands unclenched and relaxed at his sides. His eyes, though weary, held a clarity that spoke of an inner resolve, a determination that Orion recognized all too well.

It was the look of someone who had seen the darkness but chose to walk towards the light. Or so he thought.

Trust was a currency in short supply in Orion’s world, each coin weighed and measured with the utmost precision. The safety of Dawnhaven, the bastion of hope in a land shadowed by corruption, was his to safeguard. And safeguard it he would, with every fibre of his being, even if it meant keeping his heart shielded behind walls as impenetrable as the magic he wielded.

The forest around them was a living entity, its breaths coming in the form of gentle breezes that rustled the leaves overhead. The moon, a silent sentinel, cast its silver glow through the interlocking branches, creating a mosaic of light and shadow upon the forest floor. It was in these shadows that Orion felt most at home, his Blight-Born nature attuned to the subtleties of the dark.

Orion’s voice, when he finally spoke, was a soft baritone that seemed to blend with the nocturnal hum. “You’ve been on the run for a while, haven’t you?”

“Yeah… they’ve been hunting me like a dog,” Willis said. “I’ve dealt with all of them though, thank Goddess.” He gave Orion a toothy grin, then rolled up his shirt sleeve and slashed his arm with a sharp nail, drawing a nasty cut. Willis’ flesh instantly began to wriggle close, pulled together by some strange purple slime pulsating under his skin. In a heartbeat, the wound was gone.

“Funny how lady fate works. She closes a door for you, but opens another window.” Willis said as he walked beside Orion. “I was originally a Lunarian Ranger, soon to be promoted to Captain. My family was ecstatic. Now they would probably flee or try to kill me on sight for bringing dishonor to the Phillips family.” He spat on the ground. “Well, good riddance. So that’s my sob story…” Willis looked at Orion. “What about you?”

Orion’s silence was a canvas stretched taut with the gravity of his past, each memory a brushstroke of triumph and tragedy. “My story is not so different from yours,” he finally said, his voice a steady current in the stillness of the night. “I was once part of a proud lineage, destined for greatness.” A time when his name was synonymous with honour and potential. A lifetime ago, it felt like to him.

“The blight doesn’t discriminate, however,” Orion continued, the crimson glow of his eyes dimming with the sorrow of remembrance. “It took from me just as it took from you. My family, my position, everything I once held dear—gone.”

The stern blight born paused, a deliberate cessation of sound that gave weight to his confession. “But unlike many, I chose to fight back. Not just for myself, but for others who’ve suffered the same fate.” His gaze turned towards the canopy above, where the moonlight played hide and seek with the leaves. “Dawnhaven is my redemption, my way of ensuring that no one else has to endure what we have.”

Willis whistled under his breath. “Didn’t know you are an idealist at heart! Hahaha… That’s a very noble cause. Can’t say I share the same aspiration but… I admire it.” He squinted at Orion’s pale face, partially hidden by shadows cast from the canopy above. He looked like a real Casanova; a noble’s face with strong jawlines and sharp eyes, handsome enough to get freebies from a brothel. But Willis was drawing a blank on Orion’s identity.

“So… With an ideal this grand, I’m guessing you are very important in town eh?” Willis briefly shifted his gaze to Dawnhaven’s walls as they emerged from a treeline, spotting thin curls of smoke wafting from the chimneys of large stone houses sitting beyond its gate. He heard the peals of church bells, the laughter of children, and the smell of a delicious roast in the air. It seemed Dawnhaven was doing well, in spite of the harsh conditions. He looked back at Orion. “Your majesty? Did you dye your hair?”

Orion’s response came with a smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth, a wry, knowing curve that softened the severity of his features. “Important, perhaps, but not quite royalty. I am merely a shield, that is all.” His words were a humble deflection, a reminder of his chosen role as protector rather than ruler. “And no, I did not dye my hair. The blight has its own way of marking those it touches.” The smile reached his eyes, igniting them with a flicker of amusement, though it seemed the sarcasm in Willis’s voice had gone unnoticed—or perhaps, it was simply unacknowledged. Who was to say?

“And your aspirations? What are you hoping to achieve here, other than a new life for yourself?”

Willis’ mouth twisted into a strange smile, revealing dagger-like teeth that glinted in the moonlight. “I’m dying of thirst… all the time. Goddess knows what I wouldn’t do for a big mug of virgin blood. I’ll be happy when I can drink as much blood as I can!”

He leveled a crazed gaze at Orion… before erupting in laughter. “Hahaha… I’m kidding, I’m kidding. I’m hoping to get a job here.” And with a puff of smoke Willis turned into a brown bat, perching himself on Orion’s shoulder. The bat gave Orion a smug grin and said: “Pretty neat ey? Not many can fly like me. Think you can put in a good word for me when I start to apply?”

Orion’s face was a mask of calm, an unreadable fortress that held back the sea of thoughts behind his stoic facade. “Impressive,” he acknowledged, the word measured and deliberate.

Yet, honestly, he’d witnessed far graver sights, beheld transformations wrought by the blight that twisted flesh and spirit alike. Willis’s antics were but a shadow of the horrors Orion had faced and overcome.

“But there’s no need for theatrics,” Orion continued, his words a gentle chiding. His eyes, those deep wells of crimson, held a glint of caution as they observed the bat perched upon his shoulder. It was a look that conveyed understanding yet demanded respect. “Dawnhaven values sincerity and commitment.”

“I am also willing to vouch for you,” he offered. “But at the end of the day, it is not me you have to prove your worth to, but the prince.”

“Thank you so much!” Bat Willis whispered excitedly next to Orion’s ear as they approached the entrance. “I don’t want to keep our prince waiting but… for now I’ll stay in bat-form until I figure out how to make myself presentable first. I’m still sticky with blood.” He explained, eyes darting around. The guards quickly lowered their weapons, leveling a hasty salute at Orion, and swinging open the gates.

Sitting on Orion’s shoulder, the first thing Willis saw upon entering Dawnhaven was a cluster of tents pitched in the middle of the town center, swelling with the noise of mingling buyers and sellers. The marketplace spread into a semi-circle, surrounding a well drilled deep into the ground, with a line of people coming and going to fill up buckets of water.

A small group had gathered off to the side, half a dozen people surrounding a woman with pale hair and long, heavy robes—a scarf wrapped securely around her neck.

Tia, freshly washed and smelling of incense, had finally worked up the nerve to venture into town. She had kept her eyes downcast, feeling the weight of curious looks as she walked along the path. Probably counterproductive. The point of walking through town was to be seen - to let the townsfolk know that the priests of Aelios had not forsaken them, to smile and be warm. But Tia couldn’t find it in herself to do more than put one foot in front of the other, head bowed as she passed the strangers that were now her neighbors.

Until a shy woman, no older than Tia, had stopped her with a hesitant touch and whispered word.

She’d never been very good at turning people away.

It wasn’t long before more followers of Aelios huddled around her, asking her to bless them, pray for them, holding her hands, bowing their heads. It struck Tia then that life here hadn’t been easy for them. She could see it in their tired eyes, the way exhaustion hung from their shoulders like a cloak, even as they kept their backs straight and proud. Tia supposed life hadn’t been easy for anyone, lately. They orbited her like the sun, hopeful for Aelios’ light after months of endless night.

She was kneeling in front of a little boy, offering him a smile as she examined a fresh scrape on his elbow. He reached up, transfixed by her hair. Chubby fingers tugged at the strands, and whisps of blond hair fell in Tia’s eyes. She made a face and blew them to the side as the boy giggled. Tia smiled back at him.

Then her hand gave off a soft, golden glow as she held it against his elbow. Though her magic was buried deeper now, hidden under layers of shadow, it was still simple enough to pull a thin strand of it up to the surface. The boy watched, transfixed, as her skin warmed his own. It cost her more than it should’ve, but Tia breathed through it. She pulled her hand away, and the scrape was gone.

The skin on the back of Tia’s neck prickled. She tensed, eyes unfocusing. She heard a voice whisper… something. It was like a memory and reality at once, the voice drifting over her skin. Then she turned her head to look over her shoulder, towards the source of the odd sensation, to see a man standing at the village entrance, with a… bat?

The bat took off from Orion’s shoulder, sweeping above Tia’s worshippers, and landed on the boy’s head, the momentum slamming him into the ground with a painful crunch! It turned two beady red eyes on Tia as it hovered above the boy, and spoke: “Oh wow! How’d you make your hand glow like that?”

The screams were immediate.

Chaos erupted amongst the small group of Aelios followers, as Tia fell back from her kneeling position onto her rear, eyes wide and a strangled yelp stuck in her throat. The little boy was twitching, facedown in the dirt. Tia’s eyes darted between the boy, the pool of blood growing beneath his head, and the small, talking bat.

The flat end of a shovel swung through the air.

It connected with the bat with a harsh clang!. The boy's father, eyes bulging with panic and fury, sent the bat shooting off of the boy’s head and smashing into a wooden market stand. The chaos began to spread to the market, vendors and shoppers scattering and shouting at the sudden commotion.

Tia, frozen with panic, could only stare at the small hole the bat projectile had created. Then weak gurgling ripped her attention back to the boy. His father, tears already springing to his eyes, knelt by his body, shovel discarded at his side.

Together, Tia and the father flipped the boy over - gasping at his smashed face. His nose, crumpled into his head, was spouting a thick stream of blood, turning his breaths wet and shallow as he struggled to get air. His neck was bent at an unnatural angle as he twitched, eyelids fluttering open and shut erratically. Tia dug as deeply as she could into her well of magic. Heart pounding, she lowered her hands over the boy as they started to glow - softly at first, then brighter until the light was nearly blinding.

A figure jumped out from the smoking wreck of the fruit stand nursing a dangling arm. He was munching on an apple with a cringe on his face. The muscles on his arm rippled in a wave from his shoulder to his fingertips as his bones reknit themselves together with a crackling sound. Willis squinted his eyes, spitting out apple seeds as he scanned the faces of people in the crowd.

“Who the hell hit me??? This town certainly has some strange customs.” He rotated his arm and spotted a flash of gold amongst the throng of people - Tia’s magic. Shrugging, he strode forward, lazily keeping Tia’s followers at bay with one arm as he advanced on her through the crowd.

Orion’s gaze sharpened, the crimson of his eyes seeming to burn with a cold fire as he took in the pandemonium that Willis had set in motion. The transformation from bat to man had been far from discreet, and the resulting chaos tore through the marketplace with the ferocity of a storm. Stalls were overturned, goods scattered, and the air was thick with the cries of dismay and fear.

Willis, nonchalant in the eye of the turmoil, bit into an apple with an air of detachment. His arm, marred moments before, now showed no sign of injury, the flesh knitting together with supernatural speed. He strolled through the disarray, his carefree demeanour a stark contrast to the dread etched on the faces of the townspeople. It was a sight that stirred a rare flicker of anger in Orion’s chest.

With a swiftness born of urgency, Orion cut through the crowd, his presence commanding and resolute. The townsfolk, recognizing the authority in his stride, gave way, their expressions a mix of relief and awe. In moments, he was upon Willis, his hand lashing out with the precision of a hawk snatching its prey. He hoisted Willis into the air, the ease of the action belying the strength it required.

“Enough!” Orion commanded, his voice a low rumble that seemed to echo from the very earth beneath their feet. The word was a decree, a line drawn in the sand. “Your actions are reckless and endanger everyone here!” His tone left no room for argument, each word a hammer striking the anvil of order. “Dawnhaven is a sanctuary, not a playground for your whims!” The finality in his statement was a clear warning: such behaviour would not be tolerated, not in this place, not under his watch. Dawnhaven was a haven, and he would keep it so, even if it meant standing against one of his own.

“Oof! Wait, what’s going on-” Willis awkwardly pried loose from Orion’s grip to free himself. Falling backward, he landed on his haunches in a puff of dust. He jumped to his feet, complaining. “Listen man, I saw this blonde girl right, she’s wearing a brown scarf, shooting light from her hands! When I got closer to investigate, someone in the crowd punted me into that fruit stand there, and broke my wing! I don’t know why you are blaming me for this!”

Orion’s chest rose and fell with a measured breath, a silent call for the composure that had always been his ally in times of strife. “Willis,” he addressed the man before him, “Your actions, intentional or not, have caused fear and harm.”

“This town,” Orion continued, his gaze sweeping over the scattered remnants of the marketplace, “is a place where people come to feel safe and in harmony with those like us.” His tone was a reminder, a verbal nudge to Willis’s conscience, urging him to understand the gravity of his misstep. “Your presence here must reflect that respect.” It was a statement that brooked no argument.

“Ah… well… erm…” Willis shrank a little from Orion’s words. He took another look at the people huddling behind Orion, spotting fear and anger in their wide eyes. He smelled blood and heard a soft whimper. A golden glow broke through the ranks to his right. “Damn man… I really messed up huh?” He looks down at his feet, clearing his throat. Then in a tiny voice, he mutters “Sorry”.

The hard lines of Orion’s face eased into a more gentle contour. Willis’s apology, though timid, seemed to bring calm to the charged air that hung over the marketplace. The townspeople’s eyes, once wide with alarm, now flickered with a more cautious curiosity as they regarded the new blight born in the town.

“I suppose…acknowledging your mistake is the first step towards making amends,” Orion acknowledged, his voice a balanced chord of sternness and warmth. It was a statement of fact, an olive branch extended with the promise of redemption.

“Dude, but seriously don’t hoist me into the air again alright? I thought you were gonna give me a hug, not try to kill me!” Willis quickly regained his confidence. “Anyways uh… Oh, look, over there! That’s the glowing girl I was talking about!” He pointed a finger at Tia. “Wow, she’s sitting on blood!”

With a motion that spoke of leadership and assurance, Orion beckoned Willis to accompany him. They approached the injured boy and his father, where Tia, a beacon of healing and hope, continued her work. Her hands, bathed in a soft glow, moved with a grace that seemed to draw the very essence of tranquillity from the air.

Tia focused on the boy, sweat beading on her skin despite the winter chill. Pulling on so much of her magic after months without sunlight was like marching through a blizzard - as hard as she tried to force herself forward, nothing moved as it should’ve. Her magic was weighed down, something frigid and opaque keeping her from what she knew should’ve been within her reach

Realign the bone fragments. Mend the cartilage. Knit the flesh. Fill the veins. Spine, throat, face, brain. Tia spread her magic through his body, searching and repairing him bit by bit. She squinted against her own light, hands shaking as she dug deeper and deeper within herself until she thought she might be hollowed out entirely.

There was a final flash of light…

And then the boy, eyes closed, neck and face mended, still covered in his own crimson blood, inhaled a clear breath.

Tia nearly collapsed where she crouched over him. Her body all but gave out now that the job was done. She caught herself from falling back, pebbles digging into the palms of her shaking hands. Tia tried to swallow. All she could hear was the thundering of her heart and her own heavy breathing. But the boy was breathing, too. That felt like the only thing that mattered.

She felt that prickling on her skin again - a murmuring or caress, or a pull, like a child trying to grab her attention. She turned her head again to look up through the crowd. The stunned villagers seemed to part themselves, clearing a line of sight to Orion and Willis.

Willis marched over to Tia, and smiled at her, revealing rows of sharp teeth. Dried blood clung to his entire body like a dull red paste. “So… we meet again! I was the talking bat, by the way. My name is Willis, but you can call me Willy. Nice to meet ya!” Standing over Tia, Willis moved to grab her hand.

Tia couldn’t help but try to scramble back as he approached, all fangs and blood and the scent of iron. A wave of dizziness hit her as she tried to move. She didn’t get very far - not before a furious voice cut through the crowd.

“You almost killed my boy!” It seemed the father had recovered faster than she had. The shovel went swinging through the air again.

Throwing his leg forward, Willis knocked the shovel out of his hand. It flew into the crowd with a thunk, and a figure fell, clutching their head. In a heart-beat, Willis spun to face the man. “What the hell are you talking about?” Willis snarled at him, spittle flying out of his mouth, landing on the man’s nose. Then he narrowed his eyes at the man. “Wait a minute… are you the guy that tossed me like a ball?”

“I’m the guy that’s gonna put you in the ground!” he shouted back.

“Enough!” Orion’s voice rang out once more, a command that cut through the chaos like a blade. He stepped between Willis and the father, his presence a shield against further violence. “Both of you, stop this foolishness.”

“Hey man, check his arms. If he hit me that hard his arm would be broken.” Willis whispered to Orion.

Orion’s eyes, twin beacons of responsibility, moved with a practiced calm from the father’s flushed face to Willis. “Alright, sir, if you wouldn’t mind showing me your arms?” he asked, directing his attention back to the still red-in-the-face man. The request was framed with the courtesy due to a fellow citizen, yet it carried the unmistakable authority of his office. There was no trace of hostility in his tone, but rather a clear expectation of compliance.

The father, whose anger had been a palpable force just moments before, seemed to recognize the gravity in Orion’s stance. With a reluctant motion that betrayed his simmering frustration, he extended his arms. They were strong, the muscles honed by a life of labour, yet now they trembled slightly with a cocktail of rage and fear.

Orion’s examination was thorough but gentle, his fingers probing with the expertise of one who had seen many battles and tended to many wounds. As he inspected the skin, the tendons, and the muscles, there was a collective holding of breath among the onlookers. But it was as he had suspected; the arms were unmarked, the skin unbroken.

Straightening, Orion turned to address the crowd, his voice now a beacon of reason. “We need to calm down and address what’s important here. This boy needs immediate attention still, and we need to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” The last part he said while glancing at Willis, his eyes only moving back to the irate father a single beat later. “I understand your anger, but attacking Willis won’t solve anything. If anything, you’re likely to just get intro trouble with the guards once they do decide to show up. Let’s focus on healing your son of any other injuries.”

The murmurs of the crowd began to soften, the edges of their fear seemingly dulled by Orion’s steady presence. The man, his face a stormcloud of conflicting emotions, gave a stiff nod. “Fine. But this…thing needs to be watched.”

Orion’s jaw tightened imperceptibly, a subtle sign that the man’s words had stirred something within him.

“Oh, I assure you Willis will be held accountable for his actions today. But let us not forget that ‘thing’ is not the term we use for those who are different and whose human lives had met an untimely end.”

“Wait, so he wasn’t lying about his son being injured?” Willis followed Orion’s gaze and spotted a small child lying in a pool of blood. “Good riddance.”

Meanwhile, Tia had scrambled to the boy, still unconscious (but alive, at least). She only had so much adrenaline left in her system after this absolute nightmare of a day. Dark spots seemed to go in and out of her vision. But still, she tried to pull the boy out of the crossfire of the men. She barely made it a few inches with his body. Where was literally anyone else to help? Stupified by the drama that was playing out, it seemed.

“By the way dude.” Willis looked back at Orion. “I never got around to ask for your name. And it’s getting a little weird to keep vaguely calling you my ‘man’, my ‘bro’, and ‘dude’. So… Can you tell me your name?”

Orion cast a sidelong glance at Willis, his features etched with weariness. “It’s Orion,” he said simply, his focus already shifting back to the immediate task at hand. “And I suggest you refrain from making any more thoughtless comments.” The words were not harsh, but they carried a gravity that underscored the seriousness of the situation. “This boy’s life is hanging in the balance. Do be sure to remind yourself of that.”

Orion’s hand cut through the air then, a silent command for Willis to fall into step behind him. His strides were purposeful as he navigated the space between the scattered remnants of the market and the injured boy. Tia was a gentle presence beside him still.

“Willis, come here,” Orion called over his shoulder, his voice firm yet devoid of anger. It was the tone of a teacher, an elder…a father, imparting a lesson that could only be learned through experience. “It’s important that you see the consequences of your actions, even if unintended, firsthand.”

“Okay okay, I’m here.” Willis stopped in front of Tia, who was clutching onto the bloodied child like his life depended on it. Her hands were bloody and her priest robes were soaked crimson. Willis saw two exhausted, inky dark eyes framed in her smooth delicate face, and her platinum-blonde hair almost blended into her beige skin. She’d wrapped a thick brown scarf around her neck, and congealed blood had turned it into a hard lump. But her hands were not glowing anymore.

“Uh, hey. I just came here to…” He quickly cast a glance at Orion, and gulped, before looking back at Tia. “I came here to apologize for my uncouth behavior. Sorry for um, y’know.” He gestured vaguely at the kid Tia was holding. “Actually, what did I do to him? He doesn’t look injured at all!”

Tia could only stare up at Willis. There was that prickling again, but it was smothered by the exhaustion and buzzing nerves that were still working their way through her body. Backlit by the moon, he was nothing but a pair of glowing eyes in a shadowed silhouette. The ominous sight was enough to give anyone pause - especially one as timid and scarred as Tia. But it seemed she had no energy left to waste on bowing and trembling.

…‘Uncouth?’

He hadn’t insulted her dress at a party, he’d nearly murdered a child.

Even the other one, the one that looked like he’d been carved from marble, had referred to the boy as a ‘consequence’, like his bloody body was an unfortunate mess to be cleaned up. She gave both Orion and Willis a curt look.

“He’ll live,” Tia said, voice as strong as she could manage… which wasn’t very strong at all, considering the state of her vocal chords, and the waves of exhaustion cresting over her. “He -” Tia cut herself off as the words caught in her throat. Her shoulders shook with coughs as her body tried to clear an obstruction that wasn’t there. A bloody sleeve at her mouth, Tia waited for them to subside. The coughs were hollow - she felt hollow, emptied out of magic and energy until all that was left was a gaping, empty chasm that might swallow her whole. She looked back up at the boy’s father. Were there two of him? It seemed like there were two of him, their hazy outlines overlapping with each other.

“I’ll visit tomorrow.” Her voice was a faint shadow, nearly imperceptible. Tia’s magic had scoured his body, looking for breaks and fractures and tears to heal, but brains were tricky things. She wouldn’t know if more magic would be necessary until the boy regained consciousness. Hopefully, by then she’d actually have more magic to give.

“Whoa lady not gonna lie, you look like you are gonna drop dead any second now. Are you alright?” Willis asked in a concerned voice. “Also, I saw your hands glowing earlier. Just who are you?”

It’s just magic, she tried to say as she forced herself to stand. But when she moved her lips, no sound came out. There was only the feeling of air, harsh as it moved through her throat. The whole world seemed to tilt as Tia finally managed to come to her full, unimpressive height.

And then her vision went black and her legs gave out from under her.

“Hey!” Willis performed a leg sweep, knocking her legs into the air, and dove forward to catch her in his arms. They tumbled to the ground. He stood back up hefting Tia in a Princess Carry. “Wow, you got a big ass!”

“Wow, you got a thick skull,” the boy’s father, still looking for any excuse to pick a fight, shouted back.

“I got your son’s savior in my arms and you are still trying to provoke me? You ungrateful piece of horse dung. Y’know what, since you are talking so much crap, why don’t we fight mano-a-bato right here right now? I’ll even go easy on ya, and fight you with one arm holding the priestess!” Willis taunted back, flinging Tia onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, raising a fist at the man.

The last vestiges of Orion’s restraint crumbled as he witnessed Willis’ continued lack of comprehension of the gravity of the situation. With a swift motion, borne of necessity rather than anger, Orion’s hand latched onto Willis’s shoulder. His fingers were unyielding, the force behind them a clear indication of his serious intent. “Control yourself, Willis! I promised you I wouldn’t pick you up, and I plan to keep it. But this isn’t the time or place for a brawl.”

“Agh! I swear this man keeps getting on my nerves… Orion, let's get outta here!” Willis scowled, holding Tia over his head, and stomped the ground, hard. There was a moment of weightlessness as he launched himself straight into the air, making an arc above layers of sun worshippers. He landed on the outskirts, caving the ground into a crater. He shifted Tia into the nook between his armpit, and lifted one leg, then the other, to shake them loose from the ground.

“Over here!” he called out to Orion. Then he turned his gaze to Tia, held horizontally like a log. “Sorry about that! Where do you live?”

If Tia had been conscious enough to answer that, she would’ve died from mortification. Small blessings, then, that she was still thoroughly knocked out.

“ORION!!! COME QUICK! THE PRIESTESS IS DYING!”

“He killed her!” a voice from the crowd gasped.

“Someone find my shovel, I’ll knock him into next week!”

Willis snapped his head up, pinpointing the father in the crowd. “You better pray to the Goddess, I don’t bump into you again,” he snarled.

“A bunch of Lunarian soldiers just came to town, bat boy!” he shouted back. “They were sniffing around the tavern. Looking for you? Here to drag your bony ass to jail for all that blood you’re covered in?”

“Huh. That’s funny… I just killed a bunch of them earlier!” Willis muttered to himself, thumbing his chin with his free hand. “Damn, and I still need to meet with the prince for a job interview!” He sniffed his fingers and licked off the blood there.

With a frustrated sigh, Willis began tapping his foot, waiting impatiently for Orion, causing Tia to sway in his grasp. “I’m gonna need Orion’s advice on dealing with them.”

Orion’s instincts kicked into high gear as he navigated the sea of bodies to reach Willis. The crowd’s anxious whispers swelled around him, but his attention remained laser-focused on the pair before him.

“I know where we can take her to get some rest care. Follow me,” he said to Willis, his voice cutting through the noise with the authority of a seasoned leader. Without waiting for a response, Orion turned on his heel, expecting Willis to fall in step. The small crowd was left behind, still anxious and panicked at the chaos - and the possible death of the sun priestess. Orion led the way with a brisk pace, the path he chose one that wound through the quieter parts of Dawnhaven, away from prying eyes and the buzz of the marketplace. Just the way he liked it.

Orion’s home stood as a testament to his character: unassuming yet resilient, a stone cottage nestled on the outskirts of Dawnhaven, where the clamour of town gave way to tranquil whispers of nature. The garden that embraced the cottage was a patchwork of colours, meticulously cared for, with various herbs and flowers.

As they crossed the threshold, the interior of the cottage welcomed them with the warmth of a hearth long kept. Orion led Willis through the narrow hallway, the wooden floorboards creaking softly under their weight. He ushered them into a small bedroom, where the light of the moon filtered through the gauzy curtain, casting a soft glow over the room.

The bed, modest in size, was adorned with linens that were spotless and inviting, the pillows plump and the blankets folded with care. “Put her here,” Orion instructed.

“Orion, you are rich as hell. Sheeeesh!” Willis whistled. He set Tia down, then paced back and forth around the room. “But actually dude, I’d need your input on this. I heard a group of Lunarian soldiers are at the Dawnhaven tavern… And uh, I’m not exactly on good terms with them. Since, y’know, I murdered a bunch of them on my way here. So I’m going to seize the initiative and kill them all in their sleep, before they realize I’m here too. Whadayathink?”

Turning to face Willis, Orion’s stance was resolute, his arms folding across his chest as he glared down at the man. With the finality of a door closing on any further argument, Orion’s voice, deep and irrevocable, uttered the single word that ended and sealed the conversation.

“No.”

---

_{Collab between: Orion @Qia, Willis @BOOM, and Tia @c3p-0h}

“Mr… Porter…” Ivor slowly pronounced, “the man who flew…” it would not be easy, but the wild one would remember this. Before Ivor could test his sharpened vocabulary, the man took off into the night sky, leaving nary but a gust of wind in his wake. Brow furrowed and determination unwavering, he waved to the figure as it grew smaller in the distance, “Goodbye, Mr. Porter!” Proud of himself, he nodded in affirmation of this small achievement in overcoming the language barrier.

"Oh! Ivor, uhm.. Who is this?"

It wasn’t until the young woman questioned him about his companion that his mind returned to the task at hand. With a pang of anxiety his whole body shifted around to inspect the rider; she was still there, good, but seemed..colder now, tired, desperate. “Rider! I nearly forgot!” Ivor planted himself on the other side of the rider and Miss Eris, wondering what he should even do in this situation. The Rider was weak, but the inn was right there, but perhaps she could make it there herself, lean on him like a crut-

“By the moon, I need it.”

A more desperate plea could not have been uttered; with furrowed brows, Ivor knew what must be done. “Forgive me, but I presume to carry you!” Without further context or clarification Ivor’s massive mitts grasped onto the furs and hides of the woman’s armor, hoisting her up with a grunt over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Ivor had a mission, one he intended to complete quickly, but there was Miss Eris. He looked down at the young woman, she looked pale, was she sick? Cold? How long had she been out here for? WAS THAT A SHIVER JUST NOW? “Miss Eris, I presume to carry you too!” Again without hesitation, the other woman was even more easily hoisted to his other shoulder as he began bounding for the tavern doors.

Eris’s eyes grew wide as Ivor effortlessly tossed the injured Lunarian women over his shoulder and proceeded to reach for her. "Oh! Ivor, there’s really no neeEEEED!!" she shrieked, her voice rising in panic. In one swift motion, he lifted her as if she weighed no more than a feather and slung her over his other shoulder. Terrified, Eris clung to his clothing for dear life as she stared down at the ground, silently praying to Aelios that Ivor would not drop her from such a height.

The earth shook beneath him, the patrons inside may have even taken notice, but that was irrelevant as soon as his boot made contact with the wooden door, the timber material flying off its frame. The giant then made his way inside to the shocked gazes of the tavern's denizens before hurriedly scanning for the hearth. When his eyes met with the licking flames he shouted the only warning he could think of at that moment, “Beware!” Beware the wild one as he bounded onward to the open flames, both warmth and sanctuary for his fellow compatriots. “Beware!”

Eris buried her face into Ivor’s shoulder as he kicked down the door to the inn, a mix of embarrassment and horror flooding her senses at the spectacle he was creating. As she felt something fuzzy and soft against her cheek, she recoiled slightly and looked down, realizing with a surge of disgust that she had pressed her face into the tail of a dead squirrel Ivor had recently hunted.

Feeling her cheeks burn hot, the brunette glanced up just as the large blight-born man began to bellow, “beware!” Her heart sank, knowing that his dramatic entrance would either provoke drawn swords or send people fleeing if they didn't recognize him. "Uh- N- No!" She stammered, her voice wavering with every bounce upon Ivor’s shoulder. The words emerged in a staccato rhythm, "I-It’s.. f-fine..Ev-ery-one!"

Persephone was lifted bodily and she did not have the strength to resist or explain before she was over the giant's shoulder and could feel the earth move with the heavy and bounding tread. The Inn was close, had she doomed herself before she could have got to safety in merely less than a minute?

With no energy left to fight the Lunarian woman let the vibration move with her and did not fight it, this seemed to lessen any chance of injury as she could not tense up and held her panic response back even as wood seemed to break and her mental discipline was severely tested.. purely her instinct was both helping and causing her problems right now. Beware... she was not even sure. Was he like some kind of troll or trying to not trample people... for all she could not see! But one voice did call to her, however quiet one she would recognise anywhere. "Adon... is..." She called out with what force of will she still had, "Lunaris, Help... need fire"

The tall Knight turned to the commotion faster than his state probably should have allowed but he felt something, something important. Two women, a broken door and one in Lunarian Uniform? That cloak? It looked like the one he got his... Not one to be unprepared, unwilling, but also not foolish either he kept one hand on his sword's hilt. "Now. Mind your next words. Why you got these women?" He was slow, deliberate and almost knew that one might be someone he was so close to, but remained calm but firm in command.

As surely as Ivor had started, he was just as quickly stopped by a man not unlike himself; vetted by the trials of age, yet nowhere near ready to stop. Though he stood a full foot shorter than Ivor, his firm tone caused the bigger man to stop and think briefly. Choose? Careful? Words? Ivor let out something between a frustrated grunt and an exhausted groan; this man was testing him, now of all times? Ms. Eris had done something like this before, she called them ‘pop quizzes’ and Ivor would need to think on his feet to pass her test. Why was this stranger doing this now of all times? He seemed dressed like the other Lunarian soldiers, but also stronger, not just in ability, but in leadership. Was he a knight? Why would a knight test him? Did he not see the damsels? Did he not see the distress on Ivor’s face? Ivor really needed to reevaluate the accuracy of the book choices Ms. Eris was giving him.

The giant danced on the balls of his feet anxiously, based on the question he decided to just recount everything, word by word, quickly. “Rider. Mountain. Hard. Horse. Neigh. Calm. Help! Cold! Brrr! Sled. Drag. Friends! Hello! Forget. Panic! Grab. Run. Smash. Stop…”

His pace quickened as he watched the unchanging blank expression of the man in front of him. Were these not the right words? Had he chosen wrong? Damn it all, he had no time for this! After a brief pause without a response, Ivor simply commanded, “Move!” Before shoving his way past to deliver the women to the comfort of the flames. He allowed the more lively Eris to slide down his frame first before carefully seating the rider in front of the fire.

"Ivor!" Eris gasped as the blight-born man pushed his way past the stranger. Still clinging to Ivor’s shoulder, she felt her heart race as the tension grew. She didn’t recognize the knight dressed in Lunarian armor, but his presence seemed to demand respect and immediate answers.

"Ivor, p-please!" she stammered, her voice small and nearly lost in the chaos. She glanced nervously at the knight, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and fear that the situation would escalate. It was always hard to tell how a Lunarian soldier would react. Was this one just as short tempered as the others she had come across?

Finally, as Ivor set her down in front of the hearth, Eris sighed a breath of relief. Gathering her courage as Ivor tended to the other woman, she looked directly at the knight. "He found this woman in need of help." She glanced back towards the Lunarian woman who was looking weaker by the moment. "Ivor... h-he only wants to get her to safety. This is all a misunderstanding." She looked back towards the knight, her eyes pleading with him not to be too upset with her companion.

To say Coswain was confused was to say a rather frank understatement. He was still trying to make light of the absurd situation he was in when the giant pushed past him to get to the fire. Letting the momentum carry him and moving with it knowing from long experience fighting it would have been impossible. ”I will not hesitate if you hurt her.”. His words were practically a growl almost.

Immediately he gestured for his companions to stand down, too many civilians, too tight quarters, the two women too close. He had ran the moves several times and alterations in under a second and every one ended up with a bad plan for him or close bystanders, and he did not live long as he had being a fool. He did not have to suffer fools though. Then he was looking down at the smaller woman, her style more Auralian in nature. ”If this is trick, I can carry judgment.” He said warningly and clearly willing to follow it but a look at her gear, gear he had cleaned so many times. He knew well as his own, made his hand drop, his concern magnified past his anger. ”Persephone … by the moon goddess how” He paused mid way unsure how she could have even ended up here, she was In capital when he departed! Yes they took a slow ride with the cart..

”Adon.. I made it …” The woman said weakly and tried to look towards the familiar voice.

Even now, weak as she was, she struggled to move and the angry man did not look so angry anymore. Ivor looked between the two of them and recognized there was a bond as a small smile graced his lips. “Rest now, you are in good place,” he nodded before standing and turning towards the man, “Rider…” Ivor grunted, pounding his closed fist against his chest, “Strong.” Ivor nodded once more and feeling that the Lunarians may want to commune with one another, he diverted his attention to Eris who appeared more frazzled than he remembered. “Miss Eris, are you well? I did not hurt you in the presuming?”

Eris breathed a sigh of relief as the knight suddenly recognized the woman Ivor had found, unaware she had been holding her breath while he glared at them and issued warnings. She observed them closely, trying to discern their connection, but her attention snapped back to Ivor as he spoke.

"Ivor, you cannot do things like that." She scolded him, clearly upset. "You..." She pointed at him, then spread her arms wide, emphasizing, "Biiiig.." Her gaze fixed on him, brows furrowed in concern. "Scary." She simplified her words, making sure he understood. Her eyes then scanned the inn, noting the alarmed patrons now on edge with the commotion.

Ivor’s eyes grew wide as Eris chastised him, and despite how tiny she was compared to him, the roles were reversed as realization and embarrassment settled in. “Oh no…Miss Eris I think I did the ‘too much talking’ and not enough of ‘the listening’ again…” the giant scratched his head.

Feeling something trickle down her cheek, Eris quickly wiped her face and looked down to find the unmistakable color of blood. "Goddess above..." The brunette groaned, wiping her hand off on her skirts and using her clothed shoulder to try to make sure she got rid of any more remnants of the blood.

Glancing at the squirrel she had inadvertently pressed her face into while riding on Ivor's shoulder, she noticed fresh blood speckling its tail, which had transferred onto her cheek. "Ugh," she shivered, thoroughly disgusted. She would surely be visiting the hot spring later today.

Turning her attention back to the mystery woman, Eris slipped past Ivor and scanned the room for someone to assist. Fortunately, she didn't have to look far. Eris spotted Sya and her big blue eye almost immediately, though Sya's expression wasn't pleased after Ivor's abrupt entrance had shattered the door to the inn.

"Sya," Eris called out, approaching with concern etched on her face, "Could we get some water for her? And soup, perhaps? She's in a bad way." She frowned, casting a regretful glance at the damaged door. "I... apologize about the door. We'll arrange to have it fixed..." Eris didn't know the first thing about repairing a door, but she was sure she could find someone to help her.

”Coming right out… Hot stew. But you will replace that. Ivor. you owe me some meat. And not some half starved squirrel.” Sya vanished quickly into the back not before fixing Ivor and Eris with a glare and a stern look respectively; she did not forget him smashing her door off the hinges. Maybe she should have stayed and let Olivia have her chance at more… active cuddling. ”Bloody Barbarians… Rather try that… number. Thingy position Olivia whispered...” Sya grumbled as rushed out the food and drink to the woman. They could work out who to bill…

The Knight saw the situation was screwed up, he was annoyed but right now priorities. ”Its under Control, Hector, try and least get the door upright at least. make some space. Keep us warm.” He called out to try and restore some calmost before he kneeled down and used the furs as a pillow gently holding the woman's hand. ”Hot meal coming Seph, Smells pretty good too.” He tried to be confident despite his concerns digging deep.

Hector was worried for his friend as looked over examining the wrecked door and frame, that was more like a battering ram hit… though watching a giant bring seemingly challenged by a tiny innkeeper was a small light in the dark. ”Fierce little lady, We do not want her angry at us… We have to live here.” He thought that as he saw the small hooded woman heading over and her body language was a little frosty.

“Ack, Feh! Syraeia!” He reverted back to his mother tongue, she was one of the few people here knew it, at least something akin to it, “You’ll get a half-starved stag instead, but I got plenty of kills, take your pick for the door, oh and for Rider’s food too!” His voice boomed out to her in the back. Ivor looked at his handiwork, a solid foot sized dent embedded dead center in the splintered timber, the knights were already prepping to lift it up. He felt it was his responsibility to clean up his mess though, no need to get the others involved. Stepping towards them Ivor spoke, “Please Lunarans, let Ivor fix, is my burden to bear.” The Lunarians looked at one another before nodding solemnly, then he stepped in, gripped the door's edge and lifted it upright. Gaining a better grip, Ivor carried the door back to its broken frame and with a mighty heave, wedged the splintered pieces back together like a layer of velcro, the wood fibers intermingling with one another. This was far from a perfect solution, but at least the door would keep out the cold.

---

_{Collaboration with @PrinceAlexus & @BeastofDestiny}

For a brief moment, Wenyr had been worried about the prince not reacting to his knock at the door. His benefactor had given him quite the rundown about Dawnhaven prior to his departure, but how to address a prince properly had not been a real part of that. One just so rarely had the opportunity, so he should consider himself very lucky to be here, Wenyr figured. Yet what if he'd screw up ? When the entrance was finally opened, he could almost feel the rush of adrenaline running down his back.

Just as Wenyr finished his probably rather half-assed curtsy, he spotted that the prince had closed the door just as quickly as had opened it before. Preserving the warmth inside one's home was a quite understandable thing, but needlessly exposing oneself to the cold outside was not. Had he... had he just disturbed the prince in some kind of difficult affair ?

"Hello Flynn!" he replied, putting up a slightly nervous smile. "Seems I have found you first. Did I interrupt something important ?" It was a complete shot in the dark, but maybe camouflaged in enough politeness not to be noticed as such. If the situation was inappropriate somehow, he needed to figure it out before talking about his list of items first. Negotiations could shatter to bitter pieces if conducted under the wrong circumstances!

“Don’t worry, you have excellent timing.” Flynn lied, his tone warm and reassuring as he noticed the nervous smile on the blacksmith's face. The Prince had many talents, but his mother often praised his ability to become a chameleon among people the most. Flynn could easily compartmentalize his stress while under the public eye, shifting into whatever others needed him to be in that moment. “As a King should”, his mother would proudly remind him. Wearing a mask every day was mentally draining, but he knew he was adept at making the people of his kingdom feel comfortable around him, never letting on how much stress he was truly under.

Flynn paused, considering how best to steer the conversation away from any potential awkwardness. "Actually, I was just thinking about the progress on your new home. Why don’t we go see how it’s coming along?”

Stepping away from the cabin, Flynn gestured for Wenyr to follow him towards the area of Dawnhaven where they had been building most of the homes, only a short walk from the royal cabin. "I am told it should be completed within the next day. I've heard your forge is already finished in the town center, as well."

Flynn clasped his hands behind his back as he walked along the gravel path lit with torches, his eyes scanning the construction progress of each home as they passed. "You can take up room at The Eye of The Beholder until everything is finished. I will pay for the inconvenience, of course.”

A few minutes later, Flynn paused in front of a cabin home that was nearly complete. Stacks of wood lay outside, evidence of the ongoing work. "Home sweet home.” Flynn chimed, holding a warm smile as he looked to Wenyr, hoping that he would be pleased. It was nothing like the luxury of living in the capital of Aurelia, far from it, but it would at least keep him safe and warm.

On the superficial level, Wenyr's visit seemed to keep going like any one of the clock towers in Aurelia's capital: smoothly and with pinpoint accuracy. Yet it took a lot of deliberate ignorance not to know just how considerable the effort to make them do so was and the blacksmith had little doubt about the same thing holding true with the prince's approach to this meeting as well. To suspect that not every gentle smile and not every lucky coincidence was real, but to consider the possibility that they actually were in the specific instance was the double edged blade every merchant and artisan had to both defend against and wield himself, the question of which of these two was the right thing to do being a complication in its own respect.

Seeing how Flynn paid attention to the construction work around him as they walked was almost even more interesting for Wenyr than paying attention to the construction work himself. He had not met the prince for any significant amount of time before, so trying to have a glimpse at just how good (or bad) hands the future of Aurelia rested was tempting. He halfway inadvertently stayed slightly behind Flynn so the latter hopefully wouldn't notice Wenyr looking at what he did, at least until they finally arrived at the site.

"Home warm hope I hope it will be. I've heard the winter can be quite harsh here." His eyes instinctively wandered towards the skies as if there was any good news to be seen there, but there wasn't. Wenyr was eager to go inside, but also didn't want to waste the prince's time. Flynn had to be a busy person after all. "I'm sure it will look as good on the inside as it does on the outside already." Maybe his stay in Dawnhaven would turn out to be better than he had actually thought of prior to his arrival ? "And the forge is at the center of town, you say ? Good choice! That way the smell and smoke won't annoy the entire neighborhood." The walk back and forth from his cabin to the forge would not hurt either -- unless it had to be in the middle of a ferocious thunderstorm of course, but that kind of thing would put anybody in distress. Wenyr had not really cared much about the local weather yet except for the obvious that it was way too dark for way too long a time during the 'day'. He still called it that way out of sheer convention, but that mental inertia would not hold up for long anymore and he might lose track of time entirely at some point, the blacksmith anticipated.

"So,” Flynn continued, turning towards Wenyr, "Your patron sent us a list of supplies required for you ahead of time, so we have much of them in your forge already. Sunni should be expecting another shipment of goods soon, as well.”

"Let’s go take a look at your new forge as well.” He said decisively, guiding Wenyr out of the designated neighborhood area and towards the middle of the village. As they walked, Flynn pointed out various shops, some already built and others still under construction. He indicated the courier's office, the inn, the apothecary, the merchant's exchange, and the alchemy chambers.

"Here we are.” Flynn said, pausing just outside the doors to allow Wenyr a moment to take in the structure of the building. After a few moments, Flynn pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside, waiting for the blacksmith to follow. For now, the forge was cold and quiet, but soon, Flynn hoped, it would be warm and filled with the symphony of metal on metal, each strike of the hammer against the anvil resonating through the building.

Wenyr craned his neck to have a look onto the structure from bottom to top, noticing the large chimney immediately. It was the telltale sign of a forge and this one had probably been built a tad higher so the smoke could spread out over people's heads instead of coming down onto them. A sturdy construction it seemed, but he was no expert on this. His true realm lay inside and behind the walls.



The sight of an anvil cast that subtle bit of a twinkle in Wenyr's eyes that was indicative of great anticipation. He stepped forward and took a deep breath of the cold air, then touched the large, complex counterpart for his hammer with his calloused hands. "This is the smell of nothing an artisan experiences on only two occasions: Before the workshop is put into action for the first time and after it has gone out of commission." He blinked his eyes towards the prince. "Not that I'd expect the latter to happen in any foreseeable time!" The place looked great and it probably was even large enough for some people to have a stay once the freezing cold had started to reign outside.

"As for Dawnhaven,” Flynn began, walking out of the blacksmith's shop and gesturing towards the surrounding areas as he spoke, "When people aren’t working, you’ll likely find them at The Eye of the Beholder.” he noted, then his eyes trailed to the north, where the Aelios temple stood along the ridge of a mountain, next to a natural hot spring. "Or the hot springs, especially as it gets colder.” He smiled, his gaze returning to the rugged man before him. "Is there anything else I can do for you today, mister Targath? Any questions?”

”There are hot springs?” Wenyr’s amazement about this news was pretty blatant, so far he had imagined those ‘springs’ to be much more like your usual case of a steady water supply. ”That could save a lot on firewood in the winter. I’ve been rather concerned about Dawnhaven starving of fuel and other goods while the passes are likely closed for heavy traffic.”

Flynn smiled genuinely at Wenyr’s interest in the hot springs. While most people enjoyed hot springs, to an Aurelian they held a deeper significance. Not only were they considered sacred in their homeland, but they also provided a comforting reminder of home in such a cold and unforgiving environment. "I knew this would be a good place to settle once the hot spring was discovered.” He chimed happily, making a mental note to himself that a trip to the hot spring would be nice after such a stressful day.

Wenyr pulled his cloak a bit tighter around him as the outside was still significantly colder than the inside with the added wind and snowflakes. "You are probably right. I assume my patron must have figured the same, because at least as far as I know him he's not keen on committing to things that don't have a prospect of actually working out."
At this moment, a brainwave hit the blacksmith: Flynn might be the perfect opportunity to find out more about his own employer. It wasn't that he knew nothing about him, but those nobles tended to keep their secrets and he was just eager to learn more about the man with that much coin. Wenyr had to suppress the idea of asking the prince right now, feeling that it might be inappropriate. "Speaking of him...My patron must have paid a lot of attention when I spoke to him. This looks very good so far. I could start producing the most important things in advance as far as possible if there is any need. Do you think we should put priority on certain things more than others right now ?”

The hot springs didn’t go out of his head but not only for the nice outlook of taking a bath there. A steady source of warmth from the earth could maybe be exploited in other ways, too. He would just have to gather some ideas first and then make a proposal maybe.

As Flynn considered Wenyr’s question, his thoughts drifted back to the Lunaris guards who had arrived in Dawnhaven unannounced. Briefly, he wondered if he should have the blacksmith focus on crafting weapons. Would they need to arm the townspeople if the Lunarians attacked? Was the King of Lunaris planning to declare war? The Queen of Lunaris was dead, and the King was clearly unpredictable. Adding to his concerns, Dawnhaven was also settling on the King’s land, far from Flynn’s home country.

"Swords, spears, axes, and shields.” He decided, trusting that the blacksmith would understand their position. The Lunarian’s posed a large threat on their own, but so did the blight-born that were being welcomed into town. "Horseshoes, as well. We should make sure our animals are well taken care of.”

"Understood." He had honestly not expected this answer, and even though it was a perfectly valid one and working on weapons tended to be much more rewarding than other items in terms of learning and just accepting the challenge, they also meant serious business in an entirely different sense of the word. A sense that left an imaginary, but bitter-sweet taste on Wenyr's tongue. "I will get to work on these as soon as possible. Are you expecting trouble ?" The question had just burst out of him quicker than his mind had been able to catch it. Now the blacksmith bit his lips for having dabbled into what probably was politics.

Flynn turned to the blacksmith, weighing how much he should confide in his fellow Aurelian. "I…” Flynn locked eyes with the man who was clearly older than him and had lived a much tougher life in many ways. "I hope not. But one can never be sure…” He sighed, letting his words hang in the air for a moment “I would appreciate your discretion with the rest of the town. I don't wish to cause alarm, but recent events have me concerned,” He admitted, deciding that his armorer was one of the people he should be putting trust in, if anyone. Wenyr could help him better if he knew the Prince’s concern, though Flynn wasn't yet ready to reveal everything. The announcement about the Queen would have to wait until tomorrow. Octavia needed to grieve, at least for the day. "I trust that I can count on you?”

Wenyr nudged his head towards the door they had just come out of, a gesture that they should get back in. There was no reason to believe in anyone eavesdropping on purpose, but preventing accidental events was often better than not to. The sturdy door's first ever test would not prevent anybody from coming in, but to deny the spoken word the way out. The blacksmith's face had turned more serious than before as he addressed Flynn: "You can. However, if I may, I would not recommend revealing more detail to me than you think is absolutely necessary. Not that I would not trust myself on that, but I can't tell what I don't know even by pure chance." He paused briefly, digging his fingernails into his mane to scratch his head a little. "That being said, I should probably try to make the weapon crafting business a bit more of a discreet affair as well ? I mean, if anybody sees how the town is stocking up on arms and armor, it is easy to add one to one."

"We will provide newer weapons to our knights here.” Flynn said once he had followed Wenyr back inside. "We can use that if anyone starts asking questions, for now.” Flynn’s mind raced with ideas on how to maintain discretion and avoid raising alarms.

"We can trust Sunni, the town merchant, and Orion, my advisor, with this information, and no others. Sunni can attest that we are trading arms for goods, if necessary.” He sighed, the weight of the day evident as his Princely demeanor faltered slightly.

"I hope that we will not need these weapons, but… we must be prepared, if we do.” Flynn added, giving the blacksmith a faint smile, "Thank you, Wenyr. I won't say more on the matter for now. Perhaps my concerns will ease in time...” He tried to sound optimistic, but a sense of unease lingered in his thoughts, hinting that his suspicions might be justified.

---

_{Collaboration with @Fetzen}

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Sya had managed the Lunch shift, her door was still broken but she had quickly and with practice managed to hang up the venison and strip off the meat that was available, it had been a weak animal but any meat was better than none. The muscle was weak, stringy stuff and very little fat on the animal's body. But there was some meat and some was better than none. She had learned that on the edge of the world to take advantage of anything that the world gave you. “This can.. Urgh, I'm wasting half a carcass, but its.. bad” Sya said as she tossed the unusable parts into a communal tip, the cold never really bothered her, it never had since her rebirth. She cleaned her hands off in a communal tap, it was not fancy and a little crudely built but the town was only months old.

The rest of the meat could be sorted tomorrow, that Venison really needed to be butchered, Ivor had taken what he could but the dark, the borders, the blight, Game of any quality was a rare and valued commodity.

Looking about the town Sya saw people moving about with no real desire to engage them and headed back to the inn, she had a list of things to do.

…

“Olivia, Im fine, all handled. Ivor. I can at least partly understand.” She spoke from the other woman's arms and felt her body pressed against her own, skin sharing warmth and a level of emotional contentedness that was like diving into a hot bath, clean, warm and pure. “Im fine… not hurttttt” She said with a rather exaggerated pitch as her fingers checked she was intact, though that place was not on a normal medical check. She purred at the actions and just curled herself deeper into her partner's warmth, emotional and physical.

She did catch an noise outside but was not going to investigate anything less than screams, destruction or the sound of a fire, It seemed to pass by, maybe it was that Pilades, he did like to perch on things much as she grumbled about him not being the one to pay for roof repairs.

Turning her head to the window she saw movement still clearly from afar but was distracted again by more interesting, more close events… “I'm not going anywhere. Least not for abit, you waited for me huh.” She said quietly with a soft tone and a smile that reached her eye and showed clearly. Reaching out she felt her way down the woman's side and found her hand and threaded their fingers together and held it loosely with a thumb making circles into the pale skin of her hand.

Sya had waved to the document lying on the desk written in Sya's own hand being a little less polished but one that she tried to do neatly and cleanly as possible, neat column of numbers written in black and red, and an end total signed with a flourish. She had accounted for everything including her coach men work, breakfasts and more. Sya was entirely detailed when it came to such things. “Check it when you feel, No rush for a answer” She said and it even was finished with a wax seal like the inns sign, Sya was too happy to have her own little seal however humble to not use it, and giggled a little like she was much younger and far less travelled. A glimmer of her old self breaking through into her life.

Sya was too distracted to think of much else, a slow kiss had grown more engaged and energetic and Olivia had had her well and truly useless to the world. She had begun to learn her sensitive spots and very much seemed refusing to stop her efforts. Sya would happily submit to Olvia and her explorations.

They had talked too though.. they were not that much lust blind, Sya had been telling a tale of her homeland and how an Aurelian lord had fallen off his horse leaving after the local potent spirit, Sya was working on adapting a barrel remembering the old drink and how to make a simple still they called them to produce it. Shine of Selene and she planned to make some. She wanted at least one small part of her homeland to remain, so much had died or fallen, least she could maintain a little piece of her history and her people. Sya had opened up a little and explained some of their traditions and how she had a hell of a hangover as a teanager after the harvest celebrations.

…

“I Don,t wanna….” Sya said as she heard the distant chime of a clock sounding out with a bell in the marketplace. She would have to head down and work on the evening shift. She was too comfortable and had spent her time talking quietly and enjoying the soft bed, Sunni had spent rather a lot on this bed and it was very much worth the investment. “I have to work, hungry people…” Sya said with a groan, she would work but it did not mean she had not found a rather pleasant way to pass the time. “Inn keeping is hard work” Sya said, she was proud but yeah, some days she did want to just curled up and hide, Sya was … Accepted but the woman knew that the non blightborn who made up bulk of her trade did so because Sya was one of the civilised ones and one of the ones who has gone out of her way to smooth the road.

“Help me?” Sya Said with a hope, no one had helped her braid her hair in a long long time and well. She wanted to be reminded of better times. “Please” She said with a fragile hope in her voice.

…



…

She had dropped the letter off quickly while running an errand before her time with Olivia. Handing it to a servant she vanished off quickly as to spend more time with her lover than letters.

…

Adonis Coswain was a man who worried as he handed Persephone a glass of water and kept her warm in their bed, having shoved two together, leaving Hector and Daphne to work it out, not ideal but they had done and worked out worse situations. “Slowly Seph, slow…” He said with a deep tone and let her take a little more water, he knew basic care enough to tend to her now.

“Rest your voice, Hector is on it. Il look after you.” He said soothingly and pushed her dark red hair out a eye and nudged it behind her ear. she had insisted on writing it down and Hector had already started working out the best way to assist Valor's Edge Garrison. They might not be able to do much but one plan was to use a Raven and instruct them how to repair their water well, clean water was life, the caves could shelter them more than the damaged towers. Maybe keep could be kept open. Luckily they had sent drawings of the old war Smith was looking over and notes.

“Adon, Monsters out there. Picked off… Its Worse than we belived.” She said with a deep worry, something was amiss about Valors Edge, missing patrols and more… the place had lost more men than normal even for an outlying post. The most senior was a Squire Captain.

“We will face them, we Always do Seph” He said, Royal Guard was the one meant to keep the monsters out of the kingdom but there was little he could do for now. First was to secure a point of fortification and to make sure they had a battered but a Keep nonetheless available.

….

“Does anyone maintain the Temple ” Daphne had wandered and headed out to explore, her compatriots were busy and she had found after a time a Lunarian temple, its pool was clean and cold as it always should be but it looked … dirty. She had found an old brush and cleaned it out, removed dirt from the pool but no priest seemed to be assigned to this place. It would have to do, Selene would understand, Lunaris was not a place where they could keep perfectly to formal religion. They just tried their best with what they had.

Pushing the leaf litter away and setting one of the icons straight, it looked better as she knelt and enjoyed the quiet. The cool water on her arms and the view of the moon from the roof window at least reminded her of the Capital region that was her home and where she had trained for long years before this. “I hope you appreciate it, I am no priest so I cannot bless this place, I can make it ready though.” She spoke and admired the view. It was a simple but honest place… it was a Temple yes. It suited.

Looking over the Lake she saw a dark body of water, some islands and so in the middle, it was not yet frozen but looked like it would be a truly bracing and energising leap into it when the ice formed.

Daphne was leaning against the temple as she had closed its doors, she would check onnit in a few days. Though not the most religious, she had gone to the Island several times, the experience helped her remember what was important and that she was hoping to achieve. Maybe clarity was a reward for a humble faith.

…

“gah. Always that part.” Hector said, looking over the drawings. He saw what they may need but it was how did you explain it… he found some paper in the market and some charcoal pens and began to mock up what they needed to repair it to hold till new parts could be sent.

…

“Meals will be served, I Am working upstairs, please ring the bell. I will be down in a few minutes” Working was a stretch but she had left a bell and a note on the bar. Sya could not be everywhere even if work was a little… inaccurate.

@The Muse

____________________________
Eye of the beholder

The dark creature stretched out against the sheets lazily as she watched her pretty prey go from the room adorned once again in the cloak she thought could be the first of many upgrades the white haired beast would endow upon Sya. Her pale skin showing like fresh snow against the cream colored sheets as she watched her lover eventually tear her figure from the cool embrace of death. Softly moaning as she left her side after several sensual attempts to persuade the brown haired woman to stay in her arms. The creatures face a cute pout as she watched Sya leave the room blowing out the candles she had lit to help dress. As the door softly shut dividing her from temptation she slowly curled into a little ball holding a pillow that still clung to the innkeepers scent as her hostage.

It was there the real fight began. The darkness in her chest quietly whispering its demands to be fed. Sweetly promising of pains untold if she did not comply. The demons face contorted into a pitiful plea of patience, that food would come but later. The void did not seem to be swayed from her lies. With a deep sigh she glanced about the room before her arms gathered the sheets about her figure tucking them about her slender body, she rose. The ruby eyes glanced at the door as she silently moved towards her unintended victim. Silent as death on wings of deep night she moved down the hall unfazed by the commotion of the door being broken or the loud shouting from below. She was a creature that had caught the scent of prey and she followed the succulent aroma to the door that barred her path of food. The slender hand reached for the metal latch and with a half turn it moved aside as if by providence before the dark nightmare knowing there was no prayer that could have saved the souls on the other side.

In an near half twist of her hips a single fluid motion she moved, turned, closed the door, and turned back on the balls of her feet as quiet as any specter or wraith. The beast licked its lips, savoring the meal to come. The drunk on the bed still freshly soaked in the steamy dreams of the bronze skinned server from the floor below. Pressing herself to the clothed back of Alex as she began to caress his red hair with her fingers slowly drinking in the sugar sweet essence of the lusty emotions. "Yessss....." She whispered in a honey tone as the pale angel of death sipped from the well of life. The void slowly filling from the effort. Both becoming drunk from the feast.

After a time Olivia felt the void quiet to a purr and pulled herself free of the loyal coachmen. He would sleep deeper but not as pleasantly as before. The tender emotions peeled from his very soul as the agent of sorrow silently left the room once more. Unaware of the brother that stirred just enough to shut his eyes again at the nightmare visage atop his brother. Mentally chanting a prayer to ward off her dark embrace. Already asleep once more even before Olivia had left the room.

Tip toes gliding against the worn wooden floors without any tell the sheet clad beauty made her way back to the room like a poisonous serpent slithering to the cool underside of a pile of rocks, she would wait in the chamber for her lover to return. A smile on the pale lips as she enjoyed the silence from the cold pit inside her body still feasting off of the steamy emotions of her coachmen like a child with sweets.

“Olivia, Im fine, all handled. Ivor. I can at least partly understand.” She spoke from the other woman's arms and felt her body pressed against her own, skin sharing warmth and a level of emotional contentedness that was like diving into a hot bath, clean, warm and pure. “Im fine… not hurttttt” She said with a rather exaggerated pitch as her fingers checked she was intact, though that place was not on a normal medical check. She purred at the actions and just curled herself deeper into her partner's warmth, emotional and physical.

Half rising in the bed letting the sheet covering fall where it may as she smiled at the sight of her prey returning to the pale temptations of the room. The slender arms wrapping about the unclad figure pulling the smitten tavern keeper downward into deaths loving embrace. Olivia felt the flutter of her tiny bats flapping excitedly within her chest. "Mmmm... I am so very glad to hear that." She breathily whispered against the woman's slender neck.

Turning her head to the window she saw movement still clearly from afar but was distracted again by more interesting, more close events… “I'm not going anywhere. Least not for abit, you waited for me huh.” She said quietly with a soft tone and a smile that reached her eye and showed clearly. Reaching out she felt her way down the woman's side and found her hand and threaded their fingers together and held it loosely with a thumb making circles into the pale skin of her hand.

Looking at the window in the room gave the pale beauty full play to the slender flesh of Sya's neck to prey upon with tender kisses. "Shhh..." she smiled reassuringly as she felt the fingers interlace with her own pulling her closer still and letting the hands rest about her figure beneath the sheets. Pulling a knee up against the outer hips of Sya as she wrapped about the helpless brunette like a large predatory constrictor. Though she didnt squeeze nearly as hard, it was still enough to show Olivia's prey to not leave her again. More venomous affection blessed the innkeepers flesh as she kept her ruby gaze into the blue jewel she had adored from the moment it shined over the pale beauty like a precious stone plucked from the heavens and set against a figure of Venus herself to tempt the nightmare into a soothing lullaby. Exchanging with words of her Sya with affection and tenderness, occasionally giving a nod or a smile as if she was listening, which Olivia should have been if not for her ...preoccupation of the cuddling taking precedence.

“I Don,t wanna….” Sya said as she heard the distant chime of a clock sounding out with a bell in the marketplace. She would have to head down and work on the evening shift. She was too comfortable and had spent her time talking quietly and enjoying the soft bed, Sunni had spent rather a lot on this bed and it was very much worth the investment. “I have to work, hungry people…” Sya said with a groan, she would work but it did not mean she had not found a rather pleasant way to pass the time. “Inn keeping is hard work” Sya said, she was proud but yeah, some days she did want to just curled up and hide, Sya was … Accepted but the woman knew that the non blightborn who made up bulk of her trade did so because Sya was one of the civilised ones and one of the ones who has gone out of her way to smooth the road.

“Help me?” Sya Said with a hope, no one had helped her braid her hair in a long long time and well. She wanted to be reminded of better times. “Please” She said with a fragile hope in her voice.

Leaving her modestly against the pillow the white haired blight borne rose wearing only her devious smile, standing behind Sya. The slender fingers went to work with a French braid of the long earthen colored strands gazing lovingly at the intimate moment knowing the tavern keeper would be flaunting their intimate moments before a room of strangers and friends alike. The pale digits sinking into the dark brown strands to gently pulled her lovers face to the heavens as Olivia leaned over for a last moment kiss of tenderness that quickly turned to sensual longing. The nightmare sighed, "I fear my room will no longer do. I will require this one." She playfully tugged on the braid. The tender tone changed to that of a stern mistress."I will accept no refusal." Giving a sinister smile.

When Sya left the room her mind cleared and the mind of the monarch returned, there was much to be done. The hour grew late, Olivia dressed to include the black shroud of a fur lined cloak, and like a ghost would leave the room. Looking out of her window she focused on a shadow in the alley and let herself be pulled toward it in a most inhuman manner. With a specters grace she phased to the alley from the room above and moved down the street silent as the grave. Yes there was much to be done. She had to find a guard or a person to point her to someone that might let the prince know death was at his door.

The bear fur cloaked figure silently strode to a royal guard her red eyes kept hidden beneath the fur rimmed lining. Though she could feel his fear growing her recent feeding kept the darkness in check. Reluctantly she lowered her hood reveling the visage beneath. "I am Olivia Tzimisce, lady of Durnatel. I have come at the behest of your Prince. Tell him that I am here in his realm and seek an audience to announce myself formally to him. I will be in the Eye of the beholder, a quant tavern in his new town." After feeling assured that her message would in fact be delivered she retired back to the inn and the warm bed of her new found love.



Mentions:
@PrinceAlexus
@The Muse

Becky Hill
_____________________________
Luminus port town, 2days ago 7pm

"I hate you! I wont go!" She was furious! Her arms crossed under her voluptuous bust. She stared at the stone figure of her stern father. Her face was red as she grew angrier!

"You're going! This is a huge opportunity for you! You cant keep fattening nobles and peasants the guards can barely patrol! All you do is stuff things with three times the amount of sugar and creams. At this rate the people will become sealions. You need to branch out an this new kingdom the Prince is creating will need you to keep their spirits up and their energy. It's virgin territory and you could make a real name for yourself out there and with the prince tasting you wares you could become a royal baker. Hosting parties and gatherings for nobles just think for a second." He pleaded with his only daughter. She really was so stubborn, just like her father.

"Screw that, they can starve! I work for the people and not to sell my soul to those devils. That place isnt even built yet where the hell am I to bake the woods? I need a proper stove and setting to make my wares. This isnt campfire cooking. I wont have my sweets and baked goods tasting like smoke. Those pompous fools wouldnt know quality from mud pies! Regal peacocks only care about the rarity of a dish if I told them this dirt cake was from some far off shore they would proclaim it to be the finest in the land. The fools. Its not the rarity but the substance and not one of those fools ever get that far in any dish." She turned her back to her father, ignoring the slight jiggle in her hips.

"I dont care. You need to get out there and be your own cook. No daughter of mine is going to live here in obscurity and under my name. You need to stake your own reputation in your own place. I already paid for a travel to this Dawnhaven with the supply train master. "I know him a trustworthy sort he will keep you safe." Her father placed a small sack of coin in her hand. "Now get going your future awaits." He grabbed her by the arm and dragged his daughter to the door. Putting his boot to the ample backside he shoved her into the street and shut the door latching the bolt.

She banged on the door for a time with tears in her eyes pleading begging then threatening and screaming. Two guards came by and tapped on her shoulder.

"What's the ruckus Becky?" The guard was Thomas a local and very fond of their wares.

"My stupid dad just threw me out. Kick this door down and let me in. I'll make you a sweet potato pie for you." She was a sobbing mess but tried to put on a cute smile.

"Get her to the caravan master and I'll let you have first dibs for the next two days!" Her father exclaimed from behind the door. With that the two guards grabbed the curvy baker and pulled her to the caravan master just outside of town. The night air was getting cooler as the the continual dusk setting was falling to night.

"No!! No no no no no! I wont, I cant!" She shouted bringing the eyes of nightly passerby's to her voice.

At the caravan the master sighed and with a shrug hit her over the head with a wooden short club. The two guards snickered as they left the baker in his care.

Becky woke with a headache and the sound of wagon wheels turning on the dirt road. She pouted looking about not even having a cloak or coat. She kicked the floor of the wagon. "Damn them all!" Her hands and feet were tied in rope.

The wagon master smirked and shook his head. "Its a few days ride to the new realm. Better get some rest your cooking for us."

"Hmph, why the hell should I?" She pouted rubbing her head. her stomach felt like knotted ropes.

"Well you dont have to, but your father told me you could cook. So if you want to ride then you'll cook. If you dont cook then you can walk I was paid to bring you but not to let you ride." He was stern in his voice. Not even bothering to turn his head to face her.

"What do you have here?" She started to rummage through the things. "How many?" She looked back but the supply train was long and the road was already dark.

"About thirty. We got supplies but they have to be rationed." He spoke over his shoulder.

She sighed. "Beans beef jerky and dried meat? We have any water? herbs?" She watched him shake his head. "Well it wont be pretty, I know of some wild onions that grow about here and garnish herbs." She rummaged about some more and smiled as her fingers curled around a familiar friend! "Ha! Yes sweet mercy, at least you have potatoes. With a little luck you'll have my travelers stew. Too bad you dont have goats."

"We have goats. As long as you dont butcher them. They have a buyer at the town." He grumbled.

"No I just need to milk some and I think you'll see how good a creamy stew is on the cold road." She smirked indeed at the end of the first leg of the trip she found some wild onions and herbs to add a kick to the creamy stew. Each night along the road her cooking made her friends and people willing to share what they had brought to add to the meals every night. It was when she was cooking she felt more a part of the people then any monarch ever dreamed of. It was her element and she loved it very much the whole process of combining things to make people happy. Becky was a people person and like the feeling of goodness that could only be found in food. It brought people together and was something that made everyone feel better afterwards.

The caravan stopped on the second day by a river to water the teams and gather fresh barrels. She found cover behind a large tree that hung over a part of the bank to bathe and washed her hair. She already missed home, but if that man thought she would write to him after kicking his only daughter to the street he was sorely mistaken. Returning in her still damp clothes she really had wished her father was more of an adventurer or at least had the foresight to pack her some things. Letting out the worlds longest sigh Becky really found him hopeless when it came to the working of things outside of the business. However his network of partners and ability to barter were second to none. That man could get the crown jewels for a song if he applied his barter skills to it. She watched him often get goods for trade that he traded for things he really wanted and at a lower cost. While his daughter was good she had to admit who was the master at the swap.

Making caramelized kabobs with the salted meats and dried fruits from another traveler made for a tasty lunch. The camp fires were the few things on the journey offering comfort and safety. The wet clothes forced her to stay closer by the fires until she was dry enough then slept in the wagon on some sacks of potatoes. She tried to sleep if not for the noises of the woods nearby and the wind slapping against the canvas cover. She dreamed of a soft feather bed and warm blankets.

____________________
Dawnhaven 7pm.

Becky sat as the wagon train made it to the gates and it looked like everything was in the process of being built. She rolled her eyes but it was late and after all the jiggling and bumping around on the wooden benches she was more than ready to rest for the night in whatever counted for a tavern in this makeshift town. The baker was tired and sore all over from the wooden bench seat. Looking around the landscape was a whole lot of noting with buildings being built in random locations. Her eyes spotted some rich woman in a black fur cloak sulking through the alleys obviously up to something nefarious but she didnt care. The only thing that move one foot in front of the other was the promise of a pillow and a feather bed. Pushing on the door lead to it falling in and she gave a startled defensive pose. "What a rat hole."

Stepping past the fallen door she walked in to smell un seasoned food and the deep smoke of a hearth. "Hello? I'd like a room?" Letting her eyes wander about.

Hector Leant back against a chair using the light from the fire to check his drawing and notes carefully, each line carefully drawn and precise instructions for the most capable to fold and shape the metal into a part for repair. It had a crude repair but he imagined its process and every step he would have had to take to manufacture it.

He had not bothered to shed his decorated armour, for one it was warmer right now with the damaged door, he was used to being cold, the life of a soldier was cold and wet and usually you had to fight in it too. A master Warmaith had to adapt and work their own armour, it was a test, you had to trust your skills with your own life. There was no good weather for a soldier. He noted the woman enter, heavy set for sure, a shorter stout dark haired woman and Lunarian by her accent if correct. The warsmith was older, bearded and had one eye, sure he was not the most to look at but he had lived this long. “Greetings of the moon to ya” He said in his thick Lunarian tone and stepped over deliberately making sure he kept hands away from weapons, the woman was shorter and he showed no visible threat. “The little lady who runs the Inn be down in a minute,” The Royal Guard said as he rang a small bell on the bar. It was rough but loud for her to hear.

“Hector, Royal Guard, I am New myself along with my party. Welcome to Dawn Haven. Irs a strange place.” He said explaining maybe without need but tried to show an open hand however gruff he looked. His friend was the senior officer for a reason, but he was not entirely a troll or monster either. He knew why they where distrusted and did not hold it against people especially Adon and Persephone. Those two held ranks that people were very much cautious of. Hector was honest of his description of the town, strange summed it up, the innkeeper his beneath a cloak, Blight walked in streets, Princes, and more. It was not a normal town.

…

Sya hered a ring clearly from downstairs, she was In corridor and had waited a few minutes just thinking in the corridor after she left Olivia's room. Thinking, just thinking as she felt the more feminine and less practical braid down her back. French instead of the more viking one she normally wore and one that felt… appropriate given how she felt also she had changed in a short time. The act was small but so very meaningful to Sya. It was a looser style and her dark Brown hair looked…well… pretty, it was very much pretty. Olivia was anything but careless in her choices… Sya felt that she had chosen it as a statement, she was more looking like somthing new, somthing diffrent. Change is not always a bad thing tracing her fingers though the looser braids and curls in her hair.

Olivia's last words rang in her head, a claim of ownership, a possessive nature that she would probably have run from, anyone would but Sya was not normal. She had her normality burned away in the fires of the borderlands, been forced to become something different, her life had changed in ways she could scarcely believe. Anyone else would run… Sya kept running back to that, it made her feel… things and she was happy to risk it and worse to feel again, she felt again and had emotions more than her day to day life. She had already died once, she lived a second… She did not know how long such things would last … she might as well just admit it. She enjoyed the idea that someone felt so to be possessive of her, a humble innkeeper, a blightborn mutant no less.

She felt her clothes rub against the marks that vanished down from her neck and more faded one that lay on her hand, the marks that had claimed her and did not find the idea entirely a bad one… Sya had been discarded and considered worthless, now… she was worthy of claim.

No one else could understand how she felt, and that was good. No one else deserved the hardship and loss she had in her short life and second life.

The bell's ring broke her thoughts and caused her to stop over thinking, she had work to do and could think of her companion later. Sya was unsure, she reached to her hood and hid her braids and her eye… or did she risk the ire and danger of others… people did not react well to the woman's appearance. Sya I'm the end decided to pull up her hood and move quietly through the inn, light and quiet as a ghost. The soft glow of her eye glittered below her hood as she made way down the stairs spotting a curvy woman's form by the taller Lunarian. She moved like she owned the place and the 5’1 small woman came behind the bar and reminded herself she was queen of this little place, this was her… her Inn.

“My name is Syraeia, I am the Inn Keeper of the Eye of Beholder.” Sya said formerly and with an even tone of voice. “We had…an incident, we are looking to repair it as soon as possible.” She said smoothly and tackled the Elephant in the room. Or door.

She overhered with her more sensitive hearing the distant conversation, senses had taken a long time to adapt too, shaking her head a little as her world coloured into a yellowy… orange…blues at the very edge of vision… like something is breaking through… something more than what her normal eye saw. “I'm sorry Miss, we are full, the Prince booked the last two rooms we have, alongside two committed to a long term guest. I can offer you a basement to bed down, I can offer hot food, and drinks.” Sya spoke as she looked at the woman who she had to decline due to a shortage of space.

“Would you like to sit down for a hot stew and an ale?” She offered with a pleasant tone and an apology. Sya spoke softly with an easy tone and looked out under her hood, several inches shorter and much more slight than the other woman who was much more heavily built.

“Dawn Haven only really has one Inn so far, no one else wanted to take over the Inn. It's hard to attract people to this place.” Sya explained as she gestured to the whole town, she had a monopole… monopoly. That was it on trade here, some sold food, ale…but no one had the full services and so of the Eye yet.

Sya grabbed a rag and wiped down the dark wood with its red veins that had noticed was dirty, the potion it was soaked in had done an amazing job to cut through the mess as she was rewarded by gleaming timber of the hardwood top. Yes, the eye was not most luxurious but it was clean and fairly well kept for a border town Inn, Sya had seen far worse places that looked more akin to barely civilised bandit lairs.

“il take ale Sya” Hector said with his rougher tones, it was… hard to get used to everything about this town, the whole town was strange and they were gathering intelligence on their environment and where unwilling to act without making a complicated situation worse.

"Coming right up. I'll put that on Lord Coswains tab, Dark?” Sya said cheerfully and nipped back to grab a clean tankard from the large stone sink and tapped about to find the correct barrel for the dark ale and poured a strong smelling dark ale into a solid wooden tankard. The Prince was paying for their accommodation but their party seemed happy to pay for their food and ales. “Dark aye lass. Not like that weak watered stuff. Adon can foot the bill. Might have to send them some food up if Persephone is not up to it.” Hector said easily and leant against the bar easily and let himself relax but not too much… This town was not yet classified as friendly territory in his mind.

"I never serve it watered, youd be ran out of town where i cam efrom for that." Sya said trying to make... small talk what Sunni called it.

...

@amorphical