The sun gleamed through the leaves of the Brightwood sending bright yellow beams through each crevice, painting a glorious shadow of trees on the floor of the wood. The wind sent smells of fresh, living and healthy wood, smooth, gentle and dexterous leaves as they clung to the branches that held the source of their life and health. Small animals and creatures jumped through the beams, chasing one another in fruitful competition. Life in the wood was lasting and glorious as it was viewed from the canopy near the woods roof where Saida lay. Her long platinum hair hanging down the sides of the branch she found her perch in, dancing with the wind and mimicking the beams of sun that sliced through each strand reflecting it's light brilliance through this bit of wooden hollow.
A gentle voice came from bellow, the voice of a male, calm, sincere and kind. "Saida, it is time my dear.". The deep blue eyes of the elf followed the voice until the met the man standing at the base of her tree. Saida, recognizing the man, swiftly descended the tree, not rustling the branches or shifting the leaves, barely touching each foot to the staircase of branches leading her towards the earth's floor. As her final foot fall landed her elegantly in the array of leaves, branches, pebbles and small plants that decorated the hall of life that surrounded her she knelt down into a bow at the gentleman, rising gracefully before speaking in a soft and light voice, "Yes, Papa, I will leave at once.". Their eyes meet momentarily before she accepted her items from him and nodded, walking silently towards the edge of the wood where her boat of transport lay to take her to the port in Saerus.
She attached her long sword to her back where it lay gently touching the soft fabric covering her upper body and swayed lightly with the movement of her hips. Her belt which contained her two daggers fastened around her waist placing the sharp knives on her left hip where they lay still, clasped in their leather holsters until needed. These weapons were elven made and crafted for her by the weapons smith of her village within the Brightwood, light but sturdy and sharp. The early sun began to dance it's way through the leaves across the sky as she approached the boat taking her across the sea.
The boat was large with deep green sails, each imprinted with a sun symbol in honor of Deum Lucis. The wood was a deep red brown and reflected the sun on it's deck as if to welcome it aboard as a celebrated passenger. Saida bowed her head as she passed the other wood elves also making their way across the sea for various other tasks and reasons to her own. The sea lay calm as the boat shifted away from its dock beginning it's travel across the brilliant expanse of water.
Though the boat rocked gently with the waves of the water hitting the base of the wood that made it's shape, Saida found comfort on the top a freight container carrying goods from one side to the other and meditated her magical ability, focusing on her knowledge of the arcane arts and familiarizing herself with the changing atmosphere that accord during the day and a half carrying her from her home to the ground of the other side where her mission will begin.
As the ship approached the dock on Saerus, Saida dismounted the boat on the side of the ship climbing down the rope ladder that lead to the shore rather then the dock, nodding her head in a bow of appreciation to her shipmates who bade her good luck and farewell on her journey. The ground was soft under her feet as she stepped through the sand leaving barely a trace of a footprint behind her to follow. The smell in the air was of sea and people gathering about with goods and produce changing hands with the comings and goings of trade ships. The loud roar of voices all talking at once coming from the large gathering of people hard at work mixed with the waves reaching the shore and the thumping sounds of many boots pounding in steps along the dock's wooden structure.
Saida began her journey to the the Capital of The People's Conglomerate. The journey took several days as she travelled along the road through Saerus, within the deep trenches of The Wildwoods, across New Chevlais and New Auslands and finally into The People's Conglomerate. Her journey though long was met with the welcoming help of a travelling merchant who was also headed towards the capitol from the port of Saerus where she rode along side him and they spoke longingly of their homes and families. The merchant was a dwarf wearing simple merchants clothes and decorating his head was his long mane and beard of rosewood accompanied by the pipe that sat on the tip of his lips but never fell through his speech and laughter. He went by Belnorn and charmed Saida with his epic tails of adventure and heroism before retiring to the life of a merchant.
The capitol city of Mitrongi was large and full of bustling people, much unlike was Saida was used to finding in her discrete and organized elven village in the Brightwoods she had known to be her home for so many years. People walked this way and that, rushing through and between each other in a never ending hurry to find their locations, items and each other. The buildings rose tall and aligned in the city, some old, some new, some poor and some rich, each one resonated a different smell from within it's closed doors and open windows. The sounds of babies crying, rough shouts, lively music and laughter sprang from different corners of the city along with the smells of fresh breads, stews, ales and desserts. The city was alive, it was fast and it was, although not unwelcoming, in it's own universe of life.
Saida closed the distance between herself and the location of Gladios Magnus nodding at the guards who stood fast at the door and catching a glimpse of what seemed to be other travellers called as well for the job he had to offer. She quickly made her way towards the door leading to the room they all seemed to be stopped before catching a glimpse of the map laid out before them and hearing the overall gist of the job lined up for them. Upon enter the room before glancing at the faces of any of the other travellers, Saida knelt down low with her right hand touching gently to the edge of her left shoulder in a bow to Gladios, her long brown stretches of fabric that draped across her waist fell like ribbons onto the floor, fashionable framing her pose. She spoke softly but clearly,"I am Saida Keyran, Wood elf of the Brightwoods and healer of it's people. I've come to assist you. Please forgive my delay in arriving, I hope his grace is not displeased."
Saida's hair fell long and brilliant to her side as she looked up revealing her deep blue eyes to the Duke before standing once more, her head keeping it's bow before raising it last and taking a brief moment to glance about the room at what would become her fellowship.
Vashonn
