@rechonqSuch entrancing conversation made time go by as if it didn't exist. The chill in the air and the faint presence of rot on the air was the only reminder that Tarani and Lost were getting close to the Fall King's Palace.
"Not so much a palace," she thought to herself,
"but more a vast ravine of trees. Still, it is as good as any palace I'd want to be in." It was true. It wasn't a palace, per se, but to Tarani at least, it was a palace. She'd venture to say at times that it was even home.
Tarani was the type to take things seriously most of the time, if not all the time. It didn't mean that she was withdrawn or had no sense, like a sheltered pup; it simply meant that in her experience, especially in the Fae world, nothing was a joke when it came to words. One couldn't say a word without it having a double, if not triple meaning. The whole point to making deals and promises is that key principle of deceit. A principle she was all to familiar with--her sole reason for being so analytical when it comes to speaking to others.
Tarani, commonly referred to as Anya, wasn't too surprised by the compliment, suspecting that the Satyr was a natural smooth talker any way, it shouldn't've been to difficult for Lost to have come up with one.
"A well noted compliment, I agree. It doesn't come without effort though, I assure you. It has taken me many years of seclusion and discipline to achieve this level of calm with the two 'beings' inside. A struggle in its own, but one I do not take for granted to this day," she spoke gratefully and appreciatively. Anya thought about Lost's next words for quite some time, minutes passing by.
"Forgive me. I had much to go through in order to find what I was looking for. Now, I agree: when it comes to physical confrontation, most Fae fall. However, it is their own fault for being weak. A little something about me for you, to relate to physical confrontation and weaker Fae." A deep breath to calm her self and steady her nerves, Tarani went back about six hundred into her past.
"About six hundred years ago, when I was dealing with the power struggle inside, I had met a Lycanthrope. Not the first time I had encountered one either. In fact, I had had contact with one a few years prior to this engagement, but it was a much more friendlier encounter. At any rate, the Lycanthrope I had encountered next wasn't very old. Wasn't very young either, but much younger in comparison to me. At first it was just words he spoke of. Dreams and hopes...the same that I had shared. I made the mistake of divulging that information, something I should have known not to do, but I was to caught up in the words and forgot where my head was. The Lycanthrope was aware of this and took advantage of it, promising me power and a restraint if I would only supply him and his pack with the resources they needed to take on a rivaling pack of Lycanthrope's. Trivial matters compared to the ones I had at the time, and that was exactly what I thought. So I did just that, and up to about two hundred years ago I was indebted to that miserable excuse of a Fae. And then, as if the world was being lifted off my shoulders, I felt relief. The power binding me to the debt was broken and I had already suspected why it was such. The miserable oaf had gotten intoxicated and tripped one day, his head splitting on a rock. After that, I swore that I would never feel that way--like a slave--ever again." It was a tough four hundreds years for her after that encounter, and she took out her frustration on the weaker Fae--not uncommon either. She had struck many deals over those few years, making sure not to collect until the time was right; leaving an arsenal at her call.
"I would very much enjoy your company on this years Hunt, however, and I do believe you should fully exercise your right to prowling this year. I hear there shall be many involved, and many who will fall. It'll be a festive one, that is no lie at all." The leaves had stopped falling from the trees as they approached closer to their destination. It would only be a matter of time after that and the Hunt would begin.