Voyage of the Shadows V2

The two smallest moons, Salanon and Sastus, were shinning their dim light on the Tundra Forest below. A slow and cold wind was blowing through the evergreens, creating a creaking and whistling sound. Nights in the northern Realm of Gondar were always cold.

Two epheral figures were also traversing the forest. For the stealth shown by the two, it was obvious that both had skill in not taking notice. They stopped in a closed copse while the taller one caught its' breath. They conversed, and the tall one spoke in a deep barelling voice, while the short ones' voice came out soft and feminine. The woman slapped the man in the back in a playful manner, and almost knocked him over. After the man straightened himself and glared at the woman, they started off again.

For over an hour, the two trekked through the snow in snow-shoes until they found a road cleared by horses and wagons earlier in the day. They stopped and the man pulled out a piece of bark-paper with symbols and writing on it. He concentrated on a symbol near the top and then pointed to the northwest direction of the road. The woman nodded and took off her snow-shoes while the man attempted to do the same with his. After falling three times in the snow, the woman sat him down with a palm on the chest, and dealt with his shoes for him. A few quick pulls and tugs, and the snow-shoes were off. The man got up, dusted snow off his cloak, glared at the woman again, and started to trudge off in the direction he pointed at earlier. He slipped on some icy ground, pin-whirrled his arms, and fell flat on his face. The woman tried to help him, but he pushed her away. After a few troubled starts, he finally got up on his own and carefully made his way down the road.

Before long, they reached a point where the road diverged and a path traced a way into a heavly wooded area. They followed the path and came upon a small village. The houses and shops were spread widely along the main-street. A few signs pointed out two tailors, a butcher with a huge pen attached to the back, a fletcher, a smithy, and other assorted buildings. A three story Inn showed the only source of light in the village. The two made it to the front of the Inn and walked in through the heavy oaken door.

Inside showed a few glowing laterns, but no sound. This village went to sleep early compared to the larger cites of the more southern realms. A short and stocky man was snoring in a chair with a thick blanket, behind the counter. They made their way around the tables and chairs to the sleeping man. The stocky man awoke with a start when the woman grabbed him by the collar and lifted him into the air in front of her. Before he could say anything, she put him down back behind the counter and the tall man walked up to the counter.

The tall man stared at the short man for a few seconds and then put three silver coins on the counter. The little man didn't even look at where they were from, but put them in a strong box under the counter. He walked to the stairs in the front of the room, a little shaky at first, and started upstairs. The two followed him up.

Upstairs, there were a few rooms on the two sides of the hallway, and the little man lead them to the last one on the left. He opened the door, fanned out his arm towards the room, and then went back downstairs. The two entered the room and shut it behind them.

"I still think you are a fool!", said the woman. She removed her cloak and coat and stared at the tall man. She was beautiful, she had a small scar near her right ear, but it did not detract from her beauty. The armor she wore seemed odd with a face like hers, she looked more like she belong in a gown, not a half-suit of silver armor (with the sigil of the silver moon on the left arm as well).

The man took off his cloak and coat as well. He was not as muscular as the woman, but he was not a thin branch of a man either. He was obviously a mage of some kind, his robe was dark red and had no special trimmings to it, so he was not a rich mage. His face was a hard, angular, and masculine version of the woman's face. They either had to be brother and sister or father and daughter, with the tone she used with him, it was obvious that they were siblings.

"We are running short on coinage, and we were out of choices. We need money, and the Duke offered quite a bit of brass and silver for what we're going to do. And if your against it in some MORAL way, don't... we've done much worse than this." said the man. He looked happily at his sister and gave a full mouthed grin. She frowned at him and started to talk and take off her armor at the same time.

"STOP...wait. Wait till I go downstairs before you start getting ready for sleep. I've had enough annoyances today, for you to add your nudity to it." He left, and went downstairs to use his sister as a threat to get some meat. She watched him go and didn't do anything in the way of a joke, or a scratch at his personal way of acting with her. She just stared at the wall for a few minutes.

Hmmm... I wish there was a way to talk him out of this. I wasn't trained to steal. I was trained to fight for Honor and Good. Why does he always have to think of our money situation, instead of our personal reputation? I am a warrior and he is a great and powerful mage of the earthen arts. Why do we not find a place to make a name for ourselves, instead of being known as some back-alley hire-hands. Hmmm.

She sat, her nostrils flared, and her eyes kept getting larger. She worked herself up in her head to a point where she wanted to scream. And then, all of a suddenly, she sat up and took off her armor. It wasn't the largest suit of mail a soilder or warrior had warn, but it was the right size for her shorter height. There wasn't much weight to it, because she needed all the manueverability and flexability she could muster in a fight. [update insert] She stood, and worked out all the kinks andstiffness she had worked up after a week of hard traveling. When she was ready for sleep, she sat on the single bed and put a dagger under her pillow. After she felt ready, whe laid down and fell asleep.

As Jarel walked down the stairs to the front room, he heard activity from in fron of him. He slowed and came to and came to a stop on teh last stair, and listened.

"Yes, Yes, they came in and threatened me for a room. She was a ferocious type. Scared me out my wits they did."

"I don't think this is something you should had woken me for."

"But the man. he was a mage of some sort. I'm sure of that. Spit in my mother's eye I do."

Silence fell for a few moments.

"There's no need for that... go back to sleep and leave this to me."

"Aye, I didn't trust the two for a moment"

Jarel peeked around the corner and watched as the Inn Keeper went back behind the counter, and the other Voice left through the front door. Seems that the Keeper didn't waste any time in informing someone of our presence. Jarel funbled around in his pockets until he felt something familiar. He pulled out the Symbol-Coin and spoke a few words. The air around him heated up, and the world seemed to distort in front of his eyes.

He moved from the stairwell without fear of notice. He stepped up to the front door and pushed cautiously so as not to wake the already sleeping Inn Keeper, with the noise. He walked out to the main street and instantly saw tracks that the Voice had left. He pressed on in pursuit, not caring in anyone looked out their window to see him:

For he was invisible

---===---

Pristinas dreams of a dark unseen force chasing her, finally forced her awake in a sweaty daze. She fumbled for her dagger, and swayed as she got up from the bed. She stood fully erect, and saw that no one was there. She was anout to sit back down, when the doored started to creak open. She quickly stood, ready to fight to the death. Jarel walked in, and saw her with her dagger in hand. She dropped the weapon to the floor, and tried vainly to hide her fear.

"You have cause, Sister," He wispered. "It seems our little Inn Keeper has deemed it neccesary to... inform the lord of this district of our presence... I suggest we gather our things and leave now, before they all come down on our heads!"

Hmm... Second installment didn't do too much to it, just a little editing, and addition. I always like those C&C's.

-EFX

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