Spirits of the Earth

OOC: Going to refer to Awari as Maar in this thread, since she's in that form, unless she somehow reveals her identity or your character figures it out.

IC:

     Maar stood on the opposite side of a table in front of her employer. The barrel chested man with broad shoulders and a sharp, green gaze peered down at her with a look that mixed with curiosity and disbelief.
"Well?" she demanded, putting her hands on her hips.
The fae had been travelling all night to arrive here, having just arrived that very morning. She had been granted the grace to change and eat before being presented to Dans Morindo, which was a thoughtful gesture; she had been famished. She braided her curly hair. The man had extra clothes that fit her from when his daughter was around her height. The fae was pleased with the borrowed clothing; loose, dark pants, a loose white blouse, white fur for her collar, straps to hold the sleeves down, a wide belt in place of an under-bust.

Despite his generosity, however, he was beginning to annoy her.
"You're just a child," he muttered, confused.
Maar rolled her eyes as she explained for the umpteenth time that she was a fae; there was no need for him to be so flabbergasted by her appearance. The man nodded and gave her the  terms of their agreement: protect him at all costs  and she'd get rewarded richly. Bonus if she could reveal the identity of any assassin's employers and get proof. Morindo certainly did know how to grab people's attention that way; that was probably why so many others considered him dangerous. Though the country allowed for free speech, there was still so many that were oppressed, whose voices were silenced. The man was part of a rebel organization that wished to fight against the treatment of mages, but he wasn't without his enemies.  Thankfully, he also wasn't lacking in ears, spies who managed to confirm that there were assassins after him. It was especially crucial she was there that night, for an important meeting was to happen, that night.

Normally, Maar never played body guard, and certainly not in the iron infested cities of Connlaoth. She took precautions, such as wearing gloves and boots and taking her potion, but the stench was still there.  No, she had came because she had been interested in the situation and because it meant doing some new, for a change.
After their meeting was over, Morindo had dismissed Maar, allowing her the privileged of exploring his huge manor.This was good; she needed to be able to be familiar with this place if she might need to fight. Of course, the man's servants were aware of her presence, but they had been told in before hand that she was his niece coming to visit, which seemed to encourage them to constantly offer her sweets.

Wasting no time in taking advantage of both, Maar was now happily strolling down one of the manor's halls with a honey bun in her hands, observing where the lights cast shadows with a mischievous grin on her face.

Joints crackled and realigned themselves as the assassin finally arose from her meditative posture before the dying embers of a formerly roaring hearth. The night had been a long one as she listened intently to her employer describe the prey and the importance of the kill. She had openly blown off hearing the reasonings, claiming that "such a petty squabbles are of no use to me."

It had pleased her greatly that her employer had stormed out like a child throwing a temper tantrum. Even now as the morning sun clawed his way up through the sky, a faint smirk crossed Tiraris' lips. She prepared herself quietly and slowly, enjoying the few moments of peace and calm. 'The calm before the storm.'

The noble who had hired her, she really had not bothered to find out his name, specifically instructed her to attack at night. She on the other hand had other ideas. 'Attack at night and they expect you. Only a lunatic or a woman would dare killing during the sun's watch. Good thing I am both.'

A short walk to the manor did nothing for her. Tiraris was ready, everything just came down to the final decision. 'Front door or roof? Massacre or stealth? Roof, security is always lighter on the top.' She quickly shimmied up an arbor and slipped into an unoccupied room by way of its open balcony. 'People really need to start making things more difficult these days. There is no pride to be had in this when the work is on the verge of boring,' she lamented as she let herself out into the hall.

Someone's here that shouldn't be here.
Maar looked up to the roof, the assassin's presence practically shouting at her. It wasn't a servant; theirs she had dimmed out of her mind. Besides, theirs were weaker and less  honed due of their lack of training due to the strange laws of this country. This one was stronger... and who else but a thief or an assassin comes through a roof? The fae gave  a broad smile, amused by the intruder's spunk for intruding the manor in broad day light.

Wanting to have a little fun before the kill, Maar ran for the nearest stairs and skipped up towards the floor Tiraris was. She waited until the assassin turned around a corner to step in front of her. Maar pretended to bump into  her.
"Ow," she moaned, rubbing the top of her fore head as she gave the woman a curious, wide eyed look. In reality, she was taking in everything she could about the woman. Her built, where she might be hiding weapons, perhaps even signs of her employer.
Quickly composing herself, Maar bowed.
"Hello," she greeted giving her most innocent smile.
"Morindo didn't tell me he had guests," she sweetly said.

The assassin grunted as the child ran into her. 'Gods above what did you send me one of the inconvenient little bastards? That was uncalled for!' Long fingers moved quickly to pull her cloak and cowl tighter about her, hiding any telling features.

Her voice rose to the lilting, simpering tones of a high-ranking escort. "Oh dear child," Tiraris scoffed. "Of course he would not tell you. Important men like Dans do not tell their sweet daughters about the things adults do behind closed doors. Now run along," she shooed waving her hand down the hall. "Go play with some dolls while daddy and I have some fun."

Tiraris gave a high-pitched laugh that even had her mentally cringing at its sound. 'Minor challenged averted, now to finish this and go out for a drink.' Glancing down at the child as she brushed passed her, she corrected herself. 'Make that several drinks.'

Maar could have laughed at the assassin's explanation. Besides, the fae knew that most children did not remain ignorant of such subjects for long; she often found herself in a position to awkwardly explain such matters to the hawklings. And if any were treated the way the assassin was treating her, they'd pout and protest that pre-teens simply did not play with dolls. However, Maar did none of those things. Instead, she smiled sweetly at the woman  as she  cheerfully skipped by her side.

"Fun?," she replied, "I love fun."
The fae giggled, taking delight in her word play. She didn't know what she was enjoying more; the hunt or fooling the assassin. The woman actually thought he was her father!
"Though you're wrong about him; he's not my father," she continued, keeping up a chatty facade.
"But what about you? Who are you? How'd you end up all the way up here?"

'I do not care whether you are his daughter or not! Of course you are not, but could you just play along the stupid child you are? Of course not! My life would be simple then. Nothing is ever simple for the Silverd'art.'

"Oh you precious thing!" she cooed, turning to the child and placing her hands on each freckled cheek. 'Do not kill it. Do not kill it. Do not kill it!' Still smiling that simpering little grin, Tiraris slipped her arm around the young one's shoulders and hugged her close as she continued to walk. "I like fun too. I am Lady Lindy. But, tell me, what is your name dearest?"

'Might as well use the brat,' she thought walking past a set of guards and playing up the chumminess. 'As long as I do not kill her then all be well. How I hate children! Why did I ever believe it was a good idea to have any? Loud, nosy, obnoxious, little brats, the lot of them!'

OOC: I say 'attempt'; you decide if it hits or not :p
IC:

Maar gave a shy smile at being called precious. She didn't know whether she should loathe this or be highly amused by how the woman was treating her. The fae supposed it was a bit of both. The fae didn't seem to be fazed as the assassin wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. She could always slip away.
"Oh, me?" she replied after the assassin gave an alias.
You fool; I've met the Lady Lindina.
She was going to have to try harder than that.

"My name's Maar, ma'am," she replied as they passed by the guards. The fae threw them a glare and gave the slightest of nods. Though the servants were told Maar was the target's niece, some of his own personal guards knew the truth, such as the ones that were on post. The nodded, their hands every so slowly moving for their swords. Maar could have scoffed; the Bandits were trained to draw their weapons with more stealth than that.

The fae knew that the assassin would notice this, so she quickly took the opportunity to use her own hidden knife in attempt to stab her in the back.
"I'm so much more fun than Morindo, my lady," she said in a not so childish voice, "Play with me, instead."

The guards' movement to arms was as obvious to the deadly assassin as the sun on the horizon. "Oh look, kitty has got claws," she commented as the now named Maar moved to attack her. A long-fingered hand caught the small wrist, preventing injury. "You know child, backstabbing is very dishonorable no matter the form."

Tiraris had given up the facade, her voice dropping to its own lower and quieter tones. Whipping around she killed two guards and knocked out three more as she headed for the stairs. 'Looks I have to do things the fun way,' she grumbled to herself as more guards filed in to block her way. 'Even the child has become a threat now, although not sure the pipsqueak could do much harm. Could I use her to my advantage? Not worth the risk. Maybe another day.'

"Afraid I must postpone that play-date little one. Maybe next time if you are good, I will bring the big toys." The assassin smirked beneath her hood as the sunlight poured down on her, lighting her mahogany eyes up with a demonic glow. They were corralling her towards a balcony. 'Fools!' Raising her hand to wiggle her fingers in a parting gesture, Tiraris allowed herself to flip and fall backwards over the rail.

She could hear the men scuttle to look over the edge. What they could not see was her clinging to the underside of the jutting stonework. 'Oh, would you look at that,' she mused looking down towards the next level. 'I found Morindo.' Sure enough he was sitting at a desk in his study, oblivious to how close danger lurked.

Maar only smiled coldly as the woman grabbed her by the wrist, and wiggled  out of her grasp.
She's quick, for a human, she thought in approval. It's been a while since the species gave her this much trouble. The fae tisked as the woman instantly killed the two idiotic guards. No, not killed... One was still breathing, though he'd be dead in an hour.
Messy, messy...
She ignored the assassin's taunts as she stepped into the shadow's the woman cast. Maar gave the room a sweep to make sure no one was watching before she slipped into the assassin's shadow.

She slithered underneath her belly, delight rippling through her essence. The 'Lady' was so close...Maar could have rolled her eyes at the assassin's gloating, though she had to admit, this woman was quite interesting.
I won't kill her right away.
Her mind made up, her right arm reached out to stab the woman in the abdomen, quickly and silently. She wanted the intruder alive, but a few cuts here and there wouldn't hurt...

Unaware of the true danger she was in, Tiraris paused to consider her next move. In a matter of seconds her mind was made up and her arms moved to cross her abdomen to drop down safely. At least that was the plan.

What she had no been expecting was the pain that radiated from her arm as she fell away from the wall. Distracted, she nearly missed catching the lower balcony ledge and jarred her shoulder badly in the fall. The entirity of her right arm was gashed and bleeding freely.

Confusion played across her features as she stared at the flowing crimson liquid. Looking up she saw nothing but shadows. 'I do not understand. Something is at work here. There are unexpected defenses. This complicates things.'

No longer caring for stealth, the assassin yanked herself up onto the rail to come face to face with her target. A sword was pressed against her throat as he stared her down. "Did you really think you could kill me assassin? I'm made of tougher stuff than that," he gloated.

Tiraris rolled her eyes and chuckled cruelly. "Do you really think you can succeed?" Slowly she rose from her precarious balancing act and hopped down to the safer balcony, the blade ever trained for the kill. The hilt of her own sword found its way into her hand and after a pregnant pause they were at each other's throats.

There was a grace and beauty to the way Tiraris fought. Her blade sung as her feet danced to its beat. The thrill of the game sounded in her blood making her heart pound. 'He is better than anticipated. I may actually this,' she mused, becoming engrossed in the duel.

OOC: Warning:  godmodding. Though they're outside and light isn't consistent, so if you want to say somehow her shadow was cut off because there were some clouds over head and they drew back, it's cool.

IC:

Maar could have laughed as her blade sliced through the assassin's arm. Oh, her face! her expression!  It was so full of confusion, she really did have no idea what she was up against.
How delightful, she cooed.
 The fae quickly slipped into the shadow of the balcony. She could have cursed when she caught eye of her employer. What was he doing out here?  This was her job! She was annoyed by his senseless actions. Was he trying to make things difficult?Refusing to be out done, the fae emerged from her 'hiding place' a few feet from behind the assassin. Morindo grunted when he saw the fae.


"Where were you?," he asked as he fended off the assassin.
"With her," Maar replied as she casually stepped onto the woman's shadow, which ranged up to two feet behind it.  It was hardly much, but it would have to do.
Using her shadow manipulation powers, the fae made the woman drop her sword and fall to her knees with her hands behind her back.
A too wide, victorious smile spanned across her face as Mornido backed a few feet away, looking rather concerned.
"Pick up her sword," she instructed as she used one of her daggers to poke the woman in the back.
"Okay, you. Start talking,"  she said.
Suddenly, the childish and innocent voice was gone and was replaced with a much more colder one. The laughter was still there, but her tone was much more condescending than it had been before.

The fae's eyes briefly scanned the skies. She wouldn't have that much more time to control her shadow, as the clouds were blocking the sun; it might become smaller, soon. All the more reason for Morindo to pick up that cursed sword and for the assassin to spill the beans. Of course, it would prove difficult, but Maar didn't mind. It was all part of the fun, to her.
"Who hired you and what's you real name?" she asked, almost sweetly.

The unexpected loss of her prized weapon and the forced submission of her body enraged Tiraris. For a brief moment she lost control of the ever-crackling magic lying just beneath the surface. The air around her thickened before quickly clearing again. She took slow, deep breaths to calm herself. 'It would not do to destroy him. Evidence of death is still necessary for this one.'

Smirking, she straightened her spine as if her kneeling was of her own voilition. "Still a brat, but one with some interesting tricks up her sleeve, I see." Tiraris laughed and shook her head in disapproval. "If you do not already know who I am then you are not worth my time. And you," she addressed the man now, with a killing stare but a sickly sweet boice. "Damage that blade and I will tear your throat out with my bare hands." Maroon eyes glared deeply into Morindo's as if the assassin could see straight through him and into his very soul. 'You have not won yet. It has only just begun.'

Maar arched her brow as she could feel the magic seeping from the woman. How very quaint. She smirked at the assassin's obvious  attempt to keep it cool and simply looked very bored and uninterested during her tough speak. At the assassin's words, Maar stepped forward onto the woman's shadow and pressed her dagger against the woman's  throat.
"You're in no position to say that," she said, quietly.
During this exchange, Morindo picked up the accursed sword and took it out of the balcony.

That left the assassin all to Maar, who estimated she only had about only up to fifty seconds to continue holding this stance, judging by the clouds. Less than twenty if the woman did something to get her to step away from the shadow. Not one willing to waste precious time, Maar pressed her other blade against her back.
"You've got five seconds to tell me who your employer is. Speak."

The blade at her throat really did not phase Tiraris, she had faced much worse. Her chin raised in defiance as her eyes followed the movement of Morindo with her blade until he was out of sight. A mischievous light shone out from her crimson eyes as she obeyed the attacker and let off a deep husky bark.

The laughter that followed hid the movement of her hands as they began to regain control. A cloud's shadow was advancing quickly over the sun but, Tiraris had not figured out what magic it was that imprisoned her in such a way. The slight release was all she needed to break free though. The moment the cloud began to skate across the edge of the sun, the assassin broke free, pulling Maar down over her shoulder and then skipping backwards from the little girl.

Kicking off the ground and cutting corners she advanced quickly on Morindo who, not expecting the attack, just stared at her wide eyed. 'Amateurs!' Hands seeking out the beautiful sword latched on quickly to the sharp blade and cut her palms as she ripped it away from his shocked grasp. Swinging the blade back, Tiraris brought the hilt of it down against the man's temple, knocking him out and causing him to slip back over the balcony.

Tiraris swore as she reached over to catch him. The strain of his larger her body on her arms was nearly too much as she struggled to drag him back up. "Hey pipsqueak! If you want him to live you better come help or I am going to drop him!"

But the pipsqueak was no where to be found. As soon as Tiraris had thrown Maar's body over her shoulder, the fae had quickly dove into Morindo's nearby shadow. However, that was just enough time for Tiraris to knock the man out. The fae could have cursed ancient and vile things; this shouldn't have happened. It was embarrassing, really, for this to have happened. Of course, if Morindo had gotten out of the balcony in a timely fashion, it wouldn't have had...
I should have killed her on sight.
The fae slipped into the shadows that the balcony casted as the assassin called out for her. Taking it as a challenge, the fae quickly emerged a pace behind Tiraris. And then...


With just a slight of hand, Maar reached into her pouch, grasping a fistful of black dust.
"HEY!" she shouted, letting her presence be known. The fae blew the blinding powder towards the assassin's face as she reached out for her employer to pull him back towards safety. It was more difficult than it seemed; the man's body was almost completely over the ledge at this point, with only his legs for the grabbing. The poor fae heaved, but she wasn't making much progress. Frustrated, she  stepped on the  shadow his body casted onto the railing and caused his body to awkwardly fling itself backwards, over the railing and crashing into the safety of the balcony's floor. She wasn't a grunt, for crying out loud; he was heavy.

Panting slightly, the fae turned around to face the armed assassin. She gave a wild grin. Though she was rather annoyed, there were very few occasions where she was quite challenged like this by a foe.
"I asked you a question, you know," she stated, softly.

'Fool!' Tiraris knew her mistake the minute she made it. Allowing herself to be distracted by the man, she had opened herself up for an attack. The moment the dust went to her eyes, she let go of the body. 'I hope she drops him. Focus woman, a lot worse could have happened to you just now!'

The assassin wiped briefly at the excess powder on her face but, did not bother trying rub at her eyes. Experience had taught her that she would only make it worse and could permenantly damage her eyes as others had done before her. Focusing on her surroundings she was able to detect the sounds of the pair's breath and the girl's movements and get her sword in a defensive position between her and her opponent.

"Aye you did," she chuckled. "But, you did not ask very nicely. Where I come from we are taught manners. Perhaps you should learn some. They would get you far in life."

Maar giggled at the assassin's statement.
"You are but a sapling in mine eyes," she retorted as her prideful nature caused her to resort to such trite insults. The fae knew age mattered not in such things, but she simply couldn't help herself. The assassin was trying to chastise her on manners. Manners! The fae took a bold step forward, holding her knives in an equally defensive position.
"But let us try again."
She tried to keep eye contact with the woman but her eyes were secretly scanning for any shadow of hers she could use and manipulate. She didn't much like face to face combat, and wanted to try to avoid it. However, that was starting to seem impossible; Maar was just going to have to play along.
"Tell me the name of your employer. Please."

Morindo groaned as he started to regain consciousness, but Maar ignored him. He would live, so long as he stood out of her way and left this ever so charming lady to her.

The assassin smiled ferally at having her game be played. "Ah now you did that quite nicely. Congradulations," she praised taking a small bow. "As for my employer's name. I am afraid that I cannot tell you that. I did not take the time to find out."

Tiraris shrugged indifferently as she blinked her eyes repeatedly to try and wash them clear. Little by little her vision was returning blurry bit by bit. "I am in it for the job and not the politics you see. Names do not mean a thing to me. Just like whatever he did or did not do means nothing to me." Her head jerked in Mornindo's direction. "Kindly hand him over please and I will speedily be on my way."

"I see," Maar lamented as the assassin spoke to her of her employer. Slowly, she began to step towards the woman as she tried not to make her movements too obvious. It was a shame that the woman wouldn't comply. They were rather in the same boat; both rather apathetic hired hands who just happened to have different goals. Maar was even starting to like this rather rude human woman. In a way, she rather reminded her of Dram, though the Purple Hawk didn't think he'd fancy being compared to a human woman.

It really is a shame that I'll have to kill her, Maar thought as the sky started to become a little darker as the sun was being veiled with yet another cloud. It was only for a brief moment, but as Maar glanced up, she estimated that there would be one or two more on their way that would last longer. That was enough.

"You're right. It doesn't matter. But it's my job to protect this giant oaf, you see, and I am to do just that," Maar replied ever so sweetly as she flashed a smile.
Suddenly, she bolted towards the woman as the light making her dull colored stone daggers seem to gleam in the light. When she got within the woman's sword range, she swerved so that she was coming slightly more from the left than center and held her blades in a defensive position as she tried to close the between distance between the two of them and stab her in  the gut.

"Ah, then we have reached an impasse," Tiraris commented with a smirk as she waited until the last second to react to the attack. She recognized the feint for what it was and easily countered by bringing Isilotsë up to knock against Maar's blades.

She was used to using the absolute minimal amount of movement to achieve the greatest result. Now was no exception as she let the opponent drive the attacks and Tiraris remained on the defensive. At the perfect moment she would strike and not before.

"You know," the assassin reasoned, "we are not that different you and I. Surely we can come to some sort of agreement? I am not here to kill him, only take him to the source. You were hired I am sure to keep him alive. What is a little twisting of the truth between colleagues? You could always come along for the ride." Red eyes danced with cruel laughter at the idea. 'I always win little one. You are just an inconvenience.'

OOC: I almost want to say "she clinged to the woman like a koala". Do they have koalas in this world? They SHOULD.

IC:

"Bah!" Maar cried out when the assassin blocked her attack with her nasty smelling sword.  The fae wrinkled her nose at the woman's reasoning. Did she really think that Maar was going to fall for this? Aye, they were alike in some ways, it was true, but Maar was starting to regret seeing the resemblance. At least she didn't lower her standards like this! It was possible at the assassin wasn't lying, but there was no guarantee that Morindo would be kept alive after that. Besides, she was paid to keep him safe and alive, and letting this stranger take him was definitely breaking her contract. Maar's deep blue eyes twinkled as another cloud rolled in, just on time.

"Shame it  has come to this," she mockingly lamented as she kicked hard at the assassin's  shin before  nimbly breaking away The fae thought quickly. She was going to need to attack the woman again, but Maar wanted the edge of surprise, not the assassin.
"Adieu!" she said as she sprinted towards the ledge of the balcony and jumped off.
Farewell for but a moment.
The fae had grabbed part of the banister as she flipped off the ledge, aiming straight for the shadow her body casted. It was tricky, but since it was touching the banisters shadow, she was just able to touch her own, crawl in, and return back to the safety of the shadows on the balcony. Even if she couldn't make it, there was always her daggers - the fae might meet her death one day, but falling off a wall was a most indignant way to go.

She slithered into the assassin's shadow, and silently pounced onto her back, with one knife pressed to her throat whilst the other was about to stab her again in the back. The fae's legs held on tightly to the woman's torso as she balanced herself.
"Fool."

Tiraris grunted as the little foot came in contact with her shinguard. 'Thank the gods for small favors.' Yet when she turned around, Maar was gone. 'Where did you go now imp? I am not in the mood for these games.'

Listening intently but not hearing anything, she swiftly made her way over to the target. However, she did not make it as she was attacked from behind. Tiraris struggled with the added, flailing weight resting on her back. One hand moved up to grab the knife at her throat and try to prevent it from slitting her open.

She growled in anger and kicked off the ground into a low no-handed flip. Her intent was to use her weight to at the bare minimum, knock the wind out of her attacker. Tiraris curled her body, prepared for impact. High in the sky a thick set of clouds slid across the sun, blocking out its warm light.

But Maar was very much in the mood for such games. Her foot stung from when she had kicked the assassin in the leg, but the fae ignored that pain as she sliced at her throat and began to stab her in the shoulder. Unfortunately for her, her slice at the woman's throat wasn't fatal, and  wound in the shoulder didn't go terribly deep as the assassin suddenly flipped backwards. The force of her movement caused Maar to fall hard on her back on the ground.

"Ow," she whined as she body sank into the shadows on the balcony.
In the safety of the shadows, Maar sulked for a brief moment, letting the shock wear down. Though her retreat was a natural movement for her, the fae realized that had the assassin saw her disappearance out of the corner of her eye, then her edge might be somewhat dulled. She slithered into  the assassin's shadow, once more, waiting for the opportunity to deliver one last final blow, determined for the next hit to kill.

Tiraris' back came into painful contact with the ground as it jarred her newly injured shoulder. She grit her teeth against the pain as he observed a new and interesting sight. 'She just melted into the shadows.' The assassin looked up at the sky in brief wonder. 'Interesting.'

Moving quickly she rolled away from where she last saw Maar disappeared to and tried to keep her shadow in front of her just in case. Tiraris slipped her hand into a pouch along the way, gathering a thin later of white powder on her hands. Grabbing the groggy man's head she ran her finger along his cheek on the inside of his mouth before jumping away.

"Now that, that is settled, would you like to end this little Maar?" she taunted. Whatever Tiraris would do now did not matter. She had not poisoned the man but the now dissolved powder would enter his bloodstream and make him very sick. There was only one healer in the area who could treat the sickness and he was on the other side of town. The assassin happened to be close to the shady man and knew that he would not make the housecall but would see the ill in his own home.

'All I have to do is be ready and my job is made easy. If I could only get rid of this one. Little witch knows where to hit,' she mused rubbing at her bleeding neck. Backing away from her own shadow, watching as it got longer in front of her, Tiraris headed back for the balcony, ready to flee now.

Maar was so used to having the upper hand that she had practically forgotten what it was like to be bested by such tricks. It was hard to say if the assassin had observed her disappearance, but the fae in the shadows watched as the assassin placed something in her client's mouth.
Not good, not good,  not good, NOT GOOD...
How could she have let that happened?! The fae felt a little bitter, though part of her was still rather amused by the assassin's antics.

You can't run from me.
Maar popped right out of the shadows a few inches  in front of the assassin. Again, she took control over the woman's body,  legs first, in an attempt to stop her in her tracks.
"What did you do?!" she asked as she made a movement to stab her in the belly  with her right dagger, as her left hand slipped into her pouch to pull out a little more of the blinding powder. Of course, she was well within the assassin's striking range, but she was just going to have to risk it.

A smirk formed on her lips as the expected attack came and Tiraris was once more caught. 'You really do not vary your attacks much, do you?' The assassin deflected the attacking right hand with her sword and sneaked her own right up to punch Maar in the head as hard as she could in an effort to loosen the grip and free herself. 'Took the bait I see. Very good, shadow dancer.'

"Do not worry your pretty little head pumpkin. It will not kill him. It is only a mild poison that will make him sicker than a dog if he does not get the proper treatment. The vomiting and sweating should be starting soon. Then comes the delirium and the pain. Such a delicious way to suffer. Only one man in the whole country can diagnose and treat it right. Lucky you he lives on just the other side of the hallow. Better hurry, you would not want your employer suffering too much would you?"

As Tiraris stumbled back closer to the balcony she moved her right arm back for another punch. The blade up her sleeve slipped down at the flick of her wrist, ready to slice the pretty flesh of Maar's face if it needed to. "Enough games, child," she spat out. "I have places to be!"

Maar smirked as she watched the assassin fall into her trap. However, her smirk was wiped off of her face as the assassin woman punched her hard in the jaw. Her sneak attack caused the fae to fall to her knees and listen to the woman as she sorely rubbed her red cheek.  She could tell the assassin was telling the truth; she looked like she was enjoying herself too much to lie about such things. Besides, even if she wasn't the fae was confident that one of the healers under her own command would be able to help; such a poison was just a mild inconvenience. She could hear Morindo shudder and gasp for air as his body began to react to the poison. Maar clicked her tongue- she needed to act quickly.

Maar threw the blinding powder in the assassin's face before using the woman's shadow to throw her against the brick wall of the study. Her keen eyes saw the blade hidden in her sleeve, and took note to avoid it's edge.
"Leaving?" the Purple Hawk asked with a pout as she sprinted and jumped towards the woman, her stone blades in hand. There was a glint of irritation in her eye after having being called child; it seemed to have cause a small bruise to her pride to match the blue one forming on her face.
"But I'm not done playing yet!"

Tiraris cried out as her head collided painfully with the wall behind her. At last the tenuous strand of control broke, making everything within her become quiet. Even her breath stilled in that moment as the magic well deep inside her core coiled into a tight ball. Her arms came in to cross in an x-formation over her chest as her head lowered onto her fists.

Then, her arms flew open as a wave the power burst forth from her and spilled outward, drawing strength as it went. Running on pure adrenaline now, the assassin flowed to her feet and took off running right behind it. She feinted left then right before returning left again and jumped over the balcony.

The fall to the ground was a painful one and not as graceful as she would have hoped. The evening to come would reveal many bruises in the least. Her only prayer was that her ribs were not broken from bouncing off the railing of another balcony on the way down. Tiraris' knees seemed to scream in pain as she finally landed on her feet and took of running towards the outer gate. 'Just a little farther. I am almost there. I can do this. The job is done for now. Come on Tiraris! Run!'

Maar watched with interest as she could feel the magic in the woman expand some how.
Fascinating, the fae thought, wondering how this was possible. Her magical aura felt.. weird, almost unnatural. There were times rare and scarce where Maar was exposed to such  cases as this one.  She moved in to attack, but right as she did so, the assassin suddenly flew past her, the force of it causing her to stumble.
"Damn," she cursed as she watched the woman fall to the ground and run off. Maar would have chased after her, but the sound of Morindo starting to moan and gasp notified her that her hunt would have to be on hold.

I'll deal with it later, she thought as she rushed towards her employer's side.
He looked at her with an expression mixed with pain and anger.
"She... got... away," he hissed, "This wasn't supposed to happen!"
"If you had left like I told you to, it wouldn't have had," Maar coldly replied as she checked his pulse with a frown.
"Still, I'm not over with her yet."
"Your job is to protect me," he replied before falling into a fit of violent coughs, "She's not an issue anymore."
Maar disagreed but instead of arguing, she ran off of the balcony, into the study, and shouted out into the hallways for Morindo's guards to carry him to a carriage that was to be prepared, immanently.
----

Two hours later, Maar was sitting outside the house of the old man the assassin had spoke off. It had taken them a while to find the place, but after asking around for a little while, it was easy to locate the man. He had quickly given Morindo the antidote, and he was now attending to his bedside as the fae was instructed to at least protect the perimeter. She watched as the sun began to set, her arms folded as she leaned against the walls with a pout. On one hand, the fae was baffled. It was rare she had met her match, and in such a queer human woman... She couldn't help but to break into a wide and eerie grin.
It truly was a blessing meeting you, she thought.

The fae's hands slipped towards her knives. She was eager to face that assassin again, and soon. She had so many questions and quite some unfinished business to take care of. Of course, that woman could be anywhere, but that  didn't seem to phase the fae one bit.

The assassin had already come and went from the healer's home by the time the noble had arrived. Tiraris had been treated sparingly for her wounds and the knock to the head. Her impatience and own self-healing ability got in the way of the man helping her anymore than that.

She was currently waiting across the street when Maar stepped out. Watching discreetly from a ways she finally approached albeit slowly and openly. "Keep your knives away. These grounds are not meant for bloodshed."

Tiraris lowered her hood and leaned against the wall of another building close by. "You are very devoted to your job. Even when he deems himself safe, you wait to prove otherwise. I have not seen such an attitude in such a long time, especially not from someone more suited to kill than protect."

Her arms crossed over her chest as she tilted her head to watch. "You are not all that you seem to be. You play with the shadows and if I am right you are either a very precocious little girl or not even one at all, a true master of deception." The assassin bowed her head silently in respected acknowledgement.

Maar raised her eyebrows as she watched the assassin woman emerge from across the street. The fae hadn't expected the woman to show  her face quite so easily.
Or so peacefully.
Maar wore an easy going smile as she cheerfully waved hello. Despite the woman's warning about the knives, the fae kept them as they were. She was still on the job, after all, and wanted to be prepared if this was all just an act, though she didn't mind having a little chat. Besides, Maar had remembered a time when "these grounds" belonged to the wild wood; it wasn't holier now than it was then. It amused her, though,  how incredibly different the assassin seemed. She was almost.. mild.

The fae's posture straightened as the woman leaned against the wall of a building close by.  As she spoke, the fae's grin grew, pleased by the flattery, though she had to wonder if she was mixing things up. Maar was more interested in her job, purse, and reputation than proving her loyalty to Morindo. Her true loyalties, after all, lied with the King Hawk, and not too much else. She giggled in a voice that sounded like bells as the woman continued to talk.
A precocious little girl or not even one at all.
"Milady has a sharp wit," the fae finally replied with a playful smirk, pleased that the woman had further acknowledged her skill.

"You're right. I'm both," she continued, enjoying her little word play.
The fae shrugged as she pushed back a strand of brown hair behind her ear. Her blue eyes never left the much taller woman's red-brown ones.
"But," she replied, "You're the first to become worthy of fighting in a long time. It was refreshing. Speaking of which, what about you?"
The fae's eyes lit up like a real child as she exclaimed these words. She was genuinely interested and the information might prove useful, later.
"Your magic... What exactly was that display, back then?"

Tiraris blinked slowly. She was well aware that the child was fishing for information about her. She would have to be very careful about what she said if she wanted to continue to appear both strong and controlled. 'It would be deemed as a weakness if she discovered that I cannot control the magic or that it is influenced by my emotional state.'

A small smirk curled the corner of her lips. "That? It is nothing much really. I have done worse things in the past. I much rather use my other skills though. Magic always seem like such a cop-out approach to a fight." The assassin arched a brow in silent challenge, a direct jab at Maar's constant shadow-play. "But that is neither here nor there."

She examined her fingernails nonchalantly as she continued. "You know little fairy, I really do not think you are suited for this job. How much is he even paying you? Not enough I imagine. Noblemen are too miserly with their money. You should ask for more."

Maar giggled at the assassin's jab at magic.
Is she trying to show me up? Cute, she thought.
Why should that sting her pride? It was only the common excuse of those who didn't understand how to properly use magic and use it as a tool. Besides, it wasn't like this was the first time she had heard this insult; whether or not to use magic in a fight was a common debate among the Hawks, particularly between her Purples and Dram's Reds.
Personally, Maar considered "magic as a cop-out" the jeer of those who were afraid of magic, those who didn't know how to use their own, or both.
I bet you're both, she thought with a smirk.
"Magic is a skill just like any other," the fae smoothly interjected, "I see no difference."

That smile was quickly wiped off her face at the mention of the word 'fairy'. Maar gritted her teeth and tensed up at that word. If there was one taunt she loathed, it was that one. The fae shrugged indifferently to the assassin's question.
"I'm apathetic to money," she coolly explained, "It's the job I'm in it for. Besides..."
The fae grinned as she stretched.
"If that's so, why are you working for one?"

"Oh so you enjoy babysitting full-grown men? My apologies," she mocked inclining her head slightly. Eyes twinkled with laughter as she kept going. "You and I are different though. While I share your apathy as you call it, towards the money I happen to have a closer bond to those miserly nobles than you. I was once one of them."

Tiraris smirked and watched the other carefully. Her relaxed position against the wall was anything but. Reach into her sleeve and she could release a throwing dagger; kick off the wall and she could use the momentum to leap over a frontal attack. The assassin could tell her wounds from earlier were nearly completely healed. The only reason she was not stirring up more trouble was because of the promise she made the healer. He had saved her life and while she would use the poison to draw her targets to him she would never offensively commit a kill on his grounds. 'If given no choice though, I will destroy you little fairy.'

Maar's eyes widened at the assassin's jest. Suddenly, she burst into ripples of laughter. She knew the woman had been mocking her, but she did suppose her wording was a bit off and that this assassin had caught her.
"You're funny," she said as she wiped away a tear.
It's the challenge I love, not the men.
The fae arched an eyebrow as the assassin gave a way a piece of her history.
"Oh?" she replied, "Once? And why's that?"

Unlike the assassin, Maar didn't bother moving or preparing to move. The fae had no need to. There were shadows a plenty and, besides, the woman didn't even move in to strike, yet. She was about to ask another question when the cabin door opened as the healer stepped out with an empty pail in his arms. The  man nodded in acknowledgement towards Maar as he gruffly held out a tin pail towards her. The fae wrinkled her nose. She wasn't his servant girl.
"Go get water by the river, and don't be such a coward; it's not iron," he barked as his eyes turned towards the assassin.
"Oh," he exclaimed, surprised, "Miss Silverd'art , what are you doing here?"
The old man narrowed his eyes.
"Don't tell me that you got yourself nicked up, again!"
"Silverd'art, is it?" Maar muttered with a glint in her eye.

Tiraris smirked at the laughter. "Nice try sugar, you are not get anything else out of me. You already know too much, that is if you even know what you have." Her eyes were immediately drawn away from the other assassin's as the door behind her opened.

The healer's greeting to her made the assassin sigh and roll her eyes though. "Do you really think so little of me that you would believe I could get myself into a scrap of trouble so quickly?"

"Your poison brought him here. I won't have you doing your business here," the healer calmly stated, shoving the bucket into Maar's lap as he stared the standing woman down.

The red-haired woman pushed off the wall and stood straight with her arms still crossed over her chest. "It is up to the lady whether or not I am working here," she said bobbing her head at Maar again. "Take your concerns up with her."

The man growled and stomped back inside, slamming the door behind him as he shouted for the woman to bring water. "Well," Tiraris taunted, "surely you do not expect the Silverd'art to do that. Besides it is not my employer in there suffering." The moonlight glinted off her red eyes making her appear far more dark and sinister by the minute. "You should feel honored little fairy. It is not everyone that I am called out for. Either your employer is really that remarkable or you are. I hope I am not disappointed in the future."

Maar smiled prettily at Silverd'art's taunt. She truly was enjoy the woman's tantrums.
She sure still acts like a spoiled noble brat, she thought as she began to skip into the woods.
"Are you coming, Miss?" she tittered without looking back, "Don't want to keep Mr. Morindo waiting..."
The fae knew that she had to keep her guard up. She didn't know if the ex noble would try to attack her once they got to the stream, since she didn't know how far out the healer's property went. Maar doubted the woman would dare to try to strike so close to the cottage, but she never knew. Not that it mattered. They could always leave the grounds after Morindo was taken care of. The fae grinned at that prospect, liking that idea.

The assassin shrugged and followed sedately. Wary and alert, Tiraris really was not looking for a fight right now. One of the reasons she was so good at what she did was because of her patience. Finding out about this Maar, was not only intriguing but her top priority.

'If she decides to act up, can always drown her,' she mused, chuckling slightly at the idea of it all. The woman walked slowly in long strides, keeping easily in stride with the other assassin. "So why is your employer such a big shot anyway Miss Maar?" Tiraris was genuinely interested in the answer to the question. A lot could be learned about person based on what other people thought of them.

Her arms continued to remain loosely crossed over her chest as she watched the skipping figure beside her. Just up ahead the lake came into view, silvery from the light of the moon reflecting off its still surface.

"Just Maar," Maar instantly replied to the assassin's question. She wasn't much for being called by such formalities other than by her official title, but of course this woman shouldn't know that. The fae offered Silverd'art a knowing grin.
"And it's because he believes in a Connloath that your employer does not," she said.
The fae paused to admire the lake, its' waters shimmering in the moonlight.
"It's much smaller than I remember it last," she lamented as she kicked off her boots and rolled up her trousers before wading in the water until it reached up to almost her knees. The fae shivered; it was cold, but pleasantly so. She carefully leaned over to scoop a pail of water.
"Though tell me, Miss," she said as she glanced at the assassin narrowing her brow, "How is it that you do not know such things? Have you fallen so hard that you would kill without even knowing what harm you might cause?"
There was a shade of pity in her voice as she straightened her posture.

"Of course," Tiraris responded sarcastically, "why did I not think of that?" She rolled her eyes and rested back against a tree as she watched Maar enter the water. The woman made no comment in return concerning the lake despite her hearing it quite clearly.

Tiraris carefully considered the question being posed to her, intrigued with what her own answer would be. Letting the words flow from her like water from a spigot, she quietly replied. "You have to be somewhere high to fall to begin with little Maar. You assume for whatever reason that I was ever somewhere high. Noble or not, I never really had far to fall."

Her eyes came up to darkly stare back into those of her opponent. "You assume too much. Take care that that does not become your downfall. I was never hired to kill, what I do may not have as drastic a consequence as you think. Perhaps what I do will bring about good in one form or another."

The woman smiled wryly and shook her head slightly. "Humans are such an unpredictable sort. You never know what they will do next. Do not be so quick to judge Maar. After all, how do you even know what you are doing is for the better?"

"I like his solution a little more, is all," Maar replied to the assassin's last question with a shrug. As she spoke, her words were accompanied by the sound of splashing water as she waded towards the shore with the bucket overhead.
 "Besides, you still haven't answered my question. Did your employer ever tell you why you were on this mission?"
The fae giggled at that.

"I bet he kept you ignorant. Or was it a she? No matter; people only say things are unpredictable when they don't fully understand them."
Maar had reached the shore at these words, and placed the bucket by her feet as she adjusted her pants. As she did so, her eyes stared at the woman's.
"I bet you don't even fully know yourself," she quietly added as she pondered  on Silverd'art's previous words.

Never had far to fall.
The fae wondered if the woman had been referring to her mysterious magic, or to her position as a noblewoman, or both.

Tiraris snorted and stretched her arms over her head. "I wish I were ignorant. The bloody fool spent all night talking my ear off when I would have much preffered to be doing other things. Honestly it is he who I think does not understand things. Or maybe it is you who does not. I have seen the death, or capture as in this case, of a single man turn the tide in the favor the man's cause. Just because he might not be the one to lead it does not mean that he does not have influence even while incapacitated. I told you before though, I was not hired to kill. Frankly even if given the chance now I would not take it. You drive me completely bonkers! I would not want to deal with you anymore than I already have to."

Fristrated with all the talking they had been doing and knowing that such a continuance could force information she did not wish to share to come to light, Tiraris decided to resort to more mischievious means of changing the topic. Using the irritation and combining it with an ager at having herself analyzed in such a way, the assassin was able to loosely take control of her magic. It took all of her concentration to tease the magic out of her core so that she could do what she wanted with it, but she was determined.

Nearly all of her focus was trained on the water behind the annoying chatterbox. Like trying to push a stone through the eye of a needle, her muscles strained as she grappled with the magic until finally with a very soft pop the magic flowed out to invisibly scoop up a tiny wave of water to splash Maar from the waist down.

Tiraris scowled slightly to see that all of that effort did barely anything at all. 'I need to find a better way to control this. It is getting to be too mcuh.' A raging headache built behind her eyes, almost making her regret her choice.

Almost being the keyword as she smirked darkly at the other woman. "You better hurry back to your master little pixie. You do not want him to die on you, do you?" she taunted, not feeling any of the smug superiority she normally would have in this particular situation.

Maar patiently listened to Tiraris' rant. She smiled in amusement as the assassin rattled on about her chatty employer and her annoyance. In her arrogance and her years, the fae didn't really mind the woman's accusations. Frankly, she didn't care. Besides, Silverd'art's anger only seemed to confirm to the fae that she was a mess, and that made Maar feel superior as she walked towards the shore. Her eyes were fixed on the lady. She could feel the chaotic magic stir within the assassin  and how it reached out. Maar didn't want to admit it, but she really had no idea what this woman was capable of. The fae doubted Silverd'art's power could best her own, but she had to be cautious. Maar practically held her breath as she stood with her feet planted in the ground, ready to disappear into the shadows, when...

SPLASH.
The fae blinked as she looked down at her soaked clothes.
"Oh," she murmured, completely underwhelmed.
That was it?
The fae curiously stared up at the woman as she continued to taunt Maar, who brushed off her feeble attempt of mocking her on account of being utterly embarrassed.
"I think you'll be the one to die if you don't learn how to control your magic," she replied as she picked up the bucket, again.
"It's a shame. You have potential, Lady Silverd'art," the fae said as she began to head back to the cottage.  She flashed a smile too wide to be human.
"I expect we'll see each other soon," Maar added in a sickly sweet voice, "I don't think your employer would respond well to failure."
With  that, she  skipped into the darkness of the trees.

No, failure wasn't an option in their line of work. But hadn't she failed, in a way? Morindo was in no condition to go to his meeting, now , that was for sure. Suddenly, a beautiful idea occurred to her.
What if I arrived in his place?

The assassin silently seethed, waiting until the other left before hurling a dagger into a tree where Maar's head had been. "Imagine what a loss of control would do little fairy." She winced and groaned. 'That was a very stupid thing to do Tir. You should not waste your energy on petty, childish squabbles.'

Even as she chided herself, Tiraris struggled to hold onto her weak control. By playing with it and forcing it she had tipped the balance and brought it to the forefront only to let the majority of it simmer just beneath the surface. Her breath whistled in and out of her nose as the woman tried to take steady, shallow breaths.

When she at last had a measure of control over herself once more, the assassin made her way back to her current lodgings. With Maar preoccupied with her employer, Tiraris figured she could just go home and get some rest before figuring out future plans. She knew that her next chance would be the meeting that all of the nobles were expected to attend but, she also wished to avoid that at all costs. It was too much of a trap with everyone on edge about betrayal.

The door of her room at the inn closed behind her with a light bang that made her head reverberate painfully. Tiraris did not have long to think about it though before a firm hand latched onto her throat and whipped her around to slam her back into a bookshelf. The suddenness of the move combined with the throbbing pain of having her head pelted with books kept Tiraris stunned for a moment more than she would have wanted.

The dying embers of a fire caught the light of her assailant's eyes but it was his voice that made her recognize him. She could recognize those oily cultured tones anywhere. "You failed, Silverd'art. I ought to kill you right where you stand for that," he growled in her face, his fetid breath making her cringe.

Angrily, she shoved him off her and made to walk away before slashing him across the cheek with a dagger and kicking him into sitting in a chair. "I never promised that he would die by nightfall," she said calmly, cleaning her blade nonchalantly."

"You bitch! The council meeting is tomorrow! How am I going to explain this?"
Tiraris smirked and shrugged. "Tell the truth? The assassin you hired to kill Morindo got mad at being grabbed and lashed out. Oh, that will not work for you will it?"
"The poison you used was pathetic! He didn't die from it."
"He was not meant to. You see, you lesser nobles forget your lessons. Sometimes you need to shake a person up to herd them in your direction. Let me do my job and get out of my face or I will just kill you instead."
"You won't get your money that way! I'll see to it that you never set foot in Connlaoth again!"

Tiraris snorted and shook her head. "You really do not get it." Moving quickly, she swung behind the man, placing the dagger at his throat. "I just want to kill and I do not care which of you it is. So you if you do not want Morindo to live, I suggest you get out." She paused to press a kiss to his pulsing throat. "And do not come back."

Stepping away she allowed the man to flee from the chair to the door and out of the room. Only then did she allow her weakness to show. Her weariness and pain were quickly taking over. Tiraris could feel a heaviness begin to weigh down on her chest as she collapsed, spent onto the room's bed. 'Tomorrow should be interesting,' she mused just as darkness claimed her.

Maar let the pail of water hit the floor with a thunk as she knocked on the door. The old man frowned as he picked it up.
"Took you long enough," he snapped.
"I was pre-occupied," Maar explained with a shrug.
The old man stared at her for a good long while, though the fae couldn't understand as of to why.  She asked him such. This seemed to knock the healer back to his senses as he invited her inside.  It was growing cold out.
"No," she promptly replied. The fae preferred to be out of doors, where the air was nicer and there was no client scowling at her. Besides, the healer's place was full of iron. The man grunted in reply and shut the door firmly behind him. Maar chuckled. She could tell her presence disturbed him.

Her blue eyes scanned their surroundings. For the next few moments,
There was nothing around here, and the fae was feeling restless.
I could follow Silverd'art, she mused. The woman had already gone far ahead, but perhaps she was still out and on the road. The fae's eyes gleamed in the moonlight at this prospect. She could follow her back to her inn, or wherever she was staying and get some more information. Maar slipped into the shadows and tried to hunt down the assassin by the faint traces her magic left.

She was nowhere.  The woman wasn't out on the streets, and though Maar knew she was most likely within her range, all the iron in the area was probably interfering with her magic's abilities. The fae could feel herself grow a little sick; she needed to down another dose of that medicine one of the Hawks had made for her. At that moment, she could hear from down the block a horse drawn carriage. Encouraged by this faint noise at such an unusual hour,  Maar began to race towards the source of the sound. She quickly found it. The carriage was blue, pulled by a brown mare  whose driver appeared to be  very nervous. The fae trailed them from underneath, until they stopped at the gates a very luxurious two story cottage. Maar watched in silent glee as a rather angry looking man in his late 30s dressed in fine clothing stepped out of  carriage and bark orders at his servent before walking towards his home.
Devdarra.

If anything was going to cheer up her employer after being poisoned, this was it. Satisfied with her work, Maar slithered through the city streets until she reached the healer's cottage, again. The lights were dim inside; the old man and Morindo were sleeping. Maar carefully emerged from the darkness, and silently walked into the nearby woods. Her eyes scanned the trees until she found one suitable enough for climbing. Once she was at least twenty feet above ground, the fae closed her eyes and drifted off into sleep, the corner of her lips drawn up in a lazy smile.

Tiraris groaned at having such bright light burning at her eyelids. Rolling over she tried to avoid it but found that the source was ever persistent. Sighing she sat up and rubbed at her eyes and head. 'Too early for this.' Yet a glance at the open window revealed it to be already past noon with the sun high in the sky.

A smirk wavered on her lips as she realized that she had missed the beginning of the meeting. She got to her feet slowly and shuffled about with no real objective in mind other than waste time. Tiraris had no intention of going to the meeting. It was a two-fold plan, piss of the employer and make the target stew.

"Although I do regret not seeing the fool explain his new facial adornment," she pouted, internally enjoying the idea of having cut the noble and gotten away with it. "Nobody threatens Silverd'art. Not even my mother," she chuckled darkly, shaking her head. The pain from the night before had lessened to a dull fuzziness, as if she had her head were made of sawdust.

At last with a mug of ale in hand and a clearer head, the assassin sat before the long since cold embers of the fire and pondered what her next step would be. 'The fairy is certainly a nuisance. Although, she is fun to play with. If it had been any other job I might not have cared as much though. She was annoying anyway, questioning me and my choices as if I am some child to be reprimanded. Despicable!' With a growl, the assassin tossed the drink into the fireplace but refused to move from her place. 'Let them wait. I will move when I am good and ready and not a moment before'

Maar rose before dawn and sleepily gazed up at the morning sky.
Even from here I can smell the metal, she thought grimly as she reached for her pouch and pulled out a vile of medicine. The fae chugged it down. Hopefully, it'd last her most of the day. She didn't bring many with her, though she doubted she needed it. Maar climbed down the tree and took care her business before making her way towards the old man's cottage. She knocked loudly on his door. Maar didn't expect a quick response, but, surprisingly, she did.  The gruff healer glared down at the expressionless fae.
"What do you want?" he asked.

"To talk to Morindo," Maar replied, as if it was a natural response.
He made a face at her proposition.
"The patient is resting," he snapped, "I won't... hey!"
The man reached out to grab the fae by the shoulder as she ignored him and stepped inside the cottage. Maar immanently grabbed his wrist and held it tight.
"It's important," she somberly stated, the light dancing dangerously in her blue eyes.
This seemed to quiet the old man, though he looked all the more bitter for it.

Maar looked with mild amusement at the snoring Morindo.
Honestly, he's worse than the King, she thought as she shook his shoulders.
The noble wasn't too pleased to wake up to her face.
"I missed my meeting," he pointed out.
"You'll live to arrange for another tonight," she replied with a cool smile, "Besides, I have a name for you. Devdarra, I believe, is your enemy. He's the one that sent Silverd'art."
"Silverd'art?" Morindo inquired with a frown.
Maar shrugged.

"The lady that poisoned you," she explained, "Inquire information about her, if you wish, but you should be focusing on Devdarra."
"I know how to handle my own affairs, fairy," he spat,  causing Maar to scowl with indignation even more.
Why do they all insist on calling me that?!
"Besides," he continued, "I told you to get proof. What can I do with only a name?"
Maar smiled and changed her guise into the form of the assassin woman in all her fine set up. The only obvious difference were the weapons she carried ,though with a cloak, the fae doubted the nobleman would even notice.
"Oh, I'll think of something," she replied smoothly in Tiraris' voice.

The two talked for a while before the three broke fast. Then, the fae ordered a coach to lead Morindo safely home. The assassin wouldn't strike again; it would have been too risky and stupid, to the fae. To be safe, Morindo had upped security, leaving her the afternoon free to stroll around town. The fae picked a moment when nobody was watching to transform in an alleyway back into Tiraris' form before making her way around Devdarra's cottage, where the guards couldn't see her. After a half hour of snooping about, Maar scaled the cottage walls and made her way up towards the man's study.

He looked as if he had been expecting her, but with malcontent.
Smirk, she thought.
"Hello," she said with her best Silverd'art impression as she eyed the curious scar on his face. She hadn't notice  it before. It looked rather fresh.

The nobleman sat by the fire, brooding over Morindo's absence. He knew if he waited long enough though the witch would come crawling back to him. In fact, he was just starting on his second glass of wine when she at last made her appearance with her infuriating smirks and quiet 'hello's.'

"Come to rip me a new one?" he growled, gesticulating at his face and moving to his feet to stand by the mantle. "Or perhaps to apologize? Or no, I know, you came to collect your money. Well guess what, you're not getting any!" Devdarra spat into the flames and finished off his drink before advancing on the doppelganger.

"Are you listening? Morindo is dead! He never came! All my years of hardwork, everything wasted! This is all your fault. I certainly hope you're happy because the way things are going your head's going to be the first one on the block. I can't believe you even have the audacity to show your face here after everything you've done.

"Although," he continued smiling lecherously as he reached a hand up to try and card his fingers through silken red hair, "I can't say I'm really all that displeased. You really are such a beautiful woman. I'm sure you could make it up to me." The man chuckled darkly. "Don't forget dearest pet, I still hold that which is precious to you. Wouldn't want that getting out, now would you love?"

Maar casually stood by the wall as straight as she could, her eyes coldly watching the jilted nobleman. She smirked at his taunts, enjoying the rush of pleasure she was getting from this trick. No wonder Silverd'art was so bitter; she should have killed this idiot long ago.
Though that is a pretty scar, she thought with some admiration.
She could have laughed as the man continued.
Devdarra thought Morindo was dead. The fae had already assumed he was a bit daft, but this took the cake. She looked around the office, taking in the details.
He's bound to keep some evidence somewhere, she mused.

The fae endured his speech silently up until Devdarra approached her. She stiffened her posture as he ran a hand through her hair and scowled at his behavior.
Pathetic.
However, what he said engaged her. What was so precious to Silverd'art? She lifted her head high and scowled as she slapped his hand away. She couldn't completely lie her way through this, since her very nature prevented her from doing so, but that didn't mean she couldn't play along.

"Don't even think about it," she snapped, standing her ground as tall as she could.
"Pay me. I took care of Morindo, as I promised, a bit in a matter unorthodox," she argued coldly.
"If you're not all that displeased as you say, then give me the money, and I'll be on my way."
I wonder where that woman is, anyway, Maar thought.

Devdarra chuckled and shook his head. "Useless woman. How quickly you forget our bargain. You bring Morindo to me alive and relatively unharmed, that was our deal. But, you've gone and killed him. Or rather," he sneered and moved closer with the intention to box her in against the wall, "the real Silverd'art failed. You however are an imposter."

The man laughed quietly, clearly amused. "You're quite good I must admit. Had me fooled for a moment. But, while you have her looks and her voice you have failed to pick up her speech pattern. She is far more cultured in her choice of words than you. Which leads me to my next question. How do you know of her and what are you doing here? Here to seek revenge for your master's death perhaps? It is not me but her you should go hunt down then. I never wanted him dead. Come now, my friend surely we could come to some sort of arrangement. I can tell you where she hides and you can destroy the little liar. Sound good?"

The fae sighed as the nobleman sneered at her blunder.
I should have said "unhand me," she mused, though it was too late, now.
It stung her pride for him to catch on so quickly; the fae didn't think he was that clever. In a way, she still didn't. After all, she was the superior being, Awari, the Old One, the Purple Hawk. This Devdarra was nothing compared to her.  
With Silverd'art's face did she smirk at the face of the man as he seemingly pinned her against the wall. The fae stared at him blankly before giving him an eerily wide smile before she swiftly grabbed the man, got behind him, and banged his head against the wall as hard as she  could.

Maar in Devdarra's guise admired her handiwork. She had tied the nobleman to his chair and gagged him, in case he was to wake up. When he did and her work here was done, she would escort him to Morindo's. He would cooperate, of course. She would see to that. The fae chuckled as she used his keys to rummage through the drawers of his desk, searching for anything that was black mail worthy, especially regarding the orders issued to kidnap Morindo.
And that bit about Silverd'art.

Maar didn't know why she cared so much about the strange woman. She reasoned that it was probably because she was fun, and rather reminded her of the occasional recruit  with raw power and had no idea how to use it.  
Oh, Maar, she caught herself thinking, You died too young.
"Ah, ha," the fae said in triumph as she pulled out a piece of paper with some notes scribbled about a meeting that was to be that day. It was a start.

In a seedier part of town, Tiraris had finally exited her room and begun moving about. Her desire to make the others wait had now become an impatient stirring within her to move, to hunt, to stalk. She had no interest in returning to the meeting. First things first, she needed to catch up with Devdarra. It would not do for him to start letting vital pieces of information about her slip out to the general public.

She kept her pace leisurely and boldly approached the front gate of the cottage. Tiraris was recognized and eventually allowed admittance within after series of bantering questions that left her more amused than irritated. Following the manservant, the assassin was suddenly distracted by the sound of a body hitting the floor. A brow raised in questioning as she gripped the other man's forearm.

"I suggest you get some help for your master. He seems to be moving some heavy furniture." Wide eyed and fearful the man took off, leaving Tiraris on her own. Curious, she entered the study alone. While she would admit to not knowing what she expected to find, two Devdarra's was certainly not it. "Well, well, well, what do you we have here?," she taunted, blocking the doorway. "The guards will be here in five which gives us ample time to play. Care to dance stranger?"

The fae in Devdarra's guise smiled cheerfully when she saw the assassin woman.
"Are they?" she asked in his voice as she tucked away the paper. She didn't mind if they came or not. After all, more guards meant more shadows, and that was always a bonus. Besides, that only made things more fun.The fae pointed towards the sleeping man and made a face.
"He thought I was you, you know. What were his words again?" she said before raising Devdarra's voice to a mocking tone.

"'You really are such a beautiful woman. I'm sure you could make it up to me.' Really, you ought to be grateful I was here in your place."
In Devdarra's voice she wildly giggled as she smoothly edged towards the wall, where the candle light casted faint shadows on the ground and through the door way. She would have loved to stay and talk to the woman, especially about whatever information Devdarra had of her, but she had a job to do. Maar slipped into the shadows and slithered into the shadow of a lone maid servant carrying a basket of laundry.
Maar wondered if she was going to Devdarra's room, since the only thing that seemed to be ahead of them were a lot of closed doors. She wished the lass would hurry up. Even though the medicine helped with the iron not giving her a massive headache, it still was tugging at her fae magic.
I'll have to be careful with it, she thought.

"Oh?" Tiraris replied nonchalantly. Beneath the surface though she was struggling to guess at who this impersonator was. 'How could he-she-it know me? Who is this person that knows not only of me but of my working with Devdarra?' She only blinked at hearing her employer's words parroted back at her. It was not the first time he had said such things, nor would it be the last if he had his way.

It was the figure's shift to the shadows that made the assassin venture a guess as to who the thief was. 'Ah of course, should have guessed that. After all one cannot meet two who can do that trick so soon after each other. How quaint little fairy, seems you do have a few more tricks up your little sleeves. Well luck be with you because Devdarra is going to be hot for your blood now.'

The guards came rushing in and pushed past the smirking one only to find their prey already gone. Before they had a chance to question her Tiraris supplied them with the information their own eyes should have given them. "It left and if you have any desire to not bring your master's wrath down on your heads I suggest lighting as many torches as you can."

"Lighting torches? Are you insane! It's the middle of the day!"
"Exactly," she replied calmly, pushing off the doorframe and walking out into the hall. "Your little trespasser is a shadow-walker. The less light the more chance it has of getting away. Now if you will excuse me," Tiraris took off with no direction in mind. Her intention was to wait for the hub-bub to die down before approaching an awake Devdarra. Her interest was greatly peaked now. "Tell me little fairy," she whispered to herself, "will your wings burn up in the light?"

It took the maid a couple of minutes to get her work done in the bedroom. In the meanwhile, the fae had not been idle. She scouted where ever she could in the sun bathed room. Her main sights were on a desk with a locked drawer. Only Devdarra had access to that, and she had the keys. If he had any messages he didn't want most people to see, it would be in there. she had also heard the sounds of the the guards thundering up the steps and, after a while, were dismissed. From the sound of things, it seemed that they were in a hurry. Maar could only assume they were looking for her.
I wonder what plan Silverd'art has for me, she thought, gleefully.
Whatever it was, she expected something clever. Of course it would hinder her plans, but no matter.

As the maid closed the door behind her, Maar took no time emerging from the shadows and silently crept towards the desk. She unlocked it, leaving the key in the slot, to find stacks of letters and important looking documents. The fae quickly flipped through them, pausing now and then to scan some of their contents. She found a discreet document with Morindo's name on it, though most of it seemed to be rubbish, filled with trivial information. Still, the ink looked fresh.
It's in code, she realized as she stashed it away with a triumphant grin.
Suddenly, another package caught her eye. It was sealed in an envelope, with the name "Silverd'art" written on it.
Oh?

Maar was about to read it when she heard footsteps approaching. She stashed it away, shut the drawer, and closed the lock in a swift movement.  She fled towards the window as she put away the keys, but the shadows were too far and apart to travel through. With a tsk, the fae made herself content with hiding away in the shadow casted by a small set of drawers by the door just as it opened.

Tiraris decided to seize the opportunity and reclaim the information being held over her head. Taking up a torch of her own, she casually meandered her way through the halls towards her employer's bedroom. She was not in the frenzy the others were, the torch was held loosely and cast its dancing light off the floor and walls but always in the largest circle around her person as she could.

The assassin had no doubt based on her earlier behavior that Maar would rather run than fight and Tiraris had no intention of getting in her way. But, corner an animal and it will bite; Tiraris did not fancy a new set of puncture wounds and therefore moved with caution.

A shove of the bedroom door with her shoulder sent it banging against the wall. Pressing her back against the door as she slid in, the fire-haired woman glanced back over her should as she kept the torch low, its light dancing dangerously close to Maar's unknown hiding place.

Tiraris shut and bolted door, her ears listening for even the slightest sound, a shuffle, an intake of breath, nothing. She stepped into a patch of sunlight and hung the torch on the wall by the door before moving away and heading for the desk.

Kneeling before the locked drawer she gave it a heavy tug. "Of course, that would be too easy," she chuckled, running her fingers along the edges, looking for the catching mechanism. It was no secret where Devdarra kept his dirt on people, it was just a matter of getting it back.

The fae watched with excitement as Silverd'art entered the room and bolted the door behind her. She slithered back behind the drawers as she caught sight of the torch in her hands, immanently catching onto the assassin's plan.
How practical, she thought.
As Maar expected, the woman's plans did put a damper on hers. The light from the torch completely cut off the door from her, and she was trapped underneath the drawers. She watched as the woman made for the locked desk and attempted to tamper with it.
Maybe we can bargain, she mused.

The fae doubted it could work, knowing how the woman functioned, but crossing blows at this point was unnecessary. She had the information she needed. Why shouldn't this woman have her own? It wouldn't affect Maar's mission, anyhow. Maar silently slipped out of the shadows and stood by the door. She tossed the set of keys towards Silverd'art and pulled out the envelope with her name on it.
"I assume this belongs to you," she said  quietly with a grin, "It doesn't even have a first name on it. Why's that, I wonder?"

Instinct moved her before she could even process what was happening. At the first sound of the keys moving, Tiraris had reached for a dagger and threw it in the direction of the sound has fast and hard as she could. Turning on her heel, she caught sight of Maar though and rolled her eyes as she rose to her feet.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" she huffed, leaning back to rest against the desk, not caring as papers were rumpled or knocked over by her rear. "So, Morindo finally get fed up with you and send you off to play fetch? Or are you playing gopher? Go for this go for that," she laughed, crossing her arms over her chest.

The letter had not escaped her but if she played her cards right it would end up back in her hands again. For now why not play a while. If Tiraris could keep Maar in one place long enough, the possibility of the guards finding them increased. A glance out the window revealed clear, bright blue skies. "Beautiful day is it not?" The assassin smirked. 'No chance of running now, is there little fairy? Unless of course you want to run back towards the guards.'

The fae was fast, but despite her high guard, she hadn't been expecting the dagger. As the blade sliced across her cheek, she couldn't help but to hiss in pain and took a moment to regain her composure. Steel burned to the touch, and that simple cut felt as if her face were on fire.
"Ow," Maar complained as she gently poked at the cut, giggling weakly.
She smiled easily at the assassin's words of her playing gopher and of the weather. The fae wasn't loyal to Morindo- she was just picking up loose ends that she had failed to tie. After today, she'd be gone.

"Yes, it is," the fae replied to the assassin's question, though she understood the intent; it would be difficult for her to shadow walk her way out of the place. The guards may pose an extra challenge, since this woman taught them the importance of watching their own shadows. Still, she had her ways; the fae wasn't going to die this day.
She picked up the torch and admired the fire as she formed a plan in her mind. With her free hand, Maar opened up the torch and with her free hand, opened the envelope. She  skimmed the contents of the first few paragraphs or so. She knew it was best to just hand it over, but not before she could find something to vex the lady with, as well as something to buy her more time.
"Oh, look," she said earnestly, "There's a name here. Lovely, honest. Tiraris..."

Tiraris stilled, before smirking and chuckling. "Is that all it says? I was beginning to worry. Congratulations tiny pixie, you can read," the assassin mocked, moving to her feet and advancing causally towards the other. Briefly she wondered if the girl before her could preform any magic besides her shadow walking. 'Perhaps she knows name magic as well? Doubtful, she is more the deceptive than vindictive type.'

"Here I thought it would be something big and horrific. But, a name? A random name at that. Who does it even belong to Maar do you know? Do you even know its significance? Would you like to know?" she questioned, smiling with false warmth. "Too bad, Miss Nosy." Tiraris reached to try and snatch the letter away as waves of irritation began to pulse off her being.

The assassin was grateful that either the fae before her had not read further or that the letter really did not say what Devdarra had boasted it did. An already private individual, Tiraris balked at Devdarra's finding out about her past. He had made claims at knowing her noble roots, her mother, her fathers both and her curse. It was nothing she wanted the public knowing. Respect was hard-earned in her world; once lost, she would almost never regain it again. Tiraris was not about to let anyone take that from her, not when she had worked so hard for it.

There it was with the 'pixie' thing again. Maar sighed, scowling in indignation.
"I told you," she snapped back, "I'm fae, not a fairy or a pixie, you twit!"
Her patience lost, she rolled her eyes at the assassin's mocking works.
It's your name, idiot, she thought.
The woman was a horrible liar, even more so than the fae herself, and that was saying something.

You can find out a lot about a person just from their names, she thought as she continued to snatch up phrases from the letter. Especially if they were a noblewoman. It really wouldn't be too hard for her to conduct research when she wasn't so bored... But why even bother? Only one other thing really popped out to her, and that was the repetition of the word curse. Most of it didn't really make much sense; on a first glance, none of these sort of things really did. Nobles were so.... stiffy in their letters to each other.

However, it amused Maar that Tiraris was so protective over the document.
She giggled as she held the thing away from the woman, moving back towards the window. The fae crumbled up the document.
"What would you do if I burned it?" she gleefully asked, testing the woman.

'It could not be that easy,' Tiraris thought as the fae suggested burning the letter. 'That has to be the most wonderful thing I have heard in a long time. Now to get her to follow through with that threat.' The assassin's eyes widened as she lunged again for the letter.

"That would be a very bad idea. Just give it back to me. What use is it to you? None! Believe you me, you will greatly regret burning it. You tempt your fate by doing so. I cannot be held responsible for the harm that will befall you for damaging the letter."

The assassin wondered if the other would take the bait. There were those who liked to call bluffs, to do the opposite of what they are told. Tiraris hoped that Maar was one of them. Already, she could hear the guards moving down the hall. A few more minutes and then they would be banging down the door. Either way, she was going to win.

The fae giggled as she avoided yet another lunge from Tiraris' part. She was enjoying this woman's antics. So whatever was on this document was important to her... Or maybe it was because Devdarra wasn't supposed to have it. Certainly the woman didn't want the fae to have it.
Just as well, she thought, amused.
She didn't suppose she would have wanted herself to have possessed such a thing, either.

Maar's eyes turned towards the torch.  The woman was a bit wrong. The letter was useful to her, for now; it was her ticket out of here. The question had only been a test. Certainly she was tempted to set it ablaze, but it wouldn't benefit her. In the spirit of things, she was also tempted to set the curtains ablaze. After all, if the woman couldn't be held responsible for the damage of the letter, than the fae was sure that the assassin would be held responsible  for this. Instead, however,  she dropped it by the red headed woman's feet. The fae wasn't one for showy exits, and, besides, there was no reason to make such a mess.

So, Maar held the letter out of the window and dropped it, the torch's glow twinkling in her eyes.
"I bet you'd get to it faster than any servant might, if you leave now," she whispered mischievously as a hand moved towards her side, prepared to fight if need be. The fae could also hear the sound of approaching guards. If she couldn't escape through the window, then she'd find another way to escape undetected.

Tiraris kicked the fallen torch out of her, uncaring that one of the rugs had slowly begun to catch fire. "Poor choice of action pumpkin," she smirked, catching Maar's wrist in an iron grip. "As long as the letter was in your possession you had a chance. Now nothing is stopping me from handing you over to Devdarra. The letter I can retrieve later. Right now you are the main attraction after all."

A soft laugh bubbled up past her lips as the flames behind her began to cast small flickering shadows about the room. The red in the assassin's eyes became almost manic in their gaze as the pupil seemed to recede and the whites darkened in the lighting.

Behind the pair, the door finally smashed open. Guards flooded the room, some moving to put out the fire while others moved to surround the two women. "Time is up. Game over," Tiraris whispered into Maar's ear before letting her go and moving to the side.

Maar blinked up innocently at Tiraris as the assassin made snide remarks. Again, she realized she had probably had made a mistake, though the fae was hesitant to fully accept that as a fact. Perhaps there was a way out of this, yet. There always was. Always. The vain creature smiled at the prospect of being the "main attraction."
"I don't mind that... Lady Tiraris," she smirked back.

Her blue eyes observed the woman's, the smile never quite leaving her face.
She's mad, the fae thought calmly with some sympathy. She recalled earlier about how the letter mentioned a curse, and the display of the woman's magic.
Pity, really, Maar thought as her eyes indifferently scanned the shadows that surrounded them. She stood like that, with her head down, as the guards circled around them.

She had half the mind to yank down the curtain and ride down towards the safety of the ground using its shadow, but that wouldn't have worked; there were too many of them she'd have had to fight off, and someone would have been able to grab hold of it.
The fae turned towards Tiraris. She loved living and she hated to admit it, but this woman just might be her key to keep her from a cell with iron cuffs.
"I can help you, Tiraris. I'm willing to," she boldly declared, "With this... curse, if you want to call it that. I've helped many."
The fae chuckled as the guards seemed to be confused by this speech, throwing both the fae and Tiraris concerned glances.
Perfect.  

"I'm being sincere, you know," she continued in a softer and more solemn voice. Maar stood at full height, all though it wasn't much for the doppelganger.
"I couldn't lie even if I tried."
She chuckled as the guards slowly and carefully began to close in on her. With a sigh, she held her hands over her hands, being surprisingly obedient.

The woman paused, listening to the fae's words even as she tried to convince herself that she should not, that the other had to be lying. No one had succeeded before, no one ever would succeed now. It was useless to try. Yet, that tiny piece of buried heart cried out to be heard, begging to give the woman a chance.

'I've helped many,' rang over and over in her head. 'Not like this you have not, of that I can be sure. You do not know if you do not let her try. It is only a ploy for her freedom. She is an opportunist with on reason to help you. She is fae, she cannot lie.'

"I have heard enough twisted truths from your kind to know that not to be true, Maar. We all find a way around the truth. Get her out of here," she commanded turning away from both men and fae.

A heavy sigh made her nostrils flare as her magic danced and finally quelled beneath the surface. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the balcony railing tightly and stared, unseeing at the view. 'Calm Tiraris, calm. What if it was the truth?' The hands tightened once more.

Behind her, the assassin could hear the approaching footsteps of the lord of the manor as well as his irritating screeching. Making a quick decision, Tiraris hopped over the railing and down to the earth below. Her knees groaned slightly upon impact but, the quick sweep of her hand reclaimed the discarded letter, distracting her from the twinge of pain.

From above Devdarra shouted down at her, demanding her presence with the prisoner for interrogation. Tiraris rolled her eyes before slowly nodding. She would take her sweet time getting there, thank you very much. By all rights she should not even be required to stay. The woman smirked as she strode through the gardens. 'I got his bargaining chip, the world now sits in the palm of my hand.'

Maar only shrugged at Tiraris' words, knowing fully well she had gotten the woman's attention.
"It is true, and you know it to be so," she said  with a knowing  grin.
She could feel the assassin's magic's flares and how she tried to contain it within her.
She'll come back, the fae thought with certainty and chuckled quietly.
The guards held her head down as they ensnared her wrists in iron cuffs. She scoffed at their efforts, glad that she was wearing gloves. However, it did ensure that she wouldn't shadow walk until they were off.
At least it hasn't affected my glamour, she thought, Yet.

At the sound of Devdarra's thundering voice, Maar hid her scar, her youthful cheeks as smooth as ever. The fae ruefully grinned up at the noble as he shouted out the window for Tiraris.
"Oh, don't make such a fuss," she snapped as the guards escorted her out of the room.
The fae quietly followed the men down the steps, past the fearful whispering maids as they went down towards the darkness of the cellar, which seemed more like a dungeon than storage for food and wine.  She was lead down a damp hall towards a small, locked room. A guard solemnly opened the lock before instructing the others to secure her in a wooden chair with shackles at the feet. Once again, Maar was glad that she was covered from head to toe. As she looked around the room, she picked up its details. There was a desk with an inkwell and interesting instruments of torture lining a wall. The fae wrinkled her nose at their stink, but said nothing. She watched coldly as the guards hung torches on the wall, and stripped her of her weapons. They made a small pile of her things on top of the desk before scrambling out of the room.

Maar took in a deep breath when she was alone, her mind calm and steady. She'd been through tough times before. She had experience with this, long ago, and surely she could handle it again. Besides, despite all his roar, the fae hardly cut Devdarra out to be an intimating man. Not to her, anyway. The fae tried to make herself comfortable as she waited for Devdarra to come and thank her for what had happened earlier. She smiled as she began to hum an old ditty, the eerie melody echoing against the stone walls.

The nobleman paced angrily as he quickly lost his patience with Tiraris. When the woman at last arrived he nearly lunged at her until he caught the predatory look in her eyes. It was the same one that earned him the still healing cut that marred his face. His hands lowered to his side in clenched fists as he growled at her for taking so long.

Together they descended into the dungeons; Tiraris' smirk fading as Devdarra's grew. "Oh I am so pleased to see that you are enjoying your accommodations here," the man said with false sweetness as he approached his prisoner. Behind him, his assassin remained on the landing.

Tiraris wanted nothing to do with these proceedings. As far as she was concerned, Devdarra was an imbecile and a waste of space. Her business here had nothing to do with him and she waited impatiently for his departure. One way or another she was going to get what she needed out of Maar. Her curiosity was getting the better of her and demanding that she seek out the truth.

'If you think you can cross me Maar you have another thing coming. I will not be played. I know some of your tricks already and I am wary enough to suspect for more. In the end though I am not the one tripped in an iron cage.' From her place in the shadows, the assassin allowed a soft smirk to tug at the corner of her mouth. 'I always win.'

Maar smiled sweetly at Devdarra's snide comment. Her blue eyes strayed from him temperamentally as she grinned at Tiraris.
"You don't look so pleased," she retorted, which earned her a hard smack across the face.
Maar giggled.

"You'd do that to a child?" she sarcastically asked as the noble stripped her of her right glove, with some difficultly. The fae gasped and closed her mouth, setting her jaw hard. Intense pain shot up through her body as her hand was now exposed to the iron chair. The chair itself was rather cold, but to Maar, the touch of it felt like fire, a fire that she couldn't escape. She took in a deep breath and directed her mind away from it, balling her hand up into a fist. The first touch was always the most difficult, but she wouldn't give the noble the pleasure of seeing her visibly in pain.
He scoffed as he went for her left hand.
"Spare me your trickery. You and I both know that you're no child."

 Of course, the nobleman was furious. Among the string of insults he flung at her, he tried to pry answers out of the fae about how she was connected with Morindo, why was she snooping about and what did she find. More importantly, however, he wanted information about Morindo and his plans, which was the only reason, he said, why he was going to keep her alive. The fae only remained silent, earning her more hard slaps and punches. She squirmed in her seat, both bored, but also tired and in pain. She didn't have enough energy to hide the bruises that were forming on her body and face.
Been in contact with it too long, she realized in dismay.
Certainly wasn't enough to kill her just yet, but her shield was going to drop soon.

As time passed, Devdarra finally understood that this method clearly was not going to work. So, he went to the rack and picked up a small metallic wedging device. He held it up so that the fae could see before grabbing her small left hand and sticking it underneath her index finger. The man wore gloves so that her nails wouldn't scratch him as he slowly began to pry her nail out. She only stared blankly back at him, though once he began to pry it out when she still wouldn't give him answers about Morindo or even about her identity, she shut her eyes tightly. The fae grunted as her toes curled and her body tensed. Finding herself unable to contain it, she let out several short anguished cries of pain as her glamour finally slipped away.

In place of the child was a rather tall and pale woman with pointed ears and  sapphire hair. She was unnaturally pale, thanks to the pain inflicted on her. The cut that Tiraris had graced her with earlier was displayed on her cheek. The only things that were constant between the two forms were the large blue eyes, the shiny bruises that Devdarra had gave her, and her bleeding, nailless finger. Even her clothes were different; she was donned in a rather simple green tunic of Serendian style with comfortable and loose sleeves, brown breeches, and plain boots. The fae stared coldly at the noble and gave a wild grin, panting.
"Hello," Awari chocked out, her breath still uneven.

Devdarra's methods of torture did not interest Tiraris in the slightest. She had seen worse things, most of them done by her own hand. She watched dispassionately as the woman suffered and screamed. The loss of the glamor though, that drew the assassin away from her shadowy corner.

As if under a spell, the woman found her hands wrapping around the bars of the cell and her forehead pressing against them before she had even realized her feet had moved. Curious eyes stared out of a blank face at the fae before. It was impossible to tell what was going in her mind, for even she did not know. Everything seemed so jumbled and yet so quiet as if time was the frozen top layer of a flowing stream.

The nobleman raised a brow at the assassin's behavior. He had wondered whether she really had the stomach or not to stay. The fact that she had gotten closer, intrigued him. "Care to play, pet?" He leered. In an instant, Tiraris' face closed off again and the stone impression returned.

"She does not know anything more about Morindo than anyone else. Let her go, Devdarra. Her quarrel is with me."

In silence, Awari watched in mild surprise as Tiraris spoke up to her defense.
So she finally made up her mind, she thought as her eyes flickered back and forth between Devdarra and the assassin, waiting to see what the nobleman would do. He only scoffed at the woman's proposition.
"Don't tell me that this fairy had made you grown soft," he spat before turning around and grabbing a chunkful of Awari's hair as he pulled her head back, revealing her throat. The fae hissed in anger and pan as he pressed the iron wedge against her vocal cords. She closed her eyes, her mouth dry.  A glint of light flashed in the noble's eyes; he was clearly enjoying this.

"Fae's bane. It's amazing she lasted this long," he said with a chuckle as he began to press the device harder against her throat, causing her to whimper.
"It's pathetic how weak their race is... You thought you could outsmart me, eh? Vermin."
The man growled as he stared down at Awari.
"I don't care with whom you have a quarrel, with. Tell me why I shouldn't kill you right this second. After all, Morindo's dead."
"Lies," Awari rasped back as she narrowed her eyes. There was no point in withholding that bit anymore. "He's still alive."

Devdarra's eyes widened at this as he drew the wedge back. The fae coughed and spat up blood. The noble shot Tiraris a dirty look before grabbing hold of Awari's left hand again, the fae not even flinching. She screamed again, louder this time, as he quickly ripped out her middle finger's nail, out of spite. Awari groaned as she clutched her teeth, trying to force her eyes to stay open as she hovered in a state between consciousness and sleep. In a way, his insult had been right. Between the shackles touching her exposed wrists and wedge being held at her throat, her body felt  as if it were on fire. The agony of her nails being ripped out didn't help much either; it most likely infected her. He was right; he could do worse. But unlike humans who could at least live through a few weeks or more of such simple torture, the fae doubted she could last for two. Not that it mattered. She doubted that he'd let her die that easy. Besides, she was determined to escape by then.

 Devdarra looked down at her with distaste before slamming the wedging device on the table.
"I'll deal with you again tomorrow," he warned, "And next time, I won't go as easy."
The nobleman left the cell door unlocked as he walked past Tiraris.
"You have ten minutes alone with the prisoner," he hissed, "Then I expect you in my office. The guard will lock up after you."

Awari forced herself to pay attention, staring quietly at the both of them.

She refused to react to the man's brutality. It was a gamble she had been willing to take and as far as Tiraris was concerned better the fae than her. The woman kept still and silent until Devdarra at last exited and passed her.

Turning, she latched onto his wrist and unbalanced him into leaning back against the cell bars with her pinning him. There was a playfulness in her eyes that made her movements seem seductive except for her smile that reminded of the danger that lay just beneath the surface.

"I would not say I have grown soft," she whispered sweetly, running a long finger along his still healing cheek. Do not take me for a fool Devdarra. The agreement was that he lived; I am not careless enough to take life unnecessarily." Chuckling she stepped back and allowed him to slink away. As he glanced back at her from the stairs, she waved coyly. "See you upstairs sweetheart," the assassin teased, blowing him a kiss.

The minute the guard departed and closed the door, her mask dropped to allow the stone one to once more take its place. Silently and swiftly Tiraris entered the cell and knelt before Maar to examine her hand. "Who are you? Truthfully, no tricks now. If you thought Devdarra was bad you have never seen me." The hand that gripped the fae's was firm but gentle for now. It would not take much though for Tiraris to crush the already injured fingers, and she fully intended to do so if need be.

Awari watched as Tiraris pinned Devdarra against the cell's bars. She chuckled at the sight, though it quickly turn to coughs and sputters. As Tiraris approached  and knelt before her, the fae weakly smile. Awari winced as the woman held her hand, though a bit surprised at how almost gentle she was. She didn't quite respond to the question right away. Even though she was stripped down to her true form, the fae was reluctant to let the assassin know her true name. Still, Awari knew that this was no time to be trifling about such personal matters. She was protective of it, it was true, but the creature knew she was going to have to share it.The fae sighed.

After a moment's hesitation, Awari tried to sit up as straight as she could. she lifted her head with as much dignity and elegance as she could muster.
"I do not fear you or that man," she said quietly, "As for who I am... This is who I am. I'm a fae, a master thief, have lived through most of the millennium... and my true name is Awari. There is not much more of me you need to know than that."
The fae paused as she took in a deep breath before asking a question she probably already knew the answer to.
"Now what is it that you want of me?" she asked quietly.

Tiraris found herself smiling despite herself. "I am not interested in you fearing me. As for him, you would have to be a fool to fear and I do not see you as one, Awari." The assassin continued to stare up into the other woman's eyes as she listened intently.

"Who said I wanted anything?" Smirking, she scratched the back of her head slightly before moving both hands back to Awari's. Tirairs pressed a gold hairpin into the fae's hand before standing and taking a step back. "Thieving is always a risky business. The risk of getting caught always runs high. But, I can understand that when opportunity rises sometimes one must take the plunge while others are distracted. If you follow me?

"Well Maar-I mean Awari, it was lovely talking with you, we must do it again sometime. But, if I do not leave now, then opportunity will be lost. Devdarra does love to hear the sound of his own voice. I would not be surprised if he is busy yelling at me for quite a few minutes."

The assassin exited the cell then and headed for the stairs. She was halfway up and completely enshrouded in shadow when she paused to speak. "They say there is honor among thieves and that the fae cannot lie. I wonder Awari, do you keep your promises?" Not waiting for an answer, she continued on her way until at last she was standing once more in Devdarra's office.

As she had anticipated he droned on and on about her ruining years of work and nearly completely destroying everything he had worked to achieve. After the third word though, Tiraris had begun to tune him out and stare out the window. With the letter close at hand, there was little that the nobleman could do to worry her. Instead, she wondered if the little fae, 'not so little now is she?' would manage to escape or not. 'Her choice now. I have done all I am willing to do.'

Awari quietly listened to Tiraris, watching as she took a hair pin out of her hair and placed it into the fae's undamaged hand. The fae grasped it with a grin.
There's always a way.
She said nothing more as the woman continued to speak, but only nodded her head as the assassin had left her to her own devices. The fae quickly calculated how much time she had. Devdarra did like to indulge himself in aimless chatter... She had at least twenty minutes before he would be interested in her again. By that time, she'd be gone. Awari patiently waited for Tiraris to leave before she quickly set to work on picking the locks at her wrists.

She couldn't reach the lock with her hands, so Awari had to bend to her hand to pick up the hair pin with her teeth. It took her a minute to get the trick of it, but the fae expertly released her right hand before going over to her left, and then to her feet. As soon as her limbs were free, Awari knelt down on the ground, panting. A wave of relief swept over her body, though it was quickly followed by a wave of illness.

Moments later, the fae wrinkled her nose as she turned away from the small pile of blood  and vomit. She slowly wobbled to her feet, feeling a lot more alert than she had before.
Awari made her way towards the desk harboring her things and quickly began to put them back in their original places. She tucked her left glove in a pouch, though she put her right one on. The fae felt for the letter she had stolen from Devdarra on her person and smiled triumphantly. He hadn't thought about searching her person.
I need to deliver this to Morindo, she thought, scheming her escape.
Awari took in a deep breath as she tested out her glamour. The fae covered up the bruises and  cuts, and made a glove for her left hand. She made her ears appear human and turned her blue hair blonde. It wasn't much, but the fae still felt awfully weak and sick; she had to be conservative.

Awari smiled as she slipped into the shadows, grateful for the darkness of the dungeon. She slithered past the guards and up the stairs, using whatever dark shadow she could, whether it was of a passing servant or of something hanging on the walls. Soon enough, the fae found herself in the streets, making her way towards Morindo's home. He was in his own office, and was shocked when the tall woman appeared seemingly out of no where.

"Relax. I've got you proof. What you do with it and Devdarra from now on is your business, not mine," she said to the baffled man as she pulled out the paper from her tunic. His eyes widened in recognition as his hand quickly went from the sword on his belt to reaching out for the piece.
"Maar?" he replied, to which she nodded.
The fae coldly gestured towards his purse.
"I believe you owe me," she said.
After a moment's hesitation, she added, "Also, send for a carriage. I've a need to visit that old doctor again."
----

Awari moaned in indignation.
"That stings," she protested as she leaned against an oak tree, her blue eyes sullenly looking at the river. Awari had dropped her glamour shield completely again once she had arrived at this spot. The fae had insisted the doctor treat her here, as she refused to step inside his home. The doctor ignored the  fae as he continue to clean her injured fingers with some sort of chemical or another.
"You should be dead," he muttered, to which she smiled in return.
"But I'm not," she retorted as she pressed a cool cloth against her forehead some more. She was going to need a fresh one soon.
"No,"  he agreed as he continued to work, "Try not to squirm, girl."
I'm older than you, Awari thought as she sleepily closed her eyes.

Tiraris did not have to muse long before the study door was being thrown open and Devdarra's lackeys were piling into the room. "She's gone!" one breathlessly proclaimed. "I don't know how. One minute she was there and then the next she was gone."

The nobleman cast a nasty glance in the assassin's direction before conversing loudly and angrily with the other men. Tiraris did not wait a moment more than she had to and quickly exited the room, stopping only long enough to inform Devdarra that their contract was null and void before dashing away. The man did not even have a chance to drag her back, for as soon as he stepped out into the hallway he discovered it was empty.

While he vented his frustrations out on those that remained, the red-haired assassin scuttled on her way. She had a feeling she knew where to find Awari. After all what does any good assassin do after they have completed a job; return to the employer. Not, as adept at traveling so quickly as the other woman, it took Tiraris an hour to find her way back to Morindo's estate and then another hour just to find that the pesky little fae had been carted off the healer's for treatment.

With this new information in hand, she sped up her pace, making it there in record time for her. A search of the house revealed both occupants absent. Tiraris tried to think of where they would be and came up blank. It was only when she had exited the building that her sharp ears picked up the healer's patronizing tones. 'I would know that voice anywhere.' She causally made her way over to the pair, leaning against a tree across from them when she finally arrived. "If you were not so annoying, I actually might be impressed, pixie." A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she waited for the other to respond.

Awari could hear Tiraris approach and sighed. She had been drifting off to sleep into what could have potentially be a wonderful nap, but it appeared that would have to wait. The fae lazily fluttered opened her eyes and frowned at the term pixie.
"Must you call me that? I'm taller than you," the fae pointed out as she winced as the doctor started to bandage her fingers.

The good doctor scoffed at their exchange. He looked up at Tiraris.
"What are you doing here, again?" he barked, "If you're just going to stand around, then why don't you make yourself useful and boil some water."
"I believe she's come for a talk," Awari gently replied with an amused grin.
"That can wait," the old man snapped back, "Besides, you should be resting."
"As you say," the fae idly replied, obviously getting a kick out of this. She rummaged through her things before presenting the golden hair pin to Tiraris. The pretty and simple thing was now bent somewhat out of shape thanks to the work the fae had put it through.
"It came in handy," she said with approval.

Her smirk widened at the fae's displeasure. "Aye you are." Tiraris chose to ignore the healer, opting to move closer and accept the hairpin instead. "Of course it did," she replied smugly as she replaced it in the hair at the base of her skull. "I am not in the habit of lugging around useless trinkets, no matter how small."

Behind her the man grumbled and made a show of being irritated until the assassin turned and gave him her attention. Despite his gruff nature, he really did have a soft spot for the fiery woman and her eccentric ways. They shared a brief moment and a small smile before he left to boil the water himself.

"What makes you think you can help me?" she asked bluntly. "There have been others before you; what makes you so sure you are going to be different? Or was that all a twisted truth? Do you have honor Awari?"

Awari chuckled as the old man left and admired his handiwork. Her hand still hurt, but not as intensely as before. She listened quietly to Tiraris' questions. They were all very valid, and, in truth Awari did not know how to answer all of them fully. At least, not yet.
"Of course I do," she replied, "I meant what I said."
The fae grinned smugly.

"As for why I believe I can assist you, it's because I have taught mages for hundreds of years now. I do not know what training you have been through or all the details of the nature of your magic. Besides, I think you'll find me rather persistent," she added, a glint of mischief passing in her eye.
The fae drew her right hand up to her left shoulder, where her tattoo was hidden by her clothes.
"I'm willing," she continued, "The only question that remains is are you, Tiraris? You'll have to entrust me with information about this magic and about the failed training. About yourself."

Tiraris snorted softly and rolled her eyes. "You ask much of me with little to no promise of success. I have been put through much and had my fair share of snake oil and widow's bones. What you ask of me is nearly impossible with out reciprocation. Of course you are persistent. You have proven yourself to be a deceiver and a beguiler and a fine one at that. Blue blood does not make me foolish Awari. What do you possibly hope to gain from this? Money? Service? What?"

She stared intently at the woman as her voice lowered. "It is unfair that you ask so much of me and yet do not return the favor. Nothing is free in this world. What price do you ask for your non-guarantee?"

Awari listened quietly to Tiraris' rant, biting down on her lower lip. The last question made her lose it, though, as the fae burst out into pearls of laughter. She was right- oh, was she right! Of course this woman wouldn't trust her, though the fae was also pleased at being called a good "deceiver and a beguiler". They were insults to some, but that was how she made her living. Laughing turned out to be a mistake as she coughed some.

One she was finally settled, Awari thoughtfully surveyed their surroundings. She was not used to speaking so openly and honestly with someone she barely knew for so long. It felt liberating, but also caused her to feel quite vulnerable.
Perhaps I should do it more, the fae casually thought, though she quickly put away that thought. People could be quite dense.

'"I told you, I'm a teacher," she gently replied, "It's given the past few centuries an edge. Perhaps one day I shall decide I'm weary of this life and will start anew. Until then..."
Awari cheerfully shrugged.
"I don't charge my students.  Think of my reward as learning something new about this world. Besides, it's as you say. I've no guarantee. I think I have a good chance of succeeding, but we shall see, won't we?"
The fae paused as she held eye contact with the woman.
"I'll swear I'll try my best, if that helps," she innocently offered,  a hint of jest in her tone, "Or are you the type that mixes blood to seal the deal? Perhaps some other ritual?"

'She speaks as if I have not heard it all a thousand times before. There is no difference between them and her. Another dead-end. You do not know that! She gives no promises when others did and fail. It means she is honest! Oh, that is rich, honesty from a thief and an assassin. You sound like your mother.' The thought froze Tiraris in her place. Shoulders tensed and eyes widened as if she was ready to flee.

At last she settled, coming to an internal decision. "I spill enough blood for my clients; I do not need anymore. Too messy," she chuckled wryly. "I do not trust you, never will. But, I will let you try what you will. Know this though, we hold no ties to each other. When we part ways, it is done. I expect nothing but, this is will be my only warning. You have no idea what you are getting yourself into. Take care before you end up like the rest of them. I have had teachers older and wiser than you, great masters of their craft, in the end..." she trailed off and shrugged.

"Get some rest Awari. If you truly desire to be of help then we can start once you are healed. I am in no hurry." Settling down on the ground, Tiraris leaned back against a tree and closed her eyes as if to sleep. In truth she was trying to settle both her mind and her magic. Both warred with each other, one more excited than the other. It had been too long since she had last had a teacher. The prospect of both another failure or a final success made her feel edgy. The fact that this had been her competitor up until an hour ago did not help matters either.

Awari listened carefully to Tiraris' grave words.
I do not trust you, never will.
That was all fine and all, for now, but the fae made a mental note of a hope to change that. For their relationship to work as teacher and student, it was vital to have at least an ounce of trust. Of course the woman had every reason not to trust the fae, but Awari had her optimism. The fae's ears perked up at the mention of teachers 'older and wiser' than she, but then Tiraris found it necessary to end her little tangent, which disappointed Awari. However, she wasn't too dishearten.
I'll start asking her about such things tomorrow.

Awari smirked at Tiraris' orders.
"Fine," she agreed, "But not in this country, at least not in an area so infested with iron. Somewhere deep in the woods."
She became lost in her thoughts until, eventually, the gruff healer returned. In one hand he held a steaming up, while in the other was a blanket and two cloaks. He huffed when he saw the assassin.

"I see she's still here," he grunted as he dropped the bundle to the ground and presented the fae with her tea.
"Drink all of it," he said as he carefully gave the fae her cup before setting the blankets up, "It's bitter, but it'll help."
Awari nodded and obliged, watching with amusement as he set down the blanket on the ground and folded it some at one end as he folded up the lighter cloak to make a pillow.
"Why are you doing this? I have the trees, you know," she quietly asked, a bit touched by his kindness.

"You refuse to sleep inside," the man replied, "And the nights are getting colder. This is better for your health right now than the trees."
He frowned as he looked at Tiraris.
"Well I guess I have enough food for three," he grumbled.
"Make it for two," the fae suggested as she handed back to him the towel that had been placed on her head.
 "I just want to sleep."
With that, Awari carefully moved herself to the bedding, and placed her belt next to her under the covers.  She closed her eyes and smiled as she  could feel Tiraris' magic, enjoying its strangeness. Soon, she found herself fast asleep.

Crimson eyes slit open to watch the healer's exit before silently observing the recumbent fae. They slid shut once more and Tiraris returned to balancing herself as best as she could. It was just about the only lesson she had ever learned, to lock it all away while she was calm. The problems started when she got emotional. Even the smallest irritation could send a whiplash of magic to the surface.

Much of the night and some of the early morning was spent this way in a lucid meditative state. But, as the sun's warm rays moved to caress her face and neck, the assassin had no choice but to swim back to the surface and awaken. For the moment it felt good to just breathe. Such a simple act always put Tiraris in the right frame of mind, something she needed greatly if she was really going to go through with all of this. 'Whatever this is.'

Joints popped and tendons rolled as she forced her body into stretching and awakening. Her sharp ears could already pick up the sounds of the healer waking as well and headed towards them. Despite Awari's protests from earlier, there was a distinct sound of three different bowls being prepared and carried over, the wooden spoons bouncing slightly against the rims. Combing long fingers through silken hair and yawning, the assassin, glanced over at the fae. "Awake yet?" she asked quietly.

The fae muttered incomprehensible gibberish as she rolled over in her make shift cot at the assassin's words. Her blue eyes fluttered open as she coughed. The fae was accustomed to rising with the dawn, but when she was required to sleep to get over wounds, she often did so for entire days. However, Awari had to give credit where credit was due; her body didn't feel so poisoned anymore.

"Good morning," she cheerfully greeted the assassin as she thoughtfully observed her bandaged hand.
Devdarra is probably after my head, she thought with a sigh as she sat up to take  in the smell of their surroundings. It was a crisp and fresh morning, though the smell of Tiraris' weapons and the old man's hut not too far away tarnished it some. Mixed in was the smell of breakfast, which seemed to have awakened a beast in her belly, which growled something fierce.

Awari happily accepted her bowl and ravished it as their care keeper checked her temperature.
"Slow down," he said gruffly, "Your nails won't completely regrow for a while, but you ought to be fine after a few days."
The fae nodded.
"How much would it cost to buy some bandages and medicine off of you? I'm out, I'm afraid," she said after she had finished.
Much to his confusion as she carefully began to stand.
"Why?" the man snapped. "What are you doing?"
Slowly, a shield of glamour began to build around Awari. Her long locks of blue hair became a long braid of blonde. The fae's height shortened until she was a little shorter than Tirarais as the scar on her face disappeared, her fingers back to normal, and her ears became more human. Her skin was tanned and a little bit rough. The changes were subtle, and she much preferred Maar's form, but it would have to do for now.

"Well?" the man asked.  
"I can walk. Staying here may yet to put you in danger. We must leave today," the fae patiently explained in her own voice as she turned towards Tiraris.
The old man arched his brow as his eyes turned towards the woman, as if to confirm this. He knew her well enough that if thing had been odd up to this point, they had just taken a turn for the stranger.

Tiraris' brow also raised in a challenge to the healer's question before one shoulder twitched slightly in a shrug and she looked away. Standing, she brought her uneaten bowl of food over to Awari and gave it to her, taking the other away when she was done.

"Do as she asks, Elisedd. It would be in your favor if you did so."
"Oh?" the healer questioned, eying both women in disbelief. "How is my helping her so important? Not that I won't dearie, never you fear. But, Silverd'art really I must question when even you are begging me to help someone. Isn't your job to take life, not preserve it?"

She licked her lips, breath whistling in between he teeth as she bit back harsh words. "I hardly think she was that close to dying. Do not exaggerate things."
"You are avoiding again. She means something to you."
"Well what is your preference, me burning your house down every time I need your assistance or it remaining intact and unscorched after my visits?"

"Honestly, I'd rather you didn't visit at all," he muttered under his breath before clearing his throat. "This mean she is going to try and fix you? You are both in for a world of hurt, I tell you. You missy have no idea what Silverd'art is capable of. Damn woman isn't joking about setting my house on fire. She's done it twice now, not including the small fires she also has started. On top of it she has a foul nature and a foul mouth. You-"

The assassin's laughter caught him off from continuing. Tiraris laughed and laughed. The last bit amused her to no end. "Aye, she knows me. Get what she asked and we will be out of your hair."
"And when should I expect you to come skulking back?"
"Never again, if I had my way."
"You always say that," he huffed, shuffling off.
"It has not been my way then."

Awari accepted the woman's bowl, though she carefully placed it onto the ground. She wasn't very hungry at the moment, and, besides, Tiraris was her student, as well as travel companion. It wouldn't do for her not to eat. Awari chuckled as the two began to bicker as she slowly refastened her belt and quietly crept away for a few moments for a moment of privacy. In any case, This wasn't her argument, and the fae suspected any input she would have made wouldn't have contributed to much.
When she returned from washing her face, Awari had found the old man gone, having entered his cottage moments ago. She looked down at the uneaten bowl.

"Why didn't you eat?" she curiously asked as she retreated back towards her tree.
"You ought to. It's a long road to Serendipity," Awari continued, not really waiting for an answer.
"We're to travel there, you know. Darken Vei will do. Now then. Fira. I like that name, don't you? I think I shall go by it in this form, and you'll do well to address me by it."
She sighed.
"Though I rather prefer Maar's... Still, I suspect she's being looked for, too."
The fae wolfishly grinned at that.
They'll forget about me in a couple of years, no doubt, if not in months, she thought. The fae didn't dare think in weeks or days- that would just be too insulting.

"Ah..."
She watched as the man reemerged from his cottage with a bundle in his arms.
"You've a way with people," the fae said to Tiraris in half jest.

She startled slightly at Awari's question and stared silently back at her in response before shaking her head. "There are many things in this world that ought to be done, does not mean that they do come to pass. Who am I to deny this ebb and flow? As for the road I know its length well."

Keen eyes looked the fae up and down before continuing. "Fira seems to suit you. Perhaps when we have entered Serendipity you may return to your favored form. Unless of course you have caused yourself trouble there as well." She refrained from adding that she would not doubt such a thing. It would not due to upset the new teacher.

"I have no idea as to what you refer," she replied as she took the bundle from the healer and replaced it all in her own rucksack. The assassin busied herself with quick packing before standing tall once more, sack on shoulder. Before she had a chance to try and ask to leave, Elisedd took hold of her hand and placed a small package within it. For a moment a silent but telling look passed between them before he nodded stiffly and she pulled away.

"Will you be wanting anything more Lassies? If not, best be on your ways. Wouldn't want my precious home burnt to a crisp as a parting gift." An angry glare sent the tall woman's way only made her lips twitch slightly before she shook her head and moved to walk away. If Maar-Awari-Fira, whatever she was going by now, wanted something, she would not stop her. But, with no reason to stay, she desired now to move. The call of hope whispered in her ears, tugging her to Darken Vei where the possibility of relief awaited.

OOC: Do you want to end this thread here and continue on in Darken Vei, or should we stretch this one out just a little further?
IC:

Awari blinked at the woman's reply at her question about the food. Her answer didn't quite make sense. Though it was true that there were things that ought to be done but weren't, the food was handed to her. The fae shrugged and still motioned for her to eat it.
Leave it to a person born noble to want to waste food.
She nodded at Tiraris' understanding about the road and smiled at the thought of Maar being hunted down in Serendipity. The fae was a careful thief and assassin- trials like this rarely occurred. Either she got the job done quickly and quietly, or those who have seen her were dead or too old to be bothered. Besides, she took up many guises.
"Oh?" casually asked Awari as Tiraris denied her 'way with people'.

She watched curiously as the healer placed a package in her hands. Awari could only assume that was the goods she had asked for. She smiled sweetly at the man as she gave him another coin.
"No, that'll be it," she replied to his tart comment, "Farewell."
With that, the fae spun around and cheerfully marched after Tiraris, her hair swaying like a proud tail as she walked. She was excited- this was the first time in a while had she gone on a journey as such without a fellow Hawk. Awari examined the red haired woman's magical aura as she passed by her in stride, musing over it. She reminded herself to not be tempted to use up too much energy, but this was an alluring puzzle of sorts.

Plus, there was shelter to think about. The forest stretched out for quite a ways, and the woman didn't have a horse. Awari didn't mind, though. Long journeys were the best kind, and she had all the time in the world.
"So-o-o," she asked with a grin, "Do you know any songs?"

Tiraris eyed the other fae cautiously wishing briefly that she could slap the other silly. "Why do I get the feeling that this journey is going to be twice as long and ten times as painful to endure?" She shook her head and stared ahead once more. "I know a few songs but I have no voice to sing them. My apologies for being such a useless entertainer."

Within her heart she felt a clenching as she remembered a songbird once sung down from its perch and into her hand. 'There is only pain down that road Tiraris. Do not fall into that trap again. It was long ago. There is no need to draw up that past again. She will delve into. They all try. She will fail like the others.'

An unsettling feeling seeped into the assassin's being at where her thoughts had turned. She shook her head again to try and rid herself of such thoughts but they continued to leave a residual imprint in her mind. They would resurface at a later time when she was once again weak. 'This one is different. That she is,' the darkness agreed.

___
Immersed in his library Devdarra angrily searched for a way to trap the two women and drag them back to him. There thousands of options but the ability to carry them out to the finish decreased with each new turn of the page.

He drummed his fingers on the tabletop, trying to think of a way to make the pair pay. "Oh and pay they shall. My pride, my dignity, my money. I have been made a laughing stock. Soon I shall be the one laughing. No one crosses one such as I and walks away as if it were nothing. No one!"

Awari laughed heartily at Tiraris' comment on the journey until tears welded up in her eyes. She wiped them away with arm arm as the woman denied having the voice to sing songs. Did that mean she couldn't sing, or that she didn't want to? From the way Tiraris had said things, it was a little bit hard to tell.  
"Pity," the fae replied as she brushed past a low branch as she surveyed their surroundings. By her calculations, the forest would take another  day or so to travel to the nearest village. It would have been much faster to just shadow walk, but Awari didn't have the strength for that. Besides, she was incapable of bringing along other people; she had tried pulling that trick for years.

However, she had the strength to sense her companion's magical aura and the fae quietly followed along the woman for a few moments to observe her. Now wasn't the time to be poking around personal and touchy subjects, but they'd come up. To pass the time and silence, Awari began to sing a modern Serendian reel, a popular and saucy tale of two lovers that met in the forest at night during the quarter moon. Her voice was strong and pleasant, thanks to centuries  of practice. After a while, she switched to a slower melody that sounded like gibberish and bird song, with trills and coos. In fact, it was an old nursery fae song; ghosts of its melody are still heard in the lullabies human mothers sing to their children.

In this fashion of song after song, sometimes out loud and sometimes under her breath, Awari continued to sing until the sun was high over head and entering the height of the afternoon. She let out a content sigh. It's been a while since she'd had a hike like this, with no shadow walking involved. Awari made a mental note to make it a point to do so more often. As she took in a deep breath, she caught the scent of something... different. The wind was carrying traces of iron in it. The fae grabbed hold of Tiraris' shoulder and made a motion to be silent as she strained her ears. Faintly, very faintly, she could hear shouts in the distance.
"Oh, that sounds like Devdarra's men," she whispered with a hint of mirth.
How far away were they, those clever trackers with their horses? A half mile away? Closer? Farther?
The fae had to hand it to him; that fool never gave up.

The singing was grating tremendously on her nerves. Most of the songs were ones she knew and only served to remind her of of the past she was trying to forget. Every word spoken aloud no matter the volume still managed to reach its way deep into the recesses of her mind where it played back again in another woman's voice, sometimes in even her own. The worst had been the older melodies as they were most like those her mother sang to her in her youth.

"Wonderful," Tiraris replied sarcastically to Awari's gleeful declaration. "Perhaps they heard you and have come to put me out of my misery." The assassin cocked her head to listen as well, letting her ears hone in on the sounds of hooves beating a path into soft earth.

The assassin looked at the fae beside her, judging the figure before speaking again quietly. "Do you feel up to engaging, or will you resort to your usual tricks of talking big and then running?" There was a pause before the word "teacher" passed her lips as if to suggest a modicum of respect for Awari's new position in Tiraris' life.

"Don't be such a downer," Awari retorted at the assassin's comment. The woman was rather right, however; the fae shouldn't have had sung so high at moments, especially not when they were just escaping. What was she thinking? It was a stupid err and a mad one, but the fae knew she probably wasn't the sanest of beings.
Awari rolled her eyes at Tiraris' jab at her methods of getting the job done, but allowed it to pass. Let the human woman think what she will of her methods; Awari was a man-slayer, a master thief, and always got her job done. If such tricks were necessary, then so be it.

The fae's eyes scanned the trees.
We could hide, she mused, but her instincts told her that sooner or later, there would be contact.
Pity, she thought in a rather unsympathetic way.
So where to attack? Nimbly from the tree tops wasn't an option to her, at the moment.
She wouldn't be able to get a good grasp for a while, not with two of her nails  missing from a hand. But she was Fiira now and didn't need a reason to hide, not yet. She gestured towards their surroundings.
"Lend me your cloak," she instructed, "And follow me. Hide. I'll pretend to be off to visit some family in the remote villages this a way. If that excuse doesn't work, and it probably won't if they're bright, then we may kill them and steal their horses."
Devdarra's men were coming in closer now; the distinct voices of the hunters could be heard as they continued their search For a search party of two wanted criminals,  they sure were loud.
"Hurry," the fae hissed.

"I would hardly call it being a downer considering I am the one who has had to painfully enduring your incessant squawking," she hissed right back. Tiraris waited though, interested to see what the other would do. Granted she could handle the situation on her own as she had done many times in the past. However, she was no longer alone and no longer "in charge," not that would stop her from doing whatever she wanted anyway.

The assassin scowled though at the idea Awari was coming up with. "Really? That was the best you come up with? No wonder I was always able to track and catch you. Shut up!" Tiraris was angry enough as it was. Rushing her was not a good idea. As it was she had have the mind to just shove Awari out into the open and worry about the consequences later.

"Damage it and I damage you," were her parting words before disappearing deeper into the shadows were she could watch and follow with ease. 'Remind me again why I am doing this? Because there is always hope,' her mind quipped back much to her disgust.

Awari shrugged casually as Tiraris chided her plan.
"It's not my best," she admitted in a barely audible whisper, "But it's one that will see us alive and out of this country."
The fae accepted the cloak with a nod, disregarding the threat as she quickly swung the thing over her shoulders and tied it, pleased by the way it masterfully concealed her weapons. She watched with approval as Tiraris visibly disappeared, though her aura gave away her frightfully close presence. Awari grunted. Squawking, indeed.

Awari began to strike up a tune native to Connlaoth as she cheerfully walked down the road as Fiira, a maiden on her way to visit her mama and papa.
If only I had a basket, she thought, ruefully.
The fae supposed she could magic one, but it wouldn't be quite real. She began to grow lost in her head and day dream what she supposed Fiira, this fantasy being of hers, might. Perhaps she was still yearning for a beloved, or was anxious about leaving her home too long... The fae give a wistful grin. Like Tiraris, she could have just hidden. It would have been too easy, but this was defiantly more fun.

"I command you to halt!" a voice ordered from behind her.
Awari gave a startled cry as she abruptly turned around to find five men on horses approach and circled around her on their tall brown and black steads. Their hands flew to their swords, though without drawing them, as she cringed in fear.
"What's going on?" she asked in Firra's voice, which she determined to be somewhat higher in pitch than hers, meek and clear.  
The fae stood firmly with her feet planted into the ground; the men and horses reeked. The smell of all the iron  from the bridles to the weapons to the armor was making her feel a bit dizzy.

The leader of the group appeared to be a man in his mid thirties, with cropped short black hair, a trimmed mustache, and the slightest hint of a beard. He threw the fae a suspicious glare.
"We're looking for two women," he explained, "A tall fae with long, blue hair with a  cut on her face and a human woman with red hair and a foul temper. They're travelling together and are wanted criminals for practicing magic and conspiracy."
Awari held back a fit of laughter as she immanently responded with a gesture to protect one from evil and humbly bowed her head.
"How awful," she replied in horror. "What are they doing on the run?"
The man grimaced at her question, clearly uncomfortable answering such a question from a civilian. As if on cue, the man next to him frowned as he peered down at the woman.

"Wait a minute," he gruffly ordered, "I've never seen your face around Matron's Hallow. How do we know that you're not that fae, tricking us?"
The other guards muttered in agreement as one eager one drew out his weapon. The men's leader threw him a sharp glare and gestured for him to stay at ease, though now all the men were looking anxious.
Awari feigned confusion as she crossed her arms across her chest, defensively.
"Mercy, I implore you," she  begged as she reached for her pouch of black powder.
"I've just received work in the country side to tutor a pupil."
The man held up a hand to shut her up as his brown eyes examined her features, contemplating over her words.

"What's your name?" he quietly asked after a moment's passing.
"I go by Fiira, sir," she replied.
"But is that your real name?"
Awari gave an impatient tsk as she nervously looked around her, calculating the right moment to attack.
"As Angsar as my witness, I'm not liar," she solemnly replied.
"But is Fiira honestly your true name?" the man retorted with a knowing smirk.
The fae chuckled at that. He had her there.
"No," she truthfully replied.

Using the wind to aid her, she spun around to swiftly blind two of the men behind her with it.  The attack caused the men to shout in confusion as their horses began to panic. Using this as an opportunity, Awari drew her daggers as she made her way through an opening in the circle. As the man closest to her tried to slice at her with his sword, the fae dodged it and threw a dagger straight into his heart.

'Of course, incapable of lying. Could not twist your way out of the truth this time could you, Awari? Useless pixie,' Tiraris taunted in her mind as she watched the events unfold. Leaning back against a tree where her view was unobstructed from the ensuing fight, she simply observed.

Her reasoning was that she had been commanded to hide. The "we" mentioned by Awari should things turn ill was considered a royal "we." The assassin was not going to be joining the fight anytime soon. She was not the one on the verge of being caught after all. There was no sense in getting involved at this point.

Besides it would happen to be the first fight where she was not fighting the fae woman. Tiraris wanted a chance to actually observe and determine weakness and style should she need to fight this woman ever again. It was not uncommon when it came to the red-haired assassin for her teachers to turn into her adversaries. Who says Awari would be any different?

What happened next was a blur of movement. The man she had killed toppled to the ground in front of her. Awari  swiftly cut through the other blinded man's saddle's strap, wincing as she  nicked his horse. He fell to the ground with a loud thund,  breaking his right arm. The fae snatched her dagger in the previous man's heart and jumped onto his horse, digging her heels into his saddle. Her eyes quickly scanned her field; two men were approaching her from either side as their leader helped sooth the riderless beast to keep it from trampling its fallen rider to death. Awari took a deep breath to keep herself from being sick as she skillfully leaned in close to her newly aquirred stead and looped around one of the two men. He had been quick to try to turn his horse around to attack her, but Awari was too close; with one hand she grabbed his sword arm as with her other, she stabbed him in the back.

Unfortunately, this left her with an opening as well, and his partner was quick to use it. He charged straight towards her and attempted to slice her head off. The fae used the body of his heavy companion as a shield with some difficulty, and reached in her pouch to blow some of the black powder into his face. It gave her time enough to kill him, but  not before he managed to smack her with the blunt side of his sword.  Awari grunted in pain as she held on tightly to the horse and charged for the other two, who were mounted on the leader's stead; the rest of the horses had began to run away, and the two others have already mounted one of the other stallions while chasing down the others.  The fae gritted her teeth as her eyes stared into the bushes. It looked like Tiraris had no interest in participating on getting steads.
Useless student, she found herself thinking, just the slightest bit annoyed.
The fae rather wished  momentarily that she was out on a mission with one of her hawklings or the King- she had other responsibilities than this one, which was practically just a lark to her, after all.

Awari dismissed that thought as she flicked her own stallion's reigns as she thundered after the other two, stone daggers in hand glistening with blood. It was easy once she pulled up next to them; the leader had tried to fight her off using the blunt side of his blade as she pulled her steed in dangerously close to his. However, she had learned from her previous mistake and dodged his hit before killing him in a rather similar fashion. She watched as he fell off, his companion letting out a cry of fright as he tried to fend her off, but the fae nimbly jumped into his saddle, grabbed his head with her hands, and broke his neck.

Awari hummed to herself as she tried to soothe the two horses in her possession. All in all, they were fine steads; the one she had just acquired was white and covered in gray spots, his legs black as if he had stepped in ink. The other, whom she had ridden to catch up with the two men, had a black coat, mane, and tail; near his hooves was a more white color, as if he had stepped into paint.
Tainted for my lady, and shadows for me, she thought to herself, amused. They would suit them just fine. As for the other horses... Awari could hear them running back home, saddles and all. The fae contemplated chasing the horses down and killing them, but there really wasn't any need. Besides, she had a softer spot for them than she did for their riders.

"You can come out now, m'lady," she called out as she re approached  the fight scene, admiring her handiwork.
That was clumsy, she admitted, but efficient.
"They bad guys are all gone, and I've got us both presents. What do you suppose we should name them?"

The assassin gracefully exited the shadows and approached the dappled stallion, letting him smell her before resting her head against his. "They already bear names, why change them when they are already recognized?" she replied softly. The horses were beautiful and this one she now claimed as her own seemed to call out to her. It was such a strange feeling but she dared not question it for fear of being mocked.

"Were you too busy hacking away that you did not hear?" Tiraris moved along the horses flank, dumping saddle and bridle alike before mounting bareback. "He is Moondust." Shaking her head as if to shake away the quiet moment, the assassin turned cold eyes to her teacher. "Are you ready or do you plan to do more blood-dancing? I grow tired of waiting."

Awari hopped off of her stallion to properly clean her blades, using the cloth from a fallen rider's tunic to get the job done. She said nothing to the woman's question about changing already  chosen names.
At least she's taken kindly to the beast, the fae thought as she worked, a little  surprised that Tiraris took kindly to anything at all.
"Moondust, huh?" she replied good heartily, "And just a few moments more; it will not kill you to wait a little longer."

After cleaning her daggers, the fae quickly began to rummage through the three fallen  nearby men's possessions, trying not to get blood on herself. The corpses were already starting to attract flies and reek. Once she had snatched and stowed away their purses, Awari followed Tiraris' example and undid the bridle and saddle. She had no use for it, either, and the less contact she had with steel, though it was minimal, was for the better. Once settled, the fae patted her horse. She wasn't gifted with this ability to tell a horse's name, but she had the ability to come up with a new one.
"As for you, my friend," she thought aloud as she examined the dark creature, "I shall call you Inkwell, and that is that."
The fae turned towards Tiraris.

"Now I'm ready," she said in a jesting haughty tone before patting  the horses' side before grasping tightly to his mane as he trotted along the path through the forest.

"Who are you to say what will and will not kill me? I am allergic both to waiting and patience!" Tiraris growled out, but a slight raise of the corner of her mouth hinted at the jest she was making. As she waited though, the assassin focused her attention on her new steed. His coat was soft and silky beneath her palm.

He shook his great head, unused to such a gentle and voluntary gesture. Impatiently he stomped a hoof into the dust as if agreeing with his rider; they should not linger, it was time to fly. Tiraris chuckled at his antics and soothingly crooned to him while rubbing his long neck. "You are still young yet, but your warrior spirit is strong.

Her back straightened, strong and tall as she assumed the proper riding position, letting her knees guide him and leaving her hands free. "Oh well now that you are ready," she growled again with an added eyeroll. No longer waiting, she let Moondust set a faster pace than his companion's, leading them away from the scene of the crime and hopefully, at least in Tirairs' opinion, as far away from the squawking pixie as she could get. Serendipity was a long way off and the assassin had no doubt in her mind that her ire would be raised more than once by the time they finally reached their destination.

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Not much of an intro but here you go: X (//http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=209&t=13304)