How sad, Maar thought without a drop of empathy.
She tried to imagine feeling sorry for the loveless relationship between Tiraris and her mother, and how awful the rift was between them for the expelled noble woman to lash like that. However, try as she might, it was only just pretending; the fae was creative, but she wasn't very original. She couldn't bring herself to care.
After a few minutes, Maar peeked her eyes open to catch a glimpse of Tiraris.
The fae had to stiffle a burst of laughter. Tiraris was so livid; had her words so truly upset her so?
Maar was almost regretful that she had even brought up the touchy subject; the assassin didn't look like she was about to sleep any time soon. However, the fae was starting to feel rather comfortable in her perch; sleep was creeping up on her. To remedy that, Maar lightly banged the back of her head against the tree trunk as she began to go through the constillations, reciting their names and stories in her head. The fae started with the Maiden by the moon before moving on towards the Serphant...
Two hours passed in this fashion. Maar had begun to make a game out of it, mulling over the details of each of the stories. She had forgotten some, and so came up with new details in her head. Of course, the fae knew enough that such words would never pass her lips; Maar didn't doubt she'd forgot her silly tales by the morning. However, she was too busy keeping track of Zal's location to care much. His presense was faint, but he hadn't moved for the past half hour. He was taking a break- the fae knew he would be on the move again before the night was over.
Maar stole another glance of Tiraris before slipping into the shadows, slipping down the tree and through the forest. She was the grass, the rock, the animals- the fae always enjoyed the opportunity to 'stretch her legs', so to speak. It was tricky, the fae proudly noted, to track one of her best Hawks in the enchanted forest. Finally, she found him, not two miles away from her own campsite. He was was busy, digging for mushrooms that varied in size and shape in the shape of a beautiful red fox. The clearing was cramped, encircled itself by a canopy of trees. Maar perched herself on a tree branch above him. The branch didn't shake to alert her presense, yet he still stopped and sniffed the air. Maar waited a few moments before revealing her hiding spot with a giggle.
"I thought I taught you better than that,"she said ,"That's a fae ring. I don't need to remind you what comes with them."
The fox's ears perked up as it stared up at her with large black eyes.
"I've a message for you," she continued, softly.
Within a blink of an eye, the fox had transformed back into the shape of a stout man with a round and soft face, contrasting to his narrowed brown eyes and muscles. His shoulder length light brown hair was tied back. He donned a vest, tunic, breeches, and boots of the most common quality. Maar knew that under the shirt hid his tattoo.
"Is it that woman?" he said.
The man didn't seem surprised that Maar was around; if he was, he made no show of it.
"You knew?" she replied, amused.
He gave a toothy grin. There was a gap in the front; one had been knocked out in a fight long ago.
"Words out that some Connloath boke lookin' for two women," he said, "One fiery headed, the other blue."
"Devdarra," Maar said, not allowing the blue haired comment to phase her.
"Aye. He's in trouble with the authorties; a big scandel, it is."
A bigger grin spread across Maar's face. Morindo proved his worth yet again, so it seemed.
"What are you doing here, Zal?" the fae asked, "Where's Talner?"
The man pointed vaguelly towards the north.
"She's restin' her wings," he explained, "Been ridin' all day. Goin 'on a little stroll around Arca. A maid there from Arca has something precious my client wants."
Maar nodded.
"Good," she replied before dropping down from the tree to embrace the brawdy man.
"My message," she continued, "Tell the King that I'll be sticking with this red headed woman for a while. She's my student now."
Zal was taken aback by this news. When he questioned her motives, Maar briefly explained what happened back in the Hollow and Tiraris' magic. She talked for a few minutes, leaving out the details of her transformation. The fae allowed her student assume that the 'blue haired woman' was just a guise.
"That's why," she finished, "I wont' be home for a while. I don't know how long, but not much longer than the longest of missions."
"Three moon cycles," Zal suggested.
"Maybe. " Maar said, "Maybe not."
The man frowned, his eyes on where her own tattoo was placed, covered by her own clothing.
"No," Maar replied, guessing his answer, "She doesn't."