Closed [Forest of Thorns] Thorns and Eyes (Zandelia)

[Annalisa Marin]

70th of Winter, 513 AV

It was not often Anna found herself this far outside of the Citadel; really the Testing Grounds and her were not often in agreement with each other. This went doubly so for the location so aptly known as the Forest of Thorns, as it was just one big headache to navigate the place and it always ended with scratches. The tall sorceress hissed as her hand scratched against a thorny vine, slicing shallowly into the back of her left hand. It was moments like this where she cursed not having the common foresight to have brought her gloves with her; they would make everything so much easier.

Anna was dressed in her weathered and worn clothing, which was faded and possessed much wear and tear about it. She called them her work clothes, more due to the fact that she could afford to have them damaged than she could anything else. Her right hand was wrapped around her longsword, which she swung in front of her to sever a vine in her path. That was something she had at least opted to bring with her on this little expedition. She was hardly a master swordswoman but she recognized utility when it existed and her longsword had proven quite trusty here.

One might wonder what had brought a Wizard of the Citadel out this far in the Testing Grounds and into such an uncomfortable location. Her first response to such inquiry would have been for the person to mind their own petching business, followed by her marching away. Still, any who would recognize the significance of her silver ring, its sigil that of a burning scroll, would question why the petch someone as important as her would be here of all places. In truth Anna was pursuing a whim, a little side project she had cooked up.

The last time she had visited the Forest of Thorns she had seen a rather interesting creature, what the initiate escorting her had identified as a Thorn Hare. The spines on its back apparently created a paralyzing poison for one unfortunate enough to touch them. Being the ever practical woman that she was, Anna found herself intrigued with this ability and considered its potential applications. There were some problems were magic alone was not enough, however the art of poisons held a little bit of promise. Perhaps she could find a way to make the Thorn Hare’s spines into weapons, or coat it onto her blades. It was worth at least attempting to test out.

Unfortunately, so far her search had yielded exactly zero sightings of the petching furry animals and had only brought scratches and frustration. Anna angrily sliced downwards with her sword, severing another vine and some thin branches from her path. Her arms wound back and moved in the unskilled hacking motion, just intent on clearing the foliage from her path. She could feel her arm starting to tire, which was no surprise really as she had been at this for half a bell, maybe longer. Her body was not build for physical stress at the moment, she was a sorceress and hardly the greatest warrior in existence.

Anna let out a loud groan of frustration, chopping down on a nearby branch vindictively as annoyance overtook her patience. She had found a Thorn Hare easily when she hadn’t even been looking for it, but so far the furry critters eluded her. Her grey eyes scanned the ground, the nooks and crannies around her but not a single trace of the white furred animals. It was ridiculous, she could rend the earth itself and control the waves of the ocean but one, tiny little animal was managing to defeat her at every single turn. She was enraged really, part of her wanting to simply raze half of the forest to cinder and ash in a chaotic inferno that would consume everything.

“How petching difficult can it be to find one petching Hare!? Arrrgh!” Anna cried verbally, coming to a halt in a clearing of sorts.

The tall woman promptly sat herself down on the ground and threw her sword down next to her, pulling at her loose and long dark hair. She groaned, flexing and massaging her right arm that had received so much use today and likely would receive much more. Petch nature, it was for the birds, they could have it while she lived in a halfway civilized place. The only thing she had gained here was a headache and scratches, not to mention a sore arm from swinging her sword around.

The woman allowed a sigh to escape her lips, forcing herself to calm down. An agitated mind brought defeat with it while a clear and calm one would allow for victory, she needed to meditate and clear her mind. Slowly the woman shifted on the ground to sit cross-legged, closing her eyes and starting to slowly set into a breathing rhythm. Anna breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth, forcing her mind to focus on the task of cycling her breath in this exact pattern. Slowly, very slowly, but surely she could feel the anger and rage starting to fade as calm took over. She needed to remain calm and clear thinking, she could finish her objective it would just take a bit more patience.

[Zandelia]

The city of Sahova, or the tomb depending upon your perspective, had slowly crept up upon Zandelia. The cold chambers, mazes of corridors and general casual mistreatment of the living had begun to slam its heavy weight upon her – she felt stifled. Awash with the need to breathe air that had not been inside every lung outside of the rest of the world she had chosen to explore instead. She craved something new, something to learn and ponder. It mattered not what it was, she only knew that it had to be outside of the claustrophobic stone. As she whisked herself away, out into the open air, she had a certain destination in mind.

It has been a while since I entered a forest. Not since the Spires in fact, though that was for business and not interest. I wonder what it’s like there now? They must have restored most of the damage caused by the mist. Perhaps Neilles went there? she mused as she pulled her cloak about herself tightly, the better to stop the biting cold winds battering her form.

“The Forest of Thorns…interesting name. Metaphorical of literal?” she placed the bet in her own mind as she made her way in the general direction of her destination.

She had opted to wear her ‘mercenary’ garb for her venture, she did not trust the island enough to wear anything else outside of the eyes of witnesses. Clothing was hidden by studded leather which was in turn covered with her Shadowsilk Robes. The heavy cloak covered that and with the hood billowing every so often to half-cover her vision her progress was slow. Upon arrival, however, she considered that her choice had been suitable.

It’s less a forest and one huge thorn thicket!” she sighed to herself, wondering if that meant that she should turn back. She had brought her weaponry but besides her daggers she possessed no cutting tools. The blade was not her way, it was difficult to force information from someone if they were dead. Beaten was better.

She began to walk along the perimeter, gaze kept warily upon the twisted and jagged wildlife. She knew all too well what could be hidden behind its folds, that shadows could obscure deadly creatures all too easily. There were no mystical mists but truly the forest did not look like it needed it to get you killed. She was about to give up as she spotted a small path and approached it cautiously, carefully placing her feet so that she did not step upon any errant branches. Her weight shifted, rolled across the entire soles of her feet as she peered into the shaded path and searched for danger.

[i]Nothing…or the appearance of nothing. Yet this small avenue is clearly newly made, slashed out you could say. These are definitely a blade’s work she mused as she squatted and picked up a few pieces of refuse – the ends sliced cleanly through for the most part though some were more bent and rough, frayed bark tipping the ends like tassels.

She paused for a few moments, looking at the fallen leaves, such as there were, and the muddy ground. She thought that she could see footprints though admittedly she was no master tracker. She threw the refuse back to the forest floor and stepped inwards. She did not saunter, she stalked. Her legs were almost crouched and her torso dipped forwards as she slowly progressed. The path was easy enough to follow and did not seem to be scattered with horrific danger – yet she still pulled out the dagger Revy had given to her scores of days ago now in Nyka. A weapon was a weapon.

It just…meanders. No direction. No real discernible motive. Who…what is creating it? she wondered as she sneaked her way along. It was almost as if someone had decided to go for a wander. She dismissed that as silly, though carefully ignored that it was exactly what she had decided to do – she never claimed not to be a hypocrite.

“How petching difficult can it be to find one petching Hare!? Arrrgh!” came the half-muffled yell from ahead. She scowled and reversed the blade in her palm so that it was pointing downwards. She paused, considered retreating a little way backwards but her curiosity got the better of her – it often did.

As she rounded another bend she took advantage of the cover to peer around it before proceeding and found her quarry. She had followed the slashed ends of flora, the thorns bent to the side but had not expected to find a woman sitting upon the ground. A warrior perhaps, a mercenary or hunter had flitted through her mind but a sitting woman? No. She stepped slowly, carefully and as silently as possible. Each step took a good chime or so. Eventually she found herself within a diving distance of the prone form and tilted her head. She considered keeping the weapon but instead slowly, quietly slipped it back into the oiled sheath at her waist. She was squatting now, forearms resting upon the tops of her thighs.

“Perhaps if you spent less time shouting and moving you’d spend less time howling failure?” she spoke, a playful voice.

I wonder if me being here might be a lesson in itself. This island is a curios place indeed! Dead golems, suspicious activities, tea with strangers AND weird women sitting in mud. Curious…

[Annalisa Marin]

Some semblance of calm had returned to Anna's mind as she sat and calmly controlled her breathing, she needed to focus on the task at hand. She simply needed to keep at her search and surely it would eventually bear fruit. The sorceress allowed a slight smirk to fall upon her features as she considered that she had almost let a little furry rabbit defeat her. Embarrassing really, though fortunately there was no one else around to know of her struggles with hunting down these little creatures. If someone did find out, it would probably turn her cheeks red with shame.

Shifting upon the ground, subtle, but there immediately broke Anna from her meditative position and her grey eyes zeroed in on her uninvited guest. Many beasts of various types wandered the Testing Grounds, Anna had encountered a few choice ones in her time. It paid to be alert for even the slightest traces of monsters, one never knew what horrors lay behind the next corner. Paranoia was something of a necessity on Sahova regardless of who or what you were.

As it turned out, it was no beast but a woman that met Anna's eyes and stalked closer. Her a good bit of her face was concealed by the hood of her cloak, though the tall woman could make out a single piercing green eye like a jewel in her skull. Blond hair peeked out here or there in her vision, Anna found what little she could make out to be rather attractive. Certainly older than Anna herself, though that was hardly a crime since everyone on this island seem to be older than she. Still, her gaze was wary and Anna tugged at the tapestry of her being, unraveling that smallest bit of Djed and generating purple translucent liquid between the fingers of her left hand.

Anna felt a flare of wounded pride as the stranger commented on her rather poor hunting skills, though that bore the question of how she knew any of that. Had this woman been stalking her? If she had, to what end and where on the political spectrum did she fall if she had a place. A thousand different possibilities played in her mind, though none of them could be found out just by sitting here. A little... persuasion might loosen this woman's tongue, if it turned out she was indeed suspect. For her part Anna raised a rather arrogant eyebrow to the other woman, her gathered res already receding back into her hand.

"Perhaps. Though perhaps you might find your life expectancy rise considerably if you didn't come out this far. Haven't you heard? Monster roam these parts." Anna said, her tone smooth like honey and the grin that followed possessed a rather arrogant and sure edge.

With that Anna would stand to her full six foot height, rolling her shoulders slightly as she reached for her blade. Carefully she pointed it downwards, not looking for a fight when the other woman was so close to her. Reimancy was much better for long to mid ranged engagements, close range she had her sword but it was not exactly a fearsome weapon in her hands. However this woman likely didn't know that, if not then Anna wouldn't be telling either.

"So, tell me, what brings a fellow pulser out this far into the Forest of Thorns? Its not exactly known for its, ah, scenery. Hunting perhaps?" Anna inquired, the questions innocent enough.

The silver ring on her right hand was fully in view and Anna made no attempt to hide who she was. Rank was useful in establishing immediately who was who in a meeting, subordinate or master. A quick downward glance to the woman's fingers showed no ring, meaning she had it somewhere else or she was a visitor. The former bore sinister undertones while the latter was something Anna could use.

[Zandelia]

Zandelia remained upon her haunches for a few moments, watching and listening with her head still tilted to one side. It helped her vision she found, one eye was a handicap as much as a boon. At least she didn’t have to pay for her own drinks in a lot of the inns she visited – they tended to just appear before her. Respect, bribery or fear of a survivor of terrible trauma – it amused her. She did not remove her hood nor move in any way. Her gaze locked to the long sword for a few moments, muscles tensing perceptibly until it was tilted downwards and a small measure of relaxation infused her body language.

Not looking for a fight then. Or maybe just waiting…they are good at that in this blighted place she thought.

The woman was younger than she was, though she was more sinewy and less stickily built. She doubted the other woman was a fighter then, especially from the way in which the sword seemed to encumber her as if she were not used to it. She was not classically beautiful but she held a certain charm beneath the plain features, her smile easy and self-assured. It was a half-smile though Zandelia thought, the type she used herself when wanting to put someone else at ease. It took a lot of practise to learn that type of facial expression and for it to be convincing. The most extraordinary fact about the woman was her height – she was incredibly tall for a human woman. Zandelia’s gaze searched her and found the silver ring, worn and shown off with the same kind of arrogance she had come to recognize – Thomas had possessed it too.

Does every mage learn it or is it just built in to their bones? she amused herself with the thought.

“You do not look monstrous to me,” she returned, “in fact you look quite striking indeed” she attempted to inject some suggestion into that phrase, it had been some time since she had experienced the company of another woman.

“Perhaps I will die, perhaps not. With an accomplished apprentice such as yourself I imagine my prospects at survival are considerably enhanced. Unless you wish to dance with the weapon of yours. But then again conversation suits me better than a brawl” flattery and veiled promise hid in those words for the discerning.

She did not want a fight, that much was true. She was no stranger though and she would if called to. The mage before her could likely use magic to defend herself but Zandelia was quick, cunning and the distance between them was not overly far. She fancied she could die whilst leaving considerable injury. The other woman was surely smart enough to recognize that fact and so, for now, they were both safe. So long as the status quo was maintained. Maintenance was far from interesting though and so cultivation attracted Zandelia more at that moment.

“Or perhaps I am the monster for monster’s sake,” she stood up and eased her joints then, pulling her hood back as she did so with a smile upon her own lips in a mirror of the other, “I am quite monstrous…don’t you think?” her gaze looked for reaction, probing for a slip in the mask.

How well does she cope with the grotesque? That is a useful thing to know for if she does it means she has possibly seen violence of a kind

“I came for exploration, stayed for the hunting and am pleased with the quarry I found” she chuckled at that, “and you are hunting hares…petching hares. If you want one you should hope they do it often as it means there will be many”

“Why didn’t you just set traps rather than hack your way this far into such an inhospitable place?”

“Surely one possessed of talents worthy of that ring would have the means? Do they not wish to help you then? You didn’t set fire to any of them did you?” the challenge to her arrogance was made, it had worked before but would such a tactic work with this woman?

“Dasoma Zanelli,” she bowed theatrically, “and perhaps this…Pulser…can be of service?” she ended with a flourish.

[Annalisa Marin]

Anna's smirk seemed to take on a bitter edge at the woman's words, knowing full well that the worst of monsters wore the flesh of civilized beings. She had done many monstrous things, black hearted things that few would ever consider doing, betraying friends, murdering in the name of their god. Daren had worn the flesh of a man, but the petching hypnotist was a monster in Anna's mind, a beast only worthy of being killed with extreme prejudice. The other woman didn't appear to know, but Anna knew that she would one day if she remained here.

The Sorceress felt her pride prickle at being called 'apprentice'. She hated that title, that moniker upon her that had held her back for so long and stained her name. She was so much greater than that, so much more powerful and strong than the lesser being that title denoted. She had mastered the four elements, peered into the inky blackness of the Void, learned how to twist magic itself to her whims. Anna hated that title, that slur again her very being when by all rights she could stand among masters.

The woman drew back her hood, the Sorceress noting her ruined eye with barely a batted eyelash. Anna had seen far worse on this island, she had done far worse and no doubt would continue to do far worse in the name of progress. She had a goal, to climb higher than the filth around her and deliver Sahova into Rhysol's hands. She had a promise to keep, one sworn on her own blood and she wouldn't rest until she had clawed her way towards that goal. A little blood and mutilation was nothing compared to achieving that goal.

Still, Anna found herself amused by this other woman and her banter. This Dasoma Zanelli, she looked far more suited towards the stresses of physical labor than the Sorceress herself was. Perhaps she could use her to reach her objective, if nothing else she could use the company of another pulser out this far. Anna would never admit it but part of her hated being alone, being isolated and trapped in only her own thoughts.

"Well, you certainly presume much Miss Zanelli. You might want to be cautious about whom you call an Apprentice, especially when they are decidedly not. I am Annalisa Marin, Wizard of the Citadel. For your future reference, bronze is for Apprentices, silver is for Wizards. Probably a good thing to learn. Could mean the difference between living another day, and dying rather horribly." Anna stated, her tone taking on a patronizing edge.

"As for traps, I could access them most certainly. However I would rather not risk beasts stealing my prizes, I assure you I am more than capable of dealing with my quarry once I find it." The sorceress said, moving to walk past the woman and into a nearby thicket.

She drew her arm back and started hacking away at the foliage with her blade, stubbornly ignoring the woman's previous advice. If she chose to follow Anna would not complain about it, slicing a rather stubborn vine and striding back into the path she had created for herself. She tried to move as silently as she could, though her footfalls were still somewhat heavy and hardly those of a skilled huntress.

"If you really want to be of service, keep an eye out for a white furred hare. They are rather small, no bigger than a rabbit. That is what I'm searching for." The Sorceress would say, holding the hilt of her longsword in both hands as she hacked a thick vine in half.

Using reimancy would make this task so much more easy but the Sorceress refused to do so, instead stubbornly sticking to her method. Her mentality was rather that of a wizard when going into this, just jumping right on in with no attempt to be normal about it. The mentality was just what Anna was, she was a wizard and she acted like a wizard with every action. She was prideful, arrogant, and stubbornly threw herself at her problems until they were solved. She'd cast a glance to her companion, her breathing becoming a little heavier for her exertions.

"So, what brings one so charming as yourself to Sahova? If you were hoping for stimulating conversation, I'm afraid the island is lacking for that. The Nuit are rather dull and dry individuals, no doubt a product of rotting brains running out their skulls." Anna said, a quip given against the supposed rulers of the island.

[Zandelia]

There was no reaction beyond a smirk to be seen crossing the other woman’s face, a sure sign that she had seen much in her years though she was younger than Zandelia was to be true. She supposed that in the land of the dead mere scarring was little more than a minor detail in an all too long list of abuse, mistreatment and general apathy towards anything that was not self-serving. The retort to the comment upon the ring was sharp, haughty and yet had gained a little bit of information to be ticked away – enough for a small exchange of titles. She did rather enjoy exploiting the arrogance and self-importance of mages, it seemed…right.

Dangers upon dangers, paths within paths and shadowed stone that conceals much. Sahova is an interesting place so far. Perhaps I will return once my business with my father is concluded. Politics must be rife indeed! she mused as the woman now revealed to be Annalisa Marin pushed past her and began hacking away once more at the thorns.

“My apologies…Annalisa Marin, Wizard of the Citadel” she tried to recover smoothly enough, little left to do but follow in the woman’s wake, “it is a rather wordy moniker though. I feel rather underwhelming without my own titles. Perhaps a shorter name might be preferable in the wild? Annalisa…perhaps?” she asked with a rather too sweet tone of voice.

There came no response to the query for now, though in truth Zandelia was far more interested in the woman herself than her name and designs within the damned forest. She was young and yet had attained power which suggested a single-minded ruthless persona perhaps. She would be the first to admit she knew little of magic, though admitting it in public was foolish in the extreme. Still, she knew enough that one did not reach such heights of mastery without risk and efficiency of practise. It was a trait she was beginning to notice more in Sahova.

“Very well, a no to the traps but I still think just hacking away might not be advantageous to your goal” she sighed, noting that she was being ignored in that regard.

Oh I am a nothing here and to be ignored. Little, useless and powerless me. I wonder if she would feel so imperious if she had a dagger in the spine? No…no I can’t do that. I’d have to explain the mess. Besides, she could be of some use she corrected that line of thought before the frustration rose too high.

She sighed and paused in her following, looking around at the haphazard path that had been created. It was easily followed and she found herself wondering if this woman had any enemies that would dearly love to find her in the wilderness right now. She chuckled at that, knowing they’d have to be dragged from their cellar and forcibly thrust this way first. Instead, as the singing sound of blunt blade upon branch continued she instead found herself looking at the only thing worth looking at before her…and the way it swayed so hypnotically. She found herself lost for a few moments until the other woman’s words caught her out.

“Hmm? Oh? Oh…right! I don’t suppose you could at least look at the ground as you go along. You might see some paw prints? I think that’s how they track game,” she broke from her reverie, “and you say you can deal with the prey but…how exactly? If I might ask?”

Still, something to cover it with might be of use, a trap of our own making, hmm?” she pulled the cloak from her shoulders as she now focused intently upon the undergrowth and wondered if her own talents might be of use here. Everything produced and aura but…in the middle of a forest that was alive? Did she even dare it?

“I don’t suppose you can float a cloak on top of one if we see it could you? I could always jump on it afterwards. Might even make you laugh to see it” she noted as an aside, seeing the sweat bead Anna’s brow and the energy sap from her sword swings.

Is she really that lacking in physical endurance? A Nuit I can understand but does she really not appreciate how having a decent physique can aid you? No…she doesn’t does she? Mages… she scoffed internally.

“Why don’t we trade? You give me the sword to cut the path and I give you the cloak? You can look at my arse for a while and I’m pretty sure that I can swing longer and faster than you can” she stopped, not waiting for an answer and tossing the cloak over Anna’s left shoulder.

[Annalisa Marin]

Anna pondered the query regarding her name for a moment, unable to decide whether Zand was mocking her or not for a moment before opting to chalk it to harmless teasing. In any event she did admit silently that it was something of a wordy title and it was the shortened version really. A smirk curled its way onto her lips, arrogant as always and her tone bore the smoothness of honey once more through her stressful actions. It was a dangerous shift really, having gone from irritable to cordial.

"Well, since you asked so nicely, Annalisa it is then." Anna said, her tone dripping with false sweetness.

Her next questions made the sorceress uneasy, getting the suspicion that Zand was fishing for information about her magic. Paranoia was rather rampant on Sahova, and while she was pretty open about her magics for the most part it wouldn't do to ruin the surprise. Though, Anna did check the ground after the woman's comment regarding tracks, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. She was certainly not made for this kind of thing, physical labor and hunting was beneath one such as her.

She did manage a very frosty glare to the other woman as she rather presumptuously placed the cloak over her shoulder. It was a look that was followed by a strange purple gaseous substance rising from her eyes, drifting up as she regarded the other woman. Sometimes having res drawn so easily could be draw back in itself, as her emotions could occasionally send it into flux. Carefully she reigned in her indignation and willed the res back into her body, pondering the woman's offer. It was true that physical activity was rather annoying.

After a moment the sorceress simply shrugged and turned the hilt over in her hand, offering it to the other woman to take. She would hold onto it for a moment, giving her a rather significant look. Anna rather liked her longsword, even if she was shyke at actually using it the blade possessed some utility. It was a good solid blade all things considered.

She released it after that moment and would simply follow the other woman, snorting at the offer to stare at the other woman's buttocks. Her eyes were more focused upon her legs, smirking slightly as they were no doubt as sculpted as the rest of her. She was short really, though certainly the height disadvantage was outweighed by her strength. Anna would need to remember to keep her at range if things went south.

"You let me worry about my methods, Miss Zanelli, they are unimportant until we actually petching find one. You just keep your eyes open and be ready to pounce." The sorceress said.

With that the sorceress fell silent, her own eyes gazing around the thorn filled forest as she looked for movement. She really could feel her pride taking a blow from being outwitted by animals, as well as not having a real clue of how to track these creatures. Hunting had never been something she had been called upon for, she was a research wizard after all. She knew her magic well and the means to warp the natural world, other than that... she was rather lacking.

Her eyes strayed to her companion once more, pondering her once more as she watched her work. She seemed much better inclined for this sort of thing than Anna was, then again that was not saying much. Perhaps through observation she could learn just a little bit more, already she had learned a little tidbit. The dark haired sorceress was good at watching and waiting, though she much preferred action.

Her lips curled, deciding to have just a little bit of fun with this meeting and to drag it out for everything she could get. It was not often she had contact with another female pulser who was somewhat attractive. Certainly there had been Felicia, and oh how she had been fun, however most were rather sad to look upon. They were also normally pitiful wizards all things considered.

"Pity you opted to come here, your beauty is wasted on the corpses unfortunately. That, and those pulsers that do dwell here are rather sad appearing individuals. Not much for one looking for, ah, companionship to choose from. Take that from the mouth of one who has been there and done that." Anna said, her tone somewhat lighter than it had been as her eyes searched the terrain for a glimpse for a hare.

[Zandelia]

Zandelia merely grunted at the acceptance of a shorter name, it was a small victory in terms of association. Titles often got in the way of intimacy and for her to work effectively at building bridges with the locals they were naught but a hindrance. A first name basis was much more preferable and that much was something to lay a decent foundation with – for as long as she was in Sahova. She was visibly surprised, however, when Annalisa whirled and she caught a small glimpse of a purple gas seeping from the other woman’s eyes. Her face slipped and all she could do was gawp for a few moments and hope that she wasn’t about to be embroiled in warfare in the woods. She had no idea what Annalisa could do after all.

Okay, unexpected occurrences are a definite no with this one. Treat with more caution was what flashed through her brain as the moment passed and the sword was proffered to her.

It was a reluctant offering, one which held the promise of retribution should any darker notions in Zandelia’s mind be pursued. Still, they switched places and it presented an amusing occasion – a Wizard of Sahova being forced to follow an unknown Pulser. She smiled to herself as she set to work on making their path, her gaze upon the ground for any signs of tracks. She knew nothing of such practises beyond the traditional ‘the hunters say it down the pub’ but she wasn’t about to give that bit of information up for free. The brush was thick and even with her increased strength it was still slow going. Still Zandelia fancied that she created a neater and wider path of progression.

Much faster too she realised as her arm moved backwards and forwards in its scything movement. And then the comment came, the viper hidden in the grass that was conversation.

Keep her eyes open! The petching little shyker had left the barb there to sting, to see the reaction she was sure. She composed her face but her arm stopped in mid-swing, the muscles tensing as her grip became harder, her body radiating coldness. The freeze was only momentary but enough for Annalisa to read into and perhaps to understand that her instinctive reaction was to whirl around and ram the blade into her scrawny little chest. She breathed deeply once. The hacking resumed as she seethed internally.

“Eyes…good one,” she stated carefully once her temper had been assuaged by the dead bodies of thorns traipsed upon, “perhaps one day I can show you exactly how I lost my one. Sadly I cannot comply but, if I may, I suggest that you comply with following the hired help” she left her own barb there.

Let her know that I know she is powerless in my field – just as I am powerless in hers. I wonder if it rankles she thought viciously.

She paused then, holding up her free left hand for a few moments before squatting down to inspect the ground further. She had seen something, possibly nothing, but she had learnt caution from a young age indeed. Very young. Brushing aside the cut thorn s she scowled at the ground and wished that it could speak. At the very least it was theatrical as a bluff for experience. She would let the other woman think she knew what she was doing. Yet…there were a few indentations in the mud that might have been tracks of some sort and any direction was as good as another. She stood back up and hacked away again in the direction that she thought they were heading. Her gaze was concentrated upon the ground now as she listened to Annalisa’s words.

“Beauty, hah! I am not what one might call classically striking. Thank you all the same though. I must say that to see another living woman has its…benefits” she responded between breaths. Her own endurance was far from endless but she had a good amount left yet.

"And call me Dasoma, please. The miss is a nagging voice from years past"

After about twenty yards she paused again to study the ground, she was rather beginning to enjoy the persona of a hunter. It was a hodgepodge now but a trace of white fur could be seen caught upon the thorns she had been about the slice – information almost lost forever. The story of her life.

“Unfortunately for my mother I doubt I shall ever get married to a strapping young man. Not least because I am far from young myself. Besides, men in my experience can’t do much after all the drinking they do”

“Though she would warn me off of one such as you seeing as what goes around comes around. Though I suppose companionship is difficult to find here. Would you like me to guess another title for you Annalisa?” she grinned then, knowing all too well that pleasurable company between the sheets should always be pursued but enjoying the trading in veiled barbs now – it was a game.

Of course it is a game, life is a game! I don’t even have a mother anymore and yet she now believes it. Plant the seed and then they make the rest up all by themselves. I don’t even need to create a past to remember, she would do it for me in a heartbeat in her intrigue she nodded o herself as she passed the tuft of fur to her companion.

“Trace of your beast no?”

“As for myself, I have always referred youth over beauty. Beauty is a gift but vitality…vitality is practised. Perhaps I should seek out one of these Pulsers to see how they are? The stone is so cold here after all”

“Still, Sahova suits my purposes for now. It is an interesting place. Dangerous too. Things should always be a combination of those traits. It makes boredom evaporate quick enough. I think…we are on the right track my companion. What did you plan to do to catch them? Or do I really have to jump on top of it?”

She continued the hacking for a while in silence then, hoping she would find a prize at the end of it.

“Okay,” she said after a score more minutes and sweat making her robes stick to her arms and legs, “time for a break I think. Five chimes perhaps” she sat down then to breathe deeply.

“Why did you come here? You sound as if you hate this place. Why not leave? And…how many mouths exactly?” she asked her own question seeking out answers and understanding with a semi-knowing smile.

[Annalisa Marin]

Anna was rather pleased at the faster pace they were holding with Zandelia being the one to do all the physical labor. She was obviously much better suited to the role of the hearty woodswoman than Anna was, being a wizard tended to mean that other areas of study fell on the way side all things considered. She was probably still stronger than the Nuit that roamed the Citadel, but saying one was stronger than a corpse was hardly a good boast. The tall sorceress kept to her silence as Zand continued her work.

Then she had noticed her barb regarding eyes and Anna allowed a slight smirk to cross her face, noticing how she had frozen. The sorceress wondered how very much the other woman simply wanted to ram the blade up to its hilt into her chest. Well, that was a reaction she was going to need to remember in the case of needing to get under her skin again. That little tidbit filed away the Sorceress opted to retaliate with a veiled threat of her own.

"Right, and after you show me that I'll be certain to show you exactly the reason I have these scars on the palms of my hands. Trust me, it was quite the occasion." Anna replied as she fell back into step.

Anna simply allowed the other woman to fill the air between them with conversation, as she was simply pleased to be making some actually progress. Though, she was gathering from the woman that she was quite odd all things considered, though Anna would probably be deemed as eccentric at best and a lunatic at the worst. What had been that sentence from ‘Magic and I’? That it had only been because of a Wizard’s Djed that they were not considered raving lunatics? Considering her rather colorful meeting with Roknus Maelstrom Anna found that assessment difficult to deny.

Sometimes she wondered what those without magic would do when they would look upon her powers in full, or how they would properly react. Anna did control the force of the four elements rather easily after all, how would one who had never even heard of magic view that sheer amount of power? Something that appeared almost godlike when looked upon, to rend the earth and twist the waves of the sea to her command. On Sahova she was but a powerful wizard among many, but away from here she would probably be vaulted as one of the most powerful reimancers of the modern age. Unfortunately there was no leaving Sahova for her now, till death did them part perhaps.

Zandelia found traces of the hare and handed it over to Anna who nodded at looking upon the fur, it looked the same as it had when the sorceress had first looked upon the cuddly creature. Well, cuddly if one desired to be paralyzed for a little while, but Anna opted to keep that feature of the hare to herself for the time being. After all… she had never actually witnessed the full effects of a Thorn Hare’s poison, and here was a walking specimen for some in the field research. For now the woman simply kept her piece.

Finally her companion seemed to tire of their pace and settled herself down for about five chimes, Anna moved to sit across from her. She regarded her most recent questions now, the one regarding how she was planning to catch the Thorn Hare. Anna figured she’d get an eyeful of it anyway once they found one, best to get it out of the way so she wouldn’t look like a slack jawed gawker. Though, she did often enjoy the looks of bare faced shock that adorned the faces of those who witnessed her reimancy.

“I am a reimancer, meaning I possess some control over the natural elements of the world. My intension is to create a cage of rock or ice and then have you subdue a live specimen once I entrap it.” Anna said simply.

Ah, yes, the question of why Sahova. It was something she asked many who came to the island seeking knowledge, but it was rarely cast back upon her. Anna’s expression kept its trademark smirk but gained a slightly bitter edge as she looked down upon her Wizard ring. It might as well have been a silver collar wrapped around her neck, chaining her to Sahova for eternity. What had brought her here had been curiosity, why she stayed was commitment. Commitment without a real choice in the matter, she was too useful for Sahova to just let go, a blessing and a curse in equal measure.

It was a long while before Anna spoke again, when she did there was something in her eyes that was allowed to slip out momentarily. It was probably the first sign of humanity she had shown here, it was a form of bitterness and hurt that reached into her very being. It was a weary look that spoke of seeing things that no person should even need to be subjected to, regardless of who they were. All in all, it was a look most pulsers native to Sahova showed.

“A curious question, Dasoma. Let me answer it with one of my own. Does the slave simply leave when they choose to?” Anna said, her grey eyes holding Zandelia’s for a moment before trailing off towards the treeline.

[Zandelia]

The silence that followed her question, the sitting directly opposite and yet seeming so far away from Anna was enough for Zandelia to read between the lines, at least a small fraction. Sahova was a place of legend after all, but the legend was a mixed one. The grand machines and magical nature was a lure, even for some who lived in Sunberth – a city that loathed magic at the most fundamental level of the psyche. Yet there had always been a bitter and dark edge to such a telling, one filled with malice and malpractice. After all, who really knew what the mages ever got their talons into? Zandelia had been upon the isle for a short time but knew little – the areas were restricted to all save the mages themselves.

Hardly an inspiration for trust and admiration. No doubt living here is harder for the practitioners than the visitors…in some ways. I wonder what price they pay for their upkeep? she mused as she watched the other woman and allowed the silence to drag onwards.

“Interesting threat though, scars on my palms? I’d have thought scars were gained in more obvious places. Perhaps I will let you show me just to be relieved of my ignorance” she stated as she relaxed the muscles in her shoulders.

She took the opportunity to delve into the magic that was her own, though tiredness already had begun to seep into her. A small reading was perhaps safe she reasoned. Her Djed flowed from the centre of her being and towards her eye, small little trickles like so many tributaries of a river. The flows became larger as they reached her emerald green orb. She knew not if others imagined it in such a way but it worked for her. She was cautious though, allowing only a small amount to be used up. The memory of Nyka was strong in her mind still. The area around Anna flickered, rippled almost, and slowly smeared with colour as she focused the width of her gaze as narrowly as possible.

So many colours, so…strong! Is that just for mages of is it just Sahova? she wondered.

She had little time to really read into the shifting hues but one thing struck her – they changed slowly and gradually as Anna began to speak. Most others shifted so rapidly it was hard to keep up but Anna…well it seemed as if she were in control of the Aura. Or perhaps it was just a benefit of her crafts. Zandelia sighed and let the powers slip away before it drained her too much. She hoped there would be time to study Anna further in the future – Thomas too she added him to the list.

“Control of the elements?” she asked, her tone of voice a bit more leaden now as tiredness increased slightly, “sounds like a useful thing to be able to do. Burn your enemies and so forth. Well, at least it will be easier than chasing them. I’ll put the cloak over whatever you make so we can carry it at least” was all she could think of to respond with as she pulled the swords across her lap slowly.

The next few moments were spent in quiet contemplation once more as she watched Anna carefully. She wasn’t an enemy but if she looked about to throw magic at her Zandelia was ready to dive quickly. For the most part, though, Anna looked…lost. There was no other word for it. Where before she had seemed confident and sure to point of haughtiness she now looked bitter, ground up. She could not be sure but she thought she saw it – in the slight hunching for the shoulders, the cast of her gaze coupled with the almost sneered curve of the lips. The question returned to Zandelia and she blinked, opening her mouth in surprise.

Do they indeed? To tell…or not to tell… she wrestled with the issue for a few moments before her shoulders sagged and her own gaze focused past Anna and into…nothingness.

“They can, if they choose to,” she almost whispered, “the price is usually high but it could be argued that the rewards is worth the penance. Worked for me at least. Well…worked for a while” she touched her ruined socket with her finger and snorted at how foolish she had been in her youth. If only she had planned it more she might have escaped with no injury at all.

“I lost my eye for freedom. The real question you need to ask is of yourself, not of me Annalisa. What would you be willing to pay?”

“You are a Wizard so you are powerful. I was only sixteen and powerless when I fought back. How powerful do you need to be before you are willing to find the courage? Ultimately we are what we make of ourselves. You have more than I do, so use it” she finished simply.

“Why would you be a slave here?” she asked, thinking that she knew the answer but seeking confirmation. She had seen the way that Anna had looked upon her silver ring as she spoke.

She would await her answer, watching Annalisa carefully for the reactions her words brought – if any. Then…they would find themselves a damned hare so she could be in more comfortable quarters with the woman.

She is too strange to let go of…for now