Zandelia had her eye closed and her head resting upon the wall of the Pig’s Foot in silence, contemplating her decision. The two cloaks were in her hand, their soft fabric pulling at her hand as it rippled in the light breeze – her gift to Bitzer, or rather another gift to give the woman. She was nervous in truth, nervous to see just how much the talent of touch could glean from her. It had been a rash choice, one made with emotion rather than logic and she was not familiar with such things. Oh she used emotions, she toyed with them and gained from them. But to show her own to someone who could read so much, that was dangerous. She knew that well enough but there was no other way to work with Bitzer properly. What they had planned, what they were undertaking was too important to do so blindly. They needed to know and trust each other implicitly and that meant, to a certain extent, that they would need to be closer.
But was it a mistake, to reveal things too soon? Precisely how much does she now know? Gods above woman, you are a fool aren’t you? she sighed to herself as the wind whipped her hair across her face.
The door opened and she paid it no heed, she’d rather not deal with anyone else this evening. She had done enough already. At least she had made the purchases that she wanted to do – new armour and weaponry enough to survive in the shadows of Sunberth. Isolation was not to be though and the first greeting was in the form of Orvin’s nose pressing coldly against her free hand. She opened her eye and looked down, smiling as she threw the cloaks over her left shoulder and crouched down to give the wolf the attention he craved. His lolling tongue and wagging tail was a comfort to her heart.
“Hello Orvin, you like me don’t you? Even though you don’t even understand me” she grinned, standing up as Bitzer made her own presence known.
She waited and listened with indrawn breath, hearing that the woman had gleaned something that she had not thought she would – but it was true enough. She was old, paranoid and had worked alone for quite some time. There had been others of course, Revy stood out amongst the multitude but even she had not been able to fully inhabit her world with her. Being in her line of work was by definition to be alone – you couldn’t really form attachments or any serious bond beyond the ones of business and they were shallow bonds to live with. She tilted her head and eyed the proffered hand, raising her own into the air and pausing momentarily before grasping Bitzer’s firmly.
She looks, assesses, sees and yet sees that which I hadn’t expected her to. But a bond is a bond. Friendship is better than nothing she found a true smile flickering to life upon her lips – Bitzer would notice the difference she was sure. Her words had been fumbling, perhaps she had seen more but didn’t want to address it and Zandelia wouldn’t push her to – not again.
“No, it came out correct. I have been alone for a long time yes,” she managed to speak after a while of looking at the other woman carefully, “and the days we have spent together have been a balm to that loneliness. It is hard to admit but few like to share my world. You could be one of them. I’ll take whatever you can give me Bitzer, whatever you can give me” she stated, her tone actually jovial despite the tension.
She released the hand and took one of the cloaks from her shoulder and whipped it around Bitzer’s shoulders gently, pulling it into place so that the folds all but covered the woman. She looked at it critically and nodded, satisfied at the fit before slipping her own one on and pulling up the hood so that Bitzer wouldn’t see the small tear that flickered down her right cheek at the outcome of the day.
“Sisters of the cloak, eh? I hope it serves you well Bitzer,” she heaved a sigh of relief, “come on, let’s go back to the tents. Today has been productive enough to allow a little slacking I think. If I don’t have to face this world alone, then neither do you so I think I’ll pilfer some spirits from someone and we can enjoy the rest of the evening in simplicity”
With that they headed home, to their temporary home at least.
But was it a mistake, to reveal things too soon? Precisely how much does she now know? Gods above woman, you are a fool aren’t you? she sighed to herself as the wind whipped her hair across her face.
The door opened and she paid it no heed, she’d rather not deal with anyone else this evening. She had done enough already. At least she had made the purchases that she wanted to do – new armour and weaponry enough to survive in the shadows of Sunberth. Isolation was not to be though and the first greeting was in the form of Orvin’s nose pressing coldly against her free hand. She opened her eye and looked down, smiling as she threw the cloaks over her left shoulder and crouched down to give the wolf the attention he craved. His lolling tongue and wagging tail was a comfort to her heart.
“Hello Orvin, you like me don’t you? Even though you don’t even understand me” she grinned, standing up as Bitzer made her own presence known.
She waited and listened with indrawn breath, hearing that the woman had gleaned something that she had not thought she would – but it was true enough. She was old, paranoid and had worked alone for quite some time. There had been others of course, Revy stood out amongst the multitude but even she had not been able to fully inhabit her world with her. Being in her line of work was by definition to be alone – you couldn’t really form attachments or any serious bond beyond the ones of business and they were shallow bonds to live with. She tilted her head and eyed the proffered hand, raising her own into the air and pausing momentarily before grasping Bitzer’s firmly.
She looks, assesses, sees and yet sees that which I hadn’t expected her to. But a bond is a bond. Friendship is better than nothing she found a true smile flickering to life upon her lips – Bitzer would notice the difference she was sure. Her words had been fumbling, perhaps she had seen more but didn’t want to address it and Zandelia wouldn’t push her to – not again.
“No, it came out correct. I have been alone for a long time yes,” she managed to speak after a while of looking at the other woman carefully, “and the days we have spent together have been a balm to that loneliness. It is hard to admit but few like to share my world. You could be one of them. I’ll take whatever you can give me Bitzer, whatever you can give me” she stated, her tone actually jovial despite the tension.
She released the hand and took one of the cloaks from her shoulder and whipped it around Bitzer’s shoulders gently, pulling it into place so that the folds all but covered the woman. She looked at it critically and nodded, satisfied at the fit before slipping her own one on and pulling up the hood so that Bitzer wouldn’t see the small tear that flickered down her right cheek at the outcome of the day.
“Sisters of the cloak, eh? I hope it serves you well Bitzer,” she heaved a sigh of relief, “come on, let’s go back to the tents. Today has been productive enough to allow a little slacking I think. If I don’t have to face this world alone, then neither do you so I think I’ll pilfer some spirits from someone and we can enjoy the rest of the evening in simplicity”
With that they headed home, to their temporary home at least.
