Closed Laying Low

[Lupa Voleur]

46th Day of Winter, 512

Lupa took a deep breath and grinned. Syliras. Home to the Syliran Knights. She pursed her lips and just kept walking onwards. Knights. She scrunched her nose. She didn't like 'em. So strict, so stern. She could appreciate that that was their job and all, but what a boring job! To be fair, they were loyal and Lupa could relate. Being loyal was in her blood. Syliran Knights were actually an awful lot like wolves. Fierce, strong and protecting. The differnce between Lupa and them was simple. Freedom. Lupa had the ability to roam freely, doing what ever she pleased. That and she didn't have to be all those wonderful knightly and wolvish qualities all the time. It was still inside of her, sure, but she could bring it up at anytime. The Knights had to be like that all year round, all the time. For Syliras, of course!

So Lupa had returned to her home city. Well, she assumed it was her home city. Her parents had abandoned her here three years ago. Lupa didn't understand people sometimes, but she was certain that parents wanting to abandon their child didn't travel to do it. They just left them in an alley-way in their own city. No problem. Just giving up on an innocent life before it had even started. It was logical. Perfectly logical. This line of thought tugged on Lupa's heart, but she forced it down. She also forced her anger down... Her anger and her pain. Then she stopped. When she thought about her parents, she thought about her father. Leon. Whenever she thought of him she had to stop and mourn him quietly. Her body stayed still and the crisp winter breeze ruffled her cloak. She then shook her head. This was no time to cry inside. If there was one thing she learned from travelling with Leon, it was to always keep moving. In the market places, there was no time to mope if you failed to sell something. You had to just move on and try and sell off a piece of thin rope as a some kind of "Thread of Destiny " to someone else. There was no time to hesitate when the rush came in. You had to keep moving and grab the attention of as many people as you could. Lupa took a deep breath and kept walking. Those words echoed in her head.

Always keep moving

Lupa had made it. The Bazar. She could feel the bubbling atmosphere. She could hear the haggling of prices. Oh how she missed this feeling! The excitement bubbled inside her, but she kept it down. She didn't have time to go wild. She couldn't help a little smirk coming over her lips at that. She decided to walk around, even at the risk of becoming over-excited. Even as she passed merchants negotiating prices, she gritted her teeth in frustration. Some weren't even trying! They were as enthuastic as rocks.

Lupa was doing pretty well controlling herself. She needed to. She had to stay low here in Syliras. That, and she needed to go to... Oh who was she kidding? She didn't even have a plan! It had been a few months since her escape from her "Master" in Ravok and she was sure he had gotten a new pet to abuse. She clenched her fists in anger. She tilted her head up to grey sky and her eyes narrowed in deep thought. She would have to go back there some day. But not right now. She just couldn't...

[Adilliana]

After entering the city of Syliras Adilliana had wandered in search of a Market place. Whilst Adilliana lacked a plan there were some basic need that she could acquire before she sat down and thought about what to do know, and a means to defend herself had been forefront in her mind. A brilliant smile lighted up her clear blue eyes at the comfortable weight of her new purchase hang of her waist. In it's leather scabbard the shape indicate that it was a cutlass.

Adilliana hummed to herself walking though the Bazaar, a heavy bag on her shoulders marking her as a traveller. her faded and torn clothing causing merchants to attempt to grab her attention.

"Young lady such rags do not suit you come check out my wares I am sure I have something better." one called out. Curious Adilliana turned her dark brown long swinging in the breeze. After a quick glance at the stall she shook her head. To busy indicating her lack of disinterest to the Merchant she had not seen the slender women in next to her and as she turned her bag pushed against the strangers shoulder.

[Lupa Voleur]

Lupa really needed to get moving. She didn't want to make the inspirational speech in her mind again. She sighed. She wanted to go on, but she just couldn't... Her mind screamed at her.

"Oh please, Lupa Voleur, this isn't you! Stop moping around and get moving to... To... Get moving Lupa!"

She frowned and tried to roll lazily out of her deep thoughts. She didn't have to, as any thought was shattered by a thump on her shoulder. She didn't react quickly enough and she wobbled forward. She would be dead by now if she hadn't learned how to stay upright. She simply hopped back again and shook any dizziness off. She turned to the source of this destroyer of her deep thoughts and her balance. She needed to thank them. What she saw was a girl. Then she noticed the merchants. Ah, the clothing merchants. They would say anything look terrible to get a couple of mizas selling something that was usually worse. She grinned at the girl from under her hood, "Merchants, eh? Here, come with me."

So gently as she could, she grabbed the girls hand and walked on. At only a quick glance at the girl, she had made many observations. Back as a merchant, you needed to make some pretty damn good guesses to make a sale and even as a con-artist, you needed to do an even better job. The heavy bag indicated a traveller of course. She made out the scabbard that carried sword. One of a fair size. It looked to be about 24 inches at first glance. Usually the size a cutlass is made. The girl was quite young, only looking around 14 or 15 years old. She didn't get that good look at the girls face, so she couldn't really determine what race she was. So all in all a girl that young, travelling and fighting. She decided to take her to a place that she might be interested in, a reward for handling those annoying merchants so well.

She stopped and smiled. If memory served, this is a good place for weapon purchasing. She could be totally wrong and had just led this poor girl into a nice grocery shopping trip, but her memory was usually sharp. She pulled down her hood and flicked out her gray hair, letting it fall and wrap around her shoulders, "Merchants can be pesky things! Here, I thought you might wanna look around. That cutlass is lovely, but you can't have too much to protect yourself on travels!" She turned round sharply, her eyes closed. She rested a hand on her chest and grinned, "Name's Voleur. Lupa Voleur! Pleasure to be making your aqquaintance!" Lupa gave off a huge grin... To be fair, the girl could have labelled her a maniac and ran off. She could be talking to nothing... Maybe Nothing would still be honored to meet her...

[Adilliana]

Adilliana froze a she felt the friction of her bag knocking someone and her heart filled with dread. I only just got her and I am already in trouble. In slow motion the figure began to fall forward and she quick reached out a calloused hand to try and help steady her. However the thoughtful action was not required.

With amazing speed the cloaked figure adjusted her footing defy gravity and regained her balance. How did she manage that? Adilliana thought as she watched her hand hang in mid-air. The effect was somewhat eerie and for a moment she had an inkling of how the pod felt around her. Then as suddenly as she had gained her balance a small hand wrapped itself around her own.

“Merchants, eh? Here, come with me." The figure she in a musical tone of voice as the tug on the hand she was gripping. Shocked at how friendly the strange was acting Adilliana probably would not have move but something in the tone hit a nerve and her feet to start moving keeping her body in pace with the strangers.

The crowd of the bazaar seemed to simply open up for them and that spoke volumes to Adilliana. Her new companion had to be local as without looking where she was going she easily navigated the Bazaar. The reason she wasn't looking at the busy area because she was taking stock of Adilliana. As suddenly as the hand had grabbed hers it let go, an Adilliana felt a familiar pang and braced herself, because the girl must have worked out what she was.. An apology was already on her lips when the girl started talking.

"Merchants can be pesky things! Here, I thought you might wanna look around. That cutlass is lovely, but you can't have too much to protect yourself on travels!" she stood with her back to Adilliana pausing in her speech a moment as she took down the hood of her cloak, silver strand of hair falling around her shoulders. As the feminine figure turned one hand coming to rest on her chest before continuing. "Name's Voleur. Lupa Voleur! Pleasure to be making your acquaintance!"

Adilliana was a little taken aback by the huge smile the girl graced her with and for once a heartfelt smile came to her own face as she nervously tucked some stay chestnut curls behind her ears. Bright blue eyes look around and tacking the familiar surroundings of where she had purchased the Cutlass causing the smile to widen. At least I now know I wasn't ripped of. She went to look into Luna eyes but they were closed. Adilliana kept smiling as her thought raced.

Non-Svefra were not meant to be this open and yet she felt that the girl in front of her was being genuine. Luna was the same height as her, but not the same age probably 18 or 19 years old. She had an open friendly nature and seemed to be at home in the noise of the city. To some Svefra this would have added up someone whom so goods could be acquired. But to Adilliana it all but screamed Ally. Placing a hand to her chest, the mirror of Luna early moment Adilliana responded to the girl introduction.

“Nice to meet you Luna Voleur.” my name is Adilliana East- Wind...” Adilliana paused. She was used to travelling in a group, each member depending upon the other. Since she washed up on the shore she had ill at ease, but in this girl present she at least felt a little bolder. Licking her lips she decided to go for broke.

“Thank you for showing me this lovely shop but I really need to find the way to the docks and then some where I can rent a bed. It my first time in Syliras you see … perhaps you be as kind a to act as a guild.” Adilliana babbled on nervously as she looked at the ground. She quickly look back up at Luna and added “I pay you of course, I have a few nick knacks you may like or we can work in Gold Miza …” Adilliana trailed off twitching nervously as she waited for a reply.

[Richard Burke]

Richard didnt often come to the bazaar, let alone that is was just after mid-day, he should be training, he should be sparring, he should be learning, but, his trials for the day were over, and he had a long day to himself. He didnt actually need anything in the market, he just like seeing the wares that were displayed, sometimes he spotted something exotic, wares and people. He pretended he was a knight, on patrol, this could be valuable practice one day when he really was on patrol.

He didnt notice he was zoning out, he navigated easily through the crowd, they must have sensed his status. Richard placed his hand on his sword, it was a simple weapon, perfect for a knight though, it was light, and almost 3 feet in length, it was a good weapon to have in the tight quarters of a city, he place his hand on the pommel, it was a simple steel disk, to give balance to it, and was attached to a wooden handle wrapped in worn leather. The scabbard was as worn and dirty as the hilt. The squire wore a blue wool cloak, with the symbol of the Windoak embroidered in black. It was warm, but worn, and dirty with blood, and mud.

He noticed a woman, almost wolf like, stalking the crowds, probally a con artist, she walked with that sort of gait, confedence, and grace, she wasnt breaking the law- taking suckers for all they had wasnt a crime in the city. He then saw a woman, a traverler by the looks of her- so many in this city, that he didnt think any thing of it, her bag knocked into the con-woman. Richard's hand grasped the hilt, but instead of any kind of altercation, the con-woman guided the traverler out of the crowd.

Richard paused, that wasnt normal... he decided to investigate, they could be spies, trying to harm the city. He glided through the crowd, following closely behind the par, to what appeared to be a civilian weapon shop. Richard followed in several steps behind them, but did not immediately confront them, waiting to see what they would do, as he casually browsed the shop.

[Crypt]

"A Knight off duty - or a squire - follows a cloaked figure and what appears to be a female Svefra, and they all walk into a weapon store. And what do they do next? What is the punchline of this joke? Tell me, Maras," Crypt nudged the Cyphrus Strider beside him, directing his next words towards him, "Should I find out more?' The Drykas was given a prompt response courtesy of Maras' tail, which whipped him in the face. "Fine. Be that way. I'll leave you here then while I... reconnoitre." Crypt grumbled. A most interesting prospect has presented itself to us, Crypt. I've always wondered what it would be like to be a Knight or a squire - would I be the errand boy of my patron Knight? Would I be the son he never had? Would I be able to uphold those values that the Syliran Knights revere? Well, Crypt, m'boy, here's your chance to interrogate - or rather, ask politely - that man over there about his life in the Knights. Moving leisurely into the same shop the trio had walked into, Crypt paused at the threshold, a thought having struck him. What if he isn't one of the Knights? He does have their symbol on his cloak, but that doesn't mean that he's one of them. Although that weapon... Not many would carry such a weapon in Syliras, and the majority of those that do carry one belong to their organisation. May as well take this chance, I don't think I'll be able to accost a Knight on duty without being punished. Even as he walked towards Richard, intent on beginning his... inquisition of sorts, a conversation between the abovementioned duo caught his attention, and he shifted his focus to the two females, listening intently.

[Lupa Voleur]

Lupa had opened her eyes and it was a pleasant surprise that the girl had come with her willingly. She got a better look at the girl. She was pretty for one so young and her eyes were pretty dazzling. She noticed the girl mirror her action as she introduced herself. Lupa couldn't help but giggle.
"Adilliana East-Wind? Such a cute name for a cute girl! It's nice to meet'cha!" She liked this girl. Lupa felt that she couldn't do her much harm. She was well spoken and Lupa never really thought of dangerous people being polite. Then again, that's how they might get you. The girl didn't look like the criminal type so this Adilliana East-Wind still held a favourable position in Lupa's mind.

Then the girl began to ask for Lupa's help. Lupa blinked at the fact the girl was eager to pay her money. She didn't know if Lupa was a local in Syliras. Lupa could simply take her money and make her end up in the middle of nowhere. The girl was a little naive, but fortunatley, Lupa was a pretty nice person and a kind of "honorable" con. She wasn't going to take a young girl's mizas and send her off like a headless chicken.

"Well Adi... I can call you that right? Adi, my memory of Syliras is quite vague. I was here two years ago and the only reason I'm so familiar with the Bazar is 'cause I spent so much time around here, y'know?"

Lupa wasn't even lying like she normally did. Best she could remember was the Bazar and her apartment she owned... Her apartment. Lupa gave the girl a beaming smile, "Ah ha! I knew I could be some use! If you're looking for a place to stay in Syliras, my ol' apartment in Stormhold Castle is free! I'm hoping to get on my way near Spring time, so we'll be room mates til then, but y'know, yeah! It's not much. It's small, not a lot of furniture and has no windows, but it's got a bed at least! You could take that. I'm not one for sleeping anyway and it'll cost ya nothing. I don't need your money at all Adilliana!" Lupa was getting excited that the next proposition came flying out of nowhere.

"That and I'm so sorry that I can't help you as a guide an' all, but don't you worry those lovely brown locks over it! I'll find you someone to help you out Adi!" Lupa held her smile, but in her head, she was raging.

Lupa Voleur, you idiot!! Who do you even know in Syliras at the minute, huh? Tell me? Who?!

Lupa was drowning inside. She knew better than to make promises she couldn't keep. Now wasn't the time to take it back! How could she do that?! So she decided to do another thing she liked to do when situations got tricky. Not run away, but change the subject.

Lupa placed her hands on the girl's shoulders and cocked her head to the side, much like a curious cub, " Well first things first, you must tell me what race you are! I hate not knowing things!" Lupa pouted and then she giggled a little to show she wasn't serious.

"Oh and it's Lupa. Lupa. With a "p" before the "a". Y'know! Like a wolf!" She then chuckled. She was giving off a little hint about her race already. She wondered how funny it would be if maybe Adi picked up on it. It was pretty unlikely. Even Lupa didn't realise what she was doing until half way through the sentence.

[Adilliana]

Well Adi... I can call you that right?” Adilliana giggled at her new nick name her eyes lighting up as she nodded her agreement. But as Lupa continued speaking it slipped away and mental curse herself. She had ask an outsider for help, wasn't she just setting herself up for a fall? Her own Family had just tolerated her because of Lia verdict.

She began to back up away from Lupa trying to re-establish some distance. Out of the corner of her eye she noted a swordsman entering the merchants stall. He wore a brilliant blue cloak that was well worn spotted with dirt and blood. However her thoughts where interrupted as Luna once again spoke.
In amongst the stream of words issuing from Luna mouth there where only a few that Adilliana could comprehend. It sounded as though she was being invited to travel with Luna for the Winter. Its not a bad idea try to save some money and avoid the worst of the weather. She was brought out of her thoughts by a steady pair of hand grasping her shoulders. Adilliana looked up into the older girls face as it tilted to one side curiosity radiating off of Lupa.

“Well first things first, you must tell me what race you are!” Adilliana thought brought forth the image of her mother’s hard bound journal and the face of Lia explain that she was of mixed blood.

“I am a Svefra Lupa.” Adilliana stated popping the ‘p’. It was a close to the truth that she felt comfortable with. She was more curious about what exactly a wolf was. She open her mouth to frame the question when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. The Swordsman had been joined by another man who was fairly no-descript. Both however seemed to be paying close attention to Lupa and her conversation.

“Perhaps we should leave Lupa.” She stated quickly turning to face the men “I believe we may be in these gentleman’s way.”

[Richard Burke]

The pair of women seemed to be strangers, the con-woman was very friendly, and may not even have been a con-woman, just one of the friendly people the made the city their home, a person worth protecting, the epitome of Syliras. He couldnt quite pick up was being said, but it seemed to be an invitation at living arrangments, he heard their names- 'Luna? Lupa? Luma?' he couldnt tell, and the other was 'Ali? Aldi?' which wasnt any of the knights business. Richard was about to turn and leave, his curious and protective mind sated, when he was spotted. A man had followed him in, the man was about the same size as the squire, which in itself was immediately startling

Then 3 pairs of eyes turned on him, stunning the squire, who had no skill in talking to groups of people, he looked bewildered as the woman said "I believe we are in these gentlmens' way" Richard didnt know what to say. "Im a knight!" he blurted out without thinking, only intensifying the horror he was in. "I thought you were being kidnapped!" he blurted even louder with a look of social pain and horror on his face, trying to make up for his staring. His hands didnt know what to do, one rested on the hilt of his sword, while the other one was tucked into his pockets, he looked at the 3 people abashidly.

The Squire breathed slowly, and stuck out his hand awkwardly, saying "Im Richard." Hoping that some one would talk, would say something, so their eyes would look elsewhere, if he could bury his head in the stone, he would, without a second thought. But, he couldnt, so he stood his ground, and waited.

[Crypt]

"Gods, you're pretty loud, aren't you? A Knight? Most... curious of you to be following two women. Aren't you supposed to be in armor if you're trying to patrol the Bazaar?" Crypt spoke up, his amusement evident from his tone of voice and facial expression. "Then again..." Crypt resumed speaking after a moment's pause to enjoy Richard's embarrassment, "You're certainly a gentleman, seeing as you concern yourself with damsels supposedly in distress - of a more subtle nature, that is. My name is Crypt, a resident of this city of the Syliran Knights since early Fall. A pleasure to meet you," Crypt made a short bow towards Richard, "and I would be honoured to make your acquaintances, miss Voleur, miss East-wind." The Drykas bowed in turn to the two females as he mentioned their names. "Now then, what's this business about a kidnapping?"