PM to join [Inner Warrens] Secrets in the Dark(Turrin)

[Ainyi]

14 Winter, 513 AV

Her steps were light; the leather ankle boots barely made a sound on the stone hall. Her back was slightly hunched, bow off her back and in her grasp. Her hand was never too far away from her quiver. Hazel eyes dashed across the hall, frozen and dark in the evening. She tried to keep her teeth from chattering. The wretched storm had only just now let up, and the hunters that were stuck in it for four days now limped their way home. Still, this winter had been especially harsh. She was already beginning to cut her rations in half, preparing to wade them out. She felt a restlessness amongst others that worried her.

However, that isn't why she wandered the warrens with taut bow this night.

As her thoughts returned to the matter at hand, the brilliant hazel eyes dulled some, a stray lock of fire-red hair blocking her view. She tugged it behind her ear tersely, eyes locked on the bow in her hands.

Yasa, her father named it. It was the bow that made him an Avora. For years, he'd been crafting some of the finest bows and arrows in Wind Reach; halfway through fall, he finally received the recognition he deserved and became an Avora. Yasa was made from the finest wood, carved elegantly in Inartan fashion. Her mother, an Avoran glassblower, fitted an elegant glass handle to it. Painted feathers hung from the bottom end. It was a gorgeous bow, but every bit as functional as it was beautiful. It was her father's proudest achievement. At least, until he was found dead a few weeks later.

Lips pursed and brow furrowed, she walked further, trying to bring herself back to focus. Her anger burned in her eyes, though she managed to keep her footsteps light enough. An accident, they said. He had fallen from too high a ledge and the impact killed him, they explained. The blood vessels burst in his body, that's why he looked like he had been stabbed.

No, it made no sense. Her father didn't climb very often. His knees were still weak from his younger injuries. And she had gutted enough deer and rabbits in her work at the Processing Center to know what penetration wounds looked like.

She tripped in her hurried, fevered walk and caught herself with her spare hand, narrowly avoiding Yasa clanking loudly on the echoing halls. Immediately, her hand burned from the frozen temperature of the stones. Ainyi audibly yelped, and moved to sit on the floor briefly, shrugging into her Sontav. She placed Yasa down and cupped the frigid hand, rubbing it and breathing on it to warm it up. By the time she could feel her fingers writhe with life, her backside and thighs felt ice cold from sitting to the floor. Cursing under her breathe, she got herself back up again, shifting her weight to get the blood flowing again. The last thing she needs right now is for her bow fingers to be freezing.

The hallway turned to a long chamber room, and she crept inside, breath like smoke engulfing her face. However, one thing struck her. A torch, bright and clear, had been lit at the opposite corner. She found shadows, and crept closer. The warmth would help right now, and it would give her a better place to hide.

This was the place she followed her father to so many times. She hadn't meant to, really. She got off her job late, and meant to take the warrens down to the Darniva Commonrooms, when she saw him going somewhere very out of the way. He met with two Dek in this very place, multiple times for over two weeks after he was named an Avora. Now, he is dead.

She pursed her lips and hid in the shadow of the torch, welcoming it's faint grasps of heat, even from this distance. Now it was a matter of waiting. She was terrible at it, especially in the cold, in the famine, but wait she would. She had to. Arrow resting loosely on the bowstring, she kept her eyes sharp for the first person to enter the empty chamber.

[Turrin]

Placing a arrow on the bowstring of short bow, Turrin turned the corner to see the two criminals standing there talking to each other, but he lost the moment of surprise when he kicked a rock laying in the floor. Suddenly, the Chiet pulled a bow from her shoulder and quickly knocked arrow. The brute looked dumbfound and Turrin yelled as he pulled back his bowstring and aimed it at her chest, “Put down your weapon, Chiet, and I won't use deadly force.” “Petch you, Endal! If I put down my bow, you will kill me anyways! Besides my bother and I wouldn't have to steal food if it didn't go your worthless caste!” Turrin started at the young Chiet woman, shook his head, and said bluntly, “I didn't make the rules, Chiet, so don't blame me for your place in life if you want more food than you need to contribute to Wind Reach.” Turrin saw the Chiet woman face turn red in anger, and he wondered if he struck a cord with the woman. The Chiet glared at him and spat, “I was a talented musician before the famine, and now they want me to shovel manure into the fields of the hydroponic garden. I am above it that job! Shoveling manure is a job for my brother not me, Endal!” Turrin looked into the face of the burly man with short curly red hair. The Endal could tell that he had strength in his arms, but the look on his face made him wonder if he strength in his head. The Endal stared at the woman and said softly, “Shoveling manure is a honorable job in a famine, girl. You must be a complete fool or too selfish to realize it. I will not tell you again, Chiet. You and your brother are under arrest for assaulting the foreigner.” The Endal watched them look at each other, and he narrowed his eyes when he saw that they were planning something. Fingering the hilt of the talon sword, Turrin turned his glare to the Dek who stepped in front of his sister and said loudly, “You make Sis sad! Now I will smash your head like rock!” Turrin turned the metal tip of the arrow on the brute charging him, so he adjusted his aim at the belly of the dek and fired his arrow. The arrow soared at the dek, but as it got closer to the target, it veered off to the left and hit the wall behind the brute and shattered, so Turrin swore to himself, gently tossed his short bow off to the side, and got ready for hand to hand combat with the brute. As Turrin saw the large brute take a offensive posture, He got into his own fighting stance. The Myrian brought his left foot forward and sliding his right foot behind him. He squared off with his opponent with his left hand up protecting his chest and right fist at his side. As Turrin waited for the man to come at him, he noticed the female Chiet started to back peddle down the hallway with a arrow still aimed in his direction. He was glad that she didn't take her short bow off her shoulder, but he knew that he had to be ready if she did. Hearing a loud growl, the brute charged him and threw a punch at the Endal's head. Turrin was surprised at the quickness of the large man, so he moved his blocking hand straight up in front of his face. The brute's punch was intercepted by Turrin's arm, but the force of the punch knocked his own arm into his face. After stumbling back from the blow, Turrin hit the wall hard. He could taste a strong flavor of metal in his mouth. Spitting the blood on the ground, he looked up just in time because another fist was coming at him. Turrin moved his head quickly out of the way of the fist and dived off to the side. Landing on his hands, he slowly got to his feet and turned to face the brute. When he saw the man holding his bloody fist, Turrin grinned menacingly and said in common, “The victory will be yours Myri!” The Myrian closed the distance, lifted his back right knee up to groin height, pivoted his left foot left, and swung the top of foot into the soft part of his lower back. The large man saw his kick coming and jumped out of the path of the roundhouse kick. Pressing his attack, Turrin frustrated that he missed lifted his now back left leg and to groin height and thrust the ball of his foot into the stomach of the brute. The brute swung his large arm down and across his body, but he was to slow and the soft tissue of his stomach. The large man grunted as he held his stomach, and he struck out with his good hand towards his stomach. Bringing his left arm down and across his body, Turrin's block completely missed and left fist drove into Endal's stomach. Feeling dazed from the impact, he felt both his large man's hands wrap around his throat and start to squeeze. Turrin could feel himself start to panic as the brute started to squeeze. The Endal started to remember Cira's unarmed training from Taloba, and he stopped panicking, brought his arm up between the large man's arms, and turned out of the choke hold with his shoulder. Turrin was tired of the fight, so in the turning movement, he unsheathed his talon sword, twirled around, and sliced across the chest of the dek in a horizontal arch. With a spray of blood, Turrin saw the large man back up holding his hands over his shallow bloody chest wound. Having trouble breathing, Turrin glared at the large man with the look of Dira in his eyes. Walking forward slowly, the large man pleaded softly, “Please don't kill me! I not eaten in days. I need food to live.” Turrin knew killing the man who was surrendering was against his mother's and grandfather's teachings of the sword, so he put tip of the blade up to his neck and said simply, “You are lucky... that you surrendered Dek. Otherwise, you might be dining with Dira tonight... You are under arrest, and I want you to turn yourself in to the first Endal... If you don't, I will hunt you down like a deer and feast on your worthless flesh. Understand!” The burly Dek swallowed and nodded that he understood Turrin's threat. Watching the Dek retreat down the hall, he heard a twang of a bowstring and he immediately jumped forward to the ground covering his head. He felt the splinters of the arrow shatter against the wall on his back. Standing up, he looked over and saw the female Chiet retreating down the hallway. Turrin knew the woman fired the arrow at him, so he picked up his short bow off the ground and started his pursuit after her down the inner warren.

[Ainyi]

Waiting certainly wasn't fun. For one, she was lucky to feel her fingers at this point, almost a full bell after hiding under the torch. Ainyi clenched her jaw to keep her chatter down, and furrowed her brow in confusion. They were never late. She had followed them here many nights, trying to find answers, whispers to pieces together like scraps of thread scattered in the wind. But tonight...something must have scared them.

And then...shouts. Distinct voices, down the hall that veered to the right of her. She perked her ears, strained them to make out words.

“Put down your weapon, Chiet, and I won't use deadly force.”

She felt a lump sink in her throat, cold as the ice in the air. A patrol had come. She surely would be suspicious, with her bow cocked, out at these hours.

“Petch you, Endal! If I put down my bow, you will kill me anyways! Besides my bother and I wouldn't have to steal food if it didn't go your worthless caste!”

Shaking her head, she took two steps to creep away, before a thought struck her. She had never heard of a Chiet at these meetings. So why...why was one here? Was their circle growing? She pursed her lips, fingers tightening on the bow handle and arrow. This doesn't concern you, a part of her said. You won't find any answers.

But what if it did?

Biting her lip to choke down her regret, she turned around and crept in the shadow of the hall. As she got to the juncture where it turns, she peeked for a quick second to the left side, where the sound came from. A dark haired, well built man stood with his bow cocked at the presumed Chiet woman in the same position. A large man in a Dek's garb stood beside her.

She listened to their argument, and found her stomach on the wrong side of it. She felt the Chiet woman's pain. Many had to give up their talents in these harsh times. She certainly didn't appreciate being reassigned to food processing. But the strange Endal was right; All that matters right now is supporting one another to survive.

“You make Sis sad! Now I will smash your head like rock!”

That didn't sound good.

Ainyi craned her face around the corner just in time to dodge shattered flecks of arrow. Wincing, she felt her face for a splinter before turning her head to see the large man and the Endal in an all out brawl. As the Chiet woman walked towards her with her back turned, Ainyi placed her body back in the shadow, narrowly escaping vision. She bit her tongue bitterly. She did not know what to do. Assisting the Endal would be impossible without revealing herself. What if word got out that she was wandering these halls? Better yet, what would he do with her once he surely bested these two?

At the crunch of a body against the wall, the secret archer wondered still if he could do that. Using her peripherals, she peered once again to see her worries quelled. The large Dek was quickly dispatched yet. This dark haired Endal had a grin about him in the battle; a joy in the fight. She smirked at this. It was something she felt every time she shot an arrow. Her hands tingled on her bow as she watched, almost begging to be used.

The sword came out, the Dek surrendered, and the order was given. She was surprised at the man's mercy in this. Especially with the growing tensions in the famine, mercy was a hard commodity to come by, and this man gave it where little was deserved. Hazel orbs shifted to his figure. It was handsome, but certainly bore differences from Wind Reach. He mentioned Myri in his battle.

Before she could ponder any further, the wind of an arrow kissed her face on it's journey to the Endal. The sound of an arrow breaking against stone met her ears, telling her he was unharmed. But now, now was the time to move. Perhaps if he was impressed with her, she may end up an Avora yet. Avora meant food. It meant power, and perhaps with it knowledge.

She dashed from her hiding spot, running after the woman with a nocked arrow. Her whole face seemed scrunched in concentration as she narrowed the gap, thick mahogany locks waving behind her like a banner of strength. She steadied herself for a moment, and then stopped, locking her target, and raising her bow. Never spend too long aiming, her father always told her. Aiming should never take longer than an inhale of breath; the shot should be taken by the exhale.

As the woman tried to find cover to fire from, Ainyi inhaled. Then exhaled.

An arrow pierced the Chiet's right hip, sending her to the ground. It wasn't exactly where Ainyi aimed, but it did the trick. She drew another arrow for precaution and walked up to the wall the woman was slumped against.

She recognized the woman up close now. Her name escaped her, but they broke bread as Yasi for a few years. She frowned slightly, bringing Yasa to his full arch.

"Bedri," Ainyi breathed. "What the petch are you doing?"

Bedri looked at her in disbelief, resisting the urge to wince in pain. "Ainyi?! Why did you- how could you-"

"What are you doing?" She asked again, somewhat angrier. "Did you think you would get to eat again if you kill an Endal? That you would get to play your music again? Does killing him solve your hunger?" Ainyi's eyes were squinted in disbelief, lips hung in disappointment. "You were better than this."

Bedri whimpered through the pain, glaring at her. "I'd rather go hungry than help on of them. It's not like they need it - all the food they get, all the space, all the glory. We claw to live on the bottom." In desperation, the woman reached for her bow, but Ainyi stepped forward onto her hand, shaking her head.

"Think like that, then nobody survives this winter," Ainyi solemnly countered, lowering her head. "Your life is not for me to take. Please, find some peace. You certainly won't do that shooting at those who feed us."

A sadness hit her, but the proud Inartan said nothing. She kicked the bow away from her former classmate, and stepped away, Yasa and gaze lowered. She was sure the Endal probably followed, might even be feet from her. But at this moment, she didn't even want to think about it. The famine and cold had already claimed lives, but she never thought it would claim one's dignity. Not like this.

[Turrin]

Cleaning the blood off his sword, Turrin sheathed his talon sword. The Endal didn't move quick down the warren because he still had trouble breathing. The large Dek was rough trying to incapacitate him by choking, and he knew it would take sometime till his breathing was back to normal. Slinging the short bow over his shoulder, he jogged down the rocky corridor after his fugitive. When he got to a corner, he heard the voice of the Chiet woman talking to another woman. He frowned to himself, pressed his back to wall, and listened to them. Thumbing the top of his hilt in his sheathe, he raised an eyebrow when the new woman seemed to know his fugitive. However, by the sound of his fugitive's voice, she wasn't to fond of the woman at the moment. Turrin peered his head out of his hiding spot and noticed his fugitive was on the ground holding her leg with a arrow sticking out of it. Pulling his head back around the corner, he leaned his head back against the wall and listened to their conversation. His fugitive's name was Bedri, but he didn't catch the name of the new woman. They started to argue about the current situation and at the end of their conversation. The new woman's words had a sense of wisdom in them. Walking out from his hiding spot, Turrin gave the new woman a respectful nod and said in Nari, “Your words have much wisdom in them.” Turning his attention to the injured Chiet woman, Turrin stated in a formal manner, “Bedri, you are under arrest for the assault of a Avora.” The Endal decided to purposely leave out her involvement with the assault on him. She was in enough trouble when she assaulted the Avora and stole the food. He was sure the Masters would punish her severely, but if he added her shooting at him than she would surely be executed for her crimes. Bedri just stared at him and said, “Those foreigners don't deserve Inarta food, so I don't want or accept your piety Endal....” Ignoring the ignorant babbling of the woman, Turrin looked at the new woman and said with a smile, “My name Turrin Aponivi of the Twisted Vine Clan, and I thank you for your assistance in matter. What your name?” Turrin noticed Bedri's short bow, so he walked over and picked it up. He didn't want her getting a hold of it with her murderous intent in her eyes. When he looked over at new woman, he said simply, “I not sure of your caste, but you might want to careful now. Things getting worse in the dark parts of the warrens, and if other Chiet or Dek hear that you helped me in arrest. They might want to harm against you.” Turrin groaned inwardly at his Nari, but he doubt the woman would say anything about it.

[Ainyi]

“Your words have much wisdom in them.”

Large, muddied green eyes turned and looked up at the approving Endal. He was tall, or at least tall compared to most Inarta. He didn't really look very Inartan; his skin was darker, his hair was darker, his eyes were darker. He held himself with similar pride, though he still seemed out of breath from his tussle with the Dek. He delivered his sentence, and she straightened herself, holding her bow by the glass handle in front of her. She let the string drop and touch her shins. Bedri uttered more of her nonsense, and Ainyi rolled her eyes.

"Keep talking, and he might have to arrest me for killing you," She short sharply and bitterly at her fellow Chiet. Ainyi didn't mean it, but with her current state of affairs, she doubted Bedri would try to complain otherwise.

Still, the man smiled at her, and introduced himself. She offered a faint smile of her own and bowed her head slightly in respect. She personally felt the caste system was a bit stupid, but she wasn't about to show disrespect to an Endal. He could just as easily arrest her for assaulting Bedri.

"I am Ainyi Braghna," she softly spoke. "A chiet. I work in the food processing center." She admitted that last bit with a sense of bitterness. She didn't have the talent as a Yasi, they said. Her father knew better. She spent so many hours of her free time after that designation practicing. Granted, her food processing skills are as a result subpar, but she can also out shoot a few Avora. Her eyes were blank for a moment, but remained engaged upon Turrin.

She couldn't help but smirk as he cautioned her against running through the warrens at night. His Nari was somewhat broken, but she could understand him well enough.

"You really think this is what it's about?" She asked, her brow arched high. "Maybe they will. And it won't be anything I can't handle. Maybe they will be proud if they even manage to injure me. Will their stomachs be fuller? No. Will they sleep in warmer clothes? Drink cleaner water?" She shook her head tersely. "Let them come, if they will. But I will not leave these halls." Ainyi ran an anxious hand in her hair, looking about the room. Bedri was still conscious, eying her angrily. "I will not explain while she is here and conscious. But I cannot stop coming to these halls."

She narrowed her eyes at their captive, but looked up at him with them large and knowing. She wished in some ways she could explain. Before, none of the Endals were sympathetic to her. She could do nothing but what she could do on her own. Perhaps, with this Despised running around, one might listen.

[Turrin]

Turrin smirked at woman's sharp tongue. The Endal doubt the Inarta would backup her threat, but at least, she wasn't showing weakness by being passive. The Myrian relaxed when the Inarta hunter bowed her head in respect. He nodded his head when she politely told him her name, Ainya Braghna. Turrin wondered to himself if Ainya was raised outside the city. Since Inarta tend not to use last names unless they were bonded to a wind eagle. He decided not to ask because it wasn't the time or place for that kind of conversation. However, Turrin did learn that she was a Chiet who worked in the food processing center. It was honorable job for someone in her position especially in a famine, but Turrin saw the intensity in her eyes and started to wonder if she was in the right job. When Ainya heard his warning, the woman brushed away his words. Turrin immediately thought the Chiet was slightly arrogant, but he realized that she was just being a Inarta, stubborn. Turrin was about to turn his attention away from the Ainyi and grab the fugitive, but the Myrian could hear the anger in her voice when she couldn't quite tell him the reason for her being in the warren. Turrin looked down at Bedri and saw the criminal still had weapons on her, so he pulled the dagger sheathe from her waist and confiscated the six hunting arrows. Since Bedri tried to kill him, Turrin wasn't going to be gentle with her. The Myrian reached down, grabbed her arm by the armpit, and pulled her to her feet. The crimson haired woman cried out in pain as he made her stand on her injured leg. Uncaring about the woman whimpering in pain, Turrin looked at Ainya and said simply in Nari, “You have the right to walk the inner warrens, but I have a hunch that you aren't out here for a leisurely stroll. Remember I have been charged by the Valintar to maintain order in Wind Reach, so I want you to choose your words wisely when you tell me your reason for patrolling these halls.” Turrin wouldn't normally be so cold to Ainya if they met in different circumstances, but he was doing his duty at the moment, so he just eyed the Inarta with a emotionless expression on his face. Suddenly, Turrin heard his patrol partner, Endal Naime Virra call out to him from down the hallway, “Turrin! You wouldn't guess it, but the big stupid Dek actually turned himself in! Do you want to kill them?” Turrin took his gaze away from Ainya, turned his attention to Naime, and said simply, “No. I will let you decide their fate Flight leader Naime. Besides I am sure they will be banished when the Valintar finds out about their crimes. Let Morwen, Caiyha, and the Unforgiving decide fate.” Turrin noticed Naime has bound the hands of large Dek behind his back. The Myrian shoved Bedri in the direction of Naime. The Inarta woman walked about five feet before she crumbled to the ground crying out in pain. Turrin knew Naime had no love for the lower castes especially the criminal riffraff. However, she did have more respect for the Chiet since they were still trying to better themselves. Naime laughed out loud and said to Turrin, “You must be kind of pissy at the moment aren't you? Did they give you much trouble?” Still having trouble breathing, Turrin shook his head and answered, “No. The big dek was a decent opponent, but he was predictable. The woman was decent in archery, but luckily, she was taken down by this Chiet, Ainya. ” The Myrian gave Ainya a small smile of thanks when he credited her for the take down of the fugitive. The Endal woman gave Ainya a look and said with a nod, “At least you know your place Chiet.” Turning her attention to Turrin, Naime said, “I will take them to the flight leader, so you can finish up here.” Turrin watched as Endal Naime made the big Dek carry his sister away on his back. The Myrian knew Naime hated her current job as a guard, but at least, she tried to enjoy her job. Turrin turned around to face Ainya, and he crossed his arms and said, “We are alone now, so what is your reason for being out in the warrens?”

[Ainyi]

“You have the right to walk the inner warrens, but I have a hunch that you aren't out here for a leisurely stroll. Remember I have been charged by the Valintar to maintain order in Wind Reach, so I want you to choose your words wisely when you tell me your reason for patrolling these halls.”

Guarded, as he should be, Ainyi noted mentally. Her lips drew themselves down in a controlled, neutral face. Her eyes remained sharp, hard as emeralds. She had half a mind to keep one of her arrow readily available...then chose not to. The Chiet had to trust the Endal was on her side.

As the other Endal approached, she bowed her head in silence, observing their conversation with a morbid curiosity. It seemed so casual to them, the lives of those struggling to eat. Still, she said nothing. As much as her father stood up against these mistreatment, this was not the time or place to discuss radical politics.

“At least you know your place Chiet.” Ainyi bit hard on her tongue at that. Her eyes rose with painful courtesy to the woman, and offered a smile that didn't seem all that happy. "As you know yours, ma'm," She replied, dripping with passive aggression. Naime obviously noticed it, at had the glare to prove it, but chose not to press her any further.

And there they were. The tall, tattooed Endal, arms crossed in a strong pose, eyes fixed on her. “We are alone now, so what is your reason for being out in the warrens?”

Ainyi sighed, feeling Yasa's handle in the darkness. A lone torch was lit on the nearby wall, though she knew other torches to be in the chamber. Taking it from the wall, she walked with it around their area, lighting the small chamber as she went. It had an oddly high ceiling, an endless vaults for the shadows to dance on. She lit the last one, and her frame was in full view, bundled under the thick Katinu. She pulled her hair around her hair and neck to warm it and returned her gaze to the imposing man's figure.

"This is Yasa," she said simply, holding the exquisite bow in the light. "My father, Braghna, made it. He was a Chiet most of his life, until he made this bow. He proved he had the skill deserving of an Avora. So, he was made one on the 50th of Fall, not a season ago." Her head dropped for a moment, trying to remain composed. Taking a moment to breathe, she raised her gaze, the fire in her eyes quelled slightly. "He was killed, a little over two market days later. Everyone said it was an accident, but - I work in the Processing Center. I cut up kills. I know what puncture wounds are, I know what stab wounds are. He was killed. I saw it on him."

Her gaze strained, then dropped. She sighed, shaking her head with too many emotions rattling around inside; Anger, frustration, sadness. She sat down on a fallen rock nearby, gaze moving from torch to torch. "In the market day before his death, I followed him. He kept coming to the Warrens, talking to certain people. I never heard what they talked about, but I just - I knew something was wrong. And then, he turns up dead!" She laughed humorlessly. "My father and I were strangely close, for my people. Our people. I just don't feel right, not knowing why he's gone. Who killed him."

Looking back up to the Myrish Endal, she began mindlessly thumbing the sinew on her bow. "I've been walking the Warrens every night, hoping for something. Anything." She stood, placing her bow back across her chest. "I can't expect you to understand why I'm doing this, or my resolve on it. But...I must. I request you understand this, that you at the very least will tolerate my investigation, if not assist it." Her face was hard as her determination. Her chin was raised with pride, chest heaved lightly with a slow, contented breath. "I...I hope that clears this up sufficiently, sir Endal."

There was a pain in her eyes that any could see. There were bags under them that spoke of her sleepless nights, lines on her lips from chewing on them in nerves. She clearly was unwell without this resolution on her dear one's death. She would dart her eyes to his as though stealing a gaze, before returning to wringing her wrists, or looking off to a distance. All she could do now was hope he was on her side. Hope.

[Turrin]

Turrin could tell something was wrong as soon as Ainyi started to tell her story. Turrin learned that her father was a Chiet bowyer who just recently joined the caste of Avora. However, her father was recently died in a accident, but he could tell from the look in her eyes that she didn't believe their story. When she told him about the puncture wounds, he believed her theory about her father death not being a accident. The Endal watched as he mask of strength start to crumble, and she sat down on a rock. He thought that she was going to cry, but she continued her story. Turrin remembered the day that his father was killed in the battle with the mercenaries and Dhani. It was terrible loss for his family, so he can sympathize with her pain. Turrin face soften as he knelt beside her and continued listening to her story. Turrin learned that Ainyi her father had been speaking with suspicious people before his death. The Endal immediately thought that her father could be dealing with the Despised. It could be the reason why he was killed. However, he couldn't start making assumptions when he didn't know all the facts into his death. He was just worried about Syveris, and how she was named a collaborator with the Despised by Zulrav. Turrin could tell from her words that the people who her father were talking to weren't suspicious. She continued her story, and he felt sorry for her that she spent her nights searching the inner warren for her father's killers. The Endal knew since she was Chiet. She would never get the answers or the justice that she needed if his murder's were Avora or Endal. Turrin felt sorry for the woman who just want to find the truth behind her father's death. Turrin said with a soft smile, “Please don't call me Sir Endal, Ainyi. Just call me, Turrin.” Turrin paused for a few ticks trying to figure out what to say to grieving Chiet. The Endal said gently, “I understand the feeling of loosing your family, so loneliness and helplessness can be heavy on the soul if there is no justice for the people that you lost.” Turrin paused for a moment and stated, “I will help you in your investigation. If I had to guess, it is frustrating trying to question Avora and Endal about your father's death being a Chiet.” Turrin stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder and asked gently, “We will start by investigating the people who found your father. Since they lied about his death in the first place, they will be our prime suspects for now. Also, do you remember the faces of the people your father were talking too? Were they foreigners or fellow Inarta?” Turrin knew that his influence in society will give him authority to carry out the justice Ainyi sought. Also, he had the power given to him by the Valintar to keep the peace and seek out the Despised. Even if her father's murders weren't involved with them. He could use the Despised as a way to intimate them.

[Ainyi]

Ainyi smiled lightly as Turrin requested he refer to her casually. While many Avora and Endal would insist on being treated as a better, she was relieved to find Turrin differently. She was yet still pleased at his empathy and interest in her case. If Ainyi was honest with herself, she'd felt rather alone since her father's death. Her bitterness at the injustice she suffered isolated her even further from her people - an accomplishment she hadn't thought possible with her radical views. As his hand grazed her shoulder in comfort, she found herself looking up at Turrin impetuously. Her bright green eyes darkened in the low light, muddled by a mix of optimism that she had finally found help, and mistrust that she had finally found help. She found herself wondering if finding help in her investigation that previously seemed impossible was truly this easy now.

What choice do I have?, she found herself thinking. We're alone in the Warrens. If he wanted to kill me, he could have by now.

Hesitantly, she cleared her throat and began figuring their questions.

"By the time I found my father's body, there was a dozen others collected around it," Ainyi stated in a matter of fact tone. "The Dek who remained said they were called over by other Inartans who claimed to see it happen. It was up at the Sarnikas Gate, the entrance. They say he just fell from the mouth of the gate and died on impact - but they, the two who saw it, didn't stay. Once they told the Dek, they left on their business." Ainyi closed her eyes in concentration as she pulled the memory together. "When my father was meeting with others in the Warrens...They all had the hoods of their Katinu up."

Ainyi stood, fingers tracing absent mindedly down Yasa's bowstring as she lost herself in thought. She pursed her lips and furrowed her brow as she went deeper back into her memory.

"I remember they spoke Nari," She recalled, shoulders hunching. "They had pale faces. I couldn't hear them closely enough to see if they were foreigners or not. They had pale faces, but many other humans have pale faces."

She sighed, shaking her head in frustration. "I've been trying to investigate the Despised. With their current involvement in the Famine, I wonder if they're behind this. But it makes little sense! My father was an advocate for increasing mobility between castes. He would have supported their ideas. He wouldn't have liked their methods, but he wouldn't be their enemy. Still..."

She bit her lip as she churned that over. "He may have learned about them, and tried to dissuade them of their methods. They may have killed him for that. As you can see, I don't really know. Which is why I try to eavesdrop on those whispering here."

Her eyes turned to level with Turrin's, her face focused. "Does that make any more sense?"

[Turrin]

Withdrawing his hand from her shoulder, Turrin listened to Ainya as she explained that she had very few leads about her father's death. However, she did rule out foriegner being involved, The Endal wished she had more to go on, but the woman seemed to grasping onto straws in her investigation. When Ainyi mentioned the Despised might be involved in the murder, but she quickly dispelled any notion of Despised in her father's death since he was a champion for the lower caste rights. However, Turrin knew that some Endal and Avora might kill to keep the current caste system the status-qua. Her father could have made some enemies if he was vocal enough in certain circles. He knew if Ainya father was killed by a Endal. Turrin wouldn't be able to do anything about it since Endal could do just about anything to caste lower than them without repercussions. In the end, Ainya didn't know much about her father's death other than the suspects might be somewhere in the inner warrens. When she asked if he understood, Turrin said with a nod, “I think I understand, but it isn't very much to go on is it?” Turrin leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and started to think in silence. The Endal knew that he needed more to work with if he was going to even start a investigation. Turrin might need to rethink his line of questioning. Maybe her father mentioned something to her in passing that could be a clue on why he was murdered, and who murdered him. Turrin looked at her and asked about her eavesdropping, “You mentioned that you were trying to eavesdrop on people in the Inner Warren. Who in particular are your trying to eavesdrop on?” Turrin let her answer before he asked another question, “Was you father acting out of the ordinary before he was killed? Did he mention anything to you in passing that could shine a clue on why he was murdered?” Waiting for her to answer, the Endal looked at the red hair woman and said gently, “Sorry, I hope my questioning isn't annoying. I am just trying to figure out a good place to start, so we can bring the murders of your father to justice.”