Kat
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Post by Kat on Jun 11, 2009 20:59:31 GMT -5
Tru sighed as she leaned back against a small tree at the edge of a town in Haiden, gazing out into the small pond she found. She was suppose to be on a mission to kill a high-class merchant, but so far she had found nothing that would prove he was a bad man. But even if he wasn't, the sum she would be paid for killing him was so great... She closed her eyes as she tried to think, listening to the pond as it suddenly started to crash against the bank as though it were the ocean. She lifted her head from her knees, watching as she made the water lap up around her bare feet and twist up in the air in an attempt to calm herself. Her father used to play with the water for her, when she was down. Make it dance, and teach her how to make it dance. A tear slid down Tru's cheek at the memory of her father.
She sighed and stood, letting the water settle once more. Her feline ears twitched on top her head as she listened, she was suppose to be hiding out here to find the merchant's caravan as he went passed her. She was going to play the 'damsel in distress', a much hated role but it would help her learn more about the man. She cocked her head, listening. She did hear something, but it couldn't be the caravan... She moved swiftly threw the small but no less dense forest she was in and climbed a tree at the edge of the forest, looking out over the path as she waited for whoever she heard coming down it.
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Saith
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Post by Saith on Jun 11, 2009 21:00:14 GMT -5
Saith let out a rather annoyed sigh of boredom. Some caravan this turned out to be. That fat merchant said he need someone to drive his caravan to Haiden. When he took the job he took it for 2 reasons. First was that the money was good, considering how much he normally makes this would tide him over for about 2, maybe 3 months if he's frugal. Second, this was both a protection job and a way to get back to Haiden without having to spend money. Rumor was that someone wanted that man dead, for no reason that Saith could think of. Saith checked the guys out, reading up on him thoroughly. All in all the merchant was a very kind man.
But right now he wanted to wrap his hands around that tiny man's neck. He had told Saith that he would be driving a grand caravan of fine good and rarities. This "grand caravan" was nothing more then a single wagon of silk. Plus, the merchant had instructed him to wear these horrendously ugly yet amazingly expensive robes over his normal attire so he would look like the merchant. Right now he was probably safe at home sipping tea right now while Saith was sweating under the hot sun for this man.
"Just focus on the money Saith." Saith whispered to himself. "I can finally get out of debt and get some real food. Just focus on the mon.."
Saith stopped talking to himself when he felt a slight brush against him. The wind stirred unnaturally around him, to subtly for anyone other then himself or his kind, but he could feel it plain as day. Saith breathed in through his nose, smelling the air. The smell of the forest was around him, trees, grass, dirt, animals, the normal smells of the area, plus one other one. The only reason Saith could determine that is was not a natural part of the forest was one that would make him laugh if he wasn't so on edge. The smell was just to clean.
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Kat
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Post by Kat on Jun 11, 2009 21:43:42 GMT -5
Tru cocked her head, narrowing her eyes. Night was falling, and it was hard to see if the man in the wagon was her target or not. He was certainly dressed richly, but that didn't mean anything. He could have stolen it, or it could even be a decoy. She had nearly been tricked by several decoy's before, but she figured she would find out. If it was a decoy, maybe the man in the wagon could tell her more about the target. If he truly was an innocent, Tru would leave the man be.
Sliding from the tree, Tru looked down at her dress. It was old, torn and ruffled here and there, making it look as if she had just ran from something in the forest. She sighed, she hated doing this, but what choice did she have? She needed the money, but she had to be sure the man wasn't an innocent.
Limping out onto the path just as the wagon started to draw close, Tru tripped on the ground, making it look rather believable. "H- Help!" She called out to the man on the wagon. "I- I think something's chasing me!" She made her eyes widen with fake terror as she reached out, as if to grab at the man on the wagon.
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Saith
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Post by Saith on Jun 12, 2009 23:35:26 GMT -5
Saith pulled the wagon to a sudden halt as quickly as he could. He was about to jump down and help the young woman before he stopped. Some thing was off about this image, in fact more then one thing was off. The wind carried no sounds of beasts on it for one. As Saith looked the woman over once more, he dress was ruffled and had tears and did look as if she had been chased through the forest. But she had no marks, no cuts, and save for the dust that got on her from falling into the road before him. She did not smell of sweat or of terror, a sickening odor caused from the mixing of both sweat and adrenaline in the body.
"Looks like that merchant was right after all" Saith thought to himself as he hurriedly dropped down from the wagon, which was difficult in these god awful robes he was wearing. "Milady, fear not. Quickly, get onto the the wagon." Saith said, kneeling down to the woman. "Before what ever it is that is chasing you returns, we should move quickly."
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Kat
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Post by Kat on Jun 13, 2009 9:51:17 GMT -5
"T- Thank you," Tru whimpered as she let the man help her into the wagon. It isn't the merchant! blast it! She thought as she climbed in, trying to keep her scared look on instead of the annoyed one that flashed across her face. Well, maybe this was for the best. She didn't want to hurt the merchant if he was just a kindly man, like she had heard a few people say. Maybe she could get the man to talk about the merchant... Some how... She bit back a sigh that would show her annoyance as she sat down a couple feet away from the man posed as a merchant. "I'm so glad you came along," She said in her quiet frightened voice. She was glad she had always been good at acting, otherwise this might be harder, and more annoying, than she wanted it to be.
Tru turned her head away from the man to gaze out around them, her feline ears twitching as she tried to listen to anything over the crunch of the road under the wagons wheels. She couldn't hear or see much, as the sun had finally set and it was getting much darker. Although she had good night vision, it wouldn't help if there was no moon to see by.
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Saith
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Post by Saith on Jun 14, 2009 17:15:29 GMT -5
"It appears as though you have impeccable luck Milady." Saith said as he tried to see through the dark. "Both to out run what ever it was that was chasing you and to stumble across one such as myself to help you. Someone must be looking out for you."
Saith turned to the left, away from the woman. Reaching out he turned turned the knob on a small oil lamp that hung off the side of the wagon. The small, though bright, flame slowly sprang to life from the small lamp. Settling back into his seat with a sigh, ss the wagon came over a small hill, lights of a distant town came into view. Every now and then a burst of light could be seen from the center of the city.
This was Saith's destination, Si Toria os Shalaesaer Jhol. It meant "The City of Wanderer's Light". The town was not the largest in Haiden by far, but was quite large and very well know. It was a place of gathering for nearly anyone of any profession. Unique for the simple fact that even though the city was no where near water of any kind, in the center of it there was a large Light house that guided many who were lost or wandering to the safety of it's fortress like walls. Since very few people could say the towns full name correctly, everyone simply call the town Toria.
"Tell me, what was a young woman like you doing this far out in the forest?" Saith asked, turning to look at her out of the corner of his eyes
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Kat
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Post by Kat on Jun 14, 2009 21:40:43 GMT -5
Tru forced a slight smile even though she really didn't feel like smiling and nodded to him. She felt a sense of relief, although a small one, that he hadn't realized she wasn't really some frightened damsel in distress. "Yes, I suppose I do," She said quietly. She didn't look up at him, but her ears swiveled towards the noise he was making. When the light flashed on the side of the wagon, she had to blink several times, her eyes had gotten used to the night around her and the light blinded her for a moment. When her eyes stopped stinging from the light, she glanced up at the city, wondering what that flashing light was. She had never been there before, but it was quite pretty. She cocked her head, her ears twisting forward as she tried to listen for any sounds from the city, but they were still too far away.
Tru blinked with surprise, she had almost forgotten where she was for a moment. She turned to look at Saith, noting he was staring at her from the corner of his eye. Was he wary of her? She didn't think so, but she would have to be careful. "I got lost," Tru said with a long, suffering sigh as she wrapped her arms around her middle. "I live not far from here, but I had gone into the forest to find herbs." She had always been good at making up stories on the spot. She just hoped this one sounded believable to him. "I guess I went in too deep and got myself lost."
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Saith
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Post by Saith on Jun 15, 2009 19:07:14 GMT -5
"Oh!?" Saith said in a gentle tone. "Then is there somewhere I can take you? My destination may be miles away from your home. I am heading for Toria right now, but if there is somewhere you need to be I will be more then willing to take you."
Saith watched her carefully out of the corner of his eye. Noticing the changing of emotions on her face was rather difficult. She hid her disappointment well, but it came out in flashes. She was a professional.
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Kat
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Post by Kat on Jun 15, 2009 19:35:23 GMT -5
"Oh, no, sir! I- I don't want to burden you any more than I already have," Tru said timidly. She didn't know how girls could seriously be like this, she was annoying herself. She felt like a fool acting as if she didn't know her left from her right. "I could ride there with you," She said quietly. "I- I mean if it isn't too much trouble. I- I could always find somewhere in the city to sleep until morning..."
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Saith
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Post by Saith on Jun 15, 2009 21:10:28 GMT -5
It was all Saith could do to keep himself from laughing. It was now to clear that she was not who she said she was. The way she acted like a ditsy girl was just to funny, and so obvious that she hated acting that way at all. Then again Saith also hated girls who didn't know how to breath and walk at the same time, so the feeling was mutual. Saith thought that maybe it was about time to end both of their little charades.
"You know..." Saith started, "Many years ago, before what the world is today. This place was something else entirely. Where most people lived quite happily together. They never suspected that nearly everything they did was controlled one way or another. This controlling force was know only as 'The Blooming Twilight' and they were an absolution of their time. They controlled neither through fear or through might, as next to no one even knew they existed. They controlled from the shadows, interceding when it was necessary. Removing one obstacle after another for the betterment of the world." Saith paused for a second before continuing. "Their motto, which has been passed down before their existence fell to the final ravages of time, is one that I have taken for myself so I would always know my place. Though not a single word has a meaning meant for me, it tells me that I am not be afraid of anything or any one." Saith paused once again before continuing. "Though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death, I fear no evil for I am Fear Incarnate." Saith repeated the final word before continuing. "I am fear Incarnate...I am not to fear anything but myself and what I am capable of....It is widely believed that the Blooming Twilight is no more, gone and forgotten except in dusty old book. But they still exist, whether their members know what they truly are or not. For every single member of their profession knowing or unknowingly strives for the Twilights goal and the Twilight will always exist in the hearts and mind of ever single.." Saith paused once more before turning to face the girl and spoke the last word. "Assassin."
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Kat
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Post by Kat on Jun 15, 2009 22:32:00 GMT -5
As Saith spoke, the more Tru felt like a fool. She realized he had known, probably the whole time that she had been acting. She sighed and leaned back in the seat, her innocent, timid girl act vanishing in a rush, almost as if it were never really there. "You are much smarter than I first gave you credit for," She said with a sigh. She could have cursed herself for not just striking out at him, now someone knew her face! She almost beat her head back against the wagon as she sighed, her tail flicking irritably on the seat beside her. She didn't want to kill this man, she hated killing innocent people when they got in the way of her mark. But then again, if her mark was an innocent man himself she supposed it wouldn't matter. But it was dangerous for her if someone knew her face, and knew what she was.
"How long have you known?" Tru asked finally, breaking out of her thoughts. She must be worse at this than she thought, she realized, as she turned to look at the man next to her. "How was I so obvious to you, that you figured me out in mere moments? And here I thought I was good at acting..." She let out a long, suffering sigh of annoyance. "Then again I was never any good at playing the damsel in distress..."
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Saith
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Post by Saith on Jun 15, 2009 22:44:40 GMT -5
"Oh no, your acting was truly impeccable." Saith said turning back to watch the road. "You had the timid girl act down pretty well. Your acting was not what gave you away. 2 thing were what caused you to falter. Firstly for someone who lives out in the woods and collects herbs and grasses all day, you smell remarkably clean and freshly washed. Its as if you bathed before coming out here to wait for me. Secondly, You said you were chased through the forest. While your clothing is ruffled and torn, not a single scratch adorns your skin, not even a single blemish. While this may be cliche, what revealed your true intentions was the fact that you simply were much to beautiful to be who you said you were. And considering your line of work, I would say the term 'As deadly as she is beautiful' applies to you, would it not?"
Saith pulled on the reins slightly and the wagon came to a slow stop. The night was quiet for a moment as the tension built in the air. Saith tightened his grip on the leather reins and sighed.
"I guess the only question to be answered right now would be what are we going to do now?"
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Kat
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Post by Kat on Jun 15, 2009 23:02:41 GMT -5
Tru sighed deeply, at least it wasn't her acting. "I knew I should have skipped that bath and scratched myself up some." She shook her head. "I thought it would be too dark by the time the wagon got down here to notice. Not to mention I wasn't expecting you to be so keen either." Her brows raised at the word 'beautiful'. She had never seen herself as beautiful, although what girl really had ever seen herself as such unless they were stuck up? Or just really comfortably with themselves, she supposed. She shook her head, that doesn't matter.
Tru held onto the side of the wagon as he pulled it to a stop, and she turned to look at Saith when he asked what they would be doing. She sighed, and leaned her head back, shutting her eyes as she rubbed her temples. "Unfortunately, I have a conscious," She said slowly. "I don't hurt innocent people, or those who get in my way even if it costs me my mark. Although, since I know nothing of the merchant I'm suppose to take out, I've been trying to find information about him. I was hoping that if I played the damsel in distress when his caravan rolled by, I would be able to get to know him a little bit so I would be able to tell if he truly was the evil merchant I was hired to kill, or if he was an innocent who just ticked the wrong person off. I always make sure I don't kill an innocent." Tru lowered her head and looked at Saith. "So I'll leave you be, if you can tell me anything about the merchant." She said that as if she would hurt him even if he didn't tell her anything, but she really wouldn't have hurt him. He had done nothing to her, besides figure out she was an assassin, and even then she held a strange respect for the man she had met only a few moments before. No one had ever figured that out. There was something special about him, and she was curious as to what it was.
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Saith
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Post by Saith on Jun 16, 2009 20:12:54 GMT -5
Saith thought for a moment before jerking the reins gently. The wagon began to move forward once again, quickly making its way towards the city. Putting the reins down, Saith began peeling off the uncomfortable robes he had on. He wondered why rich people spent such large amounts of money on such clothing, it was truely beyond his comprehension. Saith tossed the offending garments into the back of the wagon. Turning back around to face the correct direction, Saith sighed as he settled back down wearing his normal attire and he peeled off the head dress and make he was supposed to wear, tossing them over his shoulder into the wagon along with the robes.
"That's much better." Saith said as he picked up the reins one again, "Now where were we...oh yeah. Well, as far as I know he's a nice enough guy. My bet is that he was a bit to nice and it ticked off a few people. He gave a lot of aid recently to a struggling village and I happen to know that an outside force forces that village to pay protection money. With the aid he offered the village will no longer have to pay the protection money and someone losses a bit of profit on that." Saith told the girl next to him, "That's just speculation though, don't rely to heavily on it...By the way, does my beautiful assassin have a name? My is Saith, Saith Windwhisper."
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Kat
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Post by Kat on Jun 16, 2009 20:49:04 GMT -5
Tru watched Saith for a long moment as he pondered on what to do. She thought for sure that he would make her leave without helping her out, and was almost shocked to see him flick the reins to get the horses moving again. She couldn't help a small smile when he started tearing those god-awful robes off, and she averted her eyes, unsure if he was even wearing anything underneath them. While she wasn't embarrassed, she still thought it a decent thing to do. When he spoke up again, she turned back to him, listening intently.
Tru leaned back against the wagon again, looking thoughtful. She brought her hand up, tapping a finger against her bottom lip, a habit she did when she was thinking, she had acquired it at some point although she wasn't entirely sure where. So lost was she in thought that Saith caught her off guard by calling her 'his' beautiful assassin. She fought back a flush that crept to her cheeks and scowled inwardly at herself for such a reaction before she turned to him. "Saith, is it?" She said. "I'm Tru. Tru Williams. It's a pleasure to meet you Saith. And I believe that you have just saved a life tonight with the information you have given me." She smiled at him before she turned to look at the city, studying it for a long moment before she turned back to look at Saith.
"You wouldn't happen to know the quickest way back to Soleil, would you?" She asked finally. Soleil was a large city several days travel to the South by foot. It was the city where she had gotten this job to kill the merchant. "I need to get back there as quickly as I can to break the deal with the man that placed a hit out on the merchant. If I don't get back within the next five days, he's going to assume I am dead and send another assassin out to kill the merchant." She sighed. "Honestly, how can that man believe a simple merchant can kill an assassin of my training?" She was talking more to herself than to Saith right then. Despite that, it was easy to tell how annoyed she was with her employer. She sighed and turned back to Saith, waiting for his answer.
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