[indent][i]...A storm rages outside, rattling the windows of the small room violently. The single candle flame wavers uncertainly as it tries pitifully to thwart menacing shadows, and gloomy corners. Somewhere outside a tremendous cracking echoes through the night, followed by the heavy thump of a tree falling. The wooden slat coverings over the windows break free of their latch, swinging on their hinges to beat themselves tirelessly against the stone of the outer wall. A lightning streak flashes, lightning up the room in a brilliant hue of blue and white, before the shadows grown once more into their monstrous appearances...[/i][indent] [indent][i]The terrified child peeks up above crossed arms, laden upon shaking knees. The storm outside howls with its rage, causing the child to shake with each clap of thunder. The menacing shadows lean closer, threatening the child with the very sight of them. A wardrobe's shadow cast into a beast of unspeakable size, looming tall in one corner, waiting for the child to move. The shadow of a bed complete with tall wood worked posts, holding up a thin sheer canopy, becomes a beast of many arms, trembling with excitement. The child huddles closer into the corner of the farthest wall from the door, and the terrible shadows, watching the candle nestled between two shivering feet. Another clap of thunder, and the child jumps, the candle tipping over, going out with a small puff of wispy smoke.[/i][/indent] [indent][i]The shadows grow ever larger, beaten back only by the crack of thunder and the flash of lightening. Only receding when the door cracks open slightly, their great size and ferocity diminished by the bright glare of an oil lantern. Cloaked heavily in shadow so that the child could not the face behind the silhouette, the figure moved forward, its footsteps rasping across the cold stone floor, its breath frosting out in a hazy cone before its face...[/i][/indent] --- [i]“Sianna!”[/i] Ebb's voice ripped through her sleepy mind, loudly cutting away the scraps and flutters dreamland memories. “Nugh..eeuuugghh..,” She replied back, stretching her body before rolling her legs out of bed, the rest of her seemed to be having trouble moving, weighed down by the heavy chains of broken slumber. [i]“Get up you lazy ass!”[/i] Ebb said, almost sternly, [i]“We've already missed breakfast!”[/i] Sianna looked around the room, noticing the rays of afternoon sun shooting over the castle walls and lighting up the brilliantly colored courtyard. It almost seemed like spring instead of autumn, but the heavy scent of magic drifting through her open window told her otherwise. The hunger clawing at her stomach prompted Sianna to move a bit more briskly, pressing her feet into a pair of slippers to fight off the chill of the floor, as she tore her white gown over her head. [i]“It's about time, You could sleep through the shattering itself!”[/i] Ebb said, the disappointment in his voice told Sianna that they were unlikely to find out who the winner of their latest bet was. She walked across her room, the chill in the air gripping her body in its icy grip, causing her to shiver slightly in her nakedness. She quickly scampered past the open window, though it did have long red curtains that spanned the entire length between floor and ceiling, they wear sheer and it was plausible that she could be seen through them, or the gap between them that let the light into her quarters. Adjacent to her bedroom was a small living area, adorned with red and gold couches, dark tables polished to perfect, and an array of rugs garnered from all corners of the island. On the small table between two plush couches, their blue pillows with golden tassels looking as inviting her her pillows, there was a small basket full of fruits from the kitchens. No doubt one of her servants had the order passed along to them. She reached down, grabbing a hard purple fruit with a bland peel that offered nothing but a solid crunch as she bit her way into the juicy pink insides, the sweet tangy juice brought a smile to her face as she scampered back across her room. She stopped for just a moment, appreciating the figure looking back at her in a large mirror, standing tall in the corner between her vanity and wardrobe. Some stayed away from her because they felt her appearance too childish, and not womanly like the other noblewomen. Some were put off by the hand size horns that crowned her head, often joking that they wouldn't risk being impaled to bed such a creature, though Sianna was used to animal jokes. She sized herself up, with her face puckered slightly in thought and a light pink flush layered over her skin due to the chill; she deciding she wasn't as bad as they made her seem, perhaps a bit peculiar in comparison. [i]“Put some clothes on you harlot,”[/i] Ebb said jokingly, his impatience coming full through his voice. “Pfht, blood sucker.” She retorted, reaching into the wardrobe and drawing out an armful of apparel. They shot playful insults at each other as Sianna dressed. She wore a thing gold chain draped around her horns, attaching to the two farthest with small golden bands, and creating swaying hoops in between each of them. She dusted her eyes with a light golden powder, as many of the ladies of the court do, matching the soft golden hue of her eyes. Her pale, rose petal pink lips she matched with another item of gold, a soft silk choker, woven thickly, and inset with soft pink gemstones. It wasn't a terribly expensive item that would show off her wealth, but her brother Toremor, the eldest child, said it matched beautifully with her face. She offset the whole color scheme with a dark, ocean colored gown, worked with little gold vines and leaves at the edges of its openings. Worked carefully into each of the flowers, worked in golden thread onto the vine embroidery, the same kind of pink stones shimmered delicately, as on her choker. Her feet remained hidden beneath the gown, and that's were her delicate appearance ended. Underneath she hid a pair of tracker's boots, tough and sturdy and the color of the earth. A softer color wouldn't be noticed, even if someone was foolish enough to lift her gown up. Bold cream colored pants, and a matching milk colored tunic also were hidden underneath. The tunic was more the kind that the river women wore, when boating along the rivers. It had short shoulders sleeves, that reached only along the biceps, everything from the middle of her breasts and up was bear, and therefore wouldn't show through the deep neck of the gown. She had seen some concubines with the river women shirt, and had promptly bought it from them. Though being concubines, it was a bit sexier than Sianna would have went for herself, as they had cut the shirt across the midriff, leaving the lower half of her torso exposed. Still, she could hide it comfortably underneath her court clothes, as she and Ebb referred to them, and the soft woven cloth didn't create suspicious lumps or folds. Normally if she had been traveling her daggers Shade and Shadow would have been in her stiff leather belt, but since she was dressing for the nobles courts today she had each strapped to the inside of her thighs, underneath her slacks so that they wouldn't make protrusions through her gown, or impede her movement. She licked the pink juices from her fingers as she grabbed another piece of the purple fruit. The other three doors remained shut and locked, branching out from the small living area. They were for her brothers, though they were hardly ever visited. Alpheratz practically lived in the Merchant's Guild, and Thaddeus was a Knight Captain, and it was even rarer to find him at the castle. Toremor was head of the Merchant Guild, and he was usually traveling, though she did see him more often than the others. She smiled sadly to herself, heading out in the brilliant marble hallway, its glow causing Sianna's eyes to dilate for a moment as she adjusted to the brightness of the day. Large windows up and down the hall had been thrown open, their red silk curtains swept aside for the light to spill inside. Sianna peered out a window, only to catch Mia'Veshan working her druidism on a flower which appeared to have been stepped on. Mia looked up and smiled sweetly at Sianna, who in turn waved back. There were few people Sianna liked in the court, and even fewer that Mia liked, but they had become friends somehow, perhaps the discrimination against them brought them together. Sianna made her way through the side entrances, out onto the garden pathway. The scent of magic hung heavy and sweet in the air, and caused Sianna to sneeze, something akin to a pitiful mew. Mia looked up from the flower, which was whole and leaning towards Mia fondly, as she giggled. Sianna was about Mia's age, or at least they looked similar in age. Mia was an elf and had been alive far longer than Sianna. “Hello Little Elf!” Sianna said playfully, standing next to Mia with her hands held behind her back, giving her somewhat of a timid stance. “Hello Even Littler Fawn!” Mia retorted, just as playfully. Mia had once joked that Sianna looked like one of the horned stags taking human form, and had been calling her by the nickname since they had become friends. “Being as it's just passed noon, I'd have to suppose you've just awoken from your hibernation Little Fawn, yet it is not even winter!” Mia exclaimed mockingly, leaning against Sianna as she should to nudge her, “Did you hear about Evian Chryier?” She asked, moving to brighten up another flower's day with her magic. “A creature as beautiful as I requires much more sleep than the ageless elves,” Sianna stated factually, before joining Mia in their giggling. An opaque tendril of green energy, littered with bright little sparkles, like stars from the night sky, snaked out of Mia's hand, flowing into the soil around the flower. “He was assassinated last night, Word came in just a bit ago--”Mia started. [i]“HAH! I win!”[/i] Ebb shouted gleefully. Most people weren't even aware a being such as Ebb could feel glee. “--He was killed in his manor last night, a few leagues outside the city. Nobody saw a thing, nobody even knows why,” Mia finished, her magic reaching out towards a hedge of bushes, which proceeded to bloom with flowers every color of the rainbow, each with a slight popping noise, as if the flower was just bursting into existence. “I wager he angered somebody in private, still, killing him isn't of any use to the game, unless the crime penned on somebody.” Sianna thought out loud, feigning both indifference and only slight curiosity. Even Mia did not know about her alter ego, or her magic. Nobody knew as far as she was concerned, The king, nor her family. It was quite a well kept secret, at least to Sianna. “There's be no word of a prosecution, or even an investigation. Frankly I heard there was nothing to go on, no picked locks, nothing but a clean cut along his neck. The Earnheart girl is raving something about a curse, blah blah, the usual.” Mia said, standing and dusting off the hem of her bright, forest colored gown, hemmed with a light white lace. Sianna looked at her thoughtfully, taking in her full purple hued eyes, like the fruit she had forgotten she was holding. Mia smiled at her, taking Sianna by the hand, and swiftly bringing it up to her mouth, biting into the fruit Sianna had still been holding. “Thanks,” she said, with a mouthful of purple peel and pink fruit. Sianna opened her mouth to speak, just a tad too slowly. “I think it was a move against your family. I heard Toremor was making an arrangement of some sort, Evian was supposed to supply your family's wagon trains with horses from the ranch behind his manor you know?” Mia said, causing Sianna to nod in response. [i]“Hah! The little snake was going to him the oldest and weakest horses, and not only profit gold from it, but no doubt he was trying to discern the kind of traps around the warehouses too!”[/i] Ebb said, causing Sianna to nod again without realizing Mia wasn't talking. Mia looked at her curiously, flicking Sianna's forehead lightly. “You're doing that thing again, Little Dreamer.” Another nickname Mia had for her, thinking Sianna was lost in daydreams for the better part of her day, rather than knowing that truly she was listening to Ebb. “Anyways, I have duties to attend to, I still have injured to see too, seems a pair of trolls got the best of one of the hunting parties, goodbye Little Fawn.” Mia said, sharing an embrace with her. Sianna hugged her back, “Goodbye Little Elf.” Mia looked into Sianna's eyes for a moment, her long delicate hands holding Sianna at shoulder length, “We should really see if you have druidism, or healing in you some day.” Mia said. The impression around the courts was that Sianna did not have any specific magical aptitude, and thus people would always try to offer to help her learn what it was. It was a form of alliance making, mentor-student, but Sianna never took them up for their offer. Mia didn't mean anything by offering, she hardly played the game, but Sianna always turned her down. “You'll change your mind someday Little Fawn,” Mia said, kissing Sianna on the cheek before briskly walking off. That part had always confused Sianna. Perhaps it was an Elf thing. “Sianna!” a deep voice called out to her, she turned to see Toremor leaning out of a window, a smirk played on his face. --- “We are no such thing you bully!” Sianna said defiantly, hitting her brother's arm lightly. “You looked like lovers to me, is all I'm saying,” He said, brushing a lock of bleach white hair from his eyes. “To think I would bed another woman! You're going to start rumors and then what would the nobles think?” Sianna exclaimed, her heart fluttering in a mixture of anger and stubbornness. “Who cares?” He replied casually. That was always his problem, he was so casual about it all he hardly ever played the game correctly. “Anyways, listen, I can't stay long. Evian has been murdered and I'm meeting with his son to discuss horses for my caravan.” Sianna frowned, “Why don't you ever make time to stay a bit big brother?” She pouted, truthfully it didn't bother her that much that he didn't stay long, but everything was a role, and emotion that had to be played. “No matter this time Sianna, I want you to come with me. I think having a beautiful, unwed woman at my side would help negotiations. Once I get the horses, I'll be heading down towards Sylwynn, they are in need of supplies. We'll swing through Olnesse too, I hear there is a man there trying to start a rebellion, while I have no interest in Anarchy, I do have an interest in selling him as much as I can, discretely of course.” Toremor spoke as they headed back towards her quarters, where a servant was finishing packing the third bag of Sianna's things. Toremor had a bag of his own leaning against the wall, no doubt the carriage was already prepped for travel. “Quite careful, I hope brother, this man could get you into a lot of trouble.” Sianna said warily, watching the servant stuff another bag full of undergarments of bright colors, precious jewelry some of which she hardly wore, and other things like pearl colored combs and clips, flowers carved from jewels to adorn her hair. “Yes I know, though if you have reservations about coming,-” He said, leaning close to her ear, “You're little lover is coming too.” Sianna's face turned red as she punched at his chest, “She is not!!” She whispered back to his taunting, loud enough for the servant to look up for just a moment. “But, why?” Sianna questioned. “Long journeys need a healer, and since Tul and I get along quite famously, transporting his kills around for cheap, he agreed. He said she needed to experience the world, and would never do so behind castle walls.” Toremor grabbed his bag, shouldering it over his fur lined cloak. “You know you want to come, [i]Little Fawn[/i]” He said the last bit teasingly, having over heard some of their conversation obviously. Sianna's face went red again, “Fine, but only because it's not often The Great and Profitable Toremor asks for my company,” She jested. He smiled in return, “The Great and Profitable... I could get used to that.” He laughed as he left the room, “I'll be waiting!” He called back. Sianna's spirits lifted considerably, at least Mia would be coming along. [i]“I think your brother is on to you and your lover!”[/i] Ebb said, breaking his silence. [b]“We are not!”[/b]