A lonely night

[Tavimh]

It was dark with a chill breeze rippling their worn clothing that Much and Luta first saw the city outlined against the faint light of the sky. Luta clung to her brother holding a fist full of of his shirt as she looked wide eyed at the city that seemed to suck the light away.

With a sympathetic pat on her shoulder and an encouraging nod he gave her a leg up onto the dark wolf standing on her other side. "Hold on tight Lu, you don't want to fall off if you sleep again." Much warned her in a soft almost whisper like voice. She nodded and wound her fingers around the long fur and settled in to ride. Much saw that she was secure and then started walking again calling the wolf to follow with a trickle of power.

As he walked at a measured pace Much thought of how far they had traveled...he couldn't remember, nor how long. Just from town to town finding a way to make due. He hated towns but it was a necessary evil if he wanted any supplies. Snares didn't always work. He looked back at Luta and smiled, she was happily asleep again on the back of the forest wolf. He patted the wolf's head with gratitude and the golden eyes blinked back warmly. It didn't take much for him to lead the female wolf, not when she already considered Luta and himself her children. She was truly a blessing having saved them on several occasions.

Nearing the dark city Much found himself thankful that it was night; no people should be out. The gates loomed closer and Luta stayed asleep, the poor girl had been tired walking all day and some of the night before. Finding a watch guard asleep at his post he continued on by silent except for the padding of wolf feet.

Judging his tiredness and his fear the boy decided to play it safe; a small hand gestured and whispered words called spirits that he directed to form a ward of stealth. It was just a precaution and a weak one, it would only make them less noticeable.

Coming upon the end of a street of shops he turned down an alley. Blackness and a moist smell of decaying wood encompassed the small party as he walked down the dirt street barely making scuff marks on the hard packed dirt. Stopping briefly he peered in cracks of a small shelter. Much shook his head when he saw sleeping forms inside and walked on leading the wolf and his sister. Continuing this for ten minutes or more he finally smiled when he found an empty place, and it seemed quite deserted too without any furnishings left in place.

Opening an old door on weak leather hinges he motioned the wolf indoors; it took a slight bit more of his power to will her in, she didn't like buildings. Once the dark creature was inside he followed and wedged the door shut with a few sticks of wood. The walls cut the wind and he was thankful they didn't need a fire tonight, it would only attract attention and keep him awake.

Gently he lifted Luta off of the wolf who lay on the floor weary as himself. He set Luta down on the floor against her wolf friend who licked her hair gently when she cuddled up to the warmth. A tired smile found his face before Much himself lay down across the doorway and fall asleep.

[Niniel]

Days had flown past as the dark horse and it's rider tore across the plains towards the ever growing mound that the rider knew was Dras Leona. It had been years since she had been there; years since her family had died and left her all alone, and years since she set out to change her life. And just look at her now, an advisor to the most powerful man in all of Alagaesia; not many could claim a life as accomplished as hers at her age.

When she had left the city she had vowed not to return until her life was different. Well she had changed a lot since she left it nine years ago, and so she felt it was time to return to the pathetic home that she had been born in.

When she entered the city gates she dismounted her horse wordlessly and discouraged stares from the locals with her sharp glances at them. She seemed to glide as she walked through the grimy streets, her head held high. No one could have guessed that she was born in the gutter like all the rest of the people here. She looked like a noble who had decided to venture there.

Her feet walked the streets that she still knew well after all the time that she had been away. She knew where she was going, and while she knew there was no reason to be nervous, she was.

The wind blew her dress tightly against her body and her cloak trailed behind her. She came to a neighborhood of shacks and had to take a deep steadying breath. Her footsteps were soundless as she walked between the "houses" that were built randomly there.

And then she stopped. It was in front of her, and she knew that no one had ever bothered to live in it again. The people here were superstitious and living in the house that a man had died in was bad luck. Perhaps that was why her sister had been taken. She shook her head, that was nonsense.

She walked forward not even bothering to open her mind to see if there were people inside it. When she reached the front door she noticed some sticks jarring the door closed. Her eyes narrowed slightly, something wasn't right. She opened her mind and immediately sensed three beings inside, one was obviously not human, but the other two were.

She walked around to the back door, and blocked out the memories of a certain night as she did so. Silently she reached out to the door. She began to reach for her magic when her hand rested on the door, ready to use whatever spell was necessary to protect herself. And then she pushed the door firmly, and it slowly swung open revealing two children and a wolf lying on the ground.

[Tavimh]

Much awakened violently to the sound of a soft but deep growl. Scared, he called a sheild of protective spirits around himself, the wolf with bared teeth, and little Lu still asleep as fast as his instinct was able. So far the wolf had never been wrong about danger, when she growled it was bad...always bad.

Much's heart was racing but he feared to breath too loudly. it was quiet. there were no birds in this forsaken place. He looked to the sticks wedged in the door for any quiver that might for tell someone entering. When the night colored wolf barked sharply and lept to her feet he jerked around to see a door, a back door he was too foolish to check for, opening slowly.

He almost looked away when he heard Luta start crying at her sharp awakening. Much felt sorry for her, he was scared too and wished he could comfort her. But protecting her was more important.

[Niniel]

Eve stood in the doorway outlined by the moonlight and looked at the odd trio emotionlessly. Her eyes flicked to the wolf every now and then to make sure that it did not attack, but she would be ready if it did. She looked calmly down at the little girl that was now crying, and then her eyes flicked up to the boy near the front door. It didn't take her too long to sense that the boy could call upon souls as she could. Interesting. Perhaps she could use the children in some way.

She looked back at the wolf and decided it was best to wait outside for the time being. Instead, she spoke, "It's not polite to trespass into other people's homes, little ones. I would come in to my house, but I fear that there might be hasty actions by your friend here if I tried it," her voice was calm and even as she spoke. It was not hard for her to make people feel safe around her, but she had a feeling that the boy was smarter than most and wasn't going to fall for her usual tricks, "I'd be willing to share my roof with all of you, if you would be willing to share with me," she said directing her comment to the boy.

[Tavimh]

Anger flashed in Much's mind as he recalled the abandoned feel and scent of the place. It hadn't been disturbed in months, years possibly, and then this lady in the dark claims it as her own.

"Liar." The boy spat with a scowl and scooting closer to his sister who was trying to quiet her sobs. "This place doesn't belong to anyone." He defended just then bothering to try and sense her so he could detect any further lies.

What he found was the same feel that his father had had, and the sorcerer who had captured him before...the feel of something more...something magic. Immediately he strengthened his shields and pushed Luta behind him. Glaring shrewdly at the outline in the doorway "That's not what you want." She said shaking now with fear although his voice remained somewhat steady. 'I'm not going to be taken away again.' he told himself with resolve for he was convinced that was what this female voice in the night was trying to do...but he wasn't going to fall for it again. Never again.

[Niniel]

"Liar. This place doesn't belong to anyone. That's not what you want," the boy said harshly and positioned himself between her and the little girl.

Eve couldn't help but laugh a little at the boy's boldness. He had guts, that was for sure. She didn't bother trying to lie to him, "If I'm a liar you can sick you wolf here on me. Fair enough? Now, I want you to go to your left where there's a brick that looks like it's holding a board up. Look underneath it, and if there isn't a hole with a box in it, then I'm lying and this isn't my home. And to further prove myself to you, the box should hold at least 14 coins in it of varying amounts," she thought back, "I don't quite remember how much all of the coins are worth together, but there should be 14 of them," she said and folded her arms gracefully across her chest.

[Tavimh]

Much was more than wary but he couldn't think of a reason not to look...looking to his left he saw the brick that she described and reached under it. He pulled his hand back sharply, it occurred to him it could be a trap. She had magic and could have bound a spirit to it, he had been warned of this many times, and had experienced failure to remember the rule too.

The boy glanced back at the lady for a moment before setting about checking the hole in the wall. Using his shirt he kept it between his hand and the box that he pulled out of the dark niche. Holding the box with his shirt as if it were hot he tipped it over onto the floor causing a clinking and jingling as different colors and sizes of coins tumbled onto the floor.

Luta was pressed against his back holding onto his tunic tightly. Much's quick eyes counted to fourteen in a few seconds and looked back at the lady still suspicious. "Then who are you?" Much asked. Even is she owned this shack that was no reason to trust her.

[Niniel]

Eve grinned with satisfaction as the coins tumbled onto the ground. She knew there were fourteen there the moment the boy looked back at her. Lucky guess. She laughed to herself. She had know there were coins there, but she couldn't remember how many, not that it mattered now.

"Then who are you?" the boy asked her, and Eve could still feel that he didn't trust her yet. Smart boy.

She pulled the hood of her cloak down and let her coal black hair fall down her back, "I am now the rightful owner of this pitiful shack, but it is my home," she said resentfully, "My name is Eve. And you are?"

[Tavimh]

Much wrinkled his nose, she was to vague. Any robber could have hidden coins there and then her reassurance for him was that she owned a shack that had obviously been abandoned for at least a few months. Much guarded his trust too tightly to fall for any of it. His cooperation however wasn't as hard to win. In his mind it was foolish for her to try and gain even the trust of a dog with the arguments she had for herself. That is, except for the fact that Much couldn't detect a lie...

'Eve....thats a simple name.' the boy found himself thinking out of habit. Simple names were for simple people. It was the more elaborate names you had to watch out for. Reluctantly, but seeing no other option he willed the wolf back from the doorway so she could enter. He heard the soft sounds behind him as Luta hugged her furred friend. "I am Much." He told her with no particular tone in his voice.

((OOC: this is the fourth time I have had to re-write this post. I'm going to switch computers. Sorry it took so long.))

[Niniel]

"I am Much," the boy said as he called the wolf back from the door so that she could enter.

Eve hid her pleasure as she stepped into the pathetic little shack. A flood of memories washed over her as she looked around, ignoring the precsense of the children for now. She saw the nights that changed her life drastically and felt her bitter anger rise in her throat again. Everyone had abandoned her in life, but that didn't matter anymore; all she needed was herself anymore.

She remembered the children suddenly and snapped her eyes back to them. "So tell me, Much, where are you and your friends headed? It's not often that children travel alone, and generally when it does happen, it's easy to tell that there is something different about the children," she said hinting at his abilities.

((OOC:Don't worry about taking too long.. I accidently fell asleep at my desk, lol!))

[Tavimh]

The two children were silent as Eve stepped inside and looked around. Much didn't take his eyes off of her and Luta avoided looking at her and instead smoothed the fur on the wolf's face tenderly.

"Nowhere." he sighed as she all too easily unearthed one of his worries. They had no direction and no purpose but to survive. He looked away for a moment. "Only thing different is that we don't live in an orphanage. there was none where we lived." He lied with a grain of truth. "Why is a lady like you here?" he asked, the weave of her cloak was fine, even in the dark he could tell that. The only sorcerers he had known had been poor and shunned for their art...why was she any different?

[Niniel]

Eve grinned at the question, "You're a very smart boy, Much. Don't let anyone ever try to tell you differently," she said sincerely. She liked the way he thought, "Not many would dare question why I do what I do, and the few that do question me either end up in some not so nice places, or have enough of my trust to question me. I'll forgive your question this time, but I'm not sure that I can be so forgiving in the future," she said and her light blue eyes flashed dangerously. She knew the boy wouldn't be frightened by her, but she had to let him know that she was feared.

She looked Much straight in the eye, "You know there is more to me than what meets the eye, so I'm not going to try and lie to you. I am a sorceress, and a very powerful one at that. Now you maybe wondering how I've managed to become so 'rich' in this profession because you know something about my kind. And I'll tell you," she said smoothly, "I worked hard to get where I am today, and I gained the trust of all the right people. I'm sure you've heard of a man called Galbatorix, what do you know about him?" she asked.

[Tavimh]

Much remembered now why he hated people. He was frustrated with this Eve and he hadn't known her but a few minutes. 'fine clothes doesn't mean she can lord over me' Much thought with anger but kept his mouth shut. At least there was a bit of good advice in there, even if it did leave a foul taste in his mouth. Elders and higher-ups were to be respected...'even if they aren't to be trusted.' he added in his head.

Much was relieved to hear some true honestly from her. At least she wasn't trying to hide it. But it irked him how she danced around the fact that she knew he was a sorcerer as well. "I know a bit more than something." He muttered thinking that nearly 4 years of teaching under two rival sorcerers should count as more than "something". He may not have much power yet but when he did...

"You don't hear much about people when you never talk to them." He commented with a sidelong glance. She was up to something, her tone of voice was diffrent...but he couldn't tell for what purpose. He glanced back at Luta and saw her curled up again her eyes halfway closed, he turned back to the woman; Luta could sleep for now.

[Niniel]

Eve heard Much mutter, "I know a bit more than something," and chose to act like she hadn't heard it. The boy needed to learn how to control his emotions if he wanted to hone his skills. He spoke again, "You don't hear much about people when you never talk to them."

Eve laughed, "Well said. So I assume that means you don't know anything about Lord Galbatorix. Very well," she said with a grin, "Allow me to educate you. Lord Galbatorix is the greatest dragon rider that has ever lived, and he now rules over all of Alagaesia. The reason I mention him is to explain how I have done so well. You see, three years ago I went before him determined to impress him and serve him as an advisor. I did manage to impress him, even though his own magic is far more powerful than I could ever hope to be. And so he is the reason why I am here tonight," she said and walked to stand next to the coins that littered the ground, "I'm on my way to do his bidding, and I decided to come to my home," she glanced around the room, "I was born in here, you know. Born with no hope of a good future... and now look at me," she stared Much in the eye again. She knew he was searching for a way to survive in this world, and all she had to do was get him interested.

She spoke again, "Looking at you and your little sister reminds me of my childhood. My older sister was forced to care for me when our father died, but she wasn't able to protect me forever, or take care of me the way she wanted, and I saw her waste away to nothing. In the end she died and left me. I only wish that I had discovered my abilities sooner so that I could have taken better care of her. I hope you can take care of your sister better than I could mine," she said and turned away from him and walked back to the door, and closed it quietly.

[Tavimh]

"Dragon rider?" Much asked curiously. His father mentioned them in stories he told them when he wasn't too tired in the evenings, he couldn't remember very much but it was familiar..." dragons don't exist." He said firm in the belief that is was just a story.

Much found himself nodding slightly, he understood her story. It was as if he had been weaned off of comfort, first his mother, then his father....and then there was no home at all. He knew what it was like. "But I can take care of her." He said defending himself against her story that seemed to be predicting his and Luta's fate.

[Niniel]

"Dragon rider? Dragons don't exist," he said, but Eve caught the curious tone in his voice. Don't be so sure kid. She thought.

She turned back but didn't look at Much this time, but the little girl now sleeping behind him, "For her sake I hope you can," as she looked at her, she made sure to look regretful. Best to evoke emotion, it works best in these situations.

Eve didn't say another word, nor did she look at Much as she sat down against one of the walls. She knew he would think about what she had said, and if he truly wanted to protect his sister, he would come to her. But if she pushed too hard, he would draw away from her, and then there would be little chance of him wanting to come along with her.

[Tavimh]

Much fidgeted under her gaze, he felt bad that he couldn't do more for Luta. Thoughts he tried to push away started creeping into his mind like a leaky water skin. life was too harsh for her, she kept loosing weight, he could carry her for a mile now, that wasn't normal. Luta just wasn't doing well with this lonely life...she was following the role-models she had as any child, but a wolf wasn't what he would call a good model to follow. She was loosing her humanity... What could he loose?

"What do you do...for lord ..Gal-brax?" He asked Eve quietly hoping he got the name right as he wrung his shirt in his idle hands. Looking back for a moment at his sister she was fast asleep again...she really had been more and more tired lately. Much hoped Eve wouldn't mind his asking questions too much.

[Niniel]

Eve restrained the smile that wanted to spread across her lips. She looked at Much with her head tilted to one side, "I'm one Lord Galbatorix's advisors, and I do whatever he asks me to do. Currently I'm on a mission to work as a spy for him, but you didn't here that from me," she said with a wink, "Why do you ask, Much?" she asked calmly.

Just had to take things slow and be as calm and reassuring as possible right now. This was a delicate process, but she had had lots of experience over the past three years doing various tasks for Galbatorix.

[Tavimh]

"Jus' wanted to know if it was hard..." Much said looking at his hands He stopped wringing his tunic when he realized what he was doing. Looking up he asked "Does Lord Galbatorix, like, take care of you?" He imagining a pretty house like the big ones in his home town. In his little image he saw her having her own room with a big bed, one with a blue cover and white flowers....like the ones on mother's nice dress. And Galbatorix would wear a... He snapped out of it. He knew that would never happen. He had already lost his chance at a family.

[Niniel]

She smiled softly at him. She could tell that he loved his sister, and seeing that cause the ache that had long since faded to return. She answered him, "What I do is very hard sometimes, but I've had enough experience by now that I'm confident in what I'm doing and I don't fear what can happen. In return for my service, Lord Galbatorix gives me whatever I need to be happy and much more. He rewards those who are loyal to him generously," her smile widened a little, "I live in the palace sometimes, but I have my own house that Lord Galbatorix provided me with. I only wish I could share it with my sister now."