Far from home

[Caerys]

A horse entered the village on a steady pace. A shining armor covered the animal's skin from any attacks. And altough the horse was quite impressive it was nothing compared with its rider. Quickly whispers could be heard. "Valenar..." Mothers guided their children into their homes, men grabbed anything that could be used to defned themselfs, altough it would be useless. When a Valarian Elf was fighting it was like a whirling tornado, a dance of steel moving on the rythm of death and war. Alotuhg the people didn't had anything to fear from the elf. It came alone and it had no intend to attack the village... this time.

Caerys her deep green eyes watched the surrroundings for any sudden movements. In front of the inn the eld dismounted and soon a boy came to take care of the horse. Carefully, like he was holding small diamonds, he guided the horse to the stables. If something happened to the horse, the boy knew his head would be severed from his torso. valarian Elves were very proud about their horses. Then the masked elf opened the door to the inn and everyone inside silenced...

[HoudiniDerek]

Kimara Severn walked slowly into the small village on the edge of the Lonea Lake. Dawn had happened an hour ago and Kimara had walked most of the night to get there. The town was quiet and set back in a small cove, giving it fresh water and some natural protection from some of the larger dangers of the Lonea.

Kimara strolled aimlessly down the street, green eyes taking in the small children running around in some of the yards. They were happily playing with rocks and building small mounds and then knocking them down. Kimara smiled as the kids enjoyed their mindless fun. Kimara had not been able to enjoy mindless fun for some time.

Sounds began to get louder as the main section of the village came into view. On one side were the businesses for horses, boats, carriages, and other avenues of interest. On the other side of the dusty avenue was a massive inn with an attached bar. Kimara headed towards the inn and walked inside.

There was an old man sitting behind the counter when Kimara entered, apparently sleeping. Kimara coughed gently and the man jerked awake.

"Can I help you?" the man asked, bustling hurriedly to look as though he had not been sleeping.

"I would like a room until tomorrow if that is possible," Kimara said, the soft voice coming from the blackened space in the hood.

"We can do that indeed." He pushed a ledger towards Kimara. "Please sign in if you would while I get a key for one of the rooms." The man bustled off and Kimara deftly signed the ledger and placed it back on the desk.

"How much is the room?"

"Fifty a night...but that includes a meal in the tavern...but no drink unfortunately." The little man was back and held out a key...room 210. Kimara pocketed it and held out the fifty pieces for the man to take.

"Thank you." Kimara turned and headed up the stairs to room 210. Opening the room, a burst of light from the unshaded windows caught Kimara and illuminated the dusty robes. Kimara closed the door and the shades, laid down on the bed...and went immediately to sleep.

******************************

Kimara woke hours later with a headache and a rumbling stomach. By the way the shadows were playing outside, Kimara guessed it was near dark. Stretching and washing, Kimara locked the room and headed downstairs. The old man was sleeping behind the counter again. Kimara gave a shake of the head and entered the tavern through a door which connected it to the inn.

Kimara sat at a table near the back and ordered the venison meal...and an ale. Kimara paid for the ale and ate ravenously when the food came. Moments later, all had disappeared. Kimara was just preparing to leave and return to the room when an elf strolled in...and all conversation stopped.

Curious, Kimara sat back down and motioned for another ale. This could be interesting.

[Caerys]

The elf's look went over the enitre inn. People were either holding their breath or looking at the newcomer with angered eyes. A grimm silence was holding the inn in its grasp. Caerys took a seat at a table near the inn's entrance. When she grabbed for the double scimitar on her back, some people gasped. With a faint hidded smile she just placed the weapon against the wall. Her hand rested at the horsehead-head shaped pommel of her normal scimitar. After some time, and dangerous glaring, the innkeeper found the courage to approach the valarian. "Y-yes, what can i do for you?" the innkeeper asked while shaking. Chaerys took of the mask and revealed her face. "I want a room and a decent meal, if you have any like that in a place like this." The innkeeper bowed. "Ofcourse, M'lady" Then he took off. At the look of the elves female face, the customers got a little bit more 'brave'. A couple of man where whispering to each other and the words 'woman' and 'easily handled' reached her elven ears. Quickly they jumped up and grabbed for their weapons. "Coming here alone is a mistake, valarian. It's time to avenge our killed citizens. With speed theu rushed at Caerys. With great speed Caerys took her dual scimitar. In a dance of death, the blades of her weapon swung around. In an eyeblink the guys charging her fell dead on the ground except for one wich just had a wound at his hound wich forced him to frop his weapon. With a forcefull kick the elf 'helped' the man to the exit. "Anyone else?" Caerys asked with a deadly glare.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kimara watched sadly as the elf lowered her hood and the men advanced, liquored up and believing that their berating of her physically would avenge the deaths they believed she had caused. Kimara watched as the elf cut down the men and threw the last out the door.

One of the serving girls brought the ale over to Kimara and rushed off again...probably both because she was scared of the violence and because she would be the one serving the volatile elf. Kimara took another large swig of the ale and watched the others in the tavern. Most were paying their bills and leaving...their excitement tempered by the sobering realization that they might not get another chance to leave alive.

Kimara watched as two young boys came from the back room to remove and bury the bodies. It was a shame that life was usually so violent and that most kids did not live their lives that way for very long. There was always someone or something making them adults before their time. Kimara's head shook sadly and more ale disappeared from the glass.

Kimara finished the drink just as the serving girl came back carrying a load of food for the elf visitor. She trembled slightly as she neared the site where the two young boys were now working to remove the blood from the floor. She stepped around them and Kimara could hear her say, "Your food, my lady."

Kimara sat back, easing the chair against the wall on two legs and watched to see what the elf would do...especially if she thought herself provoked again.

[Caerys]

Caerys had a sad expression when she looked at the men she killed. Before they were dragged away the elf made a small sign on their forehead to make sure they rested in peace along with their ancestors. When the little girl brought her the meal she orderd Caerys gave her a smile and thanked her. the girl looked at her with scared eyes and walkd back to the kitchen. The Valarian's hand went into her pouch and threw a golden coin at the girl. The small girl caught the coin in her hand and with a smile, that was still tense and nervous, she thanked Caerys before dissapearing in the kitchen. When the blades of her double scimitar were clean again, Caerys put it back again against the wall before starting eating at her meal. Then from her backpack she got a scroll. The scroll seemed to contain a family tree. A really old one. During her meal she examined the scroll.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kimara relaxed as the young girl ran into the back room, still brandishing the gold coin as a talisman from any evil that might befall her. Kimara sat the chair back down and drained the rest of the ale in the glass...all the time watching the young lady.

The young elf turned away from the now clean weapon and began to eat, examining a scroll that looked to Kimara to be several hundred generations old. Granted, it could be the light, but Kimara had the sense that history was alive this night and it was sitting halfway across the room.

Still hidden in the cowl, Kimara began to speak in a soft whisper. Yet, it seemed to fill the room so that anyone there would hear it...but only one should be able too...the young elf woman on the other side of the room.

"There is an old adage that states 'Home is where the heart is'," Kimara whispered in that oddly melodic voice. "It seems you are a far distance from where your heart lies. Why do you not seek it out? What keeps you from your home?" Kimara's voice trailed off with a questioning inflection. Time slowly ticked past as the two women in the room seemed oblivious to the other.

[Caerys]

Caerys was eating while looking at the parchment till suddenly she heard a voice. Altough it was loud enough for anyone to hear it seemed she was the only one that heard it. Her hand automatic went to the harse shaped handle of her sword. Her eyes flashed from one corner to another. When the elf saw no one was paying attention to her, she lowered her hand. Still she had the feeling someone watched her. If she would whisper back, would the voice's owner hear it? Most likely. "I can't go back." Caerys felt stupid for talking to herself. "For my tribe i am dead. I can only return when my deeds are done or dead upon a shield."

[HoudiniDerek]

Kimara watched as the elf looked guardedly around the room and waited for her to try and respond back. It seemed like an eternity before the young elf whispered her thoughts out almost as though they were silent prayers.

Kimara knew something of the elves from which this girl came...and it seemed odd that she was more outcast than anything. If she was dead to the tribe, why not just kill her to make it official? Something did not seem right here.

"What are your deeds, my dear? What is more important than being with those you love and those that love you?" Kimara's voice trailed off softly again, much like the breeze on a muggy summer afternoon. Again, there was silence while Kimara waited for a reply.

[Caerys]

Caerys smirked. The voice really didn't know much about her race. "What is more important than my tribe?" She whispered. The elf chuckled silent. Before continuing, caerys streak trough her long black hair. "I can easily tell things that are more important than my relatives." Her eyes still searched for the one talking to her. If that person was in that room, she would it. Things like these is what is living for. The game of stalker and prey. " Family in this world is unimportant. Glory is what really matters... and my ancestors." Caerys said while looking at the family tree. "And my deeds... aren't for you to know."

[HoudiniDerek]

Kimara listened to the elf lady talk about glory being one of the things more important than all else. That and the almost fanatical whisper that accompanied the addendum about her ancestors made Kimara believe that she was indeed one of the elven warriors that most in Valear feared.

"My dear, I do not mean to pry and I am sure you have important deeds, but what is the point of glory? You cannot use it to preserve your life..." and here Kimara paused for effect..."or those lives of your ancestors."

Kimara was sure that the elf would not believe a word of that, especially about her ancestors, but it had to be said regardless. "Why live your life training to fight for something that does not exist...that has no purpose aside from revering those who are dead and can do nothing for you?"

[Caerys]

the elf smirked at the voice comment. "Perhaps you are right... Perhaps not." She took a large bite from her meal. Her eyes still scouted the inn for the one talking to her. "But you have to understand... It is not to preserve my life. It is to remember it." Her hand clenched around the horse head shaped handle of her sword. "I'd rather die in battle knowing i served my tribe and ancestors, than dieing of age in bed." While investigating the area, she checked if her sword wasn't stuck in its scabbard. "I fight to make my ancestors proud. And when i die i shall be greeted by the greatest of all." Suddenly her eyes fell on a cloaked figure in a corner. Quickly her eyes started searching again, to create the illusion Caerys was still searching. "I don't expect anyone other than a Valarian would understand."

[HoudiniDerek]

Kimara felt the eyes of the elf brush past and keep going. The stare had been too intense to be an accident as Kimara could see out of the cowl, but no one could see in. Kimara decided that it was best to continue the conversation and wait to see what the elf lady did.

"You would be mistaken. I do understand about service. However, serving one's tribe and history well are completely different than reveling in glory. While they can coincide, my dear lady, they do not have too. That is why I asked you what you fight for...and why? After all, you already said that your tribe sees you as dead...and yet you devote your life to their service when they would apparently not do the same for you."

Kimara waited a moment before continuing. "I do not mean to try and sway your beliefs as I dare say you would not be persuaded regardless what I could show you. I merely ask you to know what drives someone that seems so lost. Also, I thought I might make an offer: Would you care for some company on the road ahead?"

[Caerys]

The Valarian shook her head. "You really don't understand. My tribe don't see me as dead. I chose for it myself. With a sacred pact with my ancestors i made myself nothing more than a soulles body, till i found glory. Glory from my deeds or by dieing a warrior's death." Her eyes again fixed on the cloaked person. Her eyes were narrowed. " I don't think you can travel with me. Your horse would die from exhasuqtion when following mine." Her eyes turned away from the person back on her meal. Her dinner knife was twirling between her fingers. "The reason why and for what i fight." Caerys smirked. "I fight for the thrill of the hunt, the excitement of the chase and the satisfaction of the kill. All i need is..." The knife thas was twirling besteen Caerys fingers flew with great speed in her meat. "...a worthy prey."

[HoudiniDerek]

Kimara watched as the elf turned away from her and began playing with her knife. As the woman continued to whisper the knife whipped down into her knife. Not overly impressive since she was only a few inches from it in the first place, but the dexterity was something few see that much Kimara knew.

"Who said I traveled by horse?" Kimara asked lightly. "As for the companionship, that was not really an answer." Kimara laughed lightly and waited to see if the elf girl would respond again...the soulless wonder she claimed to be.

[Caerys]

Caerys looked amused at the cloaked figure. " If you don't have a horse than there is no way you can travel with me." Slowly hse cracked hr neck. The sound echoed trough the inn.

then her eyes turned back to the shadowy person. "I can't really think of a reason why you want to journey with me."