Chapter 40

The tavern seemed so unassuming as the young woman approached. She pulled her cloak tighter about her willowy frame, the rich sable hair covered except for a wisp gently tickling her nose. Glancing down the street, she noted the emptiness and shivered. Where was everyone?

Taking a deep breath, she entered the tavern, covering her nose until she got used to the smell of beer, wine and bodies. Seemed pretty busy in here as she looked around the dim interior, telling her why the streets were quiet. Her mother warned her of what it would be like, but assured her that Kvelti would help her. Gripping the talisman in her left hand, she scanned the crowd for the woman described in detail by her mother. �Tall with short hair, probably gray now,� she said with a smirk, her own still quite dark. �Ye�ll know her by her coarseness, girl.� The deep cough could still be heard in her memories. That was only a year ago.

Finding her, the young woman approached, biting her lip in uncertainty, for it seemed the table was in a deep discussion. She grinned at the antics of the man dealing with his sword. Passing a hand before her face, she effectively moved the offending piece of steel to a position where it wouldn�t be damaging that very handsome head, pleased that her spell actually worked.

�Excuse me, please,� she interrupted with her soft, lilting voice. Her eyes stayed on the tall woman whom she believed to be Kvelti.

"We're clo-" the barkeep started.

�My name is Jazel, daughter of Ciela � do you remember her?� She felt the stares and quickly glanced around, fearful that she had been followed. Why wouldn�t he leave her alone? Brought back abruptly by a light cough, she dropped the talisman on the floor. Squatting to retrieve it, the hood of her cloak fell, allowing the mass of dark curls to tumble down her back. Light amber eyes widened as a blush graced her cheeks. This was not the first impression she wanted to give. Standing, she squared her shoulders and held out the talisman to the woman. �I believe if you are Kvelti, you will recognize this.�

"My name is Jazel, daughter of Ciela..." Kvelti fuzzed on the rest. Ciela had a daughter? A daughter this old?! That wasn't possible... why, hadn't she and Ciela last seen each other... only... had it really been that long?

She looked down at her worn hands, thinking, "I am old..."

What? The girl was holding something out to her. She popped sideways in her chair, and felt foolish as she did so. If it really was a baneful artifact, she'd already acted too late. She tried to make the best of it by continuing the sideways motion and getting out of her chair. "Don't hold it so close," she said sourly. "My eyes don't work that well anymore." She studied the thing for a moment. "Aye, that was Ciela's, and I've heard her say none could take it from her except by her will. Come up to the bar with me, and I'll get you something to wash the dust from your throat." The rest of them could decide what they wanted to do about the elves; Morgan could probably offer better information anyway. "What brings you to Midway... Jazel, you said your name was? And how does Ciela? I have not seen her in many years... where does she dwell?"

Pulling the talisman back to her with a frown, she noted the grimace and wondered about it. Jazel glanced at the people at the table, hoping they wouldn't be upset with her for dragging Kvelti away. Biting her lip to keep the sudden grin from her face, she followed the strong woman up to the bar, placing the talisman into her pocket. She asked for a glass of icewine before taking off her cloak and hanging it on the back of the stool.

"Yes, Jazel is my name, and I was born just before your last adventure. Didn�t know that, did you?" she said quietly as she sat down. "Mother passed on nine months ago. She spoke of you often and told me to seek you out if I ran into trouble and, well, I'm in trouble." She glanced to the doorway to be sure no one else was coming in before turning back. �There is someone after me, wanting me to join with him but I can�t see myself turning to work for the Dark God. And it confuses me for I�m not that good of a sorceress � in fact, too often, my spells have the opposite effect.� A blush graced her cheeks as she remembered the time she tried to quiet a crowd and instead started a riot.

Sipping her wine, she decided to get to the asking. �So I�ve come to ask for your protection until I find the reason for my pursuit.� Eyeing her speculatively, she wondered how much contact Kvelti gets outside of this tavern. After all, it had been awhile since she�d gone adventuring. �Have you heard of the forest dying? Tis a shame � such destruction.�

It was a sin, of course, to spit good beer on the floor, so Kvelti just swallowed hard. She paused for a moment, waiting for everything to sink in. Some of it would take a while. "We'll wake your mother, tonight, then," she said hoarsely. "Even if it's a bit late."

"As for the rest... yonder sit the folk who put a stop to the tree-killing, for the moment. It could start again, but the Ehosians will have to get through a centaur tribe to do it. And we'll know if they do." Had her mug gotten empty already? She refilled it. "I wish another acquaintance of mine had returned with these folk, but perhaps they can help you in her stead. Do I understand that one of the Shadow Hunters wishes for you to join their brotherhood?"

Jazel grinned at the look on Kvelti's face, knowing how hard it was for the woman to absorb the information. Then she blinked at hearing about speaking with her mother. "You can do that?" Her smile widened at the thought of speaking with her again and she took a sip of her chilly wine. "Yes ... the Shadow Hunters ..." She couldn't help but shiver at the thought of how close she'd come to them last time. "Can you tell me more about them? Why would they be after me? And what do the Ehosians have to do with the trees?"

Toshiro just sat as the others spoke. With the entry of the young one and Kvelti's reaction, he perked up a bit and listened to their conversation. Catching most of it, he wondered what next would be required of the group... and what sort of assasin followed the woman...

"Do what?" Kvelti asked vaguely. Of course they could have a wake... it would be a little late and the honored dead was already in the ground, but these things were for the living, anyway. "I think you need to speak with the folks over here," she said, steering Jazel back to the table. "The best information on the dae faroth - that's elf for shadow hunters - I have is about the loonies to the west. I understand the locals are supposed to be rather saner, but I think Brother Cael is our resident expert on that now. He mentioned a book. Yes, he's an Ehosian," she added in a low tone, "but he's a good man, doing good works. I trust him."

"As for the trees: near as we can tell, the priests are somehow using the life-energy of the trees to make those magic gates of theirs work. Dunno how that works; don't deal in magic much." The pair drew close to the table, and Kvelti slung an arm around Jazel. "Group, meet Jazel. She's the daughter of an old friend of mine... Morgan, did you and Ciela ever meet? No? One of the few spell-tossers I'd trust in a fight not to need babysitting, that one. Let me make the introductions."

Jazel bit her lip at the thought of meeting the group at the table. Carrying her goblet, she nodded as Kvelti explained quickly what was going on. Her one relief was that they had information about the dae faroth, since she had little to go on. A small gasp escaped as she felt Kvelti's arm around her, but she relaxed realizing she was in good hands.

She went around the table. "This funny-looking fellow who's starting to go grey is Kimura Toshiro (his family name's Kimura, but they've got it backwards where he's from). He's a swordmaster from the Jade Empire." Toshiro inclined his head in a small, respectful bow.

"The fellow picking himself up off the floor is Aaron. Just met Aaron earlier today, in fact. Aaron, make Jazel cry and I'll toss your ass so far you won't know where you've landed." He looked young enough to need the warning.

"This silver-haired young elf-lady is Gwenhywfar Silvanus. She's a traveller from a long way off, and I understand she's a mage as well. Perhaps you could study together? Eh, I don't know how these things work..."

"Brother Cael of Eho, Jazel. Ditto about the crying thing, young man," she said sternly. The black-haired, swarthy fellow nodded without much of a smile; he seemed rather preoccupied. "He's the one who might be able to tell you more about the dae faroth."

"And this is Morgan, sometimes called One-Arm or Strongarm." The older half-elf woman offered her right hand for a shake. Kvelti scowled. "She's likely to be with you for a while. Just go and show her the other one." Sighing, Morgan flipped back the cape that draped over her left side. Her left arm was thicker, shorter, and metallic. With a small grinding noise, it came up and waved its three fingers at Jazel. "Dwarf-made... and dwarf-sized," Morgan added.

"Now, Jazel's mother has passed on, sad to say." Kvelti paused, looking at the table. "And it seems she's got some trouble coming after her. If you folks could tell her what you've found out about the dae faroth, it might be useful."

Jazel turned clear eyes upon those at the table as Kvelti introduced them. Toshiro seemed very businesslike, someone to rely on during a fight. She nodded back with a slight smile.

A slight blush formed as she was introduced to Aaron. Cry? Whyever would he make her cry? A coy smile was given to the man who'd had trouble with his sword. She'd have to help keep him away from drinking too much. The thought thrilled her.

Turning to look at the silver-haired beauty, she smiled widely at the mention of her being a mage. Perhaps Gwenhywfar could help her figure out why her spells weren't working as they were supposed to. But would she help her? Most elves she met up with would have nothing to do with her. She nodded and turned to look at Cael, her smile fading, but her eyes sparkling with interest.

The best one to help her at the moment seemed distanced, as if he didn't want to be there. Did he know something so terrible that he didn't want to share it? She'd have to find out. Nodding to him in greeting, she looked to Morgan.

A grin appeared as the woman sighed. The left metallic arm was an ingenious contraption and she couldn't help but reach out and touch the cool metal. "Amazing. Merry met, Morgan," she said quietly but with awe at being able to learn from another fellow half-elf. "And merry met all of you. I appreciate any help you can give." Raising her goblet in a silent toast, she sipped and sat down between Toshiro and Morgan.

Aaron looks up blearily as the effects of whatever that was courses through his system and slowly begins to fade. Staring at his blade as if wondering exactly how it got back on his back again. Apparently shifting of it's own accord, his attention not quite there enough to realize that he had some assitance from the new party that just walked in and, aparently, is aquainted with the tavern proprietoress.

Trying to sort himself out and get his blade off of his back and leanded against the wall close by where he needs it, he soon notices that the new party is approaching the table where he and this odd bunch are gathered.

As introductions are made, Aaron frowns at Kvelti's comments. Make a woman cry? Looking slighty indignant he musses that it is usually the other way round. Possessing an affiable charm that is often misunderstood for a predatory nature, it's hardly his fault that it works more often than not. Whether a woman chooses to tell him about her husband or not is not a flaw that lay within him.

Regarding the lovely new arival through a fuzzy afterglow of ethel effects, determined not to touch whatever that was again, he attempts to get wobbly to his feet standing in the presence of a lady, listing to the side more than his last ship however. The galleon taking on an alarming tilt as the Assyrian raider had holed its side. He should never have taken on that cargo, the deep indigo silk that is only worn by this on particular royal family, making it hard to come by and usually not legaly, causing him in the end more trouble than the value of the profit.

Partly this being the reason he ended up in his last prison predicament. Trying to gamble and trick back his losses and to afford a new ship and try and relocate his crew.

Aaron quips to the newcomer Jazel, "Don't look so worried about this odd bunch. The secret is to stay as close to our intended target as possible. Less chance of getting hurt that way" His eyes dancing with mischief as he recalls the rather illuminating experience of miracle lightning in his previous incarcerated state. The miracle being that he can see still at all.

Bowing politely before her he attempts a polite greeting, this unfortunantely causing him to list even more alarmingly. "Aaron Runeblade is the name. I'm just your every day sort of sailor. Which means of course I have a port in every girl...or something like that..." Looking a bit puzzled as he prattles on. "Some folks like to call me Captain Rune..." A name that has a bit of a reputation and a rather substantial award attached to it. Mostly along the lines of piracy....

Morgan leaned back and arched an eyebrow at Aaron. "You're Captain Rune?" She looked him up and down and nodded. "I can see the resemblance."

"To the tales, I mean," she amended. "You're fair-haired, even if the braids aren't four feet long and stirring in magical winds. And you sure do like to drink, even if it's not a longboat of ale at a time." She shook her head and added in a voice that was slightly plantive as well as rather smug, "I haven't had tales about me in *years.* Had a few good ones, back twenty years or so, but they've all just faded off into obscurity." She looked like she wasn't sure if she was pleased about that or not.

Aaron grins slighty, still looking a bit peaked from whatever that evil substance was, as he says in humours reply, "See? Typical bards never get it right. Its not the brades that is four feet long...." a long dramatic pause is noted as his grin gets wider finishing with, "Its the BLADE thats 4 feet long." Indicating the sword nearby him which, indeed, does have a four foot length of some form of steel alloy.

"I swear one day bad press will be the bane of humanoid kinds existence." Despite the flip comments Aaron has been listening most intently. The barbarian clothing and roguish exterior hiding a very sharp mind which even now is dealing with deductive facts. Observing small details about the newcomers appearance that tell an even more detailed account of her travels. The various stains and types of earth, covering the usuall travel stained positions on her very hard to ignore form, practically drawing a map of her journey.

With a mind trained to note the minutae of the patterns of wind and wave as well as the hidden rune signs in nature, its not so much more difficult to note the telling signs of hidden meaning in people and events. Patterns in nature reflecting patterns within patterns. The gift or oftimes curse of truesight giving him an insight into a slowly emerging pattern of events even now. As if the fates exert a tangible force that he can feel swirling around this small grouping. A picture of a puzzle emerging...bu he can feel that there are yet pieces undiscoverd..

Interjecting once more in a disarming joke as his mind continues to work out the events at hand, "It's awful hard to lift a boat and drink out of it I have noticed. A dwarven aquaintance of mine might be able to pull it off but I might end up straining my back even more so than when Mari the heftiest barmaid in the city of Haven took a shine to me. Needless to say its a good thing that I had drunk enough to float a ship that night..." The half grin on his face echoing the myschievoud twinkle in his green eyes. The silver flecked faint rings in his eyes, denoting a mark of one who can see that which is usually hidden from normal sight, seeming to grow more pronounced as his second sight gift sets to work...

Kvelti shot Morgan a look. "Ahem. Hello, conversation's over here. Shadow hunters, helping Jazel here? Thanks."

Cael looked up from his ale as Kvelti and the newcomer approached, his thoughts still on Falling Leaf. She'll be alright. She will. She's just sold her immortal flame to some dark power, because of what my people did. Of course she'll be fine. He stared bitterly back at his drink. He looked up when his name was mentioned, missing half the conversation. Something about crying? Better to just ignore it.

But he arched an eye at the half elf as she sat down at the table, saying "And merry met all of you. I appreciate any help you can give."

"Help? Involving the Dae Faroth? If you are some academic, seeking knowledge of the dark ones, I think we have little to offer." Cael glanced at her ears, at her elven heritage betrayed there. There had been no mention of other than pure elven blood among the Dae Faroth. How did they feel of mixed breeds? "If however, it involves something more personal...?"

Jazel grinned at the byplay between Morgan and Aaron. She sipped her wine as Kvelti brought the conversation back to the Dae Faroth. "Well, Brother Cael, as for a personal reason, I wouldn't think so. The Dae Faroth are notorious for keeping their bloodlines clean and with me being half-elf, their pursuit of me is questionable. I don't have the greatest talent, so I know that's not the reason."

Sighing, she sat back, looking around to each person before continuing. "My human mother met and fell in love with my elven father. He was a wonderful father, but was pressured to give us up in order to move up ... politics! Always ruins families, doesn't it?" Glancing at Gwenhywfar, wondering if she'd had her share of politics. She looked down at her wine, her expression saddened at the thought of her father. How long has it been? "I haven't seen my father in 15 years. My mother and I had been doing all right, working for an tavern in Riverside. Mostly housekeeping things like laundry and cleaning the rooms. Then last year, she caught a sickness ... and died."

Wiping a tear off her cheek, she looked over to Cael. "It was then I was visited by the Dae Faroth. This talisman and a note were left for me by mother, telling me to search out Kvelti for help." The silver necklace with the celtic design dangled from her fingertips, the black onyx stone placed in the center twinkled in the candlelight. Carefully, she placed it over her head, to nestle just above her breasts. "So here I am. If I can figure out why I'm being pursued, I'll find the way out of it."

Kvelti smiled unpleasantly. "We could just ask your shadow what he - or she - is after."

Morgan glanced from Aaron back to Kvelti. "There is the primary problem of recognizing the dae faroth. They can change their faces, after all." She stopped, suddenly thoughtful. "I don't suppose you have a trick for seeing through their disguises, do you?" she asked Jazel.

Jazel chuckled at Kvelti's comment about asking her pursuer. As if the being would still be around. As Morgan spoke, she blushed slightly. "Well ... before mother died, she made me practice a spell. Every other spell I know was just shown to me once." Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she looked to Morgan.

"True seeing gives me that ability to see things as they naturally are. Plus, I get a feeling when the Dae Faroth are near ..." Closing her eyes, she felt for her pursuer and was relieved to know that he was not near the tavern.

"A feeling?" Both of Morgan's dark eyebrows made for the ceiling. "Do you know there are Ehosian priests who would gladly give their left foot for someone who could 'feel' when one of those assassins are near? From what I've heard, once they're shifted, it's nearly impossible to detect it. If you've got a spell or some natural talent to spot them for what they really are... well, I'd guess that explains their interest in you. They'll want some reassurance that you're for them - and if you're not, they might assume you're against them."

She tapped the table with a long finger. "Now one wonders how they found out about your ability..."

"And, one wonders if others will hear of your ability, as well." Cael spoke up. "Morgan is right in that all too many Ehoisans would give much to be able to do what you do. And if they ever found out about you, well.... If they couldn't do it themselves, they'd just 'persuade' you to help them, elf blood or not."

Jazel blanched, not realizing the depth of her problems. It was strange, actually, how she was able to feel them at all. Her father may have been a high elf, but was he tied with the Dae Faroth? "I cannot explain how it is that I feel when they are near. Perhaps a spell was cast on me as a child by my mother. And answering your question, Morgan, I can feel them no matter which shape they are." She shook her head, trying to remember such a casting, but she was so tired. "What do you suggest I do? Keep running or give myself to either group?" She looked imploringly to those around the table, her light amber eyes holding a touch of despair.

"No." The word was out of Cael's mouth before he even realised he said it. He shook his head, a little too vehemently. "No, if you give yourself up to the Ehosians, who might not even know of you, you would be used as a tool, at best. At worst...? Well, if the Ehosians ever learned to strip that ability from you, or even mimic it in their own priests, you would be nothing but a liability. A liability with elven blood in her veins. And, Eho forgive me, I have seen what they do to their liabilities."

Nodding, Toshiro spoke. "Cael speaks the truth... and the Dae Faroth would like nothing better to remove such an ability permanently from the hands of their enemies. Their abilities and methods are similar to other factions I have dealt with in the past... if a bit stranger than most."

"True, the Dae Faroth would probably want to, uh... 'remove' you if they were unsure as to whether you were for them. But what if you were able to prove to them that at least you weren't against them, by trying to stop one of the threats against them? The Dae Faroth are no saints, but this "Azure Champion" that Kvelti and Morgan speak of, she sounds worse than any Ehosian priest I know. So full of herself and her 'righteous cause' that she is blind to any ill effects her crusade causes."

Cael looks around at the others. "My worry is that when and if she finishes with the Dae Faroth, she'd see the Ehosians as a threat as well, and indiscriminately slaughter innocent and guilty alike.

Gwenh, who had been quite silent up till this point, looked at everyone. She knew almost nothing of these groups, somehow she felt that her part in all this wasn't her knowlege of them, though it would never hurt her to have such knowledge. She looked at Aaron, she had noticed the look he was given by the young halfelf when she was introduced to him, and something inside of her felt a tad jealous, yet she found that she liked this girl, and sincerly wanted to aid her. "I for one would not like to see you harmed, I have learned that anyone Kvelti likes is worth protecting." She also found that she agreed with Kvelti's prior senctance of 'make her cry...' yet she also felt that this would never happen. Gwenh knew what it was like to have no family left. Her mother slaughtered by her siblings, as she was stolen from her nest. Her uncle, her adoptive father, banished on promise of death, how she still missed him. And this girl, had the feeling of a hatchling to Gwenh, one to be protected.

Jazel bit her lip and lowered her head, her eyes closing to keep the strong emotions swirling inside from leaking out. Kvelti should have never said not to make her cry. Her mother told her that adventurers were a true lot, ones that helped those in need quite easily. To see this in truth was nearly overwhelming.

"I thank you all for helping me," she said quietly before turning to Kvelti, the brightness of her eyes showing the struggle to keep the tears in. Lifting her left hand, she snapped her fingers, a handkerchief appearing so she could dab at her eyes. "Father would be able to help me, but I have not seen him in so long. I also do not know where his loyalties now lie." She quickly took a drink to calm herself, looking to those around the table to see what they wished to do.

Aaron looks over in slight astonishment as Gwenh speaks up, thinking to himself, amazing she has recovered the power of speech. His eye's twinkling at the unvoiced thought.

As a sailor, Aaron really can't be blamed for having an eye for the ladies. Having to deal with crews that actually believe that superstitious nonsense about having women on a ship. Of course it seems as though the female populace has been the main bane of his existence for years, ever since the time he got caught with the daughter of his clan chief. It's all been down hill ever since as far as his luck with women has been concerned.

Aaron seems to shrug slighty to himself as he considers the whole situation. Actually, his silence is masking a rather thoughtful considering nature as he works over the particulars to himself.

Lapsing into a brooding silence, not having anything to do with the slight rebuff of his greeting to the new arival, graciousness not being apprecated it seems.

"Well if it involves anything to do with ships and sailing, our next destination that is, I'm your man. If it involves horses, unholy nightmares that they are. Then some medical salve for a very sore bottom would have to be included in my hazard benefits." His green eyes sparkling with laughter.

Plonking himself down in a mock rebuffed huff into his chair and getting back to his meal, the scattered remnants thereof. If he intends to keep from staying sober, some more fortification is needed before he touches that whatever it was drink again.

His expression going distant as he reflects on something that just occured to him....

Jazel grinned at Aaron's comment regarding horses, loving them as she does. Her thoughts turned to their next move, sleep hopefully one of them, when she caught Aaron's expression. Reaching over, she lightly laid her hand on his forearm. "Are you all right?"

"Eh?" Aaron looks up, his thoughts interupted, his attention still seemingly elsewhere as his mind jabbers to itself. "Errr...I was just thinking. Don't worry yourself"

Lean but powerfully built, a frame shaped by work in a forge, the plain brown features, obviously of northman lineage, softened by an older more pure bloodline, hiding a surprising insightful mind. "Did it occur to you that your talent makes you a threat?" Emerald green eyes regard her gravely. Pointing out the obvious and adding, "Sometimes such things are a two edged blade. If you can see your foes for what they are, they, perhaps, can see you."

All traces of his beer buzz gone, the look that greets her is introspective. "I'd be asking some hard questions about my heritage if I were you. Perhaps our Inkeeper knows more than she is saying. There are no coincidences. There must be a reason, a deeper reason, your beeing persued."

Eyes that can look on the unseen as easily as the real stare intently into her soul, weighing her.

Staring back into his emerald eyes, Jazel's own light amber gaze held true, never wavering as she waited for him to form his opinion of her. She had been battling over her heritage for quite some time, wondering why anyone would want to pursue her.

Little did she know that the dae faroth that wanted her was a half-brother. The warmth of Aaron's arm beneath her hand made it tingle, wanting to touch more of him, but feeling it inappropriate as her eyes slid to Gwen. Was there something between then?

Letting go, she smiled at the man whose obvious talents were well hidden. "Your words are intriguing, sir. I, however, cannot believe they think I am a threat. Now, if I were completely trained and strong in my abilities, that would be a different matter." Turning to Kvelti, "Might we discuss more of this in the morning? It has been a long journey," she finished with a yawn, her gentle hand covering her mouth.

Kvelti regarded Aaron with narrowed brown eyes. What, exactly, was he implying here? She took a deep breath and started to raise her hand when she caught sight of Morgan, who imperceptibly shook her head.

Whatever. She tuned back in to hear Jazel's question. "Sure thing, kid," she said, with sympathy. "You can take my room. The rest of you can take the floor, or the stables, whichever you like. I don't have beds for rent."

Assuming an air of innocence, Aaron smiles at Kvelti and Morgan both, his observations a matter of testing the air to see its content.

Getting much the reaction that he expected. Which is just as well considering that he has never been a big fan of the mysterious dribbles of family lore aproach. Dealing with incomplete information has got him into major trouble before.

Recalling an incident that put him in close proximity with an overly amourus ogress. The phrase, "she is a lot of woman" unrevealing in its lack of details.

Noting the slender hand on his arm, he gives her a smile. Then, feeling the glare from the burning eyes of Gwenh he glances over at her with a look of bemused puzzlement. Raising an eyebrow he gives her an inquiring look. Wondering himself what the problem is.

Another thing about himself is his impatience with closed mouths. If you have something to say, spill it. His people live and love by their freely expressed passions. All that noble suffering in silence does is make for some real cold nights.

"I'll settle here by the fire. A brave man may like the feel of nature on his face. But a wize man knows when to stay out of the rain." He quips.

Gwenh sighed, her gaze going back to Aaron for a minute before something hit her, she didn't care. She found that somehow she was glad that he had hit on that other girl, glad that she didn't end up one of his many stories. She would warn her after all, it was polite to do so...But she realised then that sailors where really filthy buggers who went from port to port and bed to bed. What a pity.

A smile finding it's way to her face, she let it fall into a smirk. "Goodnight Aaron...oh, question, did your previous ride make it so that you had to use ointment on your bottom? If you need a massage, I have some wonderful claws that would do quite nicely." She winked.

If possible, Aaron looks even more bewildered. Deciding that females in general, no matter what the species, are incomprehensable, he shakes his head and smirks back. "I'll just have to find something that rides a little softer in the saddle is all." The statement rife with multiple meanings.

Wincing slighty in memory he adds, "Maybe there is somewhere I can buy a cushion?" The querry generaly directed to the room.

It's not like he makes a point of finding a girl in every port, he's just one of those people that disasters have a habbit of falling on. Events start out simple enough, then, invariably something happens that makes the situation go out of control. Jealous boyfriends and sometimes even girlfriends, husbands, he really hates when that happens, not telling him till later that there is a FEE.

So called 'civilized' people are so aggrivating at times. It's much simpler at home. With an inward smile of fond rememberance he recalls the clan heads daughter, 'you just have to be a little more careful who you let seduce you' he ruminates to himself.

Asking Kvelti, "There wouldn't be a stream or a source of bathing water around here would there?" with a look of faint amused resignation on his face he quips, "better make it cold water too." The travel stained, but despite that, neatly groomed and not at all scruffy runecaster needs a bath.

"Got a stream west of town," Kvelti grunts.

"Or there's the boardinghouse down the road," Morgan adds helpfully, ignoring another black look from her old friend. "I've been looking forward to an actual bed, so I'm going there. It costs, but they've got a washtub they'll fill and even heat." She finally deigns to notice Kvelti's look. "What? I don't have a problem with her. The bed upstairs is spoken for," she nods to Jazel, "so I'm going to find another. I'm getting too old for this floorboards nonsense."

She thought about paying for the bed, which led to thoughts about the funds she'd hidden over the years, which led to thoughts of... something else, carefully hidden in Riverside. Something Gryppen was supposed to help her with. Her smile froze briefly on her face, then she hastily shouldered her pack. "I'll be back in the morning. Anyone else for real beds?"

Jazel grinned at the look on the elfs face, finding that she hadn't stepped on her toes ... too hard, at least. Turning back to Aaron with a smile, "If it requires us to ride, I shall personally see that you get a comfortable cushion, sir."

Looking to Morgan and Kvelti, she whispered, "Sorry. I didn't mean to take anyone's bed. I can certainly sleep on the floor if that is what's needed." The sound of taking a bath was irresistable, but she was so tired.

Could she trust the runecaster? He was a handsome devil that she would enjoy getting to know better. But could she place him in that kind of danger? Could she place any of them? Frowning as she picked up her goblet, she finished her wine and stood.

Placing her cloak around her shoulders, she looked down at Aaron, the fabric draping loosely around her trim form. "Would you mind some company?"

Looking at Aaron and Jazel, the dragon who didn't care found herself muttering something about icy breath and killing them both in their sleep before she stopped herself. Standing, Gwenh looked at Jazel. "Goodnight...oh...uh..just to let you know, I thought he was charming when he hit on me, until I saw him hit on you..." She shrugged. "I like you, I don't know why, but I do. I don't want to see you hurt. Some men have the tendency to let the one eyed wonder worm out for anyone...I hate those types."

Looking at Aaron, she added. "Next time we flee a city, I'll let you find your own ride, or was it as uncomfortable as you say horses are? Really...horses..." Forgeting that Jazel obviously didn't know, she mumbled something about how dragons were not mounts for just anyone and they didn't carry anyone who asked and sometimes, they just happened to forget sailors.

Smiling pleasently to Jazel, who she really did like, although Aaron did put a damper on any kind of friendship she could feel for the girl, or the rest of this quest now, Gwenh started outside, then stopped in the doorway, looking. Something inside felt like her heart for this quest, dying. Looking at the night sky, she decided that once she felt the urge to, she would go to the stables, and sleep with the other mounts and beast of burden.

Jazel looked between the two, feeling Gwenh's upset. "Gwenh, wait!" Approaching the doorway, she frowned back at Aaron, wondering if he had played Gwenh falsely.

"Please, tell me what's wrong. I feel as if I put my foot in my mouth." She looked at Gwenh as she studied the stars. Quite a beautiful elf, but there was something about her that was different ...

Gwenh smiled weakly at Jazel. "It's just...nothing really. I guess it's just the curse of my race to care too much for the races we stay around. I had soo much of an affinity for elves, that I feel comfortable looking like one."

She sighed. "I just forgot that he was a sailor, and that his morals didn't agree with mine. I let myself hurt my own feelings, and just didn't want to stay to see something like that happen to you. You seem like a nice girl. And Kvelti likes you alot." Looking back to the stars, she sighed again. "I miss my kin, our mountain home. I miss the feel of the air rushing past me. And in some way, I let myself feel like the comments on horses affected me, and was directed to the fact that I had served as the mount on the way back here, that perhaps I was no better to humans then those beast of burden in the stables..." Something inside felt good about saying that, but another part of her didn't, that part that had been too afraid to fully open itself to another.

Listening to Gwenh, Jazel was able to piece together the girl's story. Laying her hand gently on Gwenh's shoulder, she smiled.

"You're a dragon," she said softly, not knowing if she wanted the world to know. Someone could have passed by, listening to their conversation, for all she knew. Jazel's smile softened as well as her gaze. "It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Gwenh. Don't let Aaron get to you and certainly don't worry about me. I've been evading that miserable Dae Faroth wretch long enough now to be able to take care of myself. But thank you for caring."

The light in her eyes showed her gratitude and hope that they could become good friends. "Would you like to come clean up, then stay with me to talk? I'm sure Kvelti's bed is large enough for the two of us." She winked, feeling like a young girl getting ready for her first slumber party.

Jazel glanced back at Aaron, wondering if he would mind. She'd find a way to make it up to him.

Gwenh smiled. "I think my stories are too sad. I am a dragon, a young one, but one none the less. I want to clean off...but I think someone else would rather share that bed with you, and you would rather share it with them." Her smile was touched with a sadness. "I'll find one to care about, just don't know when. But if you're sure you wouldn't rather sleep with the sailor, I'll stay awake and we can talk."

Leaning a bit closer so that only Gwenh heard her, "As much as he intrigues me, I think it would be bad form to sleep with him within hours of meeting him, don't you think?" Chuckling, she tucked her arm in Gwenh's, glancing back at Kvelti who was still glaring at Morgan. "Let's get out of here. Seems like there will be a blow-up soon. Coming Aaron?" Pulling the young dragon out the door, she took a deep breath of the cool air, grateful to be out of the smelly tavern. Not that it was disgusting inside for Kvelti kept things very clean. Just that it was a tavern and you can't get past the atmosphere.

"We'll decide on whether to stay awake after our bath. I wouldn't want to keep you awake and I truly am tired. A soft bed sounds better than bunking with the beasts of burden, however," she said with a wink as they made their way to the stream.