A Small Glade

[Rojo]

Rojo smiled handsomely at Evening. He had a handsome face and a strong and lithe physique. To most he would seem charming and seductive, but to other snipes such as himself, they would probably know when he was genuienly being charming and kind, or when he was being a backstabbing git.

He was attempting to give the illusion that he, too, was a nobleman, in the company of his friend Devon. He offered her a glass of wine; alcohol could probably loosen her tongue such as to whether she worked for anyone, and who she was.

"Why, hello young lady" he said, changing his tone of voice ever so slightly to hide his normal voice, which, in his opinion, sounded common. He hoped he hadn't overemphasised his noble voice to much "wine?"

He shot a look at Devon, ever so quickly, and to hide his shot look, he said
"This is the fine young lady, eh Devon?" he widened his eyes ever so much as a fraction, and flicked his eyes down to his belt where his knives and pistol were concealed. He looked back at the Tallamous and winked at her. He did so enjoy using false persona. He yawned and called to driver
"When do we arive at town, my good man?"

[Asila]

Evening stepped into the carriage, purposefully slowing her step to create the illusion of exhaustion. She was, after all, inflicted by amnesia and a certain degree of fatigue, having wandered alone in the woods for a few days. Or so the act went. In reality, she had wandered this same forest alone for years and had managed to survive. However, this girl, the one she was playing, never would have survived for so long.

She nodded to the charming man introduced to her as Rojo and returned his smile with a tired version of the same expression, as though she were so dreadfully exhausted that she could no longer smile with any energy. However, she paused before she took a seat, sensing something...else in the carriage. She looked around nervously for a moment, then decided it was nothing. However, when she choose her seat it also happened to be the farthest one from the Darkling available in the carriage. It was a phenomena of the subconcious. She felt the presence of something she could not understand, and so chose a spot that was far away from it. She didn't even realize that she was doing this.

When Rojo greeted her, she replied with a shy "Hello," and tentatively took the offered glass of wine with a small, grateful smile. She smoothed her skirt over her legs, self-concious of the features it concealed. She was careful to make sure that it's hem lay in folds that would prevent a stray movement from easily revealing her paws. She kept her gaze averted from his own, looking demure and unsure of the overall situation. Helpless, even. However, she was using this oppurtunity to scan the carriage for valuables that she could easily pilfer. Most things were either too difficult to carry or too fragile to travel with, like the bottles of expensive wine, for example.

She lifted the glass she held to her lips and took a slow drink, the bangles at her wrists jingling musically as she did so. As she tasted the wine, which had a rich flavor and was absolutely magnificent, she studied what she thought to be two noblemen through her lashes. She didn't want them to notice that she was watching them. They would think it rude. Peasants did not blatantly stare at nobles.

"Have you been traveling for a very long time?" She asked quietly, trying to engage them in idle conversation. She had yet to decide on exactly which item she would try to steal, and even if she had decided on an item, it was unlike her to move so quickly. She preferred to wait on a moment of distraction to snatch the item she had chosen and dissapear.

[Seven]

Devon's smile slightly widened upon hearing Rojo's new persona's voice. 'Is that REALLY what I sound like?' he wanted desperately to laugh, but he was careful to hold it in. Devon always spoke formally, at this point, he simply could not help it. It had to do with the very particular manner that he was raised in since childhood. Even if you told him to relax and speak informally, he couldn't help it. Formal was his informal. And yet, it was amusing to listen to his slang-using other-world friend trying to fit in with the idea of the stereotypical nobleman.

Why, the whole thing struck him as kind of funny. Here they all were, playing a game of niceties, pretending to be something they weren't!
...well, except Devon. He really IS a noble, but alas, he's pretending too, his part being a naive, probably weak, young man.

Jenri seemed to have caught on quickly to the little charade, easily playing along. "Why, my dear Lords, do forgive the delays, but we'll be due at Nurom village in the morning, assuming we don't make any stops," he said respectfully, unlike his earlier tone. Though this would seem perfectly normal to Evening, to Rojo it would be an indication that the haggard old man might have been selected as a driver for a reason. He was actually a little clever.

Devon seemlessly exchanged the glance with Rojo, "Yes, indeed such rare and lovely flower..." he turned to Evening, "why, it is a fortune that no harm has come to you dear. Mrue is said to be littered with fiends--if it had been one of them to have found you..." he closed his eyes delicately, as if the thought pained him still.

He cocked his head just slightly, as if it had been part of a minor stretch. His eyes opening lazily, shifting to where Rojo is seated, "Yes, my friend and I have been traveling for quite a while, haven't we? Obviously too long, though--" without moving his head, his gaze landed upon the girl, "why I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't appeared, Evening. I simply don't think I could have bore another idle moment alone with nothing but his company. Thank you for saving me; it is I who is in your debt," he grinned, charmingly. He said that teasingly of course, making a joke that made it sound as though he and Rojo had been close friends for a long time now (otherwise, such a joke would have been inappropriate).

Even so, it all this was a part of lullying her into her false sense of security. Why, just from those remarks and actions alone, she would have gathered that they are tired, drinking from time to time, and obviously in no shape to take a great deal of action. Furthermore, Devon's and Rojo's charming comments about the girl would have made her feel quite in favor with them. Little did she know, that both of the men were just waiting like vultures to see what trival action she'd take.

[Asila]

Evening blushed at their flattery, casting her glance aside. Even she, who believed so strongly that the Tallamous race was superior to the human one in every way, was not immune to such kind words from such handsome men. She was a young female, after all, and rather vulnerable to such things. It was an unfair advantage. How terribly devious of them, playing off of her emotions in such a way! If only she knew.

"You are far too kind, my lord," She murmured, sternly forcing her mind, which had become rather charmed, back on task. She needed to focus if she were to pull off this heist with any degree of success. "but I have done you no favors. Do not credit me with such an honor when I have done nothing to deserve it! We both know that it is you who saved me. You only tease me when you insist otherwise." She glanced back at him, still rather flustered, before looking away once more.

Oh no. This was not going well for her. Her only advantage was that the pair was obviously weary from a long venture and therefor even less aware of the threat she posed to them. This should be child's play, if she could only keep her thoughts in line.

At a loss for the words needed to fuel any further comment, she took another sip of wine, the glances that she cast their way cautious. This would seem normal to them. She was a young woman in a carriage with two men she didn't know, after all. After the 'ordeal' that she had been through, it could only be expected that she be a bit wary of them. However, what she was really looking for was one of the coin purses that they must be carrying. Nobles kept such things tethered to their belts, didn't they? Her keen vision soon alerted her to a promising pouch tied at Devon's waist. Rojo seemed to have a few promising items about his person as well. If she moved fast enough, she knew she could snag something.

However, she decided to draw this out a few moments longer. Moving in so close was risky, even when one was equipped with superhuman speed, and so she procrastinated, hoping that something would occur to distract this pair while she moved to free them of a pesky coin purse...

[Rojo]

Rojo smiled at Devon's comment
"Oh, Devon, you're such a tease!" he gave a short chuckle. He took note of the girl sitting away from Shadow, but was unsure whether this was by chance or not.
He could feel the slight tenseness coming from the girl, she was waiting to make her move, he was sure of it...

Shadow looked at the girl with mild interest, as he had Devon earlier, to him, she looked...different, more....feral-like. He didn't like it one bit and would have told Rojo if he wasn't sure it would upset this charade of lies.

He noticed the atmosphere, it was one a slum-dweller grew up learning, it meant "Let's all pretend we're civilized people, and we're just having a nice conversation, but in a minute, either I'm gonna pull out a knife, or my mates are gonna gang up on you from behind. I know it, you know it, but the guards...don't know it."

He wasn't sure if the lady was going to pull forth a knife, and he was pretty sure that she didn't have any "mates" so he assumed it was the other trick, the diversion one. She would probably drop the wine, point to something interesting outside the window or even something more fancy like throwing her voice or causing a noise outside, if she had such skills. Noticing these things was some things Devon didn't know, something only the Grandmasters could teach. You took in every possibility, every outcome, every choice, and right now, Rojo was quite sure he had her pinned.

"Tell, me, miss Evening was it? Where do you *hic* come from?" he added the hiccup to further the illusion that he had perhaps had one too many.

[Seven]

((do you REALLY need Grandmaster's training to essentially think ahead? Especially when you know you're in the company of trouble? sorry, it was bothering me a little, but I think I get what you were saying anyways. ;D ))

"Oh Rojo, calling me a tease when you're half-intoxicated! Really, how embarrassing! I'm afraid you've had the your one too many; I'm going to have to confiscate the wine from you," he chastises him for the drinking, pullling the wine bottle out of his hands. He then looks at Evening with a smile, "Please forgive my friend if he proceeds to do any bumbling, fumbling, or stumbling. I'm afraid it has been a very drab journey, and that not knowing we would be having such delightful company, he's chosen to entertain himself this way..." He holds up the bottle, rolling his eyes. It really did seem life as a noble was wonderful; peasants tended to picture their lives like we would consider celebrities. They made witty comments to each other all day, laughed, and drank. Of course such things we never as they seemed, but that's the impression evening would probably be getting from these two boys.

He goes thoughtful for a moment. In terms of the charade, Evening's character would probably be feeling a little nervous knowing that she was not only in a carriage with strange men, but they had been drinking (and though this is excellent news for Evening, her little innocent maiden guise would probably be a little frightened. After all, there are always stories of even the most noble of men doing terrible things to young girls under the influence.) So Devon decides to look over reassuringly, "Never fret though, sweet Evening. If my friend decides to take unsanctified and idiotic actions, well, I just pull him outside and to teach him a lesson. I would gladly duel on behalf of your honor," he says smiling and gives a minor bow/nod, flattering her still. If Rojo had some intuitive sense that helped him realize what diversion she'd try to cause, Devon had some sense that could tell him when a girl was truly charmed or not (as he was sometimes a bit of a heartbreaker), and he could tell her blushing was no act.

But, Tallamous or not, charmed or not, all them knew evening's true intentions. Devon gave a sigh, hearing the trip would last another day. He then gives two knocks on the back of the carriage, as if to get the driver's attention, "Oh Jenri, can't you hurry it up just a tinsy bit?" he pleads. Though it went spendidly with the charade, the two knocks were actually a symbol. Jenri nodded, "I'll try sir..."

'Danger' Jenri thought. If this was danger, why had those damn boys let it on board? Cursed youth, he sighs, making adjustments to the reigns. Of all the Shires Jenri ever served, why did this lad have to be such a trouble maker? Especially now, in his old age, he didn't want to be putting up with such nonsense anymore....

And now...waiting again to see what Evening would do.

[Asila]

Evening decided to ignore Rojo when he asked her of her origins. She could not answer truthfully, since 'Mrue Forest' or 'with a traveling merchant caravan' would both sound odd. Well, actually, considering her gypsy appearance, she may be able to get away with this last. Still, she was unwilling to speak of it. Such a question was the perfect oppurtunity to slip up.

Of course, he was too drunk to know what he was doing, but she'd still rather not answer such a perfect chance to reveal her lies. Merchant caravans were not very common, and for all she knew there hadn't been one through this area in weeks. Even this pair, however dense they were proving themselves to be, would becomes suspicious if they found that she was lying.

Evening frowned nervously when Devon excused his friend's drunkeness, as though this news did indeed make her fearful. However, when the noble spoke of dueling for her honor, she gave a quiet, edgy giggle and shook her head. "Really, I'm sure nothing of the sort will occur," the words were confident, but her voice was tremulous. She was an excellent actor. Had these young men been just another pair of average humans, they never would have seen through it.

Even as she spoke her line of weak assurance, however, her mind was quickly calculating exactly how she would lift the coin purse and dissapear before this pair even realized exactly what had happened. Now was an excellent time to act, with Rojo drunk and Devon seeming to have bought her 'innocent lost girl' act so completely. And she had just gotten the perfect idea for a distraction.

She continued her early line as she set up her diversion. "I would never think such a thing of the men who were kind enough to offer me a ride." She sounded as though she was saying this for the sole purpose of avoiding offense. A peasant girl wouldn't want the nobles to think she had ever thought so ill of them to worry of such a thing. However, as she was speaking, she summoned the shadows she could control in a shallow pool just before the carriage. The black puddle would be of the consistency of tar, and would cause the entire carriage to slow abruptly with a lurch. She would snatch the coinpurse then, cutting it's ties with a shifted claw and then dissapearing through this carriage door while these two human fools were still trying to decided what the carriage had hit. Even as she began the sentence, the first of the white tigers would have stepped into the shadow pool.

She felt bad about dragging the tigers into this, but they would not be harmed and it was the only way for her to pull this off.

Unfortunately, while any other set of travelers would have been caught off gaurd, this pair would be able to sense the dark energy that infused her aura as she set this trap. And should they manage to detain her before she made her escape, they would have a fairly powerless captive, for while her little magic trick was a fairly simple one, it also happened to be broad daylight and therefor very difficult to pull off. Needless to say, this was her last trick of the day. It had drained her.

But she thought it well worth the sacrifice, for in moments the cabin would lurch, she would snag her prize, and be long gone before something could go wrong. It was perfect.

She even managed to retain her traumatized young girl act as she waited for her chance to spring.

[Rojo]

Rojo chuckled when Devon mentioned the duel
"I assure you *hic* young lady, I will do shuch thing" he added a little slur to his speech. He ignored the fact that she hadn't awnsered his question and went on looking at her with a sort of glazed-over look in his eyes. Then he felt a cold creep over him. Something was about to happen. The magical energy from the outside corresponded exactly with that of this Tallamous girl. He didn't show his recognition as of yet, but Shadow already had become tense and looked poised to attack, even though he couldn't without some form of opening, such as an adrenaline boost. He felt the carriage start to slow down, and a muffled yell from Jenri.
"I say *hic* Whatsh that?" he stood up to look at the front of the carriage, turning his back -and belt and coin purse- to Evening. He looked unaware, but the second she moved, he would be ready...
((Was that god-moding? Becuase I said when the spell took effect, and Jenri speaking. If it was I'm really really sorry.))

[Seven]

((well, yes, it was god-moding, since you took possession of one of my minor characters. but it wasn't really anything major, and jenri probably would have yelled, so don't worry about it. I'll let you know if you ever do something that is a problem though.))

Jenri looked on as he saw the first line of white tigers get caught in the shadows. Devon had secretly given him an order with the two knocks, and he wasn't about to screw it up, so he stopped the carriage there. "Sorry my lordships, but it appears we are stuck," he says, long before the rest of the white tigers also get caught in the shadowy tar. "I'm going to get a quick look at it," he hops off the driver's area quickly, not knowing how much time he has. His earlier action with the reigns had unlocked the hold on the Tigers; now he went out to detach them entirely. The cats rumbled a little, but quietly walked towards the carriage. What most people didn't know about the Shire family cats is that they are trained in assualt as well.

Devon felt the surge of energy as well. It was time. He watched Rojo's act and decided to mimic it, looking very distracted, "Oh Jenri--what is the matter over there?" His coin purse also looked well within reach. He too, was ready for her to spring.

"Sorry Lord Devon, it seems there's some tar in the road. I had to unhook some of the cats." Even if evening saw the felines, they'd hardly look threatening now. After all, they were just domesticated animals... and unhooking the cats so they wouldn't fall in as well seemed perfectly logical.

[Asila]

(I'm pretty sure that assuming Evening managed to snag the purses is god-moding as well, but for the sake of setting this up efficiently...Well, I'm sure you'll forgive me. She's hardly able to go anywhere. )

Ha hah! They had both looked away! What idiots! She grinned, very pleased with herself, and, shifting her hand into a cat's claw studded paw, she leaped forward. The movement was very fast and left the pair with almost no time to react. Had they been unsuspecting, as she believed them to be, the would have noticed only a sudden breeze and the click of a shutting door. It would have seemed as though she'd just dissapeared.

It all seemed so incredibly easy to her. They had even both turned in such a way that their coin purses faced her. With a single, well aimed slash of her taloned hand she severed the ties, caught the falling bags with a muffled clink of coins, and sprang lightly toward the door. She was almost giggling with the mischeviousness of it all. Trickery was such great fun.

She opened the carriage door, sure that the foolish pair had yet to realize that something was amiss, and moved to step outside. She smiled at the untethered tigers, as though to say "Why don't you run? You're free!" Before she moved to step down from the carriage, soon to dissappear into the sanctuary of the forest...

Or so it seemed to her.

[Rojo]

Rojo gave her around five seconds or so, before pulling out his pistol and turned to Devon, he grinned, then he turned to the girl
"Right" he said in his normal voice "you have two choices, you either my friend's questions" he assumed Devon would be better at interigation, as he was the one with the higher charisma ((score, hehe)) "or I shoot you in the leg with something called a pistol, I don't know if you have them here, but it's sort of like a bow, only it hurts a hell of a lot more" he gave another grin at Devon and continued "so, Miss Evening, if you'd be so kind as to step into the carriage and sit down, I'd be quite happy to continue pointing my gun at you to make sure you don't get away. And give us back our money" he added.

He doubted very much she could dodge a shot, espeacially a magically guided bullet, but he was still tense incase she tried it. But he was mostly quite proud of Devon, he could make quite a good Hero if he had lived on Yorl, his high charisma and dashing good looks would definitely help. Prehaps that might be something to let Devon mull over if he ever found a way back. He was sure Devon would come, he seemed the adventurous sort. He could show him what a dwarf was.

Shadow stepped out of the carriage to help. He stood directly infront of her, although she couldn't see him, she could sense him still, as she had earliar, and she could probably tell if she tried to make a run for it, he would have at her.

Now it was up to Devon...

[Seven]

Yes, as Evening looked at the cats, they hardly returned her friendly tone. They were quicky to spring into a semi-circular formation around her, a low growl in their throats.

Devon chuckles a little, stepping down the carriage. "The charade is over, Miss Evening," he continued to smile, though his dashing grin was hardly as comforting as before. "Everyone here knew of your actual intention from the very beginning. I wouldn't suggest bluffing either," he said, encircling her a bit, "Unfortunately for you, I can sense that you wasted all of your Tallamous magic on that little tar pit," he emphasized the word Tallamous, letting her know that they indeed know everything and that there was no hope in hiding anything. The fact that he mentioned 'sensing' her magical depletion also meant that he had to be a capable wizard himself. He couldn't help but shoot Rojo a little grin.

He pauses, softening his stern gaze a little, a sort of understanding expression. "Do come quietly, Evening, and there won't have to be any silly skirmish. You have my promise that no harm will come to you if you do."

((sorry if this sucks, but I was half-distracted with my mom stuff))

[Asila]

(I liked it. I really do think that posts don't always have to be long to be good. Length depends only on the flow of the words. Some things stretch out longer than others. )

Evening froze when Rojo spoke behind her, her blood turning to ice. This was quite a nasty shock for her. She had been so sure that her plan had been flawless.

When he threatened to shoot her, she glanced at him, narrowing her eyes slightly. She then glanced back at the forest, her escape to freedom. She was actually thinking about attempting her escape regardless of his threat. She really didn't want to get caught. She was as afraid of captivity as any wild creature, having become rather feral after seven years spent alone in this forest. Even under sunnier circumstances, she would not willing return to civilisation.

She would have risked the attempt to avoid this fate, despite high chances of injury. However, she kind of...panicked at the sight of blood. It brought flashbacks of her family's massacre, terrible visions that she tried so hard to forget. Her reaction had been so severe after the incident that she had nearly starved to death within the first month she had spent alone in the forest. She had been too afraid to hunt. Her mind had begun to slip, confronted too often by this nightmare. But she had to kill to live, she had to face the blood, and somehow she had managed to avoid madness. She could now tolerate it with only minor side-effects, like dizziness, when it belonged to another creature. And even then, she'd rather buy her food than kill it herself. It was the reason she stole from people. However, if she were seriously injured, the shock of the pain plus the sight of the blood would bring it all back to her.

She didn't want to be a prisoner. She didn't want to face that nightmare. She didn't know which one frightened her more. However, while she was lodged in a state of indecision, the tigers began to close in on her. She gave them a look that was slightly hurt, seeming to say 'whose side are you on, anyway?"

Watching them fan out to bridge the opening between her and the forest, she started to shake, realizing that escape had become highly improbable, impossible, even. She probably looked very wild as her frantic gaze darted repeatedly from them to the forest.

Then Devon was speaking, and she went rigid with fury, spinning to face him. "You knew?!!" She hissed, her golden eyes sparking with outrage. "Then why did you let me in this carriage? Was this amusing to you? Do you think it's funny that some of us must fight to survive?" If he had any pride, she was trying to wound it. She felt humiliated. Fooled by humans! How useless was she? She felt as though she had failed, and was very angry at herself for doing so. However, it was easier for her to take her anger out on him than it was herself.

And so she stood there, poised in the doorway, pinning them both with a fierce glare. They had won already, and yet she could not bring herself to back down. She was just too proud to admit defeat so soon.

[Seven]

Devon looks at her with understanding eyes. From his look, it seemed he was remorseful for making her feel such a way. "You are mistaken Evening, we must all fight to survive, not just you." His tone was calm and exceedingly rational, unlike hers, "We did not pick you up just to humiliate you or toy with you--but you approached us first with ill-will." He looks her straight in the eye, "There was no way for us to have known whether or not just ignoring you would provoke your anger. Would you have just let us be had we told you to go away?

As unfortunate as it is, relations between Tallamous and humankind are strained, if anything. We did not know if you had some ambush planned for us just up the road or if you could cast some devastating spell should we ignore you. "

Devon sighs, "Perhaps I was just hoping my intuition was wrong about you--that you were just sincerely stranded and needed a ride, as unlikely as that might have been...." his voice was smooth and mellow. Right now Devon just wanted to focus on diplomatically resolving the issue and getting evening back in the carriage without breaking out into a fight. He knew she was depleted of energy, and didn't wish any harm upon her. He knew she only did it to survive. But right now, Rojo looked a little trigger happy and devon wasn't sure about how his own magic might react....

He looks back over at her, giving her charming little smile, "I did invite you to travel with me, Miss Evening. It would be a terrible shame if you went back on your promise now. There is no need to feel upset or embarrassed, so please, do not be stubborn and come back into the carriage. We are surely disturbing the forest critters' mid-afternoon nap."

[Rojo]

Rojo felt his fingers curl slightly tighter on the trigger when the girl spoke of surivival, and how some had to. He suggested she was speeking about humans in general, and it made his teeth grit. How dare she. How dare she! She had grown up pretty alright, with some nice merchants, she still had breath in her body. If only Devon hadn't stood in, he would have shot her then and then for such ignorance.

He too knew of the pain of living it rough, having to look after yourself, having to scoop crap out the gutter and eat it, knew what it what it was like to watch your family die...knew what it was like to be the only one left. He spat at her feet, he didn't care what Devon thought, he spat at her. She thought she had it rough, she hadn't been forced to kill her closest family member...

He shook his head and loosened his grip on the gun. He very calmly said to her
"May I have my money back, please?" he would say "Thank you" if she did return it, and he stood back a little, allowing the way to the carriage clear, though still warily pointing the gun at her. He bit back a tear of self-pity and woe. No he thought, those were the thoughts that got in the way, those were the thoughts that crossed your mind, heavily armed and breathing deeply, ready to beat the hell out of any other, less significant thoughts. It was those thoughts that caused...people like Celania to die. He nodded to them both, then gestured to the carriage with his head. He grinned. He understood. This girl was someone like him, someone who did know what it was like, and it was someone like her who he could talk to it about and feel comfortable, knowing she understood.