Aideen nodded. She could identify with humble origins, at least, even if Hollow mystified her. And made her a bit uneasy. She could not deny it, but nor could she justify it. It was not worth mentioning.

"It is definitely time for food," she agreed, also famished. There was only so much a friendly hearth fire could do for her, after all. "Let's go."

She met Thalian at the bottom of the stairs, and hesitated, waiting for Hollow. If the shadow girl made her uneasy, the Valrae troubled her even more, and for more concrete reasons. "So..." she started, but found nothing more to say. Instead she held the folded garments out to him. They were his, after all.

Hollow walked down stairs with Aideen. She could tell that she got a bit nervous around Thalian. Hollow never understood girls like her. Hollow was a coward, but she didnt show it like that.

"Are you sure you want me to stay?" Hollow was now offering to leave. "Im pretty sure you would rather me leave Thalian. I attract the wrong type of people." Hollow smirked at the boy. "People will jump through hoops of fire to find me."

Arianna whirled around to see who was talking, but still there was no one. This wasn’t a good sign, there was a charming voice whispering to her and no one around. Sure she knew that The Realm was an unusual place, but this couldn’t be easily explained. She didn’t want to start talking to no one. If someone wanted to talk to her then they’d have to face her physically and stop messing with her.

Turning back around she bent to pick up some of her gold when she was suddenly reminded of the wound along her left side. She inhaled a deep breath and looked at the ceiling of the cave, her eyes had changed to a soft green. Slowly she lifted her shirt where the injury was and say a ghastly scorch mark along her ribcage. It would take about a week to heal, but nothing too serious. She hadn’t had a problem flying so she’d be able to get her supplies and be on her way. She hid the last of her treasure and took what she’d need, taking care not to reinjure herself.

Gliding out of her cave she headed for the local merchant, he had been holding a chestnut horse for her to buy. He assured her that everything would be ready and all that was left was for her to do was pay him. To Arianna’s great relief everything was ready to go, she talked with the merchant and assessed that everything was in order. All her supplies were neatly stacked in the covered cart and her bedding was neatly laid out in the middle. All that was left was to hitch up the horse and pay the merchant, which she did promptly. She even threw in a few extra gold pieces for keeping his promise. She waved good-bye and urged the horse onto the path that would led her out of this terrible place.

Thalian intentionally ignored Hollow, knowing that anything he said she would find a way to twist into an excuse to leave.

He gave Aideen a warm, and slightly apologetic smile. He wanted to apologize for the day before, but how do you go about apologizing to someone for almost killing them? He decided to make an effort anyway.

"You... you were very brave yesterday Aideen... I am very sorry I misjudged you... Very very sorry... I only had my mother's best interest in mind and living in The Realm... you learn to be very cautious around new people... Truly, I am so sorry..." Thalian looked very glum as he trailed off the end of his sentence. He knew nothing he said would ever really make her comfortable again. She must distrust all the Valrae now. He grimaced in his mind.

Once more, Sorida found herself stumbling, but at least with this spell, she didn't find herself retching the herbal tea she had partaken in out of comfort some time ago. Dizziness was still a problem.

With her hands plastered agaisnt an ebon wall, she recomposed herself, the only sign of being flustered. Other than that she appeared to be fine. Better now, she stood and grinned. Perfect mark. Right within castle grounds. She would get the hang of this new magi yet.

With a triumphant stride she set off in look of Kara, eager to show her what she had stumbled upon in her studies.

Aideen also ignored Hollow. Her threats of leaving had already become a tired refrain and besides, the image of hoops of fire did not impress her. Instead, she looked back at Thalian, the hint of a rueful smile twitching at one side of her lips. She hadn't been brave. She'd been terrified. Angry. Out of control. That wasn't bravery at all. But she couldn't say that. Instead, she replied, "I don't blame you, considering... You do take after your father, don't you?" Both father and son had threatened her with swords, both on her first day, no less. Though the father had been less rash about it, there was still a connection she could not deny.

And she now understood about being cautious. She would have to learn to hide somehow, and soon. But not until after breakfast. "Shall we eat, then?"

Hollow didnt like being ignored. Instead she just leaned against the wall and waited to be fed. Ug there were so many things that couldnt be left untouched right now. She had to get back to her home or else things would happen... and her boys. She needed to get to her helpers so they would know where to find her.

Hollow didnt actually have kids, but there were two teen boys that helped her around the house and with customers. They were annoying, but they were her only family like figures even if all they wanted from her was to learn how she made so much money. They were probably stark lost without her. Wandering around the house wondering when she would return.

Hollow started getting nervous. What if they didnt have enough food. They had some of their own money, but it would only take them so far. They wouldnt even dare selling the inventory that Hollow had built up. Oh my god they are going to die.

Hollow showed no emotion on her face as she contemplated their fate. She wondered if she could get Thalian to take her to her house for just a little while. He would probably think she was escaping, but if he or another Valrae went with her then maybe... Hollow wasnt really sure how to go about telling him anything. He was already ignoring her.

The first thing she’d felt was cold air rushing past her naked body as she fell, aimlessly. Opening her eyes against the stinging cold she saw she was falling through the clouds and droplets hit her making the wind feel even colder. Her beautiful athletic body was almost pale from the cold and all she could see were clouds. Am I dead? Is this heaven? Why is so cold and wet here? Then the clouds parted a bit and she could see in the distance that there were two moons hanging low in the horizon. Then she saw below her there were mountains coming up at her… no she was falling towards them!

Flailing she tried to slow her decent, what was happening to her? Long blonde hair was whipping in her face as she tumbled in the air, her long elegant limbs worked to try and stretch as mush as she could to slow her inevitable death. Why is this happening to me? She thought to herself. Then something unexpected happened, she could feel something moving within her body. It was trying to escape as urgently as she was trying not to die, though she thought it was unavoidable. Then her shoulder blades surged with an unusual energy and she felt something warm and soft sliding out of her. The wind caught on her shoulder blades… no, she turned, it was catching on her… wings? Beautiful pure white feathery wings were being violently torn at by the protesting wings. She tried to stretch them as far as they could go to catch the wind but her decent was still too rapid. The mountains were almost on her and she could see there was a cliff face to one side. She tried to maneuver her wings to that side, and thankfully succeeded. Now she was between two cliffs and her wings were screaming in protest against the updraft of air as she fell, but she was starting to slow. Wondering if she could flap her wings she flexed her shoulder blades to push her wings down even further, though they protested it worked. So she flapped her wings and finally slowed enough that she wouldn’t be hurt too much once she hit the ground, hit being the operative word! She flapped move vigorously as the ground came up to meet her, yea meat her was more like it. Luckily the ground was carpeted with rich green grass, she hit the ground feet first. That was a mistake at that speed, tripping she tumbled head, over wings, over heels and ….

...Arianna sat up quickly, slightly disoriented waking in the bed of her covered cart. She could hear her horse, Natasha, moving against the cart nervously. Though Arianna could swear she’d heard her name being whispered, she pulled the linen cover aside and there was a shadow standing next to her horse!

He never made it to the knight's mansion. For two days and two nights he rode, pushing the mule to the end of its life, only to find the settlement a smoldering ruin. The Norseman had landed there as well. It had probably been a different, earlier party. No coastal village had seen it, or if it had, had sent no warning.

It was there that he laid his mule to rest as best he could. And then he walked.

He found himself at a monastery, far away from any coast, that had and would remain unscathed by the raiders, at least in the course of his lifetime. The young man, having nowhere else to go or to live for, pledged himself to the order. Time flowed there. While he devoted his life to the faith, his heart was always elsewhere. During the day, he was happiest tending to the fields or the beasts of the monastery. In the evening by candlelight he learned to illuminate manuscripts, and this brought him joy as well.

Near the end of his life, and it was a long one, he had a dream. He dreamt of a tall, glowing woman with wings of fire and a cheeky smile, with flowing red hair and sparkling eyes. She did not speak but seemed to beckon him. The man spoke to his priest of this the next day, and for hours they discussed angels and visions and the afterlife, but the man's heart, as usual, was elsewhere.

That very night, he died. The next day, his order gave him his funeral rites, and buried him as close to the stables as they could. He had always liked it there. The work had reminded him of home.

Sorphiem sat on a cliff top outside a town, his eyes closed as he carefully surveyed the area with his senses. He sensed...chaos. Slowly, a wicked grin spread across his pale lips, revealing slightly pointed teeth. This place was perfect for dealings of his demonic kind. Standing, he spread his large black leathery wings that glittered with ringlets of iridescence, looking like black raindrops. He stood over six foot and his lean white body was hidden beneath black clothing and a long cape. Throwing his long mass of white hair behind his back he flew down towards the town, images of black magic flickering in his mind the way children dreamed of candy.

The small cramped house was not quiet. Its master had been gone for three months and the two boys were already at eachothers throats.

"No Zeke you cant have the last of the peanut butter." Fang pushed the boy to the side as he grabbed for the glass jar which was the last of their food.

"You pig." Screeched Zeke as his black wings got in Fangs face. "Your going to eat it all!"

"That is the point." Fang had his claws out and was trying to scratch Zeke in the face, but because of the wings he really couldnt see where his hands were going.

"Hollow should have put you out on the street years ago!" Zeke pulled on Fangs coat bringing him down to the floor, but Fang already had a hold of his wing so Zeke fell also.

The two starving boys continued fighting. It wasnt about food anymore. Both of the guys had to beg Hollow to take them in so they could be apprentices and they gave up alot to be where they were. They knew that Hollow could persuade the king of the realm to give up his birth right if she really wanted to. They both startved for her ways, but now she was gone. They thought that she might even be dead, but they tried to push that past them.

They hadnt had alot of people come by asking for stuff so Hollow had to leave with some of the merchandise to try and get some money for food for all of them. The boys wanted to go with her, but she insisted that they stay home and guard the house. Thats all they were really good for. They werent exactly silver tongued yet so they werent allowed to try and sell the stuff that Hollow had stored away. They were her muscle most of the time. Hollow had become very sick after using a ring so now Zeke and Fang did all the fighting for her.

They of course had their own stuff that they had bought, but they were running out of trades. Usually Hollow traded for more items or favors from people to keep the business running. All Zeke and Fang were doing was trading for food and food didnt exactly have much value once it was used.

Sorphiem landed in the middle of the town and folded his wings, letting them disappear behind his curtain of white hair. People around his jumped away because even an infant could feel his twisted yet utterly powerful aura. It wasn't so powerful now though because he'd attacked far too much of late. He grinned at the thought of that city that no longer existed. What he needed now were some items to help him become more powerful and of course, his quest for immortality. That was the true thing he was always after, same as in his past life which was long ago now.

He walked up to a person on the street, his manner strangely gentlemanly. "Hello, could you point me in the direction of a shop for...items more belonging to the darker side of magic?" The man pointed a shaky finger and sorphiem took off at a pleasant walk in that direction.

Fang and Zeke stopped fighting when they felt a terrible presence. Fang fixed his eyepatch and got off of Zeke who tried to stick a few feathers back into his wings. They melded back nicely. He was glad that Hollow gave him a small book on how to keep up with your wings. There were so many useful spells in it. Especially when Fang was always pulling the feathers out or breaking the bones, which hurt like nothing other. Fang knew that if he broke any bones on Zekes wings Hollow would lash out at him so he didnt do it often.

The boys looked at eachother for a second and ran to the door. They knew that a powerful aura would definetly be a good customer. They might not be able to accomadate him, but they would try. They had a ton of practice with Hollow. This would be a peice of cake... or so they thought.

Sorphiem walked towards the small house, his face calm as ever. When he was sure that he reached the appropriate spot, he simply walked up to the door and flung it open, polite knocking far beyond him. He was an impatient man and passive things were unbecoming of a man of his statue.

"Hello, I am in search of magical items," he said as his greeting.

Fang was about to reach for the door when it swung open. So instead he jumped back and was very close to Zeke. "Hello." Said Fang first still in shock.

"Take a look around the store." offered Zeke. He knew he wasnt supposed to just out and say that they were into black magic item trading. They had to investigate the customer first. Hollow had prepared a perfectly normal magic shop so that they could do some little trading on the outside, but hidden were all the real things.

"We have a whole bunch of magical items to help you with anything you need." Fang smiled. "What are you looking for?" Fang had regained his composure and was ready. Zeke was pratically hiding behind Fang. He was a little shy with everyone.

"My name is Fang and this is my assistant Zeke." Fang knew that you HAD to introduce yourself before asking a customer anything about themselves. It was rude not to. "If you tell us what kind of magic you weild or what kind of a creature you are I might be able to help you find something really interesting and fitting for you." Fang gave a sly smile. That could go both ways depending on who you were and what you were looking for.

Sorphiem bared his pointed teeth in a horrible smile at the two boys he was confronted with. His aura demented just a bit more as he spoke in a smooth voice with the richness of black velvet. "I am a demon," His voice nearly seemed to hiss as he said that word. "and I search for something that will...increase my power," he said, glancing quickly over the useless items that were out on display. But he knew there was something more too and he hoped he could get his hands on them easily without having to resort to violence. Not that he minded violence at all, but he preferred to keep his hands clean of blood.

Zeke swallowed deeply. He wasnt in the mood to get into a fight with Fang for callling him his assistant. He had to braven up! "We have lots of things that could do that." Zeke smirked.

Fang was even laughing a little to himself. "How much money do we exactly have to work with?" Fang looked at his finger nails like he was uninterested. He wasnt going to let the demon take control of the situation with his evil aura that he was radiating.

"Would you like something to drink as we talk?" Zeke knew his part in this scam. If the customer looked like he was going to get violent he was going to do everything in his power to get him to relax. Hollow was very good at that and Zeke had picked it up very well, but unfortunatley he wasnt a girl. There were some techniques you just couldnt use.

Sorphiem smirked a bit as he pulled a bag of gold from his pocket and flashed it before sinking it into his pocket once again. But that brief flash was enough to induce fantasies of riches.

He shook his head at Zeke. "That will be unnecessary. After I find what I want, I will be on my way, so there is no need for drinks or idle chatter," he said gruffly.

Fang kept his cool. He had never seen anyone carry around that much money. They usually had to pay over time to get even that much. Fang looked the demon over. "We dont have anything worth That much." It was true. Fang and Zeke put together could not find something that they were allowed to sell that would be that much.

"We do have tomes of black magic if you would like to look through them. Some of them are cursed, but others will give you information about magic that no one knows about." Fang looked to Zeke and then at the guy. " If your looking for anything other than books then Your at a loss today. Our master is out and we dont know when she will be back." Hollow definetly had to handle this one. He was very powerful and in need of something that probably only Hollow had.

Sorphiem frowned, annoyed now. "I suppose I will look at those tomes for now, but I will be wanting to see this master of yours," he said, tapping a foot. "If I have to come back later, then I will...or I will coerce this master of yours out from wherever she is if need be." He voice stayed calm, but his eyes started to glitter a dangerous black against his handsome white face, saying he would truly do anything to get what he wanted. He was just that sort of a demon.

Zeke and Fang looked at eachother. They were thinking the same thing. "Perhaps you could help us find her." Said Fang. "She left three months ago with seven horses. She's probably around somewhere."

Zeke slumped his head down. He didnt want to think about Hollow NOT being around somewhere. Hollow was like a mother to him. He didnt want to lose another mother.

Sorphiem's brow furrowed. It was a rather disgusting offer to help these two twits especially if it meant traveling with them, but he really would do ANYTHING to get his precious power. The more he had, the more his chances for eventually being able to take over this realm. He was cautious about his ambitious plans, so not until he was sure of victory would he launch an all out attack. After all, hubris had been his downfall in his previous life.

"Perhaps I will go find her," he said. "But I will do it alone! I see no reason why I would need you two. If I could just touch something of hers, perhaps I could attain knowledge of her aura and track her if she is not far...." He looked at Zeke and Fang, expecting them to find him something of this master's so he could be on his way.

"You would need us to go with you." Said Fang. "Our master isnt exactly one to be nice to strangers." He started to nodd his head.

"Plus our master is a shadow child. She cant be easily tracked like that. Her form changes constantly and therefore her magic changes making her impossible to track." Zeke felt proud that he knew that much information about his teacher. He felt special and counldnt wait to tell her what he knew.

"We would be able to help you get to know our master. She's not as friendly as we are." Fang watched Zeke disgusted by his smug look. If there wasnt a customer here he would have pumbled him.

Sorphiem raised one elegant eyebrow. "A shadow child you say? Interesting..." he trailed off with a thoughtful look. He might get something out of tracking down this woman after all. He glanced over the two boys again, weighing the pros and cons. Finally he sighed.
"Fine, I will agree to go with you, but there better be some real nice items at the end of this or this will be the last journey the two of you ever go on," he whispered with deadly menace.

Fang and Zeke smiled at eachother. "Trust me sir." Said Zeke. "Hollow is not one to dissapoint."

"Sir if you would please give me and my friend some time to pack. It will only take two secconds." Fang bolted down across the store to the living space behind it and Zeke followed. They both grabbed their packs and stuffed it with one change of clothes and what little money they had left.

Zeke grabbed his two handed sword and swung it across his back. It gleamed as the light touched it. The Silver on the handle accented the black crystals nicely. He had put alot of money into his sword and it was his favorite.

Fang on the other hand grabbed a pouch of elegantly decorated throwing knives. He attacked it to his thigh and made sure that it would stay there for a long time. He was about to leave when he turned around and grabbed a book. He might as well study as he was on a journey. Zeke saw Fang and did the same.

The boys rushed to meet their chaperone. It only took them five minuets to get ready. They knew that they were forgetting something, but they didnt want to upset the customer. After all his needs were to be met before theirs.