Online Portfolio

So I went online to look around for a freelance writing gig. I was on Freelancewriting.com when I found a link called Freelance Portfolios. I walked around the site for a little while and then added in a portfolio of my own. It can't hurt. After I submitted said portfolio I was given this message:

Congratulations! You successfully submitted your portfolio. Please allow 4-5 days for us to approve your portfolio unless you chose "24-hour Approval." Once we approve your portfolio, you will receive an e-mail.

Say that one again? Did you say the words "approval"? I need to have you approve my portfolio? That could possibly explain why there are only 1776 registered users and out of those, only 332 portfolios on the site. After all, we don't want to have just any old person getting their portfolio online.

It is small things like these that make me wonder what it is that we are so worried about. There are other sites where one can place their workk online, one such popular place being DeviantArt. Here people place their artwork online, be it illustration, photographic, or prose of some sort. There, people can buy an account for extra options, but it is not necesarry in order to post your work on it. There is many of these sites around. I will keep you informed as to what this site leads to. Stick around. It should be amusing to see what they will allow for.

So I decided to post another part of the reliquary story. I'm going to try this style for a little bit as it is a different style than the one I was working with in Oracle. Here is part 2:

Denis looked at the woman and shrugged his shoulders. "I think that I prefer you not to look into the future for me. I am just happy knowing the future when it comes to me." He nodded his head and Mrs. Clarens looked at him with a quizzical look in her eyes and then screwed up her lips.

"Huhhh. Well, that's just fine then. I got me what I came here for, but oh yes." The old woman reached into her large purse which looked for all the world that it could hide an elephant with ease. "I got a book for you then.

"A book for me?"

"Huhhh. That's right I got a book for you. I came across it when I was going through my old books."

"Cleaning out the shelves in your house?" Denis smiled benignly.

The old woman frowned. "Listen here, I am not as old as you make me seem."

Denis actually chuckled. "I never said that you were-"

"I know what you said, and what you didn't. It wasn't what you said boy, but what you implied." Mrs. Clarens began to root around her purse again. After a few moments, she pulled out a small, but surprisingly thick book. On the cover o it, in bright yellow lettering was the title "How to Save the World".

"Seriously?" Denis' surprise was more than obvious and he wasn't able to hide it when the woman handed him the book in her wrinkled hands.

Mrs. Clarens made a moue with her mouth and then said, "Of course! you should read it. I t could come in handy at some point in time. It would be a great asset to you."

"This book... an asset?" He turned the book over and there was nothing on the hardback book's back. There wasn't even a dust jacket for the novel. Just the large printed letters. He turned over the old novel again and then flipped it open.

"Huhhh. It's a good book. You keep it now. Don't let it get lost in the store."

Denis looked up at the old woman and once again shrugged his shoulders in an effort to show no indifference. "I'll think about it."

The old woman slammed her hand against the counter top with a rather loud sound. It made Denis jump. The woman's eyes were glittering pools of darkness all of a sudden. Her body appeared to be suddenly rigid and there was a sense of power behind the old woman and she stared him down. "You better keep that book boy. You better read it too." Denis looked back at her and nodded his head in a dumbfounded fashion. The woman suddenly became small and imposing once more. "Huhhh. You better."

Denis shivered slightly and then placed the book on the counter. "Is there anything else that you need?" There was a slight waver in his voice and he watched as she pulled a small lighter from her purse and lit the cigarette before she opened the door and nodded at him.

"You just keep yourself in good order. I don't want to hear about nothing bad happening. Remember to keep the book." Mrs. Clarens walked out letting the cowbell attached to the door jingle slightly and she nodded before taking a long drag of her cigarette. She nodded to him. "See you again then Denis. Remember to tell me what you thought of the book the next time I come in to see you."

Denis simply nodded his head again as the old woman left the small store and left Denis with her words. They were words that seemed to smack of prophecy. He thought about it once more and then rolled his eyes and turned to walk back to the Mystery section. Once there, he forgot all about the book and began to shelve the books. It was not another minute before the phone rang again. He frowned and sighed as he slowly traveled the length from the mystery section to the front counter and leaned over the counter and picked up the phone once more. Once again, loud sounds of static screamed through the telephone and he rolled his eyes. He was about to hand the phone up when he heard the voice.

It was high pitched and it simply said, "We're coming!" The voice was so inundated and blurred by static that he could not make out anything else. As he frowned in puzzlement, he heard a wind. he looked to the door and it wasn't open and then realized that it was coming from the other side of the store. As he looked over at the mystery section, he saw the curtain flutter from behind the bookcase in the romance section that was jutting out. He frowned and then heard a yell. Denis dropped the phone in his hand which had gone silent and then tried to rush his way to the mystery section. Before he made it past the children's section, he saw the curtain flutter and the bellow of a man could be heard. He stopped just short of the other side of the bins right before the mystery section and saw a large man thrown into the bookcase in front of the curtained door. The man heaved with a grunt and tried to stand up when he was thrown to the floor again by another small body that was thrown at him at the same velocity from the same place.

The second body was that of a small girl dressed in a small white sundress. She eased her hand to her head and rubbed what appeared to be a bump under her long dark brown tresses. The man, who was almost as burly as a lumberjack, and even looked like one as well. The girl looked around the store and then looked directly at Denis. as she did so, she tugged at the lumberjack-man's sleeve and then said, "I don't think we are in Kansas anymore."

The burly man shrugged his shoulder and then said, "We're from Canada. We never were in Kansas."

Freelance Work and Other Places to Work

Today I talked with Mike - .

He's a writer and I discussed with him the validity of basically writing for a living. Not everyone needs to be able to write a novel there are other things. Here's a list of what we discussed:

1) Contract writing: Guru.com is a prime example as was sologigs.com. (looked some more... found these: Craigslist.com, elance.com, freelancewriting.com, hotgigs.com, and write4cash.com.

2) Really get published, even if it is only technical writing and not paying. guru.com is a good place to get paying jobs, but really, you need to get some writing and hone your craft. That also means taking the occasional creative writing class, which I have never done before. This could be the start of contacts, and the next Tom Clancy could be sitting next to you. These classes (held at local community colleges actually)

3) Seriously... I know a lot of trivia. Perhaps I should write about that. Write a book based on some specific amount of trivia that you know about. There are plenty of people who do it, why not me? For example "The Book of Questions and Answers".I had this book as a child and remember questions such as "How did the dinosaurs die?" and "Why do we hiccup?". It was awesome to read. So I could possibly write the same thing.

I also asked him about my help problem. The one where I just can't seem to ask for help. Well, as I was talking to him, what was it that I was doing? I was getting ADVICE, not help. That means that all I really have to do is to rephrase it in my head. Getting help makes me think of someone else doing it for me, where as Advice, I can listen, take tat, use it if I wish or not (more often than not use it of course), but it takes out the stigma of me having to "ask for Help" and feeling like I am having everything taken away form me.

He also suggested that I go back over the original sites I was at (e.g. Writers.com), and really investigate the sites for information as well as other contract writing sites.

Notes on the sites:
(For all sites, it is suggested that you join)

Guru.com - Interesting site. though for most of it, they wish for you to have a portfolio, but after signing up, you could wind up with a lot of money made for proposals and other such miscellany of jobs, anywhere from writing, to illustration, to almost anything that is useful in the job market.

Sologigs.com - appears to have been shut down. Can't seem to find the site itself, but a lot of other sites are talking about it.

Craigslist.com - I don't know how the HELL I missed this site in my searching. This is literally a Free lancer's dream. Everything from everything is there. Anything that you needed to be freelanced is on this site, and it goes over most of the world, though it uses certain cities as hubs, some of them are hard to find (like the D.C. one). However, my dad called it the largest classified ads section in the US. How was it that I missed this again? Not sure, but now I know. In response... this site is just great.

Elance.com - very similar in take and presentation to Guru.com. It is almost an exact duplicate, though it is is a little harder to grasp hold of at first, it does become infinitely easier to navigate. Though the amount of jobs is largely less populous than it's counterpart Guru, which seems to be where everyone is headed.

FreelanceWriting.com - This site seems to have it all. Jobs, contests, even a small section where they type daily news on all aspects of writing. It even has weblogs pertaining to specific sections of writing, from screenplays, to books, to even writing query letters. Also within are large listings of venues in which to publish, complete with submission guidelines and all other pertinent information. The weblogs are mostly sites that are not connected to this one, but have some good information on some of them, while others are simply try to sell you something.

Hotgigs.com - Very easy to navigate. Also a rather good site. The best part about it is that you can find things easier than all the other sites aforementioned except perhaps Craigslist.com.

Online-Writing-jobs.com - I was unexpectedly directed to this site after clicking on what appeared to be a link to somewhere else within Hotgigs. I thought I had seen a link for the same site in FreelanceWriting.com, and sure enough, it was the same. A little hard to read and almost like the old Yahoo search listings - blue links with little information. There is still a plethora of jobs to be had on here.

Write4cash.com - It appears that this site too, has vanished and gone off the face of the web. It no longer exists, but if you want the url, feel free to go there and buy it.

There are also other sites, such as the following:

Writing.com
FictionPress.com
ForWriters.com
Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy (a personal favorite)
Science-Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (not because they are into Sci Fi and Fantasy, but they really have a great section on how to market your writing as well helpful tips on how to write)
WritersDigest (what list would be complete without this and their wonderful edit guide)

Well, there is my information for today. Expect my excerpt later tonight.

Reliquary Part 1

This is a small story I've been cooking up for a while. Jsut a short story, but I'll place parts of it within here as well. Tell me what you think:

The store was simply called Hole in the Wall, and it was just that, a hole in the wall. To many, the store was actually simply a small place where many could get books. To Denis, it was a job. He liked working in the small used book store. After all, there was not much else that he enjoyed in his life. He was behind the counter, picking up a small stack of books when his hair fell into his face once more. He pushed the dark strands of brown away from his face and came back up with the books in his hands. Looking over the titles, he realized that they were mostly mystery books.

The store had been getting quite a few of those lately due to people suddenly wanting to read them due to popular authors making more books in the genre. He particularly didn’t like mysteries, but they were something to read. Hole in the Wall Comics and Used Books was actually a small house at one time. Before the current owner had bought the place to turn it into a bookstore, it had been a surf shop. How many people this far inland would need a surf shop?

The store still retained it’s useless interior design, but was now covered from top to bottom in bookshelves, and books that needed to be shelved. The front was rather crowded; a large bookcase to the left of the front entrance, and a large register space on the right covering most of the area where the houses’ porch used to be. Thought the secondary front door, one was led to the main interior, where several comic book spinners took up space, touting comics from new to old. Amongst them, a single spinner conspicuously filed with books.

In the direct center of the room, taking up most of the space was a large section of bins made out of wood and nailed to the floor. Hundreds of old comics from the 90s had been stuffed in there in an effort to try to get people to peruse them as were old copies of magazines past and present. On the right wall, hundreds of literature books managed to squeeze themselves into the walls and pile themselves into small neat and tidy piles by author’s name and then title. On the opposite wall, everything from children’s books to historical books were placed. To the immediate left of the literature books, another doorway leading to a small hallway that ran parallel with the store led to several rooms.

To one end of the hallway, the small bathroom, and alcove of hardback books was hard to miss as was the path past them to the horror books. The hall was easily only wide enough for one person to walk down, however, it too was piled with books on the floor; yet people somehow managed to get through there towards the back were the entrance to the register was without causing anything to fall over. On the rafters of the area, above all the books, even more hardback books, mostly historical fiction and authors pertaining to Arthurian Legend. Also back there, hundreds of little cubbyholes, all with names printed on anything from blue to pink to white cards. These small cubbyholes were adjustable and often filled with comics for those who had a subscription held here at the store.

On the opposite side of the hall, the most sought after section also appeared to be the most overly stuffed and never seemed to be in order as well: Fantasy and Science Fiction. The small room had shelves on the walls that were crammed to the point of bursting. It was here that people often complained of book avalanches. It was here where books, placed precariously on the stacks within the room and stacked almost waist high due to high volume would fall over at complete random or because people would upset the delicate balance system that employees had made within the room to try to keep them all upright. Denis was more often fixing things in this room than in any other place within the store much to his chagrin. It wasn’t that he disliked the books, he was simply annoyed by the massive volume of them. Thankfully, he didn’t need to worry about them at that moment. The small stack of books in his hands, he headed down the hall and turned into the main room.

Directly across from the store’s front door was another small nook that led around the back of the Science Fiction section to a set of stairs that led to the basement of the store where there were stacks of even older comics than what they had on the spinners and bins, as well as boxes of even more books. Directly on the wall leading to this stairwell was another set of bookshelves and a small pushed in set of shelves next to it. On the pushed in shelves, Romance novels spilled off the shelves. Denis always looked at it and saw nothing but large biceps, women is flowing dresses, and what he considered to be sap. If there was ever a type o genre that never had needed to be created, Romance was it.

He placed his stack of books on the floor and began shelving it. Next to him, the stairs were covered by a rather large throw-rug, or sheet, or whatever the hell the hanging cloth was supposed to be called. Since he had begun work there, the cloth had always looked rather ugly. A mish-mash of browns oranges, deep burnt yellows, and a rather disgusting garish red that made his stomach turn. He always made sure that he never ate right before he shelved the mystery books, just being in close proximity to the makeshift door made him queasy.

As he began picking at the books in accordance to the authors, he began making a mental tally of what they needed. It appeared that they had way too many of some books and not enough of others. He made a listing of the Authors in his head and made sure to keep them straight so that he could write a note to his boss. She was always wondering what they needed more of. When told, she would find the books and bring them into the store. It was rumored by many who had worked at the store previously that she had a large yellow school bus with nothing but books in it hiding out at her house. Denis knew he would have to see it himself before he believed it.

It was not that Edith was not a good boss, but she seemed defiantly often lost in thought over what it was that she was doing. She often would hold a book and sometimes forget that she was shelving and wind up carrying the book around the store for hours before she realized it. The good thing though was that her mind had memorized every book that was within the store. If she was working while Denis was on his shift, he would often ask if they had a book and Edith would be able to tell instantly if they had it in stock, where it was on the shelves and how many copies they had, hardback or paperback. That made dealing with calls where people were looking for something in particular a lot easier to work with.
Denis shoved an Agatha Christie book into the shelf and sighed at himself. Reaching down for another mystery book, he saw the curtain door shift slightly as if in a breeze. He narrowed his eyes and then reached out and pulled the curtain to the side. Looking down the stairs that lead into the darkness of the basement, he looked for anything that was out of place. Down the stairs went and then ended on a little landing, which then had stairs running down to the left into the actual basement. To the right of the landing, the back door stood locked firmly against intrusion. Denis frowned and then closed the curtain and continued to shelve mysteries. He had finished shelving the first pile when the phone rang.

He muttered silently to himself and then ran over to where the phone was next to the register. Leaning over the counter, he picked up the little black phone and spoke into the receiver. “Hole in the Wall Books. How may I help you?”

There was a crackle of static and a loud roaring noise on the other side of the phone. He pulled it away as the phone made a keening noise that was obviously a cordless phone’s feedback. He tried to stay with it, but wound up hanging the phone up instead. As he hung up the phone he was walking back to the mystery section when the front door opened and the cowbell that was attached to it rang. He turned around putting a smile on his face.

“Welcome to hole in the Wall. Anything that I can help you with?” His voice was cheerful and almost a little jumpy at its insistence. A familiar voice called back in response.

“I already know what I want. I just want to know if you have it in stock.”

“Mrs. Clarens. I thought you would be stopping in today.” Denis smiled even wider as the old woman came into view. Her dark skin was covered by a rather large shawl and she smiled a rather toothy grin at him and waved. In her mouth was a large unlit cigarette and her green eyes danced as she spoke back to him.

“Do you have a light then?”

“Now you know better,” Denis chastised. “Edith doesn’t like anyone to smoke in the store.” Denis moved himself down the hallway so that he would get behind the register to help the woman who was a regular at the store. The old woman had been coming to the store for almost as long as Edith had owned it. She had around fifteen grandchildren in various stages and was often getting them books because she believed that reading was healthy for a good mind as well as a good standing in the world. Denis had personally met every single last one of her grand children and had discovered that all of them were exceedingly smart.

Mrs. Clarens chuckled slightly and removed the cigarette from her mouth and smiled at him in a rather disarming way. “Well, there was always the chance.”

Denis shrugged his shoulders. “I doubt it will ever happen. So what can I help you to find today?”

“I was coming in for the Nancy Drew book that my young granddaughter Audrey had wanted.” She good naturedly tapped her hand at a book in the shelves behind her. If someone had walked in, they would have thought that the old woman was ignoring Denis.

Denis walked into the small back section where they stored some of their anthologies and stored books that people had called for and were coming in to pick up. Digging around he found two Nancy Drew books and called out to Mrs. Clarens. “We have two books. Are both of them yours?”

The woman’s voice floated back in surprise. “Two? Well, I’ll take a look at both of them. Perhaps Edith took out two of them for me.” Dennis nodded at her idea and then walked straight to the front counter where the old woman was adjusting her shawl, her cigarette was absentmindedly tucked back into her mouth. He placed both of them on the wooden counter and she smiled as she looked at them, her eyes lit up.

“I remember reading these when I was younger. They bring back good memories.” Denis nodded his head almost absentmindedly, not quite sure at what it was that she was trying to say. She smiled and then placed both books on the countertop again and said, “I will get both of them. She’ll love them both.”

Denis nodded and looked on the inside covers where, written in pencil, was the discounted prices for the books. He totaled them up on the register and cash exchanged hands with the books. “Do you want a bag for them?”

The woman shook her head. “No. I can carry them myself.” Mrs. Clarens started towards the door and then pulled the cigarette out of her mouth. “If you like, I can tell your future.” Denis froze and looked at the woman, narrowing his eyes. The old woman merely stared back at her and smiled at him.

“I could do it you know.”

It was a well known to some of the people that worked at the used book store that the old woman was a bit of an eccentric, and she thought she could tell the future, but many people swore by the old woman’s skills. Many still didn’t believe her in the first place and thought that she was just trying to get attention. She had proffered the chance to have his future read by her many times, but he had always turned her down. Denis was more than content to not know what was possibly in store for him.

Musical Notations and Notes

All right. Aside from the normal typing, a writer always has something that affects them, be it a specific place to write, to music that they listen to, to things that they eat and drink or the way they interact with their surroundings in order to form a more perfect writing experience. I would like to discuss how music affects us when we are wrtiing and tell you some of the music that I have been listeing to as I write. Beleive it or not, I have a lot of music that is international in its simplicity. I find that international music makes the difference for me. I listen to a popular jpop singer who goes by BoA. Actually, that is her first name, Boa Kwon. She is actually originally Korean, but she crossed over to Japan. One song that everyone seemed to like was "Don't' start Now" and one of my favorites "Valenti". It's upbeat tones seems to have me make the words fly off the computer.

Game music also seems to affect me. Sometimes I find myself listening to music from the popular videogame eries "Final Fantasy" especially the new ones. They are
all written by the popular composer Nobuo Uematsu I swear that the man is a genius. I love his style and the way some of his music actually seems to transport me as well as the myriad of styles that he uses.

Sometimes though, I also like to simply turn the TV on and let it play in the background, because if typing at home, one does not get enough background noise and hte house becomes creapily silent at times and is really bad. I'm sure that we are all laughing at the person who is afraid of silence, but it's true. I find it creapy and jsut cannot produce work.

I have a friend who recently (about a year ago), moved to Seattle. The reason she moved was because of the rain. It appeared that she could only write when it was raining outside. As you can see, even the weather can affect us. Perhaps later I will write down the list of music that has benn the most inspirational to me as I was writing this and other works.

Finishing up Chapter 3

I understand that this part is a bit shorter than normal, but I just wanted to make sure I put something up rather quickly. I do notice that I have the tendancy to type late at night. That is alright though. Blogs should be created at the end of the day correct? Something I noticed about this story though is that I have no idea why I included the black staff. I am thinking of taking it out, but I have no feedback to work back upon. I am not sure if I should leave it as is, or perhaps, make it an integral part. I seemed to have typed in what looks to be a McGuffin, but I have to figure out how it works. I think I might have made a mistake then. Well, all good writer's figure things out. I can figure this one oue.

Ildis’ Stable was actually rather large, and on top of that, was only a little down the ways from the guard station. Was everything going to turn out bad tonight? He hoped to the Gods that it wouldn’t. As he turned the corner, he saw that there was not a single guard at the post. ‘Maybe I am going to be lucky tonight,’ he thought. As he moved into the stable, he heard the familiar nickering and whuffing of the horses.

He walked down one of the ways inside when he encountered a youth. He had to be no more than six. He had a mop of brown unkempt hair, which had straw all over it. He looked up into the cowl as if to see a face and then quickly moved back to what it was that he had been doing. Luc smiled at the boy, who couldn’t see it and then said, “Do you know where I can find Mistress Ildis?”

The boy looked up at him from cleaning the stall and looked at him long and hard. Another boy suddenly came from the other side. “Hevral, have you finished cleaning…” He stopped short, brown eyes narrowing. “Who are you?” His voice was that of trying to be gruff, but he was only a few years older than the other boy. The only thing that gave it away was that his voice still had yet to crack.

“My name is Lukkis…” The boy’s features softened almost instantly. “Oh, you must be the man that was to visit Uncle Landris and Aunt Helen’s shop. Don’t worry; mother will be around in a while. Tym and Rych both went out to get your stuff. We just got the message.” The boy talked nonchalantly about it as if nothing was really going on. Then again, if your stable was outside the guard station, then you had most likely seen it all. Again, Luc smiled at the helpfulness of Anyankis and her relatives.

“That’s nice. Could you help find some horses then while we wait for your mother?” The boy nodded and they both set off down the stalls. As they reached one with a gray mare in it he pointed to her. “This is Poppy. She’s one of our best. She don’t mind too much, you just gotta make sure that you don’t feed her too much, she’ll they to gorge herself. The poor little thing, one would think that we don’t feed her enough, yet she gets more than all the other horses in the stables here!”

The boy shook his head. “She’s a good mount though, she won’t bolt or nothin’. Either she’s too dumb to, or she’s too stubborn to. I dunno which. Personally I think she’s too stubborn to. She’s just that kind a horse. She usually isn’t though.”

The boy then moved on to another horse named Lochten. He was a gray as well, but he came from stock that was bread by Illen’faie. He was a good mountain horse if nothing else. He would listen so long as the rider didn’t try to use reins on him. He also followed if told to. Luc thought that he would make a good packhorse.

They went through several more horses, some without names, others named because of what they did, like Patch, whose coat and mane were so patch worked, they had no clue what kind of horse he was. The boy however, loved him dearly and was in the process of feeding him a lump of sugar when a woman walked into the stables.

She was tall and had dark hair herself, although what color it was, brown or black, one could not tell because of the darkness. The lamps that were hung inside did not do much to illuminate the color so much as it did the shine. She had dark eyes, which looked him over rather fast just to sum him up. Her skin was actually darker than he had expected; a light earth brown. She wore a loose-fitted blouse and a pair of pants that were obviously belonging to a man.

She stepped right up to Luc and said, “I won’t do business with someone whose face I can’t see…” Luc shook his head. “Well then, I’m sure that I can go and find business somewhere else.” The woman shook her head and looked at Luc with a hard gaze.

“You didn’t let me finish.”

Luc shrugged.

“However, because I have received word from my cousin Anyankis; and the horses seem to take more than a liking to you; I will do business for you.” She was crisp, if not concise and that amused Luc. “I understand that you need four horses?” She asked him the question expecting a straightforward answer Luc sensed so he spoke a simple yes and she nodded. “So then, I’ll pack up a horse with your gear… Tym! Rych!” Her voice rang out and Luc looked out the door, afraid that the city guard would descend upon him in a moment. What descended however was much different than what they expected.

Two boys with dark reddish-brown hair stumbled into the barn. As son as they did, Luc knew that the two boys were twins. They were about seventeen years, but Luc was sure that they could have been older, for what they looked about twenty. He nodded to them from underneath his cowl, which made them nervous, but after a minute they seemed to relax.

“Thank you for your help. I will be sure to tell others…” he was cut off when she pointed to the black staff in his hand. “They gave it to you? That’s good; we couldn’t get rid of the cursed thing fast enough.” Luc turned to the staff, which simply glimmered in the light. “What do you mean?” She shrugged. “It gives me bad vibes.”

Luc shrugged. It didn’t seem to leave him with any bad impressions. Ildis began to give orders to the boys. She turned back to Luc when everything was done. “Now about the price of the horses Master Lukkis…” Luc smiled under his hood. A woman who knew what it was she was after; he chuckled to himself.

Chapters Versus Parts

So I have realized that I have starting writing this with no real purpose in mind other than to tell a story. What I was orriginally going to write in parts has now seemed to turn into a chapter selection. I like better how it is being written,though I seem to stop at odd points (more like when I fall asleep...). Perhaps I will go back to parts soon. Still I hope you all like it. Here is the next part I wrote:

“I’m Landris. My cousin sent word to me that a man would be coming. I suppose that you are that man?” Luc didn’t even bother to ask how the message had gotten there before him. He just simply nodded and Landris grabbed him by the arm. He dragged him to the back of the shop where he pushed aside a curtain and stepped into a room, which was lit by a candle.

“It’s a good thing I got the message and saw you in my window.” Luc smiled to himself, finally able to realize how Landris knew that he was at the door of the shop. Landris continued on as if nothing had happened. “Those guards were here earlier on tonight too. I don’t suppose that you are the white haired person they are looking for are you?” Landris was straight to the point; he didn’t call for tact in anyway shape or form. It also seemed as if he didn’t care.

“No, I am not the white haired person they are looking for, but none the less I am with that person. We are trying to get out of the city…”

Landris put up a hand. “Say no more master…” He trailed off so that Luc would provide for a name.

“Lukkis, simple isn’t it?”

Landris smiled and then said, “Well then, Lukkis it is I guess then.” Luc had a feeling that Landris knew that Lukkis wasn’t his real name, but the man didn’t press him. He seemed just fine to know that he had a name in the first place. “Well, come on back. Don’t just stand on the other side of the curtain.” Landris pushed aside the rest of the curtain and then directed Luc to come back into the room with him.

They entered a small room where a table had been laid with provisions. The walls were simple and so was the table. A doorway at the other side of the room also held a curtain and it was from there that Luc was surprised by a woman entering the room with a large wedge of yellow cheese in her hands.

“Don’t worry about her,” Landris spoke as she entered. “She’s my wife; Helen She was the one who intercepted Anyankis’ message. She won’t bother us any more for the rest of the night, but I would prefer for her to stay in case I need to get you anything.” Landris rubbed his hands looking over the stuff on the table. Helen looked at Luc with peering eyes, trying to see into his hood. He smiled even though he knew that she would not be able to see it.

Landris looked at Luc. “These will most likely be all that you need. Now, you have three people with you?”

“That would be correct. But you had better pack for one more, just in case.” Landris nodded and said, “Wise man, never know what you might get into. You have horses I presume?”

“Not yet, your cousin Anyankis told me to try Ildis, she said that she was good.”

Landris gave a hearty chuckle and Helen smiled broadly. “Ildis eh? Well, I can see why she is the best. Not only is she the only stable master who is open all the time, but she is also another one of our cousins.”

Luc was surprised. “Is everybody in this town related then?”

Helen shook her head. “Not everybody, just most of them.” Her voice was pleasant. Not the sensual grating that marked Anyankis own voice. “Most of us set up in this town because there was nowhere else. You’ll find a lot of us are related, though, if we aren’t related, we’re most likely good friends.” Helen shot him another smile. “You’re in the mountain towns hon. If life wasn’t like this, the towns would most likely fall apart!” Luc made an appreciative nod.

Landris chuckled and then pointed to the table. “We’ll need more supplies as if another person is traveling with them my dear.” Helen nodded and then was trough the curtain once more. As she left, Landris turned to Luc.

“Back to the business at hand; I have for you plenty of travel rations, yellow and white cheese; the white you’ll want to eat a little faster as it doesn’t keep for very long. There are some bags of travel biscuits as well as a few loaves of brown bread my wife bakes specially to sell in this store. She’s famous for it. Good on the road and for breakfast.” Landris smiled at Luc and gave him a wink.

“There’s also some butter to go with it, careful with it though. I have placed some water skins in the bag and a few extra empty ones as well. There’s exactly three cloaks in there in case it suddenly gets really rainy. However, it will also help you in the snow. I suppose that you are headed down through the Pass that is to the south?”

“Do you mean the Arrow Pass?”

“None other than that one.”

“I wasn’t quite sure. We might travel a little to the east towards Luxin and take Bottleneck Pass. I’m not quite sure…”

Landris pulled up another hand as if to say that he no longer wished to press. “Don’t worry Master Lukkis, I will take care of you. Just in case, I have placed two more pairs of boots in the supplies. There are also some bags of grain to help you. I assume that you will be taking about, say… four to five horses?”

“That is about right.”

“Well, we’ve put some sacks of grain for feed as well. There isn’t too much grazing grass in Bottleneck, but you should be able to get though without too much trouble which ever way you plan to go.”

“Thank you Master Landris. How much will I owe you?”

Landris gave Luc a price and then settled to haggle over it for a few minutes. They struck up upon a bargain about the same time Helen came back with another cloak and some more rations. She had also brought backpacks to place all the supplies in. Landris then went behind the curtain and came back a few moments later with a tall black staff.

As to what it was made out of, one could not tell, but it had a sheen to it that seemed uncanny for mere polished wood. The top and bottom of the staff had been fitted with metal tops; although as to what the metal was Luc did not know. It gleamed in the lamplight of the candles and then Landris passed it to Luc.

“Sir this staff never did belong to us. We just found it one day upon our doorstep, back when my father owned this shop. He always held onto it for someone to come and claim. No one ever did, so we kept it. Sir, I think that the staff should go with you. I don’t know why, I just believe that it would be better off with you.”

Luc nodded, although mystified as to what the staff could possibly be for, and took it from Landris’ hands. He then paid Landris in full and then began to pick up one of the backpacks. Helen’s hand came over his white ones and she shook her head. “Don’t you worry about it Master Lukkis, we will have it sent over to Ildis’ stables immediately. We know that you came here without a horse, so you need not worry at all about carrying it there.”

Luc nodded and then spoke. “Thank you Mistress Helen...”

“Oh, just Helen to you Master Lukkis, no need to honor me.”

“… Just Helen then, thanks to you. And you too Mas…” Landris held up a finger as if to warn Luc and he smiled under his hood. “… Landris; thank you too.” Landris smiled and nodded his approval.

“I better be going to Ildis’ now; if you could just direct me in her direction?”

The couple nodded and then gave Luc instructions. They opened the back door so that he could leave unmolested by the guards, just in case they were still out on the main street. He bid the couple farewell and then sneaked off down the back alleyway. As he looked out into the main street from the way, he realized that he had been hiding here before he tried to get up the street. He cursed his bad luck again and when he saw that there was no one else on the street, he moved on.

Oracle Chapter 3 Beginning

This is the next chapter n teh Oracle story. So far there have been no comments, but I am sure that somewhere, there can be some. This is the next part of the story of Oracle. Mind you that this "Oracle" that I am using for a title to this story has nothign to do with the previous posting of a prolouge. That was simply somethign else all together and had nothing to do with this one. I also decided that I would go back to Luc. In this third chapter. If you have missed the beginings of other Chapters, I have realized that I should place them in there. So:

Chapter 1
Chapter 2

III: Luc

RIGHT after they had left, Luc waited at the table with the money and as the wench came by again, he motioned to the money on the table. “They’re for you. I just stayed to make sure you got them.” The wench smiled as she picked them off the table. Luc fished into one of his sleeves and pulled out a crown. “This is so that we were never here…” The girl’s eyes widened at the gold piece and then she nodded real solemnly and said, “Who the hell are you anyway? I’ve never heard of anyone by your description before in my life!”

Luc nodded and then placed another one on the table with the one he held. “Good girl,” he replied. The girl smiled again and scooped the two coins on the table.

“The name is Anyankis, Ana for short. I’ll be here if you need anything. You can go to Landris’; I’m his cousin. Mention my name and he’ll set you up. He owns the local Chandlery.” The hood turned in her direction.

“How did you know that I was intending to leave?”

The girl remained smiling and then said, “I can see that you just have that look about you. Plus, the two crowns all themselves are a big enough hint. Any who treat me nice also gets treated nice.” She then put a hand on the table and spoke in a low tone. “The guards have been getting a little edgy lately too. If you need horses, then I suggest that you go to Ildia’s. She has the best ones.”

“You’re just a bundle of help today aren’t you?”

“I know. Also, say hello to your big friend for me.” With that, Anyankis quickly explained where the chandlery was, winked and smiled, and left off to go serve another table. Luc smiled to himself under his cowl and then spoke in a soft tone to himself. “There it goes again…” He stood up and then began to leave just as someone walked into the tavern. They were dressed in the local guard’s blues and had the sigil of the sun across their chest. A broad sword was laced to his belt. He waked in and Luc sat right back down again. Thank god he was sitting close to the door. As the man walked in, he didn’t bother to shut the door.

As cold air seeped into the tavern, the man looked around and then stepped into the tavern. Luc slowly edged around his table to reach the door. The man, who had stepped into the middle of the room narrowed his eyes and then spoke.

“I’m looking for someone. He’s got shock white hair. He is wanted for treasonous acts.” Luc cursed under his breath. The entire tavern looked at the man silently. Luc saw Anyankis motioning with her eyes to the door. He saw the look on her face and then realized that she was telling him to go. He nodded his thanks and then swept out the door behind the man’s back. The last thing that he heard was the man’s voice:

“There is a reward for his capture if he is alive…”

Luc cursed again as he hurried down the street. It was terribly cold, and so he wrapped himself up tighter in his cloak. If he wasn’t careful, he might freeze. He did like it when it was cold, just not this cold. However, he had better things to do than to worry about the temperature. Like the girl said, he had to go out of the city and he did have to go to those places that she had mentioned. He hoped that they wouldn’t ask too many questions.

As he wandered down the street, he passed many other taverns in which there were also blue dressed guards. “I don’t know what it is you have gotten yourself into Jerrak,” he muttered to himself, “but it better have been worth it.” As he continued to walk down the street, the wind blew straight at him, threatening to blow off his cowl. He quickly grabbed the top of it and pulled it down as if to secure it. As he did so, he was apt enough to see the three guards that were walking down the street. He quickly turned down the first alleyway that he saw, his cloak swishing after him. He thanked the Gods that his cloak was dark enough to blend into the shadows of the night.

He stood there waiting to see if they had seen him, thinking that he might be Jerrak, but thankfully, no cry was given up. He waited holding his breath until the guards passed by. As soon as they did, he let go of the breath he was holding in a ragged cough. ‘Too much cold air,’ he thought glumly. As he peeked out of the alleyway, he looked around for signs of the city guards. There were none to be seen in sight, so he quickly hurried on towards the Merchant Street.

As soon as he got there, he was forced to hide again. Another set of guards was looking around the front end and another set was looking around the back end. As Luc cursed his luck, he wished that things would go smoother for him. As one set of guards passed his alleyway hiding spot, he mashed himself against the wall so as not to be seen, and stepped in something icy and slimy. He suppressed a shudder and an instant groan of unhappiness and as soon as the guards had passed, looked out of the alleyway to the other side.

Holding his cowl so that it covered his face, he looked for the other two guards. Not seeing them, he quickly looked for the sign of the chandlery Anyankis had mentioned to him. He suddenly saw the sign of a barrel and a pair of boots. Below it, painted in dull red letters was the name ‘Landris’.

He smiled at his luck and then ducked back into the darkness as the two guards that had passed him earlier came walking back up the street. After a moment, they passed and continued to walk up the street.

Thankfully, Landris’ was only a few doors ahead. He watched around the corner as the guards walked past it and then slowly crept up the street behind them. As he tiptoed behind them, he was forced to hide behind a barrel because one of them turned around to pick up a set of dice he had dropped. He thanked the Gods that the barrel had been there in the first place, yet he cursed the guard for his clumsiness.

As he walked up to the chandlery, the guards continued to walk forward. As he lifted a hand to the doorknob, the guards stopped.

“Did you hear something?”

“No. I didn’t hear anything.”

“What do you suppose it’s a rat?”

“I don’t think that it’s anything and I think that it’s your imagination running away with you…”

Luc nodded in agreement with the guard. ‘That’s right, it’s not a rat, it’s a person you ninny!’ He tried to turn the doorknob and found that it wouldn’t budge. Hissing in frustration, he tried to shake it a bit.

“Hey, wait, I heard it too… I don’t think it’s a rat though.” Both of the guards had stopped a ways up the street. Luc growled in frustration. ‘Give that man a prize,’ he thought sarcastically. He suddenly began to panic. He was about to lift a hand to bang on the door, when the knob turned in his hand and the door swung open without a hitch. He fell forwards into the arms of a middle-aged man, who promptly dragged him inside the shop and closed the door behind him, all without so much as a single sound.

At the moment that the door snapped shut, the guards turned around. The first guard, who had not heard anything at all at first, smacked the other one in the back of the head. “See? Not even a rat!” The second one rubbed his head and then spoke a curse. “You never know!” It was all he managed to sputter before the other guard smacked him on the head again.

As Luc and the man, who were now inside the store listened, they heard another man’s voice.

“We think we have a live one! Come on! She’s back at the station.”

They heard the rustle of feet and then both were off. Luc let out an exasperated sigh. He turned around to face the man in the darkness of the shop. The man had a mess of black hair and had deep brown eyes. He smiled in the darkness.

A Tale of Death, or a Simple Prologue

All right. So it is rather late, andI missed a day. Not a good thing, I shall try to keep up. However, sitting here, i've been madly pounding at my keyboard. I like the way that all of this came out. I took a simple break to make sure that I still have some other creative tallent. Some of the names in the small prologue that I used are taken straight from the Seasons. The names however are in Finnish. I was flipping though a random languages on Wikipedia, looking for some inspiration on something completly differnt. I also insist that one should always learn somethign new. I found them actually in wikipedia. A wonderful sight. There is also the Omniglot site. There, they have the listings of all languages that arae written in the world. I assume that it too will play a part. tell me what you thinkof this. The Tale is completely different than that of the orriginal Oracle. I will start Oracle again in a few days.



This tale that I tell will be my last. My time upon this coil, this wheel, has almost come to a close. The wheel has spun many into my eyes and past, and I fear that I should tell of this before it all comes crashing down upon my head. My name though, you must know by now, it must seem quite a pity to you. This story is only told, so that it will be remembered. No one needs to know my name, but I fear the Ravens, so I shall not speak it. My eyes however, must have given it away by now.
However, have you eve supposed what it was that Death thinks? Yes, she is indeed a free spirit, born from the worlds beginning. She was always there, and she has her own jobs to do. She is as she ever was, but she too has her won tale. It has often been called Death’s Tale, but you shall know what becomes of it…

The woman sighed and pulled her shawl tighter around her frame. As she sat next to the fire, she stared into the flames with dark eyes. The fire was only a small blaze against the chill that winter brought, but that was to be expected, as was the person who was coming to the door. She waited for only a moment and then spoke, “Enter.” Her voice was slight, but projected across the one room cabin. There was a slight shuffle at the other end of the door and it opened, brining a chill wind in.

A man stepped through the open portal and into the small living area. He was tall and dressed against the chill of the cold, unlike the small woman sitting near the fire. “Close the door.” He obeyed her command quite swiftly and she smiled to herself. As soon as the door was shut, she bade him to come near the fire. “It is after all rather cold outside. Would you rather not be warmer inside?”

The man shook his head. “I am quite fine where I am…” She brought up a single hand to stop what he was saying. “There is no need for that,” she spoke evenly. His green eyes flickered at the gesture. Her skin was a light shade of pale, and as the firelight danced off of it, he moved a few steps closer. “Leave that horrid thing by the door.” He stopped unaware at first to what she was talking about and then realized. He slowly swung the bundle from his back and placed it by the door. He also took of his cloak and hung it on a peg near the door as well. His boots however, he left on.

“There is no need to have them on while you are in my dwelling. You may take them off. I do not mind.” Hesitating, he shook his head and left them on. “Suit you,” was all she said. “What is it that has brought you here to find me of all people?”

The man shook his head, his silver hair cascading around his neck in a common warriors tail. “The same as all others seek from you. I wish to know what it holds for me, the future.”

The woman laughed, “Yes, they all seek the future, but not all of them will be in it.” The man took a tentative step forward and the woman turned back to look on him with sightless eyes. “Stop where you are Talvi, I do not wish to harm you.” The woman looked down and Talvi sensed a slight bit of regret in her demeanor. “Talvi, what is it that you wish to know? Weather or not you will be in the future? Why is it that you wish to know of it?”

“I want to know if I become what I have always wanted…”

The woman’s eyes glowed a slight red. At that moment, she began to speak in a monotone voice:

“Broken are promises that the First have made,
Spoken and written have they not been obeyed?
Pact made with Death’s own rules,
Find that they are only mere tools.
Seasons may come to rise in power,
But it shall fail them in the critical hour.”

As she finished, she slowly slumped into her chair. Her shawl, fell limply along her shoulders. Her skin was beaded with sweat. To tell as she had had taken much out of her. She was too old to issue such. That was why she had come to live alone in the cabin anyways. She looked towards the back where bookshelves were piled with books, journals, papers and other such, all written by her hands or another when she was too week to do so. They were all of the prophecies that she had ever made. Some had been told and they had come true, others yet still had their times to come.

Talvi stood there with his deep green eyes searching the woman for signs of anything else. She just heaved breath after ragged breath for a while. He stood there patiently for a while and then said, “Is that all you have to tell me?” The woman shook her head and then said, “That is all I dare tell you. Do not ask me anymore, least I tell you something you do not want to hear…”

“So what you said was for my amusement then?”

“No, You know I cannot speak naught but the truth. Do not ask me to See anything else.”

Talvi grinned a rather selfless grin and stroked his pitched white beard. It had been trimmed to fit his square jaw and accentuate it. He was not quite used to it yet, but it would suit him. He nodded to himself a moment and then spoke. “Thank you. I shall see if what you have Seen will be reality.” The woman turned her sightless eyes on him and then spoke in a rather harsh voice, “Have I ever been wrong that you know of?” Talvi shook his head.

“Old woman, you have never been wrong, however, you are getting on in years…”

“I was alive before your great grandfather’s times boy. And don’t call me old woman.”

Talvi shrugged. “All the same, I would not take it past you that you will soon no longer be able to See. Be careful now.” With his words hanging on the air, he picked up his sword and then placed his cloak back over his shoulders and then walked out back into the cold. As the door slammed shut, the woman smiled a sad smile.

“Come out,” she spoke, “I know you are there old friend.” Within the darkness to one side of the shelves of books another figure cloaked in a black cloak stepped out into the light, a rather tight hood covered their features and upon one shoulder, sat a single raven. In one hand, the specter carried a scythe on witch yet another Raven sat.

“You ever were able to sense my presence my dear,” the figure spoke. The woman smiled and then pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders again. “Perhaps it is because you and I are old friends, but then perhaps it is because I danced out of your clutches ever again and again.” The figure laughed. “Well met indeed friend, well met indeed.” The woman smiled and motioned to a chair that she could not see.

“Please, warm yourself by this fire.”

“You know that I can feel n warmth of it, I am cold as ice itself. However, the thought behind it is accepted gratefully.” The woman nodded rather thoughtfully as the figure sat.

“Take of your hood. You should be all right in here. There will be no one else coming for a while.”

The figure laughed ruefully. “Did you See that?”

The woman smiled, “Perhaps.”

The figure shook its head and then pulled of the cowl to its cloak. A cascade of silver hair flowed out into a pair of elegant shoulders. Dark brooding eyes, completely white in contrast to the woman’s own black, were but a pale reflection of the person’s demeanor. Her lips were full and lustrous and her skin was as pale, if not lighter in paleness, that the woman who sat in front of her. As she had leaned her scythe against the wall, the Raven on her shoulder cawed and then flapped its wings to join the other that had made a perch of it.

“What you saw for Talvi, do you know when it will come about?”

“I know no more than you my dear. If I had known more, I would have told him.”

“What of the part that you did not tell him?”

The woman smiled as her gaze was directed back to the fire. “That was for you neither. It is something that will be written down, taken note of, and when the time comes Ages from now, when the wheel spins back once again to the Age that created us, even after, scholars will pore over these texts trying to find again, what has happened, what will happen at that time, and what is yet to come.” She chuckled to herself at that moment and the other woman flashed her white eyes.

“Do not try and mock me Death. I know why you are here, but I know that it is not because you need to take me. You wished for me to see the future for you too. I know. So if you remember what I told Talvi, then you should be good. After all, that was just as much for you as it was for him.”

Death’s eyes narrowed to thin slits as she peered at the woman in front of her. The woman merely smiled right back at her. She dismissed it with a toss of her head. She looked back at the shelves and sighed. Even after her death, who would take care of them? The woman nodded. “Yes, who indeed…?” Death’s head spun back to her as the woman gazed into the fire. Sometimes she wondered whether the woman was an empathic, but she knew it not to be true.

Death stood up from where she had been sitting and slowly smiled at the woman. “Is there a reckoning coming?” The woman turned sightless eyes upon Death. “Is that a question, or a Question?” Death smiled unforgiving. “It is neither,” she said, “Just a thought.” The woman near the fire chuckled to herself and nodded. “Indeed Death, we all know that thoughts are what kill people more often than not.”

Death stood up and looked at the old woman as she once more regained hold over her scythe. “I am not going to be here to take you, you know…”

The woman looked up, a startled look on her face. “Oh,” she smiled, “I know. It would be sad though. After all, we have become such good friends you and I my dear.” Death smiled, something that was meant for this woman alone, something that no other mortal had seen before. “Yes indeed, we do get along.” The raven’s cawed once, but retained their perch on her scythe. The other raven finally cawed once in the ensuing silence and flew to perch on her shoulder.

“Oh, I have some cakes in one of the cupboards for your two darling ravens my dear. Hold on a moment before you go so I can give them to you.” Both Ravens cawed in delight as the old woman got up and walked to a cupboard on the sidewall. As she pulled out the small grain cakes from the cupboard, the Ravens took wing to her side in order to have them. She held out hands and passed one to each and then pulled out two more. She slowly walked back to Death and placed them in her hand. “For later, the little dears.”

“If I’m not careful,” Death said, “you will spoil them rotten and then how will they be able to do their jobs?” The old woman made a face and waved her hand in the air. “Oh don’t be so crass. They deserve a little treat every now and then.” Death smiled once again her enigmatic smile and then spoke once more. “I hope to come back and see you old friend…”

“Don’t worry death, you will see me again. I See that.” The woman chuckled.

“I hope you are right… Oraclé.”

The Finish of Oracle's Chapter 2

I hope that this story has not lost you as of yet, or that it seems too prevaricated. I would thougroughly enjoy any comments that you might have on the story.If you see anythign that seems out of place, then by all means, feel free to comment on it. Her eis the next part that I have written:

“Did Master Luc say anything else other than what to tell us?” Lyzanor lifted an eyebrow as Jerrak looked thoughtful for a minute. Jerrak shook his head. “No, nothing else. He just said that you would help us.”

The voice came from the bed, a soft and melodious voice. “It’s not everyday that you meet a ‘stranger far from home…’” Lyzanor continued to drink his wine, ignoring the voice all together. Jerrak shifted his gaze to the covered bed, curious.

“What brought you here to Catterinia’s? It’s not unusual to find half-breeds like myself, but you’re cesilliöa, a pure elf.” Telarai smiled at Jerrak’s question.

“I have often thought of that myself… I don’t know why I am here sometimes. Other times, I am all to sure I know why.” He turned his gaze to Jerrak and then looked at Lyzanor. He had just finished the ‘faie wine and noticed Telarai’s gaze on him.

“How old would you say I am Lyzanor?”

Lyzanor shrugged his shoulders. “I wouldn’t know. Don’t you have longer life-spans than the rest of us?”

Telarai nodded. “Indeed we do, for I am indeed very old. I used to work for Catterinia’s grandmother.”

Lyzanor’s mouth dropped at this.

“My brother was here as well, and yet we both still appear as young as we do. My brother is younger than me by about thirty years. Is this a surprise to all of you?”

Lyzanor shook his head up and down in sheer dumb amazement. Jerrak shook his head no. “Why should I be surprised at all?”

Telarai smiled vaguely.

“When we first came here, we had come due to extenuating circumstances. We did not want to come here, but it seemed the most appropriate place. When we got here, we were young; by our standards, we are still very young. We have quite a bit more time left… however; there is still the fact that we knew nobody. As we knew of this city, only because of what it was, being so close out of the mountains, that was all we knew. Well, when we got into the city, we had never seen such ever before.

“The moment we stepped inside the city, we were overwhelmed by everything, including the entry gate. It was after all, rather grand. We were used to not having any boundaries. After all, what was the need for walls if no one could find you in the first place? After only a little time here in the entire place, we lost our purse. We had been pick-pocketed.

“After some time, we found our way to this street. Here, Catterinia’s predecessor, Stazia, took us in. She didn’t require anything from us at first. She said that it wasn’t our faults…” At this, Telarai stopped for a moment and bit back his words. He wiped a corner of his eyes and Auraia came over and held his hand. Together, they were a striking pair. Now that Lyzanor knew that they were both male, he saw nothing but a strange sort of blandness in the beauty that they possessed. However, they did look a lot like each other.

Jerrak saw however, the beauty in both of them which Lyzanor could not see. The curves of each, the stillness; everything like a still life portrait. Jerrak shook his head, refusing to listen to his inner voice. He tried to listen again as Telarai continued.

“I don’t know how it started, but one day, Stazia came up to me and asked me if I would work for her. At the time that she was keeping us both inside the house, I was keeping it up so that we were not just acting like parasites on her hospitality. She and all the boys inside the house insisted that I needn’t do it, but I felt like I had to do something to repay their hospitality. So, I help around; I kept the place looking nice and helped the boys get whatever they needed. I had become like the houses keeper.

“Stazia of course did not mind. However, some of the more frequent visitors had seen me sometimes; I tried to keep out of sight a whole lot. It obviously didn’t work, because some of the regulars accused Stazia of holding back. She was worried for me you know. She didn’t know what to do, so she asked me to work for her in hopes that I would be able to stop her customer’s accusations…

“I’ve been working here ever since. Then one day, a stranger walked into the door. It was Master Luc. We didn’t know what he had come for, but when he saw me, he instantly asked me if I was a stranger far from home. I immediately said yes not knowing what it was that he had meant at the time. He had then shoved out both of his palms and showed me the crescent moons that were tattooed there. I wasn’t sure what it was that he wanted. I thought he had meant in reality.

“After that our life changed. Auraia and I talked to him for a while and then we too became a part of the network of Strangers. We help people and they help us. That is what it is here for. I doubt that anyone else could possibly know about it here in the city. I believe that we are the only Strangers here in the city.”

At this, Telaria paused for a moment as if to reflect. Turning to Jerrak, he spoke in a commanding tone of voice. “Why is it that you need our help?”

“We were being followed and we were hoping that you could help get us out of the city, and fast.” Auraia thrust out his right hand on which were tattooed the twin crescents. They had been tattooed in a silver color, the same as his own. However, his had been marred by a cut he had suffered on his hand.

“Do you know what this means?” Auraia continued to hold out his hand. “It means that we will always be here, no matter what and the other Stranger will always help us; but it is also an obligation.”

Telarai cut him off almost immediately. “Don’t speak of it as such tella mia (my dear), we are not supposed to look at it like that…” At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Auraia looked at the door and then turned to Telarai almost instantly with a look on his face. After a second knock, he bounded back to the bed and hid amongst the silk that streamed down from the canopy. Telarai went to the door and then opened it slightly.

A boy burst in. “Melody! Oh my god, this is so bad, you have to come and see this…” He turned for a moment and looked at the two men sitting on the couch. A look of pure panic crossed his face. “Oh Melody, Melody,” his voice was a moan. “They are still here! Oh God, that makes it even worse. Oh Goddess!”

The boy, who was obviously no more than seventeen summers, had brown hair that seemed down in front of his eyes like a thick carpet over his eyes. His darkened and tanned skin was a sudden contrast to Melody’s light skin. Telarai put out a hand and placed it on the boy’s shoulder. The boy was about the same height and Telarai out his other hand over the boy’s lips, pressing a single index finger to it.

“Shhh. Now tell me from the beginning what is going on.” The boy tried several starts until he finally just gave up. “You have to go see for yourself in the front hall, but for heaven’s sakes, don’t let yourself be seen!”

“You worry too much about me Sammel. I will be careful though, go back to your room and I will take care of this.” The boy, Sammel, nodded and then glumly began to leave, but before he left, he place a hand on Telarai’s cheek and spoke some soft words that he meant for no one else to hear. Telarai nodded and then spoke back in Sulinin. The boy nodded and then smiled. “I hope I will be able to live up to your expectations Telarai.” He spoke the name without an accent. This surprised Jerrak. Lyzanor however was a different story.

He had drunk too much ‘faie wine and now he was so drunk that his eyes were glazed over. He wasn’t very concerned or for that matter aware of his surroundings. Now, he was going through a pleasant buzz that kept him from reality at the moment. Jerrak poked him and nothing happened, which made him disgusted. Lyzanor couldn’t even feel if someone had touched him or not. That was the dangers of too much ‘faie wine though.

Telarai turned around and motioned for Jerrak to follow him. “My brother will take care of Nor. He’s a little bit too drunk, but I’ll need someone with me.” Jerrak nodded immediately and then cursed himself for doing so. Why did he have to go? He stood up from the couch and then moved with Telarai out the door. Sammel led them down the corridor and then paused for a moment in front of a landing.

“Stay low and listen here. I hope it all turns out alright.”

Telarai nodded and then shooed the boy off.

As Jerrak sat behind a tall plant on the landing, he could see several med dressed in regimentals of the city guard. They each had a broad sword strapped to their belts as well as the city’s golden sun emblazoned on their armor upon their chest. Catterinia was all smiles. It appeared as if she had just come in.

“Well what can I do for you folks?”

The guard in the front, a tall black haired man who had only a goatee shook his head vigorously. “Sorry Catterinia, we are here on business this time.”

“Well aren’t you always here on business, Captain Y’tell?” Catterinia’s inquiry was made from what appeared to be a truly curious look. The captain shook his head.

“Tonight is different ma’am. We are here to see Melody.” Telarai took in a deep intake of breath through clenched teeth as he was mentioned by name. Jerrak shook his head and made a motion for him to be quiet. “You don’t understand,” hissed Telarai. “It’s not you that they are after!” Jerrak shook it off and said, “Listen, will you!”

They both turned their attention to the door. Catterinia had put her hands on her hips and was giving them a mischievous look. “My, aren’t we goin’ high up tonight. And what would you want with my little Melody?”

“I’m sorry Catterinia ma’am, but he is to be arrested for treasonous acts against the crown of Nalmia.”

Catterinia blanched for a moment and then looked at the guards with serious eyes. “What do you mean ‘treasonous acts’?”

“He is to be questioned and sent to Maruch. I am sorry ma’am.”

“I don’t believe this… and to think that I let him go today!”

Jerrak took a sudden breath and turned to the boy next to him. Telarai simply closed his eyes, a semi-relieved look upon his face.

“What? What do you mean you let him go today?”

“I mean just that! I let his go on towards Luxin. He wanted a trip, and as you know, he has been working here ever so long, he’s never asked for a break ever and he has enough money to go anywhere by now and he just looked so happy when I told him that it was his right to go anywhere he wanted and oh…” Catterinia just continued on until Y’tell put a hand up.

“That is quite enough ma’am, thank you. Do you remember what time he left?”

Catterinia placed a hand on her hip and a thoughtful hand to her jaw, “I believe that he left sometime around the midday… yea, a little before midday. He wanted to get a start and reach a town… I can’t remember the name of it now, but I’m sure it will come to me.” She smiled at the guard for a moment and then nodded her head. “I just wish you had come earlier. I would have kept him behind… oh, it’s just too much.”

Catterinia lifted a hand to her face, as if to brush away tears. Jerrak looked to Telarai who had a smile upon his face as he was watching he spectacle. He nodded his head once as if to confirm what she was saying. Suddenly, Catterinia burst into muffled sobs. “He was our finest too!” The captain looked back to the other men who were with him, and a few of them shrugged. One or two of them looked uncomfortable. Y’tell put out a hand to try to comfort Catterinia and her sobbing became worse.

It was all Telarai could do to keep from laughing. “Let’s go back to the room. We have some things to do before we can leave.” Jerrak nodded in agreement.

I am only posting a smaller section today. I do write a lot. I will perhaps do another boook review tomorrow as I am finishing a rather interesting book tonight. Here is the next part of Oracle:

Lyzanor’s eyes widened for a moment and then realization seemed to seep through to him. “Oh Goddess! This isn’t what I thought that it would be!” At this, Catterinia laughed even harder. He turned to Jerrak and looked at him with an accusatory glance. “You knew about this didn’t you? You knew!” Jerrak put his hands up and shrugged his shoulders. “We were on a green lantern street. I thought that you knew…”

“I most certainly did not know!” The tone in Lyzanor’s voice was becoming panicked. “I don’t need to worry… there is most likely some explanation. He can’t be a ‘Melody’ can he?” He turned his pleading eyes to Jerrak. Jerrak turned to Catterinia who was wiping tears from her eyes and still chucking. She spoke to the boy:

“You better tell them both…”

The boy merely smiled and then bowed his head to his two guests. His hands had never left his lap where he had placed them when he had sat down a second time. “My name is indeed Melody, but my true name is Telarai. It is Sulinin for ‘Melody’. You see, I am a Sulinis’faie.”

At this, he lifted his head up to the two men and smiled rather winningly. Jerrak shifted his face away rather diffidently, and Lyzanor’s mouth dropped open even further.

“He’s a ‘faie!” The boy turned green eyes towards the surprised Nadirian and nodded once. Nor smacked his head and then sighed out loud. “Just my luck,” he began to mutter. “I guess that explains why he can wear something so skimpy in such cold weather…” Catterinia smiled once again; something that was beginning to annoy Jerrak, and then said, “I will leave you three to… whatever it is that you came for.” With that, she began to laugh again as she left saying out loud, “He didn’t know! He didn’t know!”

Lyzanor grimaced. “Not what I expected at all…”

Jerrak shook his head and then spoke in a low voice. “Telarai, we are both Strangers far from Home.” He still refused to look directly at the boy that sat in front of them. The boy looked up at Jerrak for a moment and then nodded. He brought both of his wrists together and then spoke rather softly:

“Follow and I shall lead. Lead and I shall follow. By the names of the gods that are uttered in the night; I pledge to help you.” He placed his left palm up and showed them a small sign upon his palm. Here, a crescent moon tattooed into his palm.

“I’m Jerrak and he is Lyzanor. We shall follow.”

Melody nodded for a second as if to confirm and was reassured when Jerrak showed him his own palm. The boy stood up for a moment and then beckoned them to follow him. “You had better hurry; follow me.”

As they exited the small garden, they passed Catterinia. The boy stopped for only a moment and then spoke to her, “Please, cover for me, we are going to use the far back room.” The woman nodded in agreement and then said, “Take as long as you like. I’ll keep watch.” With that, she bustled off into the main reception area. Telarai motioned for them to follow once again and then led them up a back flight of stairs. This took them to a second floor where he led them down a corridor of grand proportions.

There were moans of pleasure, mostly male, and some of the doors were open. However, they didn’t stop until they came to the very last door on the hall. As Telarai moved his hand to open the door, he stopped with his hand on the doorknob. “I trust then that you ran into Master Luc if you knew about this. Is it rather urgent? Is he well?” Jerrak nodded and spoke answers to both of the boy’s questions, which seemed to put him at ease. “Master Luc has been so kind to us all…”

With that said, he opened the door and stepped inside. The inside of the room was rather luxurious, but both looked around in awe of what the room was decorated with. The walls, which were painted a pale, very pale, shade of green flickered in the candle light that was provided by the many candelabras and wall scones. They illuminated a four-poster bed and a small table, complete with a couch on the side. There were three chairs and a small dresser, upon which sat another bottle of the famous ‘faie wine and three small delicate crystalline drinking bowls.

The inside of the bed rustled from behind green and crème colored silks. A face popped out from behind “Masöa iriaalea sié’ol Telarai?” (Is that you Telarai?) It was just as slim as Harmony’s and yet it had a brilliance of blues eyes and long pale hair, which had been left loose and free flowing. There was the same rounded jaw, yet powerful as well, but a little softer on the cheek bones. The skin was also much like a pale white, only in the cheeks; there was a slight rosy touch.

The face stopped and then turned towards the other two who were standing in the room. “Öre’s misiô shiö’an elurí averiéras?” (Are these people safe brother?) The face slid off the bed to reveal a full body. Almost as thin and supple and slim as Telarai was. The person hung off the bedpost, dressed only in a long white, and sheer tunic.

“Auraia elú irasias, tella mia, isiü ‘gere’aui eris’t víorês’ ïnak’.”
(Auraia don’t worry, my dear, they’re ‘strangers far from home’.)

Telarai nodded slightly and then motioned to the others. The person in the tunic bowed and then spoke to both Lyzanor and Jerrak. “Miâlora.” (Welcome.) Lacing hands together, the androgynous figure stood up. Telarai then spoke to Lyzanor and Jerrak. “This is my younger brother Auraia. Please, do sit down while I talk to him a moment.” At this, he motioned to the couch that was on the other side of the room.

Jerrak nodded and Lyzanor seemed to become more frustrated than ever. “I thought he was a girl!” He whispered as they both sat on the couch across from the bed. Jerrak shook his head and then sighed.

“Don’t you even remember where we are? This is a green lantern house. All the people in here are most assuredly men.” Jerrak huffed and then wouldn’t say anything more. As the two brothers conversed in low tones, Lyzanor glowered. After a moment, Telarai turned over to look at the two people who were sitting on his couch. He slowly walked over to the dresser and then spoke. “Would you like some ‘faie wine? It will help pass the time.” Jerrak shook his head rather vigorously and Lyzanor nodded his consent. The face of Auraia peered out from behind the silk covering the bed as Telarai poured a bowl of the wine.

As he passed it to Lyzanor, he nodded a gruff thanks and then proceeded to drain half of the bowl. Telarai waited for him to finished and then looked to his brother. The boy behind the silk nodded his head.

Birthday Break

I will simply take a Break today as it is my BIRTHDAY!

Happiness to me that is. I hope all of you have a wonderful day, like I will have.

Oracle Chapter 2

This is the begining of the second chapter of Oracle: I hope you like it.

II: Catterinia’s

I think that it is safe to say that we are lost in the last place on earth people can be lost in” Jerrak threw his hands up into the air and rolled his gray eyes. “If you just let me help you…”

Lyzanor shot him a look. “I’d like to think that I know my way around a Red Lantern Lane…”

“I think that you’re too drunk on that damn ‘faie wine to know what the hell is going on.”

Lyzanor stopped and then spoke out. “I resent that!”

A woman dressed in a red skimpy dress walked right up to Lyzanor and put her hands around his arm. “Hey there hunny; can I help you relieve your stress?”

Jerrak threw himself towards her and grabbed her roughly by the wrist and jerked her off of Lyzanor’s arm.

“He’s not for you my dear… we just need some information.”

The woman sneered and rolled her eyes. “What’s wrong sweet-cheeks? Did I move into your territory?” Jerrak opened his mouth and then blushed violently. He looked to the ground and then muttered something under his breath.

“What’s that sweetie? Did I say something’ wrong… or was it right?”

“Come on,” he yelled suddenly. The woman didn’t look startled at all. She just smiled. “What’s wrong boy; am I getting a rise out of you? Why don’t you follow me and I’ll get you out of that cloak and show you…” He looked at her for a moment and her eyes widened as she gazed into the cowl.

“You… You…” she began to stammer. He looked away from her suddenly and then spoke in a low voice. “Just tell us where the Green Lane is.” She snapped her mouth shut and then just pointed in the direction of a street.

They both nodded and Lyzanor turned to look at Jerrak. “I think that she knows about your secret.” Underneath the cowl, Jerrak just scowled and pointed towards the same direction.

“Just go.”

Lyzanor shrugged and began to walk. As they walked along, he spoke only once. “How can she stand to wear such a skimpy thing then it’s so damn cold?”

Lyzanor shrugged his shoulders again and that was the end of that conversation. Finally, the street began to change only slightly. The streets looked almost the same, and so did the ‘houses’. The only thing that seemed to change was that the lanterns that were red changed to green. Another thing that seemed to change was that there were not so many people inside of the streets any longer. Of course, Lyzanor seemed to notice nothing else, but Jerrak began to get a little nervous.

As they passed by the places that were on the street, they finally came to one towards the end, in which there was a rather bawdy statue of a man playing a flute and dressed in a rather skimpy silk cloth, which draped his body. There was no one outside at first, but the door flew right open and a swarthy blonde woman stepped out of the door. She was rather plump and her smile was large indeed.

The woman was dressed in a purple dress that hung across her shoulders rather limply and her bare arms both held cuffs that were simple bands of silver with a gleaming gem in each. The woman had her hair wrapped into a rather strange bun; it seemed to be eating in upon itself, turning in towards the back of her head. On her neck was also another piece of silver jewelry with another stone, which was purple as well. At a second look however, her hair actually appeared darker than the original blonde that the green light cast over her.

She spread her arms wide open and spoke in a rather highly happy voice.

“Welcome! Welcome to Catterinia’s! Come inside!”

Almost instantly, she grabbed them both by the arms and hustled them inside. The smell of jasmine and vanilla as well as another unknown, yet rather pleasantly invigorating scent could be smelled in the air. As they were hustled over the threshold, they were greeted by the decadence of a rather classy place. The main room was not gaudy at all, or filled with columns and ugly statuary. Instead, it had simple walls that were the purest white. Silk covered the walls in all colors, but mostly purple. A single staircase led up towards an overlooking balcony, which also led down a different hall.

As they continued forward however, through an arch under the balcony, they entered another larger room in which there was another statue. This one however was in the center of a fountain. It was a young boy dressed in a form fittingly loose tunic with a single vase, out of which water was pouring out rather tranquilly into a small pond at his feet. It made a small chime that sounded almost like music.

“We are the only ones on Green Lane that can say that in our House, we have a singing fountain. It has tumblers on the inside, which the water goes through at intervals, which allows for the notes. It plays ‘Minoura’s Lament’. It’s beautiful.” The woman paused in front of the fountain with both men.

The courtyard was lit by lamps, mostly white light to reflect the silk, but there was the occasional green candle and the flickering light was almost a comfort in the small area. A single couch was set in between two pedestal-like tables, in which were small braziers where the smell of the strange incense could be smelled, wafting upon the gentle breeze from the open aired area. Above the couch was a canopy that was made in a twist on a gazebo fashion. However, it wasn’t as cold here as the outside for some reason.

The woman, whom both assumed was Catterinia, sighed contentedly for a moment. Then she turned quite suddenly and smiled warmly at both of the men. “So what is it that brings you here? Are you each looking for a companion for the night, or are you simply looking for one to share?” Jerrak twisted nervously where he was standing and the woman smiled. “Oh. So is this your first time young sir? Well, we do have some of the finest here… tell Catterinia what it is you desire and I can be sure to try and provide it for you…”

“Ah, so you’re Catterinia?” Lyzanor turned an inquisitive eye to the woman; waiting for a response. The woman smiled and placed both hands upon her breast, hands laced.

“Yes, that would be me, Catterinia Manses.” She moved her eyes to Jerrak after answering Lyzanor’s question. “You may take off your cowl sir, as we value our patron’s privacy here more than anywhere else.” Nor coughed nervously and then took a step forward in front of Jerrak, shielding him halfway from Catterinia’s gaze.

“I don’t think that would be wise my lady…”

“Oh nothing bothers me,” she replied. “Why, I am one of the few people in the city who offers up Light-touched…” Jerrak took a sharp breath. Catterinia smiled almost knowingly. “However, if being slightly secretive turns you on in this case, then I would only ask that I see your face for the safety of my workers…” She grabbed both of her wrists and held them in front of her, directly under her rather large supple breasts.

Jerrak twisted for a moment as if to make a move to leave the room and go back outside and then turned back to face Catterinia. Slowly, he removed the hood of his cloak and his white hair cascaded out and down his shoulders and to the center of his back. His hair was tinged with slight silver in the lamplight of the room. Catterinia smiled and put her hands on her hips.

“Now was that so hard? I cater to people like you all the time. As long as you pay, I have no problems.” She smiled once more and then spoke again in her normal cheerful tone, ignoring Jerrak’s white hair.

“Now what can I provide you two fine young gentlemen?” Jerrak remained silent as Lyzanor rolled his eyes. “We came here in hopes of seeing Melody.” Catterinia raised her eyebrows and cocked her head towards one side. “Ah… so you want our finest then…” She smiled her innocuous smile again and then motioned to the couch that was there beneath the canopy. “Sit and I will be right back.”

They both sat as she walked out of the room. Four small beautifully carved caryatids held up the small gazebo. They were all most likely saints of Virtues; although, statues of the virtues would be rare inside of such an establishment as well as of saints. Nor grinned lewdly and then said, “I hope Melody has a beautiful rack. Then I won’t feel so bad for being here.”

Jerrak shook his head and then spoke softly to himself something that Lyzanor did not quite catch. He then turned his down-turned head towards Nor. “Lyzanor right? Isn’t he one of the saints of the Church?”

“The Saint of Mountain Hunters; he was supposed to be an impressing figure. I hope that I take after his qualities.”

“Doesn’t the Church look down upon acts such as this?” Jerrak looked around the courtyard and spread his hands as if to encompass the whole place.

Lyzanor shook his head, a wistful smile upon his face.

“No, only the Malctun zealots believe that. Although they are a part of the church, it doesn’t mean that I have to like them. I follow Nadiria. She does not mind a little getting to know of other people in a more than just friendly way.”

“Well, you’re in for a surprise…”

“What? You’ve met Melody before? So… is she good-looking?”

“I’ve never met Melody… but I’ve heard stories…”

They sat in silence for a few moments and then Catterinia came back. “I present to you… Melody.” She made a dramatic flourish and suddenly, a man walked forward into the small courtyard. Lyzanor gasped and Jerrak seemed indifferent.

Lithe of curve and white almost as the newly fallen snow, the boy stepped into the courtyard wearing a flimsy tunic of sheer silk that was wrapped in the traditional style of the Grelcians; a short skirt like which wrapped around his waist which also supplied a length of cloth that wrapped over one of his shoulders and left the other one bare. He was indeed not small at all, but had his muscles finely oiled so that he would appear to glitter in the light that was produced by the lamps. His slim waist was hinted at by the cloth that he was wearing. His legs were powerfully muscled in their own right, as if he had at one time been a runner.

His appendages, however slender, gave off an air of strength though. His jaw line was rounded and only slightly squared as it made a small jut from the rest of his face. The jut would have been hard place to spot and notice however, unless someone was actually searching for it. His eyes were a swimming green, which matched a blonde hair that was slightly long and tied back behind his head. However, there were just enough stray wisps that accentuated his normally curved ears and deep-set brow.

In his hand he carried a small tray with two finely crafted crystal bowls and a crystal oinochoe. The bowls were wide and had gold filigree around the top edges that had been made to look like a complex knot work known to be practiced mostly in the mountains around Septi and Luxin. The boy slowly kneeled and placed the tray upon the small table that was to Lyzanor’s left side and then proceeded to sit upon a faldstool that had been cleverly hidden in the flora that surrounded the courtyard. He silently poured what appeared to be ‘faie wine into the two bowls and then offered it up to the guests. They both took the bowls; Jerrak with a pleasantly crafted smile and Lyzanor with a little apprehension.

As the boy settled back down again, this time in front of both of them on his knees, Jerrak slowly sipped the wine. Lyzanor looked at the boy, who looked back with an anticipatory glance at both Jerrak and Lyzanor. It was immediately replaced by a small look of curiosity, which made no furrow in his brows. His eyebrows lifted up only slightly, not disturbing the rest of his face as his lips twitched rather quickly and quite suddenly. Hs face then became an impassive mask, which Lyzanor found slightly unsettling.

Lyzanor turned to face Catterinia who smiled one again innocuously. “I hope everything is to your liking so far…” Lyzanor shook his head and then proceeded to look around. He turned to the pump woman and then asked, “Where is Melody?” Catterinia looked at Lyzanor with a strange look and then tilted her head to an angle. Nor growled and then spoke up once again. “We were told that she would be here. Where is Melody?” At this, Catterinia laughed out loud.

Jerrak slowly took another sip of his wine as the youth looked in a different direction with a slight redness in his cheeks. As Lyzanor continued to look at Caterinia with a look of confusion, Jerrak placed his wine at the other table and then pointed to the youth who was kneeled before them.

“That, my dear friend, is Melody.”

Next Section

All right. As promised earlier today, here is the next section of Oracle. As a side note, these could possibly get longer and longer as of note.

A sigh escaped the hood and the new figure made a move to remove his hood. Luc quickly spoke. “I would not remove your hood if I were you friend, as your hair will be the center of as much speculation as my eyes…” The man quickly put down his hands and Lyzanor could see a grin. “Many thanks to you my fellow traveler. Tell me, are you a stranger far from home?” At this, he slightly raised his own palm.

Luc tapped the table once. “I am indeed; lead and I shall follow.” Luc raised his palm and showed a small sigil concealed there. Lyzanor however could not see it. As he slowly sipped his ‘faie wine, it struck him, the comment that Luc had made. He sputtered on the wine he was drinking. “You’re…!” The man turned to him and looked at him inquisitively.

“Does this have to do with my name? After all, I haven’t given it.” He smiled broadly from underneath the cowl’s covering and said, “My name is Jerrak. I know it doesn’t seem like much of a name, but considering, it could have been worse.”

Lyzanor shook his head. “I don’ believe this,” he began. He then lowered his voice to a dull hiss and spoke two words:

“Light-touched!”

Jerrak shifted uncomfortably. He looked around to make sure that nobody had heard what Lyzanor had proclaimed. No one heard, or no one cared. As he shifted again to try to make himself comfortable, he glared at Lyzanor. “Tell the whole flamin’ place why don’t you…”

A white hand rose to silence him. “Peace Jerrak, I’m sure he meant no harm. You are indeed quite unexpected to him. My name is Luc and his is Lyzanor, you may call him Nor for short.”

“You are Luc? Then truly I am indeed in luck. I have been looking for you.” Luc made no motion, and Lyzanor’s eyes burned with a passion against Jerrak. At his gaze, Jerrak looked at the table as if he had done something eternally wrong. Luc slid a hand up to stop Lyzanor as he began to leave. “Please, don’t blame him for something that he had no control over. I’m surprised you could even tell…”

Lyzanor jerked his arm away from the stranger. He took a good long look at the cowl without a face. He stood there for a moment, trying to fathom what it was the man under the cowl wanted. Not figuring it out at all, he nodded and sat back down. “It was the ‘Stranger far from home’ question that tipped me off. Only they ask such a question. We have had quite a few of them come further north, to where I live. I have had to turn them away. All know that they are infinitely bad luck.” Lyzanor looked at Jerrak and then said nothing else. Luc frowned under his hood and spoke once more, this time turning his attention to Jerrak. “You came here; obviously to see me; what is it that you were looking for?”

“Actually, I was looking for sanctuary as it were. These people have hunted me for such a long time. I just don’t know what they want! All I know is that they are trouble and that I shouldn’t trust them.”

“Do you know who they are?” Lyzanor’s question caught Jerrak off guard, but he quickly recovered. He cast his eyes down, looking at the table. “No. I don’t know who they are.”

"With your luck, it could be because of what you are." Lyzanor took another swallow from his bowl. “Were you followed?” Luc's question was also unexpected.

“I’m not quite sure…”

“That is quite all right,” said Luc. “However we must take precautions as if you had been. I’m not sure who it is or why they would want you when there are thousands of other Light-touched in this place, but I am quite sure that you did something of notice. I would hate to ever be noticed by… well. We need to get you, as well as ourselves out of here.”

Lyzanor lifted a single eyebrow at the comment that Luc had made. “Now that you have come to see us, they will no doubt think that we are in cahoots with you. I don’t doubt that we won’t be only because now we are involved…” As the white cowl that was Luc turned towards him, he lifted his hands and shook his head no.

“I am not going to get involved in this. None of my business. I am here only because of Nadiria’s call.”

“The Church called you, not Nadiria. If you want to live to see that wish of the Arch Prelate fulfilled, then you will help us.” Luc’s voice was dangerously low. Lyzanor’s eyes went slightly wider and he looked at Luc for a minute and then said, “Was that a threat?” His eyes went thin and his voice went strangely into a growl.

“No, it was a promise that if we don’t get out of here soon, that everything is going to go to shit.” Luc’s voice was flat, matter-of-fact. Jerrak looked around nervously and spoke in a hurried tone. “Please, I know that you can help me, but I need this help now obviously. How are you going to help me?” White porcelain hands tapped the tabletop.

“I have planned for this you know.”

Both people at the table looked at him and Lyzanor once again raised his eyebrow. “You have planned for this?” He sighed and took another gulp of his wine. Seeing as he had finished it, he called the tavern wench over again. “Get me another of this wine.” The wench smiled again. “One more… coming right up…”

“How could you have possibly planned for this at all? There is no way unless you knew that Jerrak here was coming.” Lyzanor crossed his arms across his chest and gave Luc an accusatory stare. “How do we know that you’re not the one who is after our friend here.” Luc chuckled silently to himself under his cowl. How quickly things could change with just a little bit of suspicion. “So he’s ‘our’ friend now is he?”

Lyzanor scowled at Luc. “You know what I mean.”

Luc shook his head. “No, I’m not quite sure what you meant, but do tell. I always have loved stories.”

At that moment, the girl came back. Lyzanor lifted his eyes as the wench came back with his second bowl of the ‘faie wine and left it on the table. He nodded his head and handed her another four coppers. The barmaid smiled at him. Lyzanor took a gulp of the ‘faie wine and then smiled back at her.

Luc waved her off. She rolled her eyes and then moved on. “Here is the plan. I am going to need you both to leave together. Go down the street until you see the District…”

“You don’t mean,”

“Yes Jerrak that is exactly what I mean. Go down the Green Lane and search for Catterinia’s. Ask for Melody. Tell Melody that you are a Stranger far from Home and Melody will help you.” Jerrak blanched.

“Well then, as soon as I finish this wine…”

Luc shook his head.

“No, you must go now, if even to stave them off for a few moments. Chances are that Jerrak most likely was followed. I will help get him out of this mess. I know what is coming.” Jerrak shifted in his seat, looking around as if someone were watching him. Lyzanor lifted his eyebrows as Luc trailed off his remark.

“Then let us go. We should leave now.” Jerrak looked around once more and nodded to Lyzanor. Lyzanor shrugged and then gulped the contents of the bowl. The honeyed wine went down rather fast and like fire. He grimaced and then placed another three coppers on the table. “Make sure that she gets these.” Luc nodded as Lyzanor turned to the now skittish Jerrak. “Let’s go now. We’ll find Harmony. Don’t worry. After that, I am off to find my call to Nadiria.”

Jerrak shook his head. “The name is Melody…”

Lyzanor nodded once and then shrugged. “Oh.”

As they stood up Luc smiled in his hood. “Both of you be careful and don’t get into any trouble while you are out there.” Jerrak nodded solemnly as he pulled on his cowl. Lyzanor brought the cowl of his hood up, and then left it down around his shoulders.