Nira hunkered down beside the thick cabled roots of the tree, delving in her haversack as she mumbled to herself. When the clopping of shod horse feet neared, she froze for a moment. An idea came to her and she furiously scrunched up the dirty canvas bag and covered it with a layer of dirt. In an instant she was in the trees and had become just another of the ordinary squabbling jays that were ubiquitous along this stretch of road. She squawked discouragingly when a real jay would come and supplant her on her branch, and then hopped a few innocuous inches closer to the road as the townsmen rode beneath the tree.
"She can't have gone too far, she was on foot!" That voice belonged to the cantankerous stall-minder whose wares she had purloined from. He gesticulated angrily from atop his shaggy, swaybacked gelding as the town constable rode blandly beside him. The two men rode on down the road, continuing their haphazard search for her. When they had gone around the bend in the road, Nira fluttered down to the ground and resumed her shape. Uncovering her abused haversack, she reached in and carefully extracted her prize. The pear was relatively unharmed from its travels, the smooth greenish golden skin unblemished by bruising despite having been shoved about. Smiling to herself, she half-shut her eyes and inhaled its sweet exotic aroma. Oh yes, it was worth the manhunt to have gotten such plunder. Lost in admiration of the pear's existence and her own cleverness, she failed to keep an eye out for her surroundings.
"She can't have gone too far, she was on foot!" That voice belonged to the cantankerous stall-minder whose wares she had purloined from. He gesticulated angrily from atop his shaggy, swaybacked gelding as the town constable rode blandly beside him. The two men rode on down the road, continuing their haphazard search for her. When they had gone around the bend in the road, Nira fluttered down to the ground and resumed her shape. Uncovering her abused haversack, she reached in and carefully extracted her prize. The pear was relatively unharmed from its travels, the smooth greenish golden skin unblemished by bruising despite having been shoved about. Smiling to herself, she half-shut her eyes and inhaled its sweet exotic aroma. Oh yes, it was worth the manhunt to have gotten such plunder. Lost in admiration of the pear's existence and her own cleverness, she failed to keep an eye out for her surroundings.
When cries had first gone up in the market, Rhemia had been almost indignant; she hadn't stolen anything today! (Yet. Though in truth she'd had enough copper on her wrists to cover her expenses without pain, and had intended to be good today.) Her current clothing--the red dress, neck indecently low and tattered hem indecently (and less intentionally) high--was disreputable by this town's standards, yes, but she had been under the impression that she looked more a whore than a thief. It was a relief to see the hunt pound off down the road after someone else. A relief, yes, and she'd continued to calmly browse the stalls until she bought the last bit of wax she needed, but it also made her curious. Once it seemed that the hunters were well away, she started down the same road after them.
She was resigning herself to having missed the chase by the time she rounded the same bend the townsmen had not long before. With the men on horseback, either the thief had escaped by now or she had been ridden down--and who was that, just ahead. Rhemia stepped more quietly as she approached Nira, setting her feet carefully and controlling the swing of her legs to keep the many metal discs of her wristlets and anklets from making more than a soft chime, but it was the other woman's distraction that let her get much closer than she would have expected. "They'll be turning about and coming back any time now," she told Nira, leaning forward to see what she was cradling; the way she was admiring her catch, she had to be the thief, and that fruit what she'd snatched. "On into the woods would be safer than back onto the road. Those are rare enough, but that hue and cry was worth a few more," she added, catching a glimpse of the pear. "Or did you get caught before you could grab another?" She said it cheerfully, one hobbyist to another.
((So I haven't had time yet to write up a full profile, but I did put up an appearance on Rhemia's page for your benefit! Kind of a gypsy look to her, in general but particularly right now, since she's just off a rather ill-fated venture of her own.
))
She was resigning herself to having missed the chase by the time she rounded the same bend the townsmen had not long before. With the men on horseback, either the thief had escaped by now or she had been ridden down--and who was that, just ahead. Rhemia stepped more quietly as she approached Nira, setting her feet carefully and controlling the swing of her legs to keep the many metal discs of her wristlets and anklets from making more than a soft chime, but it was the other woman's distraction that let her get much closer than she would have expected. "They'll be turning about and coming back any time now," she told Nira, leaning forward to see what she was cradling; the way she was admiring her catch, she had to be the thief, and that fruit what she'd snatched. "On into the woods would be safer than back onto the road. Those are rare enough, but that hue and cry was worth a few more," she added, catching a glimpse of the pear. "Or did you get caught before you could grab another?" She said it cheerfully, one hobbyist to another.
((So I haven't had time yet to write up a full profile, but I did put up an appearance on Rhemia's page for your benefit! Kind of a gypsy look to her, in general but particularly right now, since she's just off a rather ill-fated venture of her own.
))
"Gah!" Nira jolted upward from her moment of pear zen, the stolen fruit leaping from her hands and onto the ground. She scrambled hurriedly to pick it up, examining it carefully for any injury before turning to see who had snuck up on her, hand brushing her side in case a sword was necessary. Eyeing Rhemia, she decided in a moment that looks were liked, and she sighed regretfully. "Got caught nicking one. I really didn't need to nick it, but he was busy and I didn't want to cause him to lose the sale he was working on. Last time I had one of these was at my wedding and that was...oh, damn near a year ago, right enough. So I picked one off to the side, like, one that wasn't on the stack, so to speak. Then suddenly they're all after me, well, you must have seen the tail end of them. Like I took the crown diamonds or some such! I mean I did, but that was forever ago and I put 'em back!"
It occurred to Nira at that moment that, were she not alone, someone would have stopped her talking by now and hauled her out of a danger she was too distracted to notice, and after another glance at the pear, she motioned to Rhemia. "You're right, going deeper into the wood would be more advantageous. Come on, then!" Beckoning to her newfound friend, Nira ventured deeper into the woods. She disappeared behind a large tree trunk before poking her head around it and gesturing conspiratorially to Rhemia.
It occurred to Nira at that moment that, were she not alone, someone would have stopped her talking by now and hauled her out of a danger she was too distracted to notice, and after another glance at the pear, she motioned to Rhemia. "You're right, going deeper into the wood would be more advantageous. Come on, then!" Beckoning to her newfound friend, Nira ventured deeper into the woods. She disappeared behind a large tree trunk before poking her head around it and gesturing conspiratorially to Rhemia.
Rhemia's hand darted out when the pear fell, though she was too far to catch it, and she quickly drew it back and hoped that Nira hadn't seen the automatic snatch. Her smile stayed cheerful, even when the other woman seemed to be reaching for her sword, and she nodded in sympathy as Nira explained her tale of woe. She giggled at Nira's explanation that she didn't want to make the stall-keeper lose his sale; the woman might just mean it, but it was still a good offhand excuse. Rhemia was saving that one. One thin, slanted eyebrow rose high when Nira claimed that she'd nicked the crown diamonds in the past--not at the claim itself, but at the thoughtless way she said it, and the truthfulness that implied. Everyone bragged, but that wasn't bragging.
It made Rhemia curious enough to forget her own advice and open her mouth to ask which crown diamonds, but fortunately, Nira chose that moment to recall her situation. Gathering her skirt close so it wouldn't catch on trailing branches, Rhemia scrambled after her into the forest, glancing over her shoulder as she heard the sound of hoofbeats not far away. "No time to set an illusion," she muttered to herself, and followed her new comrade around the tree trunk just before the returning townsmen, griping out their disgust among themselves, reached a point where they would've been able to see the women if they'd still been on the road. Rhemia pressed up against the tree, planted both feet, and then deliberately froze when she heard their voices, hands tightening where they were twisted in the fabric of her skirt but making no other movement. She'd long since learned to walk quietly with her jewelry--she'd proven that walking up on Nira--but quietly wasn't silently, and the townsmen were likely to be paying more attention to their surroundings than the other woman had been.
She did turn her head slightly to look at Nira, raising both eyebrows in silent question. Right now the situation was more funny to Rhemia than serious, but if the townsmen decided to be thorough and search the woods, or had their suspicions stirred up by some track, it could become serious fast. She wasn't too worried, but she didn't know what resources her inadvertent partner-in-crime might have.
It made Rhemia curious enough to forget her own advice and open her mouth to ask which crown diamonds, but fortunately, Nira chose that moment to recall her situation. Gathering her skirt close so it wouldn't catch on trailing branches, Rhemia scrambled after her into the forest, glancing over her shoulder as she heard the sound of hoofbeats not far away. "No time to set an illusion," she muttered to herself, and followed her new comrade around the tree trunk just before the returning townsmen, griping out their disgust among themselves, reached a point where they would've been able to see the women if they'd still been on the road. Rhemia pressed up against the tree, planted both feet, and then deliberately froze when she heard their voices, hands tightening where they were twisted in the fabric of her skirt but making no other movement. She'd long since learned to walk quietly with her jewelry--she'd proven that walking up on Nira--but quietly wasn't silently, and the townsmen were likely to be paying more attention to their surroundings than the other woman had been.
She did turn her head slightly to look at Nira, raising both eyebrows in silent question. Right now the situation was more funny to Rhemia than serious, but if the townsmen decided to be thorough and search the woods, or had their suspicions stirred up by some track, it could become serious fast. She wasn't too worried, but she didn't know what resources her inadvertent partner-in-crime might have.
Nira, hearing the return of hoof beats, attempted to gather her bag to her so that she could put the pear in it before they took flight. As she glanced at Rhemia, the realization dawned that her bag was strewn beneath the roots of the tree she had been standing under, easily in view of someone on horseback. "Oh, bloody...okay, okay, think." She peeked around the tree again, checking on the advancement of the horsemen, before whipping back around beside Rhemia. "Hmmm," she muttered to herself as she tugged on an errant braid that had brushed over her shoulder, twining and worrying it through her fingers.
When she again met Rhemia's gaze, her eyes were sparking with pure mischief and a wild grin was tugging at the side of her mouth. "I have a plan. It probably won't work." Both of these sentences were whispered with a strong infusion of confidence. "Those," she added to Rhemia as she eyed the bracelets and anklets on the other woman, "are quite nice. Did you get them all at once, or did you get them one by one?" She unbuckled her sword belt swiftly and slid it from her waist as quietly as she could. The octave raise in the voices she was hearing told her that perhaps her bag had been discovered. The notion was confirmed when the dappled tree shadows flickered as vague horse-shapes invaded them. In a moment, the scurfy smell of the local livery horses and the unwashed smell of the local constabulary made themselves known.
"Wait, answer me later. Either when we're getting away or we're in jail, either situation provides ample time for good conversation. Don't run, whatever you do. Gonna take this," she added, gently putting the pear up to her mouth and biting down to hold onto it. It was sheer agony not to actually take a bite, and she steeled herself against trying to taste any of the juice that met with her teeth. Putting a finger to her pear-filled mouth, Nira pushed away from the tree and dove into the bushes. In another moment, a very large, shaggy bear surfaced, the pear in its mouth, and lumbered past Rhemia and toward the road. The two men, both of whom had dismounted, where toeing at her bag disdainfully when Nira came upon them. The horses' heads flew straight into the air as they threw their bodies backward, nostrils flared wide. They turned to bolt, terror making the ribby, lackluster animals look vital and gorgeous. The two men scrambled over themselves in fear of the bear, pushing each other down to escape the creature. Nira growled and roared as best as she could around the pear. Both men fled without a look back, and Nira was pleased to hear one shout to the other "It got her mate, y'sure you want your pear back?" "Quite alright!" was the shouted reply before the men vanished from proximity.
Nira sank back into her own form and spat out the pear with a sigh of relief, as the exquisite bear nose was making holding the fruit torture. "Okay!" She called into the woods, hoping Rhemia had not fled in a jingling terror with her sword belt. "It worked! You can come out now!" The sound of scrabbling hooves caught her attention and she looked over to see one of the horses, the constable's lanky black gelding, his escape attempt foiled by reins that had tangled in a low-hanging tree branch. "I think we have a mode of transportation, if you like riding," she added over her shoulder as she walked slowly toward the horse. Though she murmured platitudes at it, the smell of bear was still draped on her and the horse dug its hooves in the ground to get away, eyes rolling accusingly at Nira. "Uh, you might have to get it," she added, hoping, but not really believing, that she wasn't talking to thin air.
When she again met Rhemia's gaze, her eyes were sparking with pure mischief and a wild grin was tugging at the side of her mouth. "I have a plan. It probably won't work." Both of these sentences were whispered with a strong infusion of confidence. "Those," she added to Rhemia as she eyed the bracelets and anklets on the other woman, "are quite nice. Did you get them all at once, or did you get them one by one?" She unbuckled her sword belt swiftly and slid it from her waist as quietly as she could. The octave raise in the voices she was hearing told her that perhaps her bag had been discovered. The notion was confirmed when the dappled tree shadows flickered as vague horse-shapes invaded them. In a moment, the scurfy smell of the local livery horses and the unwashed smell of the local constabulary made themselves known.
"Wait, answer me later. Either when we're getting away or we're in jail, either situation provides ample time for good conversation. Don't run, whatever you do. Gonna take this," she added, gently putting the pear up to her mouth and biting down to hold onto it. It was sheer agony not to actually take a bite, and she steeled herself against trying to taste any of the juice that met with her teeth. Putting a finger to her pear-filled mouth, Nira pushed away from the tree and dove into the bushes. In another moment, a very large, shaggy bear surfaced, the pear in its mouth, and lumbered past Rhemia and toward the road. The two men, both of whom had dismounted, where toeing at her bag disdainfully when Nira came upon them. The horses' heads flew straight into the air as they threw their bodies backward, nostrils flared wide. They turned to bolt, terror making the ribby, lackluster animals look vital and gorgeous. The two men scrambled over themselves in fear of the bear, pushing each other down to escape the creature. Nira growled and roared as best as she could around the pear. Both men fled without a look back, and Nira was pleased to hear one shout to the other "It got her mate, y'sure you want your pear back?" "Quite alright!" was the shouted reply before the men vanished from proximity.
Nira sank back into her own form and spat out the pear with a sigh of relief, as the exquisite bear nose was making holding the fruit torture. "Okay!" She called into the woods, hoping Rhemia had not fled in a jingling terror with her sword belt. "It worked! You can come out now!" The sound of scrabbling hooves caught her attention and she looked over to see one of the horses, the constable's lanky black gelding, his escape attempt foiled by reins that had tangled in a low-hanging tree branch. "I think we have a mode of transportation, if you like riding," she added over her shoulder as she walked slowly toward the horse. Though she murmured platitudes at it, the smell of bear was still draped on her and the horse dug its hooves in the ground to get away, eyes rolling accusingly at Nira. "Uh, you might have to get it," she added, hoping, but not really believing, that she wasn't talking to thin air.
Nira's swearing wasn't very encouraging, and Rhemia released one hand from her skirt to slide it into one of the many pouches dangling on her belt, fingers settling on one of the little stoppered clay jars nestled there. Setting spells was a time-consuming process, but there were a few that could be set ahead of time and stored, and this one in particular was her favorite in combat situations. Before she could pull one of the jars out, though, Nira brightened, and Rhemia smiled, biting down a laugh, at Nira's description of her plan. "Don't worry," she said, more confident in the face of that statement. "So do I."
She nodded at Nira's orders, grinning and miming a salute with her other hand, though the left didn't stir from the pouch it was in. She might still have to use that, after all. She turned to watch as Nira dove right back out of their hiding place, no longer trying to be silent now that it looked like the other woman was willing to give the game away. And then she went still, grin becoming a frozen rictus of automatic and involuntary fear, when a bear emerged from the place where Nira had just been.
Rhemia wasn't stupid. She did, however, have instincts, and all of those were screaming, 'oh shit, a bear!' right into her ears. Horrified fascination nearly brought her around the tree to see what the bear-Nira was about to do to the townsmen, but that animal-brain fear kept her back glued to the tree. Stay very, very still.... Logic was beginning to conquer fear, but as it resurfaced, it only reinforced the need to stay there, out of sight of the men. The bear--the woman--could take care of this, and if it turned out to be a slaughter, Rhemia had no desire to get involved.
Then horses whinnyed, men shouted, and hoofbeats sounded on the roadway. For a moment it was a caphacony of excitement and fear, and Rhemia waited for the sound of screams or the scent of blood, but there was only the muffled roar of the bear and more shouting and confusion. After a moment, Rhemia slowly peeked around the tree, only to see the men in flight and the black horse struggling to escape, but otherwise unharmed. Her smile slowly began to reappear as she put together the elegant nature of Nira's plan. It was a very clever idea, and one Rhemia could see having done with an illusion herself.
She stepped slowly out from around the tree, but her stride strengthened and her walk resumed its usual slight, playful sway as Nira continued on talking as if everything was normal. Apparently it was, to her. And Rhemia was accustomed to magic, even terrifying displays of it--though she had the advantage of knowing that most of those were illusion and unthreatening. She would be wary, but there was no real reason for terror. "I don't ride, but we could use a packhorse," she said, refraining from mentioning that there was only one horse, and two of them. She edged carefully towards the horse, holding one hand out in front of her, and snatched a bit clumsily at his reins. This wasn't something she had much practice with. "Either that was the fastest illusion I've ever seen cast, or you've got some other magic you used for that," she added, an openly avid expression on her face. Rhemia would never pass up a chance at new magic.
She nodded at Nira's orders, grinning and miming a salute with her other hand, though the left didn't stir from the pouch it was in. She might still have to use that, after all. She turned to watch as Nira dove right back out of their hiding place, no longer trying to be silent now that it looked like the other woman was willing to give the game away. And then she went still, grin becoming a frozen rictus of automatic and involuntary fear, when a bear emerged from the place where Nira had just been.
Rhemia wasn't stupid. She did, however, have instincts, and all of those were screaming, 'oh shit, a bear!' right into her ears. Horrified fascination nearly brought her around the tree to see what the bear-Nira was about to do to the townsmen, but that animal-brain fear kept her back glued to the tree. Stay very, very still.... Logic was beginning to conquer fear, but as it resurfaced, it only reinforced the need to stay there, out of sight of the men. The bear--the woman--could take care of this, and if it turned out to be a slaughter, Rhemia had no desire to get involved.
Then horses whinnyed, men shouted, and hoofbeats sounded on the roadway. For a moment it was a caphacony of excitement and fear, and Rhemia waited for the sound of screams or the scent of blood, but there was only the muffled roar of the bear and more shouting and confusion. After a moment, Rhemia slowly peeked around the tree, only to see the men in flight and the black horse struggling to escape, but otherwise unharmed. Her smile slowly began to reappear as she put together the elegant nature of Nira's plan. It was a very clever idea, and one Rhemia could see having done with an illusion herself.
She stepped slowly out from around the tree, but her stride strengthened and her walk resumed its usual slight, playful sway as Nira continued on talking as if everything was normal. Apparently it was, to her. And Rhemia was accustomed to magic, even terrifying displays of it--though she had the advantage of knowing that most of those were illusion and unthreatening. She would be wary, but there was no real reason for terror. "I don't ride, but we could use a packhorse," she said, refraining from mentioning that there was only one horse, and two of them. She edged carefully towards the horse, holding one hand out in front of her, and snatched a bit clumsily at his reins. This wasn't something she had much practice with. "Either that was the fastest illusion I've ever seen cast, or you've got some other magic you used for that," she added, an openly avid expression on her face. Rhemia would never pass up a chance at new magic.
"Oh, good, you didn't run away," Nira said with a dose of relief as she saw Rhemia approach and go to untangle the horse. "Sure, a pack horse. Well, all I've got is this bag and 'm not much of a rider, me. If we're gonna use him, could we get that bridle offa him and make him a rope headstall? Those bits are nigh uncomfortable, y'know." Gathering up her bag, she placed the pear into it, noting with a bit of remorse that there were a few bear-inflicted wounds in the fruit's flesh. She went back to the other side of the tree and fetched her sword belt, buckling it on as she puzzled Rhemia's question.
"Magic?" Nira scratched the back of her neck as she wondered what on earth Rhemia could mean. "Oh, oh, that!" She laughed, brushing off Rhemia's amazement and shaking her head ruefully. "I'm just a shape shifter, that's all. Nothing magic about it, really. My whole family does it. Wait, d'you mean you can do magic?" Her face crinkled with delight at the prospect, and she clapped her hands in glee. The woman's colorful garb and bangles should have alerted Nira to Rhemia's profession. All the clues had been there the whole time! "Can you make fire? Call down the stars? Ooh, ooh, or make that horse sing the Klykarthian sovereign hymn! Something appropriately awe-inspiring, perhaps!"
"Magic?" Nira scratched the back of her neck as she wondered what on earth Rhemia could mean. "Oh, oh, that!" She laughed, brushing off Rhemia's amazement and shaking her head ruefully. "I'm just a shape shifter, that's all. Nothing magic about it, really. My whole family does it. Wait, d'you mean you can do magic?" Her face crinkled with delight at the prospect, and she clapped her hands in glee. The woman's colorful garb and bangles should have alerted Nira to Rhemia's profession. All the clues had been there the whole time! "Can you make fire? Call down the stars? Ooh, ooh, or make that horse sing the Klykarthian sovereign hymn! Something appropriately awe-inspiring, perhaps!"
Untangling the horse, Rhemia held the reins tenatively, standing at arm's length from the creature and eyeing it thoughtfully. She didn't carry much more than Nira did--though that didn't mean she wouldn't carry more, given the chance. It was just that animals were expensive and a lot of work, and she didn't know any spells for lightening burdens. But they could use him for a little while, and they could always sell him a bit along the road. People usually paid a lot for horses, didn't they? They could split the proceeds from that.
Though she kept her hand on the reins, her attention drifted from the horse as Nira came back around the tree with her sword-belt and answered her question. Some of Rhemia's excitement slid away as Nira spoke. "A shape shifter family? That's innate, isn't it? So it's not magic I could use," she said, disappointed. But not so disappointed as not to smile and laugh at Nira's own excitement. Her expectations were a little high, but, well, Rhemia didn't really mind that.... Though she would have to deflate them just a little. "Calling fire's easy! Calling the stars isn't, but I can make it look that way, and do things just as good. And I'd have to know the Klykarthian sovereign hymn for that last one...." She trailed off and looked sideways at the horse, still laughing a little. That would be a lot of work for little reward, but she wasn't going to say that. "I can show you plenty, once we're further down the road."
Though she kept her hand on the reins, her attention drifted from the horse as Nira came back around the tree with her sword-belt and answered her question. Some of Rhemia's excitement slid away as Nira spoke. "A shape shifter family? That's innate, isn't it? So it's not magic I could use," she said, disappointed. But not so disappointed as not to smile and laugh at Nira's own excitement. Her expectations were a little high, but, well, Rhemia didn't really mind that.... Though she would have to deflate them just a little. "Calling fire's easy! Calling the stars isn't, but I can make it look that way, and do things just as good. And I'd have to know the Klykarthian sovereign hymn for that last one...." She trailed off and looked sideways at the horse, still laughing a little. That would be a lot of work for little reward, but she wasn't going to say that. "I can show you plenty, once we're further down the road."
"Later, then, later." Nira promised, her words meant as much for herself as for Rhemia. "We should probably accomplish that 'further down the road' bit, shouldn't we?" Looking around, Nira's excitement over Rhemia's magical ability tempered with her desire to get moving again. The hard-packed dirt road that led out of the village they had just come from was wide enough for two people to ride abreast on horseback. It wound lazily through the forest, the trees and plants not intruding onto the trail. The forest itself was inviting, touched with the golden light of early afternoon and rife with secret deer trails.
"Well, erm...I really have no idea where I am, exactly. That's the beauty of having no map, I suppose. If we follow the road, we'll like as not get to another village before dark. Most of these smaller villages are connected that way, being about a half-day's ride apart, especially if there's a tradin' market involved. That's what I've come to learn, anyways. If we go through the forest, though, we might be more likely to avoid notice in case anyone's still got a mind to find us. Or go bear hunting. He might not be so thrilled about it, though," she added, reaching to touch the horse as she gestured to him. The gelding snorted and jerked his head back at her movement, holding his ground but glaring at her. "Are you from around here? Maybe you know better'n I do about what's here."
"Well, erm...I really have no idea where I am, exactly. That's the beauty of having no map, I suppose. If we follow the road, we'll like as not get to another village before dark. Most of these smaller villages are connected that way, being about a half-day's ride apart, especially if there's a tradin' market involved. That's what I've come to learn, anyways. If we go through the forest, though, we might be more likely to avoid notice in case anyone's still got a mind to find us. Or go bear hunting. He might not be so thrilled about it, though," she added, reaching to touch the horse as she gestured to him. The gelding snorted and jerked his head back at her movement, holding his ground but glaring at her. "Are you from around here? Maybe you know better'n I do about what's here."
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