The two smallest moons, Salanon and Sastus, were shinning their dim light on the Tundra Forest below. A slow and cold wind was blowing through the evergreens, creating a creaking and whistling sound. Nights in the northern Realm of Gondar were always cold.

Two epheral figures were also traversing the forest. For the stealth shown by the two, it was obvious that both had skill in not taking notice. They stopped in a closed copse while the taller one caught its' breath. They conversed, and the tall one spoke in a deep barelling voice, while the short ones' voice came out soft and feminine. The woman slapped the man in the back in a playful manner, and almost knocked him over. After the man straightened himself and glared at the woman, they started off again.

For over an hour, the two trekked through the snow in snow-shoes until they found a road cleared by horses and wagons earlier in the day. They stopped and the man pulled out a piece of bark-paper with symbols and writing on it. He concentrated on a symbol near the top and then pointed to the northwest direction of the road. The woman nodded and took off her snow-shoes while the man attempted to do the same with his. After falling three times in the snow, the woman sat him down with a palm on the chest, and dealt with his shoes for him. A few quick pulls and tugs, and the snow-shoes were off. The man got up, dusted snow off his cloak, glared at the woman again, and started to trudge off in the direction he pointed at earlier. He slipped on some icy ground, pin-whirrled his arms, and fell flat on his face. The woman tried to help him, but he pushed her away. After a few troubled starts, he finally got up on his own and carefully made his way down the road.

Before long, they reached a point where the road diverged and a path traced a way into a heavly wooded area. They followed the path and came upon a small village. The houses and shops were spread widely along the main-street. A few signs pointed out two tailors, a butcher with a huge pen attached to the back, a fletcher, a smithy, and other assorted buildings. A three story Inn showed the only source of light in the village. The two made it to the front of the Inn and walked in through the heavy oaken door.

Inside showed a few glowing laterns, but no sound. This village went to sleep early compared to the larger cites of the more southern realms. A short and stocky man was snoring in a chair with a thick blanket, behind the counter. They made their way around the tables and chairs to the sleeping man. The stocky man awoke with a start when the woman grabbed him by the collar and lifted him into the air in front of her. Before he could say anything, she put him down back behind the counter and the tall man walked up to the counter.

The tall man stared at the short man for a few seconds and then put three silver coins on the counter. The little man didn't even look at where they were from, but put them in a strong box under the counter. He walked to the stairs in the front of the room, a little shaky at first, and started upstairs. The two followed him up.

Upstairs, there were a few rooms on the two sides of the hallway, and the little man lead them to the last one on the left. He opened the door, fanned out his arm towards the room, and then went back downstairs. The two entered the room and shut it behind them.

"So, you truly think this was the best idea?", said the woman. She removed her cloak and coat and stared at the tall man. She was beautiful, she had a small scar near her right ear, but it did not detract from her beauty. The armor she wore seemed odd with a face like hers, she looked more like she belong in a gown, not a half-suit of silver armor (with the sigil of the silver moon on the left arm as well).

The man took off his cloak and coat as well. He was as muscular as the woman, but he was not a thin branch of a man either. He was abviously a mage of some kind, his robe was dark red and had special trimmings to it, so he was not a rich mage. His face was a hard, angular, and masculine version of the woman's face. They either had to be brother and sister or father and daughter, with the tone she used with him, it was obvious that they were siblings.

"I am confident that we did the right thing coming here. We need money, and the Duke offered quite a bit brass and silver for what we're going to do. I do not think it will be to hard for us to do, it is only one little Duke's castle." said the man. He looked happily at his sister and gave a full mouthed grin. She frowned at him and started to talk and take off her armor at the same time.

"STOP...wait. Wait till I go downstairs before you start getting ready for rest. I've had enough annoyances today, for me to not have to deal with you naked." He then left, and went downstairs to use his sister as a threat to get some meat. She watched him go and didn't do anything in the way of a joke, or a scratch at his personal way of acting with her. She just stared at the wall for a few minutes.

Hmmm. I wish there was a way to talk him out of this. I wasn't trained to steal from a duke who probably didn't do anything wrong. Why does he always have to think of our money situation, instead of our personal reputation? I am a warrior and he is a great and powerful mage of the earthen arts. Why do we not find a place to make a name for ourselves, a name other than the "Peddler Shadows". Hmmm.

That's all for now.
-EFX