Someones coming Misery! Wake up, girl!
Quinn moans, waving away her mothers indistinct murmer in her head. Rolling onto her side, she curls into a tiny ball on the soft bed. She mumbles into her pillow, voice thick and husky. “I killed him. I killed Father.”
Footsteps echo in the silence outside the room she found herself in. Moira’s spirit disappears as a wisp of smoke, leaving Quinn to face this new situation alone. Sliding off the bed with a grunt, she pulls herself to her feet, watching warily, gathering energy.
If they decide to attack me, there is no way I can win… I haven’t had enough training, I’m not ready…
Straightening, she waits to see who, or what, she’s up against.
The door to her room swings open slowly, and Quinn’s mind freezes. A light green aura, edges tinged faintly black, enters, closing the door quietly behind him.
Incredulous, Quinn drops to the bed, sightless eyes wide.
It’s… It’s not possible! Tristian is dead!
The newcomer regards her silently, his aura pulsing gently. Misery rubs at her eyes and turns to study him closely.
No… No, he’s not Tristian, although this man is very, very like him. What does he want with me?
The stranger stands and crosses to the bed slowly, speaking quietly as if she were a frightened animal. ”I’m glad you’re awake… You had a very rough night Quinn.”
Startled, she pulls away from him. “How do you know my name? Who are you?”
He stops, keeping his voice soft. “My name is Pen… and we met some time ago, though you probably don’t remember it.”
”It was before you lost your eyesight…I…” he stops, and shakes his head.
”…but that’s no matter…you’re safe here in the monastery, none come here but me, and I mean you no ill.”
Quinn stands slowly, not dropping her guard, the summoned energy burning white-hot inside her. The minutes pass as she studies this mans aura, the conflicting light green and smoke gray swirling in the dance of this mans life. She sees his loneliness, and the power he could possess, if he chose to use it. The sting of exile, still strong even after these years, and the stubborn pride of what he had done. The pain of losing his brothers stuffed deep down in his heart. She watches his kind spirit, willing to help anyone in need… Quinn watches all this carefully and, sighing, comes to her decision…
Releasing her pent up energy into the air and earth from where she gathered it, she allows herself a small, tentative smile. “Pen… I believe when you say you mean me no harm. But I must ask… How did you know where I was?”