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traveller, I," says the unseen woman, "and much ill at ease in these woods. Am come from a distant land, I, where trees are scant. I hight Lirixa, and forgive the discourtesy--" There is a velvet shimmer, and then a woman appears, garbed in clothes too thin for the mountains, too finely brocaded for an ordinary traveller. She carries no visible weapon that would protect her from bandits, and Shakra sees very few places in the clothing where one might be concealed, itself disturbing. The stranger's eyes narrow, seeing that Shakra has the letter. "Have other business already, do you? Would ask to come in and warm myself, I. It has been a cold and wearisome journey." Shakra feels chilled. Something strange is happening, surely. It is good that she lives in a room attached to her workshed, a little distance from the family home. Her uncle had built it, and she had lived there since he began her training. Traps and children shouldn't mix, and it kept her equipment out of the way of the rest of the family. Now it might keep more than that away. She glanced at the letter once more, then tucked it carefully into her jerkin. No telling what else might be in the shadows tonight. It also occurs to her that she's never heard this accent before...and she's seen her share of traders from foreign lands, bringing faraway furs and skins. "My home is not large, or fine. Still, a peaceful traveller is welcome to warmth, and shelter." Shakra opens the door, and gestures for her strange visitor to enter. The woman does, bobbing her head in gratitude. Shakra enters after her guest, and says, as she closes and quietly fastens the door, "I'm afraid it is rather dark in here. Just a minute while I get a lamp lit." Shakra then moves quietly to the far side of the table, and lights a lamp. "Would you like a fire?" Shakra asks. Lirixa nods, shivering. Shakra suggests, "Perhaps you could start it? Everything you need is in the box, there, to the left of the fireplace" waving to the woodbox, which does indeed have inset compartments for tinder, kindling, and even a spare firestarting kit, "I really should finish reading this." Lirixa, it seems, is no stranger to the art of building the prison that will house a fire. But instead of using the firestarting kit, she makes a gesture with her hand, and the wood is soon blazing merrily. Shakra notices, and does not find it comforting. If Lirixa notices her host's discomfort, she doesn't show it. Shakra takes one of the two chairs and, carefully to be on the other side of the table from her guest, and reads the letter. As she does so, she notes that her guest is warming her hands.
Back: Shakra's Prologue 1 Flame image courtesy of Mystiqal's Animated Icon Library.
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