Through Gleaming Steel (Louise)

[Faraluun]

Timestamp: 70th of Spring

Browsing through the gleaming wares of the Heart of Steel, Faraluun studied the small arms casually, his mind reeling back to a time spent amongst the knights of Sylirias, the dust of the training ground reaching up to sting his eyes. There steel was raised in the defense others, a distant notion in comparison to what he'd seen traveling from Alvadas to Riverfall. In the wilderness more often then not one was on their own, and only had themselves to account for if they wanted to survive whether or not they named companions amongst them. Trust was not something to be given away freely and without thought.

Reason brought him to the weapons shop that day, though not to bare the weapons on the peaceful isle but to keep with him whenever his mind finally made up where he was to be bound for. Whereas the wilds were relatively peaceful here, generally in mizahar it was proved quite the opposite, your very life risked on a simple hunt to provide food for your family. He wore a sword at his hip already, but after the subsequent events of his time on the island, he felt the need for protection that was easier to use in a pinch or something that could give him a better range against his foes, and eliminated the threat of any flying creatures that might harass him. It had been many seasons since he had tasted crow.

Picking up a broad headed arrow he balanced it on across the back of his fingers idly as his eyes explored the simple shop, noting the rare few patrons found within.

[Louise Risll]

Only two weeks had passed since arriving on the island. That time had been filled with observing the new culture Louise had walked into. Of course she had been expecting a…change. The stories she had heard about Mura before arriving had given her plenty to ponder over. But after years of living and wandering Mizahar she was interested to see what she would find on this island. Maybe she’d come across something extraordinary. Or maybe she would find very little and leave before the season was over. Either way, Louise had found herself running low on her arrows. What use was her bow without arrows? Louise slowed upon arriving at small rectangular white house. From a distance she wouldn’t have suspected such a small, normal looking place sold weapons. But everything on this island seemed different. Heart of Steel the place was called. A fitting name. Dressed in her usual garb: a dark green shirt, brown breeches, a pair of black boots and a black hooded cloak Louise pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside. The second she entered she gently pushed the black hood off her head, revealing a slightly tan oval face with dark chestnut brown eyes and chocolate brown colored hair that dipped below her shoulders. Her eyes scanned the shop for a moment, taking in the goods at the customers already within the shop. Everything seemed rather…normal. For the moment. Spotting a section of the shop displaying various arrows Louise made her way over. As she walked she spotted a man balancing an arrow on the back of his fingers. But his eyes did not seem to focus on the weapon he balanced. He seemed to be more interested in those around him. Louise pulled her eyes away from the man quickly and walked passed him. She came to a halt not more than three feet away and stared at the array of arrows. She gently picked one of the arrows up and brought it in close to see the head better. Sharp. Perfect for an instant kill if the mark was good. She said not a word to the man balancing the arrow. She had no idea what to say to him in the first place. She also found very little interest in conversing with…strangers. But she felt his presence and that was something she found herself struggling to push aside.

[Faraluun]

Footsteps echoed behind him off the floor of the shop, and an expected tension crept to his shoulders. He was no stranger to blades at his back, no one who braved the breathe of mizahar was, yet Mura was as safe as it got. It defied rational reasoning, yet instincts didn't have to be rational because they kept your breathing to see another day, and casting a look around, he found the source for his brief discomfort in an unlikely place.

A woman whom with her copper skin separated herself the pale seers of the island, unless in the unlikely event konti could develop a tan which he doubted seriously. If that wasn't enough, the fashion of her clothing was remarkably similar to his own, marking her as much of the islands as he was. It made her all the more interesting to him. While he'd seen his share of other visitors to the island, most tended to look the part of visiting scholars, while this one looked far more comfortable with a weapon in hand. More importantly someone whom's motives were not so suspect.

Clearing his throat, he took a step towards the woman. "Favor the bow do you" Faraluun stated idly, replacing the arrow in his hand into a quiver.

[Louise Risll]

Louise slowly and carefully ran her thumb down the edges of the arrowhead. Sharp edges. A good arrowhead. No true blemish to be seen. Doing her best to ignore the man balancing his arrow, Louise ran her fingers down the length of the bow. Smooth. She liked that. She could see it gliding through the air, soaring towards it target. She could see how it would hit, if aimed properly. If no mistake was made. How swiftly it would creep up on its target and end it all in utter silence. The sound of an arrow being slid back into its quiver broke Louise’s little daydream. Her grip tightened absurdly on the arrow for a moment as the man’s words reached her ears, intended for her. She didn’t respond right away, instead running her finger up and down the smooth body of the arrow. She didn’t come here to converse. In fact she had chosen this particular shop to purchase her arrows and go. But now the presence she failed to push aside had made his move. It was her turn. But what to do? Slowly Louise turned her gaze away from the arrow to the man she had seen earlier upon entering the shop. He didn’t look threatening. So then why was he speaking to her? Was this what some people called ‘idle chit-chat’? Louise wasn’t quite fond of it so far. “Yes I…it suits me.” A long pause fell upon them and Louise found herself stuck on what exactly to do next. Walk out and leave? Yes. No! She needed her arrows before she could leave. “I see you have some experience with a bow,” the words came tumbling out of Louise’s mouth before she could stop herself. A short pause followed as she scrambled to figure out what to do next that she had spoken so foolishly. She came up with no answer and quickly averted her gaze back to the arrows.

[Faraluun]

"Far from experienced actually, though its an easy mistake to make with my handling of the arrow. Time with the sword has given me some insight to the balance of weapons" He spoke lightly, careful to not embarrass the woman. It wasn't in his nature to humiliate someone. Better that he gently correct someone and pick them back up onto their feet. You made more friends than enemies that way.

"I admit, I'm jealous of your familiarity with the bow. While I'm capable of defending my person, and require little in the way of food, I'm at a certain disadvantage when it comes to ranged attacks unlike yourself" Faraluun complemented, his eyes on the arrows occupying their respective quivers. He didn't want to make the lady nervous by staring. Best to keep her focused on something she was comfortable with.

"What brings you to the island in any case?"

[Louise Risll]

He was a swordsman then. As she listened to the man her thoughts traveled back to her childhood. Back to her father and brother would had held many a wooden sword duels right before dinner. The clattering of wood against wood rung in her ears, finding herself sitting in the grass off to the side, clutching her own wooden bow and chanting her brother and father’s names. She had always wanted them both to win their duels, which her brother had always found hilarious. The clattering faded as Louise tore herself out of her memory and back into the present day. Her gaze returned to the man. “Then you sound to be an excellent swordsman.” She fell quiet as she listened to the man again as he spoke about his lack of skill in ranged attacks. It was true. A sword did well against close range attacks. It dealt mighty blows to enemies, severing limbs and heads and plunging deep into hearts. But her bow made it so she could strike the heart from afar. She could keep her distance from the sword and still land her blow. But aim was key. Poor aim meant a pitiful loss of arrows and an eventual loss in battle. “The bow grants many advantages,” Louise replied, slightly shaken as to why her mind had gone to bloodshed so quickly. Memories…not of childhood. The man’s question broke through the haze that had threatened to sink in. Louise blinked and focused back on the man who had decided to strike up a conversation with her. “I had heard nothing but interesting stories of Mura. I don’t tend to stay in one place very long. I prefer to move about and…” She was speaking too much. Far too much. Silly. Foolish. “I wanted to see the truth,” she concluded hastily.

[Faraluun]

"Don't we all" Faraluun murmured distantly, his eyes seeming to look beyond the hide quiver held in his hand. To see the truth in things was in part why he found himself Mura, his ever curious soul seeking to unravel the mysteries of his existence. His past life still kept much secrets from him he felt, secrets his marked hand could not reveal so easily.

"Are you only resupplying or do you plan on putting those arrows to use hunting?" Faraluun asked, finally looking at the woman. "I am known as Faraluun" His arm extended in greeting, a soft smile gracing his features.

[Louise Risll]

Now was the time to leave. To simply walk out with her purchase and move along in her life. She had come to Mura seeking to simply see what this city was. She had not come to make friends, for what were they worth in the end? She had come into this shop for arrows and nothing else. But just as Louise grabbed a whole new quiver of arrows she felt something odd stir deep within her. She was rooted in place, ideas of silently leaving slowly slipping from her mind. But why would she even entertain the thought of spending time with another person? Traps would be laid and soon the doors she had kept locked tight would creak open. So why? But this man this…Faraluun…didn’t look harmful. He was a swordsman who knew the way of the sword and balance. She felt like she could learn a lot from him. But was it worth the risk? She looked down at the quiver of arrows in her hand. She had every intention to use her arrows for hunting whatever kept her alive and coin in her pocket. “What good is resupplying if I have no intention of using my bow again?” She looked back over at Faraluun, her mind surprisingly made up. Maybe the risk was worth it. But if things went sour…well Louise was no stranger to escape and combat. “Louise.” She carefully shook his offered hand. She saw his soft smile a felt a bit more confident in her decision. “Were you looking to go hunting soon?”

[Faraluun]

Gripping her forearm reassuringly he smiled faintly, and the mark on the back of his hand warmed slightly as a handful of images swam across his minds eye. They proved to be inconsequential, just a scene of the woman before him in a more less tame setting, then came a pair of it's maker and consequentially seller. No names or other notions came to his mind unbidden, but he was satisfied. In an odd manner it settled any doubts he might of had of the woman and her notions towards this peaceful island.

"I had not planned for hunting, and lack a weapon suitable, but I know of a place, and have a desire to learn if you are of the inclination to have me along" Faraluun said pleasantly, releasing her forearm from his grip to allow his arms to fall idly at his sides.

[Louise Risll]

Louise’s muscles tensed up as Faraluun’s hand went to her forearm instead of her hand. She felt his grip on her arm and saw the soft smile on his face but Louise was far from calm. After a second Louise tried to pull her arm back, trying her best to offer Faraluun a sublet hint that she was not enjoying being touched in this manner. She held back from striking. Even though her mind screamed that striking the man and leaving the shop was the safest route for her she would be sacrificing the arrows she had wished to purchase. And she needed these arrows if she wanted to keep living her preferred lifestyle. But it seemed her hint went unnoticed. Yet as Louise stared at Faraluun she noticed that he didn’t really seem to be…seeing. No. No he was seeing. But she got the strange feeling that he was focused on something else at the moment. But what? Suddenly the moment passed and Faraluun released his grip on her arm. The second she was free she took a small step back. She had absolutely no idea what had just happened, but she didn’t want that to happen again. “You…you walk around without any weapons?” her brow furrowed in confusion. “Strange. We are in a weapon’s shop. Maybe you should purchase a weapon? Do you no longer have your sword?” She paused as she looked over the quiver of arrows she was planning on buying. “If this knowledge will help bring down prey then I see no reason not to at least see what this knowledge is. You can join me…but refrain from touching me.”