by Shysk on December 22nd, 2010, 6:07 pm
The cold wind lashed the two of them as they waded through the snow, blinding them and making them stumble. As they approached Shysk could see that the building wasn't as ugly as he had first supposed; it was broad and warmly coloured and seemed to have an air of hospitality. Ther also seemed to be a party going on in there, for Shysk could hear voices raised in song and could smell both the sweet scent of Vantha nad the musky strong scent of Kelvics. Shysk was gently guided into the building, the guard opening and closing the door behind him. He stood there blinking in the light, glad to be out of the cold and somewhere warm. The interior was well lit, open and hospitable; Vantha and Kelvics were all around, eating, singing, dancing and laughing, the symbols of ice glittering in the ruddy light of the candles and fires. At the sight of the guard a young vantha girl stood up and hailed him, crying out, "Coren! Coren, welcome, didn't expect--". She stopped midsentence, staring at Shysk. She was very pretty, her black green hair hanging down to her waist and framing her cherubic features. She dropped her gaze back to Coren and siad, "Who the hell's this?"
Coren replied, "I don't know; he isn't a Zith, he's a Mixblood... And his tongues been cut out. I'm taking him to the Officer of the Watch."
The girl stared at him then stepped aside, pity filling her eyes as she watched the Mixblood being escorted away towards a bare office, dominated by a huge desk and three chairs.
The Officer of the Watch was another woman, this time with red highlights to her hair and covered in scars, but her voice was warm and her eyes kind;
"Coren, welcome and welcome to you our guest," She said smiling, making her scars seem to vanish. Coren spoke to her quickly, informing her of Shysk's arrival, and his malady and she nodded once, birdlike. At a low growl to his right Shysk turned to see one of the Kelvics in bear from staring at him and nervously edged away. The Officer of the Watch smiled at him sympatheticaly and said "Don't worry; she won't bite." She motioned for him to sit at the desk and passed him a piece of parchment and a quill. He looked up at her and nodded and began to write;
'My name is Shysk; I'm a Mixblood; my father was a Zith and my mother a human. What else do you want to know?
"What are you doing here?"
'I am looking for a friend, a girl called Keliselle; her settlemnt was attacked and she was kidnapped to here.
The Officer nodded slowly and said, "Well..." and the doubt was etched upon her face as deep as glaciers and as clear as day.
Shysk glared up at her, biting down his anger and forcing himself not to break the quill as he wrote, 'I don't care how outlandish it seems; she IS here. I'm not here to make trouble. I want to find her, nothing more.
She sighed and nodded again, and she seemed much older and her scars more livid. "Well... Good luck and Morwen bless you Shysk."
'Thank you'
The guard led him out and Shysk stood still a while, the snow coating his fur and sending shivers dancing across his spine. He stood there until he could stand no more and began walking towards a nearby inn.
Silence is the Nightmare
The Nightmare is Real
But oft Hope is Born when All is Forlorn
And Hope is the Dream
The Dream that shall Never End
The Wind is her Lips
And the Snow Her Embrace
And We shall Never be Torn Asunder