Spring 77, 514 AV
This time the Konti prepared herself more carefully. Fine face powder and philtered charcoal sticks had been acquired. A clean cloak of darkest black color had been draped over a chair, accompanied by black gloves, their leather still shiny, and topped by a golden and black carnival mask.
Estrellir was sitting in front of the mirror, observed by her slave Mell, and rubbing powder on her face. It felt chilly and fresh on her skin. When she added more around the scales, it was prickling, but not in an unpleasant way. Next she applied a bit of charcoal under her eyes and smudged it. A glance at the mirror satisfied her. A pale girl was staring back at her with faint bags under her eyes, possibly from insomnia or exhaustion. In Kenash, the most battered figures were the least suspicious.
As dusk was falling over the swamp, the Konti turned human exited the bureau and made her way down to Blade Island. She walked in a half-bent and hurried pace that allowed her to melt into the shadows and attract little attention. Most likely a slave on an errand. The shadows were her friends, embracing her like a lover, whispering sweet nothings into her ear. Sometimes she listened, but that evening she had an appointment.
Near a residence she ducked into the high reeds and, with some shifting, managed to make herself comfortable. The house she was watching appeared to be one story with its white paint stained and coming off in a few places, the shutters bleached from the seasons and even featuring one or two gaps where the wood had splintered in storms. That house hadn’t been taken care of and probably wouldn’t do well in the next flood. The grass was growing high in the neighborhood and the paint at the door had come off in so many places that there was more naked wood than polished.
Despite the late bell, that time after shops had closed and before the night began, the shutters were closed with only thin lines of golden light filtering out. Estrellir furrowed her brow. The Freeborn living in that house was worried about his wife… or angry at her? Whatever, his Norissa had been spending all their money and he wished to know why.
After half a bell, the door creaked and a woman emerged. Squinting, Estrellir drank in her appearance. Black hair, thin and surprisingly tall, with dark clothes in bad condition. She didn’t walk, she staggered. At the same time, large eyes were looking around missing nothing around her. As if she expected being pursued.
First she headed south and roamed the pathways of Reed Park for a bell. Her husband was still at work, closing up the shop, so she was probably passing time until he returned home. Deeming it too risky to follow the woman, Estrellir lingered just outside the park and kept an eye on all entrances. She couldn’t miss the woman as she left the park and turned northwest. Estrellir stepped out of the weeds just as Norissa stopped and turned around.
Within a moment the Konti realized the woman had seen her. She had no choice but to keep walking as if she’d just turned the corner and pass her.
At the next bridge she shrunk into the shadows under its pillows. That meant getting her boots muddy, but calming her heartbeat and finding the woman had higher priority in her book. Fortunately, Norissa chose to cross that bridge and the next. Estrellir waited a breath before hurrying across the wooden planks. She tried to move as quickly and silently as possible, placing her feet flat on the ground instead of the heels first to make less noise.
Caution seemed to pay off. The woman didn’t look back a second time, although she followed an odd route between buildings before disappearing into a modest shed opposite Glass Beach. Estrellir lingered a moment to recall and analyze what she’d seen. Norissa had devised a route designed to confuse any pursuers and had behaved quite suspiciously.
What did that mean for the investigation? Estrellir still hadn’t collected enough material to work with. Taking a deep breath, she took the mask out of a hidden pocket and put it on. Cream and black intertwined in its design, the black accentuated by glitter and everything hugged by golden lines and spirals. Next she slipped off the hood and shook out her white locks. Nobody would think anything of a Dynasty brat visiting the location she was about to enter. Without hesitating she entered the battered building and stepped into Towery’s Casino.
The stale air smelled of coin and fake promises, welcoming her into another pit of Kenashian sin.
This time the Konti prepared herself more carefully. Fine face powder and philtered charcoal sticks had been acquired. A clean cloak of darkest black color had been draped over a chair, accompanied by black gloves, their leather still shiny, and topped by a golden and black carnival mask.
Estrellir was sitting in front of the mirror, observed by her slave Mell, and rubbing powder on her face. It felt chilly and fresh on her skin. When she added more around the scales, it was prickling, but not in an unpleasant way. Next she applied a bit of charcoal under her eyes and smudged it. A glance at the mirror satisfied her. A pale girl was staring back at her with faint bags under her eyes, possibly from insomnia or exhaustion. In Kenash, the most battered figures were the least suspicious.
As dusk was falling over the swamp, the Konti turned human exited the bureau and made her way down to Blade Island. She walked in a half-bent and hurried pace that allowed her to melt into the shadows and attract little attention. Most likely a slave on an errand. The shadows were her friends, embracing her like a lover, whispering sweet nothings into her ear. Sometimes she listened, but that evening she had an appointment.
Near a residence she ducked into the high reeds and, with some shifting, managed to make herself comfortable. The house she was watching appeared to be one story with its white paint stained and coming off in a few places, the shutters bleached from the seasons and even featuring one or two gaps where the wood had splintered in storms. That house hadn’t been taken care of and probably wouldn’t do well in the next flood. The grass was growing high in the neighborhood and the paint at the door had come off in so many places that there was more naked wood than polished.
Despite the late bell, that time after shops had closed and before the night began, the shutters were closed with only thin lines of golden light filtering out. Estrellir furrowed her brow. The Freeborn living in that house was worried about his wife… or angry at her? Whatever, his Norissa had been spending all their money and he wished to know why.
After half a bell, the door creaked and a woman emerged. Squinting, Estrellir drank in her appearance. Black hair, thin and surprisingly tall, with dark clothes in bad condition. She didn’t walk, she staggered. At the same time, large eyes were looking around missing nothing around her. As if she expected being pursued.
First she headed south and roamed the pathways of Reed Park for a bell. Her husband was still at work, closing up the shop, so she was probably passing time until he returned home. Deeming it too risky to follow the woman, Estrellir lingered just outside the park and kept an eye on all entrances. She couldn’t miss the woman as she left the park and turned northwest. Estrellir stepped out of the weeds just as Norissa stopped and turned around.
Within a moment the Konti realized the woman had seen her. She had no choice but to keep walking as if she’d just turned the corner and pass her.
At the next bridge she shrunk into the shadows under its pillows. That meant getting her boots muddy, but calming her heartbeat and finding the woman had higher priority in her book. Fortunately, Norissa chose to cross that bridge and the next. Estrellir waited a breath before hurrying across the wooden planks. She tried to move as quickly and silently as possible, placing her feet flat on the ground instead of the heels first to make less noise.
Caution seemed to pay off. The woman didn’t look back a second time, although she followed an odd route between buildings before disappearing into a modest shed opposite Glass Beach. Estrellir lingered a moment to recall and analyze what she’d seen. Norissa had devised a route designed to confuse any pursuers and had behaved quite suspiciously.
What did that mean for the investigation? Estrellir still hadn’t collected enough material to work with. Taking a deep breath, she took the mask out of a hidden pocket and put it on. Cream and black intertwined in its design, the black accentuated by glitter and everything hugged by golden lines and spirals. Next she slipped off the hood and shook out her white locks. Nobody would think anything of a Dynasty brat visiting the location she was about to enter. Without hesitating she entered the battered building and stepped into Towery’s Casino.
The stale air smelled of coin and fake promises, welcoming her into another pit of Kenashian sin.
Receipt :
