Snowtops

[Kirsui]

Casri gazed down at the small town with mixed feelings. She was worried, but then again she had all right to feel so. She hadn't slept properly for days - weeks, even. Not since she had left New Westminster.

She shuddered at the thought of her home, unconsciously wrapping her cloak tighter around herself. It was a miracle she had managed to come this far without any sign of pursuit. Every time she had dared to venture into a village for supplies, she had warily kept an eye on wanted-posters, and listened for rumours from both townsfolk and the king's soldiers.

And everywhere the tale was the same. King Enrod III and his only child, princess Cainaru, were dead.

Casri didn't know what to think of this. Partly she was glad that the King had managed to keep low profile on what had taken place in New Westminster - or more so, what had failed to take place. And yet, at the same time, she was saddened that the people of Warinia had been robbed of all hope that somehow the tyrant of a King that had claimed New Westminster's throne would be defeated.

Casri sighed and pushed all thoughts aside. She had more important matters to think of right now, such as where to get food. The morning air was chilly, and she certainly would like to eat something warm, preferably indoors.

With her goal set, she began her slow walk down the hill and towards the small town of Snowtops. The hood of her cloak was up, covering her features in shadows. Satisfied that she would not be recognizable without further inspection, she began to look for an inn.

[blaqknoise]

Terryn opened the door of his small home to test the air outside. It was morning and the sun was beginning to rise, but it was still quite cold out. He decided to skip the armour today and wear something a bit warmer. he grabbed a thicker pair of black pants, as well as a thick grey long sleeved shirt. He took the holster for his sword and tied it around his waist, then grabbed the sword and put it inside. Lastly, he grabbed his cloak. It was the cloak he had from his military days when he lived in the castle in New Westminster. It had the coat of arms on the back, just like the shields. Hopefully that would keep any muggers away, if it didn't though, he would be able to manage.

He stepped outside, feeling a cold gust of wind as he shut the door. He walked forward through the snow covered evergreen trees as the cold nipped at his face. He reached the path near the entrance of Snowtops and saw a cloaked figure walking into the town. He paid no attention and continued on his way.

Terryn was headed towards the local inn. It had a tavern on the main floor, and the building was owned by a friend of his, so he got discounts on the food and drinks there. He was known by most of the town, so it was also a good place for him to go if he wished to socialize, as well as meet any new people who came into town because that's usually the first placed they go.

[Kirsui]

Casri approached the town slowly, but still casually enough not to seem overly cautious. She kept glancing around herself, trying to see if there was anyone who would pay unnecessary attention to her. It was unnecessary really, as she didn't see anyone.

Not until a man came out from one of the houses. She nearly stopped on her tracks when she saw what he was wearing, but in the end managed to force herself not to worry. She had managed to come this far without troubles, so why would some man wearing the coat of arms be any different?

With a small shake of her head she continued forward. She had no idea where the inn in Snowtops would be, but she figured that if she kept walking along what seemed to be the main road, she would eventually find it. To further relax herself she unfolded her arms and let her cloak flow freely behind her, while she lazily held on to her bow that she - in the lack of better way - carried with her hands. Unfolding her cloak made her quiver of arrows visible as well. She she had it strapped onto her side.

Casri could see people coming out of their houses now, and she decided it would be better for her to hurry into the inn before the streets would become too crowded.

[blaqknoise]

Terryn continued walking, and noticed that there weren't as many people out as there usually was. It was expected though, seeing as it was one of the colder days. He found his way to the inn and went inside, pulling the hood of the cloak off his head as he did so.

Once inside he saw his friend, who was busy serving the people already there. He sat at the last of the empty tables and waited patiently until he had a free moment so that he could put his order in.

At the table next to him he heard a group of 3 talking about something that happened at the castle. He continued listening and learned that the castle had been taken over by some unknown force, and that the king along, with his daughter, were dead. Terryn had so many questions, but they wouldn't be answered by 3 citizens. He needed to talk to someone who would have a bit more information.

[Kirsui]

Casri had been right to assume that the inn would be an easy one to find. She was glad, for the chill of the morning was really beginning to get on her nerves. She had to get inside before her fingers would freeze off of her hands.

However, when she stepped inside and stopped briefly, she felt the first tug of unease. The inn was surprisingly full, possibly because of the cold weather. There were empty chairs here and there, but she really didn't want to join a group of strangers. To her dismay there was only one table with only one person sitting on it. And that person happened to be the man she had seen earlier.

Briefly she wondered whether or not she should simply leave, but hunger and her wish to stay warm won. She sighed, then slowly began to make her way through the inn and towards the table. She approached the table cautiously, as if not wishing to intrude. She examined the man from the shadows of her hood, and came to the conclusion that it would be safe to sit with him, for now at least.

"Excuse me, sir", she started quietly when she had reached the table.
"Would you mind if I sat with you? The inn is quite full, and you seem to be the only one with a nearly empty table."

[blaqknoise]

"Excuse me, sir Would you mind if I sat with you? The inn is quite full, and you seem to be the only one with a nearly empty table."

Terryn looked up from where he was sitting and saw the cloaked figure he had seen before on the entrance path. He could tell now that it was female, but her face was covered to much to see anything else.

"Of course, and call me Terryn, no need for sir."

Terryn looked to see if his friend was free yet, but it seemed he was still busy. He would have to wait a bit longer.

"How come you still cover your face with your hood? The wind and the cold won't get you in here."

[Kirsui]

Casri was relieved that this Terryn was polite, and over all seemed like a nice guy. She sat down, placing her bow to lean against the wall.

"How come you still cover your face with your hood? The wind and the cold won't get you in here."

She tensed when he spoke his words, and flashed a sharp look at him. Briefly she wondered if coming to sit with him had been a mistake after all. However, after a moment of thinking she forced herself to relax, and shifted her gaze at the table.
"I... have my reasons..."

After a quick glance that confirmed that no one seemed to be interested of them for now, Casri lowered her hood. She was well aware that it was risky, but she would take her chances with Terryn. After all, her appearance had changed much after she left New Westminster.

It was strange what being outdoors caused, even in such a short time. Her skin was paler than it should have been, but not as pale as before she had began her long journey. It showed that she had spent her nights outdoors. Her black hair was untied and fell on her shoulders. It was cut unevenly, hastily even, and the small tangles on it suggested she hadn't gotten the chance to properly look after her appearance.

Casri eyed Terryn warily, and decided it would be better to attempt turning the attention away from what she looked like.
"I am Casri, a... wanderer of sorts."

[blaqknoise]

"I... have my reasons..."

Terryn didn't like it when people were secretive, as it usually meant trouble, but she didn't seem like someone who came here looking for it. He decided not to say anymore about it. If she wanted her hood up, then she was allowed to.
After a few moments though, she took her hood off, revealing her face. It seemed familiar to him, where had he seen her before?

"I am Casri, a... wanderer of sorts."

"Well met Casri. What brings you to the small and cold town of snowtops?"

[Kirsui]

Casri examined Terryn when she had finished speaking, and felt some amount of relief that he didn't recognize her. However, her relief was short lived when he spoke again.

"Well met Casri. What brings you to the small and cold town of snowtops?"

She cringed, and this time it visibly wen her hood wasn't covering her features.
"I do not really know how much you have heard of what has been going on. There are troubles at the central Warinia."
She shrugged with a faint frown.
"I figured it would be safer to stay away from New Westminster, for now at least. Snowtops seemed distant enough."

[blaqknoise]

"I do not really know how much you have heard of what has been going on. There are troubles at the central Warinia. I figured it would be safer to stay away from New Westminster, for now at least. Snowtops seemed distant enough."

"I've heard a bit, but not a lot," Terryn replied, "Perhaps you could tell me in greater detail?"

Terryn looked up once again, only to find that his friend was still busy. He figured there was time for a long conversation.

[Kirsui]

"I've heard a bit, but not a lot. Perhaps you could tell me in greater detail?"

Casri thought for a moment, following Terryn's gaze to see that she would still need to wait for her food. She decided to share her information. At least that way Terryn might not pay attention to what she didn't want him to know.

"The army came out of nowhere", she began, unable to hide her saddened tone. She kept her gaze firmly at the table.
"There was nothing that could have been done..."

She frowned deeply as she recalled what she had seen.
"I do not know how he did it, but the sheer number of forces that assaulted the castle was... was..."
She paused, shaking her head with a haunted look in her eyes.
"And the dragons... They attacked us from above, tearing down our defences, ripping our gates open... We were not prepared for them, we never had been. I think he knew that when he recruited them... However he managed to do so..."

She sighed again, and finally looked up at Terryn.
"King Enrod is dead", she said bleakly. "Our assaulter executed him, and now he sits upon New Westminster's throne."

[blaqknoise]

Terryn listened closely to what Casri had to say about the attack. It seemed she knew quite a bit about what happened for just a wanderer.

"King Enrod is dead, our assaulter executed him, and now he sits upon New Westminster's throne."

"And what about his daughter, Cainaru? Is she dead as well?"

[Kirsui]

"And what about his daughter, Cainaru? Is she dead as well?"

Casri shifted on her seat uncomfortably. She didn't know what to say now, and her hesitance to answer was clearly written all over her face.
"She... " she muttered quietly, her words almost unclear.
"... They attempted to assassinate her... From what I have heard, everyone seems to think she is dead."

She paused to think. Terryn had gotten her into a tight position with his questions. If this continued much longer, she might reveal - or he might guess - something that she would rather not share. And thus, before he could ask anything else, she made a question of her own.
"Tell me, Terryn", she began.
"If you do not mind me asking... Who do you align yourself with?"

[blaqknoise]

Terryn was about to ask Casri another question, but before he could say anything she asked him one of her own.

"Tell me, Terryn, If you do not mind me asking... Who do you align yourself with?"

"No one really, at least not anymore. I used to serve in the military a while ago, I even lived in the castle. I knew the king and his daughter very well, but I was kicked out after a disagreement with the king. I would align myself with anyone who thought like I did though."

Terryn then remembered that she might have seen the coat of arms on his back earlier, which may have brought up the question.

"Don't let the cloak fool you. I just keep it because it's warm, and it keeps away muggers."

[Kirsui]

"-- I used to serve in the military a while ago, I even lived in the castle. I knew the king and his daughter very well, but I was kicked out after a disagreement with the king. I would align myself with anyone who thought like I did though."

Casri's eyes widened a small fraction. Terryn's words had taken her completely by surprise. She was relieved that her worst fears weren't quite true, and that he would be no threat to her - for now at least. However, she had not expected him to have known the royal family so well.

Almost an instant after her eyes had widened, she frowned, thinking. She had to admit that now that she was looking at Terryn without the fear of him being an enemy, there was... something familiar about him. She couldn't quite place it though, and before she could think of it any longer, Terryn continued speaking.

"Don't let the cloak fool you. I just keep it because it's warm, and it keeps away muggers."

Casri smiled faintly in amusement.
"I take it works well, then."
Her expression became thoughtful.
"How come did you end up in Snowtops, though? It seems so... distant from everything."

[blaqknoise]

Terryn watched Casri's facial expressions as he talked, and noticed that she seemed slightly shocked after he said he came from the castle. Perhaps there was more to her than she was letting off.

"I take it works well, then."

"Very well too. They tend to stay away from people who can fight back."

"How come did you end up in Snowtops, though? It seems so... distant from everything."

"Exactly, that's what I wanted. I've always lived where it was busy and there were lots of people, but here it's so quiet and peaceful. The people here are quite social as well, like I am, so it just seems like a perfect fit for me."

Terryn paused for a moment, and then continued.

"Do you plan on staying here for long?"

[Kirsui]

Casri nodded with a slight smile when Terryn answered her question. Yes, she could see now why he had come to Snowtops.

"Do you plan on staying here for long?"

Casri pondered his question for quite some time. Snowtops seemed to be a peaceful small town, far away from everything. An ideal place to live, really. Her only problem was, would it be far enough?

She doubted it, and finally answered with a heavy sigh.
"It would depend, I suppose. I have kept moving ever since I left New Westminster, and staying is very tempting."

She sighed again, and shook her head, clearly troubled.
"I am afraid, however, that staying at one location for an extended period of time is not... healthy for me."

She then grinned faintly, though the troubled look hadn't completely left her face.
"That, and I do not really have a place to stay."

[blaqknoise]

"That, and I do not really have a place to stay."

'That can always be arranged, you know."

Terryn couldn't help but feel he had met this girl before already, but where? She's never been here in Snowtops before and the only other place Terryn had been was New Westminster, so it would have to have been there.

"If you were to leave Snowtops, where would you go?"

[Kirsui]

"If you were to leave Snowtops, where would you go?"

Casri was wary again, watching Terryn with a faint hint of suspicion. Why did he want to know what she had planned? Was it just simple curiosity.... or something else?

After a moment of silence, she relaxed again and shrugged, trying to appear casual. She had no idea how well it would work, but she really had to try at least.

"I have not really planned it that far", she admitted with a tentative smile.
"My goal was to simply get here, then rethink my options. Daishtan and Kelast are in the opposite direction, and Bassas is simply too close to New Westminster."

She paused and her smile disappeared.
"I suppose I could go south... Head for Sondista or Ythus... Or even pay a visit to the elves in Valowira..."
She shook her head.
"Or maybe I will go nowhere particular, and head where ever my feet will take me..."

She fell silent, and a sad expression found its way on her face again. She was watching the table's surface again, both because it made it easier for her to think, and because she didn't want to look at Terryn. She hadn't spoken this much with anyone in a long time, and she felt strangely safe in the small inn. Yet at the same time her feeling of safety made her feel vulnerable, and she didn't like that at all.

"It is so strange... difficult, even..." she finally said quietly, almost more to herself than Terryn.
"All your life you have had a purpose, a goal to aim for... Then suddenly things change and you become lost, no longer knowing what to do..."

[blaqknoise]

Terryn listened to Casri explain what she would do if she were to leave, and he couldn't help but crack a small smile.

"So in other words, you have no idea what you want to do?"

"It is so strange... difficult, even... all your life you have had a purpose, a goal to aim for... Then suddenly things change and you become lost, no longer knowing what to do..."

"Well, what were you striving for prior to this recent event? Perhaps I can help you get back on your feet."