You Give Love A Bad Name [Eyvind]

[Lynessa Fluersdotter]

First Cycle of Melora, Season of Winter

It was often tiring wandering from one sight to another yet the young blonde enjoyed it, she moved from one sight to another much like the tourists of Jaedaxia. Lyn was looking for distractions, something to do to keep her from getting too bored, she knew she should soon leave the wintery city behind for her home in paradise, but she was reluctant to leave for some reason. Perhaps it was because, despite her annoyances with this place, it was familiar and she wished to remember every inch of the place in case she chose to return again. She could feel eyes upon her as she walked through the crowd of people, but this didn't bother her considering she was used to the sensation, she was a beautiful woman and she knew this, she was used to turning heads wherever she went.

Being that it was winter, she couldn't wear the short black dresses that she could in Ieffreon, which normally was an instant attention grabber, she went for a longer black dress with silver etchings up the sides that hugged her body and left a teasingly low neckline. Next came her black cloak that helped keep her warm, the hood down for the moment since the snow wasn't falling for the time being. The only jewelry she chose to wear was the silver ring around her finger, a pouch hung at her side that carried her visa, crowns, and her only physical weapon, her whip. Anyone that believed her to be defenseless would be in for a rude awakening.

Leaving the main road might have been foolish, especially trading the safety of the main road for that of darker alleyways, but Lyn wasn't afraid, she had traversed them before and felt more comfortable there then out on the streets. She maneuvered her way well enough, though it was clear that she didn't know exactly where she was going nor did she really need to, she was just wandering around for a while until she chose to return to the Inn she stayed at or even perhaps made a break for the gates to return home. The suns were still high in the sky, but large gray snow-filled clouds chose to hide most of the suns' rays, which meant that it would get darker faster and while Lyn was alright with wandering the alleyways, doing it in the darkening would be just asking for trouble and she enjoyed living.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The most difficult part was done! They had just passed the gates of Jaedaxia without even being bothered or delayed! Poor members of the Second Legion, idleness and gate guarding duties made them nigh useless, a Cycle training along his Black Shields would put them straight again, a Cycle of training with his men would put every soldier back in the line that was for sure. Alright, now they were past the gates and they needed a spot to change their garments, mainly his. The smell of the dirty clothes the red-haired Vagaran was unbearable and the ash on his face was making his eyes burn like Aeternia.

The first street on the right and the first dark alley they found was where the dozen or so Black Shields who had accompanied him since Sheria untie the rope he had on his arm. No words were needed as the colossal Vagaran straighted his back and towered over his men in his seven feet in eight. A clean and souped piece of cloth was handed to him and with swiftness born from the scars earnt in war he cleant his face and hands and all the parts of his body that had touched the now abandoned fealty clothes that lay on the ground. Removing the fryer pans from the wooden cart who the gate guards thought to be a old woman took some clean clothes and his weapons. The heavy scalemail he placed on his backpack and so did his men. The armors could be useful to enter the city but using them on the streets could mean problems.

Whoever passed near the dark alley would see two men guarding while the rest of the group changed clothes. What some minutes ago had been Imperial Legionnaires bringing a criminal under custody was now a group of common citizens with backpacks and warm clothes. Some large bags were carried by the men in pairs and the clanging sound of metal indicated they contained the carriers' armors.

"It is done, what is the next step?" asked a rather bulky black furred Dorin that could barely be seen in the dark.

"Now we find a place to rest and I will have to pay the Aedile's a visit, on his own residence I suppose. Then it is Trident Isle and...Gonehameau. I am sure Dag never expected me to pay him a visit so soon and when he reads I am in Sheria fighting the Orcs."

The men grunted something similar to an agreement and prepared to leave. The alley where they were was narrow and long and they formed a straight line while leaving to yet another dark alley, this one slightly larger. The first to exit the side street was the jet black Dorin followed by a quiet and bearded Dwarf, behind them came a young blonde Vagaran with blue and a harp in hand and on his trail came yet another blonde Vagaran, a taller one with grey eyes and greying hair. The group continued leaving the dark alley and when they were all gathered a passer by could see at least a dozen men, two elves one being a Nimalni and the other a Medonian, the last one checking his companions for possible wounds or bruises with a worried face, a short Raghrnd shaking his knees stressfully and a black haired man with a neck resembling a bull and a torso resembling a barrel, the man's jaw was the size of a plate, large and strong.

[Lynessa Fluersdotter]

The late afternoon was starting to shift into evening, Lyn was surprised that she had been out for candlemarks, weaving through alley after alley, most of them dark and dangerous looking. It was almost a thrill for the young Vagaran, she had yet to really meet up with anyone and she began to wonder if maybe she was the only fool that was willingly finding her way through the dark alleyways while everyone else stuck to the main roads. Lyn had turned around and was heading back towards the Inn that she stayed at to get her things together, but the sound of voices halted her and she turned to see if she could find the source of the voices.

Most people would have gone the other direction, afraid of what they might find in the darkness, especially when it sounded like more then one person. It could be a gang of thugs or perhaps slavers, the latter wasn't as scary being that Lynessa was in the same profession. The smell of dirty clothes greeted her sensitive senses and she balked a moment, maybe she shouldn't venture forward, she could be hurt, she had her whip and her voice, but that only went so far. A good gag and bindings would fix both of those weapons, though her mysticism would help.

Peeking her head around the corner curiously, she took note of the two mean looking men standing guard whilst others changed their clothes. She didn't bother to look away, it wasn't as though she hadn't seen a man without clothing before, she watched as the men went from soldiers to citizens with large backpacks. She kept herself hidden because she wasn't entirely sure what all was going on, where they some sort of criminals that they had to change or were they there for a secret mission of sorts? Lyn was always the curious sort, something that oft times got her into trouble.

She took notice of the red haired Vagaran who was really tall, she noticed him mostly because he seemed like the leader, whether he was or not remained to be seen. He mentioned Trident Isle and Gonehameau, whatever the feth that was. From the way they spoke, it seemed that they were indeed on some sort of mission and really, that was something that Lyn didn't want to get herself into.

She saw them getting their things ready to leave and decided that she would leave first so that she wasn't spotted and thought to be some sort of spy. She ran through the alley until she came out onto a side street, she should have just kept going and acted as though she had seen nothing, but instead she chose to hang around, leaning against one of the walls of a nearby building until Eyvind and his men showed up. She tried to look disinterested in the Dorins and other Vagarans, only when Eyvind showed up did Lyn move from the wall and approach, a sweet smile directed at Eyvind. "Serale, you lot look a bit lost." She had her whip, but it was held loosely at her side so she didn't appear as though she was any sort of threat. "Perhaps I can be a guide, I know the city well enough."

[Eyvind Redbeard]

One could imagine a rag tag beggar offering himself to be a guide in a city like Jaedaxia, or perhaps a fancy looking noble with some powermogering schems that would end up in total failure, but never a woman like the one that waited for the group not too far from where they had been changing their outfits. Her eyes were blue and her hair was blonde. The skin, pale and soft but still with a feeling of warm about it. The height almost matched Eirik and the confidence the woman inspired seemed to be enough to avoid having the hardened Black Shields tieing her and covering her mouth with something before being interrogated. Life was harsh and sometimes those were the needed measures, even when dealing with the purest blood of the Vagaran.

Now the intriguing part was the offer. Of course Eyvind didn't know the city like the palm of his hand but he used to live in Aelyria Prime, and there was no place to learn how to get oriented in a urban environment than there, and of course some of his men knew the city pretty well, from a military point of view. Perhaps finding a suitable place to spend the Darkening would be a bit of a trouble, but trusting a complete stranger would be highly discouraged. The prospect of ending up in an ambush seemed both tempting and dangerous to the Vagaran as he knew that his men would deal with whatever threats they would have to face quite easily, even more if the threat was a thieves' gang. They were Heavy Infantry Legionnaires after all, under disguise that is true but their capabilities were those of hardened Veterans of the Sherian War. Of course that even if an ambush was nothing it could also be all, an arrow was as likely to kill a recruit as to slay the mightiest of heroes.

"And what would you gain with that? One does not offers services and favors without profit in the horizon."

Months dealing with gang members in Old Prime taught a lesson of a lifetime to a man, therefore the red-haired man had learn that there was no point in going around the subject of the conversation, he had to go straight to the point.

[Lynessa Fluersdotter]

Lynessa wasn't sure if it was simple curiousity that caused her to approach the group of men, she had never been around Dorins before and they were really the only things that worried her, mostly because she didn't know how predictable they were. Human men she could handle well enough, go for their leader and the others wouldn't be much of a problem, though there was a chance that her approach would be met with suspicion and possibly causing her to be seized and questioned. She approached them as non-threateningly as possible, her whip hanging at her side to show she wasn't an aggressor, but to show them that she did have a means of protecting herself.

She allowed them to get a good look at her, keeping the smooth confidant look about her as she waited for them to respond to her offer, she had kept from making any sort of compliments or teases until she saw how they, or more importantly, Eyvind responded to her offer. She gauged their reactions, each one watching her carefully whilst Eyvind seemed to think it over, she wouldn't give him that long, it wasn't as though she didn't have better things to do other then stand around and wait for a response.

"And what would you gain with that? One does not offers services and favors without profit in the horizon." Finally Eyvind spoke and what he had to say brought a smile to Lyn's lips, he was a man that got right to the point and was suspicious of her after all, smart man. She gave the appearance of one thinking hard on this before simply shrugging. "I guess a girl can't simply offer to do something kind. Alright then, just pay me what you would pay any other guide and I think that will be fine with me." She smiled at Eyvind especially, her medium blonde hair tucked behind one ear and a bit of a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Unless you would rather someone more trusting coming along and leading you around, I guess I could understand if you'd rather that." She had a feeling that unless she missed her mark, Eyvind would gladly have her lead, but she had been wrong about men before.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Sweet innocence...sad thing it was fake. This woman was smart, smart beyond his understanding, but he was just a soldier and all he knew was about slashing and hacking and giving orders. He could be given a map of a battlefield and a list of available troops and he would prepare the battle to achieve a victory no matter how powerful the enemy army could be, but women were his demise. First the beautiful Kella and her soft lips, then the strange and distant Alana followed by Kella one more time...his adoptive daughter had caught his attention but in a different way of course, and there had been two women in Aelyria Prime, Elmaryia and Iseult. The first gentle and good listener and the second was barely a setient creature, acting like an ambushed animal. Anyway, if Achiles had ever lived in this Multiverse, women would have been Eyvind's Achiles heel.

The red-haired man was walking over ice, but why not? This woman could try to trick him, he wanted adventure now and why not trying the first woman that had appeared before him in this fancy city? He'd push her limits a bit.

"Very well, show us the way to a comfortable place where we can rest. You'll be paid once we arrive there. Call me Freyr."

A fake name, just to make sure his name wouldn't reach Gonehameau before it was time.

[Lynessa Fluersdotter]

Eyvind was right about one thing, Lynessa was smart and she knew just how to work the sweet act to her advantage and how was Eyvind and his men to know that she wasn't as sweet as she seemed. She knew better then to push of course, she didn't wish to lead them around for nothing and yet she didn't wish to be impaled by any of their weapons either. She had seen them in their other clothes and knew them for what they really were, well what she thought they were anyway. She waited for Eyvind to answer her innocent little question, hoping that she would be correct.

Was there a chance that perhaps Eyvind and his men would prefer another escort? Someone more trust-worthy then the blonde? A most trust-worthy individual coming along didn't seem likely anyway, so they most likely were stuck with her. She crossed her arms over her chest, a stand of blonde hair falling across her ocean blue eyes as she waited, a smile touching her pale pink lips.

The red-haired Vagaran seemed to be taking his time on deciding and Lyn wondered if maybe he was testing her patience. Any normal woman would just walk away if she didn't really need to stick around, a woman with a hidden agenda would wait it out, not that Lynessa had anything plotted against Eyvind and his men. Finally he came to a decision and it was one that Lynessa had seen coming. She smiled as she was given the name Freyr, whether it was his true name or not didn't really matter at this point. "You can call me Kyria." She could give a fake name as well.

She turned on heel and began walking, not bothering to look back to see if they were following, if Eyvind wished to speak with her, she would oblige, but that would take some effort on his part of course. She led them onto the main road towards La Petite Morte d'Michelle, the same place she was staying at. It was decided, she would stay another darkening in Jaedaxia before returning home to Ieffreon. She knew her way well enough around and she soon saw the La Petite Morte d'Michelle in sight, a smug grin upon her face as she turned to "Freyr." "Silly me, I should have asked, how much are you going to pay me?" She stopped as she turned to face him, not bothering to say how close they were to the Inn. "Perhaps you could buy me a drink, I might even let you join me."

[Heartbreaker]

Even before “Freyr” managed an answer to “Kyria”, they had company.

Clad in something of a party dress…bright pink and gold in color, complete with a pair of ballet shoes, their ‘company’ was comprised of a small girl, appearing to be about seven in age. Her long blond hair flowed almost to her waist, very typically Jaedaxian. What was unusual was the way she sauntered up to the group as if extremely unafraid of striking up conversation with those much older then herself.

“ Bonjour. Are we going to La Petite Morte d'Michelle? Excellent. I’ll join you.”

No argument. No asking…and certainly no choice in the matter for them, apparently.

“I’ve been meaning to come and talk to you both but there are sooooo many people in Jaedaxia that it had been really hard to find the time…but then again I’m sure you both know what I mean cause you are busy people too and finding time to do things that you want to do is really hard sometimes cause people fill up their lives with so much to do and it leaves little time for anything else but you both know what I mean so its okay and, you know, I had to go to the sea and talk to the one guy and then over to trident isle and deal with that whole gnome thing…silly creatures….I mean, it’s just a silly horse…you wouldn’t think they would get –that- riled up about it…oh and then there was the thing with the merpeople….let me tell you, they are –really- temperamental……”

…..and the one-girl conversation went on like that…and on….and on….for about five more minutes before she smiled brightly at them and began plodding towards the building....and the most amazing thing about the encounter?

She hadn't taken a breath the entire time she had been talking!

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Kyria, it wasn't a bad name, not a bad name at all. And the look upon her graceful body as she turned to guide them without a word was surprisingly exciting, perhaps too much exciting to a person with objectives like Eyvind. But still, those long legs and the blonde hair that had covered her shoulders the momented she had crossed her arms, a crossing that had made her brest emerge and catch the warrior's attention. The Vagaran blinked and shook his head slightly to regain control over his body. Streets they crossed, and walk they did until suddenly the woman, Kyria, turned to them. The men carrying the big bags containing the armors halted abruptly making a clang with the metal pieces.

The payment and a drink, the Vagaran warrior couldn't prevent a wide smile. What else did the woman want? A wild Darkening? Probably, the soldier felt like going for it if she was interested! Then when his mouth started to open to form words his brain never thought about, and such is the way of men to speak when they see a woman they enormously want to possess, something happened. Later the red-haired man would consider the minutes after the appearance of this child something extraordinary, scaring and extraordinary.

The child came from the dark of the Darkening dressed with strong colors, at first Eyvind thought the child was his adoptive daughter, Rainn, who he had left in Taralon. Then his eyes focused and he realized the child was someone else, the hair was longer and she was slightly older than Rainn and where his daughter had been shy this one was not. She spoke and she spoke and she spoke. Most things didn't make sense, others did but what kind of child was this to walk up to some adults and start talking without stopping...without breathing!

The supersticious Vagaran stepped back and so did Eirik the Warrior-poet who was with him, a child had to breath in order to speak for that long, any person had to breath no matter what! This was something supernatural and the towering Vagaran couldn't tell if this was a good or a bad omen, not yet...

[Lynessa Fluersdotter]

Lynessa was one that didn't mind being ogled, she had been used to it since she was a child because of her mother. Everyone had always told her she had inherited her mother's looks and the thought of it had already enraged her, now she chose to embrace it and use it to her advantage. Though truly, what advantage came from leading a bunch of brutes around Jaedaxia when she had been considering leaving the cold city behind once again? They could be more dangerous then she originally thought, but then again, Lynessa was one that loved to dance with fire and see how it would burn her.

She waited patiently for Eyvind, or "Freyr" to answer her question, but he wasn't given a chance before something strange happened. Well, perhaps not strange at first, a beautiful little girl made herself known to the rather large group, she looked as though she had been dressed for a party for her dress was bright pink and cold. She had lovely blonde hair that was similar to the way Lynessa had worn it as a child and strangely enough, she didn't seem the least intimidated in approaching the group.

“ Bonjour. Are we going to La Petite Morte d'Michelle? Excellent. I’ll join you.”

The girl did not ask permission nor did she really leave room for argument, she simply invited herself along with the group. Lynessa looked at Freyr for a moment in slight confusion, but Lynessa had experienced the oddness of Jaedaxia before, so perhaps it didn't effect her as much as it did the large Vagaran soldier. From the way the girl spoke, it sounded as though she had been seeking her and Eyvind out specifically but had gotten sidetracked. She didn't continue moving just yet, mostly because the girl-child continued speaking, well more rambling then anything and Lyn took quick notice that the girl didn't even seem to need air to do it.

Was she a ghost? Lynessa would have considered this had it just been her that had seen her, but no, it was apparent the other men saw her as well and realized that there wasn't something quite right with her.

Five long minutes later and the girl finally finished her rambling and began moving towards the building once more, Lyn smiled and shrugged, who was she to really fear a small girl. It seemed the only pain the girl could deal the group was simply talking them to death, though such a thought was not a good one even in a joking matter. "Are you still coming Freyr or will I be dining alone?" She gestured for him to continue following and turned to walk after the little girl. She didn't question such things, she found that when she did, it ended badly for her in the long run. "Not afraid of a little girl are you?" She challenged slightly with a light laugh.

[Trouble]

The little band continued along the street until they reached their destination - La Petite Morte d'Michelle. They approached the white building with the orange sign. Upon entering the Tavern they needed to pause for a moment for their eyes to adjust to the room lit by lamplight. There were two fireplaces in the main room, keeping it nicely warmed. A low bar stretched across the back of the room. The tables were filled with people eating and drinking and... getting to know one another. There was an abundance of pretty women in the Tavern, and nearly all of them exceptionally friendly.

The little girl grabbed Lynnessa by the coat sleeve and started dragging her into the room and to the left. "C'mon, don't stand in the door - let's get a seat. I'm hungry. It's been a while since I ate. Oh.. When was it... You know I just can't remember. I've been so busy I can't even keep track of when I eat. Can you believe it? Does that every happen to you? I'll bet it doesn't happen to him" She said, pointing to Eyvind. "to Fryer." She laughed. "Big as he is I'll bet he eats all the time. I used to know a man who ate..."

The girl continued unabated in her monologue as she guided them through the busy Inn to a table for four toward the back of the room. It had a good view of the rest of the room and the scents coming from the doors of the kitchen, not too far off, could make anyone drool.

[Lynessa Fluersdotter]

This brightening had gone off without a hitch really, that was until Lynessa had decided to guide a group of warrior men, lead by their very tall Vagaran Eyvind to the La Petite Morte d'Michelle for a price. It had been a spur of the moment decision and while she was still questioning it's sanity, the little girl's appearance had brought an unexpected element into her and Eyvind's meeting. Lyn was trying to make sense of the the girl's presence there, she wasn't human apparently considering a real person had to actually...breathe. There was something about her, but was she a danger or not?

Lynessa had only just left the La Petite Morte d'Michelle that morning and yet now here she was again. She had been flirting with the large vagaran out of habit, saying that he owed her a drink, though it would be nice to be along instead of being surrounded by a bunch of his men and having the little girl babbling on and on about nonsense things. She stood in the door for only a moment before the girl decided it was long enough, she grabbed hold of Lyn's sleeve and pulled her inside, Lyn didn't exactly like being pulled around, but the girl seemed harmless enough and she wasn't hurting Lyn.

On with the babble, gods didn't this girl ever shut her mouth? Lyn was tempted to ask her just this, but not knowing just what the girl was, she didn't want to get on her bad side, if she had one of course. She smiled as she looked back at Eyvind, laughing a bit at the girl's comments about him. She pulled her arm away from the girl as they made it to the table and took a seat in one of the chairs in the back, looking to Eyvind and the little girl as she relaxed, showing that while the girl was unexpected and truly an oddity, it didn't bother her all that much. "So, how about that drink, luv." She smiled teasingly.