One

The sent that warned rain was on the way, came on the breeze. Earthy and heavy it pushed it’s way through open windows. Curtains forced back flapped in protest billowing upwards. Soft shadows danced on the walls made by the fine weave gauze curtains as they shifted back a forth with the wind. In the darkness an old dark wood bed creaked as weight was rested upon it.

Nadala sat facing the window her eyes depths of blue that seemed to be the only thing visible in the dark. They were sad and narrowed with concern. Her long thin fingers played with the thick woolen blanket upon the inns bed her mind in a far away place. Rest was most important to her, but she could not. Her mind buzzed with fear and excitement entwined they made the most complex feeling within that made it impossible for her to remain still. This anxiety was killing her. It took all her mental strength just to keep herself from shaking. Her lip’s quivered the only sign that she was almost incapable of holding back the tremors within her. She was far from her home in a land she had only heard story’s about. Most would have held immense excitement on such a great venture. Nadala wasn’t here to explore or trade. She wasn’t even betrothed to another in this land. This country, this cursed hole in the ground was the enemy and she was not welcome here. Her people strong in their numbers waged war against Calandria and she full of effort and no result was forced to sneak around like a dog hoping to steal from a table. Given the lowliest of tasks.

Outside of her room and down the hall in the warmly lit tavern, people laughed and the clinking of glass could be heard. Nadala looked to her gauntlet strapped firmly to her hand it’s stone glowered softly within the darkness. Two stones that was all she held. The lowliest of Yagan summoners that was her calling. She meant nothing to her people and that was why they had sent her here. Yaga had strange way of dealing with the weak and obsolete. Instead of allowing them to go on feeding like parasites, Yaga sent the weak to commit the undoable in hopes they would not return.

In the hall shuffling feet moved and Nadala felt a buzzing sensation within her fingers. Her nervous state was becoming worse. She feared soon she would no longer be able to keep tears back. A bang against her wall and she jumped her heart seemed to rise up and grab her throat with shared nerves. Outside she could hear crying or was it drunken laughter, she was unsure which it was. On impulse she moved to the door and turned the handle opening it.

Outside the music from the band playing in the tavern pulsed in her ears with soothing beats and low ambient notes that complimented a female singers voice. Besides her door a drunk had fallen and without the mental restraint she had promised to keep within her she let out a sigh of relief. She paused as she heard the sound of gagging deep within his throat his completion paled and soon turned to blue. Her heart hammered within her chest. The man was choking on his own vomit. She looked him over briefly, turning the risks over in her mind. Shaking her head Nadala squatted besides the man and with all the strength she processed turned him to his side. Slapping him hard on his back brought up the vomit with a vile stench that made her gag. She turned his face towards her and held her breath. He wasn’t Calandrian. There were no markings and over the sent of his vomit she should have been able to smell spent mage just as she would have been able to with her own kind. There was no smell to this man. Not even the scent of death hung on him. No buzz in the air that he held lines of mage drawn up from the planets core. Even if he were human she would have been able to smell him. But there was nothing.  

He roused, his eyes with heavy lashes flickering a few times before opening. Gray flecked with green glazed with a dead emotionless stare. She found her self shuddering beneath his gaze. He was drunk and yet appeared aware of his state and the place he laid. She was frozen her body shaking. Her heart thumped in her chest at unsteady pace. He reached out to Nadala and pushed her away. She allowed herself to go with the force of the push. Her back gently hit the wall and her head rested against it. She stared terrified as he staggered to his feet.

“Whaddya doing,” he drawled. “Stay back if you know what’s good for you. You’re a strange looking dog you are.”

Nadala stiffened his words stung at her heart. She had been called a dog before, a lowly indecent dog. They were the words of her own people in their contempt of her being meager. Her birth date was meant to be the date the high summoner was to be born. But instead it was recorded that only one babe was born. The child was born unnamed its mother dying as she was in labor. Child trapped within mother. The priests charged with the child’s birth had no choice but to cut the babe out. That was why they hated Nadala. Nadala was the child that was born and Yaga her homeland never received a high summoner.

“You…were choking, I held…no ill intention towards you,” she said her Calandrian awkward and stumbling. With her hate for the people who spoke the language she choked on the words, forced herself to speak them.

The man glared at her, “You would have done the world a favor if you had of left me here to die.” The males Calandrian outshone her own he spoke well though his accent made some of the words sound difficult.

She smiled her lips drawn up tightly. “Aww you too?” she said sarcastically. He stood his legs wobbling as he stepped towards her. Nadala leaned on the wall then stood. The buzzing sensation returned as footsteps echoed in the stone hall.

The man threw himself against her his body covering her from the passer bys view. She stared her eyes wide. Her heartbeat grew louder as the sound stopped. She could sense the presence paused Nadala’s heightened sense felt confusion about the persons aura. It was almost as though the person was waiting for her to make a wrong move. After what seemed a lifetime the footsteps began and disappeared down the hall.

The man grinned at Nadala remaining in his stance. She realized her features flushed that he was well endowed below.

“That was the Calandrian’s high priestess, if she had of sniffed you out. I don’t think you would have last long against her. You’re a little below her abilities. How do I know what you are? I wouldn’t bother asking if I were you. Lets just be happy I was here to save your ass from annihilation. I dunno know why I did it. I just think you are feeling as bad as I am about being here. But you know us humans always putting our noses where they don’t belong. Besides…” he paused and wobbled as he tried to stagger to her door. “I like you girl. You don’t say much. That’s unusual for a woman.”

He walked into her room as if he owned the place and flopped down on her bed. He grinned at her before laying back his black boots crossed. His long gaunt physic disgusted Nadala in its relaxed state. Did this man have no dignity? Alcohol did strange things to people.

She sniffed at his aloof attitude lifted his boot covered feet and pushed them off the side of her bed. He began to snore and she rolled her eyes. Nadala didn’t have the strength to drag him from the bed. Somehow she just had to get some rest. She lent down and tightened her grip around the pillow under the drunk’s head and pulled it out from under. He let out a loud snort and continued to sleep like a child. She lay in a corner and closed her eyes squeezing them tightly.