Thread: Darkness and light (LeatrixSage and Silver Star)

The priests subtle footsteps on the stairs spoke of one who was used to being unhurried. He was not exactly stealthy, so much as he was quiet. His movements were those of one accustomed to dusty shelves, mountains of books, and congregations of other men reading in a silence that was not to be disturbed. There was a certain refined nature about him that meant he made less noise than most, but Liora knew he was coming long before the door creaked, or the man spoke. The Drow felt his eyes on her skin as assuredly as the cool night air that was rolling in through the window. The moon had yet to rise and the room was dark, so Liora felt certain he didnt see near as much as he seemed to think he saw. But, she supposed if he had never seen a woman naked, any amount of extra skin would make his collar burn. She smiled as the man flustered, going about finishing the caretaking to keep the steel of her weapons strong with a leisurely dedication while Aelir fiddled about and tried not to look her. Liora choked on a laugh when the priest chomped into a rotten apple, his flustered state and his inability to see clearly working together to condemn him to suffering. He found his way to the water pitcher well enough, and the fresh grapes as well, while Liora finished up her work. You can sleep on the bed, she answered him as she sheathed the gleaming swords and set them aside. Im be sleeping against the door. Liora pulled the linen that served as the buffer between her skin and her armor toward her to test the material. It was cool and dry, so she stood to get dressed again. Theres no bar on the door, if you hadnt noticed, she explained in an attempt to answer his questions before he could ask them. My job is to keep you alive, part of that is making sure you are secure and safe. If I sleep against the door, no one can pick it open without my knowing, and Ill be opposite that window, she paused in pulling on the padded leather that was the pants portion of her armor to point at the window, to face anyone that might come crawling in. Liora wasnt the least bit fond of sleeping in her armor or being in a position where she had to set her comfort aside for the wellbeing of someone else. It was galling and went counter to her nature, but it was necessary. At the very least, she couldnt let the little priest die on the first day. News would reach the city so fast shed never make it to the next village, let alone crossing the border of the kingdom. If the man was going to die, it would have to be where no one would ever know it had happened until Liora was long gone from this place and the reach of their laws. I suggest you get as much rest as you can, the Drow sighed as she buckled the last bit of her armor into place, crossed the small room, and sat down on the floor to lean back against the door. She leaned forward to drag her long, white hair over her shoulder while her bright red eyes glowed softly in the darkness. She could sleep in her saddle come the morning. Not even Bandits enjoyed getting up before the sun, and as soon as the keep brought their food, they could be on their way. The only real question was how well the priest would seat his saddle in the morning. Liora smirked as she imagined the mans aches and pains. Shed never experienced a discomfort that seemed so all consuming as saddle-sores, and she was already wondering how hed react to the tight muscles and tender portions when he woke. Someone had once been kind enough to warn her about it although she had ignored the warning and told her to stretch before she went to sleep and let her muscles become cold and stiff. The cramping had been horrible, and as the memory surface, Liora rubbed her forehead with her fingertips. What did she care if the man suffered a little? Itd be damned funny to watch. Still. Priest, she snipped, irritation bleeding into her tone even though it wasnt the priest she was frustrated with. Before you go crawling into bed, take some time to stretch your legs a bit. It will make your morning a little less painful. -- Blessedly, there had been nothing to crawl down the hallway but a rat or to, and nothing had seen fit to come slithering into the cracked window, so that when the first rays of dawn began to lighten the sky outside, Liora hadnt had reason to move. Shed dozed a touch over the last few hours while she had listened to the priest sleep and her mind had wondered. The brightening sky would seem still dark and black to the human eye, but it was already a vibrant, early-morning purple to the Drows eyes. Downstairs, in the kitchen, she could hear the sounds of domestic work filtering up through the floor, and when the Inn Keep began his jaunt up the stairs, Liora uncoiled and stood to stretch out the kinks that sitting on the floor all night had given her. Crossing the room, Liora snapped her fingers to create a bit of Faer fire that she used to light the candle on the window sill before she shut the window. She wouldnt need the light, but the Keep would be more comfortable for it, and she suspect the priest would be as well. Before the big bear of a man could beat on the door, Liora pulled it open to great him. As he had promised, two freshly made meals were handed over to her, each wrapped in terrycloth so that they could travel with them. Yer on yer way out, yeah, he asked quietly, and not unkindly. Well be gone soon, Liora agreed with a smirk. Horses ready? Aye, they be that, the big man grinned, ever undaunted by the oddities that passed through his Inn. Be seein yeh, Liora. Good bye, Broc, the Drow gave the man a wink as he waved her off, and then pressed the door closed again. She set the food on the nightstand as she came back to the sleeping priest to lean across the bed and give him a little shake. Wake up, Iblith, she fussed on a hissed whisper as she rolled him onto his back and grabbed his shoulders to shake him. It is time to go.