Part 4
As the sun faded below the horizon Illestra prepared to set out and conclude her business in this wretched town. Pulling back the heavy curtains, she examined the darkening sky with a frown. The clear sky meant it would be lighter on the streets and more people would be about than the night before. It could make her business a little bit more tricky. But she longed for the comfort of her own soft bed, the quiet of the woods around her home, and the company of her familiar. Nothing here would keep her from her home tonight.
She settled her bill with the innkeeper and walked out into the night air, pulling the hood of her cloak up. As she turned to walk down the street, a movement at the far corner caught her eye. She smiled to herself as she recognized the drunkard from the night before. He seemed to clean up rather well and she allowed herself to momentarily appreciate his muscled form and silken hair. Aye... he could do nicely if he could stay away from the cups long enough. But she hadn't time to ponder that - she had more important matters at hand.
She was acutely aware of his presence as he followed her down the streets. She deliberately took a long, winding route and before long she knew it was no mere coincidence that he took the same path she did. But her attention shifted from her stalker to a doorway at the end of the street. She would deal with this fool once her business was concluded.
Stepping in the door of the small, cramped tavern she immediately found the man she was there to meet. He stood to greet her and then ushered her to a secluded table in the corner. Without a word she turned over a small vial of deep red liquid which he set about examining. Finally, after several tests, he nodded his head sadly. Illestra thanked the man and paid him for his services before standing to leave. Stepping back outside, she instantly located the one who was following her. A sly, evil smile on her lips, she decided she could allow herself to have some fun before returning home.
She walked down the street, leading him further and further away from the crowded heart of the city. Finally finding a dark narrow alley, she quickly rounded the corner and hid in the shadows, waiting for him to turn and follow. Her hand shot out of the dark and closed around his throat. Though he towered over her petite frame, she had no trouble driving him back into a wall and then to his knees. Standing before him, she grabbed his fine white hair and yanked his head back.
She brought her face close to his, caressing his cheek with her own as she breathed softly in his ear. "Now, my dear, you will tell me who sent you and why you are following me."
She settled her bill with the innkeeper and walked out into the night air, pulling the hood of her cloak up. As she turned to walk down the street, a movement at the far corner caught her eye. She smiled to herself as she recognized the drunkard from the night before. He seemed to clean up rather well and she allowed herself to momentarily appreciate his muscled form and silken hair. Aye... he could do nicely if he could stay away from the cups long enough. But she hadn't time to ponder that - she had more important matters at hand.
She was acutely aware of his presence as he followed her down the streets. She deliberately took a long, winding route and before long she knew it was no mere coincidence that he took the same path she did. But her attention shifted from her stalker to a doorway at the end of the street. She would deal with this fool once her business was concluded.
Stepping in the door of the small, cramped tavern she immediately found the man she was there to meet. He stood to greet her and then ushered her to a secluded table in the corner. Without a word she turned over a small vial of deep red liquid which he set about examining. Finally, after several tests, he nodded his head sadly. Illestra thanked the man and paid him for his services before standing to leave. Stepping back outside, she instantly located the one who was following her. A sly, evil smile on her lips, she decided she could allow herself to have some fun before returning home.
She walked down the street, leading him further and further away from the crowded heart of the city. Finally finding a dark narrow alley, she quickly rounded the corner and hid in the shadows, waiting for him to turn and follow. Her hand shot out of the dark and closed around his throat. Though he towered over her petite frame, she had no trouble driving him back into a wall and then to his knees. Standing before him, she grabbed his fine white hair and yanked his head back.
She brought her face close to his, caressing his cheek with her own as she breathed softly in his ear. "Now, my dear, you will tell me who sent you and why you are following me."
posted by Shadowsong | 11:24 AM
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