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Orean Adventures - Circus of Destiny
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<blockquote data-quote="Lwaxy" data-source="post: 6004183" data-attributes="member: 53286"><p>Right now it is super hard to get the group together, so we did some email sessions which go super slow. But at least we are moving again. </p><p></p><p>-----------------------------------------------</p><p></p><p>Tenelli felt the shadows of the leaves on her and the tickle of soft grass under her as she slowly woke up from her slumber. Overcome by tiredness after last night's endeavor, she and Ylva had decided to take a nap sometimes after their usual discussions of songs and music. She was still tired somewhat, meaning that something must have woken her, even if she could not point out what it might have been. The feline squeezed her eyes shut and listened and smelled the environment. </p><p></p><p>She heard angry voices, 2 females by the sound of it. It was impossible to make out what they were saying from where she was laying. Other than that the argument was getting very heated, Tenelli could make nothing from it. </p><p></p><p>As she opened her eyes, she could see the bard crouching under some low hanging branches, looking out at the source of the noise. When he noticed her awake, he put a finger to his lips and frowned, then pointing to the disturbance. What it meant was clear. This was not something slaves wanted to be involved in. It was probably not something slaves should hear either. </p><p></p><p>Curious, the girl crept up next to Ylva. Now she could see the women not too far from them, coming up the low hill. It was still hard to understand anything, but it was about a man they both had had intimate dealings with. Of course. From the looks, the two of them were from noble houses, wearing fine and brightly colored pieces of finery, and what else would, so Tenelli's thought, lazy pampered noblewomen argue over if not men of status to marry. </p><p></p><p>Little by little, they could make out words. Betrayal, blackmail, whoring and a lot of insults Tenelli couldn't quite place flew around, in between accusations about just wanting the man's money because obviously one woman's family wasn't as well-to-do anymore than needed for a noble house. Both of the women weren't the youngest; normally, a woman who wanted to marry for status, money or just to have someone to provide for and entertain her would do so before she reached the middles of her 20s. Those two, however, appeared to be over 30, especially the one doing most of the accusing. Tenelli couldn't be sure but she would have made a bet that the same woman must have had at least one child already, based on the way her breasts were slightly sagging and her hips swung. </p><p></p><p>Ylva poked her and then pointed to another set of trees with equally heavy bushes under them. For a brief moment, the feline could see red hair and a green cloak in the bright sun. She moved a bit back, but the elf pointed at the sky, indicating that whoever that was could not have seen them, as the sun was shining directly at his or her eyes. Tenelli looked around further and was surprised that, behind the women in the under-bushes of yet another gathering of trees, there was some movement coming up the hill. She was about to point it out, but the bard just nodded and seemingly had trouble not to burst into laughter. </p><p></p><p>The two nobles, unaware that they had attracted quite an audience, began shoving each other, and then the older one slapped the other with such a force that the poor victim of the attack stumbled back a few steps and then landed, rather roughly, on her pretty behind. The older woman stormed off, not without making it clear that she thought the other unworthy of her status. The woman on the ground broke out crying. </p><p></p><p>Ylva pulled Tenelli deeper into the greens. "Let's wait a few minutes," he whispered, "and then let's go home. That older woman was the sister of one of the merchant council members. She's had trouble securing a mate ever since the rumors about her making evil pacts with all sorts of creatures came up."</p><p></p><p>Tenelli nodded, and her eyes went wide. "Evil pacts? Is that just a rumor or..."</p><p></p><p>"I'm pretty sure it is nothing more than that. Did she look like she commanded power of any sort?" </p><p></p><p>The feline thought about that for a moment, then she shook her head. "If anything, she looked rather powerless and desperate to me." </p><p></p><p>"Exactly. The world of the free and rich is treacherous, almost more so than being a slave. At least, I'd not want to switch with one of those." </p><p></p><p>Tenelli watched the other woman get up and run, still crying. "I guess you'd make a pretty convicing female, though, wouldn't you?" She chuckled. </p><p></p><p>"Yeah, make fun of your poor old teacher." The bard imitated a cane walking elder. "I could be your grandfather."</p><p></p><p>"Only if you had fur and whiskers," she replied. "The other watchers seem gone, too."</p><p></p><p>"Noble houses always spy on each other. A shame, really. The world could be so peaceful. Come on now, time for you to dance the swords with your less talented teacher."</p><p></p><p>They made their way around a few park benches and a small pond and then went towards a path leading to one of the main parkways. As they picked up speed, suddenly there was a loud cry of rage in an all too familiar female voice. As the two of them reached the larger path, they saw a green cloaked, red haired small figure dashing downhill, carrying the woman's substantial handbag. Tenelli, who knew the park well, thought it an odd choice to go that way. There was little in the way of cover there, save the demon glade, a small patch of tangled growth where lightning had hit a while ago. The druids would sort it out soon, they said, but they kept shifting it to the next day. Maybe they liked one untidy spot in the park. </p><p></p><p>Before they could decide on a course of action, the woman pointed at them. "You there, slaves! Do something. Get the thief!" </p><p></p><p>Ylva sighed and poked Tenelli. "You are likely faster than him and you know the shortcut if he's going where we think he's going." </p><p></p><p>With a quick nod, Tenelli went after the thief, not noticing the irony that she, a thief for her master, was now after one of her own. Instead of following the whole way down, Tenelli went off the trail a few dozen meters down the hill. To the right there was a well concealed tunnel in one of the hills. It had been dug by one of the druid's dire badgers when the druids had been hunting the person who kept falling trees without permission. A year later, it was still there. The thief, so it was clear, knew nothing about it. He or she jumped nimbly over a tree trunk not yet cleared away after the last storm, over a flower arrangement and then veered to the right. Tenelli was, by then, almost through the tunnel, cutting off half the distance to the demon glade. The thief dashed past her just a second before she got out. After a few seconds, the rogue realized someone was following, and doubled his speed for a moment. But by now, breathing came labored. Tenelli had no problem breathing yet and quite a bit of endurance. As the thief went into the mess of tangled bushes, vines and trees, she jumped at the culprit's back and brought both of them down. </p><p></p><p>It was a halfling girl, probably no older than Jaswen, Tenelli guessed. She was breathing heavily for air, looking not only exhausted but also famished. Pale as a rake, it seemed she had little blood in her. Staring up with terrified eyes at the unknown creature that had caught her, she was unable to get any word out except "DEMON!"</p><p></p><p>With frustration, Tenelli growled, what didn't make it better. There was only one thing worse than being called a cat. Being confused with a rakshasa. Unfortunately, it happened often enough as not too many people had seen their new show yet. "Give that to me," the feline hissed and took the handbag. "Stealing from a lady in broad daylight without making sure first no one could see you, or help her. How dumb." It didn't occur to Tenelli that, basically, she had just somehow admitted to being a thief herself. </p><p></p><p>The halfling caught on, though. "Thieves don't steal from each other. If you are not a demon, then get off me!" </p><p></p><p>Tenelli did so, holding the bag firmly in her grasp. "I'm a slave," she corrected. "Priced possession my master. And that screeching harpyie up the hill has ordered me to assist her. I am sure you kn ow what it would mean to refuse."</p><p></p><p>The halfling sniffed. "You could just have said you didn't catch me."</p><p></p><p>"But well, that would have taught you nothing." Opening the handbag, the feline went through the contents and fished out a small but well filled coin bag. "Here. I'll say we fought and the contents spilled out and you escaped with the coins. But I'll bring back the rest." </p><p></p><p>The halfling nodded. "I was a slave. Until last week. Mistress kicked me out," she explained, not whining, just matter-of-fact. "I got accused of stealing from her, but I didn't. She gave me the choice of a whipping and the cage for a month or being kicked to the curb. She said no one would buy me. She's right. She wanted me gone because I have bloodfever."</p><p></p><p>Tenelli nodded in understanding. That explained the girl's appearance. "And you rather decided to take up the life of a homeless no one wants than being punished and have a chance at life. You don't make a good thief, you know."</p><p></p><p>"I'll learn!" She sounded defiant now. "I'll have to. I'd not have survived another whipping, or the cages again. It's how I caught bloodfever to begin with. And she would have done it again, and again. She's the devil!" </p><p></p><p>"Maybe so, but you need to learn fast, and find a way to get help with that bloodfever. Otherwise, you are dead within a year." Tenelli got up and helped the halfling to her feet. </p><p></p><p>"If so, I'll at least be free. But I have someone to help me, I hope. If I come back with some money..."</p><p></p><p>The Thieves' Guild, Tenelli guessed. Not usually known for their benevolence to wannabes, they had tests for people who wanted to join. The local chapter was especially ruthless and known to kill those not able to live up to their expectations. There was just no good in the world. </p><p></p><p>Tenelli thought that this story might also explain the second person in the bushes earlier. Someone to spy on the girl. However, that would have meant someone being close now, too, but there wasn't anyone around. She didn't know how she knew. Nashab called it her feline extra sense. It had yet to fail her. </p><p></p><p>"Well, good luck. Be more careful. If you get caught, with your backstory and the disease and all..." </p><p></p><p>The halfling nodded. "Life is never easy. Good luck to you, too." </p><p></p><p>Tenelli turned around and left the growth, shaking the bag a bit so it would really look like the contents had been spilled. In a much slower pace she went back up the hill.</p><p></p><p>Up the hill, Ylva was just done helping the lady collecting all the other things that had spilled out of two smaller bags – which of course meant that she had him do it and was just very specific about how to place them back. He kept being cheerful about it, but he liked the arrogant snit less and less. Even the Mistress was not so obnoxious even when she was in a foul mood. At least not to her own slaves. Some of the equipment looked weird to him, more like what a wizard or alchemist would need than a woman's make up and stuff, but he pretended not to notice. </p><p></p><p>"There you go, High Lady," he said with a deep bow. "I have little experience with lady belongings, but I hope I did everything just right. I hope you are not too shocked about what has happened. Thieves in the park are rare." While he didn't care about her being shocked or not, the latter was true. The park was a much too open place to see much in the way of crimes. Ylva was sure the thief had been someone inexperienced. </p><p></p><p>The lady nodded and only now took a closer look at the unknown slave. "A performer, are you not?"</p><p></p><p>"Indeed, high lady." With a practiced over-exaggerated move, he took one of the free tickets for their shows he had been given for cases just like this out of his belt pouch. "The Circus of Wonder and Woes. Every evening at nightfall, so the lights and illusions will have their full effect." As he handed it to her, he bowed again, and he couldn't help noticing that there were some dark stains at her shoes. </p><p></p><p>"Ah!" Her face lit up considerably. "I have been wanting to check it out. It explains your feline friend, too – quite the extraordinary slave. My thanks to your master. I will definitely pay a visit."</p><p></p><p>Right then, Tenelli showed up, looking slightly cross-eyed while grabbing the bag very hard. "Got him... stupid gnome," she started the story she had prepared. Bag spilled all out, he ran with your purse, high lady, very sorry. And... and then something else happened. I'm all confused." </p><p></p><p>The high lady was next to Tenelli right away, gently taking her by the shoulders while steering her to a bench. Ylva was surprised to see her so worried – maybe it was that she didn't want to be responsible for injuring a rare slave. She waved her hands over the feline, mumbling a few words. Then she frowned. "She has been charmed. I can remove that. I'm sure this wasn't the petty thief either."</p><p></p><p>"Is she.. is she alright, high lady?" The bard was all in alarm. His thoughts went to the second person they had noticed in the bushes. A lot more was going on than he could see through and he didn't like it. </p><p></p><p>"She is fine, now. Tell me what has happened, girl. Slowly." </p><p></p><p>Tenelli blinked, shaking the rest of the spell off. "When I came up the hill, some man in weird clothes jumped at me from the tree behind the bend. He wore a monkey mask and a dress suit like the presenters from the high markets. He growled and then he.. I guess then he charmed me because he asked me for the bag and I gave it to him. He searched it and cursed and threw it at my feet, then he left."</p><p></p><p>The lady nodded. "Monkey mask... that is curious. Well, whatever he was looking for, he obviously got the wrong bag." Thoughtfully, the lady looked down the hill, then checked the bag, her face betraying no anger or surprise about its content. "Never mind the purse, I can make do without a few gold. I don#t think there is any need to involve the authorities, the thieves are certainly long gone."</p><p></p><p>"I'm so very sorry, high lady," Tenelli started again. </p><p></p><p>"Now now, not your fault, magic is magic, and you are, after all, a slave and not trained to withstand it. Well, if you are ever in need of help, find a way to let me know. You know who I am?" She looked at the bard. He nodded. "If you are supposed to be sold, or your master is getting unbearable, I should be able to help. You and your friends. Mark my words." With that, she strode off as if nothing had happened. </p><p></p><p>Tenelli still looked a bit cross eyed, so the elf took her by the arm and guided her out of the park. "We'll have to tell the master, and get you out of sword practice so you'll be fit in the evening. This was something else, I'm just not sure what."</p><p></p><p>The feline just went along for a while. When they were out of the park making their way through one of the smaller roads, she suddenly said "She has noticed the tattoo."</p><p></p><p>"What!" The elf almost fell over his own feet. "How? Are you sure?" </p><p></p><p>"I don't know how. But I know she knows." She shivered despite the midday heat. </p><p></p><p>"We'll deal with this later. We need food and some rest, and we sure won't tell that part of her knowing to the master, or we'll be history."</p><p></p><p>Tenelli nodded. The world seemed once more upside down for her, and she wished nothing better than to do her performance tonight and forget about it all.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lwaxy, post: 6004183, member: 53286"] Right now it is super hard to get the group together, so we did some email sessions which go super slow. But at least we are moving again. ----------------------------------------------- Tenelli felt the shadows of the leaves on her and the tickle of soft grass under her as she slowly woke up from her slumber. Overcome by tiredness after last night's endeavor, she and Ylva had decided to take a nap sometimes after their usual discussions of songs and music. She was still tired somewhat, meaning that something must have woken her, even if she could not point out what it might have been. The feline squeezed her eyes shut and listened and smelled the environment. She heard angry voices, 2 females by the sound of it. It was impossible to make out what they were saying from where she was laying. Other than that the argument was getting very heated, Tenelli could make nothing from it. As she opened her eyes, she could see the bard crouching under some low hanging branches, looking out at the source of the noise. When he noticed her awake, he put a finger to his lips and frowned, then pointing to the disturbance. What it meant was clear. This was not something slaves wanted to be involved in. It was probably not something slaves should hear either. Curious, the girl crept up next to Ylva. Now she could see the women not too far from them, coming up the low hill. It was still hard to understand anything, but it was about a man they both had had intimate dealings with. Of course. From the looks, the two of them were from noble houses, wearing fine and brightly colored pieces of finery, and what else would, so Tenelli's thought, lazy pampered noblewomen argue over if not men of status to marry. Little by little, they could make out words. Betrayal, blackmail, whoring and a lot of insults Tenelli couldn't quite place flew around, in between accusations about just wanting the man's money because obviously one woman's family wasn't as well-to-do anymore than needed for a noble house. Both of the women weren't the youngest; normally, a woman who wanted to marry for status, money or just to have someone to provide for and entertain her would do so before she reached the middles of her 20s. Those two, however, appeared to be over 30, especially the one doing most of the accusing. Tenelli couldn't be sure but she would have made a bet that the same woman must have had at least one child already, based on the way her breasts were slightly sagging and her hips swung. Ylva poked her and then pointed to another set of trees with equally heavy bushes under them. For a brief moment, the feline could see red hair and a green cloak in the bright sun. She moved a bit back, but the elf pointed at the sky, indicating that whoever that was could not have seen them, as the sun was shining directly at his or her eyes. Tenelli looked around further and was surprised that, behind the women in the under-bushes of yet another gathering of trees, there was some movement coming up the hill. She was about to point it out, but the bard just nodded and seemingly had trouble not to burst into laughter. The two nobles, unaware that they had attracted quite an audience, began shoving each other, and then the older one slapped the other with such a force that the poor victim of the attack stumbled back a few steps and then landed, rather roughly, on her pretty behind. The older woman stormed off, not without making it clear that she thought the other unworthy of her status. The woman on the ground broke out crying. Ylva pulled Tenelli deeper into the greens. "Let's wait a few minutes," he whispered, "and then let's go home. That older woman was the sister of one of the merchant council members. She's had trouble securing a mate ever since the rumors about her making evil pacts with all sorts of creatures came up." Tenelli nodded, and her eyes went wide. "Evil pacts? Is that just a rumor or..." "I'm pretty sure it is nothing more than that. Did she look like she commanded power of any sort?" The feline thought about that for a moment, then she shook her head. "If anything, she looked rather powerless and desperate to me." "Exactly. The world of the free and rich is treacherous, almost more so than being a slave. At least, I'd not want to switch with one of those." Tenelli watched the other woman get up and run, still crying. "I guess you'd make a pretty convicing female, though, wouldn't you?" She chuckled. "Yeah, make fun of your poor old teacher." The bard imitated a cane walking elder. "I could be your grandfather." "Only if you had fur and whiskers," she replied. "The other watchers seem gone, too." "Noble houses always spy on each other. A shame, really. The world could be so peaceful. Come on now, time for you to dance the swords with your less talented teacher." They made their way around a few park benches and a small pond and then went towards a path leading to one of the main parkways. As they picked up speed, suddenly there was a loud cry of rage in an all too familiar female voice. As the two of them reached the larger path, they saw a green cloaked, red haired small figure dashing downhill, carrying the woman's substantial handbag. Tenelli, who knew the park well, thought it an odd choice to go that way. There was little in the way of cover there, save the demon glade, a small patch of tangled growth where lightning had hit a while ago. The druids would sort it out soon, they said, but they kept shifting it to the next day. Maybe they liked one untidy spot in the park. Before they could decide on a course of action, the woman pointed at them. "You there, slaves! Do something. Get the thief!" Ylva sighed and poked Tenelli. "You are likely faster than him and you know the shortcut if he's going where we think he's going." With a quick nod, Tenelli went after the thief, not noticing the irony that she, a thief for her master, was now after one of her own. Instead of following the whole way down, Tenelli went off the trail a few dozen meters down the hill. To the right there was a well concealed tunnel in one of the hills. It had been dug by one of the druid's dire badgers when the druids had been hunting the person who kept falling trees without permission. A year later, it was still there. The thief, so it was clear, knew nothing about it. He or she jumped nimbly over a tree trunk not yet cleared away after the last storm, over a flower arrangement and then veered to the right. Tenelli was, by then, almost through the tunnel, cutting off half the distance to the demon glade. The thief dashed past her just a second before she got out. After a few seconds, the rogue realized someone was following, and doubled his speed for a moment. But by now, breathing came labored. Tenelli had no problem breathing yet and quite a bit of endurance. As the thief went into the mess of tangled bushes, vines and trees, she jumped at the culprit's back and brought both of them down. It was a halfling girl, probably no older than Jaswen, Tenelli guessed. She was breathing heavily for air, looking not only exhausted but also famished. Pale as a rake, it seemed she had little blood in her. Staring up with terrified eyes at the unknown creature that had caught her, she was unable to get any word out except "DEMON!" With frustration, Tenelli growled, what didn't make it better. There was only one thing worse than being called a cat. Being confused with a rakshasa. Unfortunately, it happened often enough as not too many people had seen their new show yet. "Give that to me," the feline hissed and took the handbag. "Stealing from a lady in broad daylight without making sure first no one could see you, or help her. How dumb." It didn't occur to Tenelli that, basically, she had just somehow admitted to being a thief herself. The halfling caught on, though. "Thieves don't steal from each other. If you are not a demon, then get off me!" Tenelli did so, holding the bag firmly in her grasp. "I'm a slave," she corrected. "Priced possession my master. And that screeching harpyie up the hill has ordered me to assist her. I am sure you kn ow what it would mean to refuse." The halfling sniffed. "You could just have said you didn't catch me." "But well, that would have taught you nothing." Opening the handbag, the feline went through the contents and fished out a small but well filled coin bag. "Here. I'll say we fought and the contents spilled out and you escaped with the coins. But I'll bring back the rest." The halfling nodded. "I was a slave. Until last week. Mistress kicked me out," she explained, not whining, just matter-of-fact. "I got accused of stealing from her, but I didn't. She gave me the choice of a whipping and the cage for a month or being kicked to the curb. She said no one would buy me. She's right. She wanted me gone because I have bloodfever." Tenelli nodded in understanding. That explained the girl's appearance. "And you rather decided to take up the life of a homeless no one wants than being punished and have a chance at life. You don't make a good thief, you know." "I'll learn!" She sounded defiant now. "I'll have to. I'd not have survived another whipping, or the cages again. It's how I caught bloodfever to begin with. And she would have done it again, and again. She's the devil!" "Maybe so, but you need to learn fast, and find a way to get help with that bloodfever. Otherwise, you are dead within a year." Tenelli got up and helped the halfling to her feet. "If so, I'll at least be free. But I have someone to help me, I hope. If I come back with some money..." The Thieves' Guild, Tenelli guessed. Not usually known for their benevolence to wannabes, they had tests for people who wanted to join. The local chapter was especially ruthless and known to kill those not able to live up to their expectations. There was just no good in the world. Tenelli thought that this story might also explain the second person in the bushes earlier. Someone to spy on the girl. However, that would have meant someone being close now, too, but there wasn't anyone around. She didn't know how she knew. Nashab called it her feline extra sense. It had yet to fail her. "Well, good luck. Be more careful. If you get caught, with your backstory and the disease and all..." The halfling nodded. "Life is never easy. Good luck to you, too." Tenelli turned around and left the growth, shaking the bag a bit so it would really look like the contents had been spilled. In a much slower pace she went back up the hill. Up the hill, Ylva was just done helping the lady collecting all the other things that had spilled out of two smaller bags – which of course meant that she had him do it and was just very specific about how to place them back. He kept being cheerful about it, but he liked the arrogant snit less and less. Even the Mistress was not so obnoxious even when she was in a foul mood. At least not to her own slaves. Some of the equipment looked weird to him, more like what a wizard or alchemist would need than a woman's make up and stuff, but he pretended not to notice. "There you go, High Lady," he said with a deep bow. "I have little experience with lady belongings, but I hope I did everything just right. I hope you are not too shocked about what has happened. Thieves in the park are rare." While he didn't care about her being shocked or not, the latter was true. The park was a much too open place to see much in the way of crimes. Ylva was sure the thief had been someone inexperienced. The lady nodded and only now took a closer look at the unknown slave. "A performer, are you not?" "Indeed, high lady." With a practiced over-exaggerated move, he took one of the free tickets for their shows he had been given for cases just like this out of his belt pouch. "The Circus of Wonder and Woes. Every evening at nightfall, so the lights and illusions will have their full effect." As he handed it to her, he bowed again, and he couldn't help noticing that there were some dark stains at her shoes. "Ah!" Her face lit up considerably. "I have been wanting to check it out. It explains your feline friend, too – quite the extraordinary slave. My thanks to your master. I will definitely pay a visit." Right then, Tenelli showed up, looking slightly cross-eyed while grabbing the bag very hard. "Got him... stupid gnome," she started the story she had prepared. Bag spilled all out, he ran with your purse, high lady, very sorry. And... and then something else happened. I'm all confused." The high lady was next to Tenelli right away, gently taking her by the shoulders while steering her to a bench. Ylva was surprised to see her so worried – maybe it was that she didn't want to be responsible for injuring a rare slave. She waved her hands over the feline, mumbling a few words. Then she frowned. "She has been charmed. I can remove that. I'm sure this wasn't the petty thief either." "Is she.. is she alright, high lady?" The bard was all in alarm. His thoughts went to the second person they had noticed in the bushes. A lot more was going on than he could see through and he didn't like it. "She is fine, now. Tell me what has happened, girl. Slowly." Tenelli blinked, shaking the rest of the spell off. "When I came up the hill, some man in weird clothes jumped at me from the tree behind the bend. He wore a monkey mask and a dress suit like the presenters from the high markets. He growled and then he.. I guess then he charmed me because he asked me for the bag and I gave it to him. He searched it and cursed and threw it at my feet, then he left." The lady nodded. "Monkey mask... that is curious. Well, whatever he was looking for, he obviously got the wrong bag." Thoughtfully, the lady looked down the hill, then checked the bag, her face betraying no anger or surprise about its content. "Never mind the purse, I can make do without a few gold. I don#t think there is any need to involve the authorities, the thieves are certainly long gone." "I'm so very sorry, high lady," Tenelli started again. "Now now, not your fault, magic is magic, and you are, after all, a slave and not trained to withstand it. Well, if you are ever in need of help, find a way to let me know. You know who I am?" She looked at the bard. He nodded. "If you are supposed to be sold, or your master is getting unbearable, I should be able to help. You and your friends. Mark my words." With that, she strode off as if nothing had happened. Tenelli still looked a bit cross eyed, so the elf took her by the arm and guided her out of the park. "We'll have to tell the master, and get you out of sword practice so you'll be fit in the evening. This was something else, I'm just not sure what." The feline just went along for a while. When they were out of the park making their way through one of the smaller roads, she suddenly said "She has noticed the tattoo." "What!" The elf almost fell over his own feet. "How? Are you sure?" "I don't know how. But I know she knows." She shivered despite the midday heat. "We'll deal with this later. We need food and some rest, and we sure won't tell that part of her knowing to the master, or we'll be history." Tenelli nodded. The world seemed once more upside down for her, and she wished nothing better than to do her performance tonight and forget about it all. [/QUOTE]
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