Sari clung, exhausted, to the back of her mount, feeling an ache in every muscle and bone. This was definitely not what she had envisioned when she had suggested that she be Kit's partner, not in the least.
Her only comfort, faint thought it was, was that Kit wasn't in much better shape than she was.
"I thought that... this was supposed to be... easy job..." Sari panted out as she twisted in her saddle and sent a bolt of lightning arcing out at the bandits pursuing them.
Kit smiled ferally and shot several arrows straight into the pack of bandits, downing one with each arrow, "Easy... compared to my last job. And our duty will be finished rather soon. Almost through the ambush site."
"You are," a smooth, rich voice said from one side, as a tall, dark skinned man emerged from a dip in the land that didn't look like it could possibly hide someone. Kit grimaced as she pulled up her horse and let it walk in circles to cool itself down.
"We thank you, ladies, for being the willing bait," the man said as he bent and retrieved their real weapons, "Here, Kithariani, since you must be feeling naked without your blades." He handed her sword and daggers to her as she dismounted, staying a respectful distance away from her.
Well at least some males have manners, Kit muttered to herself as she slung her sword on and settled it in place, then clipped the daggers to her belt, throwing a glance over her shoulder at Anissari as she did. Well, and well again, this has proved to be a very enlightening job. A mage who pulls her own weight, doesn't complain, and actually listens and does what she's supposed to, when she's supposed to. I believe I've found a partner.
Slowly the three of them walked towards the camp, Kit and Sari leading their horses, and the man walking along a little ways away from Sari. The camp that they finally entered after being challenged by several different sentries was a small thing, well hidden from view in a tiny pocket valley that you had to virtually stumble into to find.
As the three settled down around the main fire ring and accepted drinks and portions of roasted hare from one of the guards. Neither of the two women looked up when the equally weary group of bandit exterminators slipped into the camp by ones and twos from different paths and settled down in different areas of the camp, with the leaders sprawling around the main fire ring near Kit and Sari. The two leaders were complete contradictions of each other, the man as dusky dark as twilight, and the woman as bright as midday. Many stories linked the two with being created by mages, and neither attempted to disprove the stories.
"So, how'd the ambush go?" Sari asked as she finished off her food and looked up at the two.
"It... went well," the man responded, his voice soft and deep. Eyes the color of a muted sunset seemed to be focused on nothing as he spoke, "None dead, a few injured. And we got all of those bandits, right, Laykita?"
The woman, Laykita, nodded, her eyes an almost blinding brilliant blue with lances of equally bright gold through them that pierced through all disguises and traps, seeking truth, "Aye, every one of them is dead. I sent some men back to the bandit's camp to make sure of it, and to gather up anything useful that they have. Not that there'll be much, but still."
The man nodded, stretching a hand out to take a plate and set it in front of both of them, the sun shining softly on his skin revealed underlying colors, dark reds and oranges mainly, with some places being a black so deep that it reflects blue or purple. His clothing was simple, a dark gray, almost black color, and it hung loosely on his frame, as if it was a size or so too big for him. A leather headband held his dull black hair back, and a moonstone was over each temple, both with a rune carved faintly into them.
Kit snorted softly and set her plate down, looking up at the two leaders, "You two lead the oddest band of mercs I've ever met. You'll take any job from bein in an army to wiping out bandits, not to mention the fact that you're both the leader. Add in the stories about magic and dragons and gryphons and other supposedly extinct beings, and I've never met a weirder merc band in my life."
Laykita smiled, "Ah, but even rumors must have some grain of truth, yes?" she hooded her bright eyes and reached down, picking up a piece of the meat and eating it, then licking the juices off her fingers. Her pale gold skin glowed slightly in the sunlight, and her sun gold hair was cut into a neat cap about her head, exposing her ears and barely brushing the nape of her neck. Dark blue clothing covered her body, the dark colors at odds with her pale skin and bright hair, but she never wore her best, or brightest, clothes when on a mission, so that was usual.
"Well, Vaerndrax and I thank you two for joining us for this job. The offer still stands, you know, if you want to join us permanently."
Kit shrugged, leaning back on a hand, "Maybe, maybe. You're the first choice if I ever do decide to, you know."
Vaerndrax reached over to pick up a piece of meat, and swiftly brought it to his mouth, his movements pushing up his right sleeve far enough up to show... scales. Large scales, like what a dragon would have across the chest and shoulders, with smaller scales at the joints to allow easy movement.
Kit raised an eyebrow at him, and in response, Vaern just smiled and shrugged, the sleeve falling back down to its usual place below his elbows, "What, did you think I'd really go into battle without armor?"
"I dunno," Kit responded archly, "It does fit your personality, though."
Vaerndrax and Laykita burst into laughter, not even trying to get themselves under control.
Sari watched all this with wide-eyed interest; Kit had introduced her to these strange people, and told her that she had worked with them before, but none of the stories she had told even hinted at the full truth.
More than half of them glow with mage power, all of them use weapons like they were born with them in their hands, and apparently the stories about the leaders being mage-made are true, at least in part. No wonder everyone refers to them as the Irregulars! And I was wondering why Kithariani was so at ease with this Vaerndrax, apparently they're at least slightly kindred spirits, people who look human, but aren't fully.
Not to mention he's already madly in love with Laykita and doesn't give any female, no matter how beautiful, a second look.
Of course, that wasn't really common knowledge; some people said that they were twins, or at least siblings, others that they were merely two people who were friends. And it wasn't that their being in love was that obvious, but if you spent more than a few hours with them when they weren't being official, it became rather plain, just from the way they acted.
"Well, in any case, I've been hearing some rumors about you two," Laykita remarked casually as she finished off the food and smiled kindly up at the man who came to take the plate away, "Rumor has it that the fine mage lady Anissari, after years of trying, has finally found and tamed the wild barbarian mercenary to be her bodyguard."
"Sounds to me that you two might want to be careful, especially you, Kitha. Those in high places are going to want to meet you, and attempt to capture you as well. After all, a tamed, and beautiful, barbarian is nothing to ignore." Vaerndrax put in, his soft voice serious as his eyes finally focused on Kit.
She shook her head, "They won't capture either of us, Drax. They might try to buy my loyalty, but I won't be bought."
"We will get invitations from Lords and Kings, though," Sari sighed, "Before I left, I was a rather... high ranking mage."
"How high?"
"Court mage to one of the High Lords, unfortunately."
Kit whistled, "Well, we'll deal with the invitations when they come."
Sari nodded, "We can ignore all of them except for the King's... I'm afraid that everyone who wants to stay in this kingdom legally had better do what the King wants."
Vaern snorted, spreading the fingers on his right hand and turning the palm up, "And like grains of sand, a few slip through his grasp."
"I intend to," Kit muttered darkly, then looked up at Sari, "Well, I guess I've decided. Lets head back to Wanderer's Rest after we get our pay. I think we've more than enough to winter over in comfort there."
Anissari blinked and looked over at Kit, surprised at how she had used "we", and considering the meaning of that.
Kit grinned, "Yes, this does mean that I've decided to have you as a partner, if you'll have me, that is."
"I think I will indeed," Sari replied with a smile, "I think I can live with you."
Kit lay sprawled out on her bed, as Sari stepped into the room and almost slammed the door behind her.
"Gods I hate the nobility!" she spat as she stalked across the room towards her own bed, "Nothing but spoiled brats they are!"
"What is it this time?"
"Another message, this time from the gods be damned King!" she growled as she threw herself onto her bed and ripped open the letter, "I hope you have something special to wear, for no one is going to allow you in dressed like that."
Kit narrowed her eyes and looked down at her usual clothes, "What's wrong with these clothes?"
"Nothing," Sari sighed as she scanned the letter, "You just look like a typical merc, granted, one who wears clothing that's a bit odd, but still, a merc. They're going to expect you to look like some sort of savage, fierce, barbarian prince or something."
"Come to think of it," Sari grumbled, just barely loud enough for Kit to hear her, "I don't have anything flashy to wear either."
Rising and slipping off her bed, Kit crouched down next to the chest at the foot of the bed, passing a hand over it before pressing several pieces of the pattern on the chest.
"I don't know if I have any clothing for you to wear," Kit spoke absently as she lifted up the lid and started rifling through the chest, "After all, we're too different in sizes. But I just might have some jewelry or something for you..."
Apparently unconcerned with what she was bringing out, and handling them casually as if they were nothing more than a different aspect of her everyday outfit, she tossed trinkets and strange pieces of equipment onto the bed that made Sari's eyes widen as she saw each piece.
First, a strangely shaped cape of an equally strange and exotic fur that was a pure snow white with black stripes. That was followed by other pieces of the fur, and another of her black jackets, this one with a fringe along the underside of the sleeves that somehow resembled wings but yet didn't depict feathers. On top of that she placed a different version of her usual choker, this one made of what could possibly be either silver or white gold, set with bits of onyx in a stripe pattern and with a huge ruby carved into the shape of a phoenix. What looked like earrings were set next to the choker, along with a headband much like Vaerndrax had worn.
What is she doing with all this stuff? I never expected her to have earrings, or even anything like the choker or headband! Sari watched in wide eyed amazement as Kit kept digging, coming up with some other interesting little treasures that any high ranking person would lust after to the point of obsession.
"Have earrings?" Kit asked, her amused smile at Sari's stunned expression breaking her out of what almost felt like shock.
"Yes," Anissari answered with a nod, eyes still wide as she saw the necklace that Kit was casually playing with, it had to be a fortune in opals! No one she knew had ever owned that many of the precious stones in their entire lives!
"Hmm...." Kit set the necklace to one side and pulled out another, smaller chest that was already open, then settled down next to Sari and started sorting through it, "Shouldn't be something too fancy... from what you've said, I can afford to be showy, but you were known there, and they won't expect a few years of wandering to have brought you any great fortune."
She stared down at the small chest that Kit held so casually, as a myriad of precious and semi-precious stones, set in anything from gold or silver to plain steel, and some looked to be set into bone of all things! How did she ever come across such treasures?
Kit kept sorting through the jewels, sometimes glancing at Sari for a second before returning to her search, "Wondering where a simple merc like me got all these things?" She laughed at Sari's stunned acknowledgement, "Well, ever heard of the..." Kit's mouth thinned into a line, as if she was trying to figure out what to say, "I would call them by name, except that they made me promise I wouldn't. You people seem to call them Nyarstros'entai."
"You... you met and talked with the Winter Jewels?! How? Why? I mean... how in the world did they accept you enough to give you all of this?"
"Here, try these," Kit handed her some dangling earrings that looked like they were made out of emerald which, while it wasn't a very rare stone, was still costly, "They're some of the best emerald there is, cleared up, carved, and crafted by the stonesinger Aunar, I've seen some pieces similar in the market places in big cities."
"As for how, do you remember the stories about how I disappear for a few years? I spent that time with them, I was homesick for decent winter storms and the closest place was a mountain range, so I went there. Maybe I'll tell you the full story later."
Hesitantly, Sari put the earrings on, shaking her head from side to side in an attempt to get used to the feel of wearing earrings again. That was something she hadn't done in almost a decade, if not longer, except for the occasional stud earring, and they didn't pull on her earlobes like these did.
Kit looked at her, narrowing her eyes slightly, "Have a focus stone?"
"Cat's eye, sometimes, why?"
"Mages in the Nyarstros'entai wear their focus stone on their foreheads when they want to be fancy," Kit grinned at Sari, "And it's not like you have any other fashion to follow. We're mercenaries, remember? I don't care what you were before, we're supposed to be different."
Sari sighed, then nodded, "But what am I to wear? Since you seem to know so much about how to dress."
"Call it something I learned as a child. We'll find you suitable clothes later, but you are going to need to tell me what you typically wore. I think you should appear to be changed only a bit from what you used to be, it'll put them off guard, since they'll be expecting the same mind."
Sari sighed, "Flashy, showy, and shallow, unfortunately."
Kit smiled, "Even better."
Kithariani drew up her mare, looking up at the severe castle that rose out of the ground in front of her. The stark gray lines were a harsh contrast to the flowing form of the plains that surrounded it. Not even the layers of snow that lay upon the towers and battlements could soft its edges, nor hide the fact that it was a place of battle, where people lived, sure, but the plains around it had most likely been watered with blood on more than one occasion.
She grimaced, then glanced over at Sari and fell into the place that a traditional bodyguard would take, a few paces behind and to the right.
Sari, too, looked up at the castle as they approached it, and shivered slightly, Hard to believe that only a decade ago or so I wanted to be here in the employ of the king. Would have given anything for that position, to be exact. Now though... I don't think I want to even think about this stupid King.
Together they rode through the open gate, and Sari settled herself firmly on her mount's back, tilting her head up slightly in the pose that mages generally assumed when they were in the employ of high ranking people. That had been part of Kit's advice, to act like she was still the same woman who had left.
And now that I realize how shallow that woman was, I don't know if this is going to be that easy. At least the clothes we found are something that I would have worn back then, even only if there was nothing else to wear, but its bright enough.
She grimaced slightly, making the guardsman who was approaching them to swallow nervously and approach more cautiously, but she hardly noticed him except to note how he moved and where he stopped.
"Ah... if m'ladies would please..."
"I am Master Mage Anissari Laer, and this is my bodyguard Kithariani Laer'sai, the High King has summoned us for his ball tonight." She spoke haughtily, as if dealing with menials was beneath her, and as if they should already know who she was, and respond appropriately.
The guard stammered something polite then turned and walked quickly off, apparently to get a servant, or maybe an officer.
Sari narrowed her eyes, pretending the impatience and displeasure that a courtly mage would display, behind her she felt Kit sitting in her saddle, both her and her horse still as statues.
Wonder how everyone's going to react to the knowledge that Kit's my permanent bodyguard. Certainly it must put a crimp in several plans, since they can't buy her loyalty, and can't steal her without the law punishing them severely.
Several servants scurried out, then head of them coming up to the two women and, while bobbing his head repeatedly, stammered out, "If milady would follow me? Your guest rooms have been prepared, all is in readiness, milady, I'm sure you'll find the rooms satisfactory."
Kit swung down off her mare, barking something to her horse before coming to Sari's side as she swung down as well.
Sari glanced at Kit out of the corner of her eye, noting how she held herself, and approving. It was enough like a bodyguard's typical posture for everyone to take her as a true bodyguard, but it was also different enough that it was obvious that she wasn't from any of the so called civilized lands.
Kit's civilized enough, she probably knows more languages than these pompous bags of flesh, and she's better company too.
Together they followed the servant through the maze-like corridors of the castle, the many turns that they took had Sari growling under her breath within minutes, and suspecting that the servant had orders to confuse them so that they had trouble getting out on their own.
"If I suspect that we're being lead astray, and being purposely confused for some reason, I do believe that my bodyguard will not be happy."
"Ah.. ah.. sorry... sorry milady." The servant stammered out, bobbing his head and scurrying off down a new corridor, forcing them to lengthen their strides to keep up with him. Behind them, the servants that were carrying their baggage glanced at each other, then continued following them.
"Here... here milady! Your room is here."
Like nobility, Sari swept past the servant and into the room, surveying it with a critical eye, then nodded sharply and stepped further into the room, allowing the other servants to slip in and lay her bags down. She heard Kit growl, and sensed the tension from her partner that signaled a hand gripping a dagger, or maybe even her sword. Turning her head slightly she watched the servants scurry out and close the door softly behind them.
"Why'd you do that?"
"Some of them looked like they wanted to stay, and others looked like they wanted to rifle through our things."
Anissari snorted, "Come on, lets get cleaned off, that ball will probably start soon."
Kit nodded, then inclined her head slightly and motioned for Anissari to proceed her into the bathing chamber. As she did, Kit's eyes narrowed then she bent down and lifted all their bags easily and brought them into the bathing chamber with them. There weren't many, actually, just enough to carry a few changes of clothing, and their finery for this evening.
No one in this place was to be trusted, ever.
"The Master Mage Anissari Laer and her bodyguard Kithariani Laer'sai!"
The hush that fell over the fancily garbed courtiers almost made the place echo as they strode in dressed in their own finery. She knew that they'd cause quite a commotion, with both of them dressed so oddly.
Kit stood out in her white cape, which was cut so as to fit around her sword and allow it to be pulled free of her back with ease. Her normal boots had a fringe of that white with black stripes fur on it somehow, and her jacket had cuffs of the same fur as well as the fringe that somehow managed to convey the sense of wings. The phoenix ruby in her choker sparkled brilliantly, as did the smaller rubies on her jet black headband. Even her sword seemed somehow fancier, although how that effect was achieved Sari had no idea.
For herself, she was wearing a more fanciful version of Kit's outfit, without the cloak and choker, though. Emerald colored silk stood out vibrantly against her jacket of black silk embroidered with a dark green dragon and phoenix motif. The jacket was also longer than Kit's, coming to about the mid thigh, and was open so that her belt of black and gold could be clearly seen. The unfamiliar weight of the earrings pulled down at her ears, just as the strange pressure of the cat's eye stone against her forehead caused her to feel off balance a bit. The strap that Kit had made, or found, to hold the cat's eye in place was bright with beadwork and had two dangling strings, one at each temple, that went all the way down to her jaw. Both were strung with a few colored beads, and both ended in teardrop shaped cat's eye stones.
None of the rest in the room wore anything even remotely similar, granted, their clothing was bright as ever, but jewels were scarce, and few had anything like what they were wearing. A earring here, a pendant there, but nothing so exceedingly showy as what they were wearing.
Conversation slowly resumed as they walked across the room towards the King to make their greetings. Sari's were focused only on him, while Kit was carefully watching the courtiers around them, eyes hard and revealing nothing.
Anissari halted at the dais where the King sat enthroned on a great monstrosity of bad taste. Gold covered every portion of it, and it was encrusted with more jewels than any single Lord had ever owned, in the history of any country.
She bowed, in a clear defiance of the codes on how to properly greet a High King, "Your majesty, you summoned us from our winter rest why?"
The High King's eyes narrowed, "Just to see you and your lovely... bonded bodyguard there."
Kit just stood like a statue, hard eyes meeting the King's without blinking, or looking away.
"Yes... I see she's still an uncivilized barbarian," The King mused, "So you haven't been able to pound much civilization within her thick head yet?"
"Your pardon, Highness, but she and I just met the end of last season, we have not been together that long yet."
Kit growled softly, making Sari nod very slightly. Together, they both turned and strode off, leaving the King glaring after them. Obviously he was not used to being treated as nothing, as these two mercenaries had just treated him.
But at the same time, their boldness... attracted him.
"We're leaving," Kit growled in her own language, as she shouldered aside male after male. She was getting unbelievably annoyed by all of these useless people, and it was starting to show.
And they weren't getting the hint, either.
"We can't." Sari answered in the same language, looking back at Kit as she slipped through the crowd, exchanging the occasional pleasantry with people she barely remembered.
Lips compressing into a thin line, Kit grabbed Sari's shoulder and dragged her to a wall, where there were fewer people, "Listen to me, mage-lady," she hissed, "There is a trap here, look at how the people in the gray and blue are moving around! They're purposely keeping us in their sight."
"Well, the King..."
"The King is encouraging them," Kithariani growled, deep in her throat, "Get that through your stubborn head! These people want us!"
Anissari glanced around, carefully keeping her expression neutral, as she finally took in the full meaning of what Kit was saying. It was true that the people in the gray and blue livery were keeping them within their sight... and they were closing in.
Biting her lip, she glanced around, noticing a doorway that lead out to a fancy garden, "Out there."
Together the two turned, Anissari once again taking the lead, and slowly made their way towards the garden, still acting as if they hadn't noticed anything amiss.
The garden was huge, and few people were out in it. The air was heavily laden with the scent of many different exotic flowers, spots of brightness and color against the greenery.
Kit suddenly halted, when they were down a wide path... and out of sight of the gathering. Her hand on Sari's shoulder halted her as well.
"We made a mistake," she said softly.
A laugh answered her, its harsh tones vanishing into the night, "I'm so glad you realized that, lovely ladies. Now perhaps I can finally get back what is mine, hmm?"
Kithariani spun, ripping her sword from her back and getting into a fighter's crouch, "You!"
"Yes, me, I'm so glad that you haven't forgotten your dear master," Foraldenter said as he approached them, staying well out of reach of Kit's sword, "And I intend to make both of you pay dearly for what you did. GET THEM!"
At his cry, armed men swarmed Kit, and she immediately began to take them out. Her sword wove from side to side, its long length enabling her to keep them at a distance while man after man dropped, headless, limbless, disemboweled... any way she could drop them she did. But it wasn't enough.
Sari bit her lips and drew the power of the earth and everything on it to her... only to find something blocking her. She licked her lips nervously, for there was no reason for that to fail, she was one of the few would could use earth energy, and almost nothing could block it...
Gathering courage, she muttered a spell softly, and raised a hand and spread her fingers, pointing at the men who were attacking Kit... and nothing happened, again.
What? Impossible... my own energy was for the lightning spell, not any outside source, there was no reason for it to fail! None! Unless...
Anissari quickly probed the area, and shivered, He has us! This place has an anti-magic spell put on it, nothing I cast will work here!
And then she finally noticed what Kit was doing.
Oh no, anti-magic area, and a phoenix is a magical creature... one of the high magic...
"Kit! No!"
Too late, Kit shrieked in rage as her human form seemed to go up in flames and a phoenix rose from the fire, shrieking in defiance and rage. Her flaming wings swept over the men, burning each horribly, if not fatally, as her feathers brushed them. A single feather managed to brush across Foraldentor's face, and then...
Blinding white light, an absence of sound and feeling. A sense of endlessness, and of endings, of timelessness, and time, of age, and youth.
And then, finally, reality, sanity. Both lay on the ground, both panting, with their eyes squeezed shut.
"Hey, you two ok?"
Kit groaned softly as she pushed herself up, staring blankly at her clean sword for a bit before finally shaking her head sharply and clipping it to her back once again, under the cape. After what had just happened, self cleaning swords weren't any bother at all.
She glanced to her right, and froze.
A woman was standing there, next to a green dragon that looked almost... iridescent in the sunlight. As far as she knew, and as far as Vaerndrax and Laykita had told her, dragons were beyond rare, they were close to extinction, the few that still lived curled up in their deep caverns, asleep.
And here was one standing calmly, watching her with glowing eyes, with a woman standing next to it.
"Are you ok?" the woman asked again, kneeling down on the ground next to Kit and helping her rise.
"Yeah... where is this?"
"You're just outside of Cy."
"... And that's where?"
The woman blinked, "This is Dracania."
Kit sighed and ran a hand through her hair, "Either this is one messed up dream, or hallucination, or whatever you want to call it, or something serious just happened."
Anissari groaned as she rolled onto her stomach and pushed herself up onto her knees, "Kit... please think before you become a High Magic being in an anti-magic area, please? For both of our sanities?"
"High Magic being?"
"What, never heard phoenixes described that way? Phoenixes, dragons, gryphons, kauxes, fairies, endrashas, and so on. Beings based in magic are known as High Magic, because their very nature is magic. And they have rather strange reactions to being introduced to anti-magic areas, as you just proved. And..."
"Sari? You're rambling."
"... I am? Thank you... I think I'll go back to being passed out after whatever the hell just happened. Maybe this'll have all been a dream, and I'm sleeping in a nice, safe bed somewhere in an inn and not being thrown to other worlds."
Kithariani shook her head, then looked at the woman again, "And who, exactly are you? And that?" she motioned to the dragon as she spoke.
"I'm Kayara, and this is my dragon Esheth. And you?"
"... I see... let me guess, you ride that great hunk of green dragon called Esheth."
Kayara blinked, "Of course I do, why wouldn't I?"
"Let me see if I can explain this... where we're from, Kayara, most humans would be ripping that dragon to shreds for various things like bones, scales, hide, brain, heart, and so on for magical purposes. Not riding it."
Esheth growled warningly at Kit, who growled right back, "I'm not afraid of you, dragon. Vaerndrax introduced me to one of the biggest dragons there is, and if I didn't back down from Kalref'tiyrau in her full rage, I'm not going to back down from you." For a second a blazing image of a phoenix hovered over Kit, the phoenix hissing at the dragon before disappearing once more.
Kit smiled at the slightly stunned expression on the faces of the woman and dragon, "To answer your question from before, I am Kithariani of nomad clan Firebird, and that is my mage partner Anissari Laer."
"Well, since we're so close to Cy Dragonstake, why not come with me? Esheth thinks that you could stand for a dragon on our sands, both of you."
Anissari finally pushed herself to her feet and walked, somewhat unsteadily, over to stand beside Kit, "Stand for a dragon? What by the gods' names do you mean?"
"Stand... impress, bond, become a partner for a dragon, whatever you want to call it." Kayara responded, "Like Esheth and I are bonded."
Anissari smiled a bit, leaning casually on Kit's shoulder, "Well, since half-phoenix half-human lady over here decided to become a phoenix in the middle of an anti-magic zone and dumped us here, might as well see the sights, hmm Kithari?"
"I am sorely tempted, mage-lady, to move and leave you sprawled on the ground once more."
"You wouldn't do that, woul- hey!" Anissari yelped slightly as Kit suddenly moved out from under her and she almost lost her balance and fell. And then Kit tapped her and she did fall, and not very gracefully at that.
Kit shrugged, "Come on, no place better to be right now, although I do wish to know if I burned that bastard." With that she turned and looked at Kayara, who swung up onto her dragon's back and helped Kit up as well. Sari rose, grumbling, and swung up behind both of them.
To some silent signal, Esheth rose into the air and flew the short distance to the gleaming tower that stood out against the sky. Kit watched it come nearer, not caring how high above the ground they were, unlike Sari, who had her arms wrapped around Kit's waist, and her head buried in the folds of Kithariani's cape.
The landing was equally smooth, and it was with a slight sigh that Kit slid off, following Kayara, and followed by Sari, who was still thin lipped and pale from the flight.
"More candidates, Kayara?" A man asked as he stepped out of the tower and strode towards them, "For the sands or nero sands?"
"For the sands, G*non. The tall one's Kithariani and the other one's Anissari."
"Well, nice to meet you, ladies," G*non remarked as he came closer and extended a hand in greeting... to be met with a sharp, deadly glare from Kit.
Kit turned and strode off into the tower, her face set into a mask of icy calm, and her eyes smoldering with annoyance, that a male would dare it... she was more than fed up with males, right now, even Vaerndrax would be in danger of getting injured right now, and he was one of the only males she considered a friend.
Sari smiled politely at G*non, although she didn't shake his hand, "Please, excuse Kit, she's not very well disposed towards males after what happened to her. And the past few hours haven't been exactly calming."
With no more explanation than that, she strode past him and into the tower, trying to find Kit.