A Re-Acquaintance

[Ailiana (Onora)]

It was mid-day, with an autumn sun beating down on Ailiana's back. A sweat was starting to bead across her skin, and she beckoned winter closer. Of course, winter didn't listen. Winter shrank back, and the sun came closer. The weather was unusually hot this fall, and Ailiana didn't like it one bit.

Which was why she was in a hurry to get home. Maybe once inside the castle walls, the heat might give way to a cooler temperature. As of now, though, she was shopping. The market was crowded today, and the food carts especially seemed to have large groups of people bustling around them. Ailiana managed to grab a few apples before giving up and paying the man his money.

Pulling one of the green apples out of the basket, Ailiana took a bite before walking on. Her eyes were focused on the fruit in her hand, and for the moment, Ailiana forgot where she was going.

Too late she remembered as she tried to veer to the side and she bumped into someone. No, not bumped. More like collided. Her basket was knocked to the ground, her purchases rolling into the dirt. The apple in her hand met a similar fate, now dusted with a light brown dirt. But Ailiana was too busy checking her surroundings to care about the state of her apple.

On the ground. Yes, she was on the ground. And her arm hurt. "I'm sorry," she mumbled, pushing herself up and wincing. Ailiana didn't look up as she began to pile her things back into the basket. "That was all my fault, I didn't look where I was going..."

[Daemon [Naryae]]

Well, that's a bad habit to fall into.

I remarked, trying not to come off to upset. I rubbed the impact spot on my back, turning around to see exactly what kind of young girl had run into me, if I could perhaps woo her in some way, and what exactly she'd been so interested... in.

Ai-Ai...

The name didn't quite want to come out. I gave it another try.

Ailiana?!

I cried out, falling down to my knees and wrapping her in hug. A very tight, friendly hug. Maybe even more then friendly. But whatever it was, I was smart enough to pull back, releasing her before she came up with the idea to hit this strange pervert that was hugging her over the head with one of those apples. After all, if I hugged me, I would do the same... Huh, that sounds weirder then when I first thought of it.

If you ever hugged you, I'd find another body.

Tanin spoke up, putting in his always sarcastic and cynical two cents.

I ignored the common intrusion, smiling happily at my dear friend. Yes, smiling. I had taken the Queen's words to heart, and I expect her to be very pleased to see me without my mask on. And not only was I maskless, but I was showing off my brand new glasses, special made at the Queen's command. Being so important did have it's perks.

[Ailiana (Onora)]

The man Ailiana had bumped into said her name. Glancing up, confusion was written plainly on her expression. His face wasn't one she remembered--

And then he embraced her tightly. As he pulled away, the grin spread across her face suddenly struck her from a memory. One that seemed so distant, but wasn't really. "Oh. It's you," grumbled Ailiana, stowing the last of her food into her basket.

Ouch. She hadn't meant to come off so brusque, and she winced. Standing, though, Ailiana looked down on her old friend. It had been a while, and she was surprised to see he lacked his mask. Odd. Along with that, he was now in possession of a new pair of glasses. His face had handsome features now, without being covered, but Ailiana blushed at the thought.

"You owe me an apple," she said, pointing at the fruit now on the ground. "Along with a cloak." The reference to the day they had met brought a more cheerful flicker to her eye, and she went on. "You also owe me a lesson on how to ride a horse. And a sword."

[Daemon [Naryae]]

Oh, heh, I guess I do, don't I? I hope you don't want interest on that.

I laughed, leaning down and picking up the fruit. I rolled it over in my hands, my fingers scraping layers of dirt and dust off the red surface. It looked like it had been tasty, what a shame, but then I guess it couldn't be helped. She'd been the one to run into me, after all, but I held my tongue, which hadn't become something I was used to yet. The past few months I learned to speak my mind. No, that doesn't sound right. I hadn't learned how to do that, I was just finally able to do so, and not have to worry about a knife plunging into my back. The Queen's Army, despite my misgivings about joining the group and my fears of betraying them in some way, had quickly proven to be one of the best decisions I'd ever made. It brought safety, money, assurance, and most of all, friends. Well, connections. Same thing to me, though.

But, well... the day is young, and I've no where in particular to be going. Maybe you'd like to join me, and I'll pay you back for that apple?

I said with a smile, offering my free hand as I spun the apple playfully into the air.

[Ailiana (Onora)]

Ailiana stared at Daemon with feigned shock. "You can pay for things now?" she said, opening her mouth wide with dramatized awe. Laughing, though, the girl took his hand and stood, glad to see him again. Though she didn't know why she was glad. She didn't exactly miss him. Okay, maybe just a bit. But he had been her first friend in what seemed like ages.

"Yeah, you can buy me another apple," said Ailiana, staring with slight disappointment at the fruit he was playing with in his hands. "It's over here..." Turning, Ailiana walked in the direction of where she had bought her food. No, that wasn't right. It was... was it the other way? Turning to glance over her shoulder, she found she couldn't remember.

"On second thought..." grumbled Ailiana, "Let's just catch up on things, shall we?" Maybe they'd find the grocery stand along the way, she reasoned.

[Mirage]

Mirage wandered through the market. She didn't know why she had come there, just trying to get a feel for life in the royal city once more was her best guess. It was loud and noisy. People were constantly bumping into her. She could hear people haggling over prices and arguing over the quality of the wares for sale. One could buy almost anything in these markets including flowers, masks, and jewels. However a vendor selling daggers held Mirage's interest as she looked over them, handling them with care as she looked for any flaws in the making. The vendor eyed her cautiously quite nervous around her, but then again most people were when it came to being around Mirage.
She heard Daemon's voice and wondered what he was doing here, when she remembered that he worked for the her cousin, Queen Isandra. She put the dagger down and walked away from the vendor, heading in the direction of Daemon. She stopped sensing that something was a miss, perhaps a threat to her or to someone else in the city, she wasn't sure which, but her senses told her that something was definitely amiss.

[Daemon [Naryae]]

Oh, heh, yeah, I found myself a steady income. A miracle, isn't it?

I laughed, smiling back at her with a kind of happiness I hadn't felt in a while. Even if our first meeting in a while hadn't been the best or even planned, It was good to have finally found her. Another old companion marked off the "to find" list. And of course there was something a little more to meeting her, because of that prophecy she'd had. No soldiers had come to drag me away yet, but...

I scanned the market quickly, looking for a good place to talk or browse. I didn't want to make this anymore awkward then how it started out, so definitely a public pl-

M-Mirage?

I chocked out, surprised to spy her in the crowd. Oh, gods, this was just a new layer of complexity I wasn't in the mood for right now.

[Mirage]

Mirage finally spotted Daemon and started to head in his direction. She then saw that he was talking with a woman. He's such a flirt. Mirage thought as she continued to walk in his general direction. Can't he just fall in love with one woman instead of flirting with every pretty girl he meets? Mirage continued to ramble to herself. I am so jealous over someone who I didn't even realized I still cared for other than wanting to kill him, just great. Now as long as he doesn't ruin my life all over again....
She finally caught up to Daemon, the feeling of something being a miss still there and said, "Hi Daemon, what's up?"

[Ailiana (Onora)]

The last time Ailiana had seen Daemon, he hadn't seemed liked the sort of person who could hold onto a job. But now she smiled, nodding. "That's great," said Ailiana, grinning brightly. "What're you do--"

And then he mumbled something, and a woman approached. A rather pretty woman, Ailiana couldn't help but notice. Stop it. What are you, jealous?

But something made Ailiana raise all of her defenses, her voice growing guarded. "Who's Mirage?" she asked, her tone cold as she stared at the woman.

Of course, she told herself, Daemon would have friends. She didn't mind that he had friends. Even if they were pretty friends. But something told Ailiana Mirage was more than just a pretty friend.