((The world of David Eddings does not belong to me, and neither do that characters that he has created. I do own up to owning the mystery woman, and any other characters that appear who were not created by him. Can't think of anything else that I need to add to that :) Please excuse the shortness of this chapter, hopefully the rest (when I get round to writing them) will be rather longer than this, but I couldn't really think of a better way to introduce this :P Reviews, critical or praising are welcomed. Hope you enjoy!)

The misty rain wreathed down in the city of Cimmura, dark clouds hovering low overhead. The cobbles of the street were slick with water, making travel difficult. But still folks were abroad, by their own choice or the choice of others.

Dark blue eyes gazed from the shadows of the street, as a roan horse walked by, his rider sitting tall in the saddle, hand cocked under his cloak where the eyes could make out the shape of a sword. Sparhawk. The man she was sent to watch.

Secure in the cloak of her magic, the woman slid after, the shadows enveloping her entirely, her eyes fixed on Sparhawk. He was oblivious to her presence, unaware of her continued studying.

He made his way through the streets, heading for one specific one, and the inn that it housed, the one that was owned by the Pandions. As the signal was given, Sparhawk knocking on the panels of the gate with his booted foot, and they opened, the woman moved out of the concealing shadows. Or at least, she appeared to, though where the eye would see her, there was just the shifting darkness of the night. White hair glistened in the light, seen by those who had eyes to pierce her illusions, though there were none there at that moment.

She moved to stand beside the gates, one slender finger reaching out to caress the wood lightly, leaving a trail of softly glowing white where it touched, peculiar symbols appearing on the wood.

As the woman stepped back, the symbols flared with an incandescent brilliance, before fading completely as though they had never existed.

The woman nodded, before she once more melted back into the shadows of the night, turning her feet towards her home.

The illusion dropped from her as she walked, and she was once more visible to all, black cloak draped over red dress, with white hair spilling out from underneath her hood. Dark blue eyes were thoughtful as she made her way to the well lit palace, her posture shifting slightly, the defiant stance becoming more modest.

"The primate was asking for you earlier." one of the guards said as she approached, to be nodded through almost uncaringly.

"Any reason?" she asked, tilting her head to look at the bearer of the summons.

"Something to do with some news he's had I think." the guard replied, and the woman nodded, before she headed for the doors, and her duty. She knew what the news was, and she was looking forward to seeing the reaction of her master. Events were moving.