Chapter 2

Around midnight a light thud near my window made me woke up with a start my heart beating a mile a minute. I sat up and pushed my hair back with my hand flinching as another thud sounded. I stood brushing off my night gown as I walked to the window and opened it sticking my head out just as a tiny rock hit me in the side of the head. I looked toward where the rock came from to see Zevran sitting on the roof looking over at me grinning.

"Ah So your awake finally yes?" He asked his voice low and coxing. I nodded and smiled climbing out onto the window still then up the brick wall to the roof then inched towards him crouched low to the roof.

"Yes I am thanks to you." I said in a grouchy voice. Zevran laughed tossing his head back slightly making his blonde hair fall over his shoulders.

"You little tiger do realize it was dangerous coming up here right? Just like running at the sale your lucky I was there." He said his voice sounded dreamy like he was here but his mind was elsewhere. I sighed and hung one of my legs over the top of the roof my other arched up my arms be hind me holding my back up.

"Yeah I know but Zevran at the sale I had to run I just…." I trailed off tears filling my eyes. "I just had to get away from that man he tricked me made me save him from his own workers causing my mother to step in and get killed to protect me that that filth took me." I cried my voice strained. I flinched when I felt a hand go though my hair then stop at the base of my ear making me turn to face Zevran in the eyes.

"Tora, you did what you had to, you knew your mother that's a gift given wisely, and you had your first kill as well and you met your mentor and me and my mentor more gifts giving that would not of been had you not saved that bustard." Zevran said in a low calming voice I could hear feeling in his voice though and it made my tears come faster.

"I- I know Zev- I'm sorry for complaining to you." I cry as I fling my arms over his shoulders pulling him into a hug my head resting on his shoulder. I felt him flinch at my sudden movement but after a little bit of time he relaxed and hugged me back. My tears soon soaked his shirt I pulled away slowly my face flushed and eyes bloodshot.

"Tora, your complaining is nothing I used to do it a lot what is most important is that you do not regret your choices." Zevran said with a grin and he kissed my forehead.

"I don't Zev, how could I? The Crows are respected and feared here in Antiva I was a poor beggar before who happened to be fathered by a swordsmanship teacher. This is the best path my life could take." I said smiling.

All of a sudden Zevran pushed me down onto my back flat on the roof and layed down next to me on his back. From below I heard my mentor's voice talking.

"Yes, Tora show great promise but she also seems hard to control when by herself." I heard Airel say her voice was low as I peeked over the roof ledge watching her talk to a older grey haired man below with Samuel next her to.

"I see this could be troubling I heard of what she did, Samuel how fairs your purchase?" the grey haired man asked making me narrow my eyes how dare he call us purchases.

"Sir, his name is Zevran and he shows great skill as well I think with time and work he will be one of our best." Samuel said and I heard Zev smirk beside me.

"I have a plain Airel, Samuel train them together for two weeks then we will meet again." The gray haired man said then looked up toward us making me pull back fast and lay flat. I heard the three of them walk back inside and then I felt Zev pull me up by my hand gently.

"We need to return to our beds little tiger, it will be rough tomorrow." He said his voice teasing making me lunge at him pinning him to the roof making him suck in a deep breath.

"Don't call me little, or I will claw up your pretty face." I teased with a mock growl holding up a hand in a claw motion.

"Oh no kind tiger not my handsome face it's all I have!" He said making his voice shake as if scared. Making me laugh as I stood and helped him up.

"See you in the morning Zev, sweet dreams." I said with a yawn as I walked above my window and lowed my self inside. I smiled when I saw Zevran copy my move into his room then I turned and pulled close the window. I heard a sound behind me in my room making me turn fast and back against the glass. A boy older then me with short black hair and lustful dark brown eyes he held a dagger in his hand as he slowly moved towards me.

"So you're the new apprentice the 'tigress' as the older people call you." the boy says with his eyes narrowed as he walks closer to me holding the dagger out toward me.

"Leave me alone, if you don't I will not be sorry for what happens to you." I say my voice shaking. The boy laughed and lunged at me grabbing my arm and forcing me to turn twisting my arm against my back making me glare at him over my shoulder.

"Don't talk so big you runt just cuz you have a nickname does not mean anything." He said into my ear the dagger's blade against my back.

"What's your name?" I asked in a very quite quivering voice. The boy laughed and pressed the dagger against my back more making me wince.

"My name is Taliesin, now Tora do as I say or you will be bleeding." He growled in my ear as he pushed me to the bed. Just as he tried to kick my knees out I jumped and kicked my legs out behind me hitting his legs making him release my arm. As he let go of me I spun fast and ripped the dagger out of his hand making him jump back. We walked around each other then I smiled and jumped forward swinging the dagger down in a big arch catching his arm and making him stagger back to the window.

"Looks like your the one who had to do as told or you will be bleeding." I growled as I walk forward placed the dagger at his neck then grabbed his shirt collar and walk him to the door. Just as I put my hand out to open the door Airel opened it and was scowling at me and Taliesin.