Opening the door, he stepped inside and looked around. The house looked nothing out of the ordinary, a fire burning in a hearth, a large table that could easily fit ten bodies, a comfortable sitting area and three closed doors that led elsewhere. Off to the far end of the room, he noticed an opening, shrouded only by a black cloth, but from behind it another fire seemingly was burning.

Keeping his hand on his blade, he moved the cloth out of his way and stepped into the room. This room was lined with weapons that were hanging on the walls, or laying on the couple of tables in the room. Sitting on a tattered bed sat a women wearing robes of black, though not covering the obsidian armor she wore on her arm and chest, all light armor fit for a rogue. Though covered her head in a hood and shown a black mask, shaped in a skull of a bird. Before her stood the two kids who had briefly bowed and turned to look at the figure.

"Go on now." She said lightly and the two kids went running out of the room, giggling along the way.

"You should really keep a tighter watch on your kids." He growled stepping towards her.

"I don't see the need to, they are watchful guardians of the forest around us and very skilled hunters." She did not move from the bed, only neatly folded her hand upon her lap.

"Their games are annoying, had anyone else been out there-"

"I doubt you came here to speak of the kids." She said cutting him off. "Why is it you've come?"

"Don't you already know?" He asked. "I thought you see and hear all?"

"Rumors, I'm afraid." Standing, she moved past him to grab a kettle off the fire, "tea?" He replied by shaking his head. Pouring a cup, she shifted her mask just enough to expose pale skin and a bright red shade of lips, then took a sip of the drink. "I do know enough so to why anyone would show up at my doorstep, at least those actually seeking me out. Yet, I fail to see why a man such as yourself would search me out."

"What do you mean by that?" He asked watching her as she left the room, and he was quick to follow.

"By the looks of your armor, you are a man that is highly skilled in combat. Though the armor is refined and fit for royalty, it has seen use. You've been in your own fair share of battles."

"How can you see my armor?" He asked glancing down only to find his robe was still firmly set in place. There was no armor to be seen.

To this, she chuckled, "I can't, however your response was proof enough. I did however, see the armor your horse has." Turning, she held the door open for him and he stepped outside.

"My horse?" He asked and saw his horse tied outside, drinking from a trough of water. "How'd you-" Stopping himself, he looked over at her.

"The armor on your horse is impressive. Normally, you'd only see armor like that on the horses of royalty. So, tell me, why are you here?" She asked, yet he did not answer. "You're clearly a man of wealth, by some stature, do you not have men to fight for you? Or are you here because someone wronged you and you cannot get your own hands dirty?"

"Neither of that." He said sternly. "I will not give full details, but I seek vengeance. I have no army, no men to help, but doing this will ignite a war."

"Oh? So youre target is a man of power, is it?" She mused. "the price will be high for that alone."

"Gold is no option, I will pay you, your weight in gold if you help me."

"I normally ask for an advance pay for my jobs."

Reaching into his robe, he tossed a bag her way, one she caught with ease and glanced into. "That should be a decent start, you'll get the rest when the job is complete."

Holding the bag off to the side, one of the kids appeared, grabbed it and disappeared inside the house. "Very well, and your target?"

He seemed hesitant to answer and studied her carefully, "alright, you don't have to tell me yet, but I will need more information on our travels." She said turning her attention on his horse. "allow me to gather supplies and we can head out." He said nothing still, only watched her disappear back into the house.

He noticed the two kids running around grabbing armour and setting up a horse for travel, tying it beside his horse when it was ready to go. When she finally emerged from the house, the two kids were right before her.

"Do you really have to go?" The little girl asked.

"Yea, please don't leave!"

Chuckling softly, she moved to a knee and placed a hand on either of the kids shoulders, "I'm leaving things in your hands, I won't be gone for long. So take care of your brothers and sisters, stay out of trouble and be good."

"We will, promise!" They said in unison.

"Good." She nodded and stood, approaching the horses. "Ready?" She asked him. He only gave a firm nod and mounted his horse as she did hers. With one glance back towards the kids, she waved them off and they disappeared into the darkness of the woods.

They travelled well past dawn towards the south in total silence before she was the one who broke it. "So, you got a name?"

"Reaper." He answered.

"Reaper." She echoed in response, stifling a chuckle. "and what kingdom to you hail from?" To this, she did not get an answer, but it caused her to smile.

"And your name?"

"NaMara"

Silence passed between them as he turned to look at her, watching her carefully, "You're elvish?" He asked. "and your name means-"

"Ancient Death." She said looking over at him. "Shouldn't bother you, all things considering your name is Reaper. At least I was born with mine." She mused looking back at the path before them.

Huffing, he looked back forward as well, falling back into silence once more, their conversation seemingly ending. They continued their travels, throughout the day stopping only at night to rest. Picking back up just before dawn and heading out once more. Their conversations were limited, only speaking when necessary and nothing more. It remained this way for the better part of the first nine days.