THEN INTO MATARIA

Aariah flew for several hours in what seemed like no particular direction. The blizzard had obscured the majority of the trip and she was still thinking about her last moments at the tavern. She could tell the traveler's intentions were to get her elements, and she hoped that fact would keep Uncle Siefoth and Auntie Amirie safe.

The weather began to clear slightly and Aariah gasped. "Mataria?" she whispered to herself. "But I can fly that fast?" she was astonished for not far ahead of her were the outskirts of an obvious village. By the looks of the village, they were in celebration for many people were dressed exotically. There appeared to be many dances going on in several areas of town and people were feasting at large outdoor tables.

Aariah landed well away from town and in the woods so not to let her magic be apparent. After concealing the elemental beings inside of her, and reducing her staff back to the dagger pendant it originally was, she headed towards town. It took her till sundown to arrive at the village's edge.

"Hello there! And how is a fine lady like yourself doing this evening?" An elaborately dressed young man welcomed her from his perch on a fence.

"Fine, thank you." Aariah answered. "Do you know where the inn is?"

"Why yes, milady. The inn is part of the town bar called The Cavern. You can find it on the left if you follow this street." He nodded hi head off to the side, and then looked back at her. "Ye are traveling though? For you do not seemed dressed for the occasion." He added.

Aariah looked at herself for the first time that day. She had on all her warm travelling clothes and the hood to her cloak she could feel draped on her head. "I suppose this is a little unfitting for the tropical side of the Ashens" She paused and took off her thick outer layer that contained all of her traveling items. She then rolled it up into a pack to carry. "Is my violet cloak more occasional?" she asked.

"Yes, milady, it is. Would you like an escort to The Cavern?" He hopped off the fence. "I can carry your things for you."

She thought for a moment, and decided for it after she considered all the travelling she had done. "I thank you again, kind sir. And I shall take you up on your offer as well." She handed over the pack of stuff. "But I tell you now, I have no money to pay you if you wish for a tip." She added.

"No tip, milady, it is a week of celebration. No money is needed, for everything is shared." They headed off down the dirt path of a street. "So where is it you're traveling? For your clothing tells me you're from over the mountains." He continued the conversation.

"I am from Potoremin, and I am heading" she had to pause and search for an answer.

"You are heading?" he pushed.

"I am heading South." She finished.

"South? South to where?"

"Does it really matter that much to you?" she got a little defensive, but her voice was still playful.

"Well it just might." He continued. "For there is one thing that I do remember from but a week ago milady."

"And what is that?"

"I remember having made a cloak and sending it to the tavern in the mountains where someone was to receive it. That cloak just happened to be violet as well." He nodded to her cloak for emphasis.

"So this is your work then?"

"Aye, milady."

"Then you do fine work, for this cloak was exactly as I had wanted it." She pulled on it slightly.

"But, milady, that cloak was told to be made for a mage" he was getting a little confused.

Aariah had almost stopped dead in her tracks but knew that would cause suspicion. She quickly covered, "And that it was However, the mage that this cloak was made for had died on the trip to the mountains. His wish was that I take care of it until I find someone worthy of it."

"I I'm sorry for your loss, milady." They arrived at The Cavern and he opened the door for her.

"I thank you for your help, kind sir." She calmly took her stuff from him.

"You may speak with the bartender for a room." He pointed out. "I hope to see you again, milady." He bowed slightly and went over to a rowdy table where he obviously had friends.

She went over to the bar counter and took a seat. "What do you want?" the bartender asked as he scrubbed out a glass.

"Wine." She said flatly.

"Wine it is." He went over to one of the shelves and picked a wine bottle. He filled a mug with the dark, scarlet liquid and placed it in front of her. "Anything else?"

"A room, please." She added before she took a sip.

"Yes, we have rooms." He turned to a row of wooden panels on one wall. The panels made a small map of the upstairs and certain panels were colored and others were not. "How 'bout the room at the end of the hall? It has bed for one."

"That will do nicely, thank you." She nodded.

"Alright." The bartender took the matching panel and slipped it out of its spot. He then flipped the panel over revealing the purple painted side and placed it back into its spot.

Aariah smirked at the irony of the color. She slowly enjoyed her drink and surveyed the tavern while she did so. There were many small parties going on at certain tables and there were also people that were as alone as she was. After she had finished her wine, she trailed her way up the stairs and into her room. She was tired and did not unpack any of her stuff except for her nightshirt before she changed and went to bed.