ONE CELEBRATION DAY
Aariah awoke to the early sounds of celebration. She savored the moment, for she rarely ever spent her time celebrating. Echoing in from her window were the sounds of children playing in the streets. Their giggles filled with contentment and joy. Notes of cheery bar songs floated up the stairs and in through her door. She slowly sat herself up in bed. She had to get to work. For if that blue-clad traveler was still coming after her, then she had to work quickly to capture Fire and move on. She went over to the window and made sure it was tight shut and she did the same to the door before locking the both of them. She then lit the candle the inn had provided on the table inside the room and placed it in the center of the floor. She still had her dagger pendant on, for she felt closer to it now then ever.
Carefully she knelt next to the candle and removed the necklace to hold it at arm's length. "I call upon my own might to release the staff of my right" She was whispering so no one out side of her room could hear her practicing magic. The dagger pendant extended to staff length within her hand as her magical circle glowed beneath her. She held the dagger staff above the flame once again. "Either East, West, South or North; I am in search of something to me it's worth; I am in search of Fire" Again, she shut her eyes and let go of the staff. It whiped out of her hand and she opened her eyes. "North East?" she questioned to herself. "I thank you for your help." She took the staff from the spell.
"Milady, are you in there? I heard from the bartender that this was your room." The young man from the night before was lightly knocking on her door.
She turned, surprised and her staff visually wavered and became the pendant once again. "Y-y-yes? I am in here" she hesitated in her words, but not in her actions. She quickly moved her candle to the table it had come from and replaced her pendant around her neck.
"Oh, good! Then I do have the right room. I was wondering if you would like to participate in some of today's celebrations." He continued from outside the door.
She sighed and started to get dressed. "And what kind of celebration are you inviting me to?"
"There is a morning feast and dance going on in the northern part of town. I was in hopes you could show off my workmanship by wearing the cloak of your late mage friend." He was a little hesitant on the last three words. "But it would help me greatly, for there are men from a guild in the West that will be attending, and if they were to see that cloak of yours, they would appreciate my work and hopefully allow me to join with them." He tried.
She sighed once again, "Alright, if it means that much to you." She puffed a laugh, "Besides, it'll be my way of paying your tip for last night."
"Thank you, milady. I shall wait down in the tavern for you, and take you there." His words were fast and jubilant.
Aariah could hear him bound down the stairs to the tavern. She was almost changed as it was, but she also wanted to pack. If this feast and dance are to be in the northern portion of town, then she could leave town right after ward to look for the fire elemental. She shouldn't have passed it by far, because the staff would have pointed directly back to Amirie's if she had missed it by a great deal. She figured she had about two or three miles to where the elemental would be. She finished packing and had once again bundled her stuff into her heavy outer coat.
When she had arrived down stairs, she found the cloak maker waiting for her at the bar. "Ah, you are ready, milady?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered.
"Why have you packed? Are you leaving today, already?" he was beside her and leading her outside.
"Yes, again. As I had said to you earlier, I am only passing through, so I was not intending to stay for very long." She answered somewhat curtly.
"Ah I understand then."
They had walked the rest of the way enjoying the moment in silence. However, there was not much silence when they arrived.
"Look! There he is now! Our local Cloak Maker! See? He has brought a lady with him to show off his work! Isn't it exquisite?" a rather loud lady was pointing at them as they arrived.
Several people turned and looked at them, having followed the lady's introduction. There was a small group of men in stark, navy blue overcoats with silver lining who were gathered beside her. They were obviously the ones he was here to impress. "You told others that I was in town, or could they already guess?" Aariah asked.
"They know my work." He nodded and led her towards a table.
"Ah, so then I'm just being paranoid" she stated.
He pulled out a chair for her and she sat in it. "I guess so, milady." He smiled as the group of men in navy blue walked up. "Hello, gentlemen."
"We have heard much about you." The forefront of the group spoke.
"I do not doubt that. My town is prideful of me." He stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders.
"This," a man to the leader's right nodded his head at Aariah. "Is your work then?"
"Yes, you are correct. However, I find it appropriate that we eat first. I am sure all of you are tired from your trip. Please, sit and eat." He indicated the rest of the empty chars at the table. The men sat across from them, and he carefully took the chair next to Aariah. "What is your name, milady? I do not wish to appear forgetful of my colleague's names." He whispered to her.
"Aariah, kind sir. And I hope you do not forget it, for if you stutter on calling my name, they will think you took me off the street to show off your garments." She answered curtly and quietly.
"I agree thank you."
