Tangled Visions, Part One

                                                                        Chapter Four

            "Good brings only good.  No act of kindness will ever bring about a bad end.  The gift may very well be disguised, though."

-  Sheeva Callister

Brigit awoke with the darkness, hate, fear, and pain still ringing in her mind.

The dream was the same as always.  It never changed.  It never needed to.  The nightmare's images and feeling were always vivid and sharp, like the memory itself.  It always filled Brigit with the same unspeakable fear- she was slipping.  Slipping into a darkness of blind hatred and self righteousness.  Slipping into a place where she was no better than they were; where her path differed from theirs only by her choice of targets.

            The light reassured her though, as it always did.  It settled her into the world of the living.  A world away from dark fears.

            Brigit looked around the room she was in, her memories of the time before she had fallen asleep still hidden from her.  The room was only vaguely lit, and all the light seemed to be coming from a long iron stick on the wall.  The stick reminded Brigit of everything.  Throwing off covers she didn't remember putting on, Brigit tried to leap up and run towards the door.  Her head swam before she was halfway up though, and the woman sank back down into her bed again.

            "Unnngh," was all she could get out.

            There was a rustling sound, and Brigit turned her head to the side.

            "I told you before, miss," Shale said, pouring water into a cup from a pitcher, "It's called dehydration.  It has killed many a great warrior before you who was only once neglectful of his health."

            Shale handed the cup to Brigit, who accepted it.  She managed to slowly push herself into a sitting position, and drink the liquid.  Her head did seem to clear a bit.

            "I wasn't neglectful," Brigit said defensively, "I had reasons for pushing myself the way I did."

            "No doubt," said Shale seriously, "Was it your friend's health you were worried about?"

            Brigit raised an eyebrow, and turned to look at the human man once again.  His head was cocked a little bit to the side.  Brigit was beginning to associate that pose with his face.

            "How did you know about-"

            Shale waved a hand dismissively.

            "I asked one of the others around here what was behind the door I found you by."

            "Ah.  Yes." Brigit looked away.  Then she turned back to face Shale.

            "How long have I been out for?" Brigit asked him.

            Shale looked distant for a second.

            "I should say at least four hours.  Mayhaps more."

            Brigit's eyes widened.  Dropping the empty cup, she sprang up, ignoring the blinding pain in her skull.  She swooned as she stood, but righted herself quickly, and charged towards the door.  Shale grabbed her before she was halfway there, though.

            Brigit thrashed madly, trying to break free.  Shale's grip was strong though, and he didn't let go.

            "Set me free!" Brigit snarled angrily.  She glared at him.  As unnerving as this woman's eyes were, Shale didn't look away.

            "Miss!  You are barely strong enough to stand, let alone go visit a patient who fared much worse than you did.  Please sit down and wait!"  Shale's voice was stern and furious.  Brigit, surprised by his outburst, sat down quickly, like a discomfited child.  Shale pushed his hair back, and sighed loudly.  The brown and gray hairs had scored one victory, having finally managed to fall into the man's eyes.  Shale gave Brigit an acidic look.

 She glared back.

            "I already told the other healers to alert me when your friend wakes up."

            "So he's alive then?!" Brigit said, looking a little bit wild.  She grabbed the sides of her bed, as if to steady herself for some type of blow. 

            Shale grinned, relaxing slightly.  He leaned against one of the walls.

            "Yes," he said in his soft voice, "He's alive."

            Brigit sank in her chair.  She put her head in her hands, and for a second Shale thought she was going to cry.  Instead, she sighed, and looked up at the other person in the room.

            "The gods smile on me today." Brigit said, smiling.  She looked extremely relieved.  

            "Yes, I should think they do.  Perhaps we should celebrate this."  Shale poured two cups of water.  He handed one to Brigit, and kept the other.  They toasted.  Brigit sighed. 

Shale gave her a questioning look over his cup.

            "What?" he said, lowering his glass.

            Brigit looked at him.  Shale suddenly became aware of just how tired she looked.

            "I did not expect my companion to make it.  He looked very weak when I saw him last.  You healers can do wonders.  It's almost like magic."

            Shale jumped a little at her last word.  He put his cup down quickly, and gave Brigit a sharp look.

            "There is no magic here, miss, I can assure you."  His voice was severe.  Shale didn't look at Brigit.  

            Silence.

            "I meant no offense, Shale." Brigit finally said.  Her voice sounded hesitant.

            Shale blinked and looked up from his cup.  He had been swirling the water around inside of it, but when Brigit spoke he stopped.  Shale was moderately surprised at the sound of Brigit saying his name.  He rather liked the way she made it sound.

            Shale shook his head, trying to rid the thoughts from it. 

            Obviously he needed to get more sleep.

            "No, it's fine.  I did not mean to speak so harshly."

            Brigit looked down at the bed.  Shale looked towards the door.  Neither of them spoke.

            Finally, he sighed, and turned to the woman.

            "Miss, forgive my curiosity, but perhaps you would not mind telling me what happened out there?  How was it that your friend was injured?"

            Brigit sighed, and pushed some of her braids out of her face.

            "It is truly a long story.  If you have nothing pressing to attend to, I would be willing to share it."

            Shale resettled himself in his chair.

            "No matters call to me.  Please, I am very interested in this tale.  Recount it to me."

            Brigit sat up straighter, and sipped her water.  Then, she told Shale the entire story, starting from her meeting with Mouse in Jubliant and going up to her leap over the wall in Farley.  Shale seemed to find that part particularly amusing.

            "What is so humorous?" Brigit said questioningly, pausing in her story.  "That jump hurt more than just my pride, y'know."  She rubbed her back, trying to prove her point.

            "No doubt," Shale said, laughing openly now, "There was- still is, in truth- a standing dare between all the villagers that whoever could jump the wall and not get dashed to pieces won a new horse and cart from the town smith.  It appears I am in the presence of the winner.  I think I shall go collect my winnings from the good Brother, Alexi."  Shale grinned widely.

            "You bet?" Brigit said, skeptical.

            Shale nodded.

            "Well, Pelor take me! Do tell me- what was this gamble on?" Brigit said, still not believing that a healer wearing the symbol of Pelor on his robes really played in the stakes.

            Shale smiled.  Somehow, when Brigit saw his grin, she didn't have as much trouble picturing him holding dice.

            "Well, we were always trying to guess who would jump the wall."  Shale poured himself another glass.  "Personally," he said, his eyes glinting mischievously at Brigit over his cup, "I did always believe it would be a woman.  Alexi thought me crazy." 

            Brigit joined in Shale's laughter then.

            "I do hope your friend will not hate me too much for his loss!"  Brigit sighed, and leaned back.  Shale sighed too, smile still on his lips.  A comfortable quiet filled the room.

            Both Brigit and Shale jumped when the door opened, and another man in clean white robes walked in.  He coughed when he saw them there together.  The new man looked extremely uncomfortable. 

            "Hello, Brother Bailey," the man said cautiously.

            "Brother Alexi," Shale said pleasantly.  He nodded slightly to the other.  Brigit grinned widely, unable to stop herself. 

The man, Brother Alexi, gripped the door hard, as if trying to stop himself from fleeing.

"I thought I should tell you, Brother, the halfling you inquired about is awake now."

Brigit shot up, with Shale only a second behind her.

"Yes, thank you very much, Brother," Shale said.  He half bowed to the man, who returned the respectful gesture.  Then he ran.

"Where is he?" Brigit said, staring out into the hallway.  Her head pounded a bit, but she ignored it.  As long as she could stand, she was fine.

"Come with me."

Shale started off down the hallway, robes swishing as his long strides ate up the hallway floor.  Brigit ran to keep up.  They turned a lot in the large corridors, and Brigit soon lost track of the amount of corners they had gone around.

Sometimes damned buildings are harder to navigate than a forest, Brigit thought bitterly.  She realized uncomfortably, again, just how very tall Shale was.  And how fast.

They stopped at a new door, and Brigit realized that it was the same door she had been locked out of before.  Shale knocked loudly, and said something in a language that she didn't recognize.  The door opened, and an old man poked his head out. 

"Ah, yes," the man said, "Brother Bailey.  And you," he said, glaring at Brigit, "We have been expecting you two.  Please come in."  He opened the heavy door wider, and the two humans slipped inside. 

The room was brightly lit.  Light streamed in from one window.  Brigit realized that it must have been a full day since she arrived in Farley, for the sun was rising behind the thin, filmy curtains on the windows.  Like all other places in this Hall, the room was made of white marble, with sunstick holders lining the walls.  A large bed propped up against one wall was draped over with heavy blankets, and a small, pale figure lay under them.  There was a chair in the room, which Brigit ran to and sat down in.

She pulled the chair over the bedside, and smiled.  Mouse turned to look at her.  He smiled back.  His skin was still very pale, but the greenish tinge was gone, and his eyes sparkled a bit.  Bandages were wrapped around his middle, and one was also wrapped around his head.

"It's good to see you awake, Mouse," Brigit said, leaning over a bit to be eye level with him, "I thought as I was running down the mountain side that I was going to lose you."

Mouse sat up a little bit and looked at Brigit.

"Fer a moment ther, yeh almost did.  Ehf I'd passed out back ther', I dunno ehf  I'd ehve woken up agin.  I guess it's a good thin' yer so damn fast, Mountain Runner."  He winked.

Brigit rubbed her face with a hand.  Then she leaned back.

"I guess there is some use in me then, Mouse."

"Oh yah.  That an' the fact tha' yer pretty good with that old pig-sticker of yer's." 

Brigit looked confused.

"Pig-sticker?"

"Oh, well I guess it works jest fine on Raiders too."  He waved a hand dismissively.  Brigit still looked confused.

"What's a pig-sticker?"

Mouse opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the coughing of the old healer in the corner.  Both the patient and his visitor looked up, and the old man turned quickly and walked out of the room.

Mouse laughed as the door closed.

"I think yeh scared 'im away, Brigit."

She sighed, and sat up taller in her chair.

"It wouldn't first time." She waved a hand over her scar.  "This thing usually does it."  A concerned look came on Brigit's face though, when Mouse grabbed at his side and coughed.  "Mouse, are you all right?"

"Jest fine.  No need te werry.  The good 'ealers said that I should be on meh feet soon enough.  It's meh head that's relleh keepin' me in bed, y'know."  He touched the bandage.  "It stings, it does.  Hurts werse than meh gaping wound on meh side!"

"What is the matter with you're head?"  Brigit leaned forward again.  Her eyebrows were knitted together in a look of genuine worry.

"Oh, I denno.  I can't remember the exact werd they used.  Semthin' like- pincushion?  Maybe…Ah, yeh.  That was it. Concussion.  They said I mey have trouble thinkin' straight fer the next couple o' days.  Like, Ehll only beh half as smert as I usually am."  A look of horror came over his face.  Brigit shot up, ready to call for help if need be.

"What?!" she cried.

"Brigit, thes is terrible.  If ehm only half as smert as I usually am, that means… ehm only as intelligent as you!"  He cried out in horror.  Brigit sat down, and rolled her eyes.

"I thought that arrow might have knocked some sense into you, halfling.  Or at least taken out your sarcasm."  She gave him an acidic look, which we winked at.

"Oh, c'mon, Brigit.  Yeh know yeh love me for it.  How many people out there can boast at makin' fun of you te yer face?"

Brigit grinned wickedly.

"None of the live ones, Mouse."

The halfling laughed, and settled into his bed again.  He sighed.

"But seriously, Brigit," Mouse said.  His smile disappeared and a look of gravity came over his face, "I knew how you taxed yerself te get meh here.  And as much as I appreciate bein' here alive and well, I don't ever want yeh doin' that agin.  I wasn't the only one who could ehve died, y'know."

Brigit smiled.

"Mouse, it was all well worth the effort."

There was a comfortable silence then, which neither human nor halfling broke.  Finally, when the pause seemed to stretch too long, Mouse wiggled a bit and turned to face Brigit again.

"Mmmm, yes Mountain Runner.  Energy well spent.  Now I get to terment yeh from the comfort of meh own bed!  And, later, when I'm back on meh feet, I can terment yeh on the road as well!" 

Brigit didn't laugh at the halfling's joke.  Instead, she raised an eyebrow at him.

"So…So then you mean to keep up your side of the bargain?"

Mouse looked confused.  Then he shrugged.

"Well o'course!  Why shudent I?"

"Why would you still want to work for me?  I almost got you killed out there."

A pained look came over the human's face. 

"You?  Get meh killed?  That warsn't yer fault!  I didn't see yeh 'oldin' the arrow!"

"But I led you out there!"

"Hey!" Mouse said suddenly, "Ehm not a sheep, y'know!  I ken make decisions fer mehself!  As far as I know, yeh offered me a risky job back in Jubliant, and I accepted.  I knew there was a chance that Eh could get meself hurt, but I took the werk.  And I got shet up by sem Raider on the way.  Frem what I could see, yeh were tryin' te help, not get meh killed."  Mouse crossed his arms and gave Brigit a stubborn look.  "Ehm not gonna loose meh first piece o' decent, payin' work over a little nick on the 'ead, and I certainly ain't loosin' it 'cause yeh feel guilty about this!"  Mouse pointed to his side. 

Brigit looked slightly abashed.  She didn't say anything, and looked away.

"Well.  I guess that's settled, then."  With a sigh, Brigit stood up, and walked towards the door.  She stopped in the doorway.  "You rest yourself, Mouse.  I'll…I'll be back soon.  I have some work to attend to now."

"Mark meh werds, Mountain Runner," the halfling said, sitting up straight in bed, "I means te stay near yeh.  Don't even try en escape, cause ehll find yeh.  Yeh picked the wrong 'alflin' if yeh wes jest lookin' fer a dirty crook.  Ehm a lot mer than that, y'know."

Brigit smiled, and rested a hand on her waist.

"Yes, Mouse.  You're a blessing."  Then she rolled her eyes.  "But a sick one at that.  Rest now or I'll be the one doing the finding."

With that, Brigit walked out of the room.  Some white robed healers who had been gathering in the hallway scattered as she approached.

All but one.

"Is your friend feeling better?" Shale asked in his quiet voice.  He looked genuinely concerned.

Brigit smiled and relaxed.

"Yes, he seems to be well.  I just hope that he stays that way."

Shale smiled.

"The healers in Farley are well schooled in their arts.  I am sure your halfling companion will be back on his feet soon."

Brigit smiled up at the human healer, but stopped herself when she saw his troubled expression.

"What is it?"

Shale folded his arms across his broad chest, and settled his back against the wall.

"I listened to you talk of hunting Raiders.  That is a very dangerous road you travel."

"Yes," Brigit said slowly, "It is.  I have taken it for some time now.  Many dead lay in my footsteps."

"I have no doubt of this," Shale said seriously.  He met Brigit's blue eyes with his own hazel ones.  "But it seems to me that enemies may not be the only ones to fall at your sword.  Yesterday, it seems, a friend lay half dead from a stray arrow."

Brigit said nothing.

"I have training as a healer," Shale said, "I could be of use to you.  I do not have the experience of some here, but I have…talents…that they do not.  I may just be able to save the life of the halfling or yourself." 

Brigit gave Shale an inquiring glare. 

"I wonder as to what other motives you might have, Master Healer.  I know not of many who would willingly take the road my companion and I walk."

Shale clenched his jaws together, and a dark look came over his face.

"Less than a day before you arrived, a group of Raiders came through Farley.  They destroyed half the town, and murdered many.  They stole much, and left little.  This town is hungry and poor now.  We face a harsh winter, with very little to sustain us.  Many will die."

Brigit's eyes widened a little.  He mind snapped back to the thing she had said on the mountainside, before Mouse had been shot.

So the Raiders had been close to city.  It had worried Brigit then, and the reasons now angered her.

They would pay for this, along with their other crimes.

Shale had been speaking, but Brigit had not heard him.  He looked at her, expecting an answer.  She raised an eyebrow.

"I have missed your last words, Master Healer."

"I wondered if I should be allowed to travel with you and your companion."

Brigit shook her head.

"Would not your services be of more help here?  You said yourself that many will die."

Shale shook his head, and sighed.

"There is little a healer can do against hunger when there is no food to give.  If I leave now, I am simply one less mouth to feed."

"But this mission is yet dangerous.  I can offer no protection that you cannot give yourself."

"I am not a sheltered priest, miss; whatever you may take me for.  You would find, should I come, that I am much tougher than I appear."

Brigit smiled.

"It is your own choice, Shale, I simply advise against it.  I pay for Mouse's help.  I have no money to offer you."

"I would not accept it, miss.  I will travel with you, as a friend and companion, not some sort of helping hand."

Brigit sighed.

"I fear your mind was set before you asked me, and nothing I could say will sway it."

Shale smiled a little.

"I think you have uncovered the truth, miss."

The two humans stood for a second, not looking at one another.  Then Brigit offered her hand.  Shale took it, and they shook.  As soon as their hands fell to their sides, Brigit whirled and set off down the corridor.  Shale followed her, looking surprised.

"Where are you set off to, then?"

Brigit smiled a devious little smile.

"I believe I have winnings to collect from the blacksmith, Shale.  My little jump seems to have won me a horse and cart, and I can think of no faster way to get to the Plains."

"Well then, miss, I should think you would want to be heading that way, then.  The town blacksmith is this way."  Shale stopped, and pointed back down the hallway.  Brigit stopped too, and shook her head.  She smiled.

"Thank you, Master Healer.  You have saved me a long trip around Farley."

"It was nothing.  But now I have a small favor to ask of you."

Brigit paused. 

"What would this favor be, then?"

Shale grinned, smile askance.

"Would you mind terribly if I asked your name?"

                                                * * * *

Brigit kicked at a stone by her foot.

 "He has cheated us!" she cried.  Her loud voice got the attention of other people in the market place, most of who looked over curiously at the two humans walking together.  "He lied!  Everyone could tell!  We even got his helpers to confirm that the bet was real!  I don't understand why he wouldn't give us the cart!"  Brigit stomped up the muddy streets. 

It had stopped raining now, but the sky was an overcast gray and the streets were still sloppy from the wetness.  The dirt and stone roads splattered mud on all who walked up them.

"We need papers to confirm that the bet is a legitimate, standing offer," Shale explained calmly to his fuming companion.  "If we can produce those, he will give us what we want."

"In Pelor's name!  It is not like I can pull papers like those out of thin air, y'know!  I'm no mage!"  She put a hand on the pommel of her short sword.  She stopped, seeming to consider drawing it.  People on the street backed away.

"Mayhaps this will be all the papers he needs!"  Brigit glared out in the general direction of the shop they had come from.

Shale stopped, and sighed a little.

"I can get the papers we need, Brigit.  I'm no magician, but the bookkeepers of this town can work wonders."

He waited patiently for Brigit to calm, then the two set off again.

They did not walk far.  Less than a street away was a small shop with a sign on the front that read:   The Scribbling Quill-Books and Writings. 

Shale went over to the door and knocked once.  Then he entered quietly, and a bell tinkled overhead as the door opened.  Brigit followed.

The large room was dark, and filled with books and scrolls.  Some were tucked away neatly onto shelves, but most lay scattered about the room in messy piles and heaps.  There was a big desk in the back of the room, and a large, gray haired man with broad shoulders sat in a chair behind it, reading a leather-bound book.  He looked up when the door opened, and smiled.

"Ah!  Good morning to you, Master Shale.  A bit early, isn't it?  Doesn't your shift end around noon?"

Shale smiled, and closed the door behind Brigit.

"I'm not here on my break today, Kamon.  I have business."

The man, Kamon, stood up.  He closed his book, and came out from behind the desk.

"What may I do for you then?"

"My companion and I were hoping that you might have some old records of the wall jumping gamble."

"Why would you want those?"

Shale smiled, and gestured to Brigit.

"My friend here seems to have beaten the game, but the blacksmith refuses to give the prize."

Kamon rubbed his hands together.

"Yes, that sounds like Jel to me.  Always wanting his things on paper, that man."  Kamon shook his head.  "Well, I have no idea in the faintest where I would have put those.  I'll see if my wife knows.  I'll be right back, Master Shale." 

The man disappeared through a door in the back.  Brigit turned to look at Shale.

"How do you know this man?" she whispered.

Shale smiled.

"I come here to read when my shift at the Hall is over.  I know Kamon and his family quite well."

The door in back opened, and the gray haired man emerged again, talking to a person Brigit presumed was his wife.  Her hair was long and as black as a crow's wing, and her skin was pale.  She had eyes the color of still wet leaves, and a small, thin body.  She was very pretty, and looked barely twenty, compared to her husband's good forty years.  Brigit blinked in surprise, though, when she saw the woman's ears.  They were long and pointed, and stood out slightly from her head.

Obviously, this woman was an elf. 

"…Of course I know where the documents are, Kamon.  I just placed them with the others yesterday."

"Shale needs them.  His lass jumped the wall, I hear."

"Really?  That is quite an accomplishment.  She should be proud."

Shale looked uncomfortable.

"Brigit is not my girl.  She's…only a friend."

The woman raised an eyebrow.

"I see.  I will get the records.  Please give me a minute or two."

With that, the woman disappeared behind some bookshelves.

"So Shale, tell me," Kamon said warmly, "I have not heard from the Hall or you in some time.  How are things there?"

The two began to speak, and Brigit didn't bother following the conversation.  Instead, she walked down some of the rows of shelves, looking at the spines of the old books.  Most of the titles were written in Common, but some were written in languages Brigit didn't recognize.  There didn't seem to be any real organization of the shelves, and the topics and ages of the books covered many years and subjects.

Brigit stopped at one red book on the shelf to her right.  She looked at it, and furrowed her brow.  Then, after a brief hesitation, she pulled it of the shelf.  The title was printed in gold script, in a language other than Common.  Brigit ran her right hand over the familiar runes, touching the cover almost reverently.  She flipped slowly through the pages, not really bothering to read the script.  The book smelled of old rock and dirt.

"Can you read dwarven?" said a voice behind her.  Brigit spun, and found herself staring into a pair of dark green eyes.  The elven woman smiled a little.

"No, I can't," Brigit said quickly.  She hurriedly replaced the volume on its shelf.  "I was only looking."  She walked quickly up to Shale, severely rattled.

"Did you find them, Talia?" Kamon asked his wife.

"Yes, there were where I left them." She held up some old, yellow papers.

Shale sighed.

"I was hoping you two could help us."

Talia smiled her little smile again.

"You must thank Sheeva later, then.  She convinced me to go through all those scrolls two days ago."

The front door burst open, and all in the room turned to look.

A girl barely twenty it seemed, had run into the small shop.  She was carrying a large wooden box, which she dropped heavily onto the desk.

"There!" she said proudly.  Even though she was out of breath, her voice seemed light and musical.  "I got the last of the books from Beren.  He said there was not a single one left in his house!"  The girl smiled, and put her hands on her small hips.

"Wonderful, Sheeva," Kamon said.  "I hope we did not bother the innkeeper too much about this."

"He did not seem to mind me there, father," Sheeva said, "Although…I somewhat doubt he would."

She grinned mischievously.

Brigit blinked in surprise, but found herself unable to speak.

The girl in front of her was a good two inches taller than Brigit, and was no doubt the prettiest woman the human had ever seen.  Her body was thin and willowy, and her movements graceful.  Her hair was almost golden in color and hung only to the nape of her neck, but looked smooth and soft.  She was wearing a pale, cream colored shirt, which fell down in back to the bottoms of her long thighs like a cloak.  She wore a loose and billowy skirt, that was the same color as her shirt.  Brigit could not see Sheeva's face.

"Hello Shale," the half elf said pleasantly, "Is it not a bit early for you to be off work?"

"I'm not here on pleasure today, Sheeva.  I come on business."

"And of what kind?"

"My friend here has jumped the wall outside Farley, and won herself a horse and cart.  Jel refuses to acknowledge such a bet existed here, so I need the papers to prove it did."

"Who is your friend?" 

Brigit moved from the shelf she had been standing behind.  Sheeva turned to look at her.

The woman had a round face, with a small, perfectly shaped nose and full mouth.

Her eyes were an emerald green.

Recognition registered on the faces of both the half elf and human at the same time.

"I…"

"You are the woman I saw yesterday!  I took you to the Healer's Hall!"

"I…Yes, you did…"

"How is he?  How is your little friend who was wounded?"

"He woke up this morning.  I think he should be fine, thanks to you."

Shale and Sheeva's parents watched the brief exchange with interest.  Then Kamon spoke.

"I see you two already know one another.  How is this?"

Sheeva explained briefly what had happened the day before.  Shale and the others looked mildly surprised.

The half-elf turned back to Brigit.

"Why are you here now?"

"We needed papers to prove to Jel that Brigit really jumped the fence," Shale said quickly.

"I see.  But why do you want the prize?"

"I have need of them," Brigit said simply.  She didn't elaborate.

Sheeva pressed the subject.

"For what use?"

"Yes," said Talia suddenly, "Why do you need them?  Surely there is someone who would gladly lend you a cart to drive around town in?"

"We do not travel to Farley," Brigit said sourly, "We go to the Plains."

Silence. 

"The Plains?" Kamon said.  His face was pale.  "But…Surely you can avoid them.  There are routes around…"

"But the Raiders travel on them, Kamon," Shale said.  He ran a hand through his own hair.  "And we seek the Raiders."

The quiet that followed that statement was an uncomfortable one.  Nobody moved or said anything.  Then, finally, Sheeva cleared her throat.

"But…Why would one want to go after such dangerous people?"

Brigit sighed.  Her eyes narrowed, and her fierce hawk like gaze returned.  Sheeva's City-bred accent sang in her ears.

"One follows their prey wherever it runs."  Brigit didn't say more. 

No more needed to be said.

"I suppose…I take it you will need these, then." Kamon handed the papers to Shale, who took them gingerly.

"Yes.  And thank you."

"Pelor protect you both."

The two humans left quickly, sensing the tense atmosphere in the room.  Talia and Kamon went back to their work, trying to pretend they had not heard the strange and chilling words that the two others had spoken.

Brigit kicked at the cobblestones as she walked, and splattered mud all over her boots by doing so.  She sighed.  Shale didn't look at her.  "Well," she said, and her voice sounded like two large stones being rubbed against each other, "I don't think that went over so well."

"What didn't?"  Shale looked down at the woman.

"That.  Back there."  Brigit sighed.  "It's of no consequence, though.  We have the papers, right?"

Shale nodded.  "We do.  Jel will give you your winnings now, I should think."  Shale smiled crookedly.  "He may not be the nicest of folk, but he's certainly an honest man.  Besides, I doubt he's in any mood to try and cheat you- We've given more than his fair share of trouble today."

Brigit growled, and even Shale flinched at the noise.  Some of the villagers who had been walking close by pulled away.  Brigit reached for the short sword at her side again, and the people scattered.  "I'd have given him more, but you were there, Shale.  Things could have faired much worse than they did." 

Shale looked away again, smile gone from his face.  His hazel eyes looked haunted.  "And for that I thank you.  I have seen enough bloodshed to last two lifetimes."

Brigit turned to look at the man, but did not answer immediately, questions forming in her mind.  She looked down at her boots again.  "Than perhaps you should stay here, Shale."  Her voice had softened considerably. "Raiders bleed no different than townsmen, after all."

The man turned back to his companion.  "I go with you to prevent blood spill, Brigit:  Your own and that of your halfling friend."

Brigit sighed and ran a hand through her braided hair, feeling the grime between her fingers.  "A favor I am thankful for, master healer, but I warn you again:  This is no game I play.  I go to kill and I take no prisoners.  When I am done…"  She paused, and her hand went to her face, her strong fingers lingering on her black scar for a second.  "I have debts to fill," she said suddenly, voice clipped.  She pulled her hand away from her face.  "They will be repaid."

"In bloodshed?"

"Yes."

Shale shrugged his shoulders, trying to loosen the tense muscles.  Questions were forming in his own mind now.  "Well.  I guess I go with you to spill blood as well as heal that that has been shed.  May Pelor will it," he said, and his hand went to his chest, fingers forming the Sign against it, warding off evil.  Brigit raised an eyebrow when she saw it, but said nothing.  Her fingers itched to make her own symbol, but she resisted the urge. 

"Yes.  Pelor will it."  And she added her own prayer silently.  Brigit pulled her hand away from her hair then, and looked down at it.  She flinched a little when she saw the copious amounts of dirt that now coated her fingers.  "Shale?"

"Yes?"

"I have a favor to ask of you."

He looked down at her then.  "Then request it, and I'll see what there is to be done for my part."

Brigit grinned.  "I'm not sure how much help you can on this but…Perhaps, after I collect my winnings and see to my friend again, you could point me in the direction of the baths?  I fear that I may have been road-bound too long for my own good."  And she grinned again.

Shale straightened a little, then grinned himself.  He looked down at the woman again, taking in the dirt and grime and filth she was covered in.  Well, now that he looked at it, she truly was a mess.  Leaves and twigs sprouted out of the bird's nest she sported on her head, and her tanned skin was barely visible underneath the muddy armor she wore.  Yes, Brigit was indeed a mess, and a sight that even a blind man would recoil from.  Shale ran a hand through his own pleasantly clean hair, pushing back some of the gray and brown strands again.  "Of course I shall."  Then he grinned, and his face was an odd mix of awkward embarrassment and crooked self assurance.  "Not- I mean, not that you need- Ah…"  Shale looked extremely embarrassed.  "I meant no offense, Brigit. My apologies." 

Brigit grinned widely, and tried not to laugh at the look on the man's face.  "No, Shale.  No, it's fine."  And she laughed loudly.  "No offense taken."  Her laughter grew, and she couldn't continue speaking.  Shale's grin grew a little too, and he rubbed the back of his head.  He laughed awkwardly, but then more confidently as he saw the amusement on the woman's face.  The two continued down the street. 

Well, she's not quite so terrible after all.  Perhaps I was right for once.  Perhaps I did not misread her after all.    

Back at the end of the street, a small figure was leaning out of the bookstore doorframe, staring after the two humans.  Sheeva stood by the entrance for a minute or so, a strange, eager gleam in her emerald eyes.  She watched their backs keenly, and continued to stare at the place they had been even after Brigit and Shale had disappeared into the crowd.  Then, with movements as quick and silent as a cat's, the half-elf disappeared into the store again, the bell tinkling slightly behind her.