Chapter 4
Cal-isiri blushed brightly, though she kept her face to the ground. The man had straw-like blonde hair, and a stunningly handsome face.
It was Ryan.
She forgot for a moment that Ryan would not recognize her, and hastily realized that she had fallen to the ground again. He held out a hand, which she took gratefully, his touch familiar.
"Are you alright Milady?" He asked slowly, looking into her eyes, Cal-isiri looked up, he hand still in his while she fumbled with her right shoe clumsily. She was overtaken with the sudden urge to throw herself against him in a tight embrace but quickly thought better of it. No one but Skooma could know.
She turned her gaze to Skooma, who was sniffing at one of the dead men's bodies. He looked over at her.
"Friend girl, these bad men, they bad. If you know…friend man!" Skooma made a squelching noise and leapt up, throwing himself against Ryan's torso, Ryan just catching him. A few guards started forward, but Cal-isiri got there first.
"Skooma!" She hissed.
"Skooma?" Said Ryan, looking down at the creature.
Cal-isiri felt her face burn again as Ryan's eyes met hers.
They stood there for a moment, Ryan holding Skooma and Cal-isiri standing there awkwardly. It was Ryan who broke the silence.
"Vvar..Vardenfell?" He stuttered.
"Ryan…I" She began but she was quickly silenced as Ryan pulled her into a tight embrace, Skooma squeezed between them.
Cal-isiri was the one to break the embrace.
"Ryan, you aren't, you can't know!" She said, looking around warily, her arms still wrapped around his.
"What do you mean?" He said, following her gaze.
The sun had risen to full morning light. The fall breeze chilled Cal-isiri's face.
"I'm undercover." She said finally.
"But Vvar…"
"Cal-isiri."
"What?"
"Cal-isiri, it's my name now."
"Oh."
Skooma was standing between the two, looking up at each in turn.
Cal-isiri looked up as Ryan held Skooma out for her to take him.
"I have to go." She said, turning and beginning to walk away.
Before she could get far, Ryan grabbed her arm.
"You'll need a weapon." He said, smiling down at her. He pulled his sword, scabbard and all, from around his waist and held it out to her. Cal-isiri took it gratefully.
"Thank you." She said, buckling it around her waist. The leather was still warm against her leg. She picked Skooma off and tore her eyes from Ryan's, leaving Ryan shifting uneasily. She walked away as her skirt flowed behind her in the sudden breeze. Cloud cover had covered the bright morning sun, threatening rain. Aware of this, Cal-isiri turned up the lane towards the clothier, the first drops of rain following her heels.
A/n: Just as Review, it rains when Vvardenfell/Cal-isiri cries.