Well it's the VII.

First of all, thank you for the hits and for reviews. I hope that the hits mean, that it doesn't suck that much *I hope*.

Recently I've been overloaded with work, and I just didn't have time to focus on the story. so I'm not able to update it as often as I would like to. I apologise for that, and ask you to be patient.

So read, hopefully enjoy, and hopefully let me know what you think.

Thanks

MS

Darkness…. Nessa's best friend. She loved when it covered her, wrapped itself around her. When it gave her shelter. But this one was different. Nessa felt as if it was trying to strangle her, to cut off her air supply. She sneaked along the trees as she was heading to Mourning Stone to meet her latest principal. She wanted to take look at him, before revealing her presence. She wished to see, what scared Jon so much. As she approached the clearing, she saw him leaning his back against the stone. He was dressed all in black, with his head hidden in the hood. She managed however to see his hair, as they just hanged loose. It was long, white with golden endings. She saw such hair only once. It that damn Tavern. So as she had foreseen the culprit found her.

So you got it you idiot! One point for you Rhys. Geez Nessa you damn idiot! Next time you should just let someone else do the knight's job!- reprimanded herself. Ok since you cannot keep your big mouth shut, go and face the consequences.

She started to sneak up on a guy to surprise him. She believed that a dagger stuck between the ribs would stop "The Avenger" stalking her. Terminally. She was almost there, just a leap away, when out of the blue, she found herself knocked off her feet. She rolled over, fell down on her knee, and drew her blades trying to see, where the attack came from. And then she saw him, approaching her with his weapons unsheathed. He didn't say anything, he just walked towards her. His face was still covered with the hood; all she could see was his hair. She tried to think of some ironic remark, but her mind was blank. Suddenly, the darkness around her thickened. She found it harder and harder to breathe. She stood up in a stance awaiting his attack. As he came nearer, she found, she couldn't move. She wanted to, but she just couldn't. Then his eyes caught her. She they were amber and very effectively they paralyzed her. With two quick moves he disarmed her. A pale hand clutched on her throat making her catch air in desperate gasps. Before she blacked out she heard his voice speak: "There is just one more lesson left. I leave it for you. Be prepared to get it…."

***************************************

Nessa woke up breathing heavily. Her body was shaking, all of her muscles were tensed to the limit. She raised her head to look around and immediately she located the reason of her breathing problems. It was Herbert. Herbert was a cat, a typical one. Meaning, if he found one's chest the most appropriate place to sleep on, he simply would do it (as he did right now.) He rested on her chest, watching her fight for air, with great dose of curiosity in his amber eyes. Just as if he was saying – Heeeeey, you're not suggesting I'm fat, are you?

These eyes.. a scrap of a thought slid through her brain

Once being taken off his shakedown, he expressed his disapproval with a help of his claws . Then he jumped off her bed and looking extremely offended, he left the room through an opened window. Nessa smirked.

That awful furry bastard. Now very offended, but once I return with sth special, he would brake my legs showing his appreciation for my person....

Nessa liked Herbert, for he resembled her. Strong, independent, moody. He came to her only when he wanted to. Bossy to the bones. Yeah, they matched perfectly.

Pleasing herself with a long stretch, Nessa approached the window to catch a gasp of fresh morning air. If Amarath's air could be considered fresh. But refreshing for sure. She sat on a windowsill and watched the city waking up. All those creatures rushing somewhere. Merchants setting up their stands, soldiers patrolling the streets, women and children rushing their directions, dwarves, elves, halflings. She loved Amarath for its diversity. This was home.

Today was the day she was supposed to start her new assignment. As always, she sat at the table and made a list of items she considered necessary to have. As she went through a completed list, she sighed –

Damn, I'll have to leave fortune to Forenar, AGAIN. Nessa, dear, it's highest time to update your price list.

She got dressed quickly, grabbed a sack of gold and left the lair. She headed for Forenar's Pride. It was weapon shop, owned by a dwarf named Forenar. Forenar was an old dwarf. Nevertheless, one could tell his age only by reading it from his rich grey beard. Apart from it, nothing, absolutely nothing about him was old. He was very vigorous and coarse, as a decent dwarf should. His posture showed years spent in battles. Nessa knew, that before starting his business, he was a warrior. But then he lost his hand and was forced to find a new way of making a living. So he started a weapon shop, as steel was his second true love. Forenar was an outstanding blacksmith. "A Steel Wizard" they called him. He could do anything; nothing was too difficult or extravagant for him. One just told him what s/he wanted and he drew it (all based upon words). Having sketches accepted, he would just go and lock himself in his workshop, and on agreed day one received his order done. Some folks suspected Forenar of thought reading, as those weapons perfectly matched their ideas.

Forenar was just adjusting a gauntlet upon his artificial arm once he noticed Nessa entering his shop.

"Well heelloo there my pretty one! For a moment I thought ye forgot yer Old Friend!

Now let me look at ye! – he approached her grinning- " Skinny as always. How many times have I told ye that "woman" goes with butt and tits!!! – he "grunted" while giving her a friendly smack at buttocks. He was the only one who dared and was allowed to do it. Any other hand would have been probably cut off.

"Ouch! Forenar you old lecher – she beamed at him – "I really think I'm too young for you…

"Old? DID YOU JUST CALLED ME OLD?! Now listen Brat, if you'd just follow me upstairs, I'd show you I'm no old.." he replied with feigned anger giving, her a lusty look. They gazed at each other and suddenly bursted out laughing.

"Forenar honestly, I wish I had your spirit when I'm your age. NO OFFENCE INTENDED!" she lifted her hands in gesture of surrender.

"Yeah, and none taken'- the dwarf added with a smile – " I will tell ye how. Just exchange those blades for embroidery tools, trousers for dress and yer very likely to experience that. But it wouldn't work for ye, ay? – he smirked.

"No it probably wouldn't.." she returned a smile.

" Pity" – he sighed – "yer such unique butterfly. But sometimes I think yer getting to close to fire. Watch yer ass Girl. Now enough of this chit-chat. What can I do for ye?" he asked taking his place behind the so-called counter

"Well Forenar, I have a new assignment coming my way, and I need my equipment.. extended." – she replied as she handed him the list she had made.

Forenar crooked his brows and started to tour the shop in order to get the items she had requested. Eventually everything ended up lying on the counter. Dwarf gave it a short glance and exclaimed

" For Moradin's beard, Qutie yer going to war or sth?!"

She smiled as she started to pack the gears up – 6 special daggers covered in poison, a bunch of perfectly weighed darts, quiver filled with special armor piercing arrows, a set of new master key patterns, and new leather armor.

"Yeah Friend, a tiny one" she blinked at him – "How much do I owe you?"

"5000 gold pieces"- he answered – "I've added an extra protection to the chest. Said dwarf looking at the armor – "I also made a new key for you. A tiny one, so that you can hide it in your sleeve, in the material. It might come in handy in big trouble. Ye know shackles n' stuff. I hope yer never going to need it."

"Thanks Forenar" – she grinned at him while she was handing him sack – "do you want to count it?"

"Nay Girl, I trust you. Besides yer to soft to steal from an OLD crippled dwarf.' he answered with a provocative grin.

"Yeah, you've exposed me to the core Dwarf" she chuckled over the shoulder as she was heading for a door.

As she left Forenar sighed. He really liked this girl. She had temper, and he liked it. But once he lost her red hair out of sight, he wondered how many times will he see her. She messed with dangerous people. Too dangerous sometimes. She was very self-confident, and yes she had a right to feel that way. He had seen many warriors in his long life. Not many would manage to outtake her in her skills. But there was always the first time.

Pity. This girl is really special. But her inner fire will lead her to and end someday…

*******************************

Nessa stood in front of a mirror studying her reflection. She was almost ready. She wore deep blue outfit, so that she could merge with the shadows. She pinned her hair tightly. Leather armor leaned against her body perfectly, she didn't even feel it. Good dwarven work. She placed poisoned daggers in special sheaths Forenar made in the armor. Then the placed her traditional daggers in her bootlegs. Never too many daggers she smirked at her reflection. Although she knew how to use a bow, she much more preferred dagger as a distance weapon. Probably because of wider application possibilities. Next, she put on a belt with her blades. She glanced upon the bed to see if everything is in place. She shoved the rest of equipment into a small travel sack. Finally she reached for a cloak. Having it on, she took a final look in the mirror.

Well, off we go she though while stretching a hood upon her head.

*********************************

Nuada reached the clearing. He wanted to be there earlier to prepare himself for his guest. He has been waiting for this moment for so long. His golden eyes studied the space in front of him.

Good. Very good. There's enough place for swordplay but the forest is relatively distant, so even if she tries to flee from me, I'll have her first.

He smiled to his evil thought of the amount of pain and humiliation he was about to serve her, was kind of overwhelming. Elf ordered himself to get a hold of himself, not to lose it again. He decided to warm up. He took of his coat and reached for his weapons stripped to his back. He started with a few stretches. Then he started to circle the stone making the blades go round in his wrists.

Red and blue. Fire and ocean. – a glimpse of her eyes and hair rushed through Nuada's head. Suddenly he attacked. He cut the air with a sword and a spear on the other side. He made a double whirl and then pushed them into the invisible opponent. Then he ran towards the Mourning Stone, sprinted along it and with a powerful arc smashed another enemy to the ground. After making another few acrobatic attacks and dodges, he tossed his sword away and made his spear lengthen. He span, lunged, rapidly changed his position towards his opponents and did a sequence of different attack combinations. With an impressive somersault Nuada landed on his one knee leaning against his lance. The lance returned to a spear size. He got up and went to reclaim his sword. He placed his weapons upon his back and covered it with a cloak. Then he put a hood on his head and leaned his back against the Mourning Stone. It was almost meeting time. He was unexpectedly anxious. He reached to his belt and took a small object out. It was the figure that he had carved the other evening.

"Shhhh"- he whispered caressing figure's face with his pale finger- "soon she'll be here. Very soon…"