Raine stared. "Dragonfolk?"
"Yes. We are… not common." Haelith let the cloak down, and folded it next to the bed. "You haven't seen one before, have you?"
"No. But you aren't the strangest thing I've seen. I look in a mirror every day, and I'm strange enough."
"You? What's strange about you?" Haelith was rooting around one of her suitcases, and pulled out a shockingly well made silk dress that was yellow and white. "You're just a human."
"Nope. Looks can be deceiving. I'm Raine Silverlock." She looked down at her hand, and focused. Her joints cracked and popped as her hand shifted from human to wolf. She had intended to only shift her hand and then shift it back, but the feeling spread across her entire body. Her skin itched as fur came through, and she grew a few inches taller. She felt her spine grow and change as the tail came out of her back end. It was almost effortless how easily she became a wolf. She wondered if changing back would be just as easy, but she would try that later. "See? You're not the only one who has something to hide."
"How did you do that?" Haelith's eyes were wide with wonder. "Can you teach me?"
Raine gave a dry chuckle. "I can't teach you. In fact, I barely understand how I did that. It's never been that easy to shift before. It's not something I've mastered yet. I can't teach you because it's a natural ability my family has. My father was able to shift without any thought at all, but I've always changed at random, or in high stress situations."
"Oh." Haelith looked sad.
"You want to look like anything else right now, don't you?"
"More than you could imagine." Raine went over and sat on the bed next to her. "Most of the time when people see me, they scream and run away, so this is a nice change of pace." For a few minutes they sat in silence.
"What are you running from?"
"What makes you think I'm running?"
"No questions, no sharing a room, not letting anyone see who you really are. That's not something any ordinary person does. You're running from someone or something, so who are you running from?"
"Are you always this perceptive?" Raine smiled kindly. "Fine. I'm running from the Templars. They want to kill me, just because I'm different."
"That seems unreasonable. I get that they're not the best folks right now, but that seems a bit extreme."
"Not when you're me." She looked down at her suitcases. "I'm not like other Ishtaer. I've met a few others, and I'm an outcast, even to them. Most Ishtaer grow up without ever knowing what a roof over their head feels like. I almost had the same life. But a man, a Templar general named Brundt , he saved my life. He brought me in when I was just a child, and he treated me like his friend. In some ways, like his daughter. I lived with him for most of my life. He taught me how to read and write, and I learned medicine when I could. I helped with his servants, though I never was one. I was happy.
"Then he showed up.
"We were having a small party. Not quite my birthday, but 12 years prior he had saved my life and brought me in. It was a happy day. He gave me this dress. Then, one of his servants came in and told him someone was here to see him. The Grand Templar. Trace Legacy. He excused himself from the party, and went to go see what Legacy wanted. I snuck out behind him, I had never seen a high ranking Templar before. I was curious. I listened to them standing in the door.
"'Hand her over,' he said. 'she's due for the gallows.' But Brundt didn't let him in. He wanted to protect me. And so… Legacy killed him. Stabbed him through his heart. I lost him. And then I ran. One of the servants gave me these bags, and helped me escape. Brundt had been planning for this for years. He knew he couldn't keep me safe forever. I ran away. Never looked back. That was last spring."
"I'm so sorry." Raine put her arm around Haelith, as tears began to fall.
"I saw him. I saw him Raine. I looked him in the eyes. I saw the Grand Templar. He's coming for me, I know it."
"No. He won't harm you." They sat in quiet for a minute. "Actually… I could keep you safe… I wonder…" Raine stood up and walked over to the door. "I'll be right back." Quickly opening and closing the door, she looked around and yelped.
"Miss Silverlock, back to fur I see." Lynn happened to be standing right there.
"Never mind that, I need your help."
"Oh? And does this have anything to do with the lovely young lady who's scales are sitting on your bed?"
"Ye-" Raine scowled. "How did… Madelyn!"
"Oh no, Madelyn is busy tonight. She may be the spy, but I am quite capable of knowing when something is up. I've been standing here waiting for this exact moment. I couldn't hear you conversation, the walls are too thick for that, but I suspect you are going to ask me to write her into our 'diplomatic envoy' as protection, yes?" Raine rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to make a snide remark, but then elected not to. "I see. If you would please let me in, I will see what I can do."
Raine opened the door and let Lynn inside, where Haelith was still sitting on the bed. "Whoa. I've never seen a Basitin before. Is it true you have ears four times more sensitive than a human's?"
Lynn smiled. "Not quite that sensitive, my dear. My name is Lynn. I'm what's known as a diplomat, an envoy for the Basitin empire. I could-"
"Write up papers that give me diplomatic immunity while I travel with you, though that would be forgery, wouldn't it?" Lynn stared and blinked a few times. "I lived with a Templar general for 12 years, I've seen more than you'd think. I specialize in medicine and healing, and am capable of performing emergency surgery, if that helps."
"You will fit in perfectly." Lynn said with a smile. "Now then, no sleeping yet, I have some more questions for you…"