Homecoming - (Part 3 of the Ignaius-Saga)

Stepping into the Twilight Zone

It was indeed a woman, though she was a bit taller than average and was not dressed in what would be considered appropriate clothing. She wore all black with silver studs on the sleeve cuffs and neckline of her shirt. She wore pants, not a skirt or dress, with a belt and boots, all black with the same matching studs. Her hair was a vibrant, fiery red, tied back with a black band and reaching her waist. Her peculiar look was completed by a long black cloak draped over her shoulders.

"Sure I can!" she replied to the guard with a cheery grin, nimbly ducking under his arm and simply walking right into the room. She didn't even seem to notice the two men sitting in the center of it. She just walked up to one of the walls, took some sort of cloth, and swabbed at the burnt stone. Then, as casual as could be, she started heading back toward the door, humming to herself.

"Stop her!" Tanier ordered, while he was getting up from the floor. The guard who had just failed to do so looked unhappy and really not up to the task, his confidence was clearly shattered, but his colleagues lined up behind him. She wouldn't get away with ducking again.

Tanier took a few steps, so that he was standing between her and Variel, with a safe distance in all directions. He waited what she would do next.

When the king shouted the order, the woman stopped, looking mildly surprised - yet again - as if she hadn't even noticed he was there. She stopped, making no attempt to get past the guards, and turned to look at Tanier. "Oh! Hi, there! Was I interrupting something? Sorry 'bout that. Just meant to get a sample and get outta' the way so these guys could finish up."

Variel was sitting rigid, staring at the woman in utter bewilderment. The way she was dressed, the way she carried herself, her attitude, and her hair color all made her a strange spectacle. Oddly enough, her face was the least notable thing about her. She wasn't unattractive, but just plain, though her skin was about as pale as Variel's. It stood out in stark contrast to her clothes and her hair.

Her stance was not at all aggressive, and aside from tucking the cloth away in a pocket of her cloak, her hands hung at her sides. Nothing about her demeanor indicated that she found this situation odd or threatening.

"And who are you?" Tanier asked. He smiled. Not really a polite or amused smile. Or if it could be described as amused it also had a strong predatory element. Her ostensible casualness did not make him lower his guards yet and he had clearly not labeled her harmless by now. Nor did he consider her behaviour acceptable. But he had to concede that not all challenges were so appealing.

"I'm Nyx!" she announced with a bright grin, the smile reaching obsidian eyes. "Nice to meet you!" She paused, humming in concentration as she examined his outfit. "You're dressed all fancy, so you must be someone important. Is that your son?" She pointed to Variel. "He's adorable! What're you guys doing in here? It's all dirty and stuff! Want a cookie?" She reached into her cloak and produced two of the aforementioned baked goods, which were wrapped. She held them out to him, still smiling.

"Sorry, madam, I have to decline," he answered her last question first. Then he turned to the guards: "Get me the officer on duty. Now." Then he turned back to her.

"I may consider introducing us, if you introduce yourself." Not that he would trust any answer he would get from her, but it would be a starting point. "Have you been living here? If this is the case, we would very much like to talk to you."

"Aw." She looked disappointed for a moment, then perked up. "Well, more for me!" She unwrapped one of the cookies and bit into it happily, speaking before she'd finished chewing her bite. "I already told you my name is Nyx." She swallowed. "No house name. Gave that up a while ago. I'm from up north. Only rode in a few days ago." She then got an excited twinkle in her eye and leaned forward just a little, lowering her voice as if to gossip. "Did you hear? The king was riding through here, too. They say he's still in the area because the people at this castle betrayed and kidnapped him. People talk about this huge fire sent by God himself to rescue him." She giggled. "Weird, huh?"