The Burning Sky.

Runa

The first time I laid eyes on the girl she sat peacefully in the small clearing, legs crossed, it seemed she was asleep. Her head was tilted to one side, drooping in exhaustion. Her matted hair floated back and forth every time she took a breath. Her baby pink lips, dried and forgotten though they were, still pouted in a soft, inviting way, and it was easy to see what had intrigued the tracker so. Soren had told me what had happened, of course, and it was reassuring to once again note that he had compassion, empathy and that he cared for other people. It wasn't that I didn't trust Soren, he was one of my closest friends, but given the reputation of Soren's true family, anything that proved once again that he was different was welcomed with open arms. I had been arguing with Soren and Jayda. Jayda, being the cold hearted, bitch she was, wanted to leave the girl to fend for herself. Not get mixed up in anything that might possibly endanger us. I wanted to help the girl, get her far away where she would be safe from the Dalerian. Plus, i was curious at what they had captured her for. Usually they dont take prisoners, they just kill on site. And Soren, well, he said he didnt mind, but i dont think he wanted all his effort on saving her to go to waste so i figured if i pushed for it, he would have my back.

In the end Jayda's stubborness forced us to compromise. We would talk to the girl, and, if she had a good excuse for the chase, or if she interested us in anyway, we would help her. Otherwise we would leave her. It seems crude, i know, but did we really want to risk attracting more attention to ourselves?

When the blind fold came off three things happened. At first a small smile played on her lips, just the slightest. Then i noticed the bruise, outlining her shining grey eyes and shrouding her right cheek like a dark, marouding storm cloud. Then she tensed. Her eyes rounded and filled with fear, she stood up and immediately fell into me. I caught her and a single tear cascaded down her bruised cheek. Her doll lips were pursed in an attempt at holding back whimpers. I noticed her eyes were locked onto something behind me, and i turned, noticing the thing that was causing her was none other than Soren.

"I'm sorry" I heard her whisper shakily in Sorens direction. "I didnt mean it, you know i didnt!"

Me and Soren glanced at eachother, confused. She was clumsily moving backwards, away from us both, a second tear now breaking over the prominent ridge of her cheek.

I stepped forward and caught her arm, stopping her from getting any further away from us.

"What are you talking about?" I asked as soothingly as i could manage, fighting her pull. She once again shot an uneasy glance at Soren, her lips quivering. "Sit." I told her, and she did what i said, eyes still locked on soren, as if waiting for him to react. He was looking closely at the girl, inspecting her, although he didnt show any sign of recognition.

"Who are you?" he asked bluntly.

Her eyebrows knitted together slightly, a look of utter confusion on her face. She quickly regained composure though, and all fear was gone, or atleast sufficiently hidden. "I am Olivia, and you are?" She asked, her voice now sweet, confident and clear. Completely different to the scared whispers she had uttered before.

"She's lying." I warned Soren.

"I know." He said overtop of her strong rejections.

"What is it about me that frightens you so terribly much?" he asked.

"Nothing" She stated, smiling up at him sweetly.

"She thinks we didnt notice" Jayda laughed, taking her turn to inspect the girl.

"Do you take us for fools?" Soren shot. "Do you think we did not notice the way you looked at me? The fright you showed was that of a cornered rabbit. No, that of a cornered bear. No. In fact the fright you showed when you saw me was that of any animal ever cornered by it's hunter. So tell me, girl, why did you think i was a hunter?"

Thats my boy, i thought. Soren had a way with words that could intimidate, intoxicate and impress anyone, or anything. Give him a wild beast and he would calm it, just by having a muttering a few specially chosen words. Give him a disobediant dog, and he could train it by muttering a single sentance. Let him enter a room with a murderer, and exit with a priest. But give him a beaten girl in a tattered white dress, and still recieve masterfull, flattering lies.

'I was simple shocked, sir" She stated, her eyes glowing with innocence

"Shocked?" He asked. "Why were you shocked"

"You are just so shockingly..."She stammered, blushing. "I don't want to say sir, it's emabarassing"

"I was so shockingly what?" he asked, softer this time.

"You were just so beautiful, sir" Olivia gushed, staring up at my friend from beneath dark, fluttering lashes, a sweet smile playing on her lips. "Well, the male equivalent of beautiful, anyway." she added.  

The problem with my dear boy, is that he is much too gullible. He bit onto her lie hook line and sinker, actually believing what she was saying. Jayda was laughing hysterically and i was choking back my own laughter. Olivia was definately a good liar though. She had managed to find Sorens weak point pretty damn quick. Not to mention she had used it so effectively to her advantage. Love was already blooming in Soren's eyes as he stared at the girl and i was much faster than he at regaining composure.

"Soren, you don't really believe her do you?" I asked, still shaking slightly in humour.

"why wouldn't i?" - "Why wouldnt he?" Soren and Olivia shot at me simultatiously,

"She's lying again!" Jayda managed to say, gethering her own composure. "She really does take us for fools."

At this point soren broke out of his momentary state of meakness, and realising how she had used his obvious gullibleness to her advantage, Soren was furious.

'Tell me then Olivia, what is your problem?" Soren asked, his face flushing dakly, and his voice rising menacingly. He stepped forward, brushing me to the side