Take Note : It's All Different

13. Explanation

We were in Andal. Yellow flags hung from every building. Some dull yellow while others were very vibrant and eccentric. Like the mirrors in the room they have there differences.

The fire torches that were to give the village light had all been blown out. The wind was too powerful. The flames stood no chance and the people of Andal didn't seem to mind. Although it was morning it was dark. Only the lights from inside the houses remained. It was coming on morning tea time, but this place seemed awfully eerie and dark. Especially for a village represented by the colour yellow.

"Yellow was merely a cover up for the true darkness of this place." Tanner had a knack for interrupting me in my thoughts or for scaring me just with his voice and breathe over my shoulder. He stood still.

"It gives me a shiver." Something that gave Tanner a shiver. Tanner the "best" kidnapper. There was something that gave him even the slightest fright.

Master Madison had no weapon held against me although his hand was placed as if it did. His breathes sent the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. I closed my eyes to feel the shivers down my spine and opened them to find him standing in front of me. His hands in his pockets he looked as casual as he could in his uniform.

It was then I wondered how odd he must have looked in the shop. A man of high regards inside a shop for the lower ranked. The under world figures. He was a Lord and an assassin. In that shop he seemed to be an assassin dressed as a Lord. The underworld figure in him stood out in his element but now he looked like a guard. He looked like a man of importance taking a five minute break from the world around him.

He stood tall within seconds and smiled at an older lady as she walked past with a child grasping onto her hand. The child studied Tanner up and down admiring his sword that hang by his side. A requirement of a Lord I suppose. Before Tanner began once more to continue explaining he waved to the child who waved back with great eagerness. Tanner was perhaps well known. Tanner could even have been well liked. They didn't know his under world self.

Then Tanner continued, "The people who live here are mainly oblivious to how cursed this place is. And who I am on the side. As they live here and grow up here they are not confronted by what we may be confronted by. If a normal person were to move here they would move out within a few moons or months as you call them in your realm. Especially us "gifted" ones are at a higher risk of a run in with the shadows." He said the shadows and checked behind him. His eyes darted between dark patches and shadows made by the plain buildings.

"Oh so why are we here then? Shouldn't we avoid this place at all costs?" I would. It's logical. Even for someone with potential I could not be here. This wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't do haunted too well.

"Why to train of course Lady Ambrose. Now it's Lord Madison here, so that is exactly how I wish to be presented or called. None of this rude or ill behaviour."

"Can I please hear an explanation about past occurrences in other villages today and how exactly we got here. Lord Madison."

"You may."

Tanner waltzed himself over to a fountain in the middle of the street and stood there admiring it.

"The man was, is Hailen. He referred to me as Ferendale because I am shall we say a female dog. Bitch in your realm. Hailen refers to himself as Hirendale which means pack leader. He expects me to follow him and therefore we clash. I am a lone wolf. I do not belong to anyone. I do not owe anyone money. I do not owe my trainer. I have no ties. I am rope free."

He paused and looked to the shadows once more. Constantly conscious of the surrounds. "O have paid all my dues and now I live on my own terms. I kill on my own terms with requests from others. There is a difference. Hailen doesn't exactly like that because as an assassin without an ode or a promise or a tie I could be sent to kill any one of them. Simply I would take that opportunity in some cases." He smiled. He enjoyed explaining this and he enjoyed it woth a passion.