Black Roses

Chapter 6

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Zaria walked down the inn stairs silently, she counted again, six. She hugged her cloak tighter around her bodice as the night welcomed her onto the streets. She blended into the shadows and slowly crept her way around to the back of the inn. The horses were kept there and she had snuck a carrot from the kitchen for Shade. 

"Shade? Here I got you a carrot buddy. Sorry to wake you, go back to bed, remember we're leaving tomorrow," Zaria left Shade and leaned back against his stable door waiting for the hunter. She heard a happy snort and smiled.

She looked up to see the usual crow following her. Back at home there probably would be a murder of them nesting on the roof of her home. She missed the forest so much, no matter where or for how long she went. 

"Zaria, is it?" 

The voice startled her. Her senses heightened as she searched through the darkness from where the voice came from. 

"Depends who's asking," She shot back. It was the middle of the night, and she was alone, no one was in any position to be bossing Zaria around now.

"Ace Blakwood, I'm asking. I'm guessing you have heard of me before. Famous hunter, archery champion and not to bad with a deck of cards. Does Shadow Hunter, Black Arrow ring a bell?" 

"Oh! Of course! How could I have not heard of the countless tales about your heroic feats? But, don't stop, tell me more about you? May I call you Ace?" It was hard for Zaria not to burst out laughing, she was playing with him. It was true though that she had heard about a famous hunter by the name of Ace Blakwood, although she wouldn't have guessed that he was some teenager.

"If you must, anyway I did not want to meet you because I wanted to talk about my self. However, time for that can be easily arranged," Now Zaria couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I wanted to ask about your necklace, how long have you had it for?"

His bangle was glinting in the moonlight, Zaria could see it better now that he had stepped out of the shadows. She felt uncomfortable saying anything about her past in front of a stranger. She decided to go with the blunt and straightforward truth.

"Not sure, it was with me since I could remember, I never take it off. What about you bangle?" She asked gracefully pointing her finger at his wrist.

"I can't say anything about that, not yet anyway... Uh, tell me something about yourself?" Zaria's hands instantly went to touch her blades, yes there were six. "Let's start by telling me why you keep doing that? You did it nonstop back at the inn."

Should I tell him?  Does he need to know that I'm armed? "I can't say anything about that, not yet anyway. Why don't you tell me something about yourself? It was you who wanted to meet." Zaria quoted back while making a sorry attempt at hiding her playful smirk.

Ace leaned back against the wall. She's not as naive as she looks. Silently admitting to defeat he searched through his mind of what to talk about. Hunting seemed like a good topic as any. He could go on for days talking about how his aim was perfect, no animal nor person could sneak up on him and of course, his beautfiul bow an arrow. Despite always wanting to talk about himself he was intrigued by this girl. Zaria, was it? During dinner at the inn, he saw her necklace dangling from her neck. It was the same design on his bangle. She had to know something about it.

"Why don't I tell you one of the most absurd stories I have heard while travelling? Make your self comfortable; it might take a while unless you would like to get some sleep. When are you leaving?" 

"Tomorrow morning, but I might stay a few more days," Zaria was surprised her self. Only hours ago, she couldn't wait until morning to leave the town, but now thinking it over again, she hadn't quite exactly got everything she needed. She still hadn't collected any money. She shook away her troubles, fatigue was bleeding from her pores, she wasn't in the right mood to solve such problems. Satisfied with the idea of persuading the old woman in the morning she gestured Ace to continue with his tale. 

"I heard bits and pieces here and there, so I compiled it into one story. Here goes." He cleared out his throat with a cough and Zaria sat back comfortably against Shade's stable door.

"They say she lives in the deepest part woods. Hair dark as night, but face hidden. She carries six lethal sharp blades that could kill a grown man in a blink of an eye. Her brave shadow stallion's bone-chilling neighs could be heard ringing throughout the forest. That was only the tip of the iceberg, you knew you dead when you saw her garden. It was a beauty as much as it was deadly. Half was full of reviving herbs and plants that could cure any illness. The other was poisonous, with leaves, berries and fruit. Even the tiniest seeds could kill you within seconds. Leaving you immobilised so she would be the last thing you saw; only some ever got a glimpse at her beauty. They call her by all sorts of names, but she is known by last dying call of a crow which was abandoned by its murder. Be careful child; the woods are forbidden, at night you must sleep not wander nor ponder about such creatures. Be fearful as you never know what will happen next. The future is less trustworthy than a drunk man with a knife in his hand." Ace's eyes were gazing somewhere beyond the stars and the moon by now; he always got lost in a story. It didn't matter if he was reading or telling it. He let the magic of his words continue. 

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