Dedicated to EvinCesim! ^-^

(I lost my list of dedications...so sad. I will now have to start from scratch. DX)

Drawing: Well...you'll find out. Drawn by me...horribly.  

17.

Scars Beneath the Flesh

Sianna watched Iari run up to Kota. He kneeled by her, his shaking hands coming up to her head. Nervous fingers hovered over her forehead and neck, never touching, like any physical contact would make her disappear.

"Kota," Iari said as if realizing her name for the first time. His fingers landed on Reth's blade. "Reth. Please."

The Rhokin didn't seem to even breathe. His sights were set on his target, blade a prod away from piercing Kota's pale grey skin.

Iari faced Sianna. "Tell Reth to put 'is sword away. Tell 'im it's okay."

She snarled but the words that were to accompany it didn't pass her lips. There was something about his voice. She sighed, her scowling expression set on Iari. "No."

"But—"

"Show her, Iari," Kota said.

His distressed eyes turned to her. She smirked an all canines grin at him but could only face him with her eyes.

"I didn't say you could talk yet, Nayichi," Sianna spat.

"Your face," Kota told Iari. A hiss followed her words as Reth's blade pierced her skin. Pale green blood trickled down her neck and onto the melting snow, a drop of grass in the ice.

"Sianna!" Iari stood up. "If I tell you the truth, would you tell Reth to back away?"

"The truth?" Sianna echoed.

She walked up to him, her steps crunched through the ice. Each crackle brought a new thought to mind about the boy in front of her. The boy that donned on multiple disguises. The boy that was following her in secret to the Citadel. The boy that was a user.

"Yes," he said and gave a half–hearted smile. "Do you remember when you asked for my age an then called me a late bloomer? When we were at the shrine?"

She crossed her arms and nodded.

"I told you I was nineteen when I was suppos' to tell you I was fourteen. I accidently told you my real age."

"Your real age?"

He nodded. "I 'an disguise myself, like you know, but I don't really look like this. My face and my stature...I...I took on the look of my little brother that died a few years ago."

Sianna's arm came down to her sides. She had not expected that, but there was still the possibility his words were disguised as well. She waited for him to continue.

"Five years ago my village was attacked. My brother an I were spared the initial attacks only because our parents 'ad sent us out to buy food. We ran but the swarm of Magus was overwhelming an one of them soon found us.

"It was tall and black with eyes like ice, a wolf on human legs with claws tha' gleamed red. When it reached for my little brother, I pushed him aside." Iari stopped talking. His hand came up to his head, palm over his face. Light green eyes peered through his fingers and locked on Sianna.

"The Magus grabbed me like this," he said without moving his hand, "and squeezed my head. I thought I was going to die but better me than my brother. I was still scared though.

"It was the first time I used magick. I didn't know I 'ad it. It pushed out of my entire body. My skin burned. My bones ached. I 'ad pushed the Magus away from me so fast, its claws dragged across my face.

"But I killed it."

Sianna furrowed her eyebrows. His last sentence sounded...different.

Iari's hand came down from his face. Only it wasn't his face. His round cheeks were flat and high, his jaw squared. The bridge of his nose was crooked as if it had been broken at some point.    

It was the scars stood out the most. Five slashes danced across his face. Two framed his lips like crooked, external fangs. One ran from his cheek to under his right eye and another fell diagonally across his forehead down his nose. The last one split his left eyebrow.  

"This is my real face. My real body." There was his different voice again. Iari's usual wisps and cracks in it were gone, replaced with a strong, stable voice layered with thick undertones, but his strange accent remained.

"Wait." Sianna took another step closer to him.

His hair was the same shaggy mess but was pale blond in color now. His eyes had darkened another shade of green. And he was taller. His limbs had packed on some bulk but he still held on to his overall slimness.

"So your face. It was your brother's?" she asked.

Iari's eyes darkened even more. "Yes. He died that day after all." His fingers touched one of his scars. "If it 'adn't been for Kota, maybe I would 'ave too.

"She found me in the aftermath and helped me. For almost two years she took care of me and taught me to use my magick. I owe her a lot but most importantly, I trust her. So please, Sianna. Let Kota go."

Sianna's gaze flickered to the Nayichi on the floor. The creature's orange gaze blazed up at her.

"But I have no reason to trust her," Sianna said.

Iari's eyes widened. "But—"

"I also have no reason to trust you."

He flinched.

"So tell me, Iari," Sianna continued without missing a beat, "is this the true you then?"

He ran a hand through his face, each finger tracing a scar, like he just realized it was there. "Yes, Sianna. It's me. What I told you was true and what I show you is true too."

She sighed. "Then I trust you. Starting now, I trust you. Which means I'll be trusting you with this Nayichi."

His face lightened with a smile, arching the scars by his lips.

Sianna jabbed a finger at him. "And no more of your damn disguises! I swear, Iari. You make things harder for yourself! If you didn't know what to do, you could've just told me instead of sneaking around. It's things like this that made me think not to trust you."

Despite his new and towering stature, Iari still flinched at her words. "I'm sorry, but I promise. No more disguises."

She swatted his chest with her palm and smiled. "Well, not unless we need them."

"Okay."

Sianna sighed and turned to the pinned Nayichi. Reth was a statue over her but it didn't make his poised sword any less threatening.

"Reth, put your blade away," she said, impressed at how long Reth had kept his posture and silence despite Iari's transformation.

"Yes, ser," he answered through red teeth.

As soon as Reth removed his sword, he dug it into the icy ground and collapsed on it as strings of blood fell from his lips.

"Reth!" Iari ran to the Rhokin and placed a hand on his chest. He frowned. "I can't find—"

"It's his seal, Iari," Kota said as she healed her own wound. "It's not something you can heal."

Sianna licked her lips as she watched Iari and Reth. Pain seal.

"I 'an at least 'elp with the pain. Tell me if you feel better, Reth." Iari's palm fell to Reth's stomach. 

Sianna didn't know if it was working since the Rhokin showed no sign discomfort or relief. The blood on his lips and chin was the only indication he had been injured but his still face didn't acknowledge it.

"Sianna," she heard Kota's voice.

She flinched away from the creature. This was the first time Sianna saw the Nayichi under natural light. The gems on her skin were like little suns shining through a cloudy day. They were even on her hair, fine as powder.  

Sianna blinked.

It wasn't hair. Growing from Kota's head was what appeared to be fresh, green branches. In fact, bright green budding leaves dotted the bark. The thin branches curled down the side of her neck, leaving the nape untouched, and dug under the skin on her back. Sianna couldn't see how far they went but it looked like they fused with the Nayichi's bones since the branch bumps flattened halfway down her spine.

She could see all this because Kota was as nude as the first time Sianna met her. She wondered if the Nayichi had been naked around Iari for those two years they were together. Maybe that was the reason he seemed so unsettled by breasts. Poor boy.

Well he's not really a boy anymore.  

"I take it you will be on your way now," she said to Kota.

She looked surprised. "On my way?"

"It was Iari you wanted, right? I don't care for what. You have him now. Take him and go. I have duties to do."

"Actually, I was hoping to travel with you. I'm meeting someone at the Citadel."

"Travel with us?" Sianna was appalled. "No! Fucking no."

"Don't you wish to know about the skeleton that attacked you?" Kota's gaze shone.

It was unsettling to stare into eyes that were entirely orange. It reminded Sianna of the Magus that shouldn't exist. "What do you want with us? With me?"

Kota grinned. "I originally marked you—"

"Marked me?"

"—because I thought it would help me find Iari faster, but then I saw that skeleton attack you and I wanted to know why so I revealed myself to you to see if maybe you knew."

Sianna gaped at her. "So you don't know why that skeleton attacked me?"

Kota's smile widened and she shrugged.

"I don't buy it. If you only needed me to get to Iari, why bother showing yourself at all that first night I met you?"

"Why not? I have not interacted with any other human besides Iari in over a century."

"You are worse than Iari and his fucking disguises," she muttered and shook her head.

"It is settled then." Kota nodded.

The Nayichi brought a clawed finger to one of her larger crystals on her shoulder. The transformation was immediate. One second, Kota stood by Sianna in her grey skin and gems and the next a petite woman in a brown and green dress appeared.

"A woman from decades ago that got too close. What a gem she was," Kota said, her voice an octave higher.

"I said no," Sianna hissed.

"It'll only be 'bout two days ride," Iari said as he and a no longer bleeding Reth walked up to them.

She sighed. Two days too many.

"You said you trusted me now," Iari said.

"Fine," she muttered, "but she helps with camp. You and Kota hurry and pack up. Reth and I will take care of the dead."

"Allow me to take care of that," Kota said.

Sianna hadn't known these men long, but she wasn't sure if leaving their afterlife fate to a Nayichi was wise. She held an arm out to stop Kota but she was already by one of the corpses. When Kota touched the mangled body, it sunk into the earth as if an invisible hand was pushing it into soft, muddy sand. The Nayichi repeated the action to the rest of the bodies.

Arde, Len, Ben, she thought the name of the soldiers that died as each one was eaten by the earth. Thank you.

"Reth," she said turning to the Rhokin, "help me gather the horses."

"Yes, ser," he said.

As they walked, Sianna stripped off the layers of coats from last night. The warm spring air was seeping through the nymph's ice curse and she was starting to sweat. Looking at the furs, she recalled Reth's wrapping his blanket around her, but it was his words that vibrated the loudest in her thoughts. He had said for her to sleep even after she had voiced her desire not to. He had insisted, gone against her wishes. That was the first time she could say she had forgotten he wasn't human.

She watched as one of the horses, a grey mare, wandered up to Reth. Following her was her more muscular brother. She noted how Reth's eyes matched the colt's brilliant silver coat. They surrounded him, nudging him with their snouts. Sianna placed a hand on her hip and laughed. All Reth needed to do was show up and the horses appeared.   

 "Ser?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Nothing. Let's gather up the other mare and tie them to the wagon. Now that our company is dead, sad as it was, we have two extra horses to tend to."

"Ser, if I may speak?"

"I've already told you. You don't need to ask. Just speak."

He nodded. "It would be best to tie Pumpkin and Chester instead."

She lifted an eyebrow. "Pumpkin and Chester?"

"Yes. The brown–orange stallion and the brown colt. One is too old and the other too young for this journey. I noticed they were straggling behind the group every time we traveled, probably tired from carrying their riders."

Sianna half–heard what he said. "You named the horses? All of them?"

A whisper of confusion passed his features. "Yes, ser. Was that wrong?"

She laughed. "No, Reth. Name whatever you want."

◌-◌-◌

Sianna had expected Kota to do something. Annoy her with questions. Fade and disappear into the middle of the day. Slit her throat in the middle of the night. Run away with Iari.

But she did nothing.

Kota was Sianna's perfect traveling companion: silent and helpful. She aided in gathering wood for fires. She fed and watered the horses. She even found a way to cut their unpacking time in half with her surprisingly efficient stacking skills.

It was Iari and Reth that had talked the most. The user picked up where he left off with his lessons on sage healing. His satchel was always open, bottled salves and medicine glistening under the sun. Sianna didn't understand how Reth could see what he was holding from horseback, but it seemed he managed and understood Iari's explanations.

It was a different scene from when she first saw them walking next to each other during their walk from Jabel. Iari didn't even reach Reth's shoulders then. Now, even though they were sitting, he appeared only a few inches shorter than the Rhokin.

She held her breath. Iari.

Though Sianna had seen dozens of battles with Magus—orange Magus as well now—and the aftermath their attacks bring upon people, she still found Iari's scars haunting. They were a mark of his past where a loved one was taken away from him. It was too common a tale, one she shared as well except it was easier for her to hide her own mark of it.

Sianna's hand went up to her neck where she touched the chains of her mother's necklace. Each time her fingers came in contact with the cool metal, a song blossomed in her head. It was anything from a soothing lullaby of Nata's Grace and the Unseeing faith to a fast paced tune about a man fighting a duck.

The lyrics always rang clear in her head but the voice that sang them was heard as a feeble whisper. Each encounter with the wispy voice weakened it, Sianna's own replacing its fading echoes.

"We have approaching guests," Kota spoke her first words of the day.

Sianna looked up to see three figures. Behind them was the first glimpse of Lessithar Citadel's grey walls crawling through the horizon. Though Sianna couldn't tell the gender of the individuals, the flapping blue of their uniforms confirmed them as Rhokin.

She turned in alarm to Kota.

The Nayichi waved her concern away. "Don't worry. They won't sense me. I told Iari to seal up my magick while I'm in disguise."

She pursed her lips, gripping the reigns in her hand too tight. That's what Iari said about Reth but he still sensed him through his disguise.

However, when the three Rhokin stopped before them, neither said a word about a Nayichi. With that worry out of her head, Sianna focused on the next thing that caught her attention: how odd these Rhokin looked. She may not have seen many Rhokin in her life, but none of them had worn their uniform in the fashion these three were.

The only one that appeared to have a weapon was the blonde on the right. A curved, black staff was slung across her back. The sling used to hold it appeared too complex to exist. It crisscrossed her chest and was accompanied with several buckles and clasps. Why she needed so much to hold a staff was lost to Sianna.

The young Rhokin in the middle was the only one Sianna had seen with the sleeves of her uniform rolled up to elbows. Her gloveless hands were red and littered with several smooth pink scars, a great contrast to the rest of her flawless brown skin. The triangular cloak over her shoulder was smaller than the standard, its edges black and flayed, making it difficult to tell what her status was.

It was the Rhokin on the left that was the most bizarre looking of the three. She was wearing a skirt. It was long and bulky, folded hem pooling around her hidden feet. Several belts looped around her waist most likely to hold the heavy fabric in place. Her cloak was a draping shawl that wrapped around her shoulders and arms. Even the curled, auburn hair framing her face appeared heavy. It was as if she was trying to make herself appear as bulky as possible.

"Hey!" the blonde one spoke. She was the only one sporting a smile. "You haven't seen a Magus around here, have you?"

Sianna blinked. "What?"

"Oh! You're part of the Guard too. Hey! And another silver–eye! Hi. I'm Aleyda." She waved at Reth.

Sianna saw her cloak flutter and realized whom she was addressing. The three before her were the Imperator's Rhokin, making them Imperators themselves, the second highest position attainable in the Guard. She remembered her Guard manners.

"Ser Aleyda, I am Sianna Rayoss, Leitnant of the once standing city of Jabel from the now fallen Gwyn Caps," she said.

"Gwyn Caps? Never heard of it," the blond Rhokin said.

Sianna bit down her anger and added, "My partner is Reth. My other companions are travelers I found on the road. Since my other escorts from Caister died, we decided to travel to the Citadel together."

"Partner you call him," the Rhokin with the skirt said. Her voice was smooth and quiet but carried weight that demanded to be heard.

Sianna was silent as she worked out what she said. "Reth?" she questioned.

"That's Venita and the grumpy, silent one is Pherah," Aleyda said and pointed at them. "So who are you?" She moved her finger to Iari.

He squirmed in his seat. "S—ser Aleyda, you may call me Iari."

"Iari. I like that. I also like your scars." She smiled.

Sianna didn't like how much Aleyda did that. It reminded her of Torm which reminded her of Lycin.

"Thank you, ser." The blush that overtook Iari's face made his scars more prominent.

"He is cute," Pherah spoke, pushing her black hair behind her ears.

"Hey! I saw him first!" Aleyda turned to her.

Sianna caught a glimmer from the Rhokin's back. Her eyebrows lifted when she realized what she first thought had been a staff was actually a scythe. The black Armadura blade was folded down to the weapon's body. Every time Aleyda would shake her head, her blonde locks would sweep across the blade like yellow snakes on black sand.

"Well we haven't seen any Magus along the way," Kota cut through Aleyda's screaming words aimed at the quiet Pherah. The Nayichi's own voice held a sense of urgency and annoyance.

"Of course," Venita said. "We shall not keep you waiting. Our patrols are far from done."

"I hope to see you around, Sianna. I probably will anyway." Aleyda smiled, her spat with Pherah forgotten. "Bye, Iari," she added. 

Pherah gave a smirk, aimed at Iari as well.

"Stop that! I told you I saw him first!" Aleyda hit her comrade's shoulder as the three of them walked away.

"That was certainly odd," Kota said when they were out of sight.

"Yes." Sianna licked her lips. "Odd."

An Imperator's Rhokin on patrol and so far away from the Imperator himself? Why are Rhokin of such high stature even patrolling?

She shook her head and continued on her way, focusing on the Citadel's wall that seemed to rise from the ground. They rode in silence until their pathway took them to a fork marked by a sign. Sianna frowned at it, recognizing every other few letters carved on the wood. There was a pair of arrows pointing in opposite directions under the words.

"What does it say?" Kota asked. "I may know your language but I can't read it."

"Main gate. Guard gate," Reth and Iari said at the same time.

Sianna put it together. "We split here, then. You two have to use the main gate. Take the horses you're riding with you and sell them in the city for coin. You are welcome to take whatever you wish from the cart as well. Saints know we have extra food and clothes you can have."

Kota smiled. "How generous of you, Sianna."

"It's mostly for Iari, Nayichi."

Once the desired supplies had been taken and farewells given, Kota and Iari made their way to the Citadel's main gate. Sianna watched them disappear. Their good–byes had been casual as if they knew they would meet again. It was a warming feeling to think on that.

Sianna and Reth went down their own designated way, following the worn out path that ran next to the wall. The gate they came up to held the seven star sigil of the Guard. Sianna had not expected to be greeted by a party, but she had also not expected to see what she saw. The squad of guards by the gate was clad head to toe in Armadura armor.

It was the same black as the swords, resembling plate in structure but with a lighter appearance. Each piece was sleek, the sun's reflection swirling on them as if they were made of liquid onyx. None of the guards had a cloak on, marking them as Centurio soldiers.

Sianna's jaw fell. Centurio soldier in all Armadura?

It made sense considering they were at Lessithar Citadel where Baerston Keep, the king's castle, resided. When the guards saw them approaching, one of them lifted their visor and yelled for the gate to be opened.

"From Caister, ser?" one of the other guards asked.

"Yes," she answered.

He nodded. "Been expecting you. Where's the rest of your party?"

Sianna shook her head. "Dead. Nymph and Magus got to them."

He lifted his visor, exposing a brown face and dark eyes. "Shame that."

"It was."

"Ser, you can go on and head through now."

Sianna and Reth trotted past the squad and through the wide open gates to enter a replica five times bigger than that of Gabard's training courtyard. Dozens of Guard towers, barracks, armories, and open smithing areas could be seen. Guard members covered in black armor and a few Rhokin here and there walked past in numbers that made the yard look like a plaza.  

Black and blue. That's all there is.

"If you'll follow me, ser," the same guard with the black eyes told her.

Sianna slipped off her saddle, wobbly legs and saddle sores thanking her for the end of the journey but also making it difficult to catch up to the pacing guard member. She jogged what Reth covered in only a few quick strides to catch up to their host.

They entered one of the towers and went through a maze of hallways and stairs until they arrived at what Sianna recognized as a foyer of Guard barracks.

"Here, ser," the guard said and led them to a door.

"Here? What's here?"

"I was told to bring you here, ser. I don't know anything else."

As she watched him leave, the door opened and she faced a balding man also dressed in Armadura. A Leitnant's cloak was draped over his shoulder.

"Sianna Rayoss? I thought I heard people talking outside. Come in!" he said and moved for her to enter.

She stared at him.

His smile faltered. "Oh dear. Of course. I am Marc Abt, Leitnant of District Losh of Baerston Keep. I am your assigned instructor for the next few months. It was quite last minute. I barely received word of my new task yesterday, so please forgive these first few sloppy days." He laughed. Even with his armor on, Sianna could see his belly jiggle, making her think the armor was as light as it appeared. Though she was sure it wasn't as destructible.

"Ser Abt. I thank you," she said and went through the door.

When she saw the room, she cracked a smile at how much Abt's quarters resembled Aldermeck's. Papers and scrolls littered the floor and were piled up on tables, chairs, and even his bed.

"Do forgive the mess, Ser Rayoss. Sophitia and I rushed through the library and grabbed whatever we could." Another chuckle escaped him.

"Sophitia?"

"Oh. Of course. She is my Rhokin. In fact, she is back at the library picking out more information for us. There is much to learn here. It's quite different from tiny villages of Gwyn Caps. By the way, I am sorry to have heard it fell."

Sianna's lips tightened but she nodded. "Thank you, ser."

"If I may, what is your Rhokin's name?"

She looked up at Reth, indicating for him to introduce himself.

He stuck his chin out. "My name is Reth, ser."

Abt smiled, his hazy grey eyes filled with amusement. "Hello there, Reth."

Hesitation streaked over Reth's face before he answered. "Hello there, ser."

Abt burst into laughter. "How lovely! That's the first time a Rhokin has returned my greeting."

The right side of Reth's lips pulled up in a half–smile. Sianna rolled her eyes.

"Now," Leitnant Abt said turning to Sianna, "are you ready to begin?"

Her eyes scanned the parchments filling the room, reminiscent of Aldermeck's lessons. "Yes, ser."

Most of the day was spent walking between towers, the smithing area, and the barracks. Sianna was added to the Leitant payroll, measured for Armadura armor, and assigned a bunking area. She felt back in her training days except she had a room of her own—shared with Reth of course—and people actually acknowledged her.

She didn't want to be a Leitnant before, but the next few weeks only confirmed it. Her duties were whatever Abt was doing which meant they were usually working with parchment and ink. Though Leitnants were in charge of their own squads, it hardly meant actually supervising them. Sianna saw most of her time was going to be spent noting reports from the dozens of Centurios under her command and composing them into another report.

When Abt learned Sianna couldn't read or write well, he had smiled and said she would learn. He would read out loud his written words and have her trace his writing, vocalizing the words as he had.

"Remember that Reth can read too. He can help you with this as well," he had said.

That had stiffened Sianna's hand over her parchment, splattering her ink over it.

Magus attacks were plenty, but she never saw any action. Unless the beasts stepped into her assigned district, it was not her problem unless a green distress fire from the attacked district was lit, asking for reinforcements to aid them. That explained why parts of the keep always appeared in shambles as if attacked by invisible forces. 

When Sianna was not doing reports or not engaging with Magus attacks miles away from her, Abt was filling her with mind numbing information about things she didn't retain. Some of the stuff she did catch were things Aldermeck had already told her which encouraged her to not listen all the more. Sometimes Sianna felt guilty when she didn't pay attention. Abt was a jolly man and she found herself liking him.

He treated his Rhokin like a daughter, calling her Sophie and patting her hand when she said something that amused him. The Rhokin herself was as sweet as the candies Abt gave her. She seemed a clone of him, making Sianna wonder if she really was his daughter. It was a bit uncanny to see such a bubbly Rhokin, but Sianna like her better than Calera's ghostly face.

"You should probably go to Aanoris Circle and get fitted for something nice. The princess' engagement festival is coming up soon. We're all invited you know," Abt said during one of their many exciting report writing sessions.

Sianna knew of the event. She had heard about the engagement the first day she arrived at the Citadel; it was the gossip all through Baerston. This engagement was to join the feuding kingdoms of Dracarr and Thimalist. It was also known Dracarr would give Thimalist a certain amount of Rhokin and in turn they would share its information to the new, mobile weapons it was developing.

"I don't know, Marc," she said. "That's up in Meerin Hill. It's expensive there."

"You're on Leitnant salary now. It's okay to indulge." He patted his belly.

Sianna smiled. "I guess a little is okay."

"Don't forget to get a nice tunic for Reth. The king wants everyone in their best. My guess is he thinks if we're in uniform it will appear too hostile an environment to the visitors from Thimalist. I guess even our usual formal uniforms are too threatening."

She shrugged, running a hand through her own Armadura armor piled on the floor next to her. She had received it a few days ago and as expected, it was light as a cotton tunic, a grateful change from the plate and mail that weighed her body down.

"This is a rather nice uniform though. I wouldn't mind dancing in it," she said, remembering her last festival. If she had been wearing this, maybe Lycin's foot would've broken when she stomped on it.

Abt hooted. "That it is, my dear."

Sianna grinned as she collected her sword and strapped on her armor. "I will see you tomorrow morning, Marc."

"Of course, Sianna. Say hello to Reth for me!" He waved.

She found him by the training yard, where he always was, but it had taken her over an hour to comb through all the Miles recruits fumbling with swords and bows to locate him. She caught a few of the trainees gawking at Reth and the other few Rhokin training yards away from them. Sianna grinned as she approached him.

When she and Reth saddled their horses and arrived at Aanoris Circle, it was well past mid–day, but as always the streets were calm. The cobbled pathways were half–empty and anyone on them was either on horseback or in a litter. Though the serene environment was odd for Sianna, it was a nice change from her everyday routine.

Sianna entered the first tailor shop she saw. Bolts of labeled cloth and material she had never heard of in colors she'd never seen hid the room's walls. Puffy dresses and embroidered tunics hung from golden hooks dangling from the ceiling.

"Sers!" Please come in. How may I help you?" a man with a golden tooth smiled at them.

Sianna immediately distrusted him but forced herself to talk. She was already there. "I was hoping to see if you could make me and my partner clothes for the princess' festival."    

His eyes gleamed like his tooth. "Yes. A Leitnant, are you? Come in and see what I have to offer. What is your favorite color? Lace? Ribbons? What are you looking for?"

She sighed. "I don't know anything about dresses. I'll leave the design up to you."

Another grin. "I promise you will not be disappointed. My prices will be fair for what you will get."

It took half an hour for the tailor to obtain their measurements. He insisted on doing it twice. Another hour dragged as he brought out samples of material up to them, layering them up and holding them up to Sianna's face and body.

"Ah. Silver eyes are so hard to work with but fear not, I will make you even more handsome, ser. They will forget you are not human," the tailor said when he held the squares of cloth to Reth.

Sianna muffled a laugh. Even though Reth had plenty of practice standing still, this was the first time she sensed discomfort coming from his stiffened limbs. When the tailor finished noting his figures and materials, he gave Sianna a pick up date with a wink of his tooth.

"Anything else, my sers?" he asked.

"No." She was eager to leave.

"Then do not worry about the pay. You will not give even a copper until you see your designs. I thank you for your business." He nodded and disappeared somewhere in his jungle of his cloth.

Sianna and Reth made for the door just as another couple was entering. They stopped in their tracks and seemed to stiffen when they saw the Guard member and Rhokin. Sianna wouldn't have paid them any mind if they hadn't been a Blind Brother and sister. The Unseeing made their own clothes, but what fueled her interest more was their statures. There was something familiar about them in the way they stood next to each other.

Sianna's eyes widened and she blurted out the names before she gave it any more thought. "Leitnant Aldermeck? Deneck?"

The sister's mouth opened and then formed a grin. She pulled her blindfold up for a blue eye to peek through. "Do you believe me now what I say you are observant, Sianna?"

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