The Dwarven King was a foot shorter than Aegnor, his face and mane of hair a dull, rusty red with streaks of gray throughout. Hourdith was approaching his fourth century, equivalent of Aegnor's own middle-aged self. Both had seen hard times, though the dwarf king had witnessed the death of his race, had the knowledge of being the last. The half-elf did not envy that.

Still, the dwarf was built like a small mountain; broad shoulders with a barrel for a chest. All his armor had to be special made, clothes tailored to his girth. Aegnor had witnessed great feats of strength from the dwarf that would have cowed most others. Age had not diminished the dwarfs stature, nor the presence that he commanded.

'Ah! My scouts reported that there was a stirring in the South. Quite a nest y'kicked,' the dwarf voice was reprimanding; dark, steel gray eyes looked up from a piece of paper, likely the report in question. 'They had a coven of Eyeless, y'know. Their hellhounds could be heard for miles across the treelines.'

The dwarf had a voice that could shake mountains, a booming affair that could not be contained by mere walls, but these words he spoke in a quiet, harsh manner that bespoke of a festering anger. An anger Aegnor was not so sure he could appease, and Hourdrith knew it.

'Aye, I know. It was not my intention to set the ants to fire, but it had to be done.' Aegnor set his own jaw, his words quick and to the point. 'This girl, they called her their Oracle. He talked to me. Said the exact words, as he slew your kin.'

For a second, Aegnor thought he had broken through the storm of fury that raged so tightly controlled in the dwarf's eyes, but it was over as the report crinkled in his hands. 'So you would risk another Blight? And who is to say that was who you saw? You've had nightmares for years about Him.'

Aegnor felt some anger himself over the comment, as he still did. Taking his silence for capitulation, Hourdrith continued.

'Look at yourself, Aegnor, my boy. You risk your life for this poor girl who knows not the kindness you are showing her. Nay, I would say you are as bad as them, keeping her alive for so long. Look at her eyes, man. She holds little in the way humanity, if any, and if she is what you say, then doing so would only aide us.' The anger had faded from the dwarf's words, though they were still spoken quietly; a low rumble that Aegnor felt in his chest.

'I cannot do that, Hourdrith. Do you not think I have pondered that course of action? Why else would they fight so hard to have her back? To risk the ire of you and your men? There is much more at play here, and I need you to trust me. Have we grown so far apart that trust is no longer there?'

Hourdrith closed his eyes, shaking his head. 'Come, boy. There is no need for that. You and your... guest are allowed to stay, of course. I assume you remember the way to your rooms? I will need to confer with my Fortress Lords before I proceed much further however. What you bring to light has implications that need to be explored fully. You may leave.'

At the hesitation in Aegnor's stance, Hourdrith asked, 'Unless there was something else?'

Shaking his head, the half-elf and his charge left the office of Hourdrith; the former in a silent contemplation while the latter, wide-eyed, struggled with taking in all of her environs. Soon, she would learn to keep her eyes on the floor as she walked.

Not all so different than when she was among the Shreyl'Kar, or the Endarkened.

Aegnor mostly left her alone, pulling her in a direction when needed as he spent several minutes getting to his own living quarters, a comfort he will remember in the weeks to come.

As they entered the large room, a living area that boasted a fireplace with a few chairs and a sofa, he sat her down in the floor at the hearth. It was unlit, as it didn't get too cold during this time of year. True winter would be off for several months yet. He wasn't sure what to do with the girl, as he was positive she would remain where he said to. Still, there was always the possibility of her slitting his throat in the middle of the night.

No good deed...

There were two other rooms connected to the living area, a bedroom and a sort of private office that Aegnor had turned into a lab. These had been his rooms from his time here, under the banner of D'Efro. Aegnor walked the living area, whispering words of magic to ward the doors and windows, to ward the walls.

Taking a minute to himself, he drew on his will as he prepared a spell. Soon a rope appeared, twisted around the girls wrists to become fastened against the rock itself.

With that done, he spoke, 'Do not move.'

Aegnor felt the exhaustion in his bones as he laid on the sofa. He had not been wanting to fight with the only sort of father figure he had known, and definitely had not wanted to kick a nest of ants. Still, he wondered what role the girl would play in all of this.

These thoughts, amongst many others of similar veins, played through his head as sleep finally overcame him.

Heart pounding out of her chest, wind racing past her face, feet aching in shoes that were far more appropriate for pathed floors, Aurelia ran. She dared not look back, even now as she clambered over the garden wall and fell over the other side, she held her breath so as not to make a sound. To run from the castle was bad enough, but to run from her marriage... she could face serious punishment. Why, it was practically treason! Shoving bushes and branches out of her way, she scrambled through the forest hoping she would find a path that wasn't the main road, if she was found by the guards... it didn't bear thinking about. She grabbed the hem of her skirt and pulled it up to give her legs more freedom to run, but this meant she only had one arm for pushing branches and soon she was scratched and scraped in the face and arms by trees that seemed to want to grab her and pull her back.

Noises to her left caused her to stop. Voices... hooves... had she found the path? Her eyes strained in the darkness as she struggled to see, but the moon was hidden behind clouds and she could barely see her own hand in front of her face. Slowly she tried to turn away from whoever was there as silently as possible, pulling her shawl tighter around her until suddenly the voice called to her. She dared not answer, her heart pounding so loudly she could hear it over the panting of her breath. No! She couldn't have been found already, she thought she would have made it so much further... Feet frozen to the ground, she begged them to move on, to not see her, let the darkness envelop her and make her invisible.

It was not to be, as she felt the sudden pull on her shoulder. Almost losing her footing in the mud, she spun around and found herself staring at not a guard, but a woman. She almost didn't hear the question put to her as her mind raced. Who was this? Would they take her back? Could she pass herself off as a simple peasant? Definitely not now that her shawl had fallen, the golden embellishments around her head and shoulders would be sure to give that away. Maybe a castle aid? Some of the higher staff had expensive wages... Aurelia parted her lips to try to answer with any of these desperate thoughts but the words failed her. Instead, a soft squeak came forth and she shook her head.

Behind her, a horn bellowed in the distance and a bell began to call. They'd noticed she was gone! Desperately, she grasped at the woman's forearm, her eyes wide with pure fear.

"Please!" Her voice was filled with panic as voices shouted in the distance, guards calling the alarm to search the grounds. "I cannot go back!" Tears began to swell in her eyes. She had made it so far, she couldn't fail now! Her only hope now was that this stranger would help her, without even a single piece of information. Aurelia's fate lay in her hands...

Bek felt him grab her wrist and as she looked down, her eyes paused on the exposed shackles. Was that something to do with being part of the sword? Before she could voice any question on the subject, she was pulled along down the jetty towards their awaiting boat. Faintly she heard a thud behind them but before she could turn to look, Sai was leaping into the boat. Stepping forward, she turned her head to try to catch a glimpse of what had cause the noise, or at least where the soldiers were, when something caused her to lose her footing and she fell forwards over the bulwark and onto the deck. She squeaked as she landed, quickly scrambling to her feet as her cheeks reddened.

As the boat propelled forward, she gasped and gripped the rail beside her, her eyes wide as she looked back at the dock that was starting to get further and further away. On the jetty she could see a gathering of people around where the merchant had been sat, including the handful of guards who had been looking for them. She hoped he wouldn't tell them where they had gone, unaware of the man's ill-fate. Soon the docks were out of sight and the boat slowed, so Bek turned to Sai with a questioning look. Why had they stopped?

"My... coming of age trial?" Her cheeks paled. She had read about such things in the books her mother had secretly given her; stories of the days when water tribes would test their people on the water. Even non-benders had to prove their skills in boats, going on dangerous trips through ice fields and strong currents to prove they were no longer children. Many had died, but not enough for the tradition to become obsolete. She knew that at least up North it was still tradition to have your bending put through its paces. The South Pole tribe wasn't quite so traditional anymore, not since long ago when a particular brave waterbender named Katara had defied tradition and learnt bending, despite being a girl.

Now it was Bek's turn to take on the same lessons Katara had all those years ago. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the water around her, finding true bliss in the gentle bobbing of the boat up and down. When she was ready, she opened her eyes and nodded. While her bending skills may not be strong just yet, she was more than willing to give it a try. And what better way than being thrown in at the deep end? Almost literally...

Wan felt a flash of irritation, his offer of help dismissed for the sake of names, for words. What did it matter his name? A name meant nothing in the wake of one's actions. His name hardly defined him.

Words... All these people seek are words...

Still, it couldn't be helped.

'Wan, sir!' His voice was cool, measured. 'I am just a blacksmith, more than that a firebender, and I was hoping to be of assistance.'

The expert firebender was sure the Chief would deny him, would send Wan on his way back to the City. Wan wasn't even sure of what help he could be.

He sighed, a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding.

'In truth, I was just leaving the Capital myself, in search of master to teach me. I need money in order to do so; more than I happen to have on my person. My generosity does come at a price, though I am not entirely unreasonable.' These words he pointed at the Shadow clan chief, or framing his tone to inclusive of the man. 'I would be more than willing to repair or replace equipment such as I can.'

Wan bowed at his waist, once more, as he waited for his answer.

He was never one to mince words, instead cutting through to his point: words wasted time when work could be done. Still, he understood the necessity for them. That didn't mean he had to like it. 'I do apologize if I have overstepped. I allowed my eagerness to cloud my judgement.'

The Chiefs were just finishing up their discussion when they were approached by a young man who clearly wasn't of the Shadow Clan. Both men turned to look at him; The Shadow Clan chief in particular, examining him closely, noticing the burns on his arms and fingers.  He neglected to speak though, assuming the question was for the Police Chief. He looked to the decorated man, awaiting his respone curiously.

The Police Chief's inspection seemed less cautious however. He smiled to the nameless man and turned to shake his hand. "I'm Chief Talla. And who might you be, sir?" It seemed a bit odd to randomly approach someone and ask if they needed assistance without first introducing yourself. But he appreciated young people with helpful spirits!