Narritchsans Life

[Little Bat]

Cardine immediately recoilled from Koale's touch. If she hadn't been so stunned, that she would have resisted being dragged away in the first place. She felt so dirty... and by Nicheitah if this man was who she thought he was... the thought made her almost want to throw up.

"Why, I didn't think you had it in you Koale," Cardine retorted, trying to stay in character, but her guard had been thrown. Surely a prostitute would be less bothered by such a thing, but in her acting she had never let it get that far.

Silently, Mikarathi crept about the rooftops of Nakowae. She hated the town with a passion, full of rowdy drunkards and not a piece of greenery in sight. It was like some tyrant had torn up everything that was beautiful about the land and spat in it's place. Yet once again she was forced to trample the town in search of her miscrient younger brother. Why Koale persisted to come here she could not fathom. Weren't the Narritchsans supposed to be above this?

In her haste to get her task over and done with, Mikarathi nearly missed her brother completely. It was only in the last few seconds, as she prepared to leap, that she spotted a familiar head in the alley below... right next to a wholly unfamiliar piece of cleavage. What in the name of the Dae did Koale think he was doing? Mika had it in her right mind to jump right down and tear the pair appart this instant, but doing so might just draw too much attention to themselves. Instead a much crueller plan brewed in Mika's mind.

Quietly stirring the power within herself, she stared at her brother below. Guiding the tendrils of Dae downward, she guided them to contract around Koale's bowels.

Job done, Mikarathi hid further back on the roof, she listening intently for the pitter of frantic feet as her brother lurched to find somewhere to evacuate. That would teach him a lesson or two.

[Two-bit Werewolf And The Spy]

Koale cursed as an uncomfortable feeling met his bowels, and looked around frantically. This was something that his sister would do to him when he had done something wrong - or what the family thought was wrong. He cursed again. His family must be close by. He needed to go to the toilet.

He looked up at the rooftops, but nothing could be seen instantly so he looked from side to side and then turned a peek around the corner towards the main street. His father's men were rooting through the buildings and growling his name to the villagers.
He ignored Fea's comment, having doubt on whether she meant it or not.
"Nice meeting you...I don't think we should see each other again."

He darted deeper down the alleyway, and away from the main street, but tried to slow down his steps in order to stop someone from becoming suspicious, and tried to seem like a man late for work. He closed his eyes for a second, his brain constructing what was going to happen when he would be dragged by the mansion by either his sister, a family member or one of his father's followers. A bruised face, maybe? Or a tanned hide? Or humiliation by standing outside their house with a sign hanging from his neck, with some curse.
He couldn't face such a punishment. Finally, he could hear shouting from his left, progressively getting louder and louder as his father's followers continued their search deeper within the town.

"Koale!" an monstrous voice boomed. Koale didn't turn around to see who had shouted his man, in case it had been one of the followers and he was checking whether he would turn at his name. He stormed into the next inn, and got to the nearest toilet.

"Thank God for that."

He stepped out of the toilet, after washing his hands, and out of the inn. He stepped into the street, looking around to see where his name had been called from.

No one was there to face him. He sighed with relief, relishing in the thought that he had escaped their clutches -

But then he felt a hand grab his shoulder. He turned around. It was one of his father's goons. "Got you, Koale."

[Little Bat]

The faint aura of Dae pricked against the back of Cardine's neck, standing her hair on end. Instantly alert, she restrained herself from casting her senses to locate its source. She did not want to risk drawing attention to herself in that way, not just yet.

Wide-eyed she watched as Koale fled from the alley.

Alright, Cardine thought, something was going on with this boy that was definitely not normal. He had the attention span of a toothpick, and seemed about as wooden as one too. There was also no way she was letting him escape that easily. She had to know what was really going on here.

So be it, she huffed, if Koale wasn't about to enlighten her, then she would find out for herself. Once more she slunk into the shadows and pursued him through the streets. The amount of men that appeared to be prowling for him was astonishing, she thought, noting one bulky figure passing coins to a layway beggar child in exchange for information. If these were Narritchsans men, just how many lackies did the family own? And where they all Derandera? She needed to get Koale on her side.

Mikarathi smirked as she heard her brother race from the alley. Such a prank never ceased to tire her, it was even better when it was cast in legitmate circumstances.

Quickly she sprung to her feet, continuing to dart across the rooftops, chasing him through the town. From her vantage point she could see him enter the inn. It was a disadvantage. If Koale had gone into the bordering woods to relieve himself this could all have been over and done with swiftly. No way would Mika shame and expose herself by entering a pub so freely.

Hoklin, Mikarathi sent telepathically to one of the soldiers who was scouring a nearby alley. He jolted his head up in an instant. Koale is in the inn. He'll be headed straight to the toilet. Catch him. Take him to the clearing in the woods. I'll deal with him from there. She ordered, but even as she did so a frown creased her forehead. It seemed the whore-woman had not given up so easily. Feeling a deep sense of unease, Mikarathi watched as the woman flitted back into the pub, all sly in her scarlet dress.

Cardine arrived in the inn just in time to see one bulky man cease Koale by the shoulders. It seemed his fleeing had aided him not. An exasperated curse fled her lips, the boy would be of no use to her if dragged back to his father, yet was it worth the risk of helping him? If he weren't a Narritchsans, then all this would be in vain, though she could end up with a valiant spy in Nakowae... if he truly proved himself enough for that... yet if he was Koale Narritchsans, well, it seemed there was a major rift in their enemies household. A rift that could be very beneficial to exploit.

Decision made, Cardine marched across the inn, full of purpose. Sternly she positioned an arm on the lackey's upper arm.

"Ahm sorry sir, but we truly don't allow this kind of behaviour in here. Would you kindly unhand this good fellow at once?"she smiled sweetly at the broad, bristling face. The answering glare would have been enough to make any lesser woman shrink with fear. Good thing Cardine was not a lesser woman. She was left with no choice.

"Ahm sorry, but I think you're past your limit. Ahm gonna have to ask ya to leave naow," she said sincerely, but all the while she was drawing power to herself. Slowly she pumped it back out into the man, calmly shutting down his nervous system as she went.

Sleep, she urged silently, and the man collapsed to the floor. A couple at a nearby table gasped in alarm. Cardine shrugged and blabbed something about him being drunk, which seemed to settle them right back down again. That sort of thing happened in here a lot.

Problem sorted, she turned her attention back to Koale. "You gonna say 'thank you'?" she questioned with a sarcastic head-tilt. "On your own ya've got no chance, so don't go running of all sudden-like again right? And you're better off in here than out there. Mah guess is, they don' wanna make too much of a scene, ahm I right? There's not so much they can do in a crowded place."

Cardine slowly began to wind her way toward an empty table, motioning for Koale to follow. Swiftly she sat down and folded her arms.

"Naow, ya'll gonna tell me what's really goin' on wit' you?" she questioned expectantly, staring up at the man.

[Two-bit Werewolf And The Spy]

He couldn't believe what had just happened. His sexist thoughts suddenly came to mind, trying to comprehend the fact that the woman was able to tackle down one of the toughest of his father's followers. It took him several years just to defend himself successfully from one of his signature fist blows yet this girl had managed to whisper a single word and he was instantly defeated. He looked at Hoklin nervously. He wasn't dead, thankfully, or that would mean he would have to do some crucially harsh and humiliating as a punishment. He stepped over his body and followed the girl's beckoning as she made her way towards the table.

"Naow, ya'll gonna tell me what's really goin' on wit' you?" she questioned.

He didn't know whether to lie or to just give up and just spill the beans. He examined her closely. She didn't look like one of their usual enemies, and somehow he had felt a sense of trust towards her. He sat down at the booth.

"I-I-I'm just..." he didn't know whether to admit it or not, "I'm in trouble. Plain and simple. And I best get outta here before my sister comes hollering at me, and put my head on a pike."

He thought for a moment. He wasn't the best liar. "Look, I just can't talk about it, if that's okay with you? Why don't you tell why you act so unpredictable?"

[Little Bat]

Cardine shrugged, "Don't tell me like you didn't need the help. What were you gonna do, jus' stare the man to death? And logic tells me that if they found you in here, your sis' already knows exactly where you are. You walk out that door you run straight into her arms. So you're gonna sit riaght here and tell me what I need to know so I can help you out of your little dilema.'

"Naow what kind of family is so bad-ass that they'd pursue you to the end of the world jus' for socialisin'?"

Mikarathi's legs itched to pounce. Too much time had passed. Hoklin should have already been in the process of hauling Koale out by his backside. Something must have gone wrong.

Liat, she instructed a second servant, though this one was smaller, more easier to hide. Go into the inn, order a drink, sit and look natural. I need you to tell me what my brother was up to.

Liat obeyed obediantly. Through his eyes, Mikarathi surveyed the unsavoury scene inside the inn. It smelt like stale beer and vomit. Quickly she jolted his head away when it was drawn toward a couple committing some rather unsavoury acts in the corner. In the name of the Dae, what did Koale find so appealing about this place. It was the scum-hole of Wissnane.

Eventually Mika spotted her brother seated at a table, with non-other than the whore. Just who was that woman? She decided to let things play out for a while. The more her brother learnt. The more information she could pump from him later.

[Two-bit Werewolf And The Spy]

Koale sighed. She did have a point. It was either go out and get bollocked or sit here within the safety of the inn and reveal that his father was a hated tyrant in many parts of the world. He pursed his ears now.

"Okay...my last name...my last name is Narritchsans,' he whispered 'Narritchsans', just in case someone was eavesdropping on their conversation. "My family are looking for me. This is the tenth time I've ran away, but only because I wanna have some time to myself. Man, people say that my life is the life of dreams. Well, when I was seven, my father left me in the cold and left me out in the wilderness. Sure, it toughened me up and that - I mean I wasn't the strongest of kids. But, come on...my father and my mother kept me on a short leash - they never...never let me do what I wanted to do. They won't even let me go out and make friends. He said that friendships were a sign of weakness -"

He then realised that he was rambling on, and his tragic life story wouldn't really effect the girl, judging by her outrageous ways that he had never received from a woman. Not even his sister would act like this.

"I just wish that everything was different."

A waitress finally approached the table, after the cooks of the inn - twins by their appearances and should-be bouncers for their appearances too.

"Can I get y'all something?"

Koale didn't realise that he was actually quite hungry, and it seem to distract himself from what he had just said Fea.

"I guess, I'll just have a glass of water. She can have a glass of milk."

[Little Bat]

Huzzah! A beam of triumph shot through Cardine's spirit, but she suppressed the smile. So he was a Narritchsans after all. The thought that things could be so fractured within their ranks had never occured to her, but now she found it simply delicious.

The interuption of the waitress surprised Cardine greatly. It seemed so mundane. Yet she did not take kindly to being ordered for.

"Oh 'she will' will she?" she retorted, "What if I turned out to be lactose intoleran' and you're going an' orderin' me a glass o' milk? Ahm not, but I'll have a slice o' your blackberry pie thank you very much." It had been a while since Cardine had last eaten, and she'd seen someone chowing down on a slice earlier. The scent had been enticing.

Swiftly the waitress noted the order and vanished off.

"Naow, where were we?" continued Cardine, assessing the situation, "Ahm sorry to hear 'bout your past. I wud've thought that such a high up family wud've treated their kids better-like! It's not like there's not enough opression with the monarchy out there barkin' down your tail.'

"What is it you wish for anyhow? That you're parents were nicer? That you could get away from them once and for all?" Cardine wanted to go one step further and ask whether he wanted revenge on his father for treating him so, but she was afraid that pushing the idea of patricide would make him wary. Just how much resentment did this kid harbour inside him. "Ya'll may have guessed ahm not just your average workin' gal. Ahm willin' a' help you in whatever you need."

[Two-bit Werewolf And The Spy]

The pie did look good. Another crowd behind them were all having a slice. Koale felt like bursting into tears, at the thought that maybe his father had ruined his life.

"That's another thing we're deprived. Sweeties and desserts," he then smiled. "I wish my father appreciated how much effort I put in. I was only a child. I may not have survived, you know. I love my family, of course, but I wished that things were different - father trained us to defend the Dae, to fight against the monarchy. They ruined my life."

Finally, the waitress returned with their orders, placing a piping hot slice of blackberry pie in front of Fea and a plain glass of water in front of me. A passing customer would think that Fea was his master and he was her slave.

"And what about yourself?" Koale questioned. "You're obviously not a prostitute. You're, for some reason, interested at my situation, and you can...do magic (He leaned forward) Who are you?"

[Little Bat]

Cardine bristled a little at the question. Answering questions about herself was not something that she wished to partake in, but it seemed some form of tale would be needed to placate Koale. Somehow she felt that telling him the truth might be the best way to gain his trust, well, the original truth that is. It was a truth that he would instantly take to be lies if he found out who she was now.

Cardine pulled a sympathetic face and split the pie in two, offering Koale the other half. She didn't particularly want to share, but sympathy and kindness would get the job done best with this one.

"To some I'd be nought better than. I'm a refuge from Krokith. I grew up with one of the tribes on the island, but they were all slaughtered when I was twelve during the King's campaigns. Not many folks take to kindly to Krokithians it seems. Gives me two black strokes against mah name, though ah have made a couple of connections down on Cerforden. Been plannin' on goin' n joinin' them on a farm if ah can sneak on a ship headed that way. But ya'll still haven't answered my question. How can ah help you?"

[Two-bit Werewolf And The Spy]

"You can't help me. I was born into this." Koale wanted help.

Koale stabbed a fork into the pie and shoved it into his mouth. He raised his eyebrows - this day had been an adventure for his tastebuds. He stabbed his fork into the pie again.

"Wow, this is so good. I've always heard about pie, and I always wanted to taste it. We have a strict diet of vegetables, roots and fruits, with the occasional piece of venison on special occasions. (He realised that he hadn't considered anything about Fea's life) I'm sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what it's like to lose your family."

He knew about people from Krokiths, and agreed that they had been spoke about in good light. His father raised him to believe that people from there are scum, and should be avoided whenever humanly possible, however meeting a real one...he didn't feel that same hate that his father must have felt.

There must have been a reason for that. But Koale felt no hate for this woman.

'Maybe, we've got it all wrong...' he thought to himself. He looked up at Fea, then quickly sipped from his glass of water. "I'm sorry...I have to go."

Koale finally got up, and walked out of the inn, briefly looking over his shoulder in hope that the girl would come running after him - after all, she had been following him for the last hour.

Koale wanted help.

[Little Bat]

Cardine sighed as she once again watched him walk away from her. That boy had a serious inability to sit still. Had she not warned him that it would be more foolish to go outside right now? It was tempting to let him just disappear, end this all there and then, but she would be kicking herself forever in the future if she let this opportunity pass her by. Though, from what she had seen so far, Cardine was beginning to believe that all the Daelanis needed to do was wait for the older Narritchsans to die out and the problem would be annihilated.

Quickly, Cardine cast a few coins on the table to cover the cost of the pie before darting out of the inn. She was relieved to see that Koale had not gone very far. In three swift strides she was by his side.

"Ahm startin' to think I need to put a little bell on you," she retorted jokingly, "And no offence, but we really need to get out of this town. You got bug-eyes all over you. You know of any place that'll be safe?"

An irritated huff erupted from Mikarathi's chest as she finally spotted her brother emerging from the inn. If he did not get away from the public eye soon she would have to go down and sort him out herself. She truly hoped it wouldn't come to that. A sibling dispute in the centre of Nakowae shortly wouldn't go down with their reputation or their parents.

Mika's anxiety trebled as she watched the whore snoop out of the inn to join him. Just who was this girl? Her nails grated against the splintery roof-beams as she tensed her hands.

[Two-bit Werewolf And The Spy]

Koale smiled at Fea's 'bell' joke, and nodded. He looked over his shoulder to see whether his sister was nearby, but saw nothing - however Mika had been skilled in the art of espionage, bitchiness and dexterity. So even if she had been in front of you, you wouldn't have noticed her presence, unless she punched you in the gut or messed about with your bowels.

"Yes...I have this, um....treehouse, kinda thing, that I used to go to when I was a kid, before my old man decided that I was too scrawny and put me under his stupid training programme...I think it's still there...I sorta...put this spell thing I made up on it so nobody could detect it...but it's old Dae...gotta sorta expiry date, so I ain't sure whether it would be useful to go there....but hey! It's worth a shot, right?"

He knew that no one in his family knew me about the treehouse, unless one of them had followed him in suspicion. Probably Mika - the order Nazi - or maybe Arance, who would always have a place in Koale's list of hate - or maybe envy...since his love affair with his father's harsh rules made him daddy's number one child.

Ugh...the disadvantages of being the youngest child. Or maybe it was just him.

"Umm...sorry I didn't pay that (he dug in his pockets for his coins). Here...(then he pulled out extra) and for your troubles. Anyways, the treehouse is just outside Anniskia, so it's a bit of a trek, if that's fine with yourself."

He knew that it would be fine by her. Koale knew that there was more to this 'whore' than what met the eye, but he didn't try and confront her now, after several attempts at that proved a failure.

[Little Bat]

Instinctively, Cardine wanted to refuse the money. It wasn't like she was poor, plus she did not particularly want anything that was Narritchsans-earned, but common sense caused her to stop herself at the last minute. She was not exactly posing as a well off character. Any lowlife would leap at the chance for money, no matter the source. With a forced nod, she accepted and pocketed the money.

"Thank you," she replied, processing the rest of Koale's sentence. Aniskia was far, at least a two-hour hike, possibly three if her memory of the land served correctly. Cardine did not particularly wish to stray so far from the port. If she missed the boat sailing back then it would be a while before she could return to Nithos, unless somewhere on this damned island there lived a creature that could give her wings... yet what would the consequences be if she gave up this opportunity to get closer to the Narritchsans? And would it be too close? She most definitely did not want to end up tangled in a net with the rest of the family.

Sighing, Cardine made her choice. She hoped fiercely that it was the right one.

"Lead the way," she affirmed.

Things had gone on long enough, Mikarathi decided. Dae knows what the pair where planning, but she did not want that 'thing' anywhere near her brother. She had to draw a net and fast.

Silently she sent a message out to the remaining guards about the town, instructing them to form a ring around the outskirts. The idea would be to set up an invisible barrier that would prevent anyone from crossing the perimeters of the town. It would be stronger if Mikarathi could input into the barrier herself, but she knew her attentions would be needed with her brother. Hopefully she'd be able to get through to him before he punched a hole in it.

Koale, Mikarathi sent mentally to her brother, What in the name of the Dae are you playing at?

[Two-bit Werewolf And The Spy]

Koale swore under his breath when listening resentfully to his sister's voice - she was definitely here. He tried not to show his anxiety towards Fea - who seem to ponder more over his money; he hoped he hadn't offended her by handing her money. She may not like the family.

'Koale, what in the name of the Dae are you playing at?'

His heart beat furiously. All of those training exercises aimed at eliminating all fear had been a waste of time - however he doubt his father knew the intensity to which his sister had been able to frighten him. He knew he had respond at some point or he might have to face a confrontation, and the reaction towards Fea at the mention of his surname gave him another reason to stop such a confrontation. He may be the spark that may provoke a war.

He winced a little. He wasn't as exactly at telepathy, as much as her sister. His father made sure that the boys would be train physically, while the girls were trained by his mother in the arts of such things. Although he did pick up a few techniques, and was just able to communicate.

But a baby could probably do better.

'Leave me alone, Mika, I'm just having some fun. I just need my breathing space, so stop following me and sending father's goons on me. I ain't gunna do nothing stupid. Leave me alone.

[Little Bat]

Irritation seethed through Mika's veins. The insane naivity of her brother infuriated her. He would be the destruction of them all if he wasn't careful.

Do you honestly think that I want to be here? Chasing after your worthless hyde? It is father that sent me, and those 'goons' are respectable Derandera forced to waste time keeping you in check. Did you forget that we're in the middle of a war here? We cannot afford to 'have fun'. If you must socialise, at least limit things to Rekkentara. There are mortals out there that want to hurt us... and you did not answer my question. Who is the girl Koale? How much have you told her?

The prickle of Dae bristled at the back of Cardine's neck. More power was being used. It felt as if a circle was closing up around her, little pinpricks of Dae all across the town.

Krokith's luck, she swore to herself. If she guessed right, it seemed that the Narritchsans were setting up a barrier about the town. They really were in a state of disrepair, weren't they? Warily, she cast a glance in Koale's direction. His face seemed calm, but there were signs of supressed panic lining the corners of his eyes. Could he sense it too? Or was there something else...

Examining the air, Cardine noticed a very faint separate strand of power drifting toward Koale. It was barely noticeable to that but a well-trained eye. It was a quiet power, perhaps just enough to send a message or something.

"Is everything okay, Koale?" she asked with an innocent expression. Lightly, she reached out a concerned hand to touch his shoulder.