Calling You Out {Éamonn}

[†Kazira Astras†]

It wasnt all that uncommon for Kazira to be out wandering through the towns at night. It seemed to be the only thing that calmed her restless mind at night. She thought back to when she first came back to Camelot. It had been attacked by a dragon. Things were rocky at the time and she had an arguement with a vendor and the Prince had interveened. Now she was glad that he did otherwise they would have one less merchant to deal with. She would have killed him. If that wasnt the first thing she had almost caused a storm with her emotions and was tempted to set the Prince's butt on fire just because he was being a Twit!

She looked to where the merchants will open up the market. She was sorely tempted to take a peak at their wears and maybe pilfer a few but decided against it. Should her new/old friend Lancelot or Cole find out she would be in the proverbial dog house. She was pretty sure that they would beat her to a pulp for doing such a thing when she didnt need to. So she stuffed the urge down and continued on her little stroll. As she passed a particular home she stopped. She heard muffled sounds. Taking out a dagger she quietly stalked up to the door and pushed it open slightly. She blinked and saw a figure moving around. Sighing she pushed the door open and leaned against the door frame her dagger resting slightly on her forearm.

"Now what on earth would you be doing in here this late at night?" She asked in a curious tone. Her posture was one of readiness and alertness just in case the figure tried anything. She was going to be prepared for anything and hopefully he hadnt done something stupid.

[Éamonn Goronwy]

To anyone not into the matter of assassination, the deal of killing would appear simple: Find your victim, choose a time and then – bam! Yes, like that it would seem to everyone. But Éamonn knew better. He knew that the work of an assassin was more of an art than just a job. It needed careful preparation to kill a man. He could not risk stepping into an entirely unknown place, most likely in pitch black darkness and not know for example where his victim slept, how the furniture was arranged lest he tripped or even if there only was one creaking floorboard that could give him away. To get to know all this, Éamonn had to look at the place prematurely, best a few days before he decided to act. He called it ‘site survey’- and tonight was another preparation night.

His victim was a wealthy merchant a little past prime age, the man wanting him dead his own son, actually not willing to wait for his father to die of natural cause. ‘Make it look like he died on his own accord’, the young man had said, and Éamonn had simply nodded. That was not his favourite style of killing someone, as he wanted his work at least a little appreciated. What’s the use in hiring an assassin if you didn’t want to shift the blame anyway? But his customers wishes were his command as long as they were reasonable, and so here he was, inspecting the merchant’s home, who he knew to be out on a feast with his wife. They would not return until late or even dawn, so there was much time to get everything in order.

He was just about to memorize a few tight spots between the door and the double sized bed where his victim would lay down at night, when he heard a voice calling out to him, casual as if she was talking about the weather. She… yes, a woman!
Not turning around yet Éamonn’s thoughts began to race. Who could this possibly be? One of the serving maids? But the son had agreed on occupying one for this evening and the other didn’t live near the house… nor did the merchant have a daughter… furthermore, he realised with a pang of surprise as he finally turned around, she was armed! There was no use, he had to find out who was disturbing him, and silence her!

With two lissom darts in her direction, inaudible and swift as a cat of prey, he was by her side, snatching the arm that didn’t hold a dagger to pull her inside and close the door in one motion. No need to attract any more attention.
“I probably should ask you the same”, he murmured in his best dark-and-scary-stranger tone. “Little nosy girl all wandering alone? That can’t end well!”

[†Kazira Astras†]

She gasped slightly in surprise when the man grabbed her arm and pulled her into the home. She wasn't really expecting him to do that. She was expecting to get hit stabbed knocked unconscious and the list went on. This man was well trained. An assassin? Or a thief? she thought Either way what would he be doing here? The merchants home that they were currently in was well known. Not overly wealthy but he made up for it in pride and arrogance. But surely not enough to kill him. but i could see the reason why to steal from him. she thought absently.

The man hadn't relinquished her arm. Not that she thought he was going to anyways...She was an obstacle granted an unplanned one on both parts but an obstacle none the less. She repressed a shiver at his tone. She wasn't scared but it was just odd. she hadn't heard that type of threatening voice since she was traveling across Albion. She pulled her arm slightly trying to dislodge his grip with a frown. "I was taking a walk," She stated calmly. "I heard noises and decided to check it out. I'm not one to leave things be." She stated...the last part an almost lie since that was in her character to look into things but she didn't really want to interfere unless necessary. She glanced at the darts and pulled on her arm again giving the illusion that she was a weak girl. If only the Prat could see me now...He would get a chuckle out of this mess I've gotten myself into. she thought to herself. "Will you get those out of my face! If I had wanted to kill you i would have slit your throat when you weren't paying attention."

Kazira huffed. how on earth did she land herself in these messes? Did they just jump out with torches and say 'hey look look at me I'm trouble come and play with me!' Not that she didn't suspect that that could happen it just wasn't plausible for half of the events that happened in her life. She cursed the gods at the predicament. She wondered if this was some part of their wicked game that they liked to play on her. Whatever the reason it was getting annoying. "Did you just call me a little girl ?!" She hissed. Kazira moved forward her dagger clenched tightly in her hand. "How dare you, you little prat!" she glowered at him. "I'll tell you how it will end for you. You will be in the stocks and I'll stop by daily and poke you with a sharp stick until you go crazy. And then I'll laugh at your misfortune and throw tiny bits of cheese at you and let the rats create nests on your person!" She panted her cheeks were slightly flushed with irritation. That was the one thing that would set her off. Someone calling her a little girl when she wasn't. She knew that the tactic was to scare her but it didn't work. She was more annoyed and irritated with the man in black before her.

[Éamonn Goronwy]

Oddly enough the girl he had happened upon didn’t seem as scared of him as she should be. Rather defiant. Hmm… either she was terribly naïve or she was harder boiled than she looked. What would a respectable girl doing out here in the dark all by herself? Had the world changed while he wasn’t looking and chaperones were outdated? Either way, she was a nuisance, and one he better got rid of very soon. But it would not do killing her, it’ll entail a hell lot of difficulties. First, he couldn’t leave the body here, it would mess up his plans for the followinf night. Which would mean he’d have to carry her corpse somewhere – more chance of getting caught, the guards of Camelot actually had some sense knocked into them and were very alert to everything they thought suspicious. He alone could evade their attention good enough, but carrying a bundle such as her? Well-nigh impossible and too troublesome to be a challenge he enjoyed.

Which meant he had to take the other way, scaring her out of her wits so she would not tell a soul what she had seen.
“Well, what do they say, curiosity killed the cat, right?” He still had that low, slightly menacing tone on his voice that hopefully would do the trick. She might be out on her own, but she was still a girl, after all. “It might have been better for you if you just walked past, thinking nothing of it. So… what shall I do with you? Any suggestions?” Of course he would not let her decide, it was merely a tactic, one that should increase tension and fear. A rhetorical question they called it for all he knew, suit to be answered only by himself. Only that he had no idea as of yet.

He had already cornered her and now he even put his hand on the wall above her head, caging her like a spiteful lover would do – only that he had no such intentions of course. Her defiance made him chuckle down on her, the sound muffled by his mask. He clearly didn’t take her seriously on that matter. “You, kill me? I’d really like to see you try slitting my throat. Good luck on it!” He had not heard her coming in, given that, but mind you he had been too busy concentrating on floorboards and memorizing the position of furniture. One more step before she spoke out and he would have ben aware of her presence, now doubt of that!

On the other hand, there was this bothersome knife still in her hand and when she apparently felt insulted by him calling her a little girl, she waved it dangerously close to his looming body. Good Gods, she was a spitfire! It was amusing to a point, but that didn’t mean she could not become a threat to him with the right amount of luck. Plucking one of his throwing stars out of the wall would take too much time, so he concentrated on ridding her of the weapon first. With a movement so quick one might realise why he was considered an excellent assassin, he used the hand that had rested above her head just an instant ago, to grab the wrist holding the knife, taking the other to support the cause as he was about to slam her wrist down on his knee, a very brutal disarming method, but effective.
“The stocks? I would not think so, my dear!” he panted as he struggled to keep hold of the hand. “You better hold your tongue before I cut it out of your pretty little face!”

[†Kazira Astras†]

She turned up her chin at him stubbornly. "you men are all saying the same thing," She stated blandly, "Satisfaction brought it back. idiot." She stated smartly with a small smirk. She fought down a blush as she realized how close he was though. He was acting like a spiteful lover rather than an imposing...whatever he was. Though she was leaning more towards assassin than thief. "Besides we both know that you wont give me the choice but i suggest both of us leaving." She stated pulling on her hand.

She glared up at him her eyes flashing bright blue. They almost seemed to glow in the dark."I could have slit your throat when you were preoccupied you ignoramus!" She said her face growing close to his. she felt him struggle with her dagger hand and continued to hold firm. "Yes the stocks and I'll put you there myself!" She pushed against him and swept her leg against his in hopes of knocking him down. She was panting almost in time with him but wincing slightly as his grip grew tighter on her wrist.

That was going to leave a mark. She thought. She growled quite impressively. "I will not hold my tongue. Especially when your pea brain wont listen to what i am saying!"She held back a laugh considering how hard it was to breathe with all of the struggling. "Its nice to know you think that my face is pretty." She panted out. "Now if only i could see yours...so i can cut your tongue out!" she paused her body against him tryingto get him to release her.

[Éamonn Goronwy]

Éamonn shook his head slightly as he looked down on her. She really had no sense of self-preservation, that girl. Who could be so bold and insolent in the face of possible death? Or was this whole spiteful demeanour just hiding her fear?
He was not one to take jabs and insults lightly, how many times had she called him idiot or something similar already? He had lost count and that in such a short amount of time!
“Well, ARE you satisfied with the outcome? Being in that position I can hardly see it…” he scoffed. Yeah, the centuries old quote and answer, and he had just opened it up for her! Though, what was he thinking, he had no intention of prolonging this conversation, now had he? “Leaving?” he asked in an almost husky voice, his green eyes showing a wolfish gleaming the mask over his mouth did hide. “If you think I will let you go just like that, spreading your gossip about me all over the town, think again!”

She carried on with her insults, securing his thoughts that she was quite a wildcat to deal with, and when it only had amused him before, he had to admit now that it got to him in another way as well. He felt repulsed, irritated, and in a very confusing way also appealed. More than anything he yearned to teach her a lesson, making her realise that for all her talking he still was the superior one on this conversation. But sometimes, the calmer part of an argument, was also the superior one. “Are you finished?” he asked a little aloof as if talking to a tantrum throwing child. Well she was, throwing a tantrum that is, though she was far from being a child… very far indeed, and the ire gleaming in her eyes almost made her look pretty… Focus, Éamonn! “Now that you’re done we maybe can start to talk like adults. It might have slipped your mind who’s on top of the situation right now, just to assure you: I am. So no stocks anywhere near and you’d better stop digging your own grave.”

Her assault was a little unexpected, though he should have known. It made him stagger, but he quickly recovered his footing, anger flaming up in his own eyes as she – again! – was able to catch him off guard. He couldn’t allow his thoughts to wander around her! Not caring anymore if he would hurt her, he finally slammed her wrist down on his knee to make her fingers loose hold of the knife. “That’ll teach you!” he growled.
When she pushed against him, he used his considerably increased strength compared to hers to push her back, pressing her against the wall now. Her suggestion of showing his face, made him hiss with annoyance. “I really can’t decide if you’re only doing this to spite me or if you really are that stupid. Goodness, girl, do you realize I would have to kill you the instant you saw my face? Do you want that?!” He glowered down on her, not entirely sure why the thought of killing her revolted him so much.

[†Kazira Astras†]

She couldn't hold in the yelp that escaped from her mouth when he slammed her wrist into his knee causing her to release her dagger. She closed her eyes not looking at him just in case he saw the slight tears that formed. She hated feeling weak and while she wasn't, she knew that her opponent was stronger and almost always would be since he was a male. She resisted slightly as she felt her back hit the wall causing her to look up and when she did she growled again. She didnt say anything as she watched his expressions change from amused to angry and to something else that with him she couldnt just pin point. Now that she was sort of breathing normally despite the pain she got a look at his eyes. They were a gorgeous color one she wasnt used to seeing. Green eyes that had shades of gray were uncommon in her eyes. The bright and emerald were pretty common but his she hadnt really seen.

"One, why would i spread gossip?" She struggled pushing against him again. "That would also incriminate myself. Two, no i am not finished!" she glared up at him only to wince at the slight but constant throb that was going through her wrist.She mentally cursed. That is going to hurt for weeks! "Yeah sure you're on top. Its more like your agaisnt the situation. Thus that makes it equal on both parts." She mumbled just loud enough for him to hear her.

She blinked at his last outburst. To say that it shocked her was an understatement. It did the one thing that his other words didnt. It got her to stop struggling for a few moments. Why did he sound as if he really didnt want to kill her? THat was what she derived from his tone of voice when he said it. Her eyes were still glowing and she could feel her power wain like the tides bringing her some type of calm. "If you had wanted to kill me you should have done it the moment i was able to see your eyes." She started softly, a big jump from the hell that she was raising earlier. "Eyes show one's hidden secrets; they show who people really are and i remember everyone by their eyes and voices rather than most physical appearances." She stated the last part with a bit more force and she tried to wiggle out of his hold. She needed to cool her wrist and wrap it, so that she could heal. If anything she wanted to sit down. She began to struggle again. "And to answer the first part, I'm neither stupid nor am i doing it to spite you!" She pushed at him with her good hand. "Its just who i am. Ask anyone whose met me!" Her attempts to get away werent as harsh as they were earlier. She didnt understand why this man was so different from the rest.

[Éamonn Goronwy]

Why did he have such a little gut-wrenching twinge right now in his stomach, the moment he heard her yelp? He couldn’t really feel sorry about it, now could he, hurting people was his life’s mission and devotion! No, he DIDN’T feel sorry, he might feel a little uneasy, that’s all! There was a reason why he preferred to kill his victims swiftly without giving them a chance to realise what happened. Whining could tear at any man’s heartstrings, there was no shame in it. Best to avoid it altogether!
Gladly that hurtful experience had not shushed her altogether – though Éamonn couldn’t quite believe he was actually feeling grateful for this show of defiance. Well, if anything, it made him be set on terra firma again.

“Me against the situation?” he raised his chin proudly and his tone gave away a not tiny amount of his usual arrogance. “Well I race against ‘situations’ all the time and I can assure you: I win!” Was he overly full of himself? Nah, he just knew what he was worth and he wasn’t going to hide it. Hiding your light under a bushel had never worked in the big family he had come from, lest you got completely overlooked.
This whole situation might be a total moment of madness, but it didn’t mean he could not make the best out of it while he was there. Sooner or later he would have to convince this foolish girl to keep quiet about his whole affairs and she better did so with bearing in mind all he was capeable of. “You can cconsider yourself lucky you’re still alive, girl, so you better act on it. How about showing a little gratitude?” His eyes smiled again, oh he loved taunting people like that, only that he had never done it while on business before. Combining those two passions seemed rather… thrilling.

Hmm… whatever he had tried to achieve with his outburst, he had surely made her change her attitude and behaviour, if only for a little. Gone were the claws of the wildcat, she sounded almost soft when she told him about his eyes. Hmm… ‘eyes show one’s hidden secrets’, he didn’t like the sound of that, not at all. He couldn’t afford to reveal any of things he hid inside! What was she, some prophetess witch that could read in someone’s eyes like someone else did read hands?
“You’re only digging your grave deeper”, he sighed and let his trained body keep her in place. It was not an altogether unpleasant feeling, but for the moment it was certainly uncalled for. “Now, with you saying that, I’ll definitely will have to kill you. I can’t risk you walking by pointing your finger at me in broad daylight, now can I? That’s just who I am”, he finished and once again looked down on her. Would she finally show some sign of fear now? Her composure – or was it better called stubbornness? – was remarkable!

“Is there any last wish you have, my dear?” he asked, not sure if he was only joking or really meaning it. Would he be able to kill her now, after all the words that had been spoken. It was wrong… whatever he had learned about killing people is that they better have no personalities for you, just a face, if you even look at it that closely. But this girl had practically thrown her personality straight into his face, he could not ignore it.

[Muse Song ^^]

[†Kazira Astras†]

She held back a pained laugh. the man before her was proud that it was hilarious. If she didn't know royals and most nobility like she did she would have considered him to be one of them. He obviously didn't get her slight innuendo and if he did he wasn't showing anything. She just rolled her icy eyes. it was in situations like this that she wanted to be a normal girl who didn't stick her nose into things that didn't concern her but she decided that if she was that way she wouldn't have left her home when her parents decided to leave. Living with such a small family she once had she didn't feel the need to boast since her sister was to young to understand what was going on at the time. When she was alone though the only way for the other merchants to take her seriously was to be loud and nosy and be able to hold her own in anything that should have happened.

"My my aren't you a proud one assassin." She stated with a dry laugh. She now knew from the way he was talking that he couldn't have been a common thief that was just milling around like a rat. He was an assassin. The way he moved, his intimidation tatics...That didn't work on her. Everything pointed to him being an assassin.

"you're right." She stated demurely with a smile. She leaned against him. "I should be thankful that you haven't killed me." She was hoping to throw him off even just a bit to get him away from her. She was feeling odd. Her skin was tingling and she didn't know why. Even if she had to act like someone she was not she was going to her him away from her. Her throat was sore now from all of her yelling. She was surprised that no one had come running to investigate. it wasn't as if she was quiet about yelling profanities and insults at the man before her. she allowed a pretty blush to skin her cheeks and raised on her toes and she placed a chaste kiss on his masked cheek. and whispered softly. "Thanks you." before going back to her toes.

She felt her powers build at the threat that he made. she wasn't sure if he truly meant it but she was weary but hid it very well in her eyes and posture. She didn't want him to catch the hint. "Like i said if you had wanted to kill me you would have done so earlier. You've had so many chances to silence me." She stated calmly but the words held the hard edges of a blade. "If you have to kill me then kill me. It is your job after all." She stated as she pushed him off of her with surprising strength. She bent down and grabbed the dagger with her slightly injured hand, it still stung, and one of his and placed the handle in his hand hoping that he would take the blade, then she pressed the blade to her neck her hand slightly holding the hilt.

Kazira stood there with no fear showing in her eyes. "My last wish would be to see your face." She stated simply. She saw nothing wrong with this seeing as if he was going to kill her he wouldn't have to worry about her telling anyone who he was. not that she would but he didn't know that. She really had only walked in to cure her curiosity of the strange sounds but he made a bigger deal out of it than she thought he would especially if he had been an actual thief. She wondered what he would do. The dagger than she had forced on him suited him rather well. The dagger itself was black with a silver hilt. On the hild was a panther with ruby eyes. She had that commissioned years ago as a present for her father. She felt that it would be an honor to die by something of her own. The upside to this for the mystery man before her was that the dagger was hers so she could have killed herself in a strangers home. though that could raise suspicion but it wasn't for her to decided how the man would act.She tilted her head waiting for his choice.

---

Muse song ^^ (Dont ask how i got what i got out of this song ^^

[Éamonn Goronwy]

So she called him proud? Well, that didn’t faze him. He didn’t mind being proud, you could almost say he was proud to be proud. It was who he was and hadn’t he got any reason to be? It took skill to become as renowned as he was, even if it might not be the most respectable reputation. It had not kept him awake at night until yet, so why should he feel bad about it? Conscience was something for people who could afford it. Killing was a craft like hunting was, and no one ever scolded a huntsman for killing his game.
“You call it proud, I call it living up to a reputation”, Éamonn said, cocking his head to the side, then leaning closer to her, whispering as if he was about to give away a dark secret – which it might as well be. “They call me ‘The Shadow’ you know. That might ring a bell.”
Well, he couldn’t be sure, but with her seemingly bearing such confidence around his like, she might have already stumbled over some dark folk and lived to tell. And around these people his name surely DID bear a reputation!

Whatever he had expected to happen, surely not… this. He was glad the mask obscured his face for at the sudden moving on her part and the rather… unusual outcome he blushed bright like a schoolboy. What was this minx doing to him? Surely that had been planned! Was she trying to soften him up, or catch him off guard, so he would suddenly find out he had a conscience and let her go? Well, she could wait long for that!
And still… of course he had hinted at something like that, but he had imagined her to breathe fire and throwing another tantrum like she had done before, not that she would actually… kiss him… albeit on the cheek, but still… who would kiss the man that was about to kill you? And why did it make him feel so… queasy?
He was in loss of words, he could only look at those icy blue eyes, wondering what on earth had come over her.

When she blurted all this out and shoved him back Éamonn was almost willing to let her go. That would surely spare him the choice. It would hurt to be overpowered by a mere girl, however spiteful she could be, and it might be the most foolish thing he had done in all his life as it could surely but an end to it soon enough if she talked, but then again… wouldn’t it just be for the best? Even when she bent down for the knife, he didn’t understand her purpose, reckoned she wanted to fight – that was more like the girl he had come to know anyway – and it took a while to dawn on him fully what she was doing. Only when he felt the familiarity of a knife in his hand he understood, and it filled him with dread and calmness alike – a very unsettling feeling. She was right, it was what he did. Killing was his job, and she was an obstacle in his way. The son of his victim might be able to keep the present residents of this household occupied, but how long until someone else on the street was alarmed by their heated arguments? He had no intention of leaving a bloody trail here.

“Seriously, do you have a death wish?” he asked, staring at her. He had never met anyone quite as courageous in the very face of death. She was a mystery to him – how sad it would soon come to an end.
“That’s only fair”, he obliged to her wish and while his right hand still held the knife to the side of her neck without his fingers trembling (imagine if!) his left slowly reached up and pulled the mask from his face, revealing his true self to her. What would she think of him? He half hoped to see some reaction in her bewitching eyes.
“And now that you know my face, I would wish for your name”, he added before he even knew what he was saying. What had come over him?! Asking the name was a no-go! It was the last piece of the puzzle that made her human, a being, not just a victim! Still, the words were out, he could not take them back. Gods help him!

[†Kazira Astras†]

She gazed at him with a cocked brow. Yes she knew who The Shadow was. It wasn't as if she was living under a rock. his reputation had spread quickly to the shores. If you hadn't heard of the shadow then you had a surprisingly sheltered life. But that didn't mean that she was impressed. She had actually thought he would be bigger or something.

"You know I've heard of you. She stated. "I thought that you'd be a bit bigger." She shrugged carelessly like the situation wasn't about life or death. "guess that goes to show you that rumors aren't all they're cracked up to be." She shrugged again thinking back to his earlier words. Living up to reputations can get someone killed. mainly yourself if you arent careful. I get being proud of yourself but that just leads to cockiness and that leads to someone being an ass."

While she wast a master seductress like many of the women that she had met who could use their charms like master swordsmen but she knew he little kiss had some effect on him. what she didn't expect was the fact that she had enjoyed it as well. What was going on with her! Of course she had met several hundred handsome men but that didn't mean that she swooned over them. She had looked at the man's face and saw a flash of... queasiness?What was that for? This man she just count figure out. Oh she knew quite a bit about this little persona that he had but nothing substantial. Most of it was just rumors and speculations about who he was, why he chose the profession, and who he killed.

She watched him silently as he pulled down the mask. He was quite handsome. "Its to bad you hide behind a mask." She thought absently shifting her weight to her other leg. She was getting rather impatient. If the man was going to kill her then why didn't he just get it over with already. She huffed slightly in irritation. Did she have a death wish? Nope and she stated as much. If was part of his job to kill obstacles not have conversations with them and she knew that she wouldn't match him without using her powers and that was something that she wawasn'twilling to do. She was fighting them right now. She didn't want to use her fire cause that will draw more suspicion of arson inCamelott and them being the people inside would draw suspicions to what they had been doing in a home that was not their own. If she used water well that would just be mysterious and the mention of witch craft will be whispered to the king...it was aprecariouss position that she had put herself in.

“And now that you know my face, I would wish for your name”

What an odd request... She furrowed her brow in confusion. He wasnt acting at all like his description of the ones who manage to even catch a glimpse of him. He wanted to know her name in exchange for seeing his face? She laughed softly. What an odd man he was, Finlay though she told him her name. "My name is Kazira Astras. Mercenary and trader extortioner!" The last part was stated more as a joke than anything else. Granted those were her occupations but she didn't see the point in not making fun of them and with that herself. It was just something that seemed right at the moment and she let a smile rest comfortably on her lips completely ignoring her dagger at her neck but not ignoring the possibility that she might die here. "Why the odd request Shadow?" She asked simply using his pseudo-name because she didn't have anything else to call him other than 'idiot,' and she didn't foresee him taking to that name very well...not that she blamed him...who reacted well to being called an idiot?

[Éamonn Goronwy]

Another jab at his ego. The gods only knew how many he could still take. But then again, should he really take this as an insult? Didn’t he know very well how rumors could inflate a man, until his reputation was far from his real self, beyond recognition even sometimes. Now could he blame them for making him bigger than he was, with all the things he had achieved? For all he knew mothers could be scaring their children with him! The thought was rather amusing.
“Bigger? You mean like a giant?” he managed to sound mildly amused. He would not give her the satisfaction of seeing him all riled up about something she said. He was so above that! And anyway, he was content with his size, standing over six feet. “Let me assure you that a man has no need of brawniness when he can have swiftness and stealth instead. A bigger man can’t climb walls without making a sound. A bigger man might not tread around a house at night without being seen.”

As for her all but calling him cocky and an ass, he could not let that slip by quite so easily. This girl had no idea of what it was like to live his life, didn’t know an inch of what had made him become what he was now, so how dare she assume. She reminded him too much of his sister Léan with her oh-so-witty and know-it-all attitude. Éamonn couldn’t stand such behaviour on people and he always seeked to put those people into their rightful places.
“I don’t see why you should concern yourself with my manners or my behaviour, wildcat!” he stated, but it didn’t come out half as sharply as intended. Why couldn’t he be mad at her, really mad at her like he should be? Comparing her to Léan should have done the trick, surely!

Éamonn told himself he saw a little flicker in her eyes when he pulled off his mask. He had half expected her to try something in that split second he had been occupied, and why she didn’t so was as deep a mystery to him as the sea between Albion and Eire. How could anyone just stand by and wait for his death to occur? But that’s just what she did and once again he couldn’t help but admire her strength and willpower. It was truly a shame he would have to end her life now, as promising as it was. However, there was no escaping it, was there?
Kazira… that was her name and what a fitting name indeed. Éamonn could not tell why it seemed to fitting to him, let alone express it in real words. He was not that much of a talking person, despite his bragging, but he leaned heavily on feelings and intuition.
Smiling at her peculiar self-mocking way of depicting her trade, he did not answer her question, as he couldn’t tell the reason himself. Instead he bowed his head almost in reverence and gripped the handle of the knife tighter.

“Well then, Kazira Astras, it has been a pleasure indeed. I would like to assure you that I will kill you swiftly. You will feel no pain.”
This he said with a smooth, almost velvet-like voice, as if he wanted to ease her last seconds on earth, like a butcher talking to a horse to keep it from rearing. But he meant it, he realised with a great deal of surprise, he really did not want her to feel any unnecessary pain.
Tension mounted up in him to an almost unbearable height, moving into his arm and the hand still holding the dagger. He would have to release this tension by cutting her throat, he knew that. One last look into her beautiful icy blue eyes and then he would fully concentrate on the finely crafted dagger in his hand, the panther with the ruby eyes. Better that way…

Another second trickled by and still nothing happened, the tension making his whole body rigid and on the verge of trembling. What was he doing? He had to kill her, he should… - he couldn’t! That he realised with sudden clarity and it send him almost recoiling. Éamonn Goronwy, called The Shadow couldn’t kill this girl before him and the Gods knew why!
The tension needed a relief, and quickly as he was about to burst. And so, without any thought at all, he let go of the knife, muttering one breathless “Madness…!” and bent down to press his lips on hers.

[†Kazira Astras†]

She laughed mentally. This was the oddest conversation that she has had yet...with anybody."Compared to me you are a giant if you hadn't noticed." She stated with amusement. it was true the man was over 6 feet! that was huge compared to her 5'5". Most women she knew were taller than her! she intently listened to his statement about brawniness.

"Why climb the wall when you can just go through it? Why would the man need to sneak about the house at night? What would he want of value or point?" She asked calmly. She shifted her weight again but this time felt the small prick of her blade. Why had she sharpened it again?? Oh yeah it had been dulled from disuse and her traveling across the seas didn't help it at all. Her eyes glanced lovingly to the blade. She did miss her father. he would have probably lashed out at her for how she was acting in the situation but then congratulate her for her cool head afterward. Her mother would just roll her eyes and tell her to quit playing and just finish up and her darling little sister would just giggle at her.

Wildcat? her? hm mm what an interesting name...I'll have to use it at some point. she thought absently it had a nice ring to it,. She looked him square in the eyes. "what i said had nothing to do with you per say." She stated sternly. "It was a general comment." I know plenty of people who have been tortured or worse killed for trying to live up to a reputation!." She growled the last part out through gritted teeth. She took a deep breathe to calm herself she didn't need any late night passersby to hear her. Especially the guards, that would just cause so much more trouble.She didn't know why she was going to say this to a stranger but it was a valid point to how things end up because of ones own cockiness. "My entire family has been wiped of the face of Albion. All because of ones cowardice and pride." she muttered. Not as loudly as she would have liked. "I've been tortured because of my pride and cockiness. Do not think that you know why i say these things and don't deny that they aren't true. I don't care what life you live or how you live it. I don't care if you even have an evil twin out there who is trying to take of the world." Hse held back frustrated tears. "never-mind. you're probably not even listening to me anyways." She stated after wards. She stood up straighter the stinging of tears gone but her eyes were rimmed red from holding them back she could feel the water drip from her fingertips. it was barely noticeable to someone unfamiliar with magic, especially elemental magic, most of all hers. She calmed down. This man was one of the few who unknowing could set her off into a tangent. He father always did say that she had a big mouth and now it seemed as if she was sticking her foot into it.

She watched with furrowed brows as he ignored her question and gripped her dagger in his hand. She was sure that if he wasn't wearing gloves that his knuckles would be white. Her hand moved on its own to touch his and she couldn't seem to stop herself. her fingers brushed lightly over the hand almost in a calming motion hoping to calm him. she smiled lightly at his small declaration that she he would kill her quickly. Anything even the most agonizing torture would be quick for her anymore. "What if i want it to be painful?" She mused wondering how he would react," to show that i was human enough to feel? To feel that i did once live?" She finished looking at him welcoming the inevitable death that was sure to come. Seconds moved on as hours and nothing had happened she saw him tense up but do nothing it seemed to get worse. She gasped when she felt his lips of her and heard the dagger clatter to the floor and her hands moved to rest on his chest. The only warning that something had changed was the breathless word, "Madness."

Her mind reeled. What was going on? Why hadn't he killed her? So many questions passed through her mind in those few moments before she closed her eyes and kissed him back. Enjoying the moment while it lasted. Seeing as to how it was her first kiss...not that anyone knew that and she wasn't about to blurt that out.

[Éamonn Goronwy]

She didn’t seem to understand, questioning even the most basic of his actions. Why would he climb walls, why would he sneak around a home? Because that was what an assassin did for crying out loud! Was she really out to ask why he had become what he was now, his motives of being a hired killer? Since when had that become any of her concern? He had taken up the role of assassin because there simply seemed nothing else for him to do. Éamonn could be swift, he could be strong, and above all, a human life didn’t mean as much to him than it meant to others – what other profession was there more suited to this character than that of an assasin? And why did he suddenly feel the need he had to prove this to this strange girl, justify his actions even? It was more than confusing, it was infuriating!

“It might have slipped your awareness, but this is simply what an assassin does. He climbs walls, he sneaks around rooms and he kills people. That is the end of it! Sometimes a dead body can be of great value to someone else, you know?”
He perhaps sounded more defensive than he had intended to. This girl really could get under his skin with all her nosy questions. Éamonn was not sure what he should make of that particular fact. She surely would not change him into a better man or some similar rubbish, the sheer thought was ridiculous. He would not begin to question himself just because she had a mind of her own, apparently unwilling to accept the most simple facts of life. People lived, people died and sometimes there were other people lending a hand in their death to assure another person’s better life.

To say he was surprised at her outburst would be an understatement, Éamonn was shocked. She said it with fervor, alright, but almost in a detached manner, as if she was not talking about herself, and that was what shocked him most. To think… her family wiped out, that was a tragedy that occurred to many, but herself… tortured? It wasn’t far-fetched, seeing as deeply as she had enraged him already, he could imagine some less lenient soul than himself jumping at the opportunity to teach her a lesson that way. Still, the sheer thought was so revolting to him he hardly could believe it, and he was by no means ready to respond to this in any way.
As he also couldn’t look her straight into the face after what she just had spilled, his eyes settled on an oddity he couldn’t quite figure out. Her fingertips… were they dripping? With what?! There was no reasonable explanation he could think of!
“I am listening…” he objected absentmindly, as his eyes still were glued on the little wet spot now forming on the floor.

Her next statement only added to his puzzlement, and his free hand actually gripped her shoulder impulsively, to support the gravity of his words.
“Kazira, what ARE you talking about?! You sound like a walking corpse and yet I find you the fullest of life I ever came across! What made you like this?”
This only supported his determination of not killing her. If only to prove her wrong. He had not been lying when he said that to him she was the epitome of life. And wasn’t that the only thing by which a deathly creature like himself could be defeated: sheer, utter life? Yes, there was that word, if not spoken out then at least in his mind: defeat. He had to admit it now. Kazira had gotten the better of him!

Kissing her was like nothing he would have expected. He had kissed many a girl in his life as a daring travelor – he assumed the aura of mystery around him he never could quite leave even when not posing as The Shadow drew them in – and so this should not be any differen for him. And yet it was.
All the more surprised Éamonn was when Kazira did not object to his daring approach, but in fact kissed him back. It filled him with an odd mixture of feelings: relief, surprise, passion, daring; he hardly could restrain himself, and for one rare moment in his life he didn’t even want to. He deepened the kiss, moving his hand slowly behind her head to steady it, so she won’t get hurt by the hard stone wall she was still pressed to. It was a dangerous game they were both playing, very dangerous indeed, but Éamonn had no mind of ending it just now.

[†Kazira Astras†]

She quirked a brow at him again. She wasn't missing the point. She was just stating whatever came to mind at the moment."is it all they do?" She asked quietly trying to not cause a ruckus anymore....maily because she didn't need someone to come bursting in with the guard. That wouldn't bode well for either if them at the moment. "Is it really? Or are they no better than i. killers for hire?" She paused she clenched her hand trying to stop the water that was slowing forming a puddle below them. "That body may Be something of value to the client but what about the assassin themselves? Do they truly hate humanity so much they would kill for a bit of pocket change." She stated more loudly than she had wanted to. God this man was driving her crazy. not everything was so cut and dry as he seemed to think that it was." What i am trying to say is what do you get out of it besides money? do you feel no remorse that you may have left a family alone without a father' a husband?." She asked her eyes glowing again. "I will not ask you to change simply because its not my place...and i highly doubt that you would from what i know of you and the reactions here tonight." she stated calmly. " But one more thing...Why dont they just use the front door?" okay now she was being facecious it wasnt a serious question but she wondered what his answer would be all the same.

How could one man drive her so completely to her breaking point and and why in the realms of gods did she tell him about her family and her torture?! She hadn't told any human being that...not even her best friend Cole. No one knew the pain that had endured because she had said no to a job that no professional assassin would take. She even had the scars on her back to prove it. They were unique designs. She wouldn't doubt her captors they were creative not letting the scars show that she had been tortured cruelly and more likely got a bad tattoo. They were in figure eights lined from the nape of her neck to the dip of her back. on her ribs were symbol of the elements carved deep. The only thing that was out of pace were the whip marks that seemed to cross them out. Her hair had been cut extremely short. The word daor was carved on her wrist which she kept easily hidden by her arm guards and her dress sleeves. She highly doubted anyone here would know what it meant since it was Irish. She had never been to Ireland but hes had traveled up to the border oc Cendred and they hadn't taken kind to her outspoken nature and refusal to kill a Noble man's daughter. She scoffed at the thought. not realizing that he had spoken. She blinked and saw that he was staring at her fingers. She hidden them subtly behind her pants. no reason for him to start asking questions.

She had looked away from him after her outburst still not believe that she told him some of her past. her eyes widened and softened. Well that was certainly not what she was expecting from him. The hand on her should felt natural. Which was a somewhat odd concept to her.

“Kazira, what ARE you talking about?! You sound like a walking corpse and yet I find you the fullest of life I ever came across! What made you like this?”

A walking corpse yet so full of life? That was[/] something that she hadn't heard before. She looked from his arm to him and gave a self deprecating smile. "my dear assassin." She started with a grim smile. "Torture can do this to a person. Make them the walking dead." She stated with a shrug. "But I've learned to move on despite how i felt. I mean what would have been the point there's no honor in killing yourself because of something that happened in the past right?" She asked toning her voice down again. Casually leaning her head on his arm. Not realizing that that was a very intimate act to someone looking it...it mant that she trusted him but when in reality his arm was just extemely convinient and comfy. "Bsides, i haventl felt human or even full of life for a long time." She mumbled almost inaudibly.

***

She felt his lips move against hers with experience guiding the way. not hat she hadn't kissed someone (lie) but it had been more of a distraction than anything else. But his was something different her eyes were closed and the emotions that she felt at the moment were abundant ranging from surprise, pleasure, shyness, daring, and caution being the last. But even as those emotions crossed her mind they were soon forgotten when she felt his and slip behind her head as they leaned against the wall for support. She let her self fall into the kiss her arms moving up and wrapping around his neck loosely. What they were doing could be dangerous to both of their healths. She idly thought about not even knowing his name but the thought was fleeting. Che had no desire to stop and ask him lest the moment be ruined. Kazira let her sense wander and so she didn't realize that there were footstep approaching the home that they were currently, until she heard voices.

[Éamonn Goronwy]

How could she say all that to him?! How was he supposed to take it? She was laying his life out in front of them both, prodding and picking on the weak spots, exposing them for him to see. Éamonn was not an imbecile, he knew very well that what he did for a living was a disgrace, and he would be a liar if he said he was actually proud of it. Proud of his abilities, yes, and more than that! Proud to bear the reputation he had, people depending on him if they wanted this done cleanly and without any hassle for them. Proud to actually kill? Oh no he wasn’t! Only a madman would enjoy the killing itself! It had taken some years to get completely numb about this whole issue, but now she was right, it didn’t matter to him at all.
“It’s not about hate!”[/color], he stated firmly and shook his head. “I would call it indifference. My life means nothing to them so why should their life mean anything to me? And just so you know”, he lowered his voice into a hiss of contempt. “It’s often enough those ‘left behind’ that are so very ready to give me my orders to kill. I should know! So don’t be so quick with your judgement girl, if you don’t know half of the world you’re condemning!”

She had made him very angry alright, but her last question was actually more amusing than accusing. Despite the answer he had just given her, full of annoyance and contempt, he felt his mischievous side now tugging at his mind, wanting to ease the tension of the subject with a quip. He was, after all, not taking this serious, was he? She had no right of meddling in his business and that was the end of it!
“Why? Because where would be the fun in that?” he joked, winking. It was also true to a certain extent. Using the front door when you could scale a wall and crawl through windows, like the shadow that gave him his name? If you had to kill people then you could at least milk it to the last drop!

The more Kazira told Éamonn about herself, the more he realised he had totally misjudged her. She was not only a nosy girl, apparently daring enough to meddle with an assassin, but she was a woman with a troublesome past, having more on her plate than he ever had thought possible. And it made him feel in such strange ways he hardly could wrap his head around it. He felt annoyed to be burdened with such knowledge, but that annoyance was fiercely crowded out by a feeling of pity towards her – and oddly enough no condescending pity – and anger, flaming hot anger towards the people who had done this to her. He wanted to make them pay! Best strangle them with his mere hands – but why?
“Well then, maybe being close to death will revive you, Kazira!” he mused in a low voice, finding the paradox in his talk rather appealing. “Don’t they say in one of their prophecies, death shall bring life?”

He might be losing himself fastly in this passionate kiss – and the Gods knew he was! – but he was too much a creature of danger to not be alert in his senses at anytime, even now. Éamonn had just begun to get even bolder with his exploring, moving his lips away from her mouth and over the delicate skin of her throat when he heard it: Steps. Steps and muffled talking, approaching fast! It felt like a block of ice was gliding into his stomach and all wuthering emotions cooled off fast as his thoughts started to race. It could only be the merchant and his wife coming home earlier than expected, they mustn’t find any trace of him here. He had checked, there was a backdoor, leading into an inner courtyard.
It was a dangerous game, but it was his only chance. Their only chance, of course he couldn’t leave Kazira here, though she might lower his chances of getting away unseen.
The assassin broke away from the woman he had just kissed, hissing: “Come! Fast! No sound!”

[†Kazira Astras†]

She let out a soft laugh at his second answer but it in turn died down. Something about what he had said didn't sit right with her. Why would someone hire an assassin to kill their family. She blinked. Gah Kazira you are so stupid! Why else would they kill off their family? Its for power position and money. you've seen it plenty of times with the nobility and royal courts! her mind hissed at her making her sigh. She was being stubborn but she couldn't help it. "What makes you think that they wouldn't care for your life?" She asked looking away from him. "Who says that your life is less then theirs." She paused and looked at him. "What i am saying is not a judgment! The questions are asked because the last encounter with an assassin i had to kill them!" She shouted. She still felt bad about it. While being a mercenary you see and do a lot of things that you weren't proud of. The assassin that tried to kill her sister- for god knows why!- Kazira killed. it had been only a younger girl a few years younger than her 15 years. She did some research and found out her "name" was Ruby, a druid girl! Kazira had gone into a depression after that and soon after her family was taken from her. "You're right i dint know of the world of assassins but that's why i ask the questions everyone is so scared to death of asking themselves!" She said clenching her had till her knuckles were white. but she forced herself to relax. Now was not the time to get riled up...Especially when they were in someone else home.

This man infuriated, confused, and surprised her all at the same time. he was a cocky twit but then considerate to her past. Which even she still didn't know why she brought it up.

There were so many things that she could say that may infuriate him. And apparently she already head if the anger she saw in his eyes was anything to speak of. She almost hesitantly moved her hand and place it over his beating heart. She wanted him to calm down so she said the first thing that came to her mind,"Calma síos mo assassin. Socair." It was Irish and from the accent in his voice he was Irish as well. "Calm down my assassin. Calm. there is nothing to be angry about." She stated in hushed tones. She honestly didn't know why she had reverted to her parents native language but it seemed to be soothing if not to him then to her at the least. It had been a while since she spoke the language it was almost refreshing. She looked up to him and smiled. "Maybe being close to death its self would do me some good?" She softly laughed again. "With Death there is Life, because Death is only the beginning no?"

She felt his lips on her throat and she felt the warmth leave when the voices were louder, still not clear. With the dread and coldness she felt that his targets had arrived sooner than he had planned? Her hazed mind cleared almost instantly as skillfully pulled his mask back over hsis face. In this area she knew exactly how to react except how did he expect her not to make noise when her boots were the heaviest thing on her body. An idea popped into her head as she pushed him away slightly and bent down and slid of her shoes and stockings. She was much quieter barefootthan she was when she had shoes on. She saw an open wardrobe. She slipped past him with no noticeable sound and easily hid the shoes amonst the ridding boots. "I'll have to come back for them at a later time. walking carefully on the balls of her feet she was back to the wall peeking out the window and grimiced.

"That has got to be the ugliest man that i have ever seen!" She muttered. The merchant was a fat man that was dressed in the horrid colors of purple and a greenish yellow. His shirt had strpies going vertical with the two colors alternating. He wore brown pants, white stocking and what looked to be dancer shoes. His wife on the other hand, while not the most gorgeous thing that she had laid eyes on was rather pretty. She had auburn hair wrapped in a braid with a dark purple gown. She wore a small silver chain and a beaded bracelet. At least she knows how to dress she thought absetnly. The son was rather handsome but not the type that she preferred. He had short cropped auburn hair like his mother and he wore a white shirt with a brown vest pants and boots. It was a rathr plain ansamble but much better than his tasteless father.

"I stand corrected...kill the man if not for his horrrod fashion sense." she muttered to him. "So where to oh great shadow?" she asked. "as far as i see it there is a back door but where that leads isnt so forthcoming?" She looked at the door before whispering fanacht faoi ghlas. her eyes flashed with her magic and hoped that it would do for now. Turning on her fot she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the back not making and sound. her feet were going to murder her for this since the wood wasnt weathered and rough but she could deal with the pain and ignore it till she was back at camp. Why did she have to go out that night of all nights!

"Come on. you're the one that wanted to leave!" She mouthed noticing that the family had reached the door. She idly wondered where they had gone for such a long amount of time but pushed it aside. All she wanted to do now was get out of the house with hands and life in tact,

[Éamonn Goronwy]

Éamonn was not in the mood to answer any more of her delicate questions, they scraped too much on things that should never be touched if you want to remain sane. He couldn’t start questioning his life now, no, and why should he? They all made him out to be the culprit, the murderer, but wasn’t he nothing more than a tool in their hands? THEY were the ones with murderous intentions, they wanted the people he killed gone. Could you blame a sword for not refusing to strike the deadly blow? Could you blame the arrow for not missing its target? No, you couldn’t, simple as that! It was ridiculous to even debate the subject, and apparently Kazira was either more naïve than he first had thought or she was simply too stubborn to let the subject go now she had warmed up to it.
Her next statement though made him raise his eyebrows in an almost incredulous expression. She – killing an assassin! What a bad one would that have been? Real assassins were not killed by girls, however ferocious their nature! He could only just refrain from from chuckling, as that would have made her angry, he was sure of it. And right now he wasn’t in the mood for any other needless argument about women and their capabilities. Tht was the last he needed, really.
“I wouldn’t call it ‘scared’ that they don’t ask these questions”, he stated, hoping to end this unsettling thread of conversation with it. “I’d call it reasonable. Some things are just not open to discussion!”

Kazira calmed him and Éamonn felt oddly reassured by her hand on his heart. Normally he hated being touched, especially when he was all in a rage, he normally lashed out to the people who were dumb enough to try. But not so with her. It felt even nice, in a way…
His composure though was wiped away by the words she spoke. Gaelic! His mother tongue! He hadn’t thought it possible, but hearing it after such a long time shook him to the bone. This language held too many memories, none of them very pleasant… and still… it made him feel.. longing?
"Cén chaoi fhios agat as Gaeilge? How do you know Gaelic?” He exclaimed, in a hushed tone but every word revealing his shock and eagerness to know. “Cé as tú? Freagra mé! Where are you from, answer me!” He took Kazira’s hand that rested on his heart and almost squeezed it too tight, his eyes holding hers in a hard lock, his look feverish.

Éamonn was reassured when Kazira showed almost no sign of panic. He would have hated to slap her or anything to get her to reason, and he also could not deal with a millstone around his neck – which gladly enough she wasn’t! She even had enough consideration to remove her boots and hide them where they, with luck, would not be detected anytime soon. It was better at least than giving their presence away with thumping heels on the wooden floor.
Then again, why was she walking over to the window, the foolish woman?! “Come away there!” he hissed, but couldn’t surpress a loutish grin as she commented on the man’s style. Brash and witty in the face of danger – he liked that! “Your wish shall be my command, but please come now!” he urged her. “The backdoor leads to a courtyard with a wall that faces the street, easy to climb!” He paused, then grinned. “I’ll help you!”

When she muttered the words and he saw her eyes flash, he stood there for a second, dazed. So she had magic, too? She was from Ireland, she had magic and she had come across assassins before? How more similar could two people get?! It was too good to be true… almost scary, as if he was dreaming!
But that couldn’t get in the way of his professionality now, he had a skin to save… two skins to be precise! So he darted after her, opening the backdoor as quietly as he could, rolling his eyes back at her, when she turned his own statement on him. What a cheeky one she was… and yet everything in him yearned to hold her close again…
Then, just as he was about to leave, his eyes fell on the two throwing stars still stuck in the wall were Kazira’s head had been. Cursing underneath his breath, he extended his hand, the time was too short to run back. “Úpflíehaþ!” The stars flew towards him, and he held his breath. Would they make it in his hand in time?

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. She knew that with every statement that came out of her mouth his mood would get worse showing that he wasn't pleased with all of her inquiries but she couldn't help but be stubborn. Dont blame her blame her father! It was his blood that was running through her veins! She bit her tongue and looked away from him. "Let him think what he wants she thought. "Assassins aren't immortal no matter how many think that they are. They can slip up and she defiantly did. She stated softly, more to herself than to him. "Reasonable? how is it reasonable to not ask why you're doing it?" She asked in a soft voice laced with confusion as she turned her eyes back to wards him the confusion was in her eyes.

She felt the steady rhythm of his heart under her palm. It was strong and steady even when he was angry it hadn't changed much. Her eyes closed at the feeling. It was calming. She was surprised that he had allowed her to touch him. She opened her eyes when she heard the shock within his words. Aye; Mo thuismitheoirí mhúineadh dom. My parents taught me." she said in a confused voice. Who else was she going to learn it from? She was surprised at the look in his eyes when he asked her where she was from and when he grabbed her hand. She almost winced but his grip wasn't crushing her hand so it was alright. She felt the warmth seep into her own hand. When she caught his glanced she felt like she couldn't look away. "Tá mé ó Segontium. Tá mo thuismitheoirí ó Quinn. I'm from Segontium and my parents are from Quinn." She stated in a hushed tone unsure of how he would react. She only hoped that he didn't ask about her parents and what they're names were. She didn't want him to know. It was no secret in Ireland about how her parents were high priest and priestess of the ó Cuinn clan.

She let out a dry laugh at his hiss for her to get away from the window. She shook her head but did as she was told it wasn't like they could have seen her in the dark anyways. She growled lightly. "I dont need help climbing the wall, thank you very much." It was times like these that she didn't question using her magic. Why? because one he was a known criminal tough no one knew his alias but it became natural for her to rely on magic in sticky situations like the one that they were in. She did notice the slight pause that he had, she was curious as to what he was thinking. She pushed aside those thoughts until after they were out of there.

She was halfway out the door when she heard the hiss and the spell. and turned and looked at him. He has magic? Time seemed to slow down for her as she watched his weapons fly to him. she looked from the door, the stars, and him and a realization came to her so quick that she wanted to slap herelf for not doing it earlier! "Hide chugainn ó shúile draíochta neamh." She whispered. "Shadow look we dont have much time. The glamour will last until we are at the wall. but we have to hurry." She stated pulling at his arm. And as the door opened she saw the stars land in his outstretched hand. She quietly walked out of the home before dashing towards the wall. She smirked at it this was a pice of cake for her. She quickly climbed it her toes adding an extra grip and jumped over the top landing quietly on the ground holding back a hiss of pain. She had landed on something sharp and she wasnt going to look down to see what it was. She leaned against the wall with with a few small pants coming form her mouth. She couldnt help but wonder if her spell had held or not?

[Éamonn Goronwy]

Éamonn rolled his eyes and sighed at Kazira’s neverending comebacks. ‘Not open to discussion’, that should have told her he was by no means willing to drag the conversation on this topic out. Seemed someone couldn’t take a hint. Not even when it was all but jumping in her face, wielding a knife on whose blade was written: DANGER in capital letters. Hmm… maybe she couldn’t read.
Of course he knew he wasn’t immortal, as an assassin he had been in enough tight spots already to be absolutley clear about that. But he had pulled through each time, with a comfortable mix of skill and luck, and that was the only thing that mattered. He was in no mood to justify his actions, and he though he had made this clear already. Kazira seemed to be someone who couldn’t let something be if her life depended upon it!
“Becauuuse…”, he whispered, dragging the word out for effect. “The more I tell you of my reasons, the more you know me. And knowing the heart of an assassin is always dangerous!”

Segontium… wasn’t that in the country to the west, Cymru, somewhere? Well that explained why she wasn’t in Ireland anymore. Quinn though he did know. Or at least the name… Who in Ireland didn’t know of the O’Cuinn clan, so closely related to the High King himself! But did she belong to this clan? Her cheek and obvious commaning demeanour almost suggested as much, but then, however at war the clans usually were, they would never abandon their own kind to roam England, the hated neighbour that had brought the Romans. It was considered the worst punishment to leave the clan and Eire.
“Tà mé ó Eadán Doire, fadó… I am from Eadán Doire, long ago…”, he said hestitantly. Éamonn wouldn’t have thought it possible, but saying that name still hurt.

Éamonn laughed as well, when she told him she didn’t need help. It was not a derisive laugh, almost good humored. Well, they would see. She might be a big mouth, but he had already caught her doing things he hadn’t expected from any girl. Kazira was different. But he would be there to help her nevertheless. He had inspected the wall first thing he had come here. Always check the escape routes first, was his credo. The wall was by no means an easy climb.
“As you wish, your Highness”, he teased, casting cautious glances between the front and the back door repeatedly. Fun in your work was alright, but you could never let it get in the way of your own safety. “But I’ll be there to say: told you so!”

The stars landed safely in his palm just as he heard an angry hiss from outside and a woman’s annoyed, muffled voice, nagging: Didn’t I tell you to get the door fixed? How parsimonious can a man get if he risks not even getting inside his own home?!’
Biting back a grin, Éamonn tugged the stars away and followed Kazira, closing the back door gently behind him, speeding across the small courtyard towards the ivory-covered wall. It was well 4 metres high, and the stars only knew why a merchant needed such high walls. That’s why he was all the more surprised when Kazira seemed to climb it like a cat would climb a tree, almost without difficulty. She damaged a few ivy leaves and tendrils, given, and before he climbed the wall himself, he picked them up to not leave any traces, but it was still impressing!
The four metres leap down was not an easy one, but he managed, his bended knees and feet balls catching the impact just fine. Kazira, with her bare feet, seemed not in such luck. Éamonn caught a flicker of pain in her eyes and he heard the panting, and his desire to tease her about the ivy tendrils washed away.

Instead, he turned to her, grabbing her shoulders and locking her gaze. “What is it”, he hissed, one ear listening for any shouts of alarm coming from the merchant’s home. “Did you hurt yourself? And no false bravery! Show me!”