Completed Alpine Getaway

[Kasimir]

"As you wish," Kasimir's voice was a rasp as their lips parted for time enough them to exchange the brief words. Then his lips were back on hers and his fingers blazed a trail of heat across her skin. They traced patterns across her back and over her hip where his hand came to rest. Gently he pushed her onto her back before rolling on top of her. One arm braced beside her head and his fingers played through her hair as his other hand slid further up under her tunic.

All he could think about was her. How surprisingly soft her skin was despite the scaly look in places, how the coolness coming off of her actually felt refreshing against his torso. With a groan he pulled back and then curled his fingers about the hem of her tunic. His orange eyes seemed bright even in the darkness of their room as they met hers and gave her a questioning look. He thought he was reading the situation right but he didn't want to push her beyond anything she was uncomfortable with.

 

[Nathaira]

"As you wish."

Those words were going to take on a very different meaning to her from now on. Kasimir delivered on his promise, and his hands were warm, soothing, and sensual. She could feel the strength behind them, the firm yet tender grasping of her back, her shoulders, her hips. Those same hands had lifted her effortlessly on their first job together, and she recalled that familiar feeling as he guided her onto her back.

He was much larger than she was, and although he was not putting his full weight on her she could still feel him close against her. She felt very willingly trapped, and she pushed her body into every stroke of his hands, silently wishing him to venture further while her own arms attempted to circle his shoulders.

This was all entirely new. Contrary to her bedmate, seduction had never been part of her repertoire. She had seen it, of course, she wasn’t a child. On more than a few missions she had caught people in compromising positions. The first few times she had watched in curiosity, it wasn’t exactly a subject the handlers covered in their education. More recently it just made for some entertainment, their faces were always priceless when she caught them unawares.

But now it was happening. It was difficult to think, and she was operating largely on what felt right in this moment. When she looked into Kasimir’s eyes, though, she felt… safe. She knew Kasimir would not betray her trust, and he proved this by the momentary hesitation with her shirt.

There was a moment’s hesitation of her own. Not because she did not want Kasimir to do it (she wanted him to do it very badly), but because a lifetime of being told you are a hideous abomination will make you believe it. She was not like the women Kasimir had been with before. She was not like any woman, as far as she knew. She was cold and her body was made of hard, lean muscle. Her skin had tracts of scale and she lacked any of the curves the noble ladies tried to exaggerate with their gowns.

These thoughts were there, but Kasimir’s eyes burned through them as they burned through the darkness. She knew he wanted this, wanted her. She could see it in his face, feel it in his pulse. Her eyes were on him as she nodded to his silent question, and she hastily tore the garment off over her head before pulling herself fully against him.

 

[Kasimir]

There was a tiny voice in the back of Kasimir's head that had been yelling at him to stop but even that went quiet when Nat tore her own garment off of herself. For a moment all he could do was stare. His eyes trailed over every sensual curve, every mesmerising dip, every bit of lithe muscle that made her the dangerous killer he knew she was. It was like a drug. After his eyes had drunk their fill with reverence his hands began to roam. To touch. To give her what she wanted and worship her like the goddess she was to him. His whole body ached with a need and his lips lowered to press against her lips, the hollow of her throat, further down her body.

He didn't ask when he met other items of clothing, he simply discarded them with the annoyance of someone who was being barred from what he really wanted. The only time he truly paused was when his lips brushed against the inside of her thigh and it was only to look up at her. To drink in the sight of the rise and fall of her chest, before he claimed her with his lips.

Kasimir took his time for the rest of the night. They explored one another like giddy teenagers who had stolen a precious sliver of a alone time together. Pleasure mingled with laughter and... fun. Something knitted between them in that night as fragile as a spiders web and when he fell asleep with her in his arms, Kasimir couldn't help but not care for any of the consequences of their union. For the first time in his life, Kasimir felt happy.

 

[Nathaira]

Nathaira would remember that night for the rest of her life. It was torrid, tender, primal, terrifying, and freeing. For those hours she was his, and he belonged to her. She was led deep, deep into the unknown, but every time she felt herself slipping Kasimir was there to hold her up. It was obvious that she had not enjoyed such comforts before, but never was she made to feel foolish. When she wished to slow down, Kasimir obliged. When she asked for more, Kasimir provided.

It was not like the stolen moments she had witnessed, nor the stories she had overheard. She was glad for this. It was unique to them. Kasimir was exquisite and many moments were graceful, but others were clumsy, whimsical…

Human.

When she did finally let sleep take her, she did so in the arms of someone precious. She was lulled to sleep by the rise and fall of his chest, and a warmth that radiated to her core. For that one precious night, no one else in the world existed.

She didn’t even notice the steady burn in her neck.

She awoke with sunbeams on her face, angled down from the small high window in the stony room. She blinked her eyes open in a daze, and lifted her heavy head. She saw Kasimir’s face, and the flood of memories that followed sent a new wave of joy through her. Part of her had worried it had all been a dream, but it was real, as real as his head on her pillow. She grimaced, though, as her eyes fell to his shoulders and the marks thereon. She supposed she might have gotten a bit carried away, and her nails were not the shortest… oh gods, had she bitten him? If she had it must’ve been dry… he was still breathing after all.

 

[Kasimir]

A slow smile spread across Kas' face. His eyes were still closed but he had been dozing on and off for most of the morning whilst Nat had slept deeply. Yet when he felt her turn towards him he couldn't help giving away that he was actually awake with the slow curve of his lips.

"Are you planning to stare at me all morning?" his voice was husky and still thick with sleep. He cracked open one eye slowly to watch her face in the morning light. It wasn't too early just yet. There was barely any noise coming from downstairs yet aside from the cleaners and staff who were trying to get the place ready for the day. They had time before they would be able to get on any tours or sneak into the prison. So Kas savoured the morning and tightened his arms around her, pulling her in close to the heat of his body.

"You didn't hurt me," the Tiefling murmured, having caught where her eyes went to the marks on his skin. He closed his eyes and gave a sleep smile, nosed gently rubbing across hers. "Did you sleep well?"

 

[Nathaira]

Her face turned a slightly darker shade of green at his words, but it fell into a half smirk as he pulled her in closer. "Yesss," she hissed a reply to his first question, and she let the tips of her tongue flutter at his lips as she drew out the word.

She let her head rest back on his shoulder, and was glad to hear that she had not harmed him. "I sslept very well... once I wass warm." She lifted a hand to lazily trace a finger over his horns. "...and you?" she added after a second or two. She had always been decent at playful banter, but the context was usually grim, a cat toying with its meal before devouring it. To speak plainly with someone close was much different, and she felt a little tongue-tied.

She did not wish to leave the bed. She was plenty warm, having been soaking up Kasimir's near-limitless body heat all night. In fact, she felt quite energized in spite of not having gotten a full night's rest, but at the moment she wanted nothing more than to lie together.

"How long?" she asked abruptly. She kept her head on his shoulder, as she was a little embarrassed by how frivolous the question seemed, but the curiosity had struck her suddenly and fiercely. "How long have you... desired me." She spoke the last words with an absurd imitation of an Anirian noble's accent, as this was the sort of line one might hear in one of those horrible stuffy theaters. She joked, but truthfully she did wish to hear his answer.

 

[Kasimir]

"Very well," Kasimir murmured, enjoying the feel of her hands on his horns and face. The coolness of her skin was pleasant against the heat of his and he leaned into it slightly with his eyes still closed. He was quite content with the idea they both go back to sleep in that moment, their day didn't need to start just yet, and he was beginning to think of other activities they could do to pass away the morning when she asked her next blunt question.

There was a slight marring between his brows as they drew down into a frown. Desire was not the word he would have used, even if she did seem to be making a joke of it somewhat. No... this was... this was something more than simple desire and animalistic lust. Nat stirred something in his heart and stomach. It made him nauseous and excited all at once. He just wanted to be near her, to hear and see and smell her.

Carefully he opened his eyes to search her face.

"I began to recognise them for what they were that day by the River in the Forest of Souls, with Rumer," his arms tightened around her, pulling her closer. "But I think they have been there for longer."

 

[Nathaira]

Nathaira allowed herself to feel a lightness as he spoke and pulled her in. She hoped the question had not come across the wrong way. It would have been easy, since words seemed to fumble over her tongue lately, but Kasimir's answer was reassuring. She met his gaze when he spoke, and a she could not hide that she was pleased. She lifted a leg over his, propping herself up with an elbow and lying half on top of him as she began tracing the tattoos on his chest with her opposite hand.

This was usually when the voice within told her terrible things about herself. Complements could not be taken without appropriate self-loathing. Surely any moment now it would chime in to tell her how she did not deserve his affection. But it didn't. She looked into his warm, orange eyes and could not think a bad thought if she tried.

"I did not realize at firsst, either," she admitted. "I think... it may have been after the Baron..." she was not honestly certain when her feelings had mutated from curiosity to genuine affection, she just knew she had wanted this to happen for a long time. She gazed at the nearest wall for a moment, reliving the past and feeling rather foolish for not acting sooner before looking back to him. "I am glad you recognissed them," she flashed a toothy grin as she lent in to plant another kiss on his lips.

This time she did feel a twinge from the rune, but she resolutely ignored it and refused to acknowledge what it portended.

 

[Kasimir]

The shadows responded in a whole host of different ways to being touched. Some fled across his skin to hide out of sight or reach, others seemed to preen, and some didn't move an inch and might hav even been considered actual tattoos. Kasimir's eyes went to the ceiling and his fingers trailed from her hair down the curvature of her spine and rear before back up again. It was a lazy gesture as if they really were just there for a holiday and not a mission and thus had all of the time in the world.

"I did not want to presume you felt the same way," he said after a moment or two of silence where the only sound that filled the room was the pop and crackle of a dying log. He thought about getting up to heat the room for her but he was reluctant to move; his body heat would have to do for now. Orange eyes bright in the morning light turned back down towards her. "We are playing a dangerous game, I do not want to see you hurt," his hand came up to rest tenderly against her cheek. There was a pained look in his face as he spoke though it didn't quite touch his silken voice.

If they were caught he would have to come up for a reason for which only he got the punishment.

 

[Nathaira]

She enjoyed watching the shadows dance across his body. They were extraordinary, and she looked forward to getting to know them better. Well... most of them. Some looked particularly frightful, and she would just as well avoid their attention. She enjoyed the feeling of his hand on her back. The morning was cool, but not unbearably so, and she thought little of it. All she wanted to think about was Kasimir, although she knew they would need to leave this bed eventually.

She pondered his words. How would she have reacted if he had revealed his true feelings for her earlier? She probably would have returned his feelings... but she might not have believed him depending on the circumstances. It didn’t matter, what had happened happened and he did not think her a monster. That was good enough.

His hand guided her face to look at him, and she saw that his face was bent with worry. Her brows tilted with a sympathetic expression, dark slits in amber eyes peered back at him. She held his hand in hers. ”Ssweet boy,” She hissed pleasantly. ”I am ussed to pain. We all are.” It was her way of saying it was worth it.

She knew what he meant, though, and she shared his concerns. She did not need the nagging rune to tell her how dangerous this was. The handlers would be furious if they found out. A relationship between agents complicated everything and caused distractions. Beyond that, Forsaken lives tended to be short. The pair of them were setting themselves up for tragedy sooner rather than later.

All the more reason to risk it, Nathaira reasoned. She’d made it this far through skill and luck, but death would take her eventually. Why not do one thing to make herself happy? Why not be selfish for a few glorious moments?

”We will be careful,” she said as her tongue danced out in front of his face. His scent was intoxicating... as was another aroma. It came in from beneath the door, and she could not help sampling the air a few more times in that direction.

She turned back to Kasimir. ”Are you hungry?”

 

[Kasimir]

Kasimir thought to say something more but it was simply not his way to speak his mind so openly. Even with her. He had risked enough today and he did not intend to lose her so quickly after he had been gifted with her. His fingers wove little patterns in the language of his feelings across her skin and a small smile tugged at his lips as she spoke of food. In truth it couldn't be further from his mind. His eyes drank her in. The way her hand slid over her shoulders and brushed against his chest, the way she half closed her eyes when scenting the air to close off other distractions.

The way her pulse jumped a little when he brushed over a particularly sensitive spot on her.

"I am content," Kas said bluntly with a voice as smooth as silk. After a moment his fingers came up to graze her cheek and with gentle firmness, turn her face once more towards him so he could claim a kiss. It was a slow, sensual thing which left no room to the imagination what he was actually desiring in that moment.

"But I can fetch us some food if you wish it," anything she wished for, Kas realised, he would attempt for her.

 

[Nathaira]

He was too good for this world. Nathaira's heart soared as he kissed her again, her eyes closing of their own accord as she gave a soft whimper at his touch. How could someone who had endured such horrors be so kind? How could someone so beautiful and capable be content with her? She did not deserve happiness, but here it was all the same. He had given it to her with a glance and she clung to it like a lifeline.

Their lips parted too soon, and she rested her forehead against his, stroking his rough jawline with her thumb. "Don't go," she cooed, not wanting to be apart from him even for a moment. She kissed his cheek. He would feel her heart quicken again, and she noted every minute change in his body temperature.

"Come with me..." she let her body slither over him as her lips moved to his neck, where she could not help a gentle yet feral nibbling of her fangs. "...once we've worked up your appetite." Her hand slid southwards to detect his answer.

They would, of course, need to actually do their jobs at some point and she was indeed hungry, but it was up to Kasimir whether or not to prolong their fantasy just a little bit longer.

 

[Kasimir]

Kasimir's eyes slowly closed as their foreheads rested against one another and they shared each others breaths. If she did not want for him to leave then he would not. His fingers continued their soft play across her skin and gave the barest of nods to show he had heard her request. Breakfast could wait, though wait for what he wasn't entirely sure until she crawled on top of him.

His heart race increased with hers and slowly he opened his eyes to stare up at her. He couldn't help but drink in the sight of her lithe body pressed flush against his. Hesitantly his hands slid from her back to her hips and grasped her there as if he were afraid she were but an illusion that might fade at any second.

A soft groan was torn from his lips as she nibbled at his neck, disturbing his reverent worshipping of her form. His grip loosened and slid up her body as she roved her way down. Kas's breath quickened and quickened until he realised she was about to do exactly as he had thought.

It was at least another hour before the pair separated again. Kas thought he might never know peace again now she was seared into his flesh and mind and soul.

"I would follow wherever you bid me to, Nat," he said softly, rolling onto his side to look at her solemnly.

 

[Nathaira]

Nathaira lay on her back, arms laid back over her head amongst her tangled hair. She could not sweat, but her breaths came fast and heavy, and the vestiges of a smile still pulled at her open mouth. Her head lolled lazily towards Kasimir as he spoke, and she received his words with a crinkle of her eyes and a playful flicker of her tongue.

His words carried weight, frightening weight. She was happy to hear them, of course, and to any ordinary couple they would be a simple profession of devotion and care. To Forsaken, however, they were tantamount to rebellion. Nathaira was not able to control Kasimir, not the way the handlers could. Promising such a thing to her was mutinous.

She rolled over to kiss him again (would she ever tire of it?) and looked at him for a long, silent moment. Her eyes conveyed what her words could not. She wanted to run away with him. She wanted to take him and Rumer and flee into the world where no one could find them. The pain that shot down her spine was a testament to how fiercely this thought had inhabited her, and her entire body jerked as she hissed in surprise. Her fingers tightened on Kasimir's shoulder, and she grit her teeth as the rune's punishment dwindled into tingles.

"Let's start with the breakfast hall, then," she said finally, as if there were any chance that Kasimir hadn't noticed her episode.

 

[Kasimir]

"As you wish."

There had been no mistaking her feelings reflected as they were in her eyes but the sudden seizing of her body had been proof he had been correct. He could offer nothing to help her with that. In fact, his mind began to drift back to the other Tiefling who had tried to help him by removing it but it had ultimately failed. He wished they could run, leave, but it was useless with these Runes in the back of their necks.

So he played his fingers over her skin one last time before gently easing her off of him so that he too could get to his feet. Even Kas was beginning to get a little hungry now.

They dressed and went downstairs where the dwarfish inn keeper greeted them with a cheery good morning and ushered them to a table. The room was filled with patrons - some left over from the night before that Kas suspected just hadn't been fit to get home on their own two feet. They were served up a generous portion of bacon, eggs, thick dwarfish bread and sausages oozing in grease.

"Any plans for ye young lovers today?" The keeper asked as he poured them both some coffee.

"Well we were considering a tour of the mines perhaps... or the vaults. We're absolutely fascinated with your architecture here it is truly beautiful," Kasimir didn't have to put much acting into his compliment - he truly did think the dwarfs were great worksmen.

"Oh, that'll be a great one. 'ere, Percivil over there runs a few of them and when he ain't drunk he's fairly good to listen to."

 

[Nathaira]

She dressed as he did, pulling on the thinner undergarments and then the thick pants up to her hips. She paused here, hands at her waist, as she remembered him holding her there. That had been particularly nice. Then it was a thick woolen sweater and a heavy fur-lined coat, and she was ready to venture out.

She did not pull the hood of the coat up, nor did she cover her face this morning. The dwarves and other travelers hadn't given her many second looks and she was feeling confident today. Besides, she wasn't so poor an assassin that anyone who knew who she was still lived.

Her stomach growled loudly as the meal was laid before them, and her lips cracked fissures up the sides of her face in anticipation. She caught herself, though, and forced herself to eat smaller bites. For all their tolerance, she doubted their hosts would appreciate seeing her slide the entire meal down her gaping throat all at once.

"Oh yess," she added to Kasimir's request. "Esspecially that large one, carved into the wall? With all the spiress." She looked over to Percivil as he was introduced, and honestly couldn't tell if he was drunk or not. Perhaps he just had one of those faces...

She took as sip of the strange drink that was put in front of them. The smell wasn't entirely unfamiliar, but she had certainly never tasted it. She recoiled at first, screwing up her face at the bitterness. "Oh... what iss that?" she asked. The warmth had been lovely, though, and she forced herself to take another sip.

 

[Kasimir]

"Ya ain't ever 'ad coffee before?"

Kasimir shook his head and took a sip of the drink too. The innkeeper looked between the two oddly then nodded at her description.

"Oh 'eck aye, the prison is one of tae finest round 'ere - my great great grandfather actually 'elped build it," he looked rather proud of himself and he wiped down the table though it barely needed doing.

"All o' our great grandpappies did Morgan, ye cannae keep riding on the tailcoats of his success, look at ya now!" Percevil waved a mug in their general direction. Kasimir really hoped it was full of coffee and not ale, though he looked a dubious about his own luck in that regard.

"Could you show us around it today?" he asked innocently. Percevil seemed to consider for a moment then gave a curt nod.

"I 'ave a tour at midday - ye welcome to join it, the pairsa ya, I charge half up front though," he poked a grimy finger into the wood of the table. The innkeeper muttered a few dark words but Kasimir passed over the coppers that would secure their place and everyone seemed to go about their lives as if nothing had happened.

 

[Nathaira]

The bitterness had started to wane, and Nathaira continued to drink for lack of another hot drink. This, combined with the lovely meal, would keep her going for quite a while.

Predatory eyes peered at the bickering dwarves, Morgan and Percevil. The people here were so willing to share their culture and history, it was very generous. If they only knew what that generosity was abetting.

”Ooh, a prison! Honey, that would be exciting.” She reached over to squeeze Kasimir’s hand, absolutely reveling in their acting roles. Of course it was nice to be openly affectionate, but she did take such delight in the deceit. It was a game, and she was quite good at it. ”Thank you,” she said to Percevil with a cheery smile, and he looked only a little bit queasy from her fangs... but it might have been the ale.

She cleaned her plate and internally thanked the gods for delivering her chefs with such skill in frying things. She had begun to warm to the strange new beverage just as it warmed her. The bitterness sat better with food, and soon she had finished it as well.

She was glad they still had a little time before their tour after such a heavy meal. ”I believe I ssaw a market just outside” she spoke to her companion. ”Perhapss we could find something useful?”

She had learned never to underestimate local artisans nor the treasures that could be found at a bazaar. She had once killed a man with a letter-opener bought in Amol-Kalit, which sent the authorities so far astray that she was pretty sure some of them were still combing the desert.

 

[Kasimir]

Kasimir sipped at his drink slowly and surprisingly ... delicately. As if he were afraid that he would burn his tongue or the roof of his mouth. Even when Nat was finished he was only but half way done. At her suggestion he raised his eyes from the steaming mug to look across at her then offered a warm smile and nodded. Part of the act and yet there really was a small glint of joy in his eyes about exploring. This was such a rare opportunity he wanted to take advantage of as much of it as he could.

Once he was finished with his coffee he stood up and pushed the chair back with a slight scrape.

"Maybe we can see about getting you some warmer clothes," he ran his eyes over her with a disarmingly charming smile before offering her his arm. "Or you will just have to stay close now, dear."

 

[Nathaira]

The edges of her mouth tugged upwards at his words and she felt a fleeting touch of nervousness. She felt like she should be punished for taking advantage of their undercover roles. It only helped their story, of course, but inside she knew she was doing something taboo.

She pushed back the heavy wooden seat and stood to take Kasimir's arm. "Thiss coat is sso thick already, if I wore anything elsse I would disappear." Finding warmer garments might be difficult, but if it let her latch on to Kasimir's arm it would be worth it. His smile almost made her forget how to walk for a second.

The outside air hit her face like a mallet, but she had drawn up her scarf and hood in preparation for it. Her eyes watered but she could deal with it, especially with breakfast still warming her from the inside. There were a few stalls set up outside the inn and plenty of peddlers that just laid their goods out on blankets, keeping the light snowfall at bay with burning lanterns.

Suddenly something happened within her. She felt a prickle run up her neck but it wasn't the rune. Her heart had quickened but it wasn't from Kasimir's touch. She all of a sudden felt a very strong need to move and she had a great deal to say out of nowhere. "Ohh, look at all of them! How do they sstand the cold? I love the colors of that blanket- oh, this one has swords!" Her words were coming out much quicker than normal, and she extricated herself from Kasimir's arm and dashed to a dwarf who had laid out a very sparkly collection of stones.

 

[Kasimir]

Kasimir blinked and she was gone. For a moment all he could do was stare after her in bewilderment - had he said something wrong? Saying things wrong was why he chose to not say things more often than not. His brows pulled down into a small frown and he began to trudge after her, examining the items she thrust towards him whilst really trying to examine her. Had the rune suddenly kicked in or had she suddenly realised what they were doing was a fools game?

His heart ached at the idea but he would understand.

How couldn't he understand?

"I like the one with ducks," he announced. The dwarf who had been holding them up to him gave him an odd look as though he couldn't quite tell if the giant Tiefling were joking or being serious. Hesitantly he held it out to him. It was a baby blue colour with yellow ducklings dotted over it. It was the softest thing he has ever touched and he had a hard time keeping his face composed.

 

[Nathaira]

Despite the cold Nathaira felt very energized. Her heart was beating fast and hard, but not unpleasantly so. She did not notice Kasimir's concerned expression, she was too preoccupied with the various offerings of this market. While Kasimir was enjoying a blanket with ducks, Nathaira had managed to already stop at two separate stalls.

She came back to him and wrapped her arms around his, gluing herself to his side. "Oh, that'ss... lovely," she said. She looked from the fabric to Kasimir and back again. "The color complements your complexion." Seeing him in the morning sun, and with all of her senses dialed into overdrive, why, he was the most beautiful creature she'd ever laid eyes on. She might have stared too long, for the dwarf looked between them before chiming in.

"Aye, is good for a wee'un. If you're expectin', we've some other items to keep the child warm."

Nathaira didn't understand what he meant at first. Expecting what? Who's child? Oh... oh! The realization hit her suddenly and her face colored notably.

 

[Kasimir]

Kasimir, ever the embodiment of calm, simply smiled and then set the blanket back down on the stall with a tiny shake of his head, his arm snaking about Nat's waist and gripping her waist to pin her to his side.

"Our little mouse is a bit too big for such things, but thank you," the dwarf nodded to the pair with a smile then turned his attention to another looking at his wares and Kas subtly moved Nat on. The crisp air was surprisingly pleasant to the tall tiefling as they meandered their way around the market, playing their role of two tourists on some sort of holiday. He marvelled at the way his breath froze in the air in little clouds.

"Do you think we should try and find some of the more... shady characters of this fine city until our tour?" if you needed information it was far more likely to come from those in the more reputable establishments around the place.

 

[Nathaira]

Nathaira’s face remained colored as Kasimir pulled her in, but her expression moved from surprise to a warm, somewhat stupid expression as her thoughts went rather blank for a moment or two. She enjoyed feeling his strength through even so tender a grip.

“Their little mouse,” he had said, and she thought of what Rumer might be doing now. She was unfortunately kept quite in the dark about the girl’s activities when she was not personally involved. A tendril of worry snaked through her thoughts, but she reassured herself that Rumer was strong and capable, and that she would be taken care of… or at least not killed.

When he mentioned shady characters, she perked up again with a mischievous grin. ”Oh yess… let’ss.” she said with sibilant glee. Her breath fogged in the air as well. It was a testament to how cold the air truly was as well as a good metric of her own temperature. ”Let uss find a place where your shadowss can move freely.” Somewhere dark and secluded was prime breeding ground for unsavory folk.

 

[Kasimir]

Kasimir gave her one, long, unreadable look before the barest hint of a smile ghosted across his lips and he nodded once.

Kasimir had had many reactions to his shadows over the years. The first one he had ever suffered was fear. The nurse who had been charged with his well-being, whom he had sought to save and bring with him into a world of freedom and then betrayed him for Vel'Anir, had been terrified of what he was. Not who. What. The Dreadlords who had taken him to the undercity had shown disgust for his little trick. The handlers had shown only a smidgen above that because they had seen his usefulness.

Nat was the only one who had ever shown... interest. Dare he even say it, but delight?

He never knew how to handle it.

There had been a name of a few establishments on the list the Dreadlord had given them of places they might find further information, contacts who ran the underrealm of this place. They weaved through the city this way and that as if they were just touring every nook and crannie, wondering in the sights the city gave them and which they took like ripe fruits from a tree. Eventually they happened upon one of these establishments and Kas pushed open the door and led them inside. It was dimly lit though there was enough morning light to brighten it. Not that anyone would particular want this place brightening. Peeling paint, broken tables and glass smashed across the floor. There were a few patrons around the bar but they were all more interested in their cups than the new comers.