Arelyn Aurora


    "Stupid," Lyn muttered to herself as she looked up at the sky and used the sun''s position to gauge which direction was east and started walking. She walked with her head down and the first thing that went was her warm winter overclothes.


    Who strands themself in a desert with a few magical trinkets, heavy winter clothes, and no food or water? She did, apparently. The thought of escape had been the only thing on her mind. Lyn had prepared, or so she thought, for when the opportunity would arise and she took it without a moment''s thought.


    Right now, walking through the desert sands with the hot sun beating down on her she''d wished she''d taken that moment to grab a flask. She''d been so focused on where she was stepping that she didn''t even know anyone was there until she heard his harsh voice.


    "What are you doing in this land?"


    Lyn''s heart skipped a beat and she looked up quickly. Freezing in place, she kept her hands at her side in a show of peace. Her gaze traveled over his horse, a magnificent creature, she was bright white and almost blinding in the sun but for the black spots that dappled her coat. A strong horse with intelligent eyes that looked at her as if it knew her secrets. Or at least one of them.


    Her gaze moved further up to the man sitting on the animal. He was tall and strong, broad shouldered. His long hair, tied in a bun, and well trimmed beard were a soft brown with highlights that gleamed in the sun. She couldn''t see his eyes but from the hardness of his voice she assumed they were cold and harsh. His hand rested casually on his sword and he looked like a man ready and willing to use it. Even against a seemingly defenseless woman. He didn''t remind her of the barbarians of the north but he didn''t exactly remind her of her people either.


    Lyn knew the man was trained, a fighter, a warrior. A killer. She saw it in his stance, in his confidence. She knew his eyes took in everything around her even while he seemed to be wholly focused on her.


    Lyn kept her hands where they were, a sign of peace to her people. She''d been hard pressed to pull enough water to satisfy her thirst, let alone protect her from this man. She was exhausted from opening the portal and traveling so far, making it difficult for her to use her elemental abilities and would have to rely on her wits and diplomacy.


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    She suppressed her fear, straightening her spine, and spoke with as much confidence as she could muster. "I am here seeking refuge. I mean you and your people no harm, sir." When she finished she put her hands, palms facing each other, to the center of her chest and gave a slight bow while maintaining eye contact the best she could. It was the formal greeting of her people and she did it without much thought in spite of not using that greeting in the last five years.


    The man frowned. "Are you alone?"


    She dropped her arms back to her side and said, "Yes, sir."


    Watching him with trepidation as he slid down from his horse and moved closer she went over what she had that might protect her from this man. A charm to stop thrown objects from penetrating but she didn''t think he''d throw any of his weapons. One to heal cuts, safely covered in its lead casing. She didn''t want it to heal minor wounds and run out of magic. Her toe ring that she could use to shape shift but it had a limited time period and she''d never tested it. Finally, she had a potion to stop poisons, it worked on most poisons and one that Relskald had her make often so she''d been able to steal some for herself. Thinking of Relskald reminded her of the anklet but she didn''t think pregnancy prevention was anything useful at the moment.


    "I’ll decide if you mean harm to me or my people." His head tilted in an assessing way. "What kind of magic do you have?"


    She looked into his deep brown eyes, seeing hardness but something else there too. A challenge, perhaps? "I am a water elementalist and I have some protective enchanted items and a small dagger, otherwise I am unarmed."


    "Water elementalist?" The man stalked closer, looking ready to fight. He stared into her eyes as if he could see the truth of her words.


    She stood as still as she could, not breaking eye contact. Lyn was ready to fight for her life if she needed to, which was interesting since she''d come here ready to die. As he closed in, her voice was not as steady as she''d like it to be. "Y- yes, I can command water." She swallowed, steading herself. "Where I am from we call those who command elements, elementalists."


    "Someone with magic is never without a weapon. If you agree to come with me freely, and you give your word you won''t harm anyone, I''ll take you as a free woman.”


    "I said I am not here to harm anyone."


    “If you betray my trust you''re dead." He moved even closer to her and Lyn flinched only slightly when he reached up and caressed her cheek. "It would be a shame if I had to end your life."


    She hadn''t run from Relskald to be treated like a play thing and she''d make that clear to this man. Standing taller, she looked him in the eyes and said, "As long as you do not attempt to force me into anything I do not wish for, then I will do no harm. I did not run from the cruel mistreatment of a barbarian king to be treated the same in this world."