Book One: Shadow.

I sit in the back of a cart, accompanied by Gabriella and Ariel; flipping through the manual handed to me by Pyre. I'm on the page which details the proper use of my hook for disarming an opponent when I heard the siblings speaking.

"So, are you guys going to be ok in this dinky old thing?" Ariel asks, doing his best to keep his bare legs from touching the wood after getting a splinter not too long ago.

"As long as you watch over us, we will be fine." His sister assures him; a lie she didn't mean to tell, as he couldn't save my mind from the ravages of the inferno two days prior.

I look around at the clean, yet rickety old thing we sit in the back of; a cart ment for transporting perishable goods. Zana gave us some of the money she had saved up from her time working with her grandmother to afford this cart, as it had a full cover across it's back; hiding us from the endless eyes of Hoffman. I place my weapon manual back into Gabbie's pack, pulling my coin from my pocket. I've found that it's shine eases me when my newfound rage flares; a grudge that I fear will haunt my heart for all time.

Looking at the coin; it's gleam... It's value as treasure holds me like a lovers embrace. I enjoy gazing longingly into it's every detail. Coins in this land are designed much in the same way one would make the breakfast I had been given this morning; a food object called a 'Bagel.' Round, perfectly so, with a hole in the middle. This hole speaks to me, as I too have had what once lay within me torn away. Inlaid into the coin is an eight ringed chain; one of the many symbols representing the Gods; both Light, and Dark.

Cilla, Zana, and Ashes finally return; each watching the sky for any avian life. Ashes has tears in her eyes, and a bounding spring to her step; contrasting deeply with the cautious movements of the squirrelly Zana. Cilla, as ever, walks as though each step is a calculated movement, leaving no traces or her footprints. Once they have all piled in, the seating becomes nearly untenable in how over-packed it is. I sit squished between Gabriella and Cilla, while Ashes and Zana lay another stocked pack between themselves... where did Ariel go?

"Well, I guess I'm getting the highest seat in the house." His voice says from atop Gabriella's staff, coming from the gemstone that is his Alm, or Alma; I was told they are used interchangeably during what little small talk I could muster in the cart.

Rather than ask how he can be within the Alm, I simply assume it's more inexplicable God nonsense. Our resident researcher however, is sketching the Alm itself, and making notes on how it's coloration alters each time Ariel speaks.

"So, we're heading to the next town over, then rounding back to the path, correct?" I ask, my tone dull, dreary, and all together numb; keeping the details to a minimum, in case anyone is listening.

Gabbie nods, whispering as silently as she can manage. "He's only a few hours away, this will hopefully throw him off."

The next hour or so of road travel is not only bumpy and uncomfortable, but nerve-wracking. For my companions, they are uneasy as to weather or not Cilla's plan to divert Sarmenti will work. I remain the exception in this; I long for him to find us, so I may tear his bellowing lungs from his back as he screams to his Goddess for aid.

"You're eyes have changed, Monster." Zana whispers. "Does that happen often?"

I perk a brow at her question, and shake my head slowly as I motion for her to remain quiet.

She whispers even lower, nearly inaudible to the others; but my hearing heads her. "You're eyes, they're grey now. Except when you look angry, then they turn back."

Cilla hands me a piece of parchment, written on it are the words 'I hadn't noticed, but they have changed.' Underneath her comment is a sketch of my face; eyes no longer a solid single color of crimson red. Instead, the familiar eyes of Damian stare back into me. I hurriedly hand the paper back to Cilla, mouthing 'thank you.'

My eyes are his now... why? Why do they change back? Are there still parts of him left in my husk? I'm unsure, but this small change has at least somewhat uplifted my sorrowful sliver of a soul. Finally, the cart comes to a stop at our destination; and the driver motions to the guards with hand signs. Not simply used by the mute and or deaf, I was told this morning that they are also used by merchants paid by the Runacathies to assist in their mission. A sort of unspoken code; with the words the merchant displayed now meaning 'Red Hood, Secret' indicating the need for anonimity to be preserved of all cargo. The guard that had been motioned to came by, and peaked inside; seeing Me. He nodded, calling for us to be let inside. The bumpy ride resumed for a short time, until we made our final stop. We leave the cart after I don a large brown cloak; made of what used to be grain sacks. We are now in a familiar passage...

The underground path to the town of Tomo.

The plan is to request aid in bringing Gabriella to Hoctin from the captain of the ship known as 'Maiyo's Kiss', a trade vessel that brought the lumber and fish of Tomo; as well as transitory shipments of stone or iron from that came from Saltmoore, to the Elvish Port City known as 'Bounty'. The captain, a woman known by the name of Wynona Thrusk, was known to be highly religious, as the name of her ship would imply. While not a direct route to Hoctin, taking a ship to Bounty would mean a much shorter (and safer) travel to Hoctin in the long run, as opposed to walking the roads from Saltmoore, or hiring stagecoaches.

Mostly, we were hoping for at least a discounted price for transportation, if not free booking, due to Gabriella's coming role as an Emissary. First, however, she wished to get some things from her now abandoned church, while I and Cilla headed to the Runacathy in town for additional supplies from her employers; a luxury much needed. Ashes and Zana, after much deliberation on what to do during this part of the plan, went with Gabriella to keep her company, and to assist in looking out for little red birds.

The Runacathy of Tomo was a well off, medium sized building, near the docks as luck would have it. White banners draped off the outer walls of the second floor; above the sea spray. The banners were adorned with the wing of a dragon, wrapping around a florishing rose.

"Why choose that as your sigil." I ask aloud to my companion, hoping that hearing her explain something will jog some old feelings of warmth; from a time before the thieving flame.

Clearing her throat; Cilla began to explain. "It is a symbol of the moment Runa Ruya joined the Light; the great heroine Tomoko lending her a comforting hand of friendship after being long lambasted and abused by her father. Much like Sarmenti is to you, Runa was once the great rival of the chosen, trying as best as she could to stop them, slay them, shatter their hearts and minds at every turn of their journey... but Tomoko eased her pains; she brought her into the Light. She handed her a rose..."

I'm at the hill, by the tree... I pull from its branches a small metal box. I open the lid for but for a second, and see Her. We're in the kitchen of Damian's abode now... she's showing me bruises on her arms and stomach, places that wouldn't show under her sweater this time of winter... her father's frustrations made flesh.

"Was that to your satisfaction?" Cilla asks, bringing me back to the realm of what is; not what might have once been.

I nod. Of course... she saw in Runa the same story she once played out. But who was the friend holding out a rose for Bell? Was it me? Or someone before me... am I even me... Not now, back to reality, Monster. You have a path to follow; nothing else.

We enter the Runacathy, where there are multiple people in familiar red cloaks, speaking amongst each other. Distinctly, one in a white cloak, stands in the center of the room, speaking to another; cloaked in black. I nudge Cilla, clearly confused as per usual.

"White cloaks means they are the leader of a branch. Black cloaks... they hunt our failures." She whispers.

Those they fail to convert; she means.

The one in the white cloak see's us, and I see their smile under their hood; gentle, caring, but cautious. This one expects trouble.

They approach, the kind voice of an older woman says. "Sister Priscilla, it is good to see you. Have you come to register a new charge?"

"Yes, Mother Mary." Cilla replies, bowing down before her elder, one arm over her heart, the other held outward from her side; palm facing the heavens. "This one is named 'Monster', a name he chose himself."

"I see... we are out of initiate cloaks, but it seems he has a suitable replacement for now. Do you have the proper registry?" Mother Mary asks, doing her own equally silly bow.

"Yes" Is Cilla's reply, pulling from her enchanted cloak the paperwork she had worked so hard on all this time.

"Excellent... Another hard case? I'm sure you'll manage. I assume you are headed out once more? Do send a letter, dear, next you can." Asks the Mother.

"I will, Mother Mary." Replies Cilla; respect etched into each utterance. "We are about to head out to sea; as my charge is hunted by a powerful man, with vast resources. I would like to request additional supplies; food, water, clothing... and five charms of vanishing."

"Truly? No... I hear it your voice. This is needed..." The older woman takes her leave, heading towards another room.

I look to Cilla, she already knows my question; answering in a whisper. "A charm that will prevent divination of the location of it's target. Us. Without them, Sarmenti will find us at sea; and we will be an incredibly easy target."

"Understood." I whisper back.

The black cloaked one, whose voice is that of a man, sneer and crude; I hear the sound of hooves come with his steps, his cloak hiding his legs. "Is the she-beast at it again? I thought you would stick to scouting after the last one."

I don't know what he speaks of, but I do know what he wants. Trouble. The same trouble the old woman was expecting; it wasn't from us, but from him.

"I don't have time for this, Jet." Cilla hisses back; almost literally. "Silence your tongue, or I will take it from you."

The man walks away, bleating; hooves smacking the wooden floor as he leaves. "If I have to kill that one too, you owe me a drink."

My fuzzy friend peers down to her boots; silent. I put a hand to her shoulder in an attempt to ease whatever burdens that man was speaking of. The older woman returns with a new pack to add to our collection, which I decide to carry. Cilla thanks Mother Mary as we take our leave. Once out of the door, she digs out the charms she spoke of earlier, gleaming golden pendants, inlaid with a gleaming sapphire; a new shiny for my collection.

"They are made here; you know. The Purified Heart of Khalthosh makes such an enchantment quite easy to do in this town." Her words are hollow; this is a clear attempt to ignore and forget Jet's words.

I hold my tongue, instead nodding; pretending that her tidbit was not a simple deflection. I can hear in her heartbeat that she sees through my attempt, but she seems pleased none the less for my silence on the matter of her past charges.

We walk towards the church, silently, until she speaks. "I've never brought someone to the Light before. My last three attempts were... sabotaged by circumstance..."

She holds her patched eye, and I know her meaning. Those of the Dark, they know who she is; who her father is. Silence returns our pairing as we walk the stone road, arriving at the churches entrance. Gabriella doesn't seem to have much in the way of new supplies, but I notice a new decorative pin in her hair; in the shape of a lamb. After a small spat of chatter, and a dispersal of the charms we procured, we head towards the docks, looking for the object of our quest; the Maiyo's Kiss. Once at the docks, each vessel looks the same as the last; and I've no clue how to find this damn cargo ship.

"Can I help you lasses?" Asks a nearby dwarf, who seems to be a sailor of some sort, a massive mug of looks like tea in his massive hand.

Our group looks to each other; should we ask for directions is the unspoken question on the tips of our tongues, for if Sarmenti comes looking, he could get information out of these men quite easily.

"Bran! Get back on deck, you lazy slab of meat! We need you to keep stock of the lumber!" The voice of a woman calls out from a vessel off in the distance.

"Oh, sorry 'all. Yes Cap'n Thrusk!" Calls out Bram; thank the Gods, luck is on our side today at least.

"We're looking for passage on the Maiyo's Kiss." I whisper-shout to the stout sailor. "It's a matter of... religious importance."

Going a bit wide eyed at seeing my face from beneath my cloak, Bram says. "Eh... alright, come talk to the Captain."

We silently celebrate our fortune; Cilla groaning in relief, Ashes pumping her fist, Zana wiggling her clenched hands near her chest, and Gabbie saying a little prayer to her brother.

I'm just glad to finally be doing something... walking this path.

For Her.