Shimmers in the Shade

Onward they continued, as if the whole issue had never occurred. It remained lucid in Jea'nneaste's mind however, even if it did not show on her composed face. Undoubtedly Kendra had felt something strong, but it was something she didn't seem to like.

That could be changed.

She looked occasionally to Jhyn as they walked, anticipating that he might answer her questions. When and if he did, she nodded, encouraging him to continue with an enticing smile as she acknowledged his every word. Their path to her home was less urgent, but it did not take long to reach the next district. It became clear in the alternating buildings and the occasional addition of a small tree, followed by grass and more trees that they were reaching a much prettier part of the city the further inward they drew, leaving the harbor behind.

The cobbled ground widened, allowing more room for horse and cart and pedestrians. Air was less thick, smelling a bit like flowers instead of fish as they crossed over a final bridge. The waters below were still gray and filthy, but the transition from one side to the other was all that was needed. In the distance, more foliage was visible as tree branches graced the sides of buildings, and one could even make out the mountains far beyond, standing in their silent and faded beauty.

Despite the change of scenery, it was still somewhat noisy. Everyone was going about their business, and the streets were fairly occupied. Jea'nneaste urged Jhyn forward, a hand on his arm to ensure that they would not be parted in the streets.


As promised, her home was not far, and they came upon it standing silently on its own beside a pond. It was correct to assume that she was one of the fortunate ones who lived on the edge of the town borders, where the ones with fatter pockets were allowed to be. Green grass and churned soil dotted the yard, hinting at the promise of a budding garden as a woman dug holes on hands and knees, sleeves rolled up in a professional manner. She ignored their approach, more focused on getting seeds into the dirt.

In turn, Jea'nneaste also ignored her, attention upon Jhyn and Kendra as she led them to her front door. "Heer we are! My slice of quiet in this horrid town. Well protected, even if it looks open. Magic is such a fortunate thing." She ushered the raven-haired man inside, presenting to him a white foyer lit with open windows to bring in the natural light. Little time was given to admire the polished stones and other rooms as they made their way upstairs to a guest room, itself surprisingly large and decorated with the required minimum and a large armoire. A small balcony opened up to the backyard, overlooking the lake.

"I must tend to a few things, Jhyn. If you'll excuse me, I will not be gone long. But I will send up a med with food and drink. Please, rest a moment." With a final glance towards Kendra, the half-elf departed, cloak sliding along the floor and doorframe.

Her body temperature seemed to be at a more normal rate now. For a few more minutes, she seemed to rest peacefully until slowly she opened her eyes. There was sort of a confused look in her eyes as she looked to the room, clearly unknowing of where they were.

She glanced about the room and went to sit up, blinking at the well-decorated area. Wherever they were, the owner certainly seemed wealthy. Judging by this alone, she determined they had to have been somewhere along the town's borders. Or at least in the wealthier district. How did they manage to escape?

Her hand reached up to take his hand into hers and give a soft squeeze. "Hello, love. What did I miss? Are we out of the prison? What happened?" Apparently she thought full-well that her dream really had been a reality.

As she listened to his words, things began to make sense. Of course she was having a nightmare. That kind of nightmare happened time and time again. She'd gotten used to them. But this time it had felt so real. The very memory of the feeling of the shadow's claw touching her cheek sent a shiver across her. Noe that she had thought about it, of course it felt more real. Why shouldn't it? She'd returned to a place that she'd left behind due to those very memories. Revisiting Westgate would only reopen the painful doors again.

But it didn't have to be painful. Jeanne was alive! But how? It made no sense. Unless...was it like Dacius? Was she raised again? If that were the case, why? The same questions about Dacius returning plagued her mind now about Jeanne. Of course, there was also the other side. What if she was never dead to begin with. Thinking of that, guilt began to set in. Had she left her friend behind? Where had she been all these years?

What clicked the most though was the fact she had apparently harmed Jhyn without realizing it. A look of concern crossed her face as she eased up her grasp on his hand. Sitting up, she carefully held both of his hands on her lap, palm up, so that she could get a better look at them. "I am so, so sorry, love. Gods, I should have thought to ward you earlier when we were leaving the ship."

Her ocean blue eyes studied his burnt palms for a few more moments before looking up at him. "Hm? Yes, I'm alright. Of course I am. Always have been, always will be. Honestly, I admit I'm pretty embarassed about having just...dropped upon seeing her, apparently. Where is she?" She asked, looking around. "And how in the Nine Hells did she manage to get a place as wonderful as this?"

While the pair conversed, a hunched man alerted them to his presence with a knock on the open door before entering, carrying a pewter tray full of warm bread, cheese, fruit and water. He gave a slight bow of his head before shuffling in, moving to set the tray on the end table beside the bed. "Apologies for the intrusion," he said with a rasp, looking to them with a polite gaze. "A small albeit late breakfast for the guests courtesy of the mistress before lunch is served this afternoon. She will return shortly." He stood beside the bed for a few seconds longer after his statement before he turned to depart, unless stopped.

Meanwhile downstairs, Jea'nneaste relieved herself of her heavy cloak, setting it on a rack as she stalled for time. She guessed that Kendra would be awakening soon, but Jea'nneaste wanted to give her a moment to collect herself. It had been years since they last saw one another, and even though she knew so many events that transpired recently with Kendra, there was still more to learn. But there would be enough time in the future to play catch-up. Kendra wasn't going anywhere, of course.

Slowly he turned back, adjusting his smooth brown vest. His brow furrowed as his eyes wandered, almost searchingly as doubt seemed to flicker on his face. He focused on Jhyn after giving a small shake of his head. "I am not at liberty to discuss such things, m'lord. But rest assured, the mistress earned it. However," he paused, cool brown eyes looking between the two, "I think you are both good people, by the looks of it. I know them when I see them. Perhaps I can say more. She does not really use it... this home. Mostly it is the kitchen and servant quarters that find the most activity, while everything else collects dust. Guests sometimes come, but they usually leave as quickly as they arrive. We hope to cater to your needs as best we can during your stay, m'lord and lady. There are only a few servants here, but we are at your disposal." A practiced smile creased his pale lips.

The look of doubt in Jhyn's eyes caused her to give him a small smile. Surely he would understand that she couldn't let her guard down and be left open for any hits. This was basically an unknown place with unknown people, besides Jeanne and Jhyn. If the Skymage Master had followed them down here, she had to be extremely careful. Never show your weaknesses, lest someone take advantage of them.

The servant caught her a bit by surprise as he set the tray down, and her stomach gave an obvious rumble. They never did get to have that meal in the ship. Gods it had smelled so good. Now, even the smell of the bread was making sure it enticed her and urged her to take a piece. She waited, though. No need to be rude.

What was strange to her was the servant thing itself. She knew that this sort of thing could be considered normal for those with the coin to afford such luxuries. But it still made her cringe a bit. Were they being taken care of? Better yet, were they happy? A life of servitude could hinder one's happiness depending on how they came about to be in service. Jhyn asked his question and Kendra turned her attention the the dark-eyed servant. Not only did she hear his words, but she listened carefully for any sort of questionable tones. She was a practiced woman in this regard, being able to pinpoint lies, hear soft tones of worry/concern, and generally listen for anything that just didn't sound right.

When the servant finished his explanation, Kendra smiled warmly at him and offered a hand out to him to shake. "My name is Kendra, and this is Jhyn. Thank you so much for your help. I wonder though, how long have you been in her service? Tell me about you. Are you happy here, Mister...? She sounded genuine in asking him, a kind expression on her face as she awaited his response.

From Kendra's observations, he was an unsure sort, never wanting to step on toes when there were ways to walk around them. His words quivered with an underlying disparity, but it was still somewhat honest. Not a full truth, but certainly not a lie. Genuinely did he seem interested in helping. Perhaps he liked this job.... servitude in many cultures around Faerûn felt comfortable to some. His hunched shoulders suggested a life of heavier work burdening his body and finally coming to permanently affect his physical being. Whatever service he offered before no longer seemed to treat his back as it once did. Being a servant certainly must have had its perks.

But there was something beneath his presentation, something in the air that drifted like an invisible thread weaving across himself and the room. It is possible that there was a touch of magic in the house, if one could feel it.

The middle-aged man's attention drifted to Kendra as she spoke, and like before his bushy eyebrows drew together before his words were formed. Unlike many servants, his enunciation was crystal clear. Logically, he was positioned as a butler for this very reason. "A pleasure, m'lords. The mistress took me into her service nearly a decade ago. Though I am the eldest of them... most come and go within a year or few months. There isn't much need for extra hands."

He blinked a few times, eyes squinting thoughtfully. "Happiness is doing what you love, m'lady. I can't say I ever thought I would be here. But... it has been good to me. The mistress.. she also has been good to me. Oh. Forgive me, m'lady. They call me Mod. It is short for Modrick."

Though she may not have shown it, Kendra's attention shifted towards the magic she felt within the house. It wasn't something she could try to ignore if she wanted to. The Weave simply felt drawing to her. It was often that the Weave was a comfort to her. A sort of warm, natural feeling that she loved to experience. Sometimes it was so soothing that it concerned her. Not all types of magics were necessarily good things, after all...

Her attention snapped back to the servant and she smiled. "Mod, it's wonderful to meet you. Thank you again for bringing us the refreshments and for the bits of information. We've had a long travel, so some of this is kind of confusing, you know?" She laughs lightly, flashing a smile. "Oh, we probably shouldn't bother you much more. I'm sure you have much to do! If your mistress is indeed back, she must want you to take care of some things, I assume."

Her eyes moved to watch Jhyn take up a bun. Hm. He seemed to be thinking a bit more just like Kendra had. Maybe there was something more. Or maybe they were just being paranoid. Probably paranoia. The both of them had learned that trust was difficult to come by and could be a dangerous thing.

With a smile and nothing more to say, Mod departed in silence.

Minutes passed, allowing the pair to eat and chat for a while as Jea'nneaste finally finished her routine and musings. No longer did she smell like salt or seaweed, but she did not have the time for a bath just yet. A fragrance of jasmine hinted at freshness, strong enough to smell in proximity but not enough to catch in distant passing. Her footfalls were nearly silent on the stairs, practiced and delicate in heeled leather shoes. If she were attempting to sneak up on them, it did not seem to be intended this time. Her grace and silence was out of sheer habit.

One eye then the other lingered in the shadow of the slightly ajar door, staring at the pair for a few seconds before she rapped her knuckles gently on the white wood and fully entered. She clasped her hands together, resting them down by her waist.

There was another passing silence as she stood there, looking between them before her gaze eventually, once again, settled on Kendra, staring, piercing. Her onyx eyes bore through the air between them, looking at what was beneath the surface, and ever deeper. It was a look that would chill the unwary, and entice the bold. What she did not say with words burned and crackled like black fire through her eyes. Here she was, finally face to face, in the flesh, exposed and prepared to bring back what memories had been lost or forgotten. Butterflies fluttered about in her stomach, wishing to break free.

She spoke with a small, surprisingly warm smile, itself contrasting the stare. "I hope... this will be accommodating enough."

Kendra had begun to stand and make her way over to the tray. That food just smelled too enticing for her to pass up. Despite how tiny Kendra was, her metabolism was truly outrageous. She just hoped that it wouldn't fail her one day. Now at the age of 30, Kendra was self conscious about any such changes she may go through in the future. It was a normal thing for women to be concerned about. Silly women.

Hearing the gentle knock on the door, her heart skipped a beat and she stopped in her beeline to the tray. When she turned her attention to the figure stepping into the room, she was honestly taken aback. The look in Jeanne's eye was...not what she expected. In fact, it was completely the opposite. A chill rippled across Kendra's skin and even she couldn't hide the immediate look of confusion on her face. Her intuition was screaming to her that something just wasn't right. Something was off-putting in a way. But what was it?

Kendra masked her look of confusion quickly, but likely not in time enough for Jeanne not to have noticed the falter. She pushed back that intuitive feeling and silently thought to herself, Honestly, relax a bit. It's Jeanne. She's not an enemy. She's your friend. Like a sister. The look on Kendra's face now was one of relief and pure happiness as she strode over, attempting to wrap her arms around her long lost friend.

"We could be in that stupid orphanage again and those would be accomodating enough if it meant I got to see you again. I missed you so much..." And of course, her voice cracked and she started to cry. It was like a wave of relief. After having lost someone like her sister before, now she felt a bit more whole. It wasn't that she would ever forget Ahri. Ever. There was still a hole in her heart where she'd lost her. But seeing Jeanne made things a bit better. Couple that with the support of Jhyn at her side, and she truly felt like things would be okay.

Kendra's normal steel shell of a mask was broken as she was now face to face with Jeanne and every bit of pain and sadness she felt about the past washed through her. She hated to be the blubbering fool. But...getting this out of the way was needed if she was going to be able to speak more.

Arms opening, she embraced Kendra as she came over, encasing her in a snug hug. Immediately one hand patted and brushed through her hair while the other rubbed a thumb gently along her back, comforting her as Kendra's tears almost instantly began to fall. It was so strange... the memories that flooded back felt all too real again. They were back in the orphanage, back on the streets chasing down cats and dogs and stepping in rain puddles. She was young again. Innocent. The world was her pearl-less oyster. The depths in Kendra's eyes echoed such flashbacks that Jea'nneaste was caught with a lump in her throat, unable to respond for a long moment.

Being a head taller than Kendra, she rested her chin atop a mess of brown hair, face tilted to one side as they maintained a standing cuddle. A heavy sigh expanded her chest, the exhale long and weary, enjoying the moment as it seemed to stretch on forever until finally, she broke the silence in a low murmur, enough to perhaps be heard by Jhyn were he close enough.

"Finding you was hard. But I knoh now that I will never lose you aggen. I'm soh, soh very sorry that this had not been different sooner.... that I looked harder, farther..."

A gentle squeeze followed, bringing Kendra in as close as possible against her torso. Her words graced Kendra's ear tenderly, smooth as silk. "I missed you, my dear friend. Please, do not leave me ever aggen..."

Hearing Jeanne's voice was a comfort to Kendra that she'd not felt before. A confirmation that things are not always as they seem- sometimes in a good way. She held tight to her friend and wept openly. For Kendra to do this...it was not normal. Sure, she'd cried in front of a few people before. Broke down a bit. But this was open weeping. The floodgates of all sorts of emotions washed over her and she had no choice but to weep.

What was strange to her is the fact she wanted to be in Jhyn's arms. Not Jeanne's. She'd missed her friend all these years, but there was still an unfamiliarity to the half-elf. It made Kendra feel guilty; so guilty for having thought Jeanne was gone forever. Hearing that Jeanne had been looking all this time made her feel even worse. Kendra never thought once to go back and look for her dearly departed friend. She had just ran. Ran from the pain, ran from the heartache, and ran from facing the shadows that had confronted her in the horrid town.

She paused in her thinking for a moment as she realized...was she doing it again? All the people in Shadowdale. The friends lost, the Undead becoming more and more of a shadow itself upon the land...

Was she just running again?

Her thoughts were stopped when she heard Jeanne's next words. "I missed you, my dear friend. Please, do not leave me ever aggen..." It was like an ice cold dagger into her heart, twisting and pressing further and further that she actually lost her breath for a moment. Her crying ceased and she stood there, frozen. A heavy weight of guilt rested upon her shoulders, threatening to collapse the poor girl as she mulled Jeanne's words over quietly.

Leave her...she'd left her. She left her poor friend alone and ran. How could she do such a thing?

As long as it took, Jea'nneaste stood by, petting Kendra's hair, tears to falling from the human woman until they dried. She ignored the silence after her words, purposely focused on maintaining the embrace as her gaze flickered over Kendra and towards Jhyn after hearing him speak up.

Her words vibrated gently atop Kendra's head as she spoke. "Certainly," she agreed with the human. "For as long as it must take."

Changing the subject from her whisper as if it never even existed, Jea'nneaste leaned back a bit and drew Kendra's face upwards, extending a thumb to brush away any excess tears at the corners of her eyes. "You are alright, old friend? I suspect you needed that. We can wait longer if need be." Her smile met her eyes, crows feet nonexistent on her smooth features.

Hearing Jhyn's chuckle seemed to bring her out of her guilt-ridden thoughts. It was also pretty clear that she brightened a bit as well due to hearing he was still there. To know that he was by her side during all this...it was a blessing. Judging by Kendra's demeanor now, it was probably very visible that Jhyn had such as strong effect on her courage and confidence.

What was left of Kendra's tears were wiped away by Jeanne's thumb and Kendra laughed, shaking her head. "I'm wonderful as always. No need to wait. This is wonderful, and honestly there's no need for me to cry. It's rather silly, actually!" A big smile crossed her face and she stepped from Jeanne's embrace to make her way over to Jhyn- and specifically by the food...

She wasn't a picky eater, so she choose something at random from the plate. It just so happened it was a piece of fresh bread. Holding to it for a few moments, she focused her head on her hands and began to create some make-shift toast. She couldn't help but chuckle, remembering back to when she and a certain imp both had a blast with doing such a thing. After realizing how silly she must have looked, she grinned sheepishly and looked between Jeanne and Jhyn.

"So you two have met officially?"

Her demeanor was...a bit unreadable. What she was really doing was trying to focus more on the magics of the house. It was like a natural curiosity, but also something Kendra felt was needed. Always knowing one's surroundings was the smartest way to travel. She knew enough about the town, but a random house such as this? She was a bit out of her comfort zone.

When Kendra moved to the food, Jea'nneaste took a few polite steps forward, stopping a meter from Jhyn and clasped her hands down by her waist. The pose was regal; sophisticated. It took a few years and sharp sticks to train her into a proper woman, but for every sting from her failure was another ounce of confidence in her demeanor, and she displayed it with a calm, collected nobility.

Her gaze lingered on the toasting slice in Kendra's hand, observing as it began to brown rather quickly. The half-elf smiled outwardly, as if delighted by the sight. "Met?" She echoed, looking to Jhyn. "It was rather sudden, perhaps. But we knoh of one another, and our intentioons heer."

"It would seem from first impressioon that you have a good man beside you, Kendra. I am... happy... that you found someone worth caring for." Her dark eyes lingered on Jhyn for a moment longer, gaze flicking down the length of his person, then back up before yet again her smile returned. "Such things are hard to find, especially in a city as commonly dreadful as this one."

The magic permeating the air was subtle, but still present. Its lingering suggested a permanent spell, something encasing the area. The most likely conclusion would have to be a spell of protection, given Kendra's expertise in such crafts.

"Awkward is sometimes the best way to meet, didn't you know? Makes for a memorable experience." And it was true. She couldn't think of all the times it'd happened to her. Especially that one time she walked in on a couple at the tavern in Calimport. Another smile crossed her face as she thought of how silly that was. And yet she had gained friends for a lifetime.

Her curiosity of the magical feel to the house was satiated and she began to work on the toast. Oh, that toast. So wonderful it was. She felt like she hadn't eaten in ages. Between bites, she spoke a bit, unconcerned with too many manners. It was just bread, and she was in the company of good people. "To be honest, I'd like to get to know her better too. What have you been doing all this time? I mean look at this place! And servants? You've got to have done some pretty amazing things, Jean-e-bean-e."

Jea'nneaste was pleased to see that Kendra was quick to relax after her moment of blubbering. Seeing the friendly human emerge from her shell again reminded her of their time as children. Every gesture, every twitch at the corner of her lips, each inflection. The only thing that was different was her smell, and Jhyn standing by like a guard.

She continued to stand by, turning her attention to Kendra's questions almost as soon as they left her mouth. Her lips curled in an amused smirk. "Jean-e-bean-e... my... I have not heard that since..." Jea'nneaste paused before changing the subject to answer her inquiry. "Time adds up, but in such soh do other possibilities. I cannot say I made an effort to obten this house and its servants.... it more or less came to me. Fell into my hands, as it were. Many things fell into my hands. But through endurance I remained steady with all that weight."

Silence followed as she watched her new comrades nibble on bread, her thoughts swirling behind her eyes as she contemplated proper wording and assessed Kendra for any physical response. Her expression suddenly fell sullen, gaze moving to the open balcony as she took a few steps over, standing in the rays of sunlight seeping in at an angle from the east. When she turned, the skin graced by sun appeared almost ghost-like, pale as snow, and glimmering like ice.

"Like you, Kendra I have found my own path. I learned many things, and still wish to learn more. There are not enough books in this city to satisfy that hunger. I was given a very good opportunity to embrace myself. In doing so, I came upon this fortune." With a sweep of her hand, she gestured to the room around them, the light bouncing off of her skin as if it were cold crystal.

Kendra seemed to watch Jeanne as she spoke. Her eyes were set with a friendly demeanor, taking in the information like any good friend would: a smile on her face and clear interest lighting up across her cheeks. There was certainly a subtle physical response if Jeanne was paying close attention; Kendra had turned to face her friend and stood with a somewhat open and comfortable stance. However, there was still just a slight touch of caution in Kendra's demeanor. She was normally like this, in all reality. Always ready for the unexpected and observant of things that may set off her intuitive alarms.

As Jeanne moved to the balcony, Kendra's ocean blue eyes followed. Even when they were younger, she always knew that Jeanne was stunningly beautiful. Something that struck her was the flicker of Jeanne's skin as the sun shone across it. Kendra couldn't help but stare for a few moments before looking back to Jeanne's face.

Kendra wasn't quite sure what to believe about the place just 'falling into her hands'. It was an amazing place and to have servants on top of that and have it all come so seemingly easy? Hm. Maybe she'd inherited something. She could certainly ask about it, but Jeanne didn't seem to offer up freely the exact means of it. Therefore, Kendra wouldn't press. It would come in time, perhaps.

"Ah, the pursuit of knowledge! You and I have never differed in that regard have we? Gods above, Jeanne, I've seen so many libraries, so many places of knowledge, learned so many things from other people and it's just not enough. It really isn't. I'm glad to hear you've learned a lot too! We should share it together. Anything particular you've focused on?"

She moved beside Jhyn and leaned against him. Being near him always made her feel so much better. So much more comfortable. Not necessarily because she viewed him as the whole knight in shining armor type, but because they were a duo. He was a part of her, and she of him. Two peas in a pod. There were a couple others that she had got along with like that, like Ahri, her Sister. But Jhyn had taken it to another level that she could never begin to explain, nor did she want to. She liked things just the way they were.