A Quest Begins, Sign reads of the Mother Dragon.

[Sign]

A female Xanri browsed the creaking, dusty shelves of the old library. The grand entrance had been left far behind her and the musty smell of old, nearly rotting books had overcome her. At times she coughed, but other than that she was as quiet as a mouse. She snorted, trying to get the dust out of her nose as she followed the book titles with the tip of her index finger on her first right hand.

Her pitch hair covered one of her midnight blue eyes, while the other one stared intently in a near squint on fading titles of tired books that had rested far too long on their shelves. Her attire was strange, consisting entirely of a dark royal blue. What covered her torso was armor in the form of a corset that pressed tightly against her form and gleamed in the dull light.Covering her lower half was a skirt that fell loosely down to her ankles. It was also made of a very tough material that would withstand a few blows by a sword and old, dirty travelers boots clung to her feet.

The Xanri had traveled far on foot to get to this library after hearing rumors of an ancient dragon that would give a gift to those that made the treachorous journey to its lair. Such a proposal perked her interest after seeing a wingless dragon. That mean that getting a dragon would not necessarily mean she would not have to deal with heights. Of course, though, the old dragon's lair lay in a mountain.

She shuddered at the thought, but kept scanning the shelves, her equipment clinking softly at her sides as her pace increased. The woman was nowhere near the book she longed for, so made her way to the next shelf. Her dark olive skin almost blended with her attire as well as the scenery around her as the light continued to dim. This made her eyes, unconciously, squint harder as she continued to read the ever-smaller titles.

Suddenly, the four-armed being came to a halt with a smirk. Finally, the book she was looking for: the book of the Mother Dragon. Her first left arm reached up to the top shelf and her strong, gloved hand grabbed the large tome firmly. With a pace as quick as she dared in a quiet place, the Xanri found an empty table and set the large encyclopedia-looking book on the polished top with a louder-than-expected plop.

Dust swirled into the air like the steam from a hot spring, making the woman cough fiercly. Between her fits she set herself down gently on the firm, well-made chair and flopped the book open with her second right hand. More dust was blasted into the air, increasing the violence of her coughing fits. When it finally settled and the air was breathable again, the Xanri began reading intently the passage that described what the Mother Dragon was and where it was in brief.

This is brief? She thought with a bored yawn, covering her mouth with her first left hand while the second kep the tome's pages in place. Her first right hand rested gently on the tabletop and her second rested naturally on the hilt of her short sword that hung from her right hip. The sheath reflected the now-brighter light and the hues of the furniture around it with little distortion.

[TwilightQueen]

It seemed foolish, really. A girl resembling a porcelian doll, rather than a human being, walked the grand library, seemingly alone. She was dressed in a simple emerald gown, or so it appeared at a distance. The garment was sewn of Kavadi silks of the highest quality and embroidered with fine, golden thread. Small green beads made of glass adorned the hems, making the dress glitter when the light hit it right. On the girl's small feet were silken slipers, not shoes or boots, and lace gloves covered her tiny hands. Golden locks were swept up in an elaborate bun, held in place with gold and emerald pins.

For those who frequented the city, there was no mistaking the girl. She was Barron Na'ji's daughter, his only child. Kha was his city, politically and economically. For those who didn't reconize Lady Kayella Na'ji, well, the fragile looking girl would simply seem like a spoiled, rich girl. Nothing more, nothing less.

But why would such a girl be wandering a library alone, without guards or companions? Simple. Her guards were skilled enough to remain hidden. They were far enough away as to not draw attention to the girl and themselves, but close enought that, should trouble arise, they could be at Kayella's defence in a heartbeat. Kayella had no companions because she had no friends, simple as that.

She allowed her lace-covered fingertips to trail along the bindings of books as she wandered the many aisles the library had to offer, not looking for anything in particular, the lids of her saphire eyes half-closed. She didn't even seem to mind the dull-grey dust that her gloves were collecting off the books, if she noticed it at all.

She stopped suddenly, eyes turning to the binding of the book her fingers were stopped on. From the looks of it, this book hadn't been opened in years. She didn't know why drew her attention to the book, but she just knew she had to pick it up. Carefully, she pried it from the shelf, and prompty dropped it, not expecting the book to be quite so heavy, sending up a thick cloud of dust. Loose pages scattered across the tiled floor, and she hurried to collect them, her pale face going red with embarasment.

She just hoped she didn't disturb the xanri at the table not three feet from her. From the looks of the female, and the looks of her sword and garb, she didn't seem the type to smile and help you on your feet.

She haistily shut the book, the papers hardly in the order they were befre, and placed it back on the shelf, forgetting one, yellowed page on the tiles. She quickly snatched up the paper in one fist before turning wide, frightened eyes on the xanri, hoping she wouldn't have to call her brutish guards.

[Sign]

The Xanri was in the middle of another boring paragraph with the noise of a heavy tome dropping reached her. Clumsy... She thought, holding back an annoyed growl before continuing her reading. It took a couple moments for the dust to reach her, and a fit of coughing could be heard as she tried to catch her breath.

With a sigh, the woman continued reading, deciding it was best if she left the fragile-looking human alone. She shifted her wait to the other side of the body and propped her head up with her first right hand, its elbow balancing perfectly on the polished surface of the table. Her first left hand moved some of her thick, coal hair from in front of her eye, then rested on the left side of her huge book.

The clatter of papers being picked up rang in her ear as the girl scrambled to get the rotting pieces of parchment off the floor and back into the book. From the scratching of the old papers being folded and torn, it seemed that the girl wasn't doing quite so good at concealing her most embarrasing moment.

As the girl drew near her, the Xanri looked up from her book and rest the palm of the hand that onced held her heads weight silently on the table. Seeing the girl was utterly frightened of her, the Xanri half-smirked, her face warm and welcoming. She stood, abandoning her tattered book for a moment to walk over and pick the book that the girl had dropped from the shelf.

Her two left hands kept a firm grip on rickety spine and her two right hands carefully half-opened the book and began to place the pages in the right order. Though she was far from a librarian, the Xanri had a respect for the older books that had brought information to so many before her. After she was done, the woman extended one of her right hands to the girl, silently asking for the last piece of typed parchment. Her dark blue eyes did not leave the book as her extended, gloved hand beckoned for the page with its index and middle fingers.

[Silver Bell]

The sunlight glittered in the woman's dark eyes as she walked along the path. The cloak and skirt fluttered in the slight breeze, along with a few lock of her long ebony hair. Her bow could clearly be seen, along with the quiver that rested on her hip. As for her other weapons... They remained hidden for now.

She seemed to almost glided up the library steps, a small black feather falling to the ground as she slipped through the door. Thin, snow white fingers ran over the faded titles of thick volumes. Her dark eyes scanned both aisles, searching for the genre that she so desperately seeked. A hysterical echoing voice taunted her inner ear. "That way," the voice laughed. The voice truly sounded like two very different voices blended together... and yet they were one and the same... "Turn that way, you'll find it."

The woman sighed, Silver Tongue was teasing her... But she looked over her shoulder anyway. One could never know if he was lying, or telling the truth. She spotted a black book with a purple runes on it. There was also a dark splatter that covered it... A dark, crimson splatter. The woman gave a sigh that was slightly tinted with disgust. 'He is teasing me...' She then felt something brush up against her ear. "Take it my love," Gavin, in the form of Gabriel, whispered to her. "It is one of the books you seek."

The woman raised a dark eyebrow as she lifted the thick volume from the dusty shelf. A rusty chain (which was also stained with crimson) was wrapped around it. She could only understand a small bit of the title. But she saw a two words that reassured her that this was the right book. She tucked the book under her arm, and continued her search. The next book was the one of the few country roosters. (They were only taken every fifty years or so...) It was bond in a simple leather, can the woman didn't know why she was drawn to it... But she decided to take it and see if she found anything interesting. The last book she found was a very large volume wrapped in cloth, and bound in a strange, scaly martial. The cover was held together with two large talons, and if she wasn't mistaken... Was that golden seal that of a noble? Or a a royal?

The woman, now laden down with the heavy books, went to find a table. She struggled until she finally reached a table. With a slight thud she placed the books upon the table. She slipped into a seat, beginning to unwrap the chain around the book with the stained cover. Then she felt something pull at her mentally. It was Eternity. A rare gleam of excitement gleamed in his eyes as rich, purple sand began to fall from the regal hourglass. That was a color that represented power... and law... "Where are they?" she mumbled softly.

Silver Tongue giggled hysterically, and Gavin only beamed down at her with those loving, and yet distant eyes. Eternity gestured towards her right. She turned, not sure if this was a fantasy or the truth. She spotted the Xanri and the frail human girl. Dark Sorrow gazed at them, wondering whether her Fates were mocking her, or showing her the course of the future...

[TwilightQueen]

((If you don't mind, I'm going to bring a bit of prophesey into this. Why? Because I like prophesey.))

Slowly, almost as if she wasn't sure that she was allowed to hand the page to the xanri, Kayella Na'ji offered the slightly crinkled page. She froze, eyes drawn to the elegantly scripted words on the yellowed parchent. It was almost as if the paper pulled her eyes to that very spot, forcing her to read the words before she realized what she was doing.

"Three Females
Fate's Daughters
One Shapeless
One Forsaken
One Frail
With Pages They Come Together
On Pages They'll Forever Be
The Final Judgment Calls
And Fate's Daughters Shall Judge."

As her lash-framed eyes slid over the last line, her lips slightly moving as she whispered aloud what she read, she regained control of her eyes. As if waking from a trance, she looked to the xanry, almost forcing the paper at her. Over and over in her mind the verse repeated itself. It was a prophesy, no doubt about it. She brushed it all off as chance.

Once the paper had left her lace-gloved hand, she curtsied to the rune-decorated xanri, a soft blush lingering on her cheeks. "I'm deeply sorry to have disturbed you," she said, eyes sweeping upward from the ground to rest on the xanri's face, carefully avoiding those eyes, of course. She offered a dainty hand, "I am Lady Kayella Na'ji, a pleasure to meet you, Lady....." she trailed off there, awaiting a name to fill the empty space.

[Sign]

||It doesn't bother me. *shrugs*||

The Xanri watched the frail human out of the corner of her eyes, curious as to why the girl had stopped half-way through handing her the paper. She gave a mental shrug and left her hand outstretched, willing and waiting for the paper. The ancient runes on her arms moved slightly as her arm hovered half a centimeter to the left of where the paper was going to be handed to her. It was odd, and the woman glanced at the paper yet again.

The text also caught her eye, though it was only a single verse. The delicate words had something alive and fiery about them, drawing her full concentration to them. Her arm dropped a foot as she began to read what was clearly a prophesy. Two left hands gripped the spine and the binding gave a crackle in protest. She payed no attention, though, and was intent on seeing what the lines of text had to say.

"Fate's Daughters?" What is that suppose to mean? The questions bounced through her mind as she read the words again and again, their power beyond that of mortal comprehension. The symbols on her arms began glowing slightly, then they returned to their ebony shade after the Xanri's concentration was broken.

She blinked and gawked at the paper in her hand. Her grip tightened around it, then threw it into the tome and shoved it back onto the shelf. The rhythm of her breathing and heartbeat quickened until the girl spoke. Slowly her heart and lungs began to function normally and she gazed at the human.

At the unasked question of her name, the woman became hard and closed-off. Her eyes squinted slightly, almost a threatening look swirling in them. With a world-worn, irritated voice, she spoke,

"Sign. And do not bother with the title of 'lady'."

With an almost soundless, gruff snort Sign hurried past Lady Kayella Na'ji, her body language expressing that the conversation was over. She sat down on the chair roughly, making it whine with a sharp squeak. Her first left hand placed itself in the seam (sp?) of the book about the Mother Dragon, while the second rested in its same place on the table. Her first right hand balanced on its elbow and supported her chin and her second right hand resumed its place on the hilt of her sword.

Dark eyes glanced up at the woman across the table from her and a low, dissatisfied hum escaped her and her midnight blue pools stared down at her book again. More and more boring, endless, pointless passages seem to repeat the information again and again as she turned the pages gently with the left hand that, when unused, lay palm-down against the table.

[Silver Bell]

Sorrow, being the quiet person she is, did not wish to bother the large Xanri or the pale human, so she unwrapped the stained book. She opened the dark, splattered pages. The text was large purple symbols. Her dark eyes lazily drifting over the passage. She barely noticed that one of the lose pages slipped out of the Xanri's book, and slid under her hand. Silver Tongue chuckled, and she felt a burning sensation under her hand. She picked it up and read it, a strange gleam in her eye. She silently folded the paper, and slipped it into her robes. She returned to her reading. Souls of great strength or noble worth, she read, twirling a long ebony hair with her delicate finger. That have died without fulfilling their destiny, become the others. They haunt the earth, trying to find a host to help them fulfill their fate, or dragging the magic from others. If they do not succeed, they disappear into a place called the void.

The rest of the page was covered with crimson. 'Blast.' she thought. 'Oh well, next one then...' She opened the the next one in the pile, lazily binding the stained book with the chain. She had opened to a section of knights. Dragon Rider knights. They are very rare... but two names seemed to call to her. She saw them... but her mind did not register. Another dead end.. 'Blast.. again!'

One last time, this one had to give her something. She began to open the book.. then she felt a large pain on the back of her head.. Like some one had just smacked her. Eternity gazed at her, and then pointed to the human. "Why?" she asked.

"Do not ask questions," Eternity said in his deep, dark voice. "Speak with the human, and then the Xanri."

Sorrow sighed, floating down from her seat, she glided over to the human. "Can I help you look for something?" she asked quietly.

Silver Tongue chuckled, and the other two had odd smiles on their faces. 'They're just teasing me..' she thought bitterly.

[Sign]

Sign moved a few stranded locks of her thick her to the side with one of her right hands as she continued to read, occasionally flipping the pages of the clearly-used tome. She heaved a sigh, hoping the information that she dearly needed would come to her. Actually, its more of a want. The Xanri though to herself as some of her hair fell before her dark blue eyes again. With an angered hum, which sounded more like a growl, she moved her coal hair out of her face again.

Wary eyes glanced up every so often at the Taefa who sat across from her, noting every move she made. The woman seemed uncomfortable and at times the Xanri could have sworn she saw her lips move without forming words. This person was clearly more than what their cover allowed others to view, and Sign crew cautious. The Raven reminded her of a being she had once killed in a far away battle, and the memory gave her the chills.

Shaking off her shudder, Sign shook he head, causing some more of her extremely thick, pitch hair to fall before her expression. This time she dared not move it, as if she was bound by an unseen force to her current position, and instead looked down through the strands at the ever-lengthening passage open before her.

[TwilightQueen]

She withdrew into herself again, drawing across herself the cold disguise of a noblewoman. Her eyes slid their gaze to the ground, long lashes shadowing them. Idly, she twisted a loose lock of her golden hair around a lace-covered finger, metally reciting the poem she had read. It wouldn't let her mind be.

She just continued to stand there, lost in thought. Fate's Daughters. One Shapeless, One Forsaken, One Frail. She smiled inwardly, her immagination blossoming images of her wielding a sword, the title "Frail One" embroidered on a shash she wore across her chest. In her daydreamings, she was one of those heros from legend, fighting to save Gidaal, fighting for justice!

"Can I help you look for something?"

The sound of a female voice snapped Kayella from her daydreamings, causing her heart to skip more than a beat. Those sapphire eyes shot to the pale face of the one who spoke. She moved her mouth, trying to say something, but nothing came out. Gathering her manners about her, she swept a graceful courtsey.

One Forsaken

The words seemed attatched to this raven-taefa, one of the unclean ones of that race. She didn't look unclean. Rather pretty, in fact. Kayella extended one of her hands to the taefa, smiling. "Thank you for your offer, but I'm afraid I...." she trailed off, her mouth still forming the word she was about to say. "Do you know anything about
Fate's daughters?" Like the book she found, and the page she had picked up, she felt drawn to say something about that passage to the woman before her. Without knowing what she was doing, she recited the passage, her voice hardly a whisper, as if it was something precious only to be shared between these two strangers.

[Silver Bell]

The pale human seemed rather surprised when Sorrow had spoken to her. Sorrow looked her over, inspecting the jewels woven into her long golden hair, and the finery which she wore. This human, who ever she was, she most be very wealthy. Sorrow gazed past her, but still looking at her face as she spoke. She looked to Eternity. He gazed down at her like a grand-father who gazes upon his beloved grand-child. 'She must have nobility in her blood.' Sorrow thought. Eternity, sensing her thoughts, looked up at her and smiled. "Do you know anything about Fate's Daughters?"

The phrase brought Sorrow's gaze directly into the human's, her dark eyes meeting her soft ones. "No more then you my lady," she replied in her low, almost undetectable voice. "But I'm sure that Eternity knows.." she said. (More to herself then to the girl.) "But I don't suppose you know who that is."

Eternity looked down at the rich purple sand that was flowing through his hourglass. Silver Tongue chuckled evilly and mentally nipped her. "Ask her name my love," Gabriel whispered, holding his bitterly cold hand in hers. "And tell her yours."

Sorrow looked to Eternity, waiting for him to tell her something. "Do not draw her away from her house too quickly. A baron's wrath is cold and swift when heirs are on the line." His answer was soft and blunt. Like home a noblemen addresses a pauper.

Sorrow, pushed a long dark bang from her eyes, grazing a long silky feather. "What is your name my-cousin-?" 'Blast you Eternity..' she thought darkly. 'Speak with your own mouth! Not mine!' The old man gestured with long withered fingers, a sign for her to continue. "My name is Sorrow."

She did not say her full name. Not many people liked talking to a person whose name is Dark Sorrow.. For them it is disturbing. Or just proof that the Raven Taefa is indeed an unclean creature of death..

[Sign]

Finally, the Xanri found what she wanted. With a smirk of satsifaction, she memorized the paragraph the slammed the book shut, effectively spreading a large cloud of once-settled dust into the air. She went into a fit of coughing again as her muscular legs, hidden beneath her skirt, carried her quickly to the shelf the book had occupied and one of her right hands stuck the book in the empty spot that was obvious for the dustless rectangle of polished wood.

When her coughing finally subsided, Sign found her way back to the table and nodded-her equivalent of a bow-at Kayella. "Good day, ma'am." She spoke briefly, then walked at a quick pace towards the exit of the library.

||Sorry for the horrible post.||

[TwilightQueen]

Cousin? Was that possible? Maybe this taefa was just trying to be polite. Still, this beautiful taefa had asked a question. It was only polite to answer. "Lady Kayella Na'ji," she gave, flashing one of her trained smiles. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Sorrow."

She paused as another question was asked in response to her own. "Eternity? I do believe that is a measure of time by definition, but... you spoke as if refering to a name. I'm afraid I know nothing about someone named Eternity." A faint blush spread across her cheeks. Here she was, a baron's daughter talking about time and fate with a stranger in a library. It was strange, different. She liked it. It was far more entertaining than listening to all the ladies in the palace talk about who was courting who and what lad was a fine catch.

It felt as if this was what she was waiting for, as if this was her destiny, rather than marying whatever man her parents forced upon her.

"If... if you don't mind," she said, eyes wandering to the dusty wood floors before dancing back up to the taefa's face. "I'd like to hear about this Eternity."

[Silver Bell]

"I cannot tell you anything, for I barely know a thing myself. I was hopeing that I would be able to find something here... But it was not ment to be. But, perhaps if you search inside of you, you will be able to find him." She shook her head. "Forgive me, I must sound like a rambling fool."

<You are a fool,> Silver Tongue chuckled as he gazed at Gabriel. <Always a fool...>

<Keep your faulse tongue behind your teeth.> He snapped.

<You know all about being false, don't you my friend?>

[TwilightQueen]

She shook her head, causing small gold curls to dance. "No," she said, crisp, blue eyes watching the taefa, "You're not rambling, nor are you a fool. The only rambling fools I've met are the wealthy or high-ranked attending fancy balls and parties." As soon a the last words passed her lips, a deep blush spread over her cheeks and a small, lace-covered hand rose to cover her mouth. "Oh, I am sorry. I didn't mean to speak ill of anyone. Please don't think me a evil witch."

This was why her mom had taught her to speak as little as possible. She had just met this woman, and already she had botched the relationship, should there be any. Now, Sorrow was just going to think her a snobby princess, passing unfair judgement as she wished.

[Silver Bell]

Sorrow laughed. It was soft and low, but still a laugh. The words Kayella had said reminded her of the fat eagle landlord who had ruled over her village in what he saw as "rightful mastery." "I'm sorry," she chuckled. "It is just what you said was so amusing.."

Sorrow stopped laughing as she thought about what she had said more fully. This human had rank, and from the look of her she had a high ranking father who was very wealthy. She was pale and beautiful, like a delicate rose in the chill of the spring. Sorrow shuddred as she felt cold arms embrace her from behind. <You do not think me false, right my love?> Gabriel whispered into her ear. <You love me don't you?>

Sorrow's dark eyes grew darker, and her body stiff.