NEW BEGINNINGS

Something made Risa look up from her book, a sense of something unseen, of something inexplicably dangerous. She glanced around the sitting room, trying to determine what had unsettled her so. She shook her head and tried to go back to her book. A moment later she sighed and rose from the table to wander over to the window. Her sense of unease grew. She unconsciously ran her fingers through her long black hair, a nervous gesture that she'd had sense childhood and had never been able to train out of herself. She moved her hair out of her eyes and flicked a lock over her shoulder and out of her way as she reached the window.

The window stood open, allowing the cool air to flow through the room. She glanced outside, trying to find something, anything, to explain the odd feelings and the chill running up her spine. A minute passed, then another. She was about to give up and go back to her book when she caught a glimpse of Tahir. She was about to wave and get his attention when she saw him. Legate Danishe came around the corner and walked up to Tahir, speaking to him in hushed tones that she couldn't overhear. Risa stepped back into the shadows of the room, hoping that they would not notice her at the window. She listened for a moment, trying to overhear their conversation.

"You wouldn't be willing to part with her. Not even for a favorable word in a few high powered ears?" Legate Danishe asked.

"I don't know. I am attached to her, she keeps me well satisfied." Tahir answered. "Let me think about it for a few days. What do you want with her; you could get anyone in this city? What makes her so appealing to you?"

"Besides the fact that she may be the most beautiful creature in this city you mean? There is something about her, something that she is always hiding, even from you. I mean to know what that is, one way or another. Good day Tahir, remember what I said, I will give you three days to decide."

Risa shivered. There was something about him that set her on edge, and his interest in her didn't help to ease her fears. She watched them until they were almost out of sight. At the last moment Legate Danishe stopped and turned, staring straight at her. He nodded, almost a bow, and then turned to follow Tahir out of sight.

************

Risa jerked awake as the door to her bedroom opened. She kept her breathing slow and even as the footsteps neared the bed. Tahir sat on the edge of the bed to remove his boots and Risa breathed a silent sigh of relief.

"Where have you been all day, I've been lonely?" Risa asked pouting.

"Risa," he sighed "don't look at me that way, you might break my heart. I was showing Legate Danishe around Highwall. You made quite an impression on him last night at dinner. He made a comment today about what a rare beauty you are and about the extraordinary green of your eyes. He also said something about how they saw more than I thought they did, more than anyone suspected." Tahir said, a slight frown appearing on his face.

When Risa heard this her heart began to race. She shivered at the thought of what those words could mean. How much did the Legate suspect? What had he figured out about her?

"Are you cold?" Tahir asked, sounding concerned.

"Yes love, I'm a little chilled. Why don't you come to bed?" Risa said, holding her hand out to him invitingly.

Tahir smiled as he leaned down towards her, gathering her into his arms. . .

************

"Please"

"I don't know Risa. It's not a very safe place. The Legate is expecting your company while I'm gone." Tahir said.

He had said the same thing three times now, but this time he sounded unsure. Risa thought this was the right time to press her advantage. She couldn't let him leave her here with Legate Danishe. It was time for her to move on and start over again somewhere else. For that she has to get out of Highwall.

Risa pressed her advantage. "Please, you haven't taken me hunting in months. I haven't even been able to try out that new bow you bought me for my birthday." she pouted. "Please, I don't want to be without you for that long. I can entertain the Legate when we get back. Just give me the next few days with just you? Please."

"I still think it was a mistake to let you talk me into that bow, and it is probably a mistake to take you to White Cliff with me." he sighed. "Then again when have I ever been able to deny you anything?" With a wry smile he leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Well, sense you will be going with me you might as well take Pisall with us. He just grows fat in the stable. No one else will ride that horse, not with that temperament. Will you pack three horses with trade goods? Make sure that it is high quality. I may need it for a bribe, or maybe a gift, according to how my
meeting goes." Tahir said.

"Who are you meeting in White Cliff?" Risa asked.

"That, my dear, is one question I will not answer, not even for you." he said as he walked from the room.

************

The trip to White Cliff was uneventful if long. That was a blessing for Risa. At least it gave her time to plan, to try to figure out how she was going to disappear in White Cliff. They got a room at one of the nicer inns in town, if you could call it a nicer inn. The first day Tahir spent with her. They went shopping and stayed in the room where he enjoyed her to his hearts content.The next day was different. He left long after dinner, when they should have been going to bed. When Risa went to the door to try to follow him it was locked. She went back to the bed and scrounged around in her travel pack. After a moment she came up with a small leather pouch. She went to the door and began to work on the lock.

Before she could finish picking the lock she heard a commotion start up down stairs. She could hear raised voices, and then she heard the sound of steel hitting steel. She finally got the door open. She went back to the bed and threw her stuff into her pack. This could be her chance to get away, to disappear into White Cliff.

She crept quietly down the stairs. The first thing she noticed was Tahir and a large man circling each other in the center of the room. As they circled each other trying to find an opening some of the other men joined in. Tahir was seriously outnumbered. She made her way around by the bar. As she neared the door she saw another Sarcosan. She reached down to his sword belt and took his Cedeku and scabbard off by slitting his belt with her knife. He yelled and tried to grab her as she rushed past, but missed her in all of the confusion. As she went by she took a swipe at one of Tahir's attackers, managing to take him across the ribs. As he fell at her feet she ripped the knife and sheath that she had glimpsed off of his forearm, and ran from the inn. The stable was empty this time of night. The stable boy was probably inside watching the fight.

Risa quickly saddled Pisall. She noticed that one of the pack horses was nearby and saddled her as well. The trade goods she threw on would come in useful down the road she was sure. Not wanting to waste any more time she quickly lead the horses out of the stable and into the night.

************

Risa quickly found that with her looks White Cliff was the last place she wanted to be alone. With the gangs running the city it was very unsafe for any woman. She had gotten away with it for a few days, but now she was going to have to find a place for herself until she could find a trustworthy person to travel with out of White Cliff. Needless to say trustworthy people were few and far between in White Cliff.

To that end she had spent the last two days sizing up the leaders of the different gangs and trying to determine what her best bet would be. She had come to a very unappealing decision. Muck. That just about said it all. The leader of one of the gangs was named Muck, an ogre half-breed. While the idea made her nauseous, she was pretty sure that she could talk him into using her for her skills out of bed, not in it.

She had made her way into his base without anyone noticing, which was a feat in and of itself, what with all of the people walking, sitting, and lying around. She made her way across to Muck, who had his back turned on her talking to one of his men. The man's jaw dropped as he noticed her behind Muck. He looked her up and down, a look of lust coming into his eyes. Muck turned to see who it was. Risa walked up and put an arm around Muck's neck.

"Well, are we just going to stand here talking or are you going to take me somewhere more . . . Private?" Risa asked, smiling up at the ugly man.

He smiled, and stood, holding her in one arm as he turned to the man and said. "I'll get back to you on that tomorrow Jaco. It looks like I have more important business to take care of tonight." and with that Muck turned and headed to his room.

When they got into his room he sat her on her feet and looked her up and down. As he took a step towards her she flicked her wrist and a knife dropped into her hand. The drop sheath had come in very handy.

"Just a moment Muck, I have a business proposition to make to you." Risa said, taking a step back.

Muck stopped, his eyes flicking down to the knife in her hand. "What exactly do you have in mind? I'd rather go back to the `conversation' we were about to have."

"Think a moment. How did I get in here, why didn't your men notice me long before I got up to you?" Risa asked, letting what she had done sink in.

A thoughtful look passed over Muck's face. "Go on, I'm listening."

"Here's my proposition, I have some fairly valuable goods that I would be willing to give to you in exchange for your . . . Protection while I am here in White Cliff. I would also be willing to gather information for you from the other leaders. I could help to make you the most powerful man in White Cliff. All I ask is that as long as I am useful, I am hands off. You can tell anyone you want whatever you want, but in reality you and I will have nothing but a business relationship. If I can't provide you with
information then we can . . . Renegotiate our relationship. "

Muck thought about it long and hard. The possibilities ran through his thick head. He came to the conclusion that she had hoped for. "Ok, I don't see how I can loose, we'll try it out. Maybe I could have your name?"

"Shayd, My name is Shayd." Risa answered.