A wanderer in an unknown land..

The journey home was placed on the back burner, though traveling in that direction had taken the heanta into the freelands and from there she drifted on with no particular goal until she found herself at the city of Edaria, a haven for all that weren't causing trouble, though if there was no one to say she had done so then wasn't that much the same? The soldiers she had fought a few days ago hadn't exactly gotten a good look at her face during the clash in the flaming woods and they weren't of this land either, and dead men tell no tales either, so entrance into the city was not difficult and neither did she expect any other portion of her time here to be. She wandered further within the city's walls until the smell of food carried her to a tavern.

She had little money, and even if she would consider selling her armor, she had left it behind in a box from the wagon which she had then buried so that she could return for it when it might be more helpful than hindering, something it would be in trying to blend in. However, coin was not the only currency in the world and thus she would obtain a meal through her talent as musician. Without formal lessons her abilities lacked the shine they might have had otherwise, but she was still a capable player and for most places that was enough to earn some kind of meal. Minervium was just finishing her second song when a small plate of some local meat dish was presented to her as compensation, bringing a gentle smile to her face and signalling to her that it was time to take a bow and slip into a spot out of everyone's attention. The food was not bland, overcooked or undercooked and that much earned her approval, but the spices used were an interesting mixture that lightly burned her mouth like a gently licking flame while also being relatively sweet compared to most foods she had tasted in her life. As she ate eagerly, an argument started between a group of 11 in total, 6 on one side and five on the other, which caught her attention. With a scheming heart, she shoveled the last of the food into her mouth and made her way over just as it began to escalate and the first punch was being thrown.

She ended up joining the smaller side and in doing so more than evened the odds, though as she threw her punches and even smashed a couple of noses with her forehead, she kept her real goal in sight. Once the matter seemed close enough to won, she slipped away and out the door with as many plates from the table as she could carry and left the bloodied and bruised bunch to wonder where it had all gone while they were brawling. If anyone on the street saw her, they didn't care that she had left the premise with the plates since no one stopped her or came after her while she ate in calm happiness in a nearby alley. But that didn't mean that she ended up without any company, as oddly enough an urchin came into the alley and shamelessly begged for just a little food. She considered it quietly while she ate, but ultimately did give offer the child a plate which must have stunned it considering how it stammered and hesitated to take it despite having asked for food. 


"You're sure I can have this? Thank you miss!" The child cried with happiness as it consumed the contents of the plate and thanked her again and again for her apparent charity, though that joy seemed to have taken a hit when at last Minervium responded to the bright eyed creature with the gentle voice one might expect from a parent or an older sibling with words that gripped the child's heart with fear for at least a moment, and nervous laughter passed its lips as it tried to tell itself that it must have been a joke.

"Of course you can, livestock must be fed before it is worth eating." Not a word more was spoken between them, though the child left with a second plate of food and a lingering fear at the edge of his mind that it hadn't been the joke he continued to insist to himself that it was. 

A young red haired girl wondered the streets of Edaria, seemingly without purpose. The girl was Valatrix, a heanta with purple eyes and very light skin. Unlike most heanta, her head was bereft of horns, a genetic defect passed down from her grandfather. It marked her out to her own kind, but most humans and asentari were unaware of what her lack of horns meant. Given her size, most didn't even notice she was a heanta. However in Edaria, whether someone noticed or not didn't really matter. The city was a safe haven to all people who needed it. Not that she needed it. No Vala was here to see the city, and possibly visit the floating Islands of Edia.

Vala's slow meanadering through the city took her down many different streets, with plenty of shops and sights. She was dressed in a light loose green tunic as opposed to her usual combat leather, as she was unaccustomed to the heat. She didn't really expect to run into trouble, but she'd chosen to wear her drakna. The divinium heanta battle gauntlets were as much part of her as her demon matrix, and it always felt odd to be without them. Vala's slow exploration eventually brought her to a tavern on the far side of the city from her own lodgings, and she decided to step inside for a drink and a break from the heat. A minstril had just started to play as she slipped in and appraoched the counter. She got herself a drink and took a seat in the back, and listened to the musician.

Vala was surprised to see the player was another heanta, though perhaps she shouldn't be, since edaria was a fairly accepting place. She'd seen a few others already, and even a few eldari who didn't try to run her through or blast her with magic. None seemed to happy to see her though, but they might have been very confused were she with Fayla at the time. Vala's attention went back onto the minstrel, just as she finished up and disappeared to eat her food. And not long after, a fight broke out in the tavern between two groups. She was tempted to jump into the brawl herself, but instead she kept her distance.

However, the minstrel returned and joined in the brawl evening the numbers, before pulling a fast one on the combatants and slipping out with several plates of food. Vala cocked her head in confusion at this behavior. Heanta didn't need to eat often, and that seemed like to much for one person. Curious, Vala slipped out after the minstrel and seen her go into an alley. She carefully moved toward the alley and spotted a child follow the heanta in. As she got closer, she heard the child ask for food, and was given some, to its joy. Vala smiled slightly and made to leave when she heard the heanta's reply.

It seemed like a joke, but it was not an uncommon fate for humans in Kyrias who outlived their usefulness or when times were tough. The child laughed it off, but Vala wasn't so sure it was, and instead of risking it she revealed herself, stepping into the alley, claws on full display and smiled at the child coldly before looking at the heanta. "Got any food to share?" She asked. The child looked between them, assumed it was about to become a meal, and bolted from the alley in terror. She felt a little bad, but she didn't show it as she eyed the other heanta. "A word of advice. Don't eat any of the locals. They're not livestock, and the city autorities won't take kindly to it. If your caught, the best case scenario is you get hung. Worst case, you take us all down with you." She said coldly. She watched the heanta, waiting for her response.

Vala frowned. "And why not? Don't like the taste of heanta?" She asked before shrugging. "Its fine I'm not hungry. I was just scaring away that child before it became your dinner." Vala said, looking at the lazy heanta. The girl countered her warning by talking about how predators drag food up trees, before taking a long drink. She continued before giving Vala a chance to reply. When vala did reply, she said, "We're not common predators though. Our particular prey does not like being eaten, and they're guards will happily gut you once they find you, whether you drag your prey up a tree or down an alley." She said. "The people in Edaria aren't as intolerant of heanta. They wont attack us, unless we start eating them. As for why I'm here, I could ask you the same thing. I don't recognise you from the clans. Are you a warrior?" Vala asked her.

She gained the distinct impression the heanta before her was not a local, and was more likely from Kyrias. How she ended up so far from home was a mystery though. The other heanta began to walk away, before turning back and asking about a warm airy place to sit. Vala decided to go with her, catching up easily. "You can atleast be glad I'm Valatrix of the hornless clan, as opposed to Celaena the Hornless. My mother does not share my bountiful patience." Vala told the other heanta. "I don't really require your help. But, since I have you here, you can tell me your name, and how you got here. I'm fairly new to the city, but I passed through a public garden while I was exploring." Vala said, and led the way.

Vala listened to what Minervium had to say. "My mother is a little less stuck up than most clan leaders or members of the elite. Its easy to keep your head out of the clouds when most other clans look down on you for not being a 'True' clan. Do something worthwhile for her to notice you, and she'd pay you the respect you deserve. Unless you do something she doesn't like. Then she might spend the time killing you personally." Vala responded, before leading her on to the garden she'd mentioned. She mulled over the other heanta's words as they walked, and since the other woman chose to stay quiet for now, she did too.

The garden Vala had mentioned was a large open space surrounded by trellises with climbing roses and other bright flowers. there was a fountain in the middle of the garden with a low wall, and weaving paths traversed a vivid flower garden, with several seating areas around. No one paid them any head as they walked across the flower garden and found a bench to sit on. Once she was sitting down, Vala stayed quiet for a while, admiring the garden. There was nothing like this in Av'Eden. The only public places there was slaver stalls, fighting pits and the markets. There was very few places in Av'Eden one could consider nice to look at, never mind beautiful.

After a while of contemplation, she looked at Minervium. "So, exactly what do you plan to do now? Because you mentioned offering me help earlier, but I'm not on a mission and I'm not in need of a helping hand. I'm visiting the city, seeing where the 'river of fate' as you put it, will take me." she said. "However if you need money or help to get home, I'm willing to help you."

Vala nodded. "It is by some. Not by the others. My grandfather formed the clan, its the youngest of all the clans and some of the others think she's not worthy of the name my grandfather made for himself. Its complicated political stuff and I prefere not to be involved. Its why I rarely spend time in Av'Eden." She said. That and someone wanted her dead. Which she didn't mention unless Minervium got any bright ideas.

Vala listened to Minervium talk about her current path. She smiled slightly. "I do love to adventure. But I doubt you would approve of my traveling companions." She responded as Minerviun pulled out her instrument. Vala frowned at the device and watched as she tuned it before speaking again. "Well, I travelled here with a pair of Asentari, and I may end up visiting the sky islands of edia with them. Assuming they let me in, of course. I might get chased away." She said. "But I think I will need to return to Av'Eden soon after. Your welcome to tag along when I go." She said.

Then she gave the instrument another look. "What is that device? I know it makes music, but I don't think I've seen one before." She said as she examined it a little closer. She wondered if she could learn to play one. Not because she like music, but just because she enjoyed learning things.

Vala nodded. "Quite a tale indeed. We were hunting a group of mercenaries who I had some disagreements with. Mostly they tried to kill me, hired by someone who didn't want me alive, as is the time old fashion of the heanta elite when they decide they don't like someone. Though in this case, a simple assassin wasn't good enough for me it seems. Granted, I survived through two assassination attempts, so clearly an army was needed for little me." She said, choosing not to mention who exactly had tried to have her killed. "Needless to say, myself and a good freind killed the mercenaries leader and with the help of three asentari and a human, we scattered the group to the winds. It was fun." She finished. She smiled happily at the memories, and wondered if the mercenary leader might come back looking for vengence.

She listened to Minervium explain about the instrument and who she had taught herself. Vala watched her hands move as she played the instrument, the deft swift movements, noting the covering on her claws. She frowned at that, since heanta claws were normally retractable, but she decided that maybe asking would be considered rude. So instead she focused back on the conversation at hand. "Indeed. But its rare to see a heanta pick up an instrument. Especially one thats not a wardrum or horn." She said. That being said, music wasn't unheard of in Av'Eden. They had minstrels who preformed epics, though the contents of their songs were always war related. And some of them really weren't that good.