Sky Full of Stars

Chapter 5: The Beginning

    Miznia was certainly strange, but as she led me to the group, I forgot all about my curiosity, for now, and smiled at the group as we went through introductions.

    "Huh, so you're our newest fighter? And ya heal too, aye?" The dwarven man, Emdrom, asked me.

    "Aye, that's true, sir. I am Nimue, daughter of Rhalta and Tearlar, paladin of Kareem, the goddess of light. I seek... Adventure in the great wide world, and places to admire the sky when it's full of stars" I answered, giving my basic rundown of the reasons I'd decided to go traveling that I'd shared with Father.

    Emdrom snorted and stroked his beard. "Hush up about all that, lassie. We all know we want to strike our fortune, you ain't no different. Which is fine, we all want to not have to work for the entirety of our lives"

    I smiled sheepishly. "Aye, sir. I seek my fortune..." I mumbled, not finishing that it was for my family.

    "That's another thing, we're all equals here. I may be twice your age and then some, but I fight for my next meal, same as the twins, there. Same as Miznia. Sir, ma'am, it's all owlbear dung. Don't bring that 'round here" Emdrom grinned at me.

    "Alright, um... Emdrom. I'll do my best" I stammered.

    He shrugged. "Good enough. Now, ya must be curious about the rest of us, aye? Our skills?"

    I thought for a moment, contemplating whether I should tell him or not. "Actually, I think I've figured it out. Emdrom, you're a barbarian, yes?"

    His eyes widened a bit, but he grinned. "Aye, that I am, lassie"

    I nodded to the changeling, Cylqis. "Cylqis, right? You're either a cleric or a paladin, but given the half-plate, as opposed to full plate, you're a cleric of Mireille, right?"

    Cylqis nodded, their unnerving gaze never leaving mine. "That's right, Nimue"

    I nodded, smiling a bit, satisfied that I had both down. I looked to the twins and pointed to one of them. "I still can't figure out which is which, but you're the sorcerer, and your brother is the wizard, correct?"

    The twin I pointed to smiled. "Yes, that's correct. And I'm Ulneak, he's Alben" he said, jerking his thumb toward the wizard still studying his spellbook.

    Alben looked up at me curiously, but said nothing as he looked back to his spellbook.

    "Alben doesn't talk much around new people, but he'll get used to ya" Emdrom told me.

    I nodded and looked to Miznia. "Lastly, Miznia. You're a rogue." My analysis of her was not a question, I simply knew it.

    She shrugged one shoulder and smirked at me. "Got it in one"

    Emdrom grinned wide. "Very observant of ya to pinpoint all our skills after only lookin' at us. That skill'll come in handy in our line of work"

    I grinned and nodded. "Glad I could be of use for something"

    Emdrom chuckled and pat the empty chair beside him.

    I sat beside him and pulled out my journal, opening it to my star charts.

    A gloved hand slipped in front of me and snatched the journal from my hands.

    "Hey!" I was on my feet in an instant, spinning towards Miznia, who was flipping through the journal nonchalantly. "Give that back" I growled.

    Miznia looked up at me over the top of the journal and smirked. "Or what? What's so special about this little book?"

    Cylqis stood and took the journal from Miznia, handing it back to me before looking back to her.

    "It's best we don't anger our new friend, Miznia. Especially given that you've never seen her fight, and I'd put my money on her in a fight" They said in an all too calm voice, that oddly seemed to calm us both down.

    Miznia shrugged and leaned back against the wall. "Fine, whatever"

    Cylqis looked to me. "Apologies for her behavior, Nimue. She is like that with all of us. It's how she shows her love"

    Miznia snorted. "I don't love anybody, I just happen to work well with you lot. Don't get that confused, Cylqis"

    They smiled at me, a gesture that made me incredibly uncomfortable, but I shook it off and smiled back. "Thanks, Cylqis."

    Cylqis shrugged and nodded. "Any time." They leaned in and whisper low enough so only I heard, "Don't mind her, honestly. She's had a rough time in life, she just needs everyone to be a little patient with her"

    I nodded and smiled kindly. "Thank you" I whispered back.

    With that, they returned to their seat across from Emdrom.

    The woman from behind the bar walked over, her beautiful long brown hair draped down her back and her striking green eyes meeting mine excitedly. She was quite beautiful for a human, but I wasn't looking for a relationship with someone who couldn't defend themselves.

    She stopped beside me and smiled bright. "What can I get y'all this evenin'?" She asked, looking around at everyone but always drawing her gaze back to me.

    Emdrom glanced at me and grinned but held back whatever thought he had. "A special for everyone, ma'am. And ale all around the table, the finest ya've got! We're celebrating tonight!"

    She smiled and laid her hand on my armored shoulder. "Anything extra for you, dear? On the house"

    I smiled back kindly. "No, thank you. Emdrom seems to know just what to get everyone"

    She pouted slightly, but quickly plastered her bar maid's smile back onto her face. "Alrighty, six specials and six fine ales. That's two gold, Emdrom"

    He dug into his coin pouch and tossed her three shiny gold coins. "Keep the change, love"

    She nodded and tucked the coins into the pocket of her apron before heading back to the bar.

    Emdrom grinned at me. "Looks like ya drew the eye of miss Evangeline! She's normally not one for adventurers. How'd ya manage that?"

    I shrugged. "I didn't, not intentionally anyway. I'm not looking for a relationship with someone who'll tie me down to one place, and especially not with someone who can't defend themselves. That's too much responsibility for any one person, especially someone who's chosen to dedicate their life to traveling the world and helping people."

    Emdrom, the twins, and Cylqis watched me curiously as I spoke. Miznia, however, had a different look in her eye. Hope, maybe? But as soon as I tried to make sense of it, the look was gone, replaced with that cold, calculating gaze.    

    I shook off my curiosity as Evangeline returned with the food and drinks. "Here you are, folks. Six specials, six fine ales. Enjoy" she smiled at me once more before returning to her spot behind the bar.

    I snuck a glance at Miznia, and her eyes burned with an unspoken rage. Why? What had her so angry? But again, as soon as I tried to figure it out, the emotion disappeared.

    I frowned slightly, but I was distracted by a clap on my back from Endrom. "Dig in! Ya must be starved after your long journey here! Where're ya from anyway, lassie?"

    I hesitated slightly, biting my bottom lip. I looked between each member of the group, unsure of how they'd react, but knowing it was better to get the truth out now. "I'm... From Thunia" I said softly.

    I was met with the reaction I most expected. Stares of disbelief, a bit of fear from the twins. But Miznia watched me with interest, her eyes searching my face for something I must not have been giving.

    "Thunia...? Truly?" Emdrom asked softly. "Are you not a carrier of the plague, lassie?"

    I shook my head quickly. "Kareem blessed me in such a way I cannot fall ill, and cannot be the cause of someone else around me falling ill. The one thing I can't do is... Prevent sickness..." My voice grew strained as memories of Mother come flooding back and I quickly steeled myself against the tears that threatened to spill. I dropped my head and stared at my plate.

    Cylqis cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence. "Well, we have no worries then. A companion who can't fall ill will certainly be helpful when one of us inevitably does. Come, let's eat"

    I glanced up at my new-found companions to find they'd returned to their standard conversations, laughing and joking with each other as they dug into their meals. All except Miznia, who had found her seat across from me and was studying me curiously. Like she was trying to read my thoughts. Finally, after what felt like forever, but in reality was only a moment, she turned her gaze to her food and began to eat. I only picked at my own meal until I finally grew bored of even that and slid it to Emdrom then stood.

    "I think I'll turn in for the night" I said softly. "See you all in the morning."

    No one stopped me, but I once again felt Miznia's eyes on my back as I approached the counter and paid for my room. Evangeline took the liberty of leading me to it, though I was perfectly capable of finding it on my own, and at the top of the stairs I glanced back down to see Miznia watching me, her eyes filled with what I assume was anger, and a bit of jealousy, I thought. But as her gaze met mine, the look vanished.

    "I'm going out for my... Nightly activities. Gentlemen, Cylqis. I'll see you tomorrow" I heard her say, drawing a frown from me. It wasn't difficult to guess that her 'nightly activities' likely involved robbing people blind.

    I sighed and muttered a quick thank you to Evangeline before closing the door to my room and locking it. I worked on pulling off my armor and stretched my tired limbs as I got setup for the night. I looked outside my window to see just another massive building from the busy square and sighed. Then I got an idea.

    I pushed open the window and looked up. The edge of the roof was only a few feet above me. I looked down and grinned as I spotted a ledge on the building across from me, easily close enough to stand on and reach the edge of the roof. So I did. I stepped out onto the ledge and reached up, grabbing the edge of the roof and pulling myself up over the edge and onto the roof.

    I settled in, holding my pencil and journal and look up at the stars. "Mother... If you can truly hear me... I need a sign that what I'm doing is right... I feel so lost... I need your guidance..." I spoke openly, sure that this late no one was listening.

    "So your mother is up there too?"