Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Then eat it is," Adonai smiled. "Let's head down then. I have to admit, I'm also eager to meet these two ... Reuven is a good judge of character, and we do need the help."

Rhea giggled and gripped her staff tightly, and headed for the stairs once more. She would have been skipping, but that wasn't quite possible with a staff in hand, especially one as tall as hers.

Whisper followed after Rhea, purring at the thought of food. Not that she hadn't eaten enough on their journey, but it had been long even for her.

When they got back to the dining room, Reuven was chatting with the pale-haired man in the light blue robes. They were talking cheerfully, and when Reuven spotted the others he headed over with the man in tow.

"Adonai," he smiled warmly, "this is Caranthir. He and his traveling partner are looking for work, they are apparently good fighters, and they have a reputation for honesty."

At least, Caranthir did. No one knew anything about his partner.

Adonai looked the man up and down. He had a very goofy smile, much like Halmir, but he lacked scars. It made him a little wary of overexaggeration ...

"And who is your partner?" he asked curiously.

The man nodded toward the dark figure in the corner. "Sitting in the corner, in the black," he grinned. "Not very sociable, but in a fight there's none better. Loyal, hardworking ..."

Adonai nodded turned to Shael. "What do you think?"

Shael peered past him at the figure in black. "Reminds me of Aragost," she murmured quietly. Which wasn't admittedly a bad thing.

Adonai turned back to Caranthir and nodded. "We'll meet with you," he agreed. "Come and join us, if you would like."

Caranthir bowed, his eyes twinkling brightly. "As you wish," he smiled warmly. "I'll be right back." And he headed over towards the corner where his partner was sitting all alone.

Adonai was also watching the two curiously while he waited for them to come over, and once the cloaked figure rose and began to head over he took a quick bite of food.

"My partner, Aerin," Caranthir introduced his partner as they approached.

The cloaked figure lifted its arms and pulled down the cowl, and an abundance of bright orange hair tumbled out and around the shoulders. The next thing that became apparent were the bright green eyes and freckled cheeks, none of which were elvish features - yet it was quite clear from looking at this person that she was indeed elvish.

Adonai nearly did a double-take when he saw that it was a woman. It was the last thing he would have expected. She had the same aura as Aragost as well ... one with power and one who struck fear into those who were their enemies (or even just regular people). He looked up at her closely. Her eyes, as bright and vibrant a green as they were, were cold and distant, filled with the pain of experience. The freckles made her look young, but he could see scars on what little skin was visible that spoke of decades, perhaps even centuries, of battle.

She looked over the group that was sitting at the table and eating, and though Triton's ears and Cindy's wings were quite apparent (not to mention Whisper, who was sitting on the floor beside Rhea), her eyes passed over them as if seeing people like that, or a winged blue cat with a golden glowing halo, was completely normal. What seemed to catch her attention, however, was the staff that Rhea carried, that was now resting against the table beside her.

"Aerin, say something," Caranthir grinned faintly, poking her gently on the arm. When she didn't, he turned back to Adonai and chuckled. "She's a little quiet," he said apologetically, "but actually that's a good thing. It's when she's not that you need to worry."

Aerin's eyes flickered to Triton when he spoke to her, and she nodded politely, her expression never changing. "Likewise," she said quietly, in a voice that, if it were using a friendlier tone, would be very pleasant to listen to.

Rhea's eyes were wide with amazement. "Wow," she murmured, "your hair is like fire ..." She couldn't help but admire it. She thought Aerin was very beautiful.

Aerin looked at Rhea and tilted her head slightly. "That's because of this," she murmured, holding out one hand. Her hand burst into flame for several seconds, and then she closed her hand and the flames disappeared.

Rhea looked at the hands thoughtfully for a moment, then held out her own hand and copied what Aerin did exactly.

"Rhea," Shael warned her.

Rhea pouted. "But I've always wanted to use fire!"

Rhea closed her hand obediently, and the fire dissipated immediately.

Shael smiled sadly. It wasn't Rhea's fault, really ... and taking her to the city was like taking a child to a sweetshop where everything was labeled "free samples" and telling them not to touch. It was understandable that she wanted to try the new magicks that must have been coursing through her veins ... how could she do anything else?

But Cindy was perfectly right, she did need to be responsible about her magic use. That after all was what Cindy had been working with her on for the past several years, as well as the reason why Aragost had given her that staff.

"I understand the two of you are looking for work," Adonai commented to the two fighters, ignoring the entire incident. "Have you been told about what that entails?"

Aerin nodded once. "We agree that it sounds as if you have need of our skills," she said plainly, "and the payment sounds more than fair. But I cannot leave here yet. Will you be here for three days or more?"

Adonai nodded. "Yes."

"Then I will return in three days' time," Aerin nodded to herself. "Until then." She pulled her cowl back over her head and moved to the door, disappearing from sight.

Caranthir chuckled softly. "She tends to do this sometimes. Just a bit of business to take care of. But I'll be staying here, so don't you worry, we won't be skipping out on you."

Suddenly, without any warning, a small bubble-like film appeared around Rhea's hand. It seemed she was testing out some new magic now ... she stared at it, then poked at it with her other hand; and then she grabbed her staff and the bubble disappeared.

Caranthir looked at Triton and tilted his head slightly, then leaned close and asked, "Where are you from? You and Cindy, I mean. I've never seen anyone like you two before. Or the cat."

Thankfully, Whisper had chosen not to speak yet, or else the man would have had even more questions.

Caranthir nodded, still smiling easily. "Haven's pretty famous around here," he told Triton, slipping into the seat next to him. "The stories we've heard ... and we've run into Elros a few times, when he was returning children to the cities we were in. If we've been asked to take his place, I don't know how much good we'll be at it, or if we're worthy ... well Aerin would be but I don't know about myself ... but we'll try."

"And sometimes," Caranthir murmured, "it's better if they're not. Their places are too sacred to some people, and they should never be replaced. Elros, I know, is one of those people. He is a great man ... he has the respect of everyone in this nation."

He smiled suddenly. "But this talk is getting too depressing. Tell me, do you have any questions for me?"