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Aranai settled on the floor and watched Cerdik weave his magic about the little piece of cloth. It didn't surprise her that it soon grew quite large. Curling her long tail to the side of her body, she let him throw the blanket over her, and the world around her went quite dark. Still, she could see some black shapes beyond it...

"A little. That is alright though, for any thinner cloth will let too much light through..."

The idea of looking foolish did not occur to her right away. Just as well, though, for it wouldn't have done her any good.

"A better place... yes. Where would that be, though?" came her muffled voice from beneath the blanket. She waited quite stoically, fairly confident that one of them wouldn't pick her up and carry her off. Such silly, childish notions.

Then a thought struck her. "Cerdik... could you maybe cut a hole for my head? It would not let out quite so much light as my entire body."

For now, she was in the dark. Well, not literally, for her body shone with quite enough light. She just wasn't prepared to hop around without seeing where she was going.

"What a silly mess this is..."

"Away from here is just enough," Cerdik replied, moving closer. Again, he knew he'd have to put the book down. He knelt, put it down, stood, and ripped a hole just enough for the Phoenix head to stick through. Then he dropped quickly and scooped up the book. "Follloow mmme," Cerdik said, shivering as he spoke causing his words to slur.

He moved down the hallway Garren had gone to hide Adencia away. He led her down that way until there was a turn he walked around the corner and then stopped. He sat against the wall, its cold surface permeating through his two layers of cotton and causing Cerdik to shiver yet again. "I dare not venture deeper within this homely labyrinth."

Cerdik smiled weakly and nodded. "You are welcome." He turned his head to meet her eyes. He looked back to the floor before answering. "Garren's head-voice," he said simply. "She beclaims a title of Isarelle." Cerdik sighed silently and peeked around the corner. Little could be seen in the fading daylight with so few torches lit. So he settled back against the wall, feeling the Phoenix's heat slowly make its way from beneath the makeshift cloak. In its attempt to push away the cold, it only made him shiver more.

"A powerful maigc, one that I haven't seen before. To tell you the truth, it actually fascinates me." He looked back at the mansion. "Well, you say only bad things happen there right? Well, I heard of an object that would lift any curse and I was about to go and journey to the place to retrieve it. If you want, I can use it to get rid of any bad magic that is in there." He said. "I just have to go back there and study the magic in there a bit more. You don't have to worry about me. I know runes that will protect me." He gave out a short laugh. "I was just caught off gaurd before, that's all. So now if you'll excuse me, I'll head back to the mansion and I suggest you people head back home. I'll make it so that nothing will bother you from the mansion until I return." He said with a smile before turning and headed back towards the mansion.

Stern eyes from Barley and his men heard his explanation, several of the followers muttering amongst themselves just as Khnui turned back to the manor. At their chatter the butcher raised his hand towards the crew and dared a step forward, if only to stop the stranger for a moment.

"We dun prachtice magicks in thes town, nor do weh proteact th' fools who try't. Weve learnt bettah frum those fiveh yeers ahgo. Do wha yew wahnt, jus mahke sure that ya keap yer word. We wahn no furder truble. If'n yer search in th' house terns sour, fer the wretch taht lives in 'der, cume to teh inn o' th' town."

This offer was more of an empty one, while he really didn't want such a man in the town the stranger had done nothing wrong- so it was more of a formal gesture. But feeling eased at this explanation, and just not wishing to linger, he and his fellows came to the assumption that this was all that they had to worry about. It was all that they wanted to know, really. No details elsewise. Before turning back to the path which his lads trailed before him, Mr. Barley turned with a final comment as his torch's light shadowed his face in a foreboding manner.

"Or go."

Satisfied, Barley lumbered after his mates, and soon their torchlights were but faint sparks in the distance.


Hearing a single man's limped footsteps approach the steps again, Isarelle felt relieved. She was ready to just about let her hand free, have the lights blare again, and tackle Khnui in gratitude- but remembered herself, strangely, at Adencia's frustrated whisper. As rough as it was, it reminded her that they were not out of the woods yet. Khnui had still to pass the threshold, Barley could possibly turn around and hear their commotion....a multitude of things. Thus, the grip of Isarelle's fist loosened but slowly; slowly opening and as such bringing the house lights from their dim respite. Things were becoming more visible at a steady pace. Darting her eyes to the one who had recalled her to her responsibility, she bit her lip to behold the elf's misery. But such as her comment was really something Isarelle could relate to, and was unsure if she merely thought a response or just spoke it quietly.

"....I know what you mean."

“Ah, don’t we all.” Adencia smiled towards Isarelle. She felt several areas across her cheeks sting from the cuts and splinters as she did so but ignored it. Now that she could finally see the extent of the damage to her hands in the light she took them from her now stained shirt to look at them in the light. Her hands looked as if she had just gotten done tearing down a tree and picking up several porcupines and lobbing them. She wouldn’t be using her bow anytime soon, not to mention using her hands in any way shape or form. Luckily she was not still in the forest or she would have starved to death before her hands could heal and do anything useful.

“Erm, sorry about your door. I’m afraid I scratched it nearly to shambles, but not without consequences, as you can see.” She said lifting up her hands, showing her bloodied palms and fingers, “Such a nuisance. Eh . . . I don’t suppose you would mind lending a hand?” She said tiredly. If she had the energy to pull herself up then she would have but, alas, her transformations had rendered her useless once more.

After several minutes, Cerdik stood, legs shaking slightly. He seemed to ignore it. He nodded toward the hallway, still hugging the book to his chest. "I think now be fair-time to return. Let's go." He watched down the hallway curiously, and the lights seemed to steadily brighten. "Magicks," Cerdik murmured to himself under his breath. " 'Tis s-safe for us," he said more confidently.

Freedom! As Khnui passed through the 'door' and plopped himself down into a seat, Isarelle's heart almost burst with the relief of opening her hand all the way like she had been holding in a large breath. Even if the townsfolk looked back to the manor now to notice its bright lights, she was certain that they would just believe that Khnui had lit up the place himself for whatever he had convinced them he was doing. She was very grateful for his risk and indeed wanted to shower him with affection, but respectfully let him have his resting moment as her own shoulders shrugged heavily after using that little light spell. Besides, there was a bleeding elf on her floor that she should probably take care of. Thusly, Isarelle treated Khnui with a thanking bow of the head and rushed over to Adencia's side.

"Thank you so much, Khnui."

Her words were a little tired as with a limp smile she began to wipe at the wounded's cuts with ruffles from her dress's skirt. It was an basic impulse probably more than the proper thing to do....and she didn't feel like she could perform a healing spell right off of her last one just yet. Knelt beside her, Isarelle bestowed compassion upon Adencia just as if she were a nurse.

"Don't worry about the door. I'm just surprised that you got out, and is that all right according to your curse? Will you not change again in such a condition? I would hate to hull you up in a prison cell after that, you need just about the most comfortable room I can give you! Perhaps I can get those healing balms I know I have somewhere...."

Being a delicate kind of thing, Isarelle might not have been the best one to begin to lift Adencia up. It was well-known throughout the household, and ridiculed by a certain someone, that the girl once sprained her wrist by lifting a basket of peaches. But she was determined, and when someone's welfare was on the line Isarelle D'Amarante definately called on all the strength she could. Garren knew this wouldn't be enough, and actively started to lend in his muscle through his sister's arms. He was distracted though, as a single thought wrapped around his mind.

"I locked her in the damn thing myself! There should be no way for her to have gotten out....Isa, yeah she's injured, but for the sake of everybody let me put her in a cell later. You can wrap her wounds and I'll secure her nice and tight. Such an escape shouldn't be trusted....and we did just meet her today...."

It was wonderful to feel the added endurance in her limbs, but she growled at his comment. Together they had just raised Adencia, and though both of her arms supported the woman, with one hand she balled a fist.

"Shut up, Garren!"

Again, out loud, in their strange way. To make it seem like it had nothing to do with the elf and to not offend her, Isarelle laughed nervously.

"....He, he told an improper joke."

Making a terrible liar, she shyly turned her head a moment down towards the hallway. Her other guests must have hidden down there. Shouting so they could hear, she beckoned them closer.

"The threat is over! You can come out now Sir Cerdik, and um....Miss Firebird. I can explain everything if I still must for those who are confused, and begin to settle you all in for the night. Then we can begin our planning tomorrow....and whatnot...."

Quite the bit of excitement not seen in this house for a long, long time.