Erin sat on a small rock outside of the broken strings inn, her hair moved slightly as from a wind...but there was no wind today. Very odd and some people looked at her when they walked past. But none stopped to talk with the young lady. She had been there for a while now, just watching the people as they walked past her. The storm kindler was extremely tired since she had been walking all day to get here. Her eyes moved up into the sky and she watched it for a moment. Then her gaze returned back. She shook her head and slowly stood up from the rock, then she looked towards the inn...she looked inside her pockets and noticed that she did not have very much to pay with. The girl sighed deeply...maybe the money she had would be enough for a room over the night? Well she could not do more then try.

She opened the door and walked inside of the crowded room, she slowly made her way through the room to the counter and gave the innkeeper a smile. "Excuse me, but i was wondering if the money I have would be enough for a room here? Just for one night" she picked up what money she had and the man looked at them, then at Erin....he did not say anything for a moment...it looked like he was thinking..then he smiled "Well I guess that price would do miss, but just for one night" he took the money and handed Erin a key. Erin bower her head. "Thank you so much" she then placed the key inside of her inner skirt, she had her bigger pocket there and it was easier that way. Then she slowly began to search to room for a good place to sit in. She did not see anything at first since there was many here, but then she noticed a small table in a corner. She began to make her way towards it and calmly sat down, she did not feel like going to bed right away...it was not very late.

"GAH! Hands off," came a voice, as a head seemed to bob above even those that were standing, holding a silvery harp over his head. Mikael's raven black hair was a bit disheveled, but simply because he had made it that way. Turning for a moment, he sighed. "OY! Clear a path, or no entertainment," he said in a gruff voice. The crowd rapidly parted, and he shook his head. "C'mon Anaya. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get somethin' to eat."

Settling into one of the chairs, he glowered at a few people right in front of him, who rapidly backed up, providing plenty of room for Anaya to stand. "Do your stuff, little one," he said, and began to pluck the strings of the harp.

A haunting, and yet at the same time SOOTHING melody, came from the strings, and his eyes closed halfway, as he seemed to lose himself to the music. But there was an ulterior motive to this, as he was watching the people around through those half-closed eyelids, looking to see who looked like they might have decent money.

The young woman followed behind Mikael, hands on her hips. She looked at the people, her green eyes narrowed into slits. She was a patient person, but if these people continued to hold up what she did for a living there was going to be a little bit of a problem. Mikael usually took care of these things though, so she was sure there was nothing to worry about. Anaya laughed and threw her long, black curls behind her shoulders as the crowd parted. Her golden, hoop earrings shined in the light of the tavern, soon hidden behind her hair as it fell behind her shoulders.

As she looked around, the lovely sound of coins jingling together hit her and she turned her head around, looking at the innkeeper and the woman who was handing him money. A small, hardly noticeable smile curved onto her face; perhaps after her routine they would have to visit that adorable little girl.

"Do your stuff, little one."

“Of course,” she said, giggling quietly when the people moved to clear the way for her. She glanced at Mikael, waiting for him to start the music. Once he did, her eyes closed and her body began to move accordingly with the music, her feet moving in small circles and her hips rotating in very much the same way. Her arms reached up above her head and she hummed along with the music, opening her eyes after a few bars to look around the tavern. The people with their eyelids half closed made a soft smirk come onto her face and again her eyes averted to look at the woman that she had spotted with the money before, and then turned her attention back to Mikael.

Erin heard the voices and looked that way for a moment, but then she looked the other way since she was not really much into listening to others singing and dancing. She was right next to one of the windows and could see most of the area around the city, this place was very pretty in a way. She liked to be here and was thinking of staying for a few days, but of course then she needed more money. She had to live somewhere after all. Her gaze moved to the celling of the inn, she could hear the music but she did not look at the dancing girl, but by the sound from the others one could guess she was good.

Erin raised her hand slightly and watched her fingers in the light from the candle on the table. She tilted her head slightly to the side and then she shook her head and lowered the hand again. Her powers was still not as they could be, her father had told her this, and he said she would be more powerful with time, but she had to understand what she was if she ever was going to understand the power of the wind...just like her father to say something like that. She sighed and closed her eyes for a second, she opened them again and stretched her back slowly.

He smiled at his working partner, and then when she finished dancing, he set the harp aside. "Okay. Clear an area here. A LARGE area. I'll also need a volunteer... ahhh... YOU!" he said to a rather wealthy looking merchant. "You know, there's an apple in your pocket," he said, grinning slightly as another male walked by the man he had chosen. "Seriously. Reach into your pocket." The man's round face lit up as he pulled an apple out of his pouch.

He smiled, taking the apple. "Now. I'm going to demonstrate an old trick that my father taught to me. If you would, place the apple on the top of your head." He smiled, and pulled the longsword that was strapped to his hip.

He backed up. "Now watch closely." He began whirling the blade, spinning and flipping it back and forth between both hands. Then, with a cry, he lunged forward, bringing the blade down at the apple.

With a flash, he was standing as he had been before, blade at his side. The man was standing there in shock, and then he let out a sigh of relief. Mikael reached out with his free hand, and tapped the apple, which promptly feel apart down the middle.

Under cover of the roar of applause that ensued, he stepped closer to Anaya. "She's broke. That money she gave the innkeeper was all she had," he whispered in her ear. "But I MIGHT be able to get us into her pocketbook," he said softly.

He grinned, and bowed, resheathing the blade in a single smooth motion, and then grinningly began accepting coins and not a few gems from the people in the tavern. "Anaya, go see if she would like to join us for a meal," he said to her.

As soon as she stopped dancing, Mikael was starting another routine to get money. Her hands once again fell to her hips and she watched with a grin, offering a smile to the smile to the man he had picked. She moved her arms and crossed them over her chest, almost in a bored fashion. She knew this routine; he had done this and similar things before. Still, either way, at least it was bound to get money. Not really paying attention to him, her eyes traveled all over the inn, biting the inside of her lip as she did so.

"But I MIGHT be able to get us into her pocketbook."

The whispered words brought Anaya back and she grunted softly, disappointed. At least there was still a chance to get something out of the woman. She glanced back to her, noticing that she was sitting all by herself. The poor dear was making herself all too vulnerable and she stood out like a sore thumb. Once Mikael told her to go see if she wanted to join them, she gave a quick nod, complying.

Anaya hummed as she walked over to the woman’s table, her footsteps light against the floor beneath her and her bracelets clanking together in soft, high pitched sounds. Upon reaching the table, she leaned over the chair opposite of the woman, a warm, albeit toothless smile coming onto her face. “Hello, dear,” she said. “I couldn’t help but notice that you’re all alone, all by yourself! It’s not fitting for a pretty little thing like you, especially in such a nice place like this. Would you care to join me and my friend for something to eat?” She didn’t hold an ounce of remorse for what she and Mikael had planned; she had been doing this for as long as she could remember and it was simply business.

Erin was inside her own thought when the woman arrived, she looked up at her and was a little surprised....she did not know what to say at first, but the lady in front of her did not look like someone evil like a necromancer or anything, but one could never be to careful not with that man after her all the time, she would have to look out if it was one of his tricks.

But she was a little curios about why she wanted her to join them. She calmly moved some hair from her face as she was thinking, then she smiled at the woman. "Well you might be right" she said. "Of course I would be happy to join you...but I don´t want to be of any trouble to you." she sighed and slowly moved her gaze around the room, then she looked back at Anaya.

((Not much this time, but it works. :P))

Mikael saw the woman look around the room after saying something to Anaya, and he caught her eye, and gestured for her to come over. Then he turned back to shaking hands, lifting minor bits of money, accepting donations, and smiling the whole time, hiding what he was doing very well, since they were more concentrated on HIM than their own belongings.

Once they had finished, he walked over to the keeper, and dropped a few gems on his counter. "Here's your take, my friend," he said with a laugh. "Set me up with two of your best meals, and have a third one ready," he said, looking over at where Anaya was still talking.

Stepping away from the counter, he walked over beside Anaya. "Nao wat's dis? 'As she gone all shy just b'cause ye invited her tae join us?" he said, dropping into the normal accent he had.

"Of course I would be happy to join you...but I don´t want to be of any trouble to you."

Anaya sucked on her teeth. “Don’t be silly now,” she said. The girl seemed nice enough, so at least she wouldn’t have to put up with a grumpy person like she sometimes did. It almost seemed like she was naïve, too. That wasn’t surprising, considering she looked younger than her. She felt like she was talking to a child, except of course for the fact that children were usually far bubblier. “Would I have come over here and invite you if I thought it would be any trouble?”

"Nao wat's dis? 'As she gone all shy just b'cause ye invited her tae join us?"

The young woman lifted her shoulders and forearms, hands spread away from her body with her palms facing the ceiling. “It seems so,” she said with a sigh, seeming a tad upset. “I don’t see why, though. We’re good people.” She turned back to Erin, lowering her arms. “Come, please. I won’t be taking no for an answer.” She laughed and held out a hand to help her up. “I’m Alyse, by the way, just so we aren’t strangers anymore. And you would be?”

Erin laughed and nodded. "I guess your right" she said. "It was a stupid question of me."
she turned her eyes to the other stranger when he came, he talked funny, but then again many did have there problems and it was nothing wrong with that as long as she could understand what he said and all. She gave him a slight smile.

She then looked back at Anaya. "Well I´m sure you are nice people, your clearly not bad as when I´m talking about the word." she tilted her head slightly to the left as she talked. "Well I guess I have no other choice then" she smiled and accepted the womans hand to help her up. "Nice to meet you Alyse." she said when she stood up and bowed her head slightly. "My name is Erin"

These people sounded nice, but she had to be careful, better not show anything right away, but the lady was not as naive as one would think. She had her head in place, but of course those two would not know that. Not that she thought anything bad about them, but it was hard times and one had to be careful.

He smiled. "An' ah'm Rin," he said with a chuckle, as he gestured to the bartender, waving a hand and then holding up three fingers. He and Anaya had been here long enough, he and the keeper had a dialogue set without either of them speaking.

Pulling out one of the chairs, he turned it around, settling into it backward. "So wat's one such as ye'self doin' all alone?" he asked, a concerned look on his face. Then he laughed. "C'sid'rin' all de trouble dis one got in 'fore ah took 'er under ma wing," he said, hooking a thumb at his companion. "Ah know dese parts ain't ver' safe. 'Tain't wise tae be trav'lin' alone."

He looked up as the keeper brought the plates, and smiled. "Ah'll have mah standard light wine. Don' know what de ladies be wantin', ye'll have tae ask dem." He looked at Erin with a grin. "Don' worry 'bout payin'. Ah've already handled it. You jest concern yer pretty li'l head about eatin' dat food."

To be honest, Anaya completely hated that accent. She was used to it; he had used it in the past and she was able to understand what he was saying, but couldn’t he have chosen a nicer sounding one at least? It was annoying… but at least it would help them get whatever valuables Erin had. “It’s nice to meet you too, dear,” she said kindly upon realizing the girl had spoken.

"C'sid'rin' all de trouble dis one got in 'fore ah took 'er under ma wing… Ah know dese parts ain't ver' safe. 'Tain't wise tae be trav'lin' alone."

Anaya gave him a look out of the corner of her eye. She begged to differ with that statement about her getting into trouble, but rested a hand on his shoulder anyway, giving it a light shake. At least he was right about the second part. “Oh, he’s right,” she said. “There are a lot of dangerous people, you know. Kill you and take everything you’ve got on you.” She shuddered voluntarily at the thought. It wasn’t really too upsetting in her opinion, because she knew that she could take care of herself, but she had to act differently for at least a little while.

Once Mikael sat down at the table, she blinked and glanced at Erin. She had already helped her up, but apparently now that wasn’t necessary. She let go of Erin’s hand and motioned for her to sit back down again, then grabbed a chair and sat down herself. She grabbed her hair and pushed the locks behind her ears, her earrings shining once again in the light, glad to be exposed once again. She rested her arms on the table, watching the keeper as he walked over.

“Water is fine,” she said before peering at Erin, waiting to see what she would get. With any luck it would be something with alcohol in it – that way she would be less aware if either one of them tried to take whatever she had on her.

Anaya wriggled in her seat a little bit before resting her chin on her hands. “It really is a shame you’re here alone, dear. Like Rin said, it isn’t very safe. Do you live here?” It was small talk just to keep her busy. Honestly, she didn’t care even in the slightest… but oh well. Even minor details could prove to be useful.

Erin listened to them, she had a hard time to understand what Rin said, but it was nothing she could not deal with. "Very nice to meet you Rin"[/B] She sat down again since Anaya showed her to do so, this was nice people...a little odd but nice.

She thought for a moment about there questions. "Yes I know there are much bad people around, but then there is not just bad people." she smiled at the two of them. "Well I want to see more of the world then just my hometown and the temple my father is living in, to see thw world have been my dream since I was a child." she made a pause and moved her gaze around them room before she keept talking.
Besides I don´t have that much on me as it is now, I left most of my stuff at home and the only thing I have is a pendant my mother gave me when I was born. " she laughed and shook her head slightly. "But to be honest I have had my fair share of danger, I ran into a group with mummies a while ago. But I was not alone at that time and that was good" she shivered slightly.

Erin looked at the barkeeper for a moment, she thought about what she would order. "I think I will just have some lemonade please." the man nodded as a response. Erin then returned to look at the other two, first she looked at Rin and gave the man a smile. "That is very nice of you, kindness is a gift I wish more people could have...but it appearers power is the only thing they care about" she calmly shook her head and then looked at Anaya. "No I´m not from this town, I was born in Taras and my mother has her shop there. I came to this town because I have heard much about how beautiful it can be. "

'Rin' smiled, and nodded. "Aye, it can be ver' beautiful. 'Specially standin' beside th' falls a' sunrise an' sunset!" He nodded, hiding his interest when she mentioned the pendant. Apparently from what she was saying, it was a family heirloom, and as such, it was off-limits.

He looked to the side for a moment, and then took a sip of his wine. "Taras, eh?" he said ears perking slightly in interest. "Wat's Taras like?" he asked. "Ah've hear' various stories an' tales 'bout de city, but ne'er had a chance tae get dere an' see fer mahself," he said.

He shook his head with a smile. "Course not all o' dem is good stories."

“Besides I don´t have that much on me as it is now, I left most of my stuff at home and the only thing I have is a pendant my mother gave me when I was born. "

Anaya inwardly cursed. She wanted that pendant, oh dear did she want that pendant – but it seemed like it was off limits. As long as is it was a family heirloom, she couldn’t take it. “Aww, that’s sweet. Has it been in your family long?” she asked in the same sweet tone of voice she had been using for a while now. Now, if it had just been a gift her mother had given to her, then that would be a completely different story.

"But to be honest I have had my fair share of danger, I ran into a group with mummies a while ago. But I was not alone at that time and that was good"

Mummies? Anaya’s nose wrinkled at the thought of such horrid creatures. She had seen a lot in her life, but luckily, mummies were not on that list. “Well, it’s good to know that you didn’t get too badly hurt, seeing as you’re sitting here with us,” she said. It would have been a terrible thing for that lovely little girl to have gotten injured in any way, especially with the pendant she said she had. Anaya hadn’t lost interest in it just yet.

"I think I will just have some lemonade please."

Again, the young woman cursed on the inside. She wondered if there was a way she could spike the lemonade without Erin noticing, but dismissed the idea. There wasn’t a point in getting annoyed by her choice. Alcohol wasn’t that appealing, anyway; she could understand why Erin wouldn’t want it.

"No I´m not from this town, I was born in Taras and my mother has her shop there. I came to this town because I have heard much about how beautiful it can be. "

She listened, biting the inside of her lower lip. Once Mikael began to speak she turned to him, nodding in agreement when he mentioned that he had never been to Taras. “I haven’t been there either,” she said, looking back to Erin. “Maybe if we ever get a chance we could visit your mother’s shop, hmm? What does she sell?” she asked, tilting her head to the side a little bit after she finished speaking.

Erin listened to Rin as he was talking, she closed her eyes for a second to think about the question. How was Taras? "Well it is very big, and you can find most things there...everything from normal clothes to magic artifacts. It is a nice town really, but it has it´s dark sides. Much demons is hiding there and one have to be on the guard all the time, but it is good we have very skilled guards around to protect us." she opened her eyes and smiled to them. "You really should try and visit it. I think you will find much interesting things to see

“Aww, that’s sweet. Has it been in your family long?”

She moved her gaze to Anaya since the woman was next to talk. "It have been in the family for around...well....I have no ide since I have never asked for the exact date, something about my ancestor got it as a gift from one of the air spirits or something, it is really very unclear." she shook her head slightly. She had never really thought about it...she would have to ask her mother more when she came back to Taras again.

“Maybe if we ever get a chance we could visit your mother’s shop, hmm? What does she sell?

Erin smiled and nodded. "Well she is selling jewelries, my grandmother started the shop when she was young since she have always like the beauty of gems, not because you can sell them for much money but because the powers they are said to have deep inside." Erin laughed and shook her head slightly. [/B]"I don´t think mum thinks like gramps did, to her it is simply a shop to have a living."[/B] she looked up into the roof for a moment and then she looked back at the other two.

He smiled, but behind the smile, his eyes gave Anaya a look that simply said, Back off. Her stuff's off limits, as is her mother's.

He smiled. "Yah. We'll be 'roun' to yer ma's shop a' some poin' soon. But ah got a caravan tae put together." He got a pensive look on his face, and then smiled, as if something had dawned on him. To be truthful, he had already come up with an idea on how to keep Anaya away from this young lady's things.

"Ah jes had a thought. How'd ye like tae join our caravan? We're entertainers by trade, as ye can tell," he said. "But more dan dat, we seek to make de hearts an' souls o' our fellow people light an' happy."

"It have been in the family for around...well....I have no ide since I have never asked for the exact date, something about my ancestor got it as a gift from one of the air spirits or something, it is really very unclear."

Those words, paired with Mikael’s look, assured Anaya that there was no need to pry any longer. They clearly weren’t going to get anything more from Erin than an enjoyable meal. That was fine, of course, though valuables would have made this a bit more fun. “That’s sweet,” she said genuinely. It really was nice that it had been in her family for so long… she wouldn’t lie about that.

"Ah jes had a thought. How'd ye like tae join our caravan? We're entertainers by trade, as ye can tell."

Anaya was shocked that he had asked the girl to join them. She hid the feeling, though, not wanting Erin to think she was rude. She did seem nice enough, so that was a plus… but what would make him outright ask her when they had only known each other for a couple of minutes? It was so odd, but then again, Mikael always had his reasons for whatever he did. It wasn’t her place to doubt him.

“Oh, yes, that would be fun,” she agreed, though she wasn’t exactly sure if she meant it or not yet. She smiled for emphasis, even though the gesture was just another part of the act.

Erin was surprised by the sudden question from Rin. She could never dream that anyone would ask something like that so quickly. Join a group of entertainers? Well that could be fun and of course she would most likely see much of the world if she was with them. "Well that was very sudden I have to say" she said with a smile. "If I had been someone else I might just have pretended I never heard it or do something in that way, but then again I"m not like others"
She laughed slightly and moved her hair in behind her ears as she was talking. "So my reply to you is yes, it sounds very nice really and I could use company if I am to see the world. Like you said yourself it is dangerous to be alone"

She did not know why she said yes, but for some reason she felt like it was the right thing to do....
Suddenly the man came back with there orders, Erin smiled at him when he gave her the lemonade. He returned the smile and then turned to give the others what they had ordered.

Mikael took his wine, sipping lightly on it. "It's settled den. Ye'll be comin' back to de caravan after we leave here." He nodded. "Now dat dat's out o' de way." He settled in to start eating his meal, his hand turning slightly as he did, revealing the tattoo on the back of it. (((See Description for image)))

He smiled. "By de way, ah hope ye won' be offended, but ah didn' give ye my real name. Ol' habit dat dies hard," he said. "Mikael Romani. Sorry 'bout de deception, but ah don' like people knowin' who ah am righ' off de bat."

"So my reply to you is yes, it sounds very nice really and I could use company if I am to see the world. Like you said yourself it is dangerous to be alone"

So she was joining, then. Anaya forced herself to grin wider and she laughed lightly. “Welcome, dear,” she said. “It’s nice to have another girl around.” She was a bit skeptical on how well Erin would do with them, but it didn’t matter. She would prove her usefulness, or perhaps lack there of, in time. Erin’s family was completely off limits to stealing though, unfortunately. There was nothing she could really do about that.

"Mikael Romani. Sorry 'bout de deception, but ah don' like people knowin' who ah am righ' off de bat."

That’s not his real accent, either, Anaya added in her thoughts, hiding her bitterness rather well on the outside. It wasn’t that she disliked Erin; she just disliked the amount of attention she was getting. Hopefully that would change once she was actually a part of their little ‘family’, so to speak. “I didn’t give you my real name either, Erin… sorry.” While her voice was apologetic, she was really anything but. She had understandable reasons for doing that. “I’m actually called Anaya. At least there wasn’t too big of a difference between the two, hmm?” She laughed quietly and took a sip of her water, then averted her eyes from the both of them to look around the tavern.

Erin smiled at Mikael and she nodded slightly at him, but she did not say anything about what he said first. She took a slight sip from her lemonade and then she raised an eyebrow when he said that Rin was not his real name. "I see, well I guess you have your reason to change names." she said with a friendly voice and smiled slightly.

She looked at Anaya when she began to talk to and she smiled at her. "Why thanks dear" she replied, she was not suprised when the lady said that the name she had give out was not her real one, she had guessed as much since Mikael had done the same thing. "well to be honest I thought as much dear." the storm kindler calmly took another sip from her lemonade as she was talking. This had been a really nice evening and she had made some new friends.

He smiled. "Well, then. Now that that's all settled." He laughed, knowing the reaction it was going to get. Now there was a slight airy accent to his voice, and one that was a bit odd.

"Now that the introductions have been made official, there's a few things you need to know about the Carnival," he said, and glanced around them. "Anaya, keep an eye out for anyone that gets too close."

He sighed. "We're gypsies, in case you haven't noticed," he said quietly. "We make our way by... 'relocating' resources from those that don't need them as badly as we do," he said.

"Mind you, we never get in trouble or get caught in the act. And of course, there's a group of us that have nothing to do with the 'relocation', like Anaya here. But the majority do. You're more than welcome to learn, if you wish, or not, as you choose."

He smiled. "But know this. Your stuff, as well as the possessions of your family, are off limits to ALL of us, simply because you are part of our family now. And if anyone OUTSIDE the Carnival steals from you, I'll deal with them myself."