In the cool, dark hours after midnight, a mild threat lurked. One that never intended physical harm, but one that instead meant to make a girl think.
He slipped up the stairs of the inn and knocked lightly on the door, which swung open soon after the first knock landed. The young woman raised her eyes to his and very briefly her pale skin seemed to glow in the dim candlelight. The light faded and she stood, eyes dimly glittering. He knew vaguely what the spell was meant for, but had never seen anyone take it to heart so literally.
He leaned in the doorway and regarded her evenly, considered hesitating, and decided it was best to settle things right off. "Who are you, Iveya?" The words hardly seemed threatening, more curious than anything else decipherable, but the girl seemed on edge anyway.
With hands folded in front of her, and her hair down, in the candlelight she seemed halo'd by the golden ringlets hanging around her face, but the chill words didn't seem to match her nature at all. "What makes you think I am not simply a scholar here to study, or a peddler passing through?"
"These are not the markings of a peddler girl," he snapped, darting forward to sieze her hands, pressing his thumbs to the runes scarred into her palms. Even as he was doing so he was aware of the change in the room's temperature, but the sharp burning sensation made him release her as quickly as he had made the comment. Rubbing absently at his hands, he sneered at the girl, who still refused to show any clear emotion. "What makes you think he will stay, that he even cares? Why would a man like that be interested in someone like you?" These words were meant to bring emotion, but little else rose to the surface. The room grew steadily warmer, but she never even broke a sweat. He did the only thing he could think of, and darted in, drawing her into a kiss that made her spell shatter. She yelped and fell back, startled and wild eyed. Before she could embrace the power again he leaned down and ran a finger over her cheek, "You are too much trouble for anyone in a position of responsibility or power. What makes you think you are anything but a toy to him?"
Iveya shuddered at the kiss, at the touch, none of it seemed right. She closed her eyes tightly to the question and felt power flood back through her, bringing her senses back to life. When she dared to open them again her visitor was gone, but she couldn't still her trembling hands.
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