The Home of Zou, Mentor and Musician

[Aura Thesin]

Aura smiled at Zou as he stepped out the door, grateful for the little bit of privacy he had afforded her. She stepped behind the curtain and rummaged quickly to find the night gown. She slipped out of her pants and shirt and pulled the gown over her head, electing to keep her underclothes on, for obvious reasons. The gown itself was white cotton, rumpled from being in the drawer for a long period of time, and a little large for her wiry frame, hiding her curves and stopping just above her knees. Despite the length of time in the drawer, the cotton gown still smelled fresh.

She slipped folded her clothes and walked out from the curtained area, taking her clothes to place at the foot of the bed for the morning. She ran quickly over to the bookshelf Zou had indicated held the fiction books and looked through them, finally pausing when a title caught her attention. "The Tale of Two Gods", it said. She shrugged, finding it the most interesting title she could find on short notice, and quickly paced over to the bed again.

She had just pulled the covers up to her chin and cracked the book when she heard the sound of the door open.

[Zou]

Zou smelled of rich pipe tobacco, and his violet eyes were glazed like the shimmer on a sunset of deepest purple. It was a clear expression of idyll, and he sighed contentedly as he drew the sunroof closed and moved to his hammock.

"Sleep well, Ms. Thesin," he murmured as he made himself comfortable.

The spirits of the rain missed Zou's company, that much was apparent, for as he attempted to lull his mind into rest, he was eased along in his efforts by the gingerly waxing pitter patter of verdant clouds in the sky, doing their best to cross the creaky floorboards of Marn in clandestine peace, perhaps holding back the better part of their dew for a drier land.

The air freshened with the scent of rejuvenated soils and softly stirred night air as Zou began to dream of music and ale.

[Aura Thesin]

Aura looked up as Zou came in and smiled at him. She watched Zou settle in for a moment, then continued reading. Her response to his tiding was a distracted, "You too." as she found herself engrossed in the book.

An hour passed, and Aura came out of a reading-induced stupor. She had been on the verge of sleep, and couldn't remember exactly what it was she had been reading for the last ten minutes. She noted the page number in the book, then closed it and set it on the night table. She found a small candle snuffer, and used it to put the candle out. The room settled into darkness, and Aura found herself drifting on a sea of loneliness before finally falling fully asleep.

Later ...

Aura sat up, gasping. She had been dreaming of something dark and vast that had been smothering her. She couldn't explain it, but she new it was something that was beyond this world. Not in the sense that she was from a different world, but something on this world, a spiritual connection. And for some reason she thought that this thing that was smothering her was connected to how people did magic here.

She blinked a few times and breathed in deeply through her nose and out her mouth. After a few moments to calm herself, she got her bearings. The dream faded back into the place where dreams come from and became only that again: a dream. Her revelation was forgotten, if it was such, and she took in her surroundings.

Zou still lay on the hammock, and she was sitting up in the bed. The chill early morning air came through her sleeping gown, and she lay back and pulled the covers back up to her chin. Light outside could be seen as the sun rose, but it was a dull light as the sun shone feebly through the cloud cover above. No rain fell as yet, but the air and clouds promised some would.

Aura quickly decided she couldn't go back to sleep, and instead decided she might read a little more. She quickly got out of the bed and, after some searching, found a way to relight the candles. Just as quickly, Aura got back in the bed and pulled the covers up.

Instead of reaching for the book she had begun last night, something on the shelf next to the bed caught her eye. The fact that this was the bookshelf that Zou has asked her not to choose books from was completely forgotten as she re-read the title written on it's spine aloud.

"Pal Tahrenor in Relation to Other Worlds."

Aura couldn't contain her excitement as she reached up and grabbed the book, the covers fallen forgotten to bunch around her waist. She lay back and pulled them back up, then rolled over and placed the book on the down filled pillow. Turning the first page, she began to read.

[Zou]

Zou slept comfortably, and probably far longer than he should have. His body and mind were not used to combating the drowses of ale, and when the pale morning light came through the corners of the walls and the lips of the doors and windows, like knives in the otherwise darkened room that pierced his migraine-gentled eye, he remained awake for only a brief moment. He groaned a little, and glanced over to see Aura, with a candle by her bedside, hunched over with her back to him, presumably reading.

Rubbing his temple, he collapsed back into his hammock and groaned some more. He was soon back in dream-land, the role of the polite, breakfast-serving host all but forgotten. The music of the guitarist from the pub caressed his brainwaves easily into slumber, and his migraine remained, for a beautiful and undoubtedly brief respite, forgotten.

[Aura Thesin]

Aura was engrossed in the book. There were words that were used that she didn't quite understand, and assumed they had something to do with magic. Even still, she was able to muddle her way through the first few chapters. It was dry, but she forced herself to read it because it was the only thing she had right now that she thought might get her back to her own world.

Several times something called the 'Astral Plane' was mentioned, and the book seemed to take for granted that whoever was reading it would know what it was. She hadn't found an explanation as yet as to what it was.

After an hour or so, she heard Zou groaning on his hammock, and she turned and looked over guiltily at him. His eyes fluttered closed again, and he seemed to go back to sleep. She decided it was time to put the book away and, after memorizing the name, she put it back on the shelf. She couldn't quite remember where it had been, but she was pretty sure she had put it back in nearly the same place. Hopefully Zou didn't know where every book was supposed to go on the shelf.

Aura got out of bed, feeling a little hungry, and went into the same area behind the curtain she had changed into the night gown last night. She quickly changed into her clothes again, though she knew they would need to be washed soon. She thought she might ask Zou if he would allow her to stay another night, and possibly find some place to wash her clothes.

Coming back out from behind the curtain, Aura decided to let Zou sleep and instead went into the kitchen area. After a few minutes of opening and closing cupboards, she found the pots, pans, utensils, and ingredients to make a breakfast. She tried to be quiet, but occasionally a utensil would hit a pan too hard, or she would make a little too much noise. She would wince and look over at Zou each time.

She was nearly done when she heard Zou's voice behind her.

[Zou]

"Owwwww, my head..." Zou stumbled rather gracelessly into the kitchen behind Aura and dunked his shaggy, migraine-plagued brain-casing into a bucket of water. He remained crouched on his knees, head fully submerged in the bucket, for a good thirty seconds, and then pulled himself upright, gasping. The sound of clinking dishes and scraping cutlery were like some godless machinist's world domination scheme taking root behind his eyeballs.

Eyes half-shut, he stumbled out of the kitchen and leaned his body out the door, hanging onto the door frame with his left hand. He then shook his white mane back and forth until he was no longer dripping, and pulled himself back inside to the smell of breakfast.

"My god, miss, you didn't have to go preparing food! Though my mind reels with the aftereffects of an ill-advised amount of ale, I am still host, and you are still guest! Please, let me aid you."

He surveyed Aura's efforts thus far, but did not recognize their goal. "Smells good. What is the name of the dish? Need I prepare anything other than a usual table for two?"

He was already digging into his tea drawer as he spoke, taking out tins of fine herbal blends, and speaking softly to himself. "I must have something for this gods-damned headache."

[Jaspenellar]

Meanwhile, outside, far down the street at the edge of the residential district...

Lo'en stumbled from between the two buildings. If there had been any observers, they might have attributed her staggering to a previous night's encounter with too much alcohol. Fortunately for the half-elf it was still too early in the day and neither shopkeeper or people were milling about yet. She blinked her eyes in the weak early morning sun. The blackness receded from the grey orbs, returning them to their normal state, revealing confusion mixed with a strangely sated gaze. She dropped her bag, shaking her head as if the violent motion could sort the images in her head into dreams and memories. The last thing she remembered was wedging herself between the two shops to settle down for an evening of sleep. She hadn't wanted to impose on the strange Zou's small home to house an additional guest next to Aura. Filtering through her consciousness were strange images of huge men chasing her- no, not her, but someone else who was frightened for her life...

A small quivering shape caught the half-elf's eye. It was huddling in the doorway of the pottery shop. Lo'en moved closer, peering at the ... girl. Something was wrong with her- she was rocking slightly, back and forth on her feet, her body curled tight and her arms wrapped around her knees. Her dress still looked as nice as it must have last night except for a tear at the hem along one side as if someone had grabbed it and held on while she had pulled away. Her feet were bare and bruised, soft city feet beat up on the street's surface after losing her shoes in her flight and one ankle was angrily swollen. The worst was her face- make-up smudged from the previous night created a macabre mask to eyes staring impossibly wide into nothing, red spidery veins intruding into her whites as if her eyes had dried out from being wide open all night long. Her mouth seemed frozen in a silent scream, drool dribbling out one side.

Instead of asking the girl if she needed help, which she obviously did, Lo'en backed away from the petrified girl who seemed far too familiar than she had any right to be. A small horror burgeoned deep in Lo'en's chest, an ugly lump that was rapidly weighing down the previous euphoric feeling that she had awoken with. Hastily scooping up her bag and tugging down her cap over her eyes, the half-elf walked down the street at a brisk pace, distancing herself from the scene as quickly as she could.

Continued here

[Aura Thesin]

Aura turned and smiled at Zou as he came into the kitchen, then chuckled at his hangover remedy. She had never been able to hold her liquor, which was one of the reasons she didn't drink very often. The other reason was because of what Zou suffered from at this moment.

She watched him as he stumbled from the kitchen and stuck his head out the door to revive himself, then went back to cutting up the banana and few strawberries she had found around the house.

"My god, miss, you didn't have to go preparing food! Though my mind reels with the aftereffects of an ill-advised amount of ale, I am still host, and you are still guest! Please, let me aid you.
"Smells good. What is the name of the dish? Need I prepare anything other than a usual table for two?"

Aura smiled again, shaking her head. "You seemed like you needed a little more sleep, and this is the least I can do to thank you for letting me stay here last night. If you wish to help, I do need some thick cream, or perhaps some syrup of some sort, if you have any, then just a table for two."

She finished slicing the strawberries as she finished speaking, then took a spatula and flipped the pancake that was currently cooking. She slipped the oven open and pulled out a plate that was already stacked high with finished pancakes and set it on the counter next to the stove. She waited a few moments and used the spatula to pick up the newest pancake and add it to the pile.

[Zou]

Perhaps it was the scent of the fresh cup of tea that Zou had before him, or perhaps he was just beginning to wake up. Whatever the cause, Zou's mind begrudged him a shred of clarity in allowing him to conjure forth a jorum of birch syrup from one of the cupboards. "This is quite thin, but very good. I hope it will do. Regrettably, I am fresh out of cream, and the means to make it. I must say, I have never seen a meal quite like this. Is it of the West?"

He began setting the table with newly washed wooden cutlery and plates, laying out a nice place on either side of the table, and sprucing up the flowers that sat in a vase in the centre. He then let his hands fall idly to his sides, and gave himself a respite, seeing as he didn't quite know what to do next anyway.

"Aura, should I have the pleasure of sharing a tavern evening with you again, you simply must not allow me to exceed three ales, I beg of you. I fear I am rather incapacitated today, at least until your efforts in the kitchen find themselves in my belly."

[Jaspenellar]

A tall human male standing alongside a slim gnome female made a strange picture to the few passerbys, scuttling along the street in the morning on their way from their homes to various places of employment. The blond brawny fellow was looking down at the darker, black-haired girl, an uncharacteristic frown of doubt creasing his visage. "I don't know if this is the place that old codger told us about last night, Naris. There aren't any signs."

"Shh," the gnome hissed back, looking up at the other, although nobody was close enough to overhear their conversation. "Of course there wouldn't be any signs for the place we're looking for. It's called being discreet, Kol."

The large man simply shrugged and resigned himself to trusting Naris's judgment in the matter. Some delectable smell was wafting from the home they were arguing in front of and his stomach growled quite audibly. Without further ado, he rapped on the door, misjudging his strength, creating a very loud, resounding knock.

[Aura Thesin]

Aura took separated the pancakes onto two plates, a stack of four on each plate. She added some butter to the top, which slowly melted as she brought the plates to the table. She returned to the kitchen and grabbed the syrup, bringing it over to the table.

When Zou asked where the dish was from, Aura got a sad look on her face. She looked down at her plate as she sat, and said, "It is common ... where I'm from. I wouldn't say it was West or East." She frowned only slightly as she poured some of the birch syrup onto the pancakes after tasting a bit on her finger first. "This isn't as sweet as the syrup I'm used to, but I'm sure it will do," she said, changing the subject.

She smiled up at Zou as she cut a piece from the pancake and brought it to her mouth. She gave a knowing smirk when Zou asked her not to let him drink so much again, and was pleased that he was looking forward to her breakfast.

She had just begun to chew on her first bite when there was a knock at the door. Aura paused her chewing, and lifted a brow at Zou.

[Zou]

As Zou took his place opposite his guest, he gave her an inquisitive, meaningful smile. "Neither of the East, nor of the West. Why, then, it must be from- ...some other place. Rather like your accent, or indeed your bone structure, now that I think on it. And if it does, as you suggest, defy our sun's daily verges, then perhaps it is beyond the compasses of our world?"

As he poured them both some tea and began to eat the pancakes in front of him, a whole slough of facts began making themselves apparent to him; facts that had previously eluded his ale-dulled perceptions. He chewed over his thoughts as carefully, and with as much thorough appreciation, as he chewed the new dish before him, and then spoke to Aura once more. "Miss, this dish is most excellent. I would very much like to-"

Just then, a knock at the door caused the gentle shifter to pause mid-sentence. He returned Aura's lifted brow with a concerned frown as he remembered the toughies from the night previous, and called out, "Who is it?"

[Jaspenellar]

The voice that answered within was muffled by the door, but though the two had been on the road for nearly five years, they had certainly been brought up with better manners than to simply barge in for mistaking inaudible words for an invitiation. Anticipating Koloque's hesitant and most likely counterproductive answer, Naris inserted herself closer to the door. Piping up in a cheerful voice, she attempted to make herself heard through the door, while not raising her voice to the draw undue attention. This resulted in a squeaky: "We were told you may be able to assist us, kind sir."

The brother's doubt hadn't entirely been assuaged, but he took a slight step away from the gnome, relieved to allow his sister to do all of the talking.

[Aura Thesin]

Aura's resumed her chewing, the knock on the door having interrupted the conversation enough that she wouldn't have to answer Zou's probing questions. At least for the moment.

A high-pitched voice responded to Zou's questioning call, and Aura dug into the pancakes for her second bite. Content to let Zou deal with the visitors, since it was his house, after all, Aura continued on with her meal, thinking about what she had read this morning in the forbidden books, and how much she should tell Zou, and people in general, where she thought she was from, and how she thought she came to be in this place.

Her eyes never left Zou, however, watching his response to the not-quite early morning visitors.

[Zou]

Being asked politely for assistance was not the way of a ruffian, nor was it a request any gentleman could rightly ignore, by Zou's reckoning. Carefully wiping his mouth of birch syrup, he stood up in a quiet manner, inclining his head ever so slightly to Aura. "Please, continue to eat, and do not discomfit yourself. I will see who it is."

The fact that he was eating breakfast with a woman early in the morning made things rather awkward. The female voice could very well have been that of a young boy's, through the door. Vilnem should be paying me a visit to borrow that book today, it must be him. Vilnem was one of Zou's more clandestine pupils. The young lad was a shifter, like himself, but of the hare variety. Having developed an early talent for sidestepping, Zou had decided to bring the boy into his trust and teach him a few things. I hope he doesn't think, from this, that I can teach him anything of women.

He opened the door, looking downward automatically to greet an eleven year old child, instead finding himself looking down at a gnome, and a fellow that could very well have been her bodyguard. Far too woozy to be rattled, he simply let a smile plod across his face, violet eyes dull and placid, and offered a minimalistic bow to the pair. "Please, come in. Your sense of punctuality must be governed by your stomachs. I shall bring out some additional chairs."

Waving them in, he looked the gnome up and down again. "...and perhaps some pillows as well."