Recovery and a Welcomed Exile

Shadoweave wasn't sure how long she had lain there bed ridden in the small flat that looked over the wharf front. The laborer's wife had tended her, fed her, even provided her with decent clothing, but even in her dreams she could not find a single peaceful moment.. Things were too dangerous..

The well meaning man had called in the guard, some time ago,.. a day,.. maybe two?.. She wasn't sure, but she did know that following that came a man who called himself Evernae.. He seemed strangely familiar from some place, but she couldn't put her finger on it.. and Shadow was tired of running..

Evernae had spoken with her only briefly the two times he had come to visit, and there were guards outside the building at all times.. There was something about the elder that made him appear nervous when he was near her.. and more he seemed torn between a course of action.. It was clear to her that He knew she had Killed the Chancellor.. the man Galentine had called Orlin; but no one else seemed to know..

The time for mending was almost over, she could feel the moment drawing near.. Sitting up in the simple bed,.. she pushed her back against the wall relaxing against it's support as her fingers worked through the knotted ends of her hair.. The warmth of the sun danced over the coverlet, as tiny dust particles swirled and swayed in the gleaming glow..

"Not hungry this morn?.." Morna asked, bustling through on her way to gather the dishes from the bedside table.. She was a plump lady, most likely very striking in her youth, and a kind smile always seamed to wander her lips.

Shadow shook her head quietly, gaze drifting shut as she listened to the sounds outside.. "No.. more restless than anything else right now..."

"One of the guards said the man from the council would be by soon," She paused, brushing a strand of red hair from her forehead with a soft frown,.. "I hope that things will be good for you.."

"Either way it will be an ending... You shouldn't fret Morna, I don't.. not any more.." The words were tired, but Fallashay was finding it difficult to wait..

The woman turned from the room, disappearing around the corner, just as the sounds of a carriage lifted off the cobbled lane.. She could see the council's gold-leaf symbols etched upon the door from the window in it's passing, four dappled gray horses pulling it to a stop outside the Flat's front door..

Within the following moment, Evernae arrived looking rather business like in his white robes, the silver trim shimmering in the light.. He was not accompanied by any guards this time.. though she had noticed that the men who had kept a vigil on the place were not the standard town patrol,.. more like someone's private guard.. She didn't really care as long as they were not garbed in burgundy..

"I have come to my decision..", He stated plainly, the old man's motion halting a few steps from the bed.. "For your crimes,.. You will be banished.. Your execution will be carried out should you ever be found within the barony's holdings... Have I been clear in what I have said?" Evernae watched her lifting a single brow,.. and she could tell that he wanted this to go as smoothly as possible..

"Perfectly clear...", She answered, searching his face for that tell tale sign of relief, but it never came.. It became clear to her that something else weighed heavily on the elder's mind.. "You will be placed aboard ship as you are,.. they will take you anywhere outside of our holdings..",.. She watched him turn toward the doorway,.. and rose stiffly, as he motioned her to follow..

Fallashay did not marvel at the interior of the coach, nor did she glance out the window to cast a final look at the streets of her youth.. She kept her attention focused on the Councilor, and his two guards, listening as the sounds of stone beneath the wheels turned to the rhythm of wooden planks..

She was ushered out into the light on the docks, and the air was filled with soft droplets of moisture off the waters.. To her right one of the guards took her arm, and with a silent nod escorted her up the gangplank leading to the deck of a small sturdy looking vessel.. She caught the name as they passed above the small gap between the pier and the ship.. The 'Lost Lady', it was a good name for that craft.. it's how she had felt.. might be how she will feel upon setting foot back into the city of Moorgate on that distant Island within the grasp of the immortals...

She paused, being turned over to a weathered looking fellow with a somewhat grizzled face.. his expression mild.. as far as she was concerned, and cast a glance over one shoulder catching sight of Evernae..

"Don't return Fallashay,.. or you'll rue the day.." His words were lost beneath the shouts of varied commands, as the mooring lined were loosed, and small boats were set to pulling the ship from it's spot along the docks.. She moved to the bow,.. never casting a backward glance, as she watched the far horizon...

The snap of sail cloth was sharp in her ears, as a lean looking gent with dark brown hair sidled up to her.. "Where to miss?.."

"Cosrin.."...