Secrets Kept, Secrets Revealed

[Northen Light36]

Ann can't help but shiver in excitement, and fear, as she heads towards her and Tuono's usual meeting spot. The young man is already there, waiting for her, and he greets her with a broad grin and then a kiss as soon as she's close enough for it.

"I hope the trip wasn't difficult?" he asks, pulling off his rather patched and mended coat and draping it over her shoulders. "Your message said you needed to talk. Is something wrong?"

"No... Well... yes actually," Ann murmurs. "Tuono... I lied to you. I'm not a scout... I do live at Clan Fira but... I'm Naurorod's leader, Tuono."

Tuono just stares at his lover in shock, and a little disbelief until he reads the honesty in her eyes. "You're not joking, are you?"

"No..."

"Well," Tuono remarks slowly. "This... makes things interresting... I haven't been, entirely, honest with you either." He hesitates then says softly, "I'm a thief, Lady Ann... And clearly far out of your league. Th-thank you for telling me the truth." He turns to go and Ann hastily puts a hand out to grab his arm.

"Don't go," she says. "I don't care how you make your living and Naurorod doesn't care about rank or any of that nonsense. I love you and I want to be with you."

Tuono hesitates a moment, then smiles, "Well in that case, here's to a complicated and interresting life." He kisses her hard, a gesture she fully returns until kissing ignites the desire for more and the couple slips off to get a room at the nearest inn.

---

The next morning Ann and Tuono part company with a smile and a kiss, Tuono heading for the guild while Ann heads for the market. She can't think of anyone here who would reconise her, so it should be perfectly safe to buy some gifts for Tres, Flame and Libre. Hopefully that would take the sting out of her disappearence and she could still be on her way home by midday.

Wandering through the markets, she browses over the goods on sale.

[Kender Bard]

Sashi was in the markets as well. She mostly wanted to just browse, but if she saw something she could use back at the guild, she'd grab it too. Glancing about, she let her eyes flick from person to person as she scanned the crowd - nervous habit at times.

She did do a double take when she saw Ann though. No, couldn't be, Sashi mused but found herself walking over to the area Ann was. On an impulse, she shouted, "Hey! Ann!" to see if the girl would look up.

[Northen Light36]

Out of pure habit, Ann looks towards the voice calling her name, then looks startled and not at all thrilled to see Sashi walking towards her. Okay, wonderful. So there was someone in the city who'd reconise her. "Soahc, I hate you," she mumbles.

[Kender Bard]

Sashi had a look of amusement and curiosity on her face, as well as a healthy dose of caution. The last time she'd met with the Honored Leader, it hadn't been on great terms. Crossing her arms, she asked, "What brings you to Ilyamen, Honored one?"

[Northen Light36]

Ann fights not to look guilty. She has no reason to be guilty. She's just shopping. Oh damn, she can feel the heat of the bright blush on her cheeks.

"Oh, just... shopping. Thought I'd go for a bit of a ride, pick up a few things... Change of scenery, you know..." she replies. "And, um, can you, uh, not use my title? Please?"

[Kender Bard]

Sashi's eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline.

Well well, someone's being naughty, she thinks, reading Ann's flustering and lame excuse clear as day. Her mouth splits into an amused grin. "Of course," she replies. "I certainly hope you've found what you were looking for."

[Northen Light36]

"I... might have," Ann murmurs, trying not to fidget. Damn it, she's eighteen. And a Leader. She shouldn't be squirming like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Thank all the Forces, Tuono wasn't here to see this. "Um, how's your guild? Business good for you?"

Idiot! Don't start up a conversation! Run like you just gained a wind sign. No, no, that would look REALLY bad. Not that this doesn't.

[Kender Bard]

Sashi's amusement only continued to grow. "Aye. We had a bit of trouble with some troublemakers. On two occasions actually." Her face twisted into a moment of irritation. "Two thieves and a would-be murderer. Had them both tossed in cells." She gave a slight shrug. "That's the hazard of this business though. I don't feel like doing history checks on people so I go with my gut."

[Northen Light36]

"Trouble's part of leading, or so I'm told," Ann replies. "Still, only two troublesome occassions is pretty good." Trying to calm her nerves, Ann brushes at a non-existant spot on her top and notices one of the buttons at the neckline apparently was pulled off at somepoint last night.

Crap. No, it's just a missing button. Could happen for any number of reasons. Sashi can't read anything into it.

[Kender Bard]

This is just too good, Sashi thinks, grin growing another fraction.

Well, still. She did need to make sure Ann wouldn't roast her on the spot. "Oh, ah, about the last time we met - no hard feelings right?" Sashi asked. "You know I wasn't making eyes at your man. Not when I've got Lukas at my beck and call."

[Northen Light36]

Ann blinks, honest confusion crossing her expression for a moment. What was she... Oh! Elias. Forces, she hasn't thought of him in months. "Oh, don't worry about it," she replies. "I was childish. And it didn't work out anyway."

[Kender Bard]

"Ah, well, there you go then," Sashi said, a bit relieved. And if she was over him, then she could be under someone else. This time she couldn't help but give a quick, low chuckle. "Did you want to visit the guild at all?"

[Northen Light36]

Ann blushes again at Sashi's chuckle. Forces, was she that easy to read? Thinking about the last few moments, she mentally grimaces and admits that yes, she probably is. Trying to relax a bit, she says, "Well, I was going to head back to Fira, but since you're offering, I can make the time for a short visit."