An approaching storm

I had been in the City for some time, but had yet to really venture out. I had servants that did all of the shopping for household things, and I even sent them for books when I ran out. The only place I really went was the Academy, but my curiosity was getting the better of me.

It was an ugly day, but it suited me, for I had come to enjoy things that were dark and brooding, just like the storm and the gray afternoon sky. I was thoughtful after my assignation with Landis, but I still had unanswered questions and they made me restless, unable to find solace even in my favorite books.

I decided to be a bit daring and brave Night's Doorstep, though I stuck to the marketplace, rather than anything too daring, like a pub or the like. The crowd was thin because of the weather, and as a gust of wind blew the hood of my cloak back, I was questioning my own judgment for venturing out on a day like this.

I sighed, not bothering to put my hood back up as the wind whipped my long, dark hair across my nose ... mayhap I should head home and try this another day? I turned abruptly, deciding to retrace my steps, but instead I bumped into a man who had been standing nearby.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" I exclaimed, embarrassed by my lack of grace. A bolt of lightning flashed overhead, and I near jumped out of my skin, wondering again what had made me choose today of all days to make explorations.

"This weather," I said, a nervous laugh bubbling up from somewhere ... I didn't know what it was, but his presence made me feel a bit nervous, girlish, like an awkward colt with too-long wobbly legs. "It makes it hard to watch where one's going sometimes." I felt a slight flush at my cheeks, despite the cold. I felt like I should say something else, but I had never been good at conversation, always with my nose in a book, or hiding the things I didn't want others to see about me. I could thank Uncle Henri for that.

I blushed again, but for an entirely different reason. It had been awhile since I'd been on the receiving end of someone's charm, though it hadn't ended well.

"How do you know I'm not some horrible shrew?" I asked, smiling gently. "You may rue the day the storm caused us to bump into each other, who can say?"

I blushed hotter still, though I decided then to simply take the compliment, how could I argue with words like that?

"Well, maybe not a shrew," I laughed, then decided to introduce myself instead of trading banter in the rain. "Yvaine L'Envers," I said, holding my hand out to him. I had taken to leaving the "Shahrizai" off of my name since coming back to Terre d'Ange, as if my father or brother would find me by that alone.

"And you as well," I said, adding, "Ciaran, that's an interesting name, I've not heard it before." I shivered as another gust of wind blew, my mop of black tresses whipping around my head like the snakes of Medusa.

"I don't suppose you'd like to continue this conversation somewhere warm, would you?" I asked hopefully. He seemed interesting, and I'd met precious few people who met that description of late.

"Thrilling?" I asked, following his example and looking up at the sky. To me it seemed dark and ominous, but I supposed that he was right - dark and ominous could certainly be thrilling. "I never thought of it that way before." I smiled and tried to adjust my attitude, having found that one could endure anything, if you could get the right attitude about it.

I shivered at his analogy, though he hardly seemed to be speaking to me, as if lost in his own dark thoughts. Now, why had I jumped to the conclusion that his thoughts were dark? It was odd, but somehow it just seemed as if they were, though I mentally shook myself for my foolish thoughts.

"Well," I said, taking his arm, "I was not doing much shopping, more exploring. I have everything I need." I smiled at him and glanced around the almost deserted marketplace. "Do you know of any good places to explore?"

I laughed slightly, shaking my head. "I don't really know anywhere else, I haven't been in the City long. We can stay here and finish exploring, I don't mind." I glanced around at the thin crowd and smiled, "At least we won't have to fight the crowds."

"Just restless, I suppose," I said, smiling as we walked. It was good to have a conversation with someone besides the servants. "I haven't been in the City very long so I thought I'd venture out and do a little exploring. What about you? Since you like the weather, do you often come out in it?

"That's a good idea," I commented, though the cold made me wonder if it was truly, even as I said, "for at least this way you can see things without elbowing your way through the crowd."

"I would love some cider, if you don't mind. As much as I'd like to say I enjoy this weather as much as you do, it's dreadfully cold." I smiled as the vendor handed me my cider, which I held in my hands, feeling them begin to warm up even through my gloves.

"I've spent most of my life in Khebbel-im-Akkad, actually, and then Tiberium," I laughed softly as I took another drink. "Both rather warm places, to be sure. Perhaps that is why I feel the cold so deeply."

I nodded at the analogy, "Yes, it is somewhat like that. I am so accustomed to the warmth of the sun and sand, this cold and wet is hard to manage. It is nice to experience something new, however, for one gets bored with the same old thing, don't you think?"

"Well, that appears to be true. I only intended to sneak a peek at the marketplace, and now here I've gone and made conversation. Perhaps I should go out in storms more often?" There was something attractive to me about the seeming danger of meeting someone in a storm, some excitement that I needed that was lost in ordinary interactions.