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Date Posted: 13:06:06 02/16/02 Sat
Author: Laurel
Subject: Exploring
In reply to: Isobel and Jade 's message, "Girl talk" on 19:39:10 02/15/02 Fri

Laurel gave Isobel a funny look when the woman told her Argus might have a small crush on her. What a silly thing to think! She was quite certain that men did not have crushes on homeless heirs to ruined fortunes, especially one from an entirely different world, too. Of course, there was Erlic, but…but she really preferred not to think about him too much.

When they got to the “dressing room,” she laughed at all the fun the other women were having, taking her time selecting sensible yet equally handsome clothing for herself. It was difficult finding material in the color of her favorite green, but she managed. She kicked aside her hole-ridden, dirt-smeared trousers and tunic and pulled on a new outfit.

As she was folding a couple more changes of clothing to put in her pack, she thought about what Isobel had said earlier. Here she was, quite possibly the least attractive, most modest woman in the group, and Argus supposedly chooses her to set his sights on. It didn’t make a single ounce of sense.

Briefly, she thought of the scandalous top Isobel had tossed into her own pack, but just as quickly, she shook her head. I suppose I might be willing to wear such a thing if I had nabbed a man like Ravin! she mused, smiling slightly as she remembered the feel of his naked body draped over hers.

In that, she figured, she was most unlucky: she had seen the handsome thief without a stitch of clothing before Isobel had even a chance to kiss him (or so she assumed), and yet it was the other woman who came out on top in the end. Or possibly on the bottom. Or whatever position they went with; it was really none of her business. Or in the water, she thought, stifling a smile. It just wasn’t fair! The woman waltzes into their lives and takes approximately three days to snag the attention of one of the cutest men in their party. Ah, well. Such was life, she supposed.

When Tia started talking about men, she chuckled, seeing as how her thoughts had already wandered in that direction. She nodded when the girl said something about getting insight into Rowan’s behavior. In truth, she didn’t understand what her twin was up to; she’d never really seen him act like that around someone he so obviously desired. She supposed the close intimacy traveling together forced them to have with one another made sexual encounters somewhat awkward, but if anything, Isobel and Ravin should be living proof that it might not turn out to be so bad after all.

“I agree with each of you,” she said, securing the latch on her pack and shouldering it as she stood. “We are surely the luckiest women in the world to be traveling with such handsome creatures—with the exception of Justin!” She winked at Isobel, who always looked ready to kill something when the very unattractive mercenary’s name was brought up. She steadfastly ignored Jade’s comment about Erlic being dangerous. There were some very negative words hovering on the tip of her tongue, but being a diplomat for most of her life had taught her when to speak and when to keep her opinions to herself.

The good humor died away somewhat when they discovered the hidden passage that opened into a spiraling, downward staircase. Isobel and Jade seemed to be all for exploring every inch of the place, and Tia certainly had never been the type to turn down a good adventure. Laurel wasn’t so sure about entering a dark, undiscovered tunnel leading underground, but neither did she want to be the one to back out and look the fool.

“All right,” she said after awhile, still frowning. “Though I might as well leave my bow here, for all the good it would do me in such close quarters.” She suggested Isobel go first, since she was by far the most proficient swordswoman, and the rest of them all fell into place. Laurel muttered the words to a spell, and instantly a glowing little magelight was bobbing over their heads, lighting the way before them.

“Lead on,” she murmured, and they did, Laurel keeping one hand pressed against the cool, smooth stone of the curved wall as they went down, down, down into the earth. Eventually, light could be seen coming from below, and soon enough they didn’t even need the artificial light her magic had created.

The stairs ended in a short hallway, and they all four trooped down it, where it opened up into a medium sized, otherwise indistinct cavern of sorts. It was basically a round room, devoid of furniture, support by several pillars and lit up by evenly spaced torches flickering steadily as if they’d been burning for centuries.

In the center of the room was a small, shallow pool, its waters as still and calm as though it were made of glass. Laurel made her way slowly over to it, staring down into its clear depths, wondering just what it was about the thing that unnerved her so. When she realized what it was, she gave a little intake of breath and took one step back, her eyes never leaving the lifeless waters.

“It does not show my reflection,” she mused aloud. Obviously, it was a thing of magic, as she could feel the stuff hanging in the very air around them. It was a cold, alien magic, though, one that she could not get her hands on without it slipping mysteriously through her fingers.

“I don’t like this place,” she added, shuddering slightly. She hoped the others would be satisfied enough to turn around and go back to where they had come from.

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