Well, I'm working on another story but it's been a while since I posted so I figured I'd put this one up. I wrote this one a long time ago and it made it to chapter 12. I might continue it but I'm not sure. Because the original chapters were so long I'm going to break each one up into 2 parts to make it easier to read but where I break them up might not make for a smooth transition since it was meant to be connected. Enjoy!

"Another bloody village. If I said these dotards looked anymore accepting than the last, I could be struck dead for my ignorance. Now, to find a naïve one. That should suit my needs." I pushed through the crowded streets, back straight and head down, sheathed by my long, black cape. I found it to be my best companion anymore. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a small merchant's stand. It was only a young girl. A safe prospect. "Perhaps…" I trailed off the path, letting my body fall against a tree, watching intently.

She seemed to grin at a man who left the stand, looking rather defeated. The poor chap didn't look as though he felt to well. Still her face shone in triumph as she admired the wares that were scattered across the top of the table. Eggs in a basket, vegetables, iron goods, all adorned the surface. But the center piece, which she took great care when picking up, was the beautifully polished silver ware. Carefully crafted treasures, created from the years and experience of her dear friend. Nothing else they had on display could compare.

"If I could avert your attention from whatever it is you are doing for just one moment, I would be most grateful." A I lurched over the stand. She seemed rather mesmerized by it all. I wondered if I was going to be able to pry her away.

"Colm?" She looked up, blue eyes reverberating her trance. "My apologies."

"Were you expecting someone?" I inquired.

"With hope. My brother is ill and I was hoping you were a young boy that I knew. I wanted to send him to check on his well being later on in the day. Sorry, may I help you?" She tried to shake the dazed look off her face, almost fruitlessly.

"A favor, if you would." I unhooked my sword from my belt and held it out in front of myself. "I chipped the blade and I would ask your blacksmith to repair it."

"So you wish to see the Herringtons?" She responded blandly, her mind still obviously on other matters.

"...If they can repair my sword." It seemed like an obvious answer to me. But I did need her for something more.

"If you keep going straight down this road and turn to the left…"

I reattached the blade to my left side. "Come now! Would you expect a traveling vagabond to remember such directions? Could you not spare a moment to take me there personally?" I knew nothing of the blasted village. And I needed time to earn her trust. Or more likely pity.

"I apologize. I cannot leave the stand unattended." She responded without as much as a second thought. Now that wasn't how she was suppose to respond to a stranger's request.

"In this sea full of people, there must be one you trust enough to man the stand for such a small while…" I examined the wares closer, the silver catching my eye in contrast to the petit girl noticeably incapable of making it. "If it could be excused, may I ask why you have metal wares when you are quite obviously not a blacksmith? This village has little outside trade and none of this sort by my observations. Are you a maid to one?"

"Not in the least. A friend of one, who rather than have his own stand gives the pieces to us to sell. After my brother and I return to him his profits, he gives us a suitable amount for our efforts." I was glad to see she took no offence to my question. Many would have.

"I see." I picked up a chisel, a piece cheaper than the more fancy silver, and observed it carefully, turning it over and over again in my hands. "This was done by a very skilled hand."

The sudden yelling of a child took my attention away from the item and turned it to down the path. Noisy little devils. Why did they always have to make so much racket? Granted it was part of their innocence but such a thing had long since grew insignificant to me. And so did their shrill noises and obnoxious behaviors.

"Miss Corrina! Miss Corrina! You must hear! I have something I need tell you!" A boy of about nine years came running up to her, agog. What an awkward looking thing, he was. He had the eyes of a raccoon, the stance of a newborn deer, and the voice of a screeching cat. Why must children always be so loud…

"Colm? May I ask you a favor?" She interrupted, seeming unphased by his excitement.

"Why, of course! But I…" What an interruption to his soon to be babble.

"Could it wait until later? I promise to listen to your story then but I need to take this man to your parents." She caught me off guard. I had figured she was going to leave me to my own biddings. "Could you watch the stand?"

"Well, I could take him. I know very well where I live!" He rolled his eyes, then grinned. I would've preferred to find my own way. There was really no specific reason for my bitterness towards children. But something about them wore away at my patience quickly.

"No. I would prefer the company of the young lady, if it please you." I stated a little more coldly than I had intended. Corrina glared at me awkwardly. During the silence, I noticed her looking me over for the first time. I imagine all she could see was my brown eyes peering out from under the hood of the cloak, before I lowered my head, again completely covering my entire face. Now she didn't need to see that to aid me.

"May I ask why?" She questioned suspiciously.

"… Excuse this if it be acrimony, but… I abhor children." Stating such couldn't be avoided.

"You know nothing of me! How can you dislike me already?" He stomped his foot. Apparently my statement made him angry. Oops.

"Colm, I apologize. Perhaps you could just pack up the goods and take them back to the barn? Oliver is under the weather and I should be tending to him anyways. I can take him to your parents on my way." Corrina soothed. That was one enjoyable attribute of children. They're so easy to rile.

"If that is what you want me to do." He responded, still staring at me as if I were the one possessing animal characteristics.

"Be careful, Colm." She said softly.

"Yes, all right, I can handle it fine!" I did my best to conceal my chuckling. He became so indignant so easily.

Almost ruefully she stepped out from behind the stand, starting down a road without another word.

The path was a long, muddy one. There was no sun. It buried itself behind a series of gray, bliss less clouds that refused to abnegate their power for the sake of light. The shadow cast a layer of gloom over the grounds below, so thick, that daylight had almost never come at all. As thunder began to boom, it appeared it would not for a long time. Merciless rain would again plummet to the world, saturating it, drowning it into darkness, while the sun stayed caged and held ransom to the skies woes.

I happened to look down at her feet. I hadn't noticed it before but when I did I chuckled. "No footwear. It must be difficult in this weather."

"I manage to get by." She looked in my direction. Judging by her mannerisms she was hoping to catch a glimpse of the face that was so tediously covered. I had become good at keeping such hidden. In a seconds time, I had noticed, lowering my already sunken head further down. "Since we have spoken so, would it be improper of me to ask of your name?"

"If it please you then. Sebastian." That I was willing to give her. It was only proper, after all.

"Sebastian, is it? Then address me as Corrina."

"If you wish."

Through the hazy fog a modest wooden cabin came into our view. A well cared for garden surrounded the exterior, giving it the ambience of a more affluent caretaker, though it belonged to a simple village merchant. When Corrina raised fist to door knocking, a round jovial man answered the call, his green eyes sparkling and a grin growing wider into a contagious smile.

"Miss Corrina? Is something amiss?" He quickly noted her face that held displeasure. My company tended to do that to people.

"Hello, Mr. Herrington. Would… I be able to ask a favor of you?" Her voice did a decrescendo in her awkwardness.

"Of course, dear girl. You know that my family and I are always contented to aid you any way we can. What is it you need?" His had to be some of the brightest eyes I had ever seen. You can tell a lot about a person by that, their eyes.

"This man. His name is Sebastian. He requests that you repair his sword." She motioned towards me with a hand.

"Much obliged if you would, sir." I nodded slightly. I could feel the tip of the blasted hood flapping. I would have to tighten it when I next got the chance.

"Dear, bringing me business is not a favor on your behalf. Next time you ask for a favor, do it to help yourself, not us. Then what is the matter with it? If I can, I will try my hand at it."

I again unlatched the blade from my belt, handing it to the blacksmith. Mr. Herrington pulled off the sheathe, then with another lighthearted smile said, "This is nothing. I should be able to fix this easily once I gather the materials. I have to say, this is an odd piece of work. I never saw anything quite like it. Do you hail from far away?"

"A decent distance." It was a topic I didn't care to stay on for too long. "If I may, could I inquire how long it will take for the full repair?"

"Gathering materials, starting and finishing… if you give me three days, I should have her ready for you." Mr. Herrington nodded affirmatively.

I ducked his head as far as it would go, momentarily clenching a fist. It was a delay in my plans that wasn't well taken to. I didn't have the time. But I also didn't have a choice. "I see."

"I apologize if you were in a hurry but I do not believe I could get my hands to move any faster." He noted my negative body language.

"No, I understand. It is of no fault of yours. I will wait the duration of the time."

"If I am not being overly presumptuous, may I ask why you keep your face covered so?" He asked what Corrina had not. "I imagine your neck gets horribly stiff like that." He tilted his head curiously.

"I… am not so partial to others seeing my face. Call it a personal phobia, if you must." I responded lowly. There really wasn't any other explanation I could offer. Not that I was willing to, anyway.

"He is a strange man, I cannot lie." She looked me over once more. I wasn't going to let her see anymore than the other times.

"By the way, Miss Corrina, did you happen to see my youngest about?" He asked her about Colm. It was the first time I had given the boy a second thought. Leaving someone so young and inexperienced to handle business may not have been the wisest of endeavors.

"I asked him if he could pack up the stand for me. Oliver is feeling unwell and I feel uncomfortable leaving him alone, so I thought to have Colm do the part that took longest so I could get to my brother's side quicker. I came here just to show Sebastian where you were on my way. I hope my imposing causes no problems."

"No problems at all." He shook his head and rested a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

"I thank you." She grinned. "We should probably be going."

"All right." He patted her shoulder then pulled away. "Now you look after your brother. He never was one to take proper care of his health."

"I know that better than anyone. I will. Good bye."

"Good luck. My dear." He closed the door, leaving us both at his doorstep. Corrina looked down the path, then back at me, almost as if she was expecting a type of reaction.

"Blast…" I turned away, walking a little down the trail, then stopped. It didn't take me long to realize I had no idea where I was going, or for that matter where I was trying to go.

"Is something the matter?"

"I was hoping to get out of here quicker." I mumbled. My sword's chipping had made a large hindrance in my plans.

"He can only work so fast. What were you doing that chipped your blade that badly? I may not know much about swords, but that is rather unusual, is it not?"

"… I would prefer not to say." I trailed off. So many questions that I just didn't want to answer… "… Could I ask of you another favor?"

"I really need to get home to my brother… but what is it?" She was starting to grow annoyed with me and I didn't blame her.

"Could you spare a room for a guest? I have no place to stay and gold only for my sword's repair." I was hoping my request wouldn't be followed by another influx of questions.

"I thought you said you were a vagabond. Are you not used to this sort of thing?" Her voice grew harsher.

"Yes, but normally I have my sword. Sleeping on strange streets without any means to defend myself, especially with my situation… but never mind that." There was no doubt that sleeping on the streets would be life risking for me. He would have me dead within a moment if I left myself that vulnerable and easy to find.

"You are one brazen man to ask such things so freely of a stranger." Her hand raised to her hip in an akimbo fashion.

"I know it is a lot, but you look like a kind soul. I would think a beauteous girl such as yourself would have a heart to match." It couldn't hurt to try to flatter her. "I only ask for shelter, not food nor drink."

"Why would you think that I could answer that without the consent of my brother? I do not live alone, you know."

"Would you not think it stranger if I asked you knowing that you did live alone? Now that would be brazen." My voice nearly mocked. It was a quality that it possessed naturally and one that was not good for the scenario I was in.

"For all I know you could be a criminal of sorts! A shady one like you would have all types of people hunting you."

My head snapped up then quickly lowered again. How I was sick of hearing such things. Was that all anyone ever had to say? Everything I risked for them…and all I would ever be to any of them was a nuisance upon their society. "And you are just another of a vast sea of judgmental bigots to say so. I appreciate your help thus far, but with further considerations, I would prefer to take my chances." At that point I was willing to take my chances.

"… Wait. I… apologize." Her shoulders hunched and she looked almost embarrassed. "I should not have been so quick to say such a thing. I barely know you. If you come with me, I would speak to my brother. You sure took offense to that quickly, though."

I reconsidered it. No, I had too many more things that needed doing before I could throw my life away needlessly. "I hear it rather often…" I relaxed my own shoulders. "I am not a people's person. Mostly for that and related reasons."

"Then why do you keep your face so covered? It is rather obvious you are purposely not showing it. It makes people suspicious." She reached for the hood but I jerked away. As if I was going to allow that.

"They can be suspicious if they please. For the most part it does not affect me."

Corrina's brow raised. "You seemed fairly offended a moment ago."

"If you were put in my place you would have been, too. I never chose this life but still I am cursed with it. Fate is a cruel mistress." I let the words slip. I never thought twice that such a statement wouldn't make sense to her. Not until it was already out.

"…" She stared at me, confused.

"Yes?" It made for a bit of awkward conversation. Or lack thereof.

"Is that all you will say?" She stared at me with interest. What a mistake I had made.

"What more did you want?" My bowed head tilted to the side slightly.

"I was hoping you were going to tell me why you keep your cloak down." Her voice stretched with her urging.

"Likewise I barely know you. Why would I do that?" It had been a while since I had let someone see my face. I wasn't about to break that trend.

"One of those mysterious types? You never planned on telling me anything." She tried again to pull at the hood. "Will you at least show me your face?"

I chuckled incredulously. "If I will not tell you why I keep it covered, why would I show you?"

She shrugged. "I guess that is a valid point."

"I took a duel wound." I paused. "It left a scar."

"Do you expect me to believe that is why you hide your entire head?"

I really couldn't have cared less if she believed it or not. Lies were just as acceptable as truth as long as the person they were told to was satisfied. "No. But it is a reason that you have no argument against, so therefore have to accept."

"Hm." She shook her head. "You do not know me yet. You know, if you stay with us, you will eventually have to take your cloak off."

"Do you really think?" It almost sounded like she was posing a challenge for me.

"You cannot honestly expect me to believe that you even sleep in it."

I shrugged. "What people believe and what is true are two separate entities."

So this is the edited version. Any criticism I get I will take and try to make the best of and I hope this new edit shows that. I'm DETERMINED to improve. So anything anyone can tell me is greatly appreciated. And if I have something still in 3rd person above, let me know. I think I converted it all….but I'm known to miss things.

Thank you ^^

And…please review. It really is important to me. ^^