Emalia stared at the road ahead at the same time she listened to the heavy footsteps beside her. She and Colin had been walking in silence from the time they left camp early in the morning. Apparently, Nephesh had heard nothing of the group discussion in the early dawn hour, so for the boy it was most rational to send the "bodyguard". After all her begging and pleading with Nephesh not to speak to Hellstrom about being Jihad - the one source she never thought would talk had sung like a blue jay in the spring.
The only reason she hadn't dragged the entire party to Luskan was the fact that Nephesh, being halfling, was despised by the Luskan people. Colin, too was for bringing everyone - until Nephesh suggested he alone accompany Emalia.
Colin broke the silence with a statement that inwardly sent Emalia into a burst of flame: "I get the feeling you're upset with me." Had she more of her mother in her, she might have flown into a rage but her own calm stepped in to soothe her throughout their walk. She had explained to him her thoughts on Hellstrom and why she cared, when the full impact of what was being said struck her. She wanted Hellstrom to look at her with love in his eyes - just as Colin wanted from her.
Though her heart was not truly with him, Emalia made a choice as the gates of Luskan finally came into sight. Colin had done everything a truly devoted lover would do, where Hellstrom had run away. She linked her arm with Colin's massive one - determining that this was the right thing to do. She would think with her head and let her heart follow.
"Ay mate, friend er foe?" A pair of massive guards stepped out into the center of the road, one of whom thrust a rather meaty palm in the center of Colin's chest. Emalia glanced over, taking in Colin's look of irritation at having the man's hand on his person. She reached up, gently placing a hand on the guard's arm.
"Friend."
"We ain't privy to friends here."
"We come to buy."
"Aye, that's what all of 'em come to do. Start trouble and you'll be slapped in a cell and
forgotten about faster than a full on Hammer blizzard."
"'Cept Her."
"Yea. Lil' miss might be a treat for those starvin' thieves."
"Might be a treat anyway. Don't worry miss, we'll *try* to stop 'em."
Emalia's immediate reaction was to turn to Colin. Upon his face flashed a look of anger. Before Emalia's eyes, his own seemed to darken as a menacing look burdened his features. "You don't need to concern yourself, she's taken care of. Let us pass. Shouldn't you be looking out for trouble?"
"Colin... let's just go."
"Listen to the girlie, ay? N' watch yer back."
"Let's go..."
Already versed in the troubles that Colin could cause, Emalia let him past the snickering guards without looking back. Past the gate, the city laid out before them. From where they stood, hundreds of ship masts stood reaching to the sky, and like ants, the sailors moved among them with boxes and other assorted goods bound for either Luskan itself, or the world beyond. Everything about the town seemed dirty, in the sense that every one of the citizens carted around bags of coin along with a weapon in open defiance of anyone getting near them, or scuttled about with shifting eyes and their dark cloaks wrapped around them and their goods tightly.
Colin and Emalia walked into the streets and for once, Emalia didn't mind how close Colin was to her, nor the glowering gazes he gave to the many men that dared to grin her way. The true trouble, however was not knowing at all where to go. There was, however, one place where - when she thought about it, would probably be able to answer any question she had. Towering above the city, a tall black building loomed. Shaped almost like a wicked tree of many branches, or a hand with too many fingers, it offered a deep sense of foreboding - as well as the possibility for knowledge beyond that of any simple sailor.
Luskan's roads seemed purposefully built to thwart even the best cartographer, and both Emalia and Colin found themselves growing rather impatient. Lady Luck, however, seemed to beam an approving smile upon them when Emalia heard the word, "Apprentice." Quickly, she wheeled about and saw two black-hooded figures walking along the street, animatedly discussing between them something in regards to her God.
Before Colin could act to stop her, she rushed up to the men, her face much brighter than it had been for hours. "Excuse me, you mentioned the Apprentice?"
The men turned to her, their faces barely visible beneath their hoods. The only indication of any sort of physical markings was the curious numbers that were burned on the backs of their hands.
"What do you want, girl?"
"I'm seeking out a temple and hope you might be able to tell me where it is."
"What makes you believe we would share any knowledge with you?"
"I, too, serve the Apprentice."
Both men glanced at one another and Emalia could barely feel in the air the silent laughter that passed between them. They looked back at her with scrutinizing gazes before even continuing. "You aren't from around here, are you girl?"
"No. I've traveled a long way and am seeking the Temple of Light."
A guarded hiss escaped from one of the men's lips, which seemed to rouse Colin into protectionmode. Emalia quietly held up a hand and stepped closer. "Please. Can you tell me where it is?"
"You truly are foolish girl. For your sake, we hope you have not come too far. What you are looking for will not be found here."
"It won't be in Luskan, but in the mountains."
"Idiocy. You will die there, that much is certain. I will only bother to repeat myself once. What you are looking for will not be found here."
"Then... where?"
The man bearing the numeral "752" on his hand scowled beneath his hood and took the smallest step toward Emalia. It could have been several people for all she knew, as the force was staggering as it shoved her backward. "May Sephiroth guide you on your quest, foolish ones." "And learn you this - eavesdrop upon us again and you'll find yourself sorely in need of assistance."
The men walked off, their conversation renewed in hushed voices. Emalia turned to Colin with tears in her eyes. Everything was for naught. The temple she traveled so far and so long to reach was just as distant as when she started her trip. Only know, she had no clue where to go.
Colin wrapped his arms around her as she let out a disappointed sob. There was nothing here but gawking eyes, rude people, and broken dreams. The only thing they could do, was head back to camp and inform the others.
