The mountains around the Clayr's Glacier. Pretty much a wilderness, with the occasional settlement.

~Sorienne~

The Charter skins proved much more difficult than I'd thought, and I hadn't managed to make even part of one yet. It was beyond annoying. I couldn't stop and focus on it either, because I had to keep moving, and now that I had come to the mountains, the terrain was getting very uneven. Still, it should be harder for the guards to follow me here, as my horse wouldn't leave hoofprints in the rocky ground.

Jalandir-

I stood just within the tree line, watching as the lone horse and rider slowly made their way roughly in my direction. People hardly came up here - unless they were running away from something. I allowed myself a smile; perhaps this individual would prove a welcome distraction.

~Sorienne~

My horse trod in a patch of soft mud, leaving a clear hoofprint, so I paused and cast a Charter spell that erased the print. If anyone - like that bloody Messenger - did manage to track me this far, I couldn't afford to leave any traces at all.

Jalandir-

I watched in interest as the rider - a woman - erased a hoofprint. Running away, then - and not wanting to be followed. I was starting to have a suspicion of who this was. If this suspicion proved true, then it looked like I could be in for some amusement.

I stepped out of the trees, and waited for the rider to spot me. At this distance, if she did decide to flee, she was within range of a thrown knife - or a spell, but that would be using Free Magic when I didn't have to.

~Sorienne~

I kicked my horse back into a quick walk - and then froze as I saw someone watching me. He wasn't doing anything other than watching, though, so for the moment I just held his gaze. No use trying to run in an area like this.

Jalandir-

I gave a thin smile. "You may have erased the hoofprint," I said, "but your horse will still leave traces of mud on the rocks."

~Sorienne~

'I know,' I said cooly, watching this man carefully in case he tried to do anything. 'I was going to get rid of the tracks, and then clean his hoof. I am not stupid.'

Jalandir-

I raised my eyebrows, but didn't comment on her last statement.

I took out one of my knives, and started to trim my nails. "Running from something?" I asked casually.

~Sorienne~

'Why would you want to know that?' I asked, keeping my expression blank whilst watching his knife out of the corner of my eye.

Jalandir-

"Erasing the footprint was quite a significant clue," I said dryly. "It isn't often that people come this way."

~Sorienne~

'You didn't answer my question,' I said levelly.

Jalandir-

I stopped paring my nails, and glanced up. "You didn't answer mine."

~Sorienne~

That was a fair point. 'I am avoiding someone,' I said. 'Not running.'

Jaladir-

"Avoiding several someones?" I asked. "Perhaps it won't be long before we see some red and gold on the horizon."

~Sorienne~

'You still haven't answered my question,' I said cooly.

Jalandir-

"Ah, yes - why I want to know. I suppose that telling you I'm naturally curious wouldn't suffice."

~Sorienne~

'It won't,' I agreed.

Jalandir-

"Well, then," I said, "if you are who I think you are, then I have been following your activities with great interest. Next you will ask me why. And I answer: because we have a common enemy." I drew back my cloak to show my bell-bandolier. Seven silver bells, with handles of carved bone.

I watched the woman closely; if she wasn't Sorienne, I might have to act fast.

~Sorienne~

'I see,' I said, the corner of my mouth twitching up in a brief smirk. 'And why exactly would that mean that you have been following my activites?' I wanted to work out just what this man knew before I said anything proper.

Jalandir-

"Given my... choice of occupation," I said carefully, "any actions taken against that family interest me. You seem to have been more successful than most."

~Sorienne~

'I have,' I agreed, with a small nod. 'Probably because I did not go down the... usual route.'

Jalandir-

"Now, however," I said, "you appear to be in some trouble."

~Sorienne~

'No,' I replied cooly. 'I have done what I can for now, and have decided to go elsewhere.'

Jaladir-

"Until you get a chance to do more?" I asked calmly.

~Sorienne~

'Perhaps,' I said neutrally.

Jalandir-

I considered the woman for a moment.

"Well, ex-Corporal," I said, "you've ended up in my territory. Nobody comes or goes from here without my knowledge. It is perhaps lucky for you that I am interested in your situation."

~Sorienne~

'Perhaps,' I said again, giving him a brief nod.

Jalandir-

"If you decide to make these woods your 'elsewhere'," I said, "I can see to it that you remain... undisturbed."

~Sorienne~

I eyed the man suspiciously. He was a necromancer, and necromancers were not known for being trustworthy. 'You can?' I asked, raising one eyebrow.

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