Reflections of Truth

Are we continuing the paragraphs or does each individual continue the original story? 

Koron stared at her, his gaze sliding down to the parchment in her hand. He took it and scanned the contents. His brow furrowed. "And all this is necessary?"

Cyn straightened her shoulders. Time to brazen it out. "Are you able supply everything? Or should I spend my money elsewhere?"

A wry smile pulled at Koron's mouth and he waved her towards the open doorway of his shop. "I'm happy to take your money, Cyn. But you shouldn't be out this late. The Festival brings out the freaks and lunatics."

"Was that why you were skulking in the alleyway?"

His sudden bark of laughter jolted her. "Feisty, today, aren't we Cyn?"

He shut the door to the shop and the silence and warmth of the interior stole over her skin. The air hung heavy with the scent of expensive spices and the more mundane herbs, with fruit, bread and other things she could never name. Koron could always conjure up anything needed. There wasn't a time when his shop hadn't huddled down its little side street, with Koron dark, strange and sinister, working at its heart.

Cyn ran her hand over a leather satchel hanging beside the long counter, the skin cool and smooth to her touch. "Why are you open? Don't you celebrate the Festival?"

Koron stacked bags on the counter. "I don't believe."

Cyn blinked and stared at him. His mouth had thinned and a muscle in his jaw jumped. "Don't believe? How is that possible?"

"Some people should play with their mirrors. Some should stay away." Koron's dark gaze fixed on her, a warning... and something else...gleamed there. "Far, far away."

"Koron, I--"

"A mirror isn't a toy, Cyn. Anyone who treats it as such is an idiot." He shrugged. He rang up her bill, handed it to her and stretched out his broad palm for payment. "Even a Maestro--"

"Rola is not an idiot!" She slapped the money into his hand.

Koron's smile had her grabbing her bags and backing away. "Carry on believing that if it makes you happy." He wiped over the counter with a linen cloth. "But remember my warning." He looked up and she banged into the closed door. "You know where I am, Cyn."

She scrambled out of the doorway. Yes, she knew where he was, and he could bl**dy well stay there!

Thank you and you did a GREAT JOB! 

*hope you like it*  

Cyn stalked through the night with her purchases weighing down her arms.  Koron's warning chilled her more than she'd like to admit.  Why do you let him get to you?  She couldn't answer the question any more than she could prevent her mind from wondering what he meant. 

Why does he hate Rola?  Their rivalry was well-known and curious. If Rola knew she'd visited Koron...

A soft breeze blew through the streets, whipping around her skirt and twisting the material. It carried on it the stench of apples and rot.  A strange combination.  The skin on the back of her neck prickled in warning.  Just your imagination.  Despite the bravado in her mind her feet raced through the alleys back to Rola. 

Festival night's magic was always unpredictable. 

Cyn practically flew down the streets, her feet barely touching the ground as she moved. Between Koron's warning and Rola's promise, she didn't know what to do. Okay, she did. Koron might make her heart race, but Rola needed her and she needed him.

When she reached Rola's house, she rapped on the door three times, then slipped inside. Once she had bolted the door, she slid to the floor, clasping her bundle to her chest.

"What happened?"

Cyn flinched and looked up at Rola. Her thoughts scattered on the wind, but as usual he didn't need her to speak to know what was on her mind.

"You had no problem procurring what we need." It wasn't a question, more like daring her to contradict him.

She shook her head. Koron had put doubts in her mind. Doubts that shouldn't be there. Damn him. Cyn steeled her shoulders and met Rola's gaze. "I had no problems."

"Very good."

Rola turned his back to her and walked over to a table. "Bring your bag and show me your purchases."

Doubled up for no reason and can't delete the post *argh*

Kim 

thanks :)

Who's next?

but I went last.

You so do not want me to go again.

The mood i'm in bad things could happen LOL 

As Cyn approached the table, Rola looked carefully at his mirror on the far wall. It was clear she wasn't being totally honest about what happened on her errand. Oh, he was sure she had what he needed, but something had rattled her.

Or someone. And Rola was quite sure of who that someone was. His sigil was clearly embossed on the satchel Cyn carried the other purchases in.

The first warning bell tolled. Annumphase would begin in just an hour.

Cyn carefully arranged her bag's contents on the table, but she also watched Rola as he stared at his mirror. If everything went according to plan, they would step through, and leave Yon behind. When the warning tolled, the reflection changed radically (as reflections do).

Before, there was a nautical scene, with mercenaries battling what appeared to be pirates and mermaids. All the while, huge dark shapes moved in the seas below, and lights of blue and green danced from person to person. Now, it was like a story from a fairy book, with a knight clad in white, addressing a royal court, as the Queen beamed with pride.

Yet neither of these worlds were hers, and neither world would be where they traveled tonight. After the scene had changed, both Cyn and Rola looked at the table. Of course, there were the travel rations and water canisters. Fire sticks, field knives and cleansers. But those could be used even for wilderness excursions on Yon. There were several strange devices that appeared to be worn on over the eyes. Rola must be expecting a far brighter Sun than the one that shone here, even in summer. And then there were things Cyn could not identify. Fortunatley, they were on the list, and Koron had known what they were.

Rola picked up three crystals from the assortment on the table, and examined them closely. "Koron's suppliers are improving," he said. "These are among the purest tuners I have seen in many an age."

"You didn't think I would risk myself to inferior stones, did you, dear brother?" Koron's voice boomed from the door.

Great story Woody! 

It is now someone else's turn to write a segment...