As he shadowed his target, Zalgus attempted to read everything about her from her manner and stride. She had a confident, but soft, step - a stride of one who enjoyed who she was but didn't want to draw the ire of others. People around seemed to react to her presence subconsciously - talking louder, gesturing more earnestly, and resolving themselves to a knife edge precision. The girl must be a shaper, and confirmation to that effect came when he saw a fox-like face with owl eyes peer out at him from the woman's brunette hair.
"Excuse me!" His voice, elegant and refined as it was, prompted the spirit to hide as the target stopped. She turned, one hand automatically moving to her satchel.
"Me?" she asked, shifting to face him fully. The position of her feet gave her a balanced pose to initiate running should the cloaked man who called to her prove less than friendly.
"Of course you," Zalgus replied with an exasperated sigh. "There is hardly any else here who would prove even a quarter so intriguing."
A blush splashed across the girl's pale cheeks, only partially obscured by a dusting of dirt and soot. Her expression became unsure, perhaps a bit timid as Zalgus fought to suppress a grin. No need to intimidate her, and scaring her would be counter productive. He tossed his hood back, letting the light shimmer over his copper hair.
"Well then, now that I have your attention, do tell me your name," he said, stepping up alongside the girl. He had quite a height advantage on her, so he adjusted his stance to not make her feel like he was looming over her. "I am well equipped to create some sort of clever name for you myself, however--"
"Aislynn." The girl's answer came quickly, not at all keen to be given a nickname by this man. He certainly looked affluent enough, and his manner of twisting words left her on edge and mildly lost in the sounds. He certainly didn't look malicious though, but he definitely was not from around here.
"Aislynn," he repeated. Though the syllables were foreign on his tongue, the name suited her. "My name is Zalgus."
"Zalgoose?"
He flinched at the slight mispronunciation; somehow it felt like an insult. A crude mutation of his name to mock him.
"Zal-gus." He used a firm tone, slowing his speech.
"Z-zalgus."
"Spot on." He brushed his cloak smooth to regain his stature. Aislynn's deer-like expression told him that she had not done it on purpose, but he could not help but feel slightly ruffled. Raina better not discover that name.
"Is there sommat I can help you with?" Aislynn still looked confused, and the harsher accent of the people around them developed into her words swiftly. She swallowed, trying to sink the accent in her stomach.
"I saw you give that boy his gift." Zalgus noticed the accent she hadn't exposed previously. "I cannot help but wonder how you came about such a trinket. It is clearly well made, beyond your means."
"I made it."
"Even the materials would be beyond your purse, my dear."
"Made those too... cepting the eyes. I found dose."
Zalgus examined the girl carefully. She was far more clever than she was acting, and as she became flustered it was clear she let it get to her far more than she should. Though, she was not lying to him.
"How curious," he said, folding his arms across his chest. "Could I then commission you? Your work is certainly extraordinary. I can pay you well."
Aislynn shifted on her weight, scuffing the ball of her foot against the ground. She wasn't sure what denying this stranger - Zalgus - would bring on her. Maybe if she could make him understand.
"There wudunt be a point."
"Oh?" Zalgus' eyebrow arched up. Now he was curious; Aislynn wouldn't dare lie to him. "Do go on."
Worrying her lip, Aislynn turned her head back in the direction of the boy. The silver of her eyes seemed to illuminate, making it so only the vibrant red of her lips and the gentle curve of her nose was obvious.
"Adelbert wants to breed hunting hounds when he grows," she said, the light bleeding away from her eyes.
"I see. So the toy you made for him was of a breeder."
"Yes. He wants to breed hounds so strong, smart, and loyal, that all the richest of the lands would see him." As her excitement and pride grew, Aislynn's accent smoothed, and her word choice flourished.
"So, why make him a toy?"
"When I first met him, he was convinced that his dream would never come to be." Aislynn sighed, running a hand through her hair, rustling the heavy locks. "He is only six! How can one so young already be burdened with so much despair?"
"And now, with something as simple as a handmade doll from a woman he barely knows, Adelbert believes he can change his fate."
"Achieve his fate."
"Ah, clever re-imagining of the situation."
Aislynn smiled. It was so simple and clear. There were no hundreds of little signs - postures, looks, minor facial twitches - that Zalgus could read to divulge what she truly meant. All because she was offering her meaning willfully. It was both comforting and unsettling.
He admitted to himself that he was rather enjoying her company. She was unassuming, not well cultured, but she held a quiet, natural elegance hiding behind her bumbling enthusiasm. Even more-so, she was a shaper - that alone made the very world a more dangerous place for her to exist in. He was sure someone was already hunting for her, but he would wait to pursue that in a more secure location.
"Well Miss Aislynn," he said, tilting himself into a shallow bow, "I thank you for such invigorating conversation. Might I be so bold as to request you accompany me back to my lodging? I feel I would find myself swiftly amiss should we part ways."
Aislynn was blushing again, and she knew it. She tugged her heavy scarf over her lower face, trying to hide it. He acted very casual in his polite manners, yet his eyes spoke to an intensity that belied his tone. Still, she maintained her opinion that he was not malicious. He just had a very powerful presence, and he knew how to use it.
"I -- Uhm --" Aislynn's attention and focus diffused, scattering amidst the spotty torchlight. There was a ringing in her chest. It reached to the very tips of her extremities, soundless, but insistent. To her, a river of silver - like stardust - wound its way through the shadows on the street. To her great alarm, it sped up as it crested over the small corner where she had left Adelbert playing.
"Miss Aislynn?"
She heard the inquiry, but already Zalgus' voice was fading away. Instead, strange voices were crowding her head. They were garbled at first, but focused as she drew her attention to the spirit hiding within her.
Taunting, arrogant, and cold voices.
Little boy -- give it up--- fetch pretty price--commund-- wot ya gunna do ta stahp us?
"Nothing," Aislynn said, emerging from a cloud of moonlight in front of Adelbert. "Because I will stop you."
The little boy had been huddled to a wall, desperately hiding the toy against his chest. Straw colored hair was plastered to his forehead, hiding fear-filled eyes. Three brutes, two men one woman, stood around Aislynn now. The shock on their ruddy faces turned to anger. They stood at least a half-foot taller than her, but she held her ground, silver light suffused through all her limbs.
"Stand off or I will make you," Aislynn said, moving her left hand and surrounding Adelbert in her light.
The entire street was bright as day, but softer. People scuttled to get away from the quickly brewing fight. Silence resounded through every soul in attendance; all attention was now on the three thugs and the waif-figured girl who was in their way.
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