A Crown of Scales

As the dagger hit Nikola's skin, Victoria let out a small gasp. For a moment, worried washed over her. Though as Nikola pushed Ashton away and cut his throat, most of her concerned was eased. At least he knew how to move quickly when he was injured. But now she needed to finish this up and then see to Nikola. Surely a dagger going straight into his arm like that, with such force, would have injured her best guard.

Once Ashton fell to the ground, dead, Victoria turned to Nikola and the on lookers. "Justice has been done. And now it is time that we all return to our beds." Victoria looked to Nikola, waving the guards over as she walked up to Nikola. The members of the estate looked back at the two of them before slowly making their ways back inside. Though, she had him to worry about. "Thank you very much Nikola. You did an excellent job. But please, let me look at your arm. I hope that you are not too injured."

Reaching over, Victoria grabbed his arm. Though upon seeing no injury to the skin, her eyebrows fused together in confusion. "H-how?" She asked as she quickly grabbed Nikola's other arm. But once again, seeing that the skin there was completely unbroken, Victoria looked at him in disbelief. "How did you?" She was quiet for a moment before continuing. "I saw the power behind the knife. It hit you! How are you not injured?" Victoria dropped his arms and shook her head.

@ BearGirl
He watched the body fall away, a little rage of fire building in him. No, this wasn't the first time someone laid hand on him, but a mere servant... a mere mortal man with no skill in fighting... He narrowed his eyes and rubbed his arm, feeling his hardened scales through the cloth and quickly forcing himself to relax to ease the tension away. He heard Victoria speak, and heard her approach, looking up to greet her gaze. Nikola let sighed and reluctantly allowed her to snatch his left arm.

He watched her, mostly out of curiosity and also to make sure she didn't spot anything unusual, but by the time she was observing his skin all the scales were long gone without a trace. He smirked, even as she checked his other arm. He couldn't lie about an armour, for there was nothing but cloth. He would have to shrug it off.

"I'm not a legend for nothing," he pulled the sleeves down over his arms and rubbed the impacted area again. So close. Explaining scales would have been a lot harder. He turned his head away to look at the body - and more so away from her eyes. "Consider it a blessing, consider it luck, it doesn't matter, does it? I'm not injured, so why question."

Because it wasn't natural, but as was magic, and yet magic was whispered about in these streets. It wasn't exactly a non-existing hidden thing. Just not accepted, like legends, like dragons. Nikola resisted the urge to ball his fists and burn the castle down. Instead he offered Victoria a sweet honeyed smile, "It's late, I think you should rest."

@ ashen knight;

Victoria opened up her mouth for a moment, getting ready to argue with him. Though she couldn't think of what to say exactly about his uninjured arm. It was very odd, yes. There should definitely be something there for sure. But also, Victoria was glad that he wasn't injured. It meant that her bodyguard was still in tact. And perhaps something had been wrong with the sword used or the hit didn't look soft but it actually was. But still odd...Odd enough that she would keep her eyes on Nikola to see if something like this would happen again. She wanted to know if something weird was actually going on with Nikola.

She ended up letting out a small sigh before nodding to him. Now that she didn't want to fight him on the injury, Nikola was right about heading off to bed. She was exhausted and hyped up at the same time. Victoria wanted to pass out and stay up all night to ensure she was safe. And she didn't exactly feel safe at the moment. Though, she also wanted time to try and calm her nerves. Oh if she got any sleep it would be a miracle. Plus she had to wake up early to send a letter to court about the assassination attempt.

"In that case, good night Nikola. Make sure to get plenty of rest." Victoria nodded to him before making her way into the estate. Her guards followed her closely. And once she did make it to her room, two were always outside the door to ensure the Princess' safety.

@ BearGirl
He braced himself, ready for her to argue and to demand. It would look suspicious the more he tried to play it off. There was no reasonable excuse. He didn't have armour, he couldn't shrug it off for metal. No... But she didn't, and she sighed and let it go - and he was most grateful for it. With a soft sigh of his own, one stiffled so she wouldn't hear it, he followed her for a little into the estate, and once he was sure that the guards posted outside her door were sufficient (he eyed them up and down and judged them with his gaze that they started to squirm), he left it alone and went to his own room to nurse his pride and ego back into shape. Alas, it would take a few days. A lowly servant, getting up on him like that... He pressed his lips together. Was he losing it?

The night he spent tossing and turning but eventually willed himself to slumber, and the morning came all too soon with a song bird weeping a melody outside his window. He willed it to be prey for the cook, but it was left alone and the archer's boy in the yard didn't practice on it. Up Nikola got, and eyed the sunrise for a while, went outside and trained among the other early risers. He took his breakfast and his bath, and for lack of anything better to do - helped ready the carriage. But the princess did not come. They were to leave any second now, and yet no sign? For a while, he lay on a pile of hay and watched guards edge nervously around him. When he was done waiting he headed to the princess' chambers, pushed past the guards and threw open the door, taking a large step inside and swinging the door shut behind him.

"With all due respect," he said firmly casting one look at her unready self and, where any gentleman would avert his gaze, he continued to look at her - "We must depart."

[I hope this okay xD]

@ ashen knight;
[Yes it is more than okay!

Victoria looked to Nikola as he pushed into her room. Her eyes narrowed a bit as he entered. Oh he definitely should not be in here, especially since she was only half dressed. Though she had larger things to worry about than Nikola seeing her undergarments or her bare ankle. She glanced down at his arm for a moment. Despite not arguing with him about it the night before, she couldn't help but find it suspicious. Though Victoria shook her head, ridding her mind of it and going back to the real problem.

Picking up a letter, Victoria waved it around. "I received this when I awoke today!" She said in a fuss before roughly bringing it down to her chest and unfolding it. "Do you want to know what it says?" Without waiting for Nikola to respond, Victoria cleared her throat and started to read from the letter. "The council of advisors suggest that Aldannia should reconsider moving on our great enemies to the east. It has come to the attention of the advisors that the truce has been violated in many sections including but not limited to." Victoria then slammed the letter down on the desk, not having the patience to read on. "They are using the attempt on my life to go out to full blown war!" She growled. "They are trying to convince my father to do something utterly stupid. Something they know I don't want and they're using me as an example!"

As Victoria continued to rant, the maid in the corner winced a bit. The young girl looked rather worn down and concerned. She was still holding onto all of Victoria's day clothes, what she was meant to be wearing already. But she had been trying to get the Princess dressed for the last hour to no avail.

@ BearGirl
He watched the paper angrily flutter in the air. No, he did not want to know what it said. He wanted to stay out of politics and burn villages at his own disposal, not get involved in things - but she apparently wouldn't take any answer for she was already going on, and Nikola quietly stood and listened. He looked at the wincing maid (what a pretty face), and walked up to her, taking the clothing from her hands. "Go," he instructed to her, and for a moment she seemed to falter, but one hard look and the girl exited the room.

He set them down (not so neatly) onto a nearby dresser and picked up the first thing he figured would be right. One step to Victoria, he took her by the shoulder and whirled her around to face him (not harshly, but not gently either). At least someone had to be level-headed around here. He lifted the first piece of clothing from the pile and forced it over her, covering her mid-rant. "You can complain in the carriage." He said simply. "But if we don't leave soon, there will be another war for you to worry about." He pushed her towards the bed, so that the back of her knees would hit its edge and she would sit, kneeling in front of her and grasping her leg (again, firmly but without brutal force) and lifting it to slide stocking over, his fingers lingering on her skin only for a tiny moment (and a small smirk suddenly gracing the corner of his lip, accompanied by a brief glance up at her), then he continued to pull the stocking up as far as it went, going up far enough past her knee and starting up her thigh, and it seemed with no intention of stopping until the stocking ran out.

@ ashen knight;

Victoria looked at Nikola rather frustratedly as he started to pull her dress over her head. And not gently she may add. She was about to tell him to knock it off when Nikola pushed her onto the bed and grabbing her leg. A deep, red blush moved over her face and for a moment she felt paralyzed. Though as she saw the smirk over his lips and as Nikola was starting up her thigh, Victoria felt though as if she received her movement back. She was quick to slap Nikola across the face, followed by her foot pressing into his chest, not to knock him down but to push him back from her upper leg.

For a moment she looked down at him but she felt a strangeness creep up into her chest. Victoria quickly turned her head to the side, not wanting to look at Nikola. "I am not one of those whores you find down in your bars. You may not grab and pull me around like that and you certainly may not touch me like that. I am crowned princess and I will be treated with respect." Victoria's voice was quiet by firm. She moved her foot off of his chest. "Leave. Go to the carriage. I will be out in a moment." She growled the last part.

@ BearGirl

He was quite enjoying himself. Seeing her all fussed and flustered was certainly something he wanted to see more of. A princess, usually so well calm and collected was quite the mess and at loss for what to do. At least, in his eyes. He saw the change and had all the time in the world to react. But he didn't. Because it had taken it by surprise, simply so. His head turned from the force of the accepted slap (he deserved it, after all) and he stayed still a moment longer for if she were to slap him again, he wouldn't have to see it. But there was only a single slap followed by firm words and a firm foot on his chest (one he was tempted to grasp and kiss to see her angry once more).

Nikola rocked back and stood, watching with curiosity as she looked away from him. "I do not see you as a common bar whore," he replied softly, inclining his head as if to apologise, but at the last moment turning and starting towards the door - where he paused to grin back at her, "I wouldn't have been so gentle if I did." And then he slipped out.

If he were a lad a lot younger in age, he would have walked away with a small skip in his step. But Nikola was no young bunny. He was a prowling tiger, and instead of a skip in his step, there was a little swagger and a little smirk on his lips, one seen by guards and eyebrows raised and eyes narrowed - what did he do? But there were no screams from the room, and the door wasn't shut - the princess was alright, it seemed. Still, the guards inched away from him and towards the room of the princess, lest the devil had sinned on her grace.

Nikola did as told, and waited outside the carriage. He would ride on horse this time - and he was sure that after the encounter in Victoria's room, the princess would not have him in her carriage, or anywhere near her close proximity. He would be most surprised if she did. When he saw people fussing by the entrance, he heard her step, Nikola looked up and trained his gaze on her, knowing and curious, as if asking - what will you do?

Victoria was still on edge as she headed out of the estate. Her mind now completely off of the problems of this morning and instead were focused on the situation with Nikola. Her stomach felt in a mess as she thought about it. Furious was definitely the outstanding emotion, but there were others. Some that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Though to be manhandled and touched like that. Especially by some common man! Not that Nikola was common. But he certainly had no right to even hand much less throw her around her bedroom and attempt to dress her. And he showed absolutely no regret for doing so! Even after getting slapped!

As she walked up to the carriage, Nikola quickly came into sight. Oh and she saw that look on his face. Her eyes narrowed a bit at him. All of her emotions started mixing together. Oh she was quite displeased but didn't quite know what to do with him. After all, Nikola was here to protect her, and he had done so very well. She couldn't just discharge him. And she also couldn't just give him some horrid job as a punishment since he needed to be protecting her due to all of the attacks as of late. The most she could do was give Nikola some attitude, which she fully intended on doing.

When she was by the carriage, one of her guards opened her door for her. Victoria looked to Nikola. "No need to look so smug!" She snapped at him before letting out a little 'humpf'. "Don't you even think about coming to bother me today unless it is important." Though as she spoke, redness started to sneak into her cheeks again. Feeling the warmness, Victoria was quick to move into the carriage

@ BearGirl

He thought maybe she would ignore him, or maybe she would glare. She did not do any of that, but rather give him some attitude (and it surprised him), it seemed Nikola still knew very little of how humans - or was it just women? - behaved. The little humpf was adorable, and Nikola couldn't help but let out a silent chuckle and spur his horse forward a little. If he hadn't been so preoccupied with the 'humpf' he would have noticed the colour change in her cheeks, but he was busy in his own little world and it went right over his head. In one eye, and out the other... or was that only in ears?

There was nothing important to relate throughout the procession, and Nikola rode silently for the most part. He stayed near the carriage, sometimes a bit behind, sometimes a little away in front. Sometimes he disappeared entirely and went for a ride on his own to scout the areas (and let out a little of himself) but always kept the carriage in his view (even though he seemed to vanish for the other human eyes). Other times, he liked to ride in pace with the carriage, lining up the horse to the window of the door and seeming to mind his own business and staring off into the field - always far enough so that she would see all of him and his horse, but close enough for him to hear her. But now and then, his mind would wander back to the night of the assassin's attempt, and the light that blinded him as he barged into the door. Blinded enough to have to use his other eye to even see. How? What was it? There was that pull of magic... it came... he was sure of it - from her. He could not tell. In fact, he could not remember. It was overwhelming.

They stopped infrequently, only once for a small morning tea, and just some time around midday when the sun was highest, they passed near a village- and here it seemed they would make a stop for lunch. They didn't go into the village itself- it was too far out of the way but they stopped in its fields where young children played and were greeted by some of the hunters from the village.

Nikola dismounted and, keeping far away from the children shooting their bows, let his horse go for a food break in the pastures. He heard the general lunch time fuss around the carriages to serve the royalty and the court accompanying, but stayed clear. He was sure the soldiers near by could handle the three hunters from the village. There was nothing malicious about them.

@ ashen knight;

Victoria headed out of the carriage when they finally stopped for lunch. It quickly became boring being in a carriage alone for hours. Especially since she was doing it day after day. Though luckily the tour was beginning to come to an end. She was towards the end of it - finally. Even if she had more towns to go to at least Victoria could see the end in sight.

Though it still left Victoria with her boredom in the meantime. Even when she was out of the carriage there wasn't much for her to do than to sit, eat and look around. And it wasn't like the guards weren't great people. Though there stories sometimes became a little...repetitive. Especially now that they were a couple of weeks out now. So when her blanket and eating area was set up, Victoria had it moved a little away from the rest of the guards.

Instead, she looked out at the field and the children playing. Watched them and smiled as she watched them look at her nervously. It seemed that they were practicing and they wanted to do well in front of the crowned princess. Though, Victoria had a feeling that her presence was a bit too distracting. They spent most of their time looking at her. And their aim wasn't good by any means. Not really hitting close to their targets anymore. But, If she had time, she would make her way over to them. Victoria liked talking to children the most during these tours. They tended to be the most well meaning, and the sweetest. Plus it was so easy to make them smile.

@ BearGirl
The children were so distracted by the newcomers - even more by the appearance of the princess - that they started not only looking over more but also trying to shoot further, faster and seeing who would impress her more in hopes of recognition or something to bring home or boast about.

A few children came wandering closer to the soldiers to look at their swords and bows too, and before long the two groups were interacting. Nikola was caught up in the midst of it too, and before long, children were pulling on his sleeve, asking him to show them his impressive knives that hung around his belt and his blades. A little away, a boy was showing a soldier his bow. He pulled the arrow back and - before the soldier reacted - accidentally let go. There was a sharp twang and the arrow shot forward. Nikola reacted to the sound and looked up, and in time to see the arrow shoot in his direction, but the distance was short and he had little time but to only to flinch and turn his arm to the more protected side, and then the arrow buried itself in the metal of his gauntlet.

There was pain.

Surprsing pain. Nikola grit his teeth together and growled through it. The little boy stood in horror and shock. The soldiers around were shcked for a moment, then some rushed forward and some called for a maid and aid, but Nikola swatted them away - aggressively even - and backed away from the crowd.

A maid hurried to him, holding out a bandage but as she neared he snarled and snapped, "I'm fine." It was then he realised he still had the arrow in his arm. The burning that never went away. How did that happen? Had his scales failed him? He grasped the arrow in anger and found it seared his fingers. Black iron. He was aware of the crowd watching him, and he couldn't let go off the arrow now that he had grasped it so strongly. So he braced himself and ripped it out. It came out clean, arrowhead and all - for it had not gone deep. This arrow he threw onto the ground and with one last glare at the maid that tried to appraoch him with a cloth, he stalked away.
Somewhere he heard the boy crying and some man trying to comfort him. This he ignored, eyes trained on his horse by the carriage. It seemed they were packing up anyway. Good timing. He could ride away and nurse his injury there, take off the gauntlet and inspect the wound.

By the gods, it burned.

@ ashen knight;

Victoria hurried over to the scene. Quickly having noticed the chaos that was taking place near her guards and carriage. As she walked up, she quickly noticed the arrow in Nikola's arm. At first, she just watched on. Watching the way that the maid tried to help but kept getting pushed away. Watching how Nikola ripped the arrow out, causing Victoria to gasp out. She covered her mouth for a moment, shocked that Nikola would just do it himself when others were offering. Though as Nikola started to stalk off from the scene, she was quick to intercept him.

"Get into the carriage, I will fix up your injury." She commanded, not wanting Nikola for a moment to believe that he had an option. Sure he could blow off a maid, but Nikola certainly could not do so to her. Besides, she was probably the only one here who knew how to properly clean up and sow up a wound. The guards knew quick fixes but were always sloppy. And she had been required to learn as a child, just in case she ever needed to for herself, guards or during times of war. It had become helpful before and it seemed that it would be again.

Her eyes narrowed at Nikola, making sure he knew she was not messing around. Victoria then turned to two guards and gave them a list of what she would need. They ran off to get it. "Carriage. Now." Victoria said to him once again before heading off to the little boy quickly. She didn't want him to be traumatized from the incident and, in her experience, a quick visit from the sweet princess often helped. Crouching down, Victoria spoke softly to the little one until he stopped crying. At which point, she offered him a little toy, which finally got the boy to smile.

With that taken care of, Victoria made her way to the carriage. Now she had another boy to tend to.

["Another boy" ]

At first, he was reluctant. He even considered snapping at her and stalking off further. He was almost like a cornered dog, angry and glaring. But her tone told him she wouldn't take his attitude. So Nikola considered turning into a dragon and burning down the lot of them, and eating them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It would solve a lot of problems, but it would be very painful in his current state. He took a breath through grit teeth, but didnt say anything, stalking off to the carriage as ordered and - with one grunt and glare at the guard by the door - got in once it was opened for him.

While the princess fussed with the child (curse him), Nikola worked to free his arm from the light armour. The metal had taken a pounding and bent inwards, and that caused the majority of his injury in terms of size. It wouldn't have happened if the arrow had not been involved, for his scales underneath wouldn't have let it bend. But the black iron had come and it cancelled out the magic and burst through the armour, bending it around. Everything around the wound was clean and neat, albeit a bit red. The wound itself was a dirty bleeding mess. It had been a while since Nikola seen his own blood. He took a few moments to simply stare at it, then freed the rest of his arm from cloth and tried to clean it up - hoping he would do so before Victoria arrived.

But like wasn't on his side. The aftermath left him a little shaken, and his fingers fumbled with the cloth and as he tried to tie it around his arm, the door opened. Nikola glanced up, one corner of cloth in his mouth the other in his hand, tightening the knot he had just hastily formed, and knew there was no escaping now. He averted his gaze, almost guilt-like.

@ ashen knight;
[Haha I thought it would be cute ]

Victoria headed into the carriage, looking over at Nikola as she did so. Though she was quiet as the two guards came back, handing the princess what she had asked for. Most of it was medical supplies, though she had also asked them to bring her picnic basket in too. Some more food, something to drink, and perhaps a little wine might also calm Nikola down from the accident. After all, she had seen his face and the way he treated the others after it. Victoria doubted he would do the same to her, but still it was best to calm him down. Besides, she didn't want Nikola getting so furious that he wanted to go fight something. Like many men often did.

After looking over the items in her lap, Victoria's glaze finally looked up to Nikola. Though surprise instantly went through her when she noticed the guilt-like expression. Her head tilted a little to the side. "You are not in trouble Nikola. It wasn't your fault..." She let out a little hum. "Though you could have been nicer to the other guards. They were just trying to help. But, I suppose we can give you a pass on that once since you were in pain." Victoria teased a little, a small smile on her lips. She hoped to lift his mood a little.

Victoria then scooted forward in her seat, her eyes now drifting to the wound. He had covered it but it was a shoddy job. And she doubted that Nikola had really done anything to help it heal. "Let me look at it. I am sure I can help your arm more than you could." Victoria reached out, wanting Nikola to move so it was easier for her to work. Though when he didn't, she leaned forward a bit more and started to move her fingers to the cloth, wanting to undo it. "Please Nikola. I would not want my best personal guard to be too hurt to save me. And I promise to actually help you. Not helplike you did this morning." She teased him a little more. While she didn't find this morning funny, she knew that Nikola had found it amusing. So Victoria was trying her best, but she could feel the strange aura around him.

['curse him' ]

@ BearGirl
Sure, it wasn't his fault, but it was his mistake. And that Nikola could not forgive himself. He had become too reckless. He had forgotten the curse of black iron, the bite and the sting of black iron arrows as they pinned into his belly when he breathed fire over villages and castles, melting their rock and charring their wood. They had stopped making them, and he had forgotten.

Curse the farmer and the boy. Briefly, Nikola considered finding the man and breaking his instruments so he would never work there, and breaking his hands so he would never forge again. But that would instantly put him in the light of suspicion and he was not going to risk a century of concealment for a meager man.

"I'm not in pain," he protested, though weakly and in a mumble for it was a lie and a blatantly obvious one. He could feel a bead of sweat hide under his hair and while it was unseen, he feared it would roll down soon. Then there would be so many questions, like why did one tiny arrow hurt him so much when just recently he blocked a blade edge on?? Hah.

When she reached out, he drew back but being in the corner of the carriage, he could only retreat so far before he had nowhere else to move his arm. He hoped she wouldn't, but instead she leaned in and started to work on it. Numerous times he flinched, but his eyes were trained on her, watchful and wary. If her words were an attempt to distract him and amuse him, then they were certainly working. He couldn't help but relax the tiniest of fractions (although still rigid) and gave a soundless short 'ha' save for the air coming out of his lungs. "Well, it got you dressed eventually, no?"

Her touch was gentle, her fingers soft, and as he watched - the concentration and the care - and the way her hands and fingers brushed over and around his skin, his mind drifted to other thoughts. He would have likely, and shamelessly, stayed there but a small jab of pain brought him back to reality and he gave a soft sharp hiss tensing forward and inadvertently leaning forward towards her. The gem around her neck caught his attention there and then and he paused, aware of his proximity to her and the gem. A little too close. He could smell the scent of soap in her hair, the smell of an oil he couldn't quick pick out either.

[curse him indeed ]

@ ashen knight;

"Well the next time you attempt to get me ready like that, I will have you hung in my courtyard." Victoria threatened. Though it was quite an empty threat. It was hard to place how she felt about this morning, but the feelings there were definitely still quite intense. Upsetting? Perhaps. Though it wasn't something she would hang someone over. Besides, in reality, she didn't want to waste the amount of men that it would take to capture and kill Nikola. There was something unnatural about the way he fought. And, for now, he was probably one of her best allies.

As Nikola moved forward and hissed, her eyes moved from his arm and to his own. Her gem seemed to shine for a moment, but instantly dulled. Maybe it was just a flicker of the light. "There is no reason for you to hiss at me when I am trying to help you." Victoria said softly before her eyes moved back to his wound. He was extremely close to her at the moment. Though, for now, she was able to ignore it. Though her cheeks did flush in the slightest. She could feel his breath on her.

Her fingers continued to move slowly, and gently along his skin until she finished up with his wound. Then she carefully and caringly wrapped bandages around the hit until the wound was covered. Her fingers ran up and down the bandages, brushing against his skin before she looked up to Nikola and let go of his arm. "There. That is much better than your make shift bandage," Victoria said softly. "Now, keep an eye on the injury but you should be quite fine." Victoria said softly as she started to slide back into her side of the carriage.

@ BearGirl

Hung in her courtyard? His lips twitched into a grin. "Does the courtyard have a window to your room? Are you not afraid my spirit would haunt?" Her proximity when she looked up and scolded him was all the more enticing, but he saw the slight colour change in her cheeks and wondered what her thoughts were. Alas, he'd never know.

Once the bandage was done, and she pulled away, he too returned to his spot in the corner of the carriage though this time he wasnt as huddled. He eyed the bandage a little and prodded it here and there, mainly assessing the damage and pain underneath. Alas, there was not much he could do. He would have to cleanse most of it as best he could tonight, maybe visit the local witch of the village. He grimaced. That was never pleasant.

{Sorry this is short, i had to migrate to phone xD Skip forth to the village/ :D}

@ ashen knight;

The rest of the carriage ride was rather uneventful. They had some conversation, albeit short and rather to the point. It was obvious that Nikola had something on his mind. As for Victoria, she was rather exhausted from the lack of sleep and all of the worrying that she had done this morning. So when it was clear that the conversation was over, she headed off to sleep. Resting peacefully in the carriage.

As the sun started to set, they finally arrived to the next village. There had been some concern that they would make it before dark, and that was reason for concern. Bandits, thieves, other unpleasants moved around in the night as it was easier to trick and hide in the dark. Though their concern was quickly swept away as they made it just in time. Some of the guards headed up to the estate to set things up for the rest of the party. The others, Victoria and Nikola stayed in town.

Victoria moved about the village, receiving warm welcomes from the commoners, and giving warm regards back to them. Though, unlike the other villages they had gone through, this particular one had a pack of gypsies. Once they moved through the townies, the gypsies moved forward. While they technically didn't consider themselves citizens of Victoria's country, they did give their respects. And one older woman seemed to be leading the charge.

After pleasantries were done with, the older woman smiled crookedly. "Princess, would you like to see a glimpse of your fortune? I would be happy to do a reading for you?" Victoria, who seemed amused by the idea, quickly agreed. "Yes, that would be lovely."

@ BearGirl

The village they entered held a certain air to it, one of tiny magic, one he noticed instantly. Ah, in his luck - in bad or good, there might be a witch here. He cast his gaze over the villagers as they moved past, but none stood out to him. Even when the gypsies approached, he scanned each face with care and attention and found nothing. It was then he realized that the scent of magic had disappeared. Had he imagined it? No, he was certain. He lifted his head and took a slow deep breath, closing his eyes as if he were enjoying the fresh air. The soldiers near him thought nothing of it. Nothing.

The leader of the gypsies had Victoria around her finger and started her prophecy-reading, something Nikola personally didn't believe in. Although this pack didn't seem to be faking, and while they could be the real deal of magic users or future-readers, he didn't read the same magic scent from them as he had when he entered. Instead, he stood quietly by and he kept an eye out - sometimes among gypsies there were thieves. And partly, he kept an ear out for the princess' - more out of his curiosity of what the woman would say to her.

It was while she was reading that Nikola caught a small movement in the crowd, and he looked up. A young woman, slipped between the crowd and away. Dark hair, dark cloak failing to conceal a curvy figure in a dark green dress, bangles around her wrist, a beauty spot under her eye. She paused and, as if feeling him watch her, she glanced back over her shoulder. Her eyes were human - for the other humans, but he saw beyond that. Dragons knew their thing. And the likes of her were particularly hated. Witch.

It seemed she knew something about him too, for she cast him a look of disgust, a scowl he found most unsuitable for her face, and hurried away. He would need to find her and strike a deal. Get this damned iron out of his body, and....

No, she would not be strong enough to undo the curse, he was afraid. That would have to wait. He zoned back into conversation, catching the last few words.