Entrances

She was not a social person but there came a time when curiosity took over. She frowned and put a flame to her pipe. Immediately the pungent scent of the intoxicating substance in the pipe permeated the air. 1

Opium.2

A puff of smoke snaked past her pale lips. Her bronze eyes took on a sleepy look as the effects of the drug took place. She was standing to her full height, shrouded in brown and black cloak and cowl. Another puff of smoke, her rigid stance relaxed into the general warrior's swagger. She was standing outside a brightly lit tavern. It seemed well-to-do as far as Rhydin taverns went. Then again, she had yet to see Rhydin until now. She looked up, reading the title through her opium-laced vision.3

"The Howling Beast Tavern and Inne." Her voice was barely a whisper, raspy and mingling maliciously with the opium smoke. The pipe was finished and then put away within the cloak's folds. Then, she headed inside, casting a spell before she pushed opened the door so that the smell of opium was masked by the heady scent of lavender. She stood in the large doorway, blinking before pulling back her cowl. The first thing she knew would stand out was her hair. It was a brilliant shade of red on the right side, and a brilliant shade of ocean blue on the left. Then there was her facial features all together. Her eyes were slanted and narrow and a shade of bronze that seemed unmatched by the bronze shields of ancient warriors in their brilliance. Her nose was aristocratic but the bridge had a slight hump, a sign that it had been broken and healed recently. Her mouth was not lush and sanguine but small and a pale shade of pink. Two tiger-striped scars adorned her face, one on each cheek. What was revealed of her neck was horrid. The scar was healed but the ridges were still in the shape of the instrument used to make it. It was almost as if someone had tried to behead her and nearly succeeded. She was not hideous looking if you did not count her visible battle scars, and she would almost be beautiful if it were not for the callous way she looked at everyone. As she sat down at the bar, she did not speak until the tender came to do his or her job. Her hands were gloved but one could tell that she was a warrior without bothering to look at the rest of her. Long artist fingers, the slightly enlarged knuckles, and if one were to take the gloves off, they'd see that the bottom of her hands were as hard as horn and as deadly as any assassin's. Now, about that drink…4

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Jade was still sound asleep upstairs in her room, sprawled on the bed in a sensual phrase, the sheets barely covering her naked body, her skin shining with sweat from the humidity of spring. She had left her balcony door open to allow a breeze to pass through and now, as the curtains ruffled with spring’s sweet whisper and caressed Jade’s soft battle-scarred flesh, the woman opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a curtain of ebony and platinum. Lazily she pushed it aside and sat up on one elbow to look around. Her glittering emerald eyes were still hazy with Morpheus’ touch and her body still glowed from the activities of the night before. Her eyes closed briefly and she considered just sleeping her life away seeing as she had nothing better to do. Then, she recalled how irritated being idle made her. Gracefully she swung both her long legs over the bed’s edge and firmly placed her bare feet on the floor before standing up in one fluid movement. Nudity was not taboo here so she went out to the balcony to enjoy the cool breeze, warm sun, and the view of the beautiful property. Her dark hair spilled possessively over her shoulder to conceal her breasts and tickle her taut stomach. Between the apex of her thighs a soft mound of fine onyx curls rested. She closed her eyes as a refreshing breeze took her again, stirring her hair in such a way that a flash of rosy pink could be seen on her breasts. She opened her eyes. One last look around the property and she retreated inside to draw herself a hot bath. Once that was done she sank inside the washing basin, leaning her head back as the water loosened her taut muscles. Reaching for the wash cloth and a bar of jasmine scented soap, she began the scrubbing process until her skin was rosy and gave off a healthy glow. She hesitated before getting up, but then decided she would have to anyway. Drying off partially, she went and stood on the balcony for the remainder of the drying period before heading back inside to get dressed. A simple pair of loose silk trousers and a blouse made of shimmering mesh material would suffice until she was actually ready to go out. Out the door she went, sliding down the banister and landing gracefully on her feet. Then, she headed towards the bar humming jovially to herself, and taking a seat at the bar. There was an obvious bounce in her step, and her cheeks were colored an attractive shade of pink from her seemingly random jauntiness.6

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