So it begins

[Aeron Ktrenna]

She had mastered travel once again, Aeron now in control to the degree of being able to come and go as she pleased. It was far better than simply being dropped by the right shift in the variations and fluctuations of the loop. Even so, thus far she had been unable to find the right combination to return home. After several failed attempts, she had given up for the time being. Besides, returning home now might not change a thing, it might even trigger the cataclysmic events she'd seen in the future.

Having journeyed several other places before this most recent leap, Aeron had taken the time to trade off some of the precious jewels she carried for coin. More than enough coin to replace her tattered leathers and cloak, as well as treat herself to the luxury of a night at a respectable inne, where she enjoyed a sumptuous meal and a decent night's rest upon a real bed. The blade strapped across her back had also received proper treatment, honed and polished with great care in the privacy of her room. Ivory leather had been replaced by a far less conspicuous color of deep brown, the lady much preferring to blend into the mix of travellers and denizens of the lands she visited. She wisely purchased not one, but two cloaks, both hooded and woven of fine wool, one for cooler evening in milder climates, and one to ward off the deep, bitter bite of winter. Aeron might have stopped to purchase a few more things, but she pressed onward, in search of the son who would, in time to come, betray her and all those she knew. What his father had begun, she would have to finish.

Wind whipped the discarded leaves on the ground into a frenzied maelstrom, disturbing the relative peace and quiet of the wooded area. This transpired for but a few beats of the mortal heart, before the winds simply ceased, and the whirling leaves drifted slowly back down to the ground. Cloaked and hooded, a figure now stood where there had been chaos but a moment ago. Still as stone, it remained rooted to the spot, taking in the new surroundings by sight, scent and senses which ran far deeper than the surface. She'd already made up her mind how things were to be. Her story, her past, were hers to keep, not unlike her counsel. She'd practiced being elusive so long, it was second nature to her now, like breathing. For a time, she would journey here, accumulate the supplies she needed, delve deeper into what knowledge of magic might exist here, and then, move on. Aeron would do what she had to do in order achieve her goal, everything in her path, little more than a means to an end.

She spun sharply upon booted heels, heading off in a southerly direction. Somewhere in some land, maybe this one, maybe another, waiting for her to find and claim, was the power to destroy her son. Aeron had every intention of finding it, no matter what the cost.

[Aeron Ktrenna]

It was a quiet walk through the forest, a respite which Aeron was glad to receive. In the last months, she'd been tossed about ceaselessly, adrift upon a vast, seemingly infinite sea of constantly changing landscapes. So much so, the last few lands she'd been to had taken on a surreal quality. Take this forest for instance, perhaps it was her, but it seemed different than the last place. Her gaze as she moved forward was constantly shifting, passing over the line of brush, upward to the trees and sky, back down to the ground level, searching constantly for indications of any sign of civilization. Such rigidly ingrained habits did come in handy, from time to time, for Aeron was rewarded with the discovery of a well traveled path, marked by prints both old and new. So, there was some form of civilization in this place after all. What kind? Well, there was really but one way to determine the answer to that question.

A few hours and a good swift pace later, brought Aeron to an area of thinning trees and brush, a strong indication of some sort of settlement, town, or perhaps even an inne. Caution drew her off the path, along through the thinning trees, the slender form moving with enough stealth and ease to avoid attention. Not a branch cracked, nor a stone rolled to give away her presence as she drew closer to the noise and the break in trees up ahead.
The woman eased down with great care, positioning herself for a decent view, all the while keeping brush and some smaller trees between her and the open space. Alone, but not unable, it was far more prudent to know precisely what she might be walking into. After all, for all Aeron knew, this entire land could be in the midst of an uprising or an all out war, though she doubted either possibility. There had been no signs of war, no carrion birds wheeling their morbid patterns of flight through the air, no smoke in the sky, no sounds of the clash of arms, not even an echo of it.

Silently, she would watch the building below, a vigil which might last a day, perhaps two. Too much depended upon her right now, the devil-be-damned attitude so familiar to so many, replaced with one of wariness and caution. Here, now, there were no guards, no wards, no one to watch her back. She had enough jewels, wisely and safely stowed behind in the forest, to buy what she might need. But missing was the power she'd grown accustomed to wielding, the influence she'd had, the eyes and ears of many spies and contacts. Whether or not she had enough jewels to buy contacts and information in these lands was questionable. Still, she had her instincts, and then some. And that was no small thing.

Aeron was not afraid to die, she was afraid to fail. If she died in this land or another, than the future was written in stone, and nothing, not the hand of fate itself could alter the course of the future.

[Aeron Ktrenna]

The evening was clear, a chill bite to the air, the lingering touch of winter. Not at all an uncommon beginning to spring in any land, and quite familiar to a woman whose home had been in the midst of rugged mountains. Aeron knew she should be back at that inne, make an appearance, an effort to begin locating the information she needed. But not tonight. This moment was the first true bit of calm she's known in months. There were no tracks which lead to this little place in the forest she'd claimed for herself. No one came this way, there was no reason to wander this area. No game trails for hunters to follow. No water nearby to draw the thirsty traveler. The small fire she'd made to cook the rabbit caught for her nightly meal, would surely not attract attention. No, tonight, she was fairly well guaranteed of absolute privacy. Tomorrow night would be a different story entirely.

Before the sun had gone down, she'd taken the opportunity to bathe in a small pond about a mile due east. It had not been one of her more pleasurable baths to be certain, the water had been cold, she'd swiftly cleaned away the grime and departed. A rueful smile touched the woman's lips. All these years she'd grown so accustomed to living in luxury, so many small things had been taken for granted. Like bathing. Food. Sleep. The basic necessities any living being required. Right at the moment, she was pondering exactly what she was going to do. Her mind had turned down the path of the possibility she might not find a way back. What then? Granted, she had a fair number of jewels with her, even some coins, though Aeron had not been in the habit of carrying much in the way of currency upon her person. Being of the mindset of examining all the options in any situation, she had to admit sooner or later, there might be a need for a contingency plan.
Her mind strayed as slender fingers ran through the mass of still-damp hair, the one and only personal luxury Aeron had refused to deny herself. Dark brown, it fell to the backs of her knees, and gleamed with the sunlight like burnished copper. Endless amounts of time outdoors had left bright highlights of reds and golds amidst the darker shades of brown. What she would not have given for a brush. Aeron's gaze drifted and came to rest upon the worn, leather scabbard which held her blade.

Never, came the unbidden thought, I will not go down that road again. There was no doubt she could have easily made a living either as a mercenary or a master-at-arms, it would have taken but a small demonstration of her skills to secure either position. She had, for one wild moment, considered leaving her sword behind, safely stowed away. But that might have been utter folly, not to mention it was like leaving an old friend behind. Aeron was neither a fool nor inclined to leave old friends behind. She was however, all too aware of the responsibility of carrying that blade, and moreso, using it.

A quiet sigh eased past her lips, warm breath exhaled to mingle with the colder night air. Tonight she would rest, and daybreak would find her heading back toward the inne. Where there was an inne, there was surely a town not far off. And in any town, there was almost always a market, a good place to gather information. She'd spend the day in the town, learning what there was to be learned, and tomorrow evening, she'd visit that inne. Last night she'd seen a fae, and a companion of the fae's which had not seemed to be human. Chances were, magic was not all that uncommon in this land. And where there was magic, it stood to reason there had to be those who used it. A week, she'd give it a week, possibly take a room at that inne if conditions seemed favorable.
For now, this was her best option, at least until she had exhausted all the possibilities the option offered. Leaves and the lighter cloak made for a fairly comfortable makeshift-bed; Aeron laid back and pulled the heavier cloak over her body, making sure her blade was loosened in the scabbard and close to her hip and thigh, under the heavy cloak, her right hand rested on the hilt.

Her last thoughts before sleep claimed her body and mind, was of home and the ones she'd been forced to leave behind. Such thoughts gave her small comfort in the cold night, bleak as the distant stars were bright.