.:Mavrik:.

"Come take a seat, Delilah's almost done with dinner."

Mavrik stopped in the door way, the sound of pots and pans, along with soft melodic humming drifted from the open door of the kitchen he could see a short distance away.

Rose petted the table, drawing him back.

Carefully he settled in a chair, he had come looking for the young woman after she hadn't returned.

"Delilah's cooking?"

Rose nodded enthusiastically, she and Liesel have been at it all afternoon. Resting her chin on her hands as she eyed the door "they're cooking Haddock" feeling her gaze on him. Curiosity prickled under his skin as he caught a flash of a deep blue cloak swaying past the door way.

She was dancing?

"It has to be a man."

He raised an eyebrow at Rose, feeling an unsettling twinge.

"What make's you say that?"

She laughed and shook her head "I remember being young and in love, I can just tell."

Mavrik sat in his thoughts, it wasn't surprising really. Delilah was an attractive young woman, even more so when her smile and laughter filled the room brighter than any light she could conjure.

Shaking away the thoughts as Liesel and Delilah appeared in the doorway, laughing amongst themselves as they laid the sizzling smoked fish.

Memories of home circled his mind like the fragrant steam that rose from the meat, hesitating to look at Delilah as she settled beside him. Her entire energy was fizzling, as she fixed a plate.

"I hope its okay! Liesel helped me" he sensed the anxiety in her voice.

Serving himself a chunk of the succulent fish and roasted vegetables, he took a cautious bite, nostalgic flavours hitting his tongue and pulling a smile to his lips. "It's good. Just how I remember it."

Delilah glowed at the praise, beaming brightly as she placed a hand to her chest and sighed in relief. "I'm so glad!"

The group continued to eat, Rose unable to help herself.

"So who is he?"

Delilah cough, almost inhaling her mouthful as her lilac skin tinged pink.

"Lachlan" She giggled.

So there was a man? He rerouting his mind to focus on his meal as the ladies continued to chatter.

"He works at the arcane library."

"Ah! If he works there does that mean he's a mage like you?"

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"I don't know, but when I see him tonight I'll ask him." Mavrik raised an eyebrow at her, holding his tongue knowing, it wasn't his place to speak up despite his concern.

Liesel nodded "how was the arcane library? I find it impossible to find anything in there."

The young tiefling laughed, pointing a fork at him "Mavrik had no trouble finding plenty of books."

The conversation continued to flow around him as he ate in silence, handing his plate to Delilah once she started to clear up the table after they had eaten.

"Oh, I didn't realise the time!" Her eyes cast on the orange sky out of the window.

"Go on, Liesel and I can finish cleaning up" Rose assured.

He watched as Delilah bound out the door without hesitation, calling out thank yous over her shoulder.

He drummed his finger lightly on the table as a thought occurred to him, Rose tilted her head as if sensing his unease.

"She left without her brigandine and weapons."

The woman sent him an amused look, huffing in laughter "She's going out with a boy, not a dragon. I think she will be fine."

Mavrik knew the woman was right, even so he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. Rose placed a hand on his shoulder, gaze kind and searching. He didn't like the knowing look he found in her eyes, carefully shrugging her hand off.

"Thank you for dinner." He offered as he made his way back to the guest home.

Mavrik pushed open the door, greeted by the empty home. No Tabaxi crouched on the arm rest, and no raven haired clumsy woman bustled through a doorway to greet him.

Easing himself into a chair as he lifted the Witch hunters book, eyeing the entry that had caught his eye in the library.

April 18th

After hearing rumours of the lord and his cursed off spring I arrived at city of Silverhaven.

Once my audience request was granted the lord pleaded for my help, he divulged that his wife had been unable to bear him children.

Going on to marry another who did become pregnant, over joyed the lord denounced his former wife to a mere lady in waiting.

Scorned and betrayed the former woman sold her soul to a devil. Entering a pact that allowed her to be able to fall pregnant to the king, believing this would restore her place at his side as his Lady. However the lord still would not accept her or the unborn child, outraged the woman murdered the lord's new wife and unborn child.

The lord regrettably relented, taking back his former lady as they awaited the birth of his only heir.

She was born in the summer, healthy and full of spirit. However to the mortification of the lord and lady, the child bore horns and a tail.

Healers and mages tried all they could, severing the child's tail when she was three days old while attempting to exorcise the devil within her. But the devil's curse remained prominent, the Lady finally admitting her pact. Knowing they were forsaken, the pair wanted to hand the child to me to end it's life. Intending to cover up any knowledge of the pact and child.

I thought it would be a simple task, some quick coin. I took the child far away from the kingdom, tieflings were notoriously hard to kill even when they were young. Magic ran through their blood making them surprisingly resistant.

As I prepared the silver blade laced with Witchsong poison.

She looked up at me with those bright eyes and I found myself unable to do anything. I couldn't bring myself to slay this monster and I still don't know why.

April 24th

It's been several days and I still can't bring myself to kill the little beast. I admit she has been little trouble to travel with, she's a quiet little thing.

Even so I can't keep traveling with the little devil.

April 30th

I've freed myself of my devilled curse.

No. I couldn't kill her. I left her in a ditch wrapped snug and safe in my scarf, by the cook's cottage.

She was a nice lady who had made the little horned tyke laugh instead of recoiling when I passed through the town, she'll hear the little beasty.

The Lord and Lady will be none the wiser and I'll still get my coin,

I almost miss the little toothy terror.

Mavrik glanced up from his reading, glancing out of the dark window. It was getting late and Delilah still wasn't back. He stood, making his way to his room as he carefully sat and eased the executioner sword from his back. He laid it across his lap, tracing the stained cloth wrappings, his soft voice entering the darkness.

"Hail wise warrior,

You who chooses the slain,

Look on my deeds and when my time comes to run the sky with you,

Let my end be worthy of song.

Let me understand sacrifice,

Think long, remember well, and journey far.

Thordin,

witness this."