[Everdawn]

"No one should be allowed to go through the fires of hell alone." Crystal said after turning on the two women who had confronted Maén earlier, it caused Maén to smirk and her hazel eyes glitter under her cloak.

“Ah, Not to worry.” Maén said in a cheerful mood. “They have always been like that, you see, It is the opinion of most ladies that I am, to put it simply, “going the same way as my father”. Which is offcourse not true, Im simply smarter than they, and I know a lot more about the world than a woman should.” Said Maén with distaste. “I was playing with my brother’s knives when I should have being playing with dolls… well my mother soon saw to that, and I had a governess come to me.” Maén smirked. “My governess was a good woman, she taught me well in most fields, and in time my mother thought this inappropriate as well- You get the general idea of how I came to be.” Maén stood still at the wall of the huge building, “And what you witnessed back there, well, it was not entirely my fault, part of it was because I am who I am, you hear people speaking after me in the streets, ‘Behind that fair façade, well she is really rather odd.’ But that’s not the point, I just laugh at this of course. And it is partly because I was engaged for so smaller time to a captain of the King’s guard, one who so it happens, many of those women loved.”

“What happened?!” Crystal asked with slight excitement.

Maén smiled, “He was handsome yes, but overbearing, ignorant, arrogant, and most offensive of all a chauvinist. How could I spend my life with someone like that? Not at all, I am but three and twenty, and I think still a stranger in the world, why must women marry at an age like this, why must we marry at all? Why must we bear children? Should that not be our choice?” Maén had not noticed how caught up she had been in her little speech when she turned to Crystal again. “Not that I scorn it of course, not at all. But all I say is that we women have more of a choice.”

Crystal smiled at her once more. “Well, no one could accuse you of being high spirited could they?” she said in sarcasm.

Maén nodded and looked at her wet raiment, “It’s raining.” She said to herself.

“That’s not all,” Crystal said searching. “I cant seem to see the others.”

“Oh dear!” said Maén and being followed by her new found friend. Getting closer she saw that Atharen and Ferethor were at arms with each other.

“Oh me!” exclaimed Maén, “Look Miss Heart, see what these men are drawn to? So early in the day and in the middle of the street. Look! They do as if to wound one another.” It was more of a jest than an outright scolding.

“Indeed Miss Il Galoth.” Said Crystal, going along with it. “Anyone would think so, my, they are fortunate that there are no city soldiers here.”

“It’s very unoriginal isn’t it? I mean sword fighting in the street!” Maén added.

“Thank goodness we can lead by example.” Finished Crystal.

“Put down your weapons, whatever needs to be settled between you, can be done so outside the city. Now do you want to know why we are here or not?” Maén said, now very serious.