[Nurumaiel]

The door opened and a young woman stepped in, throwing back her hood as she did so. She gave a quick glance around the room, then turned and gave a nod to someone standing just outside the door. Her brown eyes flickered in the light from the open window as she entered the common room, a man behind her. The woman was dressed in a brown dress that fell loosely about her and matched her hair and eyes perfectly. The man was also dressed in brown, and his eyes and hair were of the same color as her own.

Nobody paid much attention to them. It was quite true that neither of them were very handsome, but the man had a noble, wise look about him, and the woman a kind, graceful look. Those who could see past outer looks noticed this, and their eyes lit up. Most just ignored them, for they had seen many people come and go at the inn.

"Ruddyn, shall we find a table so we can speak?" the woman said in a low voice. "There is much to talk about."

"No, sister, that would not do," the man replied. "For though shouting out in a loud voice would raise much attraction, to go to a quiet corner and speak dark secrets would bring suspicion to those who may see us. No, Fendadia, I do not think we should do that just yet."

The woman gestured to the counter and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Then shall we go order a drink, meet the innkeeper, and perhaps some of the guests? For it is still morning, and we have much time to talk over things." Without waiting for an answer, she went up to the counter to order a drink.