They were alone in the tavern, everyone left, Soprana and the white-haired woman sat one in front of the other with one mug in her hand. The witch didn't drink; she was satisfied with staying a sober one. With a hair lusciously falling on her shoulders, her hand danced in the air graciously as if forming letters with her mana. A similar ring to the one Stephan wore appeared around her finger.
"I wanted to hug you but you don't like hugs. What were you doing all this time? Taking an apprentice?" Soprana had a wide smile on her lips, appearing all charming and beautiful.
Richard went down the tavern to check on her since she didn't seem to come up to her room. He no longer carried his sword, bow or black coat. Soprana glowed even in the dim light. The white-haired woman created a light sphere to enlighten both their faces and it added more charm to the witch. The elf watched them for a while before turning back.
She looked at the witch, confused. "What are you talking about? Leave that talk aside! I don't want to spend my time discussing things I don't wish to talk about. So what brings you here?"
"I have been hired."
"And what's your price?"
"Something that was stolen from me… The lad knows where it is so I am sticking around because of our deal. I protect him until the end of his quest and he will tell me where that thing is. On the other hand, I don't recall you interested in taking an apprentice. What do you want? Enjoying fame and recognition. Why did you have to go to such length to take one that speaks nonsense like you?"
"I don't know what you are talking about and I will let it slide. I bet you have been talking ill about me a lot; my body has been itching me for a while."
"How do you know me so well? What are you doing here? I thought you would be more sleeping on a tree or in wilderness. I don't remember you staying in taverns or taking care of fights. What are you looking for you too?"
The white-haired woman took another sip of her ale and glanced at the counter. She knew the apprentice mage was still sitting there with a mug of beer he didn't touch yet. She didn't know what he was waiting for but she was confident he was spying on them for any reason he was taking and she would deal with it later.
"I am just observing how things will work out. When I heard the dwarves and elves refused to help Valtrar, I just knew… I just knew humans will deny all other races," she nodded slowly. "I know you have been hiding in your hut and I truly recommend you come out from there and give the world a chance to show itself. It's going wrong; everything is just falling into chaos. You know how I don't like to involve myself but I think I will have to do it. The king of Valtrar turned insane; he has been working for things for years, lying low and breaking the normal laws of nature. I have this feeling… Something really bad will happen and everyone will regret it."
The witch fixed the white-haired woman's eyes, penetrating her inner consciousness but she failed. The one in front of her was always a woman who could make things out of nothing and conjure spells that could stay for decades. She was always calculative, showing a weak and silly side only to shock people when they didn't expect it the most. Soprana looked her in the eyes and she just knew, without making the slightest gesture, she just the answer.
"What do you intend to do? Go around and involve yourself then break what you live as… I need to check if you are truly the Aurora I know," the witch stretched then stood up from her seat. "I will be leaving you here. I guess you have your own room, go and take some rest. Let's keep this conversation tomorrow!"
The witch walked slowly as if taken by sleep but once she got to the upper part of the tavern where there were the chambers, she hurried to where Richard was. She intended to have her ways with him before they could separate themselves. He was lying on his bed comfortably waiting for sleep to kick in.
As she made sure no one was around, she entered carefully, her steps as light as feather. She wanted to float but using a broom in a tavern was a bad deal. She undid the knot that held back her mantle over her then it fell down causing a small sound.
Richard opened his eyes and stared at the silhouette that approached him carefully like a phantom. He didn't move, his eyes merely followed her movements and she undressed herself and came to him completely exposed. Her long red hair flowing endlessly hiding her two apples, she rested her knee on the edge of the bed then crawled on top of him, wrapping her thighs around him.
She brushed his face with hair that smelled like lavender and a skin perfumed with bergamot. "I didn't expect you to come here."
"I usually intend to pay a visit to however paid me enough interest," her hand moved to his shirt and started undoing the buttons when something intruded on her mind. She knew the feeling very well that's he wouldn't mistake it for anything in the world.
'Soprana, don't think of eating other people. Though I don't care about what you do, I don't want you to cause troubles in this city. Vampires are on the watch.'
The transmission was cut suddenly. The white-haired woman's behavior just made her impatient. Richard smiled, very slowly and grasped her by the shoulders flipping her to the bed and changing their initial position.
"I know your spell has been going on since that moment on the road. I know what witches like you do, you need to absorb life from others to have your powers. From the way you wield it, I bet you have been at it for quite a long time… However, you are beautiful, I can give you that. You could clearly pass for an elf if you put on pointy ears."