He smirked. "I made the name up, it doesn't even exist."

I looked down, thinking. "But that guy, he . . . he-"

"Was pretending to know what I was talking about so he wouldn't look stupid in front of us."

My voice got gaspy. "No way."

Ikovos smirked wider and nodded.

"But he said he's been there and everything."

"I don't see why it's so surprising to you, these people are just status-hungry, zombie clones."

My head shook back and forth as I went over the conversation in that light. The street was still lively with noises around us.

I put a finger up. "Okay, granted I'm surprised that that guy lied like that. But all you've proved is that people will say anything to get your approval." I shrugged. "And I already knew that."

Ikovos eyed me. "Yeah right. If you hadn't been there it would have been like ten times harder."

I pursed my lips and his gaze turned even more incredulous.

"You do realize he was a guy?"

I blushed a little. "Yeah, of course . . . but I don't think he cared about what I thought, I didn't even say anything."

Ikovos raised his eyebrows. "He just had to look at you."

I blushed thoroughly now. Ikovos, I'm sure, knew that I was embarrassed.

He turned ahead. "Sorry," then paused. "I just think it's messed up that someone like you could possibly believe that these people have anything to look down on."

I kept my eyes on my feet uncomfortably. But still, his words made me feel safer, more secure. He does that a lot.

"And . . . ," he sang, stopping us suddenly," here we are."

I looked up to see that we were standing in front of a half stone, half glass, front, building. It wasn't as tall as some of the others, in fact we'd actually gotten into a slightly more deserted part of town.

Ikovos walked up to open the door, waiting for me to go through.

I smiled, said thanks, and passed him. When I got inside I could tell immediately that we were at the smith shop . . . well, at least on one side. To the right was a counter and beyond that the usual fire-pits and large, metal, machinery. Some wood pillars, hanging tools. Pretty standard.

The unordinary part was to the left. This almost looked like a regular store, very fancy though. From what I could see, it held neatly displayed weapons and armor. Obviously more, but I didn't have time to examine further. A voice interrupted me.

"Hello. What can I do for you?" asked a man from being the counter on the right.

My eyes widened. "I, ah . . ."

Ikovos walked up behind me. "We're here to check on an order. Name's Thoran."

The blacksmith that had addressed me was downright cliche. Large, muscular, bearded . . . he reminded me of Boran. "Sure. My papers are in the back."

Ikovos put a hand out. "I'll follow you."

The smith nodded to him then turned around.

Ikovos glanced back at me. "I'll be right back. Stay out of trouble."

My brow dipped. I'm not that bad.

He just smirked at my face and headed after the man.

I sighed then spun around on my heel. The workspace back by the forges would have been fun to check out, but might not be the safest option . . . I thought I should probably stay on the store side.

I walked towards the first table of merchandise. It started out with a few plain swords, but they quickly became more intricate. Tangled shapes and colors. Jewels or stones embedded into their handles. I studied a few of them, then turned around to the tiered glass shelves I had wrapped past. These held simply-colored stones. They were beautiful, very magical. The light hitting them refracted all about them.

There was one small dagger in their midst, out on an open case. The thing looked deadly sharp, coming to the smallest point at its tip. The handle was fairly plain, unadorned apart from a single blue jewel at the cross-section. The steel it was made from looked like a dark silver.

I touched it absently along the edge.

"That's not a very nice one, you know," came a woman's voice.

My hand jerked back immediately, eyes flicking up.

The girl who'd spoken was down the aisle against the wall in front of me, leaning with her hip against a table. I had to click my teeth the keep my jaw from dropping.

She was one of those exceptionally gorgeous girls you hear about but never expect to actually see in real life. Her hair was black and thick, pulled up into a messy ponytail with a bandana. Her skin was tanned, eyes dark, lips red. She was polishing one of the daggers with a slick cloth. From her clothes and greased arms it looked like she might be the smith's assistant.

"Oh. Sorry . . . I didn't know anyone else was here."

She lifted a shoulder. "It's fine. I gave up on trying to keep people from fingering the merchandise a long time ago."

I winced slightly, though not showing much - she had her eyes on me unabashedly.

"Do you work here?" I asked, moving closer.

She grinned. "What? Couldn't you tell by the outfit?" She spread her hands out shrugging her hip to the other side.

I bobbed. "Yeah, I guess I should have known."

She smirked, setting the weapon down. "So are you with that boy that just came in?"

I looked over. "Oh, you mean Ikovos, err . . . the one with the blond hair?"

She smiled. "Yeah."

I nodded, feeling a little more confident just at the idea that I knew the boy.

"Oh." She frowned. Then stuck out two fingers, swirling them between each other. "So you guys are like . . . ?"

I looked at her confusedly, then my eyes widened. "Oh no. No, no, no." My face must have been turning red. "Just friends."

She raised her eyebrows, looking over to the other side of the store intently. "Really. . . . He's pretty cute." She bit her lip. "Is he single?"

My eyes hardened instantly, but then her gaze narrowed back to me, despite the uneasy feeling, I blinked them clear enough to look half normal. "Ah . . . yeah, Yes. He's single."

She grinned ruefully. "Good, good. You'll have to introduce me when he comes back. My name's Amy by the way." She stretched out a hand.

I shook it. "Evelyn."

"Are you guys visiting here, or? . . "

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Will you be in town long?"

My head shook. "I don't think so. Just till tonight."

She pouted her lip. "Too bad. . . ." then picked another stone up and began to polish it.

I tried to quell the knotting in my stomach. What's my problem? This girl is just being nice . . . And it's completely understandable that she'd want to meet Ikovos.

What do I care if she likes him anyways?

Two knocks on the glass behind me pulled me out of my internal dispute. I spun around to see Jaden leaning around the edge of the glass. His hair was hanging sideways into his eyes, looking as unnaturally dazzling as ever.

"Eve. There you are." He smiled just slightly as he said it.

It made me feel happy all of a sudden. I smiled back. But when he walked around the edge and his eyes moved past me I got a not-so-happy feeling.

My head turned to Amy who was staring up directly.

"Make a friend already?" Jaden asked.

I shook my head out, looking to him. "Ah . . . yeah. This is-"

"Amy," she finished for me, walking up towards us.

My chest tightened substantially as she reached her hand out.

He took it. "Jaden." Then relaxed casually, turning back to me. "Is Ikovos around?"

"Ah . . ." I fumbled under his stare. "Yeah. He went in the back. He's checking the order."

Jaden nodded, glancing off. "Okay. I'll just wait for him to get back."

I wish you wouldn't.

"So, I interrupted." He gestured towards us. "What were you guys talking about before I came?"

I looked to Amy. "Well, we-"

"I was trying to get Evelyn, here to stay in Rizenn longer . . . there's quite a lot to miss out on if you leave before dark." She leaned up as she said it.

My eyes tightened, I couldn't help it. I don't think I was just imagining that her voice had gotten about fifty times sultrier since Jaden had arrived.

"Any particular suggestions?" he asked.

She threw a hand out. "Well, the club down by the south plaza is nice. . . ."

"Vigarow?" he tested, lifting his head.

"Yeah." She grinned. "You've been there?"

He nodded.

"What about the Shardon?"

His eyes skewered. "Is that the one with the-"

"Tank," she finished.

"Where you can get the lobsters."

She laughed shortly. "Yup. Hey, you must get around."

He shrugged. "This isn't my first visit to Rizenn." His eyes moved down to me as he said it, casually. I forced a fake smile.

Amy continued. "It's too bad I didn't run into you before."

He smirked dryly. I don't think he was oblivious to what she was doing . . . but she was gorgeous and charismatic, I'm not sure he minded.

"Have you been working here long?" He asked, pointing around.

She grinned. "Six months now."

"Unusual job for a girl."

She leaned to one side artfully. "It makes for a lot of excitement."

"I'll bet," he said, humored smirk resurfacing. When he finished his eyes slid to me again.

I had to look away immediately this time. I'd never been able to talk to him like she was now, and . . . my stomach was just really starting to feel not well. . . .

I tried to blink clear once, then turned further to re-examine the knife in the glass case. It was a thankful distraction to the scene, until Jaden moved in closer to me, almost immediately.

My chest twisted.

"Know anything about knives?" asked Amy, clearing her throat.