"Of course, a lady must keep civilized even in the wilds," Kate affirmed. Despite her words, she pounded on the door with a great deal more strength than was required, succeeding in pushing the rickety wooden slab further open. "Please excuse us," she called into the hut, shouting slightly to assure that she was heard. "We are two travellers in need of direction to the city."<br/><br/>The home's interior was brightly lit with various candles, lanterns and even what appeared to be a few electric lights. It appeared to be a single room hollowed out from the stone walls of the tunnel, with a rickety staircase leading up to a second floor. A hearth burned to the right of the doorway with a rosey glow, in front of which stood what Kate first took to be a solitary figure. Her eyes adjusting to the difference in light from the gloomier cavern, she saw that there were three heads bowed over a large pot steaming on the fireplace, though the figures must have been huddled close together.<br/><br/>"Who's that, then?" said one of them, distinctly younger than the muttering they'd heard from outside. In one motion the figures turned toward the door, they appeared to be three women sharing a single, drab shawl which covered them from neck to toes, excess material pooling on the dirt floor. The left most head was that of a girl no older than the twins themselves, she wore an uncertain smile on her mouth, her long golden hair ran in rivulets freely down to where her shoulders must have been. Next to her was the face of an older woman who appeared very much to be the first's mother in her matching features, on her head was a large brimmed hat such that a fantastical pirate captain might wear. The third woman wore a long hood which covered all but an aged, wrinkled chin and a few wisps of white hair; from the tilt of her head she appeared to be fast asleep.<br/><br/>"There were a pair at the door," said the youngest, her eyes fell over the sisters yet seemed to focus past them. "What did they come here for? Where did they leave to?"<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>