<div class="floatleft">(http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn313/NovemberWerewolf/Female%20Characters/Half_Elf_Girl_by_kerembeyit.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Drake Turrel<br/><strong>Location:</strong>The Reach, just outside of Markarth.<br/><strong>Time:</strong>Dark<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Aelfgar, Iljana, Moric, Open.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>The ground was becoming treacherous as the snow fell from the heavens, turning the patches that could qualify as grass muddy underfoot as the small pools of water iced from the freeze. Even the stone path the companions found slowed their pace, but failed to stop them completely. They were getting close now, evident by the sudden, electrical buzz that hung invisible in the air around them that signaled life and activity. Tall peaks of stone stretched out on either side, but as the road curved towards the east, a soft glow of the city lights soon became clear. The thin hum of music from a tavern echoed around them, destroying the silence of the evening, even though they were still too far away yet to make out the notes of any particular song.<br/><br/>Drake fell back from the line, fading into darkness like a wraith while the remaining three travelers conversed and spoke with comfortable ease. The elf didn’t<em>not</em>want to enter into the city, where she was still tantalized with the thoughts of a soft bed and a hot bath, but instincts were hard to ignore. There was no safety in numbers, being seen with strangers would only lead trouble their way, as well as more guilt and shame the elf didn’t wish to bear.<br/><br/>With an inward sigh she allowed them to take their steps and round the corner, leaving her alone in the dark until the great cat padded silently beside her. She stroked his ears, content with the deep rumble of his purr. “Just the evening,” she reassured him, shifting her weight as Asher rubbed his cheek along her side and nearly pushed her from her feet. “You think you’ll behave yourself? Leave the cattle and horses alone…” The cat continued to purr, then yawned widely, flashing his fangs in the dark. Drake only assumed that was acknowledgement, before she stepped forward again on the path. Asher was gone when she looked over her shoulder, off somewhere in the rocky cliffs until she returned. He’d find her, he always did.<br/><br/>As the road began to break apart between stretches of snow-covered mud and crumbling stone, the sounds of life greeted the three traveler’s ears. Guards could be seen up ahead, some standing watch in dwemer ruins, looking down into the valley, others standing by the twin doors that stretched taller than even a giant could hope to reach. Torches were lit to cast a pale glow on the stone steps that led towards the entrance of the city, but no guard in their right mind would allow stranger entrance into a city past the hours of sunlight without some measure of interrogation. Vampires were always a problem.<br/><br/>“Who comes?” Asked one woman, lightly armored and armed with a mace. Her stance was relaxed enough to state that no surge of trouble was threatening the city, but not so relaxed that she couldn’t swing her weapon and smash a skull like a melon in seconds, if provoked. They were all fresh-faced and alert. It seemed the party had caught the guards just after the changing of the shifts. “State your name and business in Markarth.”<br/><br/>“Drake Turrel,” the elf spoke up first, seeming to reappear from the dark she had disappeared in not minutes before, “with companions met on the road, one of which takes residence here. We’re looking for room and board, not trouble.”<br/><br/>“Turrel?” The guard who stood to the left flank spoke up, surprise ringing clear in his voice. “As in Valenwood?”<br/><br/>“Aye,” Drake stepped forward, keeping her right arm loose at her side while the left lifted to pull her amulet out from beneath her armor.<br/><br/>The guard lifted a brow under his helmet before nodding, giving a half-laugh of disbelief. “Well I’ll be… You’re a long ways from home, with all due respect.” He released the pendant of Drake’s amulet, and stepped to the side. “A Turrel is always welcome in this city. Welcome to Markarth.”