<strong>The Absolon Pearl, just outside the city's port</strong><br/><br/>From one point of view, Chance was asleep in the crew quarters in her hammock. She had worked a long night as a rigging monkey, the lowest of sailors aboard the merchant ship. She had no experience but her charming manner and the fact that many of the sailors swore she was half monkey with the ease she could climb the ropes. The fact that she spoke so many languages was another gift to the crew.<br/><br/>In a more important point of view, hers, she was visiting with family. Needless to say, she was less than enthused about that. Of course she was pretty sure that 'mother' wasn't too happy either. Considering she had put a pair of blessed arrows in her the last time they met.<br/><br/><strong>Within Dream</strong><br/><br/>"Honestly Green Annie.. you'd think that our last conversation made my thoughts on our kinship clear." She called as she looked around the swamp, wrinkling her nose at the stench of midden-like proportions.<br/><br/><em>"Yet you return to Green Annie.. to mother.. to the coven.. You come home to the swamp and know that this is where you'll be welcome and loved. Do you think your father's kin will accept you now that you heritage is known?'</em>Her voice seemed to originate from all points of the swamp.<br/><br/>Lucky for me, she thought as she focused on the substance of the world around her and WILLED the world to change. A trick taught to her by a scholar from Tian Xia, Ly Tin. The mists faded as the sun poured out past the clouds as night changed to day. Then the world vanished in a rush of sand around her, a sharqi like she had survived in Osirion. When the dust settled, only a flat plain of sand remained under a burning sun in a cloudless sky.<br/><br/>"What hell is this?" She turned to see a huddled and twisted figure pulling herself out of a small dune. Chance pulled her bow and aimed with a feral smile as her mother foundered in HER dream.<br/><br/>"This is Osirion mother, a pleasant spot that I found in my travels." She said as she shot the bow, two shots quick and clear. The arrows, bright and blessed, hit her mother, who vanished with a scream and the dream unwove around her.<br/><br/><strong>The Absolon Pearl, just outside the city's port</strong><br/><br/>Chance opened her eyes as the dream fell apart. It was her dream, and as such she had power over it, but it was her mother's magic that had crafted it. As such when she attacked her the dream fell apart. She could only chase away her mother in dream but not stop her. Just like the only way she could stop her whispers was to return to Ustalav and kill her.<br/><br/>"So good to see you again mother, let's do it again." She said with a smile as she slipped out of the hammock, pulling the letter out of her tunic as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the hold.<br/><br/><em>To Lady Dovan, <br/><br/>It is with great regret that we are required to inform you that your father passed this last fall. His will stipulated that the estate was to be held into custody of the crown till your service is done. You will be notified as to your next assignment by Crown Courier. Till such time continue your wanderings and submit messages on anything of interest though the usual routes.<br/><br/>By the command of Aduard Ordranti III, Prince of Ustalav <br/>  and the hand of Lord Uric Tyndal, Shadow Council </em><br/><br/>It wasn't a welcome home or even a revocation of her 'exile' from Ustalav but it was a step forward. She had recognition of her legitimacy as the heir to her father's estate. Of course she was still her mother's child, till she could truly slay her. It was one thing to do so in her own dreams, reality would be much harder and she doubted she was ready.<br/><br/>She pulled her locket and opened it as she heard the ship grind up against the dock. Her father's portrait and that of her twin sister's looked back at her.<br/><br/>"Maria.. I promise.. you'll be avenged." She whispered to her as she closed the locket and tucked it away. She rolled out of the hammock and gathered her bag before going in search of the Purser. She had wages to collect and places to go. She was in dire need of a bath, and a civil drink. Then she would be pursuing the crown's interests, which was to say snooping as she moved around. Looking into merchant traffic, spying among the local nobles and such.<br/><br/>