‘See that you do so – while I will admit that I do so love to see a look of worry and fear on the face of another, especially one as easy on the eye as you, I am not in the habit of wasting my breath doing so if there isn’t also a quite valid reason for doing so’ he said to Araia over his shoulder as he turned away, shrugging his shoulders after a few more steps as if something else had come to his mind. ‘Of course scaring another often is as valid a reason as any…’ he concluded, chuckling to himself and beginning to whistle rather badly a children’s nursery rhyme that was probably last sung some century or so before within the region.<br/><br/>‘We can always give you a helping claw or two pretty…’ came a familiar gravel like voice from the wall behind her, a stone chip bouncing off of her shoulder in a none too pleasant attempt to either gain her attention or simple sate the boredom of the gargoyle that had pitched it at her. ‘Aye, that we can do – for a price of course…’ piped up the other, a lecherous grin spread across its stony weather worn face – needle like fangs visible as he leaned forwards a little way, giving a flap of his large stony wings that had no right to support him but that most certainly could if need be. ‘I’m sure a pretty little thing like you could work wonders with your fingers – could get the moss out of all our little nooks and crannies…’ said the first again in the same tone as one might expect from a particularly tiresome customer at a tavern directed towards a barmaid. The two creatures snickering was cut short by a brilliant white bolt of energy that flew neatly between their two bodies, shortly followed by a loud crack as if the heavens themselves had just opened – the two creatures cowering down against the wall to hopefully avoid any further attacks before throwing apologetic glances towards the Archmage who stood with his right hand pointing in their general direction. ‘S… sorry boss..’ came the stammered reply from both the gargoyles as they backed away very slowly but deliberately, throwing the occasional glance of hatred in Araia’s direction.<br/><br/>‘Tiresome damn creatures’ came the words from the Archmage, although he did not make it quite clear as to whether he was referring to the gargoyles, or the girl herself as his gaze settled upon her before shifting to the chest stood beside her. ‘I’m sure a lecture on not taking more items on a journey than you can possibly carry by your own two hands would be wasted here…’ he muttered as he gestured towards the chest with his left hand, making a come hither movement with his long thin fingers. There was no flashy pyrotechnic show this time – the chest merely lifting from the floor with nothing but a crunch from the disturbed gravel beneath it and bobbing lightly beside her as if it were suspended in a large invisible body of water. ‘Instead I think the first thing we’ll teach you is a levitation spell – sooner you can do that, the sooner you can operate two brooms and be doubly effective within my household…’<br/><br/>He said nothing more to her as he walked forwards into the depths of the garden once more – the roof of the hunting lodge visible after a time poking above the canopy of trees that seemed to surround it like silent guardians, here and there one moving in a way that seemed totally at odds with the lack of breeze around them, enough for her to wonder if they weren’t more than just silent guardians at all. The chest for its part bobbled amiably beside her at hip height – stopping when she stopped and continuing its journey whenever she walked like a particularly obedient dog walking to heel of its mistress. A few minutes walk found them standing in front of the lodge proper – a masterpiece of rich reddish brown wood that seemed to be made all from one piece, no visible joins in sight what so ever. Here and there along its length were engraved deep powerful looking golden runes that shimmered in the sunlight as they approached.<br/><br/>‘Welcome to your new home my dear’ he said, bowing slightly with a smirk spread across his lips as he gestured towards the houses huge double doors, engraved with a multitude of runes and sigils, adorned with two brass knockers fashioned to look like dragons heads holding thick bronze rings within their mouths. ‘I hope you enjoy your stay…’