[Nessani Kemenlo]

Nessani made her way slowly through the bazaar. She didn't appear to be in a hurry, though her insides were screaming impatiently. Each time she was tempted to break out into a run, she forced herself to stop at the nearest vendor and fein interest in their wares. Eventually, she made it to the side street that would take her to Musif's doors and crossed into the cool of the building.

Her head dipped in curt acceptance of the Nairu's instructions, but she only gave a single nervous glance in the direction he had indicated before slipping up to the room marked 103. The clothing in the wardrobe had been left where it hung, every piece of it, lest Anora see and become suspicious. It would only take a moment for her to rid herself of her gypsy garb and slip into something more appropriate for the brightening's work.

She chose a loose white blouse that contrasted greatly against her olive toned skin and a pair of kakhi trousers, boyishly cut and resting snug across her rounded hips. The pant legs were tucked into the only boots she owned - a worn pair that came thigh high. Looking herself over, she made a slight edit, tying the hem of the shirt so that it pulled tightly around her narrow waist. She wasn't entirely certain of what Khalid had planned for this first lesson, but somehow, she thought she might need room to move.

Taking the crimson ribbon from the pocket of her skirts, Nessani removed the star pendant and placed it carefully on the top of the wardrobe. The ribbon she kept, using it to loosely pull her raven hair into a ponytail. A few stubborn strands of the wild mane quickly worked loose of the blood-red constraint, falling to frame her face. The sandy cloak was removed from the wardrobe and draped across one arm, just in case it was needed later. Then, with a quick kick to shove her abandoned clothing into a neat pile, Ness exited the room.

She moved trepidatiously down the corridors until she came to the stairway that would lead her down. The gypsy girl hesitated at the top of the stairs, her feet unwilling to carry her further. She was finally becoming used to being indoors - she'd been a wild child for all of her life, only sleeping in the family vardo when the weather became too uncooperative - rooms with windows where she could see the sky were even better. But to go down, beneath the ground... The last time - the only time - she had been underground was in the slave pits of Har'oloth and Nessani had been convinced then that she would never again see the sky.

But her big brother was waiting.

Taking a resigned breath, Nessani descended the stairs, one agonizing step after another. Several times, she half turned to glance longingly at the receding sunlight before pushing herself onward. Finally she hit the bottom and was forced to turn the corner and leave the last rays of natural light behind. Her fingers trailed the wall, anchoring the gypsy to something solid as she trudged along to the appointed room.

Beads of sweat were forming across her brow and at the base of her neck by the time she arrived. She managed an unconvincing smile in greeting. "My apologies for my tardiness...," she offered softly. Her eyes shifted nervously about the room, taking in nothing of note, save her big brother's frame. His warrioresque appearance helped ground the girl, granting her some small relief from her discomfort, but she wondered if it would be enough to keep her from bolting out the door and back up the stairs. She dropped the cloak against one wall, a small dune of sand colored fabric, and then turned back to Khalid. "Shall we?"