Chapter 1

Intro to Spirit's new life

"Get back here!" shouted a bronze-armored guard running through a busy street, "You trouble some thief!"
        "Yeah, right," I murmured sarcastically as I hid behind a building. Another guard came around the corner and I took off toward the eastern part of town.
        "Over there! Get her!" they yelled, chasing after me. I leaped over a fallen barrel and quickly turned left. I ran threw the back allies toward an old, abandoned building. I leaped over the fence and hid behind the stone wall. I held my breath as I listened for the guards.
        "This way!" A guard yelled, running the opposite way. I sighed in relief as I escaped the guards. I peaked around the corner and headed the other way.
        I made it to my hideout which was an old-looking building which was about 2-stories high. I opened the door and locked it behind me. I sat the small pouch with the stolen coins on the round table and then plopped down in a wooden kitchen chair. "These guards are getting more annoying each day," I said, speaking my thoughts.
        A crash came from the den. "Jackson is that you?" I yelled getting up and heading toward the den. "Jackson?" I stepped into the dark room and listened.
        "Hiya!" yelled a small, blonde-headed girl who suddenly appeared right in front on me.
        "Don't do that!" I gasped holding my chest with one hand and letting go of my Sword's tip, with my other hand. "You know I don't like people jumping out at me."
        "Sorry, but it's fun scaring people," She said with a big smile.
        "It's also dangerous if the person is armed." I said patting my two swords that were strapped to each side.
        "I know, I know. So, Whatcha get?" she asked happily as she sat down at the table.
        "Not much. The stupid guards spotted me, before I could steal the rest from that Noble." I answered as I poured the coins out on the table.
        "I guess the guards are more aggressive since that break in at the Mayor's house." The girl said as she counted the spread out coins.
        "Yeah, they are. Hey, Gleana, have you seen Jackson?" I asked looking back at the young girl.
        "Not until yesterday. Only 100gp? Spirit, that's all you stole?" Gleana asked shifting the coins from one hand to the other.
        "I told you the guards spotted me, so I had to bolt."
        "How far will this get us?"
        "Well, if we spend it wisely, it will get us through a few weeks depending on the market prices. That also means we can't spend it on anything we want." I said giving her a don't-waste-the-money type of look.
        "I know, I know." she let out a sigh and hopped down, "So, What now?"
        "We wait for Jackson." I scooped up the scattered coins and put them back into the brown pouch.
        "I'm taking me a nap," Gleana said, yawing and walking toward the staircase in the den.
        "Ok, I'll wake you up when he gets here," I yelled after her. "If I don't fall asleep myself," I murmured .'That's the bad thing about Jackson, he's always late or in some type of trouble. He can be such an idiot sometimes.' I let out a small sigh and walked into the den.
        I turned a large oil-lamp on as I walked in and then I sat down on the long, grey sofa. I reached up to my neck and pulled a silver locked from my white shirt. I opened the locket and stared at the picture of a middle-aged man with deep brown eyes and dark brown hair. "Six years it has been since that day. Buddy...I miss you." I said softly to myself as I kept staring sadly, into the picture. "Well...there's no use in dwelling in the past." I closed the locket and tucked it back in my shirt.
        I heard the kitchen door open and heavy footsteps entering in. I stood up and walked across the room, stopping at the open doorway of the kitchen.
        A tall guy with dark brown hair with blonde highlights was leaning against the back of a chair. He wore a grey shirt with baggy blue jeans and a black cloak fastened around his neck. He then took out a small red pouch from his belt and poured it out on the table. A couple of coins fell out.
        "Only 15gp! I went through that for this?" He groaned, counting the coins
        "You're late." I said walking up to him.
        "Yeah, sorry about that. I ran into a small problem," he said picking up the coins and dropping them back into the pouch.
        "In other words, you got into some trouble." I said leaning on the back of a chair.
        "Not exactly. It's nothin to worry about," he said taking a seat, "Hey, where's Gleana at?"
        "She's taking a nap."
        "I wasn't that late, was I?" He asked scratching his shaggy hair.
        "Yep and that reminds me, I need to wake her up." I started towards the staircase then stopped. "Oh by the way, I've stolen enough to get us through the week."
        "How much did you get?" he asked looking at me.
        "About 100gp," I answered.
        "100! How did you steal that much?!" he asked shocked.
        "Well, Jackson, if you stop trying to make strange deals with those no good bandits and start pick pocketing Nobles, then maybe you might get more money." I explained, giving him a small smile.
        "Whatever," he said avoiding my stare.
        "Your choice." I walked in the den and headed up the stairs to my right. I came to a long hall with wooden doors on each side. A small table sat at the very end with a small green fern placed upon it. I walked down the hall and stopped at the second door on the right. "Gleana! It's time to get up! Jackson is here!" I yelled knocking on the door. The door opened and Gleana stepped out yawning.
        "Jackson finally here?" she asked pulling the door shut behind her.
        "Yeah and he's down stairs in the kitchen."
        We both headed down the staircase and back into the kitchen. "What took ya so long this time?" Gleana asked as she walked up the table and sat in the chair across from Jackson.
        "I had a few problems, ok?" he answered
        "Did that Thomas guy beat you up again?" Gleana asked innocently as she stared at him.
        "No! He never beat me up!" he yelled defensively
        "Whatever you say," She responded in a teasing tone.
        "I'm telling you the truth!" he argued.
        "I believe you," she replied still holding the teasing tone.
         I let out a tired sigh as I walked over to the window above the sink. Gleana and Jackson begun to argue as I stared out the small window. I tuned them out as I focused on a suspicious, low level guard who was standing in the middle of the small, ally street. He wore bronze chain mail armor with a small, round shield, and a sword which hung from his belt. He glanced my way and stared at our hideout.
        "Like you should be talking!" Gleana yelled at Jackson over my shoulder.
        "And you should?" he yelled back.
        "Guys! Quite down, there's a guard outside!" I said glancing behind me, at them.
        "That guard back?" asked Gleana hopping down from the table and stepping next to me.
        "Yeah and he's making me nervous," I answered staring back though the window.
        "Why? He's just a rookie guard, right?" Jackson asked.
        "He's still a guard, no matter what rank he is," I explained.
        "Whatever," He leaned back in the chair and started tapping his fingers on the table.
        "Well, we better get going," I finally said turning around looking at them.
        "Yeah...we should get going," agreed Jackson, yawning as he stretched his arms over his head.
        "Where we going this time," asked Gleana heading for the door.
        "You and Jackson are going to buy some supplies from the market. Buy only what we need, nothing more." I handed Jackson the gold pieces.
        "We know, we know," sighed Gleana as she leaned against the door, "So, where you headed?"
        "I'm going to find some more info on the break in at the Mayor's house."
        "Well, we're off," said Jackson opening the door and heading out.
        "Jackson! Try not to gamble or make any bad deals with the market people!" I yelled after him.
        "Don't worry, I'll make sure we get enough!" he yelled back while catching up with Gleana.
        "That makes me worry more," I mumbled as I closed the door behind me.

        I started walking toward east of town. I entered "Gorian's Tavern" which was a big, black building with many tall, cracked windows. The door creaked as I closed it behind me. The tavern was packed and fights were breaking out all through the building. I then took a seat on a wooden stool near the bar counter. I glanced around the room, listening to other people's conversations.
        "The guards are searching for the thief that broke into the Mayor's house." Said a young man who was sitting at the table behind me.
        "I heard that they don't know who it was," said another man sitting at the same table.
        "Of course they don't know! if they knew, they wouldn't be looking now, would they?" responded a loud, big muscular man. I leaned on the counter, still listening to the men's conversation.
        "Well, I heard that the thief was an assassin sent there to kill him," continued the youngest man.
        "I also heard that he took on several Silver Knights and left them bleeding to their deaths!" shouted the muscular man who banged his hand on the table.
        "If that happened, the whole town would go on a rampage!" said the other man, disapproving the muscular man's idea, "Here's what I think...it was a pretty skillful man who sneaked by the guards, knocked them out and some how managed to get into the Mayor's locked chest."
        "Don't you mean woman?" asked a wench serving the men.
        "Excuse me?" they asked looking at her.
        "I heard the guards say it was a young girl," she answered, pouring the men some whine.
        "Well you heard wrong," one man said taking a sip from his cup.
        "And why is that?"
        "Everybody knows that women aren't as strong as us, men, and they sure can't take down no guard," answered the muscular man.
        "Wanna bet?" I murmured under my breath.
        "Oh, really?" Asked the waitress as she raised an eyebrow at him. "Well...I'll be off then." She turned around and walked off to another table.
        
        I listened to the men talk a little longer and then I left the tavern. I stepped out onto the busy street and headed through the narrow alleyways toward center of town. "So...all I know is just a bunch of rumors," I sighed as I took a small deep breath as I organized my thoughts. A loud commotion ahead of me snapped me from my thoughts. I ran forward and stopped to see a riot of people surrounding what seemed to be a fight.
        "What's going on?" I asked out loud, approaching the crowd. I squeezed through a couple of people to see what was going on. A young girl, looking a few years older than me, was fighting a couple of bandits. The girl had long silver hair which half was down her back and the rest up in a pony tail. A single strand of hair was braided with beige beads and lay down her neck. She wore a sleeveless, black top and a denim short skirt. A dagger holder was strapped to her right leg under her thigh and a sword sheath was hanging from her side.
        "Is that all you weaklings got?" she taunted. The bandits began to close in on the girl while they pulled out small daggers.
        "You're dead, little girl!" said one bandit as he lunged forward striking with his dagger. The girl step aside and dodged his attack.
        "Get her!" yelled another bandit. The five bandits rushed toward her. She leaped into the air and landed behind them. She smiled as she made a taunting gesture with her hand and then took a fighting stance. The bandits charged at her again, but the girl stood her ground. She dropped quickly to the ground and swung her left leg under the bandits, knocking them off their feet. She leaped back to her feet and waited impatiently for them to get back up.
        "Damn, she's fast. Well, we can break her of that," said the head bandit as he ordered the other bandits to circle around her. The crowd roared with cheers as the young girl beat the bandits in a matter of seconds.
        "Oh, come on! I was starting to enjoy kicking your a*s and now you stupid weaklings can't get up!" she whined, crossing her arms. "For bandits, you sure don't have much money," she said as she looted their pockets.
        "Who is that girl? I haven't seen her around before," I said watching her collect a few coins from their pockets. As the crowd thinned out, the girl took off toward the back allies.
        "Ow, my back..." groaned the head bandit as he pulled himself to his feet. "That girl is going to learn her place. She's going to know why we are called the Shadow Men."
        I let out a small giggle but quickly stopped as the head bandit gave me a cold stare. "You think that's funny girl? We'll show you what's funny." his cold stare turned into an evil sneer as he took a step toward me.
        "A threat coming from a guy who just got his and his gang's a*s kicked in front of a crowd?" I asked, unconcerned from his threat.
        "I think we can take on a pest that hangs around that pathetic scum, Jackson."
        "So you're the low-level thugs that keeps on ripping him off?" I said out loud thinking about Jackson's problems.
        "You got some nerve calling us low-level thugs! We are the Shadow Men! The best bandits that roam the night!" he chanted proudly.
        "Well, you did call me a pest and Jackson a pathetic scum. If you are so great, then why are your so-called bandits crawling away?" I asked watching the four bandits pulling themselves along the gravel ground.
        "What are you idiots doing?" he yelled at the injured men.
        "Running away!" one answered as he jumped to his feet and took off running along the other bandits.
        "Get back here!" yelled the head bandit.
        "Yeah, you're the Shadow Men alright," I said sarcastically.
        "Watch you're tongue, little girl!"
        "Not until you pay Jackson's half," I said crossing my arms
        "Pay that idiot! Hell no! He's better off dead!" his voice went cold as he gripped his dagger.
        "This is coming from a guy who gets his money from ripping off unaware people and then hides cowardly behind his bandits as they beat them up," I said calmly as I held back my anger to his insult.
        "It's called business, girl. What would a mere thief like you know about that? Also I don't hide nor am I a coward! Think twice before insulting me again or you could end up in a dark alleyway half dead and no memory," he said coldly.
        "What makes you think I'm afraid of a thug who's men just ran off from getting beat up? You might can earn Jackson's respect but you are unworthy of mine," I said sternly
        "It's your funeral! If they find you that is." he lunged forward, striking his dagger. He sliced the air as I jumped backwards, dodging him. He rushed me again, but I leaped to the side. He spun around and before I could take action, he grabbed my neck. His grip began to get tighter as he smiled an evil sneer. "What now? Never mess with the best and never pick a fight with the Shadow Men! Good-bye girl!"
        "That's what you think," I breathed as my hands wrapped tightly around his wrist that was strangling me. I leaned my weight against his grip then did a quick backwards flip releasing me from his grasp. He staggered backwards as my feet hit his chin during the flip. I rushed forward giving him a air kick to the head. He dropped to the ground holding his head in pain.
        "That's it! No more playing' around, you're dead!" he yelled fiercely, getting to his feet.
        "Bring it," I said holding my fists up, ready to fight.
        He rushed towards me at full speed, barely tackling me before I dodged sideways. I ducked as a sharp dagger zoomed past my head. I glanced where the dagger had emerged from and seen another Shadow Man step into view. "Who's he?" I asked myself, watching the unknown attacker.
        "Tiran, you fool! Stop messing around and finish her! Weakling..." the man snarled, glaring at the head bandit.
        "S-sir?! Sir Nevando!" the head bandit stammered as he saluted the man.
        "Stop staling and finish up already!" Nevando ordered.
        "Yes, sir! She will be eliminated, along with that idiot, Jackson!" Tiran said pulling out another dagger and then dipped the blade in a small jar of poisonous liquid, that he pulled from a pouch on his belt. Nevando then began to walk away.
        "Hey! You are the commander to the Shadow Men?" I yelled at Nevando.
        "What is it to you?" he answered in a gruff voice.
        "Your group of thugs ripped off my friend! I want the money you owe him!" I replied.
        "Do you now?" he asked, his eyes cold.
        "You heard me!" I yelled, tightening my fists.
        "Well that changes everything now, doesn't it?" he taunted, as his eyes stared at me.
        "Yeah, it does," Tiran cut in, smiling wickedly.
        "Tiran, shut up!" Nevando snapped.
        "Yes, sir," Tiran answered cowardly.
        "Listen I don't care who you are. I just want my friend's half!" I said.
        "We'll make sure he gets it then," Nevando said smiling a evil smile as his cold, grey eyes stared into mine.
        "We'll just pay him a visit," added Tiran.

        I drew out my "Twin Fangs" and hurled them above the bandits' heads. The wave swords spiraled, as a boomerang, above their heads and bounced off the wall behind them, barely missing them on it's return to my hands. Their expressions showed shock but then quickly turned to anger.
        "I don't have time for this. You could give me our money or my Twin Fangs will shred you" I threatened as I turned the wave swords in a battle stance. The blades faced outward as the handles faced each other. My right hand held one handle above the other in my left hand.
        "You dare threaten the commander of the Shadow Men! You shall have your tongue cut out, you filthy excuse of a thief!" Tiran cursed. Tiran quickly slung his poisonous dagger towards me. I dodged the small blade and turned my eyes back on Nivando who showed no expression.
        "Sir Nirvando, this girl will be taken care of at once!" Tiran spoke as he dipped another dagger back in the poisonous liquid.
        "You honestly think I'm afraid of you?" I asked staring at Nevando who showed no movement. His dark eyes just stared into mine, waiting for my next action. As I kept his gaze, I dodged a knife strike from Tiran.

        "That's enough, Tiran!" commanded Nevando as he took a few cautious but bold steps forward. "Tiran, you are pathetic and I'm done witnessing your stupidity." He said coldly as he stepped in front of Tiran, dismissing him as he faced me. Tiran stared shocked for a second before sheathing his knife and running off.
        I took a step backwards, my eyes still watching Nevando. He smiled a wicked smile then he spoke, "You must be very courageous or very foolish to try and attack the head leader of the ShadowMen."
        "Honestly, it was only a guess that you were the head leader, but head leader or not, you're not very threatening for many reasons."
        "In what ways are those, girl?" He asked keeping his wicked tone.
        "Well one, your men are cowards who keep on getting their a*s kicked. Two, your bandit name sounds like a young child would come up with. Third, your threats are meaningless." I explained calmly and with slight humor.
        "Good men are so hard to find these days. The name has secret meaning your small instincts would never understand and third, you'll know when I threaten you."
        "Yeah, whatever. That's still sounds non-threatening,"
        "Like I said, good skilled men are so hard to find that shall make our name rise above everything else."
        "Power hungry much?" I said quietly under my breath.
        "But you, girl," he continued, "are a pretty skilled fighter for a mere thief. You show loyalty and honesty in that strong will of yours. You could make a fine member of the ShadowMen and have power among my side as my second-in-command." He stepped closer enough where I can feel his presence strongly. He reached out his hand to caress my cheek, but before he touched me, I quickly leaped backwards and raised my swords to his neck.
        "I wouldn't be caught dead working for scum bags like you thugs." I said staring at him, getting impatient. "Are you going to give me that gold or do I have to take it?"
        "Your threats mean nothing to me, little girl." His voice filled with humor. "You're too sweet and innocent to actually hurt someone, no less than kill.. So how about we put those toys away before you get hurt?" His eyes stared down on me as he held his wicked smile.
        Quickly, I slung the 'Twin Fangs' toward him as I bolted forward, blocking his path to dodge my swords. One sword glazed his forearm as they returned to my hands.
        "Son of a...! You little..!" he yelled in pain as he held his right hand over the bleeding wound on his arm.
        "What were you saying about threats?" I asked, standing only a couple of feet away from him. He just glared at me, his smile vanished. "Yes I fight for good and stuff, but I'm not that innocent nor pure. I hate people like you, who rip off and harm people who are innocent for damn fun. I hate power hungry thugs like you."
        "I'm through playing nice! I gave you a chance to join my side or walk away, but now you'll surely die!" he yelled with rage as he rushed me, dodging my swords' swipes. I leaped backwards, avoiding a hidden dagger attack.
        I twirled the swords in my hands as I kept my eyes locked on him. He gripped his dagger tightly as his rage increased. The dagger he held was different from the rest. It's steel blade was more curved as a cat's claw and the black handle had a white skull with blood red eyes.
        "The dagger of the ShadowMen, which was past down from each generation of my family. You see my great, great grandfather made this magnificent dagger from steel that was soaked in venom and blood." he praised, holding the dagger up to his face in astonishment.
        The dagger's blade shined as the sun's beam struck it. Then suddenly a black liquid bled from the skull down through the blade. The skull's red eyes began to glow an eerie crimson orange while the skull itself turned slowly to grey.
        "What the hell?" I let out as I watched the black liquid consume the blade in darkness and burst into flames.
        "Beautiful, isn't it? My great grandfather used this in his rituals when he was a member of the Dark Lords." He said just before letting out a hysterical laugh.
        "Dark Lords..." I repeated, trying to place the name.
        "Enough words! Time to use this precious dagger and soak it in your blood! You stupid girl!" He then rushed forward, avoiding my defensive slashes and almost landed a strike upon me just before I jumped out of the way. As I hit the ground, I rolled sideways around him near his back and twirled upwards, slashing his side. He fell backwards, clutching his side in pain. Before I could knock the ominous dagger from his hands, a massive flame blocked my path. I stumbled backwards holding my swords in a defensive position, blocking my face from the heat.
        "You honestly think you, a mere thief, can beat me? You pathetic girl, I am the grandson of the heir of the Dark Lords and the head leader of the Shadow Men!" the flames surrounded Nevando, protecting him like a barrier.
        "Oh s**t!" I said taking a step back, away from the flames. As I glanced around quickly, I noticed that the area was deserted and no guards were present. "Of course when you need a guard, they ain't there."
        Nevando suddenly sent a flying fireball headed my way. I leaped out the way and flung one sword toward him and then rushed him, wrapping my hands around the handle of the other sword to strike him down. He reflected my swung sword with another fireball and then knocked me back flying with is flame barrier. I landed a few feet away from him and my 'Twin Fangs' were out of my hands. He began to laugh as he approached me.
        I got back on my feet as quickly as I could and then started to summon my energy to call forth my wave swords back to my hands. Then I bolted around him, avoiding the fire, towards the far building. "This is getting annoying." I mumbled, watching Nevando's moves carefully.
        He then hurled another fireball towards me. I leapt out of the way but the fireball burst into flames and landed around me. I let out a small yell as one had caught my arm, leaving a 1st degree burn before I had time to put it out.
        "Like I said before, a mere thief like you can never defeat me. I'm going to enjoy this." he snickered evilly, approaching me again. I jumped to my feet and bolted toward him. I dodged the flames with lightning speed as my power pulsed inside me. The handle to my right handed sword slammed into the back of Nevando's head as I knocked him to the ground. The flames disappeared. Nevando let out a moan as he raised up on his knees, holding the back of his head.
        "You were saying?" I asked, taking a step back still cautious.
        "I'm going to torture you, until you pray for death!" he yelled stepping to his feet.
        "I don't wanna do this, but..." I said as I quickly slammed the hilt of my sword against his head again. He then fell unconscious to the ground.
        " I told you, I don't have time for this." I said as I checked his pulse. "Still alive." I let out a sigh as I looted his pockets for the gold that he owed. I found a couple of coins but not all I needed. I then knocked the skull dagger out of his grip with my foot.
        I leaned over the dagger and picked it up. I quickly dropped the dagger as it burned into my palm. I held my injured hand to ease the pain. The burn took the shape of the dagger's curved blade as it glowed bright red. "The dagger of the Dark Lords." I repeated to myself again. I got to my feet and kicked the dagger and it went flying towards the abandoned building across from me. "I can't even touch it! It's tainted." I held back a yelp as the pain increased. My burns before had healed instantly but this one lingered. I rechecked Nevando's pockets for any gold I may have missed before heading on.
        As I headed back to the hideout, I noticed Tiran hiding behind a large oak tree.
        "Are you trying to jump me?" I asked trying not to snicker at his lack of hiding skills.
        "I'm waiting, there's a difference." he responded, through gritted teeth.
        "What do you want?" I asked him, my voice now serious.
        "It burned you. Didn't it?" He asked, looking at my injured hand that was cupped in my other hand.
        "What are you talking about?"
        "The Dark Skull dagger." He answered, his voice getting darker.
        "What is it to you? You want me dead."
        "I still do." he corrected, "I find it so fascinating how the dagger works. So many souls devoured by it's power and only rarely few survived to tell the tale."
        " I already heard the tale and I don't need to hear it again." I said, taking a step back to balance myself as my vision blurred.
        "Oh, no, no, you didn't hear the tale, you heard it's origin. I'm surprised Lord Nevado didn't tell you. I guess the power over powered him slightly." he explained as an evil smile crossed his face.
        "What are you saying?" I managed to ask, my vision getting worse.
        "As you know how it's made, by venom and blood. The rituals it had appeared in had tortured many Celtons and burned into their blood. Only a decent from the Dark Lords can wield this impressive dagger. Lord Nevando is only half of their genes." he stopped speaking as he watched me, "You're dizzy, aren't you? The venom hasn't yet entered your blood stream but the burn has weakened you."
        "I don't understand." I said barely, leaning my back against an alleyway building.
        "It's dark power. It was made to kill Celtons and such it will burn anything with lighter power. You must have some Celton blood through your veins." His smile returned as the stared at me.
        "Why are you telling me all this?"
        "I wanna see the fear in my victims when they know exactly how and why they're going to die."
        "Aren't you generous." I sarcastically let out.
        "Don't worry you're not dying...yet anyway." his smile widened as he suddenly charged me. I pushed off the building and stumbled to the ground, barely missing his attack. I unsheathed my Twin Fangs and swung at him, slicing his arm which wounded him badly.
        He screamed in pain, clutching his upper arm as blood poured out. I managed to stand completely up and take my defensive stance. "I don't like to attack with my swords and I really hate to kill someone!" I said in a shaky voice, "So don't make me!"
        "I'll damn kill you for this!" he yelled, getting to his feet.
        "You told me that lots of times." I said, unemotionally, "Please stand down. I would rather not do this."
        "You filthy Celton!" he screamed as he charged me again.
        I closed my eyes briefly before I dropped him to the ground. I had rushed him, and dodged sideways with my lightning speed, as my swords' glazed his right side. Then I slammed the tilt of my left sword into the back of his head. Tiran was knocked out just as Nevando. Tiran's wounds were bleeding badly as my swords had dug in deep.
        "I told you, don't make me." I said quietly as I checked his pockets for the owed gold as well. He held none, so I headed on my way back to the hideout again. I barely made it to the door when I collapsed. Tiran had been correct by the burn weakening me.

Author's Note

If you find any errors let me know, I looked through it, but i may have missed a few. Tell me what you think. =)

Reviews

[ShatteredDreams]

Wow. You're just so good. Wow. I love the story, you have very few--if any--errors, it's gripping... Keep it up and you'll go far with this. I wish more people wrote so well.