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 Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:13 pm
[ PRINCE ÆRIK ]
"We must rest, first."
Questions answered, Ærik barely nodded in thanks as he turned away from the girl and shed the large bear skin from his shoulders, revealing his boyish frame underneath. He let the skin fall to the ground and gestured to the princess, and raised his voice to Shiva, "Ro'a.." -- Calm.. -- and ran a hand gently over the scaled of her underbelly. With one last spiteful glare at Finn, the young female turned and through herself into the lake and hurried to catch up to Wynne.
With their dragons attending to themselves, the prince turned to his brother and spoke quietly with him."We do not know these lands, brother. This princess could be our guide and, if we need it, a bargaining tool."
In strange lands, Prince Ærik was beginning to resent being without the advantages that he was used to. "Already we learn that we must head back North, what else will we overlook without proper guidance?"
Though he made no effort to include her in the conversation, Ærik did look over his shoulder to steal a glance at Elsina.
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:31 pm
[ FINN ]
Finn stood stoically under the fiery glare of his brother's dragon, sorely tempted to put an axe to that hard head of hers, but simply waited for his brother to finish his conversation. When he finally did have his brother's attention, and heard his plan, he had to admit silently that it was not entirely as awful as he had first suspected.
That was until his brother mentioned that the girl was a Princess.
"A Princess?" He echoed loudly, not caring if the girl heard them. Balling his hand into a fist, Finn pressed it into his forehead to keep his head from exploding. A skirmish in the woods was bad enough, but now that they knew who the girl was they should be taking her home, not bringing her along.
But he knew that look in his brother's eyes and, when that look was directed over his shoulder to the Princess, Finn could not contain his groan of exasperation. He turned away, shaking his head, and crouched to the ground to try and think. Ærik joined him, crouching down before him, and one hand rested on Finn's shoulder.
"We are both weary, brother. Do you trust me to act for our people?"
Ærik must know what the answer would be, but Finn voiced it nonetheless. "Yes, Prince. I trust you, and I follow you."
Though Ærik rose then and walked away to re-join the princess, spoken intent to make camp, Finn did not. Strength to rise eluded him; the destruction of home leagues away, but the screams and cries of agony from the previous night remaining to weigh him down.
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:00 pm
[ PRINCESS ELSINA ]
Elsina woke at dawn with a shiver, thankful for the furs Aerik had lent her. It was mid-spring, so while the days were warm enough the nights grew cold and Elsina had still felt a chill from the cold of the skies. The foreign prince and his riders had been courteous to her, though the older suspicious one - Finn - had hardly spoken two words to Elsina, even when his dragon brought back fish for their dinner.
The princess folded Aerik's furs and went to the lakeside to splash water on her face and clean herself as much as she could. From Tirramor, Talquis was a four or five days' ride on horseback, but she didn't know how much faster dragons could fly.
And faster they could, even weary dragons as these ones were. Elsina learned things quickly and well - that gift was hers - and she had learned that Prince Aerik and his men were weary and wounded beneath the skin. The princess looked to the north, towards the queendom of Talquis and said a pray to the gods that her father would not worry for her.
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:55 pm
[ FINN ]
While the princess washed at the lake, Finn busied himself scattering the debris of the small fire that had warmed them in the night. With a practiced hand it was gone and, with the furs returned to their place beneath the riders' saddles, he scuffed his feet over the grass to make the trace of their rest invisible. He cast his gaze to Ærik where the Prince stood near Shiva, buckling his swordbelt. The Prince had dressed for war when the day broke, a shining steel chainmail tunic over his riding leathers and the colors of their clan, vibrant red and gold, painted onto the tabard beneath the bear-hide cloak. Finn had to admit that, compared to his own un-polished mail and dark leathers, it was impressive but who was it that Ærik was seeking to impress?
"The rest of our riders will be catching us soon." Finn said.
"Yes." Ærik answered him, attaching the final clasp to his ensemble before coming to stand near his half-brother. "You will wait for them here. Tell them I have gone to Tall-Keys to meet with their Queen."
Finn's jaw clenched, alone? was the single word unspoken, but he did not question his Prince.
"And we will join you when we are gathered?"
"I will return, or Shiva will. You will know what to do."
With a nod, and one final silent, dark glance towards Elsina, Finn went to Wynne. He could not shake the uneasy feeling in his gut as he mounted, tossing down the supply bundles from his saddle to Ærik, but there was nothing to do about it now.
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:26 pm
[ ÆRIK ]
With a low bay, Ærik watched as Wynne, her deep, blood-red scales shining in the morning light, stretched out her wings, ten-feet greater in length than even Shiva's, and push herself off from the ground. The Prince stood back, backing up near to the lake and to Elsina, and shielded his eyes from the force of Wynne's vigorously beating wings as the matriarch struggled to gain lift. Once in the air, she rose and then dipped, sweeping over the lake and then over Ærik's head low with another low cry, and then she and his brother were off. The young man watched for as long as he could still see his brother's form on the back of the elder dragon until they were both hidden by the clouds and hoped that he would see him again.
Lowering his gaze, Ærik went to the lakeside in silence and knelt to wash his face. Rising, he looked to the Princess and sighed slightly. Wherever she had learned their tongue, and for whatever reason, it was a blessing that they had found her, and another blessing altogether that they had found her when they did. Now she went with them, with him, though she did not know them and her home was so near. A brave girl, most unlike the stories of Southern people that he had been taught as a boy.
"Come," He beckoned her while going to the supplies that his brother had left for them. Opening the bundle he withdrew a small camping skin, the soft hide of a summer doe, and held it up for her. "This will be small enough to fit your shoulders while we fly."
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:29 pm
[ PRINCESS ELSINA ]
Elsina watched as Finn mounted his dragon and the great creature took to the sky, her blood-red scales like the crimson of what she assumed was Prince Aerik's House's colors. Or whatever the clansmen equivalent to the noble Houses of Terrini's kingdoms were -- House Sullaeris was represented by a black snake twisted round a yellow rose, but all of Elsina's maids said she looked too somber in black and too pale in yellow, and besides her lord father kept reminding her she wouldn't be a Sullaeris when she married anyway. So Elsina seldom dressed in royal colors, but Prince Aerik looked fine in his own armor.
He seemed as though he was dressed for a battle; who was he planning on fighting? Not the queendom; it was folly to attack Talquis. The last king who'd married a Talquisian Queen and tried to take her throne from her by force had been eaten by one of the winter kingdom's ice dragons, and his armies scattered across the continent by a single battle.
Whoever had driven him to Terrini, then, for Elsina doubted a dragonrider from beyond the mountains rode to Talquis for a mere social call.
"My thanks," Elsina accepted the doe hide. It would be cold up in the skies.
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:05 pm
[ PRINCE ÆRIK ]
Ærik nodded in response and wrapped the rest of the supplied back up, glancing once at the riding saddle on Shiva to decide where to place it (taking into consideration the additional weight of the princess added already,) and slung them over his shoulder. "I need you to prepare me for Tall-Keys," He said, climbing up Shiva's side and settling himself behind the saddle to tie the supplies. "Where will I find their Queen and how do I present myself to her?"
He held a hand out to help her up. "And what sort of military presence she has within the city and her..." He hesitated, looking for the word, "pal-a**."
Hopefully he could get these answers in the air as he was already anxious be be off.
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:19 pm
[ PRINCESS ELSINA ]
Elsina took Aerik's hand and let him help her into the dragon's saddle behind him as she listened to his question - they were all sensible, if the royal situation in Talquis was normal. But it wasn't.
"Oh, just smile and be charming to the queen," the princess advised with a laugh. "She's just recently turned eleven, I believe - it's her father the Lord Regent you must be courteous to and present a strong face to. As soon as you arrive I can arrange an audience with the queen and there's no doubt that Lord Martyn will be with her."
As to military presence... Elsina wasn't sure -- and she told Aerik as much. "Talquis has never been in a serious war before," she said. "The most you'll find is standard city and palace guards, as well as the five knights of the Queensguard. There may be other knights around, but that's only because they're in training or resting. How quickly does your dragon fly in comparison to horseback?"
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:39 pm
[ PRINCE ÆRIK ]
Ærik nodded to the first part of Elsina's information, but when she mentioned the Queen's age he twisted around in the saddle to look in her eyes. He didn't believe she could be serious until the Princess continued on about the Lord Martyn and their military. Not wanting her to see the sudden drop of hope from his own face, Ærik faced forward once again and gripped the saddle tightly. It took immense control to keep his emotion from Shiva, and even then enough of it disturbed her to cause a shudder and a moan.
Taking a moment to settle the dragon beneath them with murmured words and pats on her neck, Ærik thought about the princess' question.
"We do not ride horses in Roeghenon." He answered finally, giving the command for Shiva to rise. "Hold tightly to me; we will fly fast and hard under your direction."
Giving her only a moment to mind his words, Ærik leaned forward as Shiva ran suddenly, leaping up and throwing her wings out for an updraft once they reached the treeline, and then they were away.
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:45 pm
[ SER ROSFIR ]
Princess Elsina was still missing by evenfall, so Ser Rosfir was riding hard out the gates on a swift-footed horse with an fresh mount before first light had even touched the towers of the castle. The castle mage had arranged with others at outposts through his arts so Ser Rosfir would have fresh mounts along the way.
The capitol city was a three days' ride from Merryweather, the city of the Talquisian Queens, but if he rode hard and didn't stop he could make it there in a day and a night. And Princess Elsina's safety certainly warranted those measures.
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:54 pm
[ QUEEN MADEIRA ]
Queen Madiera rode through the castle gates on her white stallion giggling like a mad child; glancing behind her she could see three guardsmen on foot and one mounted knight pursuing her through the cloud of dust Quinton rose when his hooves pounded against the dirt of the Queen’s Road.
Her auburn hair streamed behind her, though part of it was restrained by the silver crown resting on her small brow. Her green eyes sparkled with childish delight. The wind tugged at her riding gown as she stood in the stirrups, rising in the saddle to meet it. Today was officially the Best Day Ever – at eleven years old, the child queen of Talquis was going to visit the capitol city’s weekly Market day for the first time in her life.
Madi was generally an obedient girl. Her coronation had been on her ninth birthday, just five weeks after her mother’s premature death; since her father had married into the royal family he was ineligible for kingship and the crown had passed to her, and ever since she’d done whatever her father the Lord Regent had asked of her. Diplomacy tutors, etiquette tutors, foreign languages, dance, singing and every kind of tutor Madi ever thought existed, and then some.
She’d done as she was told because at nine years old she had inherited a Big Responsibility, and Father had said it would be hers alone when she turned fifteen. She had to be prepared.
For the past two years Madi had let the notion that she had to be prepared for rule preclude any personal enjoyment. She’d graciously welcomed nobles into her hall, hosted Solstice feasts and danced with foreign dignitaries double her height and more than twice her age – all she wanted now was to actually see her city. Was that too much to ask for as an early twelfth-name day present?
Yes, if the knight following her while shouting a “respectful request that you please slow down, majesty!” was any indication. Madi knew she would have been allowed to Market Day if she had asked Father if she could go, but even at eleven she also knew going anywhere required a full retinue of at least one of the knights who made up Queen’s Guard and two squads of either the Palace Guard or the City Guard. Nobody would want to talk to her if she were surrounded by steel-clad men wielding deadly weapons who looked suspiciously at anyone who dared to sneeze within ten feet of her, and wasn’t a good queen one who knew her people?
At least, that’s she was going to tell Father her internal affairs tutor had taught her, though Madi full well knew the instructor was speaking about the noble Houses and not the commonborn city-dwellers.
Quinton thundered into the red-brick market place and Madi reigned him in to a full stop. Dismounting in a flurry of green silk, she led him through the square as she stared wide-eyed at everything she saw. Surrounded by fair-skinned noblemen and women her whole life, Madi was mesmerized by the sun-tanned commoners; the smell of pastries was not unlike the castle kitchens, and a stall full of brightly colored scarves made her stop in her tracks.
Queen Madi was too excited to care if the knight caught up with her now – and she could always just order him to guard her and let her do as she pleased.
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:27 pm
[ SER STALWART ]
Chasing after his lady, his liege even, with one boot half on and his cloak nearly tearing off his shoulders at the chase, he wasn't surprised that she heeded his request to her with nothing more than more giggles -- and even then he didn't believe they were directed at him, either.
When the Queen finally did stop Stalwart nearly threw himself from the horse to dismount. Pulling his right boot up before the foot even hit the ground and tossing his cloak over his horse as he hurried to catch up to his Queen, Stalwart was confident that, despite the sudden, surprise, chase to start the morning off, his appearance was still something to be proud of. And it ought to be, being the First of the Queen's knights.
Sworn in at the age of eighteen and now, a year later, he still was proud of his life-long promise to the crown, the lady, and the country.
Though, at this particular moment, he was a little less proud than he was exasperated and, even more so, agonizing over how he would convince her magesty to return to the palace (because she undoubtedly would not.)
"Your Majesty!" He said, relieved that she had come to a stop in the whirring marketplace.
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:04 pm
[ ÆRIK ]
Ærik didn't want to make a dramatic appearance, nor did he want to risk the violence that may ensue if Shiva's appearance in the skies was taken to be a threat, but he did not see much choice. Merryweather, the Capitol which he had been directed by Elsina, was picturesque, and entirely impractical; very few places for a dragon the size of Shiva to land without being seen. Sooner or later, one way or another, Shiva would make herself known so they landed close enough to the gates to get the attention of the guards posted there. He took only a small satchel of dried meats from the saddle, dismounting quickly afterward, and patted Shiva's leg to take off once the Princess was on the ground with him. Wrapping an arm around Elsina to protect her from the wind-biffet, he took a step away as the dragon took to the skies again.
Taking a chunk of meat from the leather back, he offered it to the Princess and kept an eye on the guards at the gate while he asked, "What now, Princess?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:15 pm
[ QUEEN MADIERA ]
Madi didn't even glance up at the sound of her knight's voice -- she knew at least one of her five Queensguard would be along soon enough, and it didn't surprise her in the least that it was Ser Stalwart the Stalwart Wart was the one who'd managed to catch up first.
"My tutor says I must learn to know my people," Madi told Ser 'Wart, her prepared excuse rolling off her tongue as smooth as honey. She smiled, flashing a little dimple at her First Knight that her father said she would grow out of. A queen was supposed to be regal, but Madi didn't see anything wrong with her dimple. "And so I am getting to know them - A DRAGON!"
She felt it - it was like static dancing across her skin and then the great creature descended from the sky near the South Gate, and Madi stared wide-eyed as moments later it climbed back into the sky. "It's a dragon, Ser Wart!" she babbled, excited. "Like the ones in Saayeri, when I visited when I was little!"
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:25 pm
[ ELSINA ]
Elsina accepted the dried meat and nibbled on it while she tried to think quickly. Aerik had shielded her, for the most part, while Shiva retook to the skies but still flight twisted up her stomach. Flying on dragonback was strangely the most terrifying yet exhilarating thing, and it drove all coherent thought from her mind.
"We are at the South Gate," she told Aerik. Removing the doeskin Aerik had lent her, she handed it to Aerik. As useful as it had been, she needed to present herself to the guards as a southern Terrini royalty. "Would you mind holding this, for a moment, please?" she asked him as the guards he'd caught the attention of approached.
"State your purpose," the captain of the South Gate sect of the city guards demanded, a hand on his sword but otherwise bearing no naked steel. The Talquisians prided themselves on familiarity with dragons, even if few of the smallfolk ever saw them. It was mostly the highborn, and the queen who really knew the ice dragons of Saayeri.
"I am Elsina Sullaeris, of Kerth," Elsina said in common. These men would knew the name, if not her face personally. "I come with an emissary from the north, Prince Aerik of the Valihiri clans, to see an audience with the queen."
The captain conferred with his lieutenant for a moment, before he bowed low to the princess from the south and the supposed dragon-prince of the north. "Your highnesses, if you come this way."
"They will take us to the queen," Elsina translated for Aerik. She did not know if he spoke Terrini - she had not thought to ask.
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