|
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
 Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 6:39 pm
[ PRINCE OLYVER ]
Olyver hesitated, thinking it over. He would hate to have his own kingdom attacked, but Tristan Darti was Lord of Amory, one of the wealthiest and most powerful Houses -- and he supported Olyver's elder brother. He took a sip of the Westers wine.
It was sweet, quite like the plan.
"Enough control to send the dragons to the northernmost plains of Eramiere?" he asked lightly. With Amory gone, Olyver's path to the throne would be all the clearer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 6:55 pm
[ ARCHMAGE FEIRO ]
"First Learner," the acolyte greeted, entering the room. A learner from Eramiere, the child's Ro'gan was heavily accented and clumsy. Terrini was a sweet-sounding language, but most Terrini tongues struggled with the near-slurring accents of Ro'gan. "There is a message from Prince Oteryn," the girl offered the letter to Feiro. Dressed in soft white robes, the dark-skinned Eramieran was no more than eight or nine. Her head was shaved in the manner of acolytes of the first order -- the newest.
"Thank you, child," Feiro replyed, accepting the message. He dismissed the girl with a blessing. "May the Seeker guide you."
The mages of the Citadel were all worshippers of the Seeker, the intellectual facet of the Five Faced God. The Mother, the Lord, the Rider, and the Silent One were all respected, but it was the Seeker who held sway. It was the Seeker who granted the learners their abilities, and the learners thanked Him by dedicating part of themselves to Him.
Feiro glanced at the seal. Stamped into black wax, it was the shadowsnake of the Cartspels. A message from Prince Oteryn, indeed.
Heating a letterknife with a murmur, Feiro opened the sealed letter.
To Archmage Feiro, First of the Learners -
My brother seeks to conquer Terrini, it would seem. He has allied himself with the Dhalvian mages. I have heard they use forbidden blood magics to bind others their will.
I am sending a captured Dhalvian blood slave to you, in the hopes that you can find a way to save the Roghenon, Kerthess, and your own Talquisians from my brother's ambitious folly and the cursed Dhalvians.
Yours humbly,
Crown Prince Otyren Cartspel of Eramiere
Feiro suddenly felt much older than his fifty years. His once dark brown hair was greying, though his mind was sharp as ever. And I thought I escaped the intrigue when I left the throne to my younger brother, he thought ruefully.
Striding quickly to the door, Feiro yanked it open and shouted down the hallway. "Acolyte!" he called in Terrini. "Bring the Second Learner immediately to me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 6:58 pm
[ SER STALWART, PRINCE ÆRIK, & FINN ]
Prince Ærik could not help but feel slightly envious that the Prince Alordin had been with his mount at such a young age, but was comforted in the knowledge that, though their union began later in their lives, he would be with his dragon for the rest of her long life. "Our dragons grow and age slowly, with lifespans older than some of our mountains. He said, lowering his voice as he spoke of the Vhenan. "When we are chosen by our dragons we are bonded to them," Reaching to the top of his tabard and chain, he pulled it down far enough to reveal the top of the shining, brilliant red scale fused to the skin over his heart. "Our lives are shared, and dragon and rider become Valhiri as one. Our thoughts, emotions, and instincts become irreversibly bound, and we exist as both separate and single beings."
He let the chain return to the base of his neck and rubbed the spot thoughtfully. It was the first time that he had shared that knowledge of the Vhenan with one who was not Valhiri. "It is why this enemy has so devastated us, cousin. As he strikes our riders down our dragons fall as well. His magic is like none I have ever known."
Stalwart grinned, the Queen's levity lifting his self-inflicted burden of guilt. "So that is how you manage to get Quinton to gallop faster than any horse in the Queen's stables, your majesty?"
Resting his hand over Alloren's briefly, "To be honest, Princess, it has always been difficult to remain unseen and unheard with Wynne." The elder dragon, wise as she was, was anything but stealthy. "What of yourself, my Lady? What is the story behind the mask that you now wear?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 7:19 pm
[ PRINCESS ALLOREN ]
Alloren's smile faded. "Ch'yain was born blind. I gave my sight to him, when we were young," she confessed in a soft voice. "I do not yet think he has fully forgiven me."
The princess's smile was back in an instant as she changed the topic. "But let us not dwell on the past, for it is alliances of the future that we feast for now -- we have reached the castle, have we not?" she asked, though she knew it were true. The whistling of the wind through the high caverns of ice sung in Alloren's ears, as did the faint whispering of her family gathered in one of the smallest dining halls.
»»»» ««««
King Mahaerin was speaking to his brother when his elder children entered the hall, accompanied by Saayeri's guests. He stood when they approached the table. "Our Southron daughter returns," he greeted Madi formally. "And not alone - welcome again, Elsina of Kerth."
"The winter is in me, uncle," Madi replied. "Elsina, you know. May I present, Prince Ærik, who stands with mine cousin Alordin, and Ser Finn, who escorts mine other cousin, Alloren?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 7:24 pm
[ AURORA ELA'DALEM ]
Satisfied that the Prince was willing, she replied. "Enough control to sufficiently devastate the northernmost plains, if you wish it." She would not press now, as the topic at hand was an attack on the Prince's own land. Many rulers, and future rulers, had reservations about that sort of thing. Fortunately, it seemed that the Poison Prince had reason to believe that the attack would be worth it and she would forgo mentioning her own pleasure in ordering the attack.
She considered the Prince before her while he contemplated his own advantage in the scheme. He wouldn't make a half-bad blood slave himself, should the Dhalvians make their way to Eramiere in this lifetime. Should she live to see the day, Aurora made a mental note to make him one of her personal servants for his manners this day. "Any further concerns, my Prince?" She asked a little too sweetly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 7:49 pm
[ PRINCE ÆRIK, & FINN ]
Sufficiently stunned by the Princess' modest mention of such a great gift, Finn spent the remainder of their short walk to the dining hall in silence. He was not sure he knew of the sort of self-sacrifice that this Princess lived with every day of her life, and could only hope that if the day arrived for such a day he would be as willing as she to give of himself.
Following the presentation by the Queen, both brothers lowered their heads in respect to the King of the Saayi - Finn only slightly lower than Ærik. “Majesty, we are humbled by the hospitality of your home,” The Prince said, head still bowed, “and only regret that our visit to your lands is not one of mirth or merriment.” He paused then, unsure if he should continue. The twins had mentioned that discussions would wait for after the feast, not before, and he had no desire to break tradition.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 7:15 am
[ OLYVER ]
The prince of poisons smiled. It was high treason, what he was planning, but he coud easily convince his father that it was the only way. The old fool was losing his mind, so only Oteryn would defy Olyver... and with House Amory gone, there would be few of the major Houses to back him. His plan was perfect.
"Excellent. I have no question other than how soon can you arrange this tragic assault?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 7:19 am
[ KING MAHAERIN ]
The dinner had ended and it was near early morning when the king retired to a council chamber, inviting his heir, Alloren, his brother and his visitors to join him. Little Queen Madi's yawns were coming in thick and fast, and she looked asleep on her feet, hand searching for Ser Stalwart's so he could lead her after the king.
"It is late, true," Mahaerin admitted before the small council assembled. "But the matter is urgent, and mine son and heir tells me you wished to speak as speedily as possible." The king looked to his sone and heir, and Alordin nodded.
"Then, what brings you here, Prince Ærik?" King Mahaerin asked formally.
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 10:52 am
[ AURORA ELA'DALEM ]
Aurora looked to the ceiling of the tent for a moment, considering the question before answering. The dragons could fly faster without their riders and, because their bond, the Vhenan, had a nasty habit of occasionally breaking the blood-slave's bond to the Storm King, the dragons had been separated from their riders already. It was a shame that the riders had to be kept alive lest their dragons fall, but sacrifices had to be made in the grand scheme of ruling the world.
"A day and a night only." She said, knowing that, if pressed, the dragons would make it there on the high, warm winds of the desert. "Of course the dragons will not make the journey back, but their corpses will be soon lost to the desert where they fall from the skies in exhaustion. A pity, but they will have served a greater purpose." Aurora Ela'dalem had no sympathy for creatures that served the Storm King even in death, for their demise served a greater honor than their lives without the great ruler could have ever brought them.
"It is good to see that we finally agree on something." She said, bringing the wine up for a sniff and then a taste. Much sweeter than she was used to, but pleasant enough. "If our business is concluded here I will send word to my husband to begin the 'assault' immediately."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 8:16 pm
[ PRINCE ÆRIK, FINN, & SER STALWART ]
Resisting the urge to bundle the Queen up in his arms, Stalwart settled for giving his hand and taking gentle lead to the council chamber. It had been a long day, following a tremendous decision for the Queen, and today seemed even heavier even with the levity in the greetings of the Saayi. With the Queen's eyes now closed and no longer on him, the Knight frowned as he reflected inwardly. Though he would never rescind his spoken promise to follow the Queen, and her decisions, he hoped that whatever was to come he would be able to keep her safe. An enemy that they had no name for, yet, who was able to slay dragons was disturbing, in the least.
Stalwart watched as the Prince stepped forward, addressed by the King, and positioned himself so that, if needed, Madiera would be able to lean against him.
Prince Ærik bolldly looked once into the eyes of the man who he had just feasted alongside, answering many questions about his home, and then lowered them as he knelt, much as he had knelt before Madiera. Drawing the violet, silk cloth once more from under his cloak he presented it as he spoke. "My brethren and I have been forced from our home, Majesty, and have come to seek allies on behest of our Queen and Adviser. A great enemy has fallen upon us and already our clansmen are scattered and the Royal Keep has been taken. These violet-skinned men wield a magic unlike any that we Valhiri know of, and they slay our dragons as if they are insects in the sky. We come beseeching the aid of the Mages of Talquis and the Dragons of Saayi to help us repel these invaders."
Finn took a deep breath and closed his eyes as Ærik spoke. He was not present when he had spoken to the Queen Madeira, but he could only imagine that a second time of asking another for aid did not come any easier to his brother, who too easily fell back on his pride. From what he had seen this journey, however, it seemed his brother was capable of change.. and willing to exchange pride for the lives of his people. Finn approved, though he would not risk the boost to the Prince's ego by speaking it aloud.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:31 pm
[ KING MAHAERIN ]
"Alordin," Mahaerin said. Though his voice did not change, Alordin glanced up for a moment, surprised, before the expression melted away and he stepped forward. When the prince laid eyes on the cloth he understood.
"Dhalvian, father, I'd stake mine life on it," the prince said, sounding as grave and serious as the king in that moment. Though he looked calm, his fists were clenched so tight his knuckles were white; Alloren lips pressed into a thin line, and she went paler if possible.
Ch'yain may have been born blind, but he need not have were it not for a Dhalvian sorcerer. King Mahaerin had executed the man before he could send any notes home, and his king applauded Mahaerin for doling out punishment against the man's "unauthorized and most wicked experimentation" but the Saayi were no fools. They would never attack an entire realm on the provocation of one man, as it was against the honor that made them Saayi -- but now? The enemy of mine enemy is mine friend..
Mahaerin's expression changed not a wit, but Prince Ærik had already won aid of the Saayeri.
"Madeira of Talquis, do you vouch for the prince you have brought to me?" Mahaerin turned to Madi, speaking formally again.
"I do -" Madi yawned, leaning against Ser Wart "-Your Grace." She just barely remembered that the kings of Saayeri were Graces, not Majesties, as a reminder that House Sœun had not been the royal house when the Saayl dominated the western continent. Saayeri was but its child, a relatively powerful remnant of the ancient kingdom. "Princess Elsina is a learner, you remember, and she knows the hearts of men well. I trust her judgement, and she trusts the prince."
"Princess Elsina of Kerth, you vouch for Prince Ærik, then?"
"I do, Your Grace."
"And Ser Finn, what have you to say?" Mahaerin continued when he had the words of Madi and Elsina.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 12:13 pm
[ PRINCE ÆRIK & FINN ]
Finn's eyes widened as the king called on him to speak; never would he, the son of a woodcutter, have been prepared to speak before a king, but to be given a title in the same sentence.. he took a deep breath, conscious of the fact that his brother was listening very intently for the answer, and raised his head.
"Your grace," He began smoothly, taking the cue from the Queen on how to refer to the King, "There is nothing I can say to the plight of the Roeghenon that my brother has not already brought to light, but I can express my concern for the people of Terrini, and wherever else these violet-skinned men will go, should this threat not end in our mountains. I believe their mission is the High Dragon, and should they find him where he slumbers there is no telling the new power they will wield."
He paused, glancing at where Prince Ærik knelt, and then continued. "It is no secret that our kingdom is isolated, and considered barbaric and primitive to outsiders, but there is beauty there. My brother and I come to you as strangers, and we have little to offer a powerful land in return for your aid, but without it we will surely perish."
He stopped then, awkwardly aware of the length of his speech compared to that of his brother's, and his pale skin flushed slightly as he realized that, given the opportunity, he had been more willing to be heard than he'd thought himself capable of.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:31 pm
[ KING MAHAERIN ]
"Well spoken, Ser Finn," the king of the Saayi said with a thoughtful look. He glanced at Alordin, his brother, and Alloren and found the same budding idea in each of their eyes and in Alloren's masked face. "Ser Stalwart, you may escort our Madeira and Princess Elsina to their rooms. I bid you both a good evening, and hope to break my fast with you on the morrow."
Elsina made her courtesy, dipping her head and bending her knees, and Madi simply yawned, turning into Ser Wart and wordlessly demanding that he pick her up and carry her back to her room.
When they had left, Mahaerin turned to his brother and his children - the Royal Sœuns, and thus the members of the ruling council of Saayeri. "My heir, my daughter, my brother. How speak you?" Mahaerin asked in a thick accent, reminiscent of the ancient style of Ro'gan spoken in older days.
"Aye," Alordin and Alloren said at the same time.
"Aye," their uncle followed up.
"Then how speak we," the king asked.
There was silence, and then Alloren spoke up, voice hard. Her fist was clenched -- she would never forgive the Dhalvians for stealing Ch'yain's sight before he was even born. "Wake the frozen dragons."
"My heir, my brother?"
Alordin hesitated - and then he looked at Alloren. "Wake the frozen dragons."
"Aye," the king's brother echoed. "Wake them."
Mahaerin turned towards Prince Aerik and Ser Finn. "You have our strength," he promised.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:54 pm
[ AURORA ELA'DALEM ]
The return to Dhalverra took little time at all, spurred on by Aurora's singular focus on returning to a moist, humid environment and getting her delicate, violet skin out of the harsh dryness of the desert. She took a mount, and protective coverings from one of her men, and hurried on without all but one - Commander Hasif. Together, they raced the sands and left the blood slaves behind to return on their own, as they always did, and made it to the capital just two days later.
As the sun set, painting the waters surrounding the city and running through its hanging gardens red, Aurora left her dying mount in the hands of the stable master and strode purposefully thought the palace corridors. Rounding the corner to the Seeing Eye chamber, the young priestess hesitated at the procession of the Storm King's elder wives. So far, three groups of wives populated the palace - the younger, the wiser, and the elder - and of all of them, Aurora avoided the Elder the most. The site of the old crones was enough to turn Aurora's stomach from any task, and they always stank of age. Without magic in their veins, the red-skinned women did not age slowly and served as a constant reminder to Aurora of their inferiority.
"Back so soon from your dealings with the foreign Prince, my daughter?" Came the sultry voice from the tallest, and oldest, of the Elder wives. Sashaying with the grace of a woman who knows the ways of the world, Aurora's mother removed the red veil that marked her place in the palace as an Elder and looked upon her daughter. A vision of beauty, even in her middle-ages, Romeda the Eldest carried her age well - high cheekbones, dark, unblemished skin, and long, silken black hair that was long enough to drag behind her as she walked - though she had a slave to make sure it did not.
"Fortunately. I have returned to lift the burden of authority from your frail shoulders, Mother." Aurora said, sneering in contempt as the words passed her lips.
"It is a shame," Romeda continued, brushing a nonexistent insect from her shoulder and speaking as if she had not heard her daughter's callous remark. "One could worry that a task completed with such haste could result in inadequacy."
Simmering beneath her cool exterior, Aurora glared at her mother. "The only shame is that no one has cut your tongue from your mouth in my absence. I will have to leave clearer instructions the the next time."
"Oh," Romeda gasped, feinting shock. "It is such a pity that my daughter is so inexperienced that she cannot trust her men to perform to satisfaction. Perhaps the foreign Prince will better serve your needs, my daughter." Laughing then, though no other Elder Wife dared to share in the levity, Romeda led her posse away while Aurora glared scathingly after her.
"b***h." She spat, curving her impulse to take Hasif's blade and cut the older woman's back open. "Come." The priestess said, curtly, and continued briskly to the chamber. Contacting her husband would take only moments, and afterwards she could carry one with plotting her mother's demise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:12 pm
[ ARCHMAGE CALAEIIL ]
Interruption from weaving was prohibited, but when the weave itself revealed to the Second Learner, Calaeiil, that the child would come from the First Learner to fetch her from her task, the Archmage ceased. The web released her and, as all webs do unless completed, faded from existence before her eyes just as the young Eremiere girl announced her presence.
"Second Learner," She began, and Calaeiil had already risen with her black cowl over her face and long sleeves covering the deep, rich indigo of her Dhalvian skin.
"Yes, child?" She said fluently, though her own Ro'gan was still heavily accented despite the years of usage. Her accent was not slurred and sluggish as the acolyte's, though, it was rich with exotic flavor and deep with dreams.
"The First Learner has requested your presence." -- "Then we shall not keep him waiting." Calaeiil said, turning to the girl and to the door.
Once outside of the First Learner's study, Calaeiil dismissed the girl with a smile that could not be seen beneath the hood designed to hide her Dhalvian ancestry, and watched her for a moment as the acolyte departed. Any sight of a new face within the citadel of Magi was a painful reminder to Calaeiil of the daughter she had surrendered in order to spare bother her own, and her child's, life from the wrath of the Storm King. It had been seventeen years, but the pain did not lessen.
"You summoned me, First Learner? She asked, turning away from the corridor and into the chamber. Removing her cowl and cape, Calaeiil let it rest on the closest chair. Though the temperature of the room was colder than her own, and her thin, sleeveless, golden robe did little to warm her, she did not wish the weight of the black cloak while the First Learner had her attention.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
