The crossroads of history are never comfortable locales, yet I fear this is where we now stand. All that look back on these days will see them either as a great triumph or an opportunity squandered.
Cyrus Deniz Volonte
Cyrus smiled, returning his bride's greeting as she came in. He was well aware of their varying sleeping habits, and did, on occasion, speculate that perhaps her increased rest was responsible for her seeming to age more... well he was going to say slowly, but this was almost a sort of stasis. Not that he minded, of course. Besides, though the first few years had been... trying, to put it modestly... she'd become quite a the queen, and things had been patched together quite nicely as the ages passed.
He had, in fact, heard the knock himself, but considering Liz was already headed towards the entrance, there was little sense in preventing the queen from dealing with their visitors. Upon hearing who it was, though, as well as he proposal, he quickly rose from his chair, his look becoming less introspective and more wily.
"For the royal heirs? Quite good, I'd say. I may have a certain level of influence over their tutors in such matters." Of that, he was certain. While he was certainly not lax on his children's learning -- he had long since insisted they receive the same training that Lisabeth once had, with a bit of his own thrown in where he though it would be of use -- days when all five of them could get together at once were rare enough that he'd be willing to give the later tutors a holiday. And yet,
"as for myself..." Desires of his heart aside, he actually had to consider that one, running over what he had scheduled for this afternoon, making sure that he did not insult some foreign diplomat or somesuch by refusing to meet for several more days.. Then, looking down at the letter still clutched in his hand, his gaze became somewhat unfocused, a strange mix between immediate happiness and long-term concern filling his mind.
"Mmm. Yes, I only had one appointment for this afternoon, but it has been, shall we say, postponed." He was originally planning to meet with a delegation from Coralea regarding the river route south -- a monthly status report, really -- but under the current circumstances, his family had elected to keep them within the city for the time being. The mages would likely scarcely notice at any rate, what with them easily having direct access to the markets.
The look was fleeting, however, the mood quickly banished to the back of his mind. If these days really were numbered, then perhaps he should enjoy this time with his family while he could, no?
"So, what might you have had in mind, Ascheriit?"
For the sake of those I protect, and all those to come, may we have the wisdom to choose the greater path.
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Location: Noratia Castle; Quarters
With: Liz and Ascheriit
Thinking: Perhaps enjoying myself for an afternoon wouldn't be such a bad idea.
Feeling: Somewhat concerned, but for the moment, happy.
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((Works for me as well.))