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 Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 12:52 am
She eyed him, the wariness in her eyes fading but still alert. She didn't like her intelligence questioned but she'd admit that the two years of nothing happening lead her into a false sense of security and it was her fault with changing her name. But it was probably because she liked her last name and how she came to be here in Sunderland and them having wolf lore. It was almost poetical and she seemed to think it a sign but that's just how she is. She felt wolves to be beautiful creatures and would have loved to have met one.
"Probably a good thing you've never met my father. Timur Volkov is a hard man. He has his friends but is usually seen as cold and distant. My twin takes after him while our eldest brother and I take after dear mama." She cut herself off on that subject quickly. She didn't need to bore this man with silly details. It was clear he didn't seem to care.
"I'm not really hiding. As you have stated, any halfway competent man can find me. Not my fault my parents don't know the difference between kidnapped and runaway. And I'm not really all that vocal, that's more my sisters style. But it seemed only poison comes from her mouth last I saw her," she continued to say but gave him a dark look when he called her a bride.
"Bride...no man has a claim on me like that. Don't think there is any man out there that can handle me anyway so why bother. I'm a free spirit," she said tightly. After the whole thing with the suitors and the man her parents choose, her father really, it was like the straw that broke the camel's back and she was out the window that night.
Bella Morte stomped her foot suddenly in irritation. She snorted at the man and made a strange whinny sound that showed her displeasure. He was a strange man and she was weary that he was talking to her mistress. The other mare was not spirited like her or her daughter and so didn't react much but was clearly listening. Svetlana laid a hand on Bella Morte's cheek and shushed her quietly and spoke to the mare in her native tongue.
(( Decided to go with highlighting her words like you. Can see them better. ))
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 12:35 pm
He understood her murmurings, of course, but chose to ignore them in favor of everything else she had said.
"For someone claiming not to be very vocal, you certainly have a lot to say," he observed. She was right about one thing, however: he really did not care about her family. In his mind, all nobles were to be despised. Of course, every bit of information could prove useful, but it was unlikely he would ever have to concern himself with Svetlana's family.
As for her running away, he was not entirely certain how to feel about that. He had spent much of his youth wishing to be claimed by his blood father, envying his half-siblings their lot in life. How was he any less deserving of the prestige and responsibility of nobility than they? What could justify anyone fleeing from the life he had craved with such fierce longing? On the other hand, he understood all too well the need to escape. The need to leave a suffocating life behind. Had he not done exactly the same thing, not once, but twice?
He really did not know if he should scoff at her or sympathize, if he were the sympathetic sort.
"But I am surprised they have not found you. After two years without and demands, one would think they would have expended their search." Unless they were stupid, or did not care. It seemed most likely that they simply had more pressing matters to concern themselves with than one missing daughter, what with the current political climate. Of course, daughters were valuable pawns to aristocrats. The most valuable commodity to strengthen allegiances. He brushed it aside. No use in idle speculation.
"Perhaps you do not wish it, but your father intended to marry you off, so the fact remains that you were a bride, if a reluctant one. Of course, the engagement has probably expired by now."
He eyed her speculatively. It was more likely that men were unwilling to handle her than unable, though not many were likely to be capable of it, either. Not without resorting to force. Rather than voicing these thoughts, he simply said, "A free spirit. Of course."
(( I've seen it done many different ways, and tried a few, but I like this best. Makes the quotes stand out. ^_^ ))
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 4:29 pm
She merely rolled her eyes at the man.
"I say what needs to be said and call it good. And I'm sure that my marriage by now has been called off and that suitor found someone more willing and pliable. Silly girls who don't have a brain in their pretty little heads. I'm sure my parents think I'm dead by now and haven't bothered to look farther than the homeland. Besides, my twin sister they still had to marry off. Sure they made a good match."
She then nudged her mare, Bella Morte, and she lowered to one knee so that Svetlana may hop up onto her back. With the reins in one hand and lead rope in another she turned Bella so that she could look at the man almost more eye to eye now. She studied the man once again and snorted.
"You still look like you could be related to my family, whether of my branch of the tree or not." She tilted her head slightly and shrugged.
A free spirit she was whether he approved or not or he merely looked down on her for what she was. She really wasn't sure if she should care or not.
(( sorry for shortness (muse is rebooting) and the lateness ( holidays...gah! ) ))
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 5:06 pm
He did not deign to comment on her diatribe about her family, as it was inconsequential to him. However, he did note with mild approval that for all her temper, the mare was well-trained. If there was one thing that Pyotr could appreciate, it was care taken where it was due. A well-treated animal, a properly tended weapon - the important things in life, as ones life often depended upon them. People who took care of what mattered were the only ones who even stood a chance of gaining some modicum of respect from him.
The woman's last comment, on the other hand, was not one that he appreciated. Perhaps this was especially so because it stood a chance of being true. For all he knew, Pyotr could be related to her in some distant way on his father's side. The man was a noble, after all. They all seemed to be related in some way or another and even Pyotr had not delved into every limb of that man's family tree. Who knew? Maybe they were cousins.
"I am Belastranan," was all he said, however. "Many of us have similar features."
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 5:36 pm
She gave him a mild expression. "That is true. In the end it matters not."
During the entire time that they have spoken, as one sided as it may seem, Svetlana realized that he seemed rather interested in her mare. Well, she figured horses in general since since he was at a horse fair. That's something she didn't mind having in common with the man. Horses where a great animal so long we they where well cared for. She hated that some people had the gall to be cruel to such beautiful animals, animal in general even.
After a moment she decided to veer the subject to safe ground to see what she could get out of him.
"My mare my have a rather undesirable temper for her breed but she is smart and well trained. It helped that she couldn't bully me."
Bella Morte snorted suddenly but Sveta didn't flinch.
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Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 5:45 pm
"It shows," he agreed, for it was obvious that the mare was very well-trained. It took a stronger will and steadier hand than most had to handle such a beast, as well. That spoke in the woman's favor.
Pyotr may be inclined to dislike people in general and nobles in particular, but at least he was equal-opportunity about it - it did not matter if you were male or female, your chances were good for earning his disdain either way. Of course, this also meant that he was much more accepting of competent women than most. For instance, he took no issue with Svetlana's obvious skill with horses, though there were certain things such as her keeping her birth name that he counted against her intelligence. Still, for being noble-born, he found that she was not too intolerable.
"You have good horse sense," he added, which was about as close to a real compliment that he was ever liable to give anyone.
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 2:16 pm
She gave him a small smile. "I was taught well and built on that. Now I put it to use in my new life." She made a simple gesture and the mare lowered herself into a bow towards the man. It was beautifully done and she rose back to her feet. The new mare, who'll be named Luludja, snorted softly and sifted her weight.
Svetlana glanced at the new mare and then towards the man. "And now I must say adieu. I must get my mares home, cleaned up and fed."
(( Can't think up anything more, I say call this the end or you can do a finishing post if you'd like and start our next one? ))
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:08 pm
He nodded at the woman and watched as she rode off. She had made a fair diversion for him, but that was all. He was not liable to dwell upon her, nor even think of her unless he happened to meet anyone who had an interest in her. Already, she was fading from his mind as he turned and disappeared into the crowds, intent upon looking at a few more horses.
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