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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:38 pm
Well. That sounded like what the professor had told her about politics, and agreed with what the history books had told her about troubling times. Still, she had difficulty grasping the depth of their stupidity. Shouldn't whoever is best suited for the job do the job? And would that not be the Guardians and their chosen? Seemed perfectly straightforward to her. Of course, the older she got the more she realized that adults were hardly ever straightforward. That power seemed to get weaker with age. Or maybe it was just some people. Surely Faye would never grow that stupid.
"Then who will lead them? The Lady? How could they stop her, anyway?" If she had Guardians on her side, then who would stand in her way? Even if certain nobles didn't want her to go, the people surely would not try to hold her back.
Lethe shot Macaire a gimlet stare that somehow conveyed a small measure of approval before she continued stealing Cadence's carrots.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:32 am
It's a pity that Faye does not share the majority of her train of thought, for her disapproval of adults would have Macaire in tears of laughter -- mostly because he'd agree that there's a certain truth to it. As both an amateur historian and a man who has had to follow the orders of others as a soldier, he has little faith in most leaders and at the moment only rumors with which to reassure little Faye.
" 'Tis said The Lady be searching fer a hero, tae lead her folk, but oi donnae know the whole of it." He pauses, looking thoughtful, and then gives her hands a little squeeze. "How's this, then, lass? Oi'll take meself tae The Lady this very day, and ask her yer questions, and beg of her all there is tae be told. 'Tis time me name were in the book, and the name of that great lump there." Leaning out he pokes Cadence with his toe, distracting the Guardian from his attempt to lean just a bit closer to Lethe, in the hope that he might perhaps be allowed to lick her head. The Guardian gives a huffed breath, caught in the act, and instead looks very put upon.
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 1:51 pm
The girl considered his offer, in part wondering why he was making the offer and in part surprised that he had not already seen the Lady. She did not want him signing up for her sake, but she also knew that he was a guard and a soldier and he would be fighting whether she had anything to do with it or not.
The doe flattened her ears, glaring at Cadence and almost daring him to try it again. It would be no trouble for her to teach him once more just how sharp her teeth were. If he needed a reminder, she was willing to oblige.
"...alright," Faye agreed. Of course, there were a million more questions brewing in her head, but perhaps she could settle for just one or two more. "Will you ask her about this hero, then? And all the rest of us? The Chosen who don't know how to fight?" Or aren't any good at it. Or are too young.
Somehow, Faye did not really think of herself in any of those terms. In fact, the only one she worried about was Lethe. The idea of fighting wolves herself had not yet occurred to her, even if she was a Chosen. Of course, if it had not, then neither had the realization that she was too young to fight and would not be allowed to, anyway.
"And the hedge witches, too?" she added for good measure, thinking of Livy and her sense of When.
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:26 pm
Ears back, Cadence regards Lethe with a show of perfect innocence, looking away to scratch the top of his head on the corner of the table as if he hadn't had any idea at all about getting too close to her. There's just something about Lethe, perhaps simply that she keeps pushing him away -- he is forever trying to snuggle up to her, or groom her, or touch her.
Macaire is too busy thinking about Faye's questions to see the battle brewing; he nods and nods and nods again, knowing just how many questions can spill out of Faye all at once. It's best to just sit back and let them all flow over him before he picks one to try and answer. "Aye, lass. Oi'll ask her. All've that and mair, and oi'll report back tae ye faithfully." Now he tweaks her nose, giving her a grin at the thought that he is going to 'report in' like a soldier to a grand commander, and hoping to draw a smile from her in return.
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:59 pm
Faye's mood was much too serious in the way that only a budding adolescent's could be; it was quite impossible for her to laugh at Macaire's playful almost-teasing. Instead, she nodded firmly, seemingly satisfied with this response. Or at least, she was satisfied until something else occurred to her.
"Do you think I'm supposed to put my name in the book?" she wondered. She was no grand warrior, but Lethe was a Guardian, after all. Still, the girl was not at all certain how she felt about being cataloged in a great big list full of other chosen. On the one hand, it could be as something out of an epic tale of old. On the other hand, well, she was just not sure. The very idea of it felt...strange. Not wrong, exactly, but certainly...off.
Lethe let loose a quiet grunt, almost a growl, informing Cadence that she was not fooled and would have none of his nonsense. Else, he would suffer the consequences.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 5:21 pm
For this Macaire has an instantaneous answer, shaking his head already before she has even finished the question. Even if the answer ought to have been 'yes,' for Macaire -- for Faye -- the answer is still a very firm 'no.' That is, he thinks, the whole and entire point of being a soldier; to prevent the Fayes of the land from having to deal with all that muck! Besides which, Faye is doubly precious as an orphan and an Airelander. Fool that he may be, he will keep her from it as long as he can.
"Nae, lass. Ye nor Lady Lethe are growed, and ye are nae soljers, aye?" Now he matches her seriousness, for on this topic he feels quite solemn himself, but he does not wish her to feel that she is lacking, either. "Leave signin' of yon book tae them such as meself, and ye must take on another mantle. Ye must make sure them as meet her have knowing of what yer Lady Lethe is, and ye must work hard at yer learnin', and be sae clever that there'll be none as kin doubt ye." Though he has only just come up with this task he is incredibly earnest about it, as if he is a great commander giving one of his knights a lofty mission. He is child enough at heart to know that simply telling her 'no, you can't sign the book' without giving her something else to think about can only end in disaster.
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:29 pm
She considered his words carefully, wondering whether he was up to something, but if there was any deception or deflection in his words, she could not detect it. It was just as well, really. She had no particular desire to fight anyone, not even wolves. Not yet, anyway. Lethe might have a warrior's soul, but Faye was barely more than a girl.
Then, she thought about what he was actually describing. Her learning was not a problem. She might not admit as much to her old friends, but Faye loved to learn, and the professor was always willing to fill her head with more information. But the other part... "Like an ambassador?" She stared at the Lethe dubiously. The doe wore one of her most vexed expressions: the one that said she was an inch away from biting something - in this case, Cadence. "I'm not sure she will like that."
Faye may not be familiar with very many Guardians, but she was almost certain that Lethe was one of the least qualified candidates for a beloved poster-child. A more beautiful doe, you would be hard-pressed to find, but a less socialized one would be even harder to produce.
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 7:29 pm
He realizes even as he makes his pitch that there are flaws in it -- but dealing with Faye means that he has to think on his feet, and he begins, by the time she voices her next question, to wish that he could get into a fight with someone instead. Fights, for all the subsequent consequences in pain and healing, are at least simple to understand, having one primary objective: to win.
He is beginning to suspect that there are no right answers for Faye. To anything. How do parents do this?!
"Oh, nay, nay, not .. exactly, nae. Mair like a .. weeell, sommat for folk tae admire. She is nae loike a normal deer, aye? Them as has met her will believe a Guardian can be brave enough tae fight!" Because Lethe will possibly already have taken them on, and won -- "But mayhap ye can take it upon ye tae .. calm her, jest a wee ickle bit. Oi donnae think ye can make her friendly, but perhaps ye can learn her 'tis not always good tae bite. Sometimes sitting still an' luiking majestic works jest as well."
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 1:37 pm
Had she known his thoughts, Faye would have taken it as another sign that adults were hopeless. Who'd rather fight than talk? Of course, if she were a few years older, she would find it quite hilarious that the big, strong guardsman was so afraid of a little girl.
Instead, she smiled slightly. Lethe was already quite good at lurking majestically - she simply preferred the direct approach. But maybe some sort of compromise could be made. The girl could not deny that she had had more than a few rocky starts since Lethe had come into her life. Not that she found any fault in her Guardian. She just thought it might be nice if more than a handful of people would be willing to be in her presence, rather than fleeing the very sight of the doe.
"Still sounds like an ambassador to me," she muttered. What else could she call it? Someone to stand around and look impressive? Was there a name for that?
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Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 8:47 pm
Well, there is a name for those who stand around and look impressive and accomplish little (so far as Macaire is concerned) though it takes him a moment to think of it. "Nay," says Macaire, a bit tentatively at first -- given the enormity of what he is suggesting, that Lethe be nice -- and then with more confidence. "'Tis mair like ye are the ambassador, and wee Lethe be the Queen." He chuckles at the thought of it, for the idea of Lethe being somehow royal is so fitting that he almost bursts into laughter, able to restrain himself only by great effort. Why, she has all the proper traits! She is arrogant, beautiful, and sure of her rightness at all times! "Ye'll simply have tae convince her that wee Queens donnae bite they subjects, aye?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:33 pm
For the first time that morning, a large grin spread across the girl's face. Slowly at first, but wider and brighter the more she thought about it. Ambassador Faye and Queen Lethe. Oh, she liked the sound of that. She liked it very much. Her Guardian was so regal and proud and distant already that she could not think of a better title for her. "Queen Lethe," she said, testing the sound aloud.
The doe in question perked up at the mention of her name from Faye's lips. She glanced between the girl and the guardsman, and the motion was so elegant that Faye giggled in delight.
"Yes," she agreed, pleased with the new task and position that Macaire had bestowed upon her, even if it wasn't really official. "I think we can do that."
Already, her mind was abuzz with ideas. "But who should we talk to? Anyone? Everyone? Certain people in particular?" Where should she start?
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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 11:56 am
He gives this some more thought, wondering at the same time if this is a 'mission' he can give any other children he encounters with Guardians of their own -- it's actually a good purpose to set them to, and he's pleased with himself for thinking of it. It keeps them busy, it keeps them from thinking about fighting, and it'll make people like them, he hopes. The only danger he sees is that Faye is such a bold little lass that she'd walk right up to a nobble and start lectern' about the wonders of Guardians! Perish the thought!
"Them as would listen," he determines finally. "Them that look interested in her, or ask about her, or stop to watch her go by, y'ken? Yer little friends ye run about with .. aye, 'tis of great importance they ken what Guardians be, fer --" He pauses, fumbling briefly. For they'll be the first to be conscripted, if there is a war. " -- they're a clever lot, aye?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 7:12 pm
"I suppose so," she agreed.
She wondered briefly which of her friends he was referring to, but she decided it did not really matter. Faye would speak to all of them. It would be no trouble to convince her street friends, and Livy would help with the rest. Now, she would simply have to get used to the idea of talking to strangers on the street. It was...not an especially pleasant idea, but with Lethe by her side, Faye knew that she no longer had anything to fear from them.
Big, brown, curious eyes peered up at the guardsman. "Anything else, then?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:49 am
"Jest ye donnae worry none," he tells her cheerfully, relieved at the thought that this interrogation might soon be over. He tweaks her nose with a smile, despite his discomfort rather pleased to find their homeland so well represented in such a clever little lass. Does his heart good, it does. "Yer the cleverest wee likkle lass oi know, ye ain't got no need for fearin' naught."
Cadence, perhaps recognizing the tones of Macaire's voice -- or more aware of the passing of time then his Chosen -- sighs heavily. Shortly they will have to go to work, where Cadence will sit outside the shop and Macaire will stand solemnly at the door for several boring hours. It's a pity, since he really wanted to spend more time trying to inch closer to Lethe, and see how close he could get before she noticed. He sits with his head down, watching her sadly, as if a great show of loneliness will somehow impress her. The fact that he ought to know better apparently does not deter him from trying.
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 5:42 pm
As ever, the doe remained unimpressed with Cadence's shows of affection or forlorn dejection. She was much more interested in the fact that her Chosen was finally beginning to cheer up. Faye felt much more like herself. Worry did not suit the girl in the least. For that, Lethe would allow Macaire to pass unmolested...as though she were planning on attacking him anyway. A doe could have her delusions.
It would be easier to protest that Livy was by far even cleverer than her, but Faye chose instead to take the compliment in the spirit in which it was intended. Besides, it felt nice to be appreciated. She offered him a smile, hopped onto the ground, and shook out her skirts. If an uneaten biscuit or two happened to disappear from the table, well...who would notice?
Perhaps a little embarrassed, the girl fidgeted in place for a long moment. "Thank you," she blurted at last before picking up her skirts and fleeing, Lethe following behind with considerably more dignity.
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