|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 8:58 pm
[ PRINCE ÆRIK ]
Ærik let out breath that he had not been aware of holding and closed his eyes as Elsina spoke, fearing that what she said was a dream. Drawing the Princess's hands with his to his chest, he took slow breaths to catch up with all that had transpired. It seemed such a monumental task mere hours ago, days even when it had begun, and once he'd arrived he felt as if he was drowning in a pool too large for him. This place with its royals, its treaties, the riches and customs -- all so alien.
He had to remind himself that this was only the first step. Despite the favor that Queen Madeira clearly carried with the Winter Kingdom, it was still their arms that Prince Ærik had been sent to secure. Opening his eyes he saw a brief flash of his mother's face where Elsina's was, pale skin and paler hair, with her sad, sad smile.
"Then the Gods' favor continues." The Prince could not deny that this entire journey had been blessed, not now, and he felt a renewed hope and, with it, fire because of it. Visions of his mother disappearing and being replaced by the Princess, Ærik lowered his head to her. He would not forget her role in all of this, either. "And hopefully so will the favor of fine, Southern women."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:15 pm
[ LORD MARTYN ]
Dinner had been small, with only the lords of the council and the royal guests in attendance. High nobility of their own retinues may have been invited, but both had neglected to come attended by any. Except that little Madi (who had not been so little during the council meeting, Lord Martyn acknowledged with pride) considered Prince Aerik's dragon to be his "retinue", and had invited the prince to let his dragon land the large Winterfield between Corriander's Castle and the moat.
His little queen had been very attentive to her First knight at dinner, favoring teasing with him even over speaking Ro'gan with Prince Aerik -- who didn't seem to mind. He spoke with Princess Elsina the whole while, though what they spoke of Lord Martyn hadn't a clue. He had only a few words of Ro'gan.
The meal was pleasant, as it always was, though Lord Martyn still did not trust Prince Aerik, especially not since the Kerthess princess insisted on accompanying Queen Madeira to Saayeri. To practice her Ro'gan, she claimed, and to spend time with her majesty. Lord Martyn had had to have Lord Maneri alter the arrangements already made as a result.
It was not very late in the night when Lord Martyn passed by the queen's door, knowing little Madi had been abed for an hour already - he had put her there. She was young and tired easily at night, and Lord Martyn had suggested she retire much earlier than the others were. Ser Stalwart still guarded her door, and was due to change shifts in a few moments' time -- he, too, needed rest for the morrow's journey.
"Ser Stalwart," Lord Martyn greeted as he rounded the corner. The torches were all lit to provide the Queensguard knight good light. "Tomorrow you ride with her majesty, and three of your brothers of the Queensguard wil be with you. Pick one to stay behind in Talquis, but the rest of you...." Lord Martyn paused. He did not want to offend Ser Stalwart's honor, as the man was a proved knight and First of the Queensguard, but the Lord Regent harbored a father's worries and would do anything to ensure the safety of his sweet child.
"I know I need not remind you of your vows; you will keep my daughter and your queen safe, of course, and I would recommend you watch Prince Aerik and look out for Princess Elsina's safety. Gods be good, you will reach Saayeri without incident. Swift journey tomorrow, ser."
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:36 pm
[ SER STALWART ]
Though he hid it well, Ser Stalwart had a glow about him after the dinner. The Queen had seemed especially well-spirited and, despite his minor disapproval of her attention in the presence of other royalty, he could not deny that he enjoyed and appreciated it. Madi (though he would never call her that) was quickly becoming a fine lady, and it was especially emboldening to see her moments of innocent cheer. Which was why he didn't mind that the guard change was late. He'd always been fondest of the hours in which he could guard her majesty's dreams the most.
When the Regent rounded the corner Stalward made to greet the lord but the lord spoke first, and the Knight was immediately sobered by the words. The warm meal and contagious sense of gaiety did mask the seriousness of the task ahead of them; possible war, for Talquis, and against an enemy they had yet to identify. "By my life or limb, and your command, Sire." He said with a salute, and then a bow. As always, he swore that no harm would come to the Queen while he lived. Extending that protection to Elsina, a young woman to whom the Queen loved like a sister, was considered protecting a limb of the ruler herself.
He was not on familiar terms with the Lord Regent, matters of station and office before familiarity, but he feel compelled to assuage the Lord a small amount if he could. "No harm will come to the Queen while I live, Lord Regent." Spoken with belief of a fact, not a mere promise, Stalwart would be sure that it remained true to the day he died.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 7:31 pm
[ PRINCESS ALLOREN & PRINCE ALORDIN ]
Queen Madeira was dressed in an off-white dress of ivory, and her thick, fur-lined matching cloak was pinned at her throat with a crystal dragon with diamonds for eyes, but Princess Alloren wore the pure-white of fresh fallen snow and she wore a dragon of true ice. Princess Elsina and the prince she had convinced Madeira to champion, as well as the prince's own companion, were dressed for the cold as well, Elsina looking pale as death in Kerth colors.
"Madeira, when we heard word of your intention to visit, there was much joy to be had in Court," Alloren said, her pale sightless eyes resting on Madeira nonetheless. Their mounts were behind them with the rest of their retinue, and the same for Madeira's. The Talquisian Queen and the Saayi prince and princess had met at the foot of the Ice Bridge for a formal welcome.
"We are always pleased when our Southron Daughter returns to us," Prince Alordin finished his twin's pleasantries with a smile; his light blue eyes were Alloren's, though his own saw where hers did not. Alordin had his twin's arm, and it was clear that he had had to lead her off her mount and to the welcome.
Princess Elsina may have looked pale in the soft colors of her kingdom, but hers was a summer pale. Alloren and Alordin were true Saayi royalty; they were both tall and slender, with skin of ivory and white-blonde hair. But for Alloren's curves and Alordin's broad chest, the two were identical -- Alloren had a hint of strength to her beauty, and Alordin a softness to his angular features. They dressed similarly as well, Alordin wearing the same snow-white as his twin, though he wore an overcoat over trousers and doublet and beneath his cloak, all hemmed and embroidered in gold.
"It has been too long since we have heard word from you, Princess Elsina," Alordin said. "And to our cousins from the East,"
"We also bid welcome," Alloren finished.
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 8:37 pm
[ PRINCE ÆRIK & FINN ]
Glad that his brother had joined him, Prince Æril shared one silent look with the older man as they met with the royal representatives of the Winter Kingdom. Neither of them knew what they were doing, but Finn's silence on the matter was enough for Ærik to know that, no matter what he did, it would be for his people. He'd been quiet on the trip, growing more and more silent as they approached the ice bridge, and when Finn arrived with Wynne he had withdrawn from the familiarity he'd come to with the Princess Elsina the previous night. Though he enjoyed her company, and was refreshed by her aptitude for learning and her intelligence, the obligation he had to his people was greater than any personal endeavor that he may wish to pursue. Finn seemed relieved by his attitude, though he did not outwardly comment on it.
In fact, Finn was proud that his brother was remembering the weight of the task at hand. He stood back from the Prince, and as far from the other Southerners as he could manage without being rude, and remained silent and stoic as a statue as the Winter Kingdom's prince and princess joined and greeted them. The Ice Dragons they rode were like none that Finn had ever dreamed, and he imagined that Ærik, even with his private tutoring lessons with their mother, could not have been prepared for the sight of the majestic creatures either.
Ærik bowed low to the Prince and Princess, lower than he had ever bowed in his life, and introduced himself. "Prince Ærik Kellhiri'dan, and my First, Finn Johiri'dan, your majesties. We are honored to be recognized by the Winter Kingdom." For in truth, Prince Ærik had believed that the outside world was as sheltered from Roeghenon as Roeghenon was from the rest of Terrini. It seemed that as well as military might, the Winter Kingdom was advanced in other matters as well.
As he addressed them both, Ærik could not help but glance at the Princess more than was likely polite. Her sightless eyes had him intrigued; Valhiri riders did not fall ill, nor were they born with illness or wound, and they remained healthy for the remainder of their lives - which was considerably long, as their lives were bound to the half-lives of their dragons. It took a quiet cough from Finn, behind him, to mind his manners and remember his place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 8:58 pm
[ PRINCE ALORDIN & PRINCESS ALLOREN & QUEEN MADEIRA & PRINCESS ELSINA ]
There was no true relation between the Valihiri riders and the Saayi - at least, none recorded - but they were both northern dragonriders and so the Saayi prince and princess accorded them with their due respect. "Well met, cousins," Alloren said with a smile, and Alordin continued, "We return to the capitol on dragonback, if it please you. Princess Elsina, if I might have the honor of escorting you?" "Madeira, if you would aide me?" Alloren followed up.
The Ice Dragons the royal twins rode were, fittingly, the twins Ch'yaia and Ch'yain. Madi stepped forward to greet her northern sister with a kiss on the cheek, though the tall Alloren bent a little and Madi went to her tip-toes to do so. Her retinue would continue to Coryyn on horseback, as they always did; Madi took Alloren's arm, and led her sure-footed back to Ch'yain, though truthfully she was not needed. Alloren always knew where her dragon was, and the same of her dragon for her. It seemed at times that the Winter Rose saw with her dragon's eyes, though in truth it was Alloren's other senses that had made up for her lack of eyesight.
Alloren mounted her dragon, and held out an arm to pull Madi up behind her in the double-saddle; both she and her brother had chosen them for they knew they would be carrying passengers back to Coryyn with them. The dragons could handle the extra weight easily -- they were still in winter's kingdom, and winter breathed life into Ch'yain and Ch'yaia. "Ally," Madi said happily once they were mounted. "You're taller."
"Or is it you who is shorter, little Madi?" Ally teased.
"I've grown!" Madi squawked loudly in protest.
Elsina was on Madi's heels, though she waited until the queen had led Alloren back to her dragon to pay Prince Alordin a courtesy. "Thank you, my lord prince, for escorting me."
"Princess Elsina," Alordin replied with an easy smile, helping Elsina up into the second saddle before mounting himself. "Last I saw you, you were but a child, Madeira scarcely more than a babe, and I was not so old myself. It is good to see you again, in all your southern colors."
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 9:17 pm
[ SER STALWART ]
This was only the second time that the Knight had seen the ice dragons of the Winter kingdom, and they were no less impressive than the first. The Queen may tease Stalwart, but there was no denying that the magnitude and size of the creatures was both awing and intimidating. Though he knew that the dragons were not dangerous to him, and least of all to the Queen, he still stiffened at the sight of them. Of course it did not help that the entire ride from the Castle to the Ice Bridge had been shadowed first by one, and then two, red-dragons.
The second Northerner was even more barbaric than his brother with black furs of an animal that he could not identify and darkened leather armor that looked more like a mercenary's garb than any steward. But he said nothing, not until the Queen jaunted away merrily with the Princess from the Winter Kingdom. He may not speak High Ro'gan, but he knew enough that his charge was about to leave him behind -- again.
"Queen Madeira!" He called, jogging closer to the Princess and Queen. He bowed to the Princess, and then looked up to the Queen with his best attempt to mask the stern eye he wished to give her. "Please tell his majesty, Prince Aerik, that I will ride with him." He then looked to Aerik and pinned him with a pointed glare. Over the ride he had begun to get a taste of what the Lord Regent had hinted at in the hall while the Queen slept, and while the First Knight still dared he would not be giving his Queen a head start while the horses, try as they might, lagged behind the speed of dragon's flight.
Signalling with a single gesture to his fellow knights, he watched as they mounted and, after securing his own mount to the lead, began their ride to the capitol.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 9:36 pm
[ PRINCE ÆRIK & FINN ]
For the briefest of moments, Prince Ærik watched as Elsina was led away by Alordin. He turned away at the sight of the foreign Prince's smile, and he heard Shiva's voice rumble in echo of his thoughts. Before he could begin his own mounting, Finn caught him by the shoulder. Close as they were, their words were spoken quickly and quietly between them.
"Mind where your thoughts stray, brother." Finn scolded, his eyes darkening.
"My thoughts are for our people, nothing more." Ærik replied curtly.
"Do not lie to me. Finn said sharply, and then continued. "You are young, brother, and your need to be her hero will undo us both. We both know that she should have remained with her men. Even if she did serve a purpose that purpose is done - why is she here now?"
Jerking his shoulder from his brother's grip, Ærik replied just as hastily. "She is here because she wishes it, and I wish it." Ignoring the noisy scoff from Finn, the Prince glanced at Queen Madeira's Knight and hesitated. Finn followed his gaze and then said, "I believe he is to ride with you, little brother."
Even as the Steward spoke, the rest of the Knights hurried onward to the bridge as Stalward leveled a direct gaze at Ærik. In response, Ærik turned his face to hide his sneer but his next words were stopped by more unheeded wisdom from his older sibling. "If he rides with you it will be a sign of good faith from you." Finn looked to Wynne before adding, "and Wynne won't take the added weight." The darker dragon sighed loudly to support her rider's words, and Finn could not hold back his chuckle as he left his brother's pained expression to mount.
Resisting a groan, and swallowing the accusatory stare that Ser Stalwart leveled at him, Ærik looked to the Queen and waved for the Knight to approach. "You Knight may ride with me, your majesty, since it seems the horses will not have him." Having gathered that the Knight did not speak Ro'gan, Ærik could not resist. Mounting, he lowered a hand (that was not accepted) as the Knight struggled to clamber into the saddle. Despite Shiva's best attempts to cause the Talquisian knight to fall with shakes and shudders, the Knight eventually managed into the seat and the Roeghenon dragons (and passengers) were ready to follow their western cousins.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:51 am
[ PRINCESS ELSINA ]
"Prince Aerik," Madi called from atop Ch'yaia with a broad smile. "If you would be so kind to take the First of my Queensguard to Coryyn?"
The latter three knights would make for Coryyn with a snow-melting mage to clear their paths, and they would not stop until they got there... but Ser Stalwart could not be left behind, Elsina knew. He was the first, the most skilled, of Madi's sworn shields and, as the queen's safety preceded every other care, it was in Ser Stalwart's vows to disregard any orders she gave that might lead to her harm. Unlike Ser Rosfir, whom Elsina had sent home to reassure her father that she was fine and accompanying Queen Madeira to Saayeri so she could practice her Ro'gan and study in the winter kingdom's library.
"The knight should learn Ro'gan," Prince Alordin told Prince Elsina with a shake of his head as Finn and Prince Aerik had a word before seeming to accept that one had to carry Ser Stalwart to Coryyn. "It is only proper."
"Yes," Elsina agreed. "But he has spent his life learning sword and spear and archery, how could he have time for a language?"
"I had time," was the winter prince's reply, and Elsina couldn't help but laugh.
When Ser Stalwart was mounted with Prince Aerik, Alordin gave the command to take flight.
"Ch'yaia," he said as Alloren sai, "Chy'ain." "The skies."
The flight to Coryyn took a full day, and it was well into the night by the time the dragons and their riders reached it.
Coryyn was a large city built in a semi-circle whose straight side was the base of a cliff. The castle itself was built half into the icy cliffside, and it extended hundreds of feet high to the top of it -- though the upper two thirds of the cliffside had only tall towers and stairs to reach the top, as well as deep hollowed out caves in the cliffside where the ice dragons lived.
In the center of the city was a large pit, fifty feet across and twenty deep. Both the pit and the area surrounding it were paved with red brick, and a thousand years ago, when dragons of fire had frequented Coryyn the Great Fires had been lit there and dragons and people both mingled about it. Now the peoples of Coryyn held their weekly market there, but tonight, for the first time in over three hundred years a Great Fire had been lit and the space beside the fire cleared for Prince Aerik and Finn's dragon companions.
Alordin was the first to touch down by the fire, Ch'yaia staying as far from it as she could and Ch'yain doing the same. As soon as Alordin dismounted and helped Elsina down, and Madi and Alloren dismounted as well, the ice dragons took off for their cliff dwellings, away from the heat and the fire.
"Prince Aerik, Ser Finn," Alloren said gesturing at the castle lit by a full moon beyond the Great Fire. "Welcome to Coryyn," Alordin finished.
A shiver went down Elsina's spine.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:30 pm
[ PRINCE ÆRIK, FINN, & SER STALWART ]
The moment that the red dragons set down close to the fire, much closer than Stalwart was comfortable being in the apparel that was meant to protect him from the cold, the Knight dismounted from the Dragon with a single word of thanks to the Prince - even if the Prince did not speak Terrini. He made his way to where Ch'yain had left the Princess Alloren and Queen Madeira and took his place beside his lady. She looked as if she had enjoyed every moment of the ride from the bridge to Coryyn, though the First Knight felt every bit as disheveled as he looked. It hadn't helped that Prince Ærik's dragon had made it very clear more than once during the flight that she did not enjoy the second passenger nearly as much as she had when it was the Princess Elsina.
Prince Ærik may not have enjoyed it either, except that he had surrendered to the Vhenan early into the flight and enjoyed very much the bonded time with Shiva. In truth, the night he had spent in Talquis under Madeira's hospitality was the longest he had gone from Shiva's side, and he could feel that she was just as pleased to be back with him, as well. When they landed she hesitated, and Ærik sensed her concern for the elder dragon, Wynne. The flight had been difficult, especially considering that the previous night Wynne had flown with Finn to the icebridge from the rendezvous with the other Valhiri, and before that from Kerth. Dismounting, Ærik let Shiva attend to Wynne as they both went to the fire and, with a great sigh of satisfaction from the Matriarch, layed on the edge of it to treat their bones and weary wings in the fire's massive heat.
Finn joined him and the weariness of Wynne's condition showed on his face - dark circles under his eyes, pale, stressed color from his face, and a dull tone to his usually bright eyes. It was clear that Wynne drew strength from him, and, knowing Finn, Ærik could guess that his brother gave it willingly.
Both brothers were impressed by the city, and moreover by the hospitality provided to them and their red mounts in the winter climate, and were curious that the amenities were so easily available. They'd been told that long, long ago the Dragons of Fire and the Dragons of Ice had been cousins, still were despite the distance, and that was why they had come for their aid. Neither of them had expected that Winter Kingdom had preserved those times, nor that their presence would be so welcome. Whatever had happened between the two kingdoms was lost to their history, or hidden, and Ærik hoped that it would not come between the engagement to come.
"Gratitude, your Eminences." The Prince said, his eyes on the grand castle above them before coming down to the pale twins. "We are humbled by your abounding hospitality." And surprised. Behind him, Finn remained silent but he knew that his brother felt the same, if not more, subtle notion that they had both unwittingly entered into a world vastly beyond what either of them had ever been prepared for.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:26 pm
[ PRINCESS ALLOREN ]
Madeira was positively radiating happiness after the flight, and the clink of chainmail muffled by heavy cloth said clear as day that Ser Stalwart had joined her. "Ser knight," Alloren greeted, turning towards him. "I trust your journey was not too taxing?" His scent, like most, had been frozen by the cold but his breathing was louder than Madi's, and higher than the child queen's.
Partway through the flight, Alloren had donned the cloth-of-gold eye-mask embroidered with white to resemble a rose - the mask that gave her the title Winter Rose. Alloren could only imagine what it looked like, from her hazy memories of color and things. She had not always been blind.
"Alordin," Alloren said in scarcely more than a whisper but her brother was at her side instantly, though Princess Elsina had moved to join Queen Madeira it seemed. The Saayi princess let her brother guide her to Prince Aerik and his fatigued companion. Though Alloren had known where they were she could not predict every snag in the ancient brick that hard soles of her boots clacked softly on, and Alordin kept her straight and steady if she did stumble.
The Winter Rose approached Finn, guided by her brother. Fingers gloved in white reached out slowly to rest a hand on the foreign dragonrider's shoulder. "You are tired," she observed from his slight slouch. "Our apologies; the cold is not kind to dragons of fire, though we of winter thrive on it. We forget."
And then a gift of energy flowed from her hand, lent by Ch'yain who was younger, part of the climate, and not as weary as Finn and his dragon. "We have a feast prepared, as we do whenever Madeira returns. It would not do for you to be so weary because of our neglect."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:21 pm
[ SER STALWART, PRINCE ÆRIK, & FINN ]
"It was nothing that a Queensguard would not face again for her ladyship." Was the diplomatic response while Ser Stalwart regained his composure. Though, as an afterthought, he feared that the Queen may end up holding him to that for the rest of his life.
Wart was respectful in his appreciation of the artful mask the Princess wore, though both Prince Ærik and Finn openly admired it. It was entirely foreign to the Roeghennon men, delicate, intricate and pale, and a contrast to the rough, practical garb of their Eastern Kingdom. Even the ruling clan did not dress in embellishments; their only accessories were the occasional hunting trophy or spoils of raids on other nations - though there had been few raids since Ærik could remember.
Finn resisted pulling back from the Princess' touch, as unaccustomed to attention as he was (his presence always and only a shadow to the Prince) and he accepted the gift of energy from Alloren with a hint of surprise. He felt the weariness in his bones lift, and his relief was voiced by Wynne who issued forth a comfortable, satiated sigh. His cheeks flushed slightly at the sound, as unbecoming of a female dragon as it would be a female of any race or species, but did not look away from the Saayi Princess.
"My thanks, Princess, but there is no cause for you to apologize. Our weariness is of the heart, not the climate." He felt the gaze of his brother fall upon him then, and knew that the young Prince was surprised that Finn had dared speak to the Princess.
"As grateful as we are for your generosity, your highnesses, we have not come to the Winter Kingdom for recreation." Prince Ærik interjected. Though he knew that he spoke brazenly, he was anxious to begin proceedings so that he could return to his people. As inexperienced as he was in foreign protocol, he could not afford to dally because of etiquette.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
haphazardly parked Vice Captain
|
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:43 pm
[ PRINCE ALORDIN & QUEEN MADEIRA & PRINCESS ELSINA ]
"Truly?" Madi asked of Ser Stalwart, a mischievous little smile on her lips. "So if I decided to learn an ice dragon of my own, then you would have to ride with me to keep me safe, which means we'd be flying all over Terrini together, no, my good ser?"
Her comment made Elsina laugh, even as the conversation between the dragonriders turned more serious.
"It would do no good for you to fatigue yourselves further from lack of nourishment," Alloren chided gently. "Not when, from what we have heard, you need your strength most." "And this return feast is custom strong as law, here in Saayeri," Alordin added. "But do not fear - the return feast is no more than a dinner with all my royal brethren recalled to a meal."
"Consider it an opportunity, my lord prince," Elsina advised; Madi, Ser Wart and she had moved to join the others. "To meet the House you are requesting the aide of -- the king commands, but members of Houses are staunchly loyal to each other and the king would not be entirely happy with openly defying one of his own."
Alordin smiled. "Ah, yes, dear Elsi with her words of wisdom," he said, trying to lighten the mood before they met with their family. Alloren took up the cause. "Not much different from when we were children - 'If you cheat me in stratagem, I'll ask your master-at-arms to give you an extra nice bruise tomorrow.'"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:40 am
[ SER STALWART, PRINCE ÆRIK, & FINN ]
Though he did his best to swallow the sudden dread that washed over him at the suggestion of a personal dragon for the Queen, Stalwart was certain that the cringe was perfectly visible enough to convey his true feelings on the matter despite his will to remain silent on the matter.
"No more than that?" Prince Ærik asked in jest, as if meeting the entire royal household and presenting himself as formal representative of his people was but a trivial matter. Despite his half-hearted banter, he resigned himself to acceptance of yet more Winter hospitality and, as the Princess stated it, 'opportunity.' So many formalities, it was a wonder that the outside world did not choke itself with all of the entanglements of protocol and procedure. He longed for the easter skies, the red-oak lodges, and the fires in the mountains.
Finn let out a low breath as a quiet hiss at Ærik's tone and resisted the urge to box his ears. The fact that Ærik was too young for his station, too inexperienced in politics, and hopelessly without tact was obvious on a good day, but on a day like this it was dismally obnoxious. Even if he wished to speak, either to convey apologies for his brother's curt nature or attempt to reconcile it, he remained wordless, a glowering shadow, and remembered that it would be the Prince of Roeghenon to secure salvation or no one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
