|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 6:33 am
Lavender sat on a fallen tree that hung over the river, poking her toes into the water and watching the ripples expand. She couldn't remember much from last night. She woke up early in the morning and found Ryan asleep sitting against her bed.
He told her she passed out and brought her valerian tea, then left her and went to his own room. She felt bad for whatever happened, yet grateful for not remembering it. Rose and Marda were washing the clothes nearby. She was under surveillance for her own good, apparently. This was decided when Ryan, Joshua and Sage were off to the library. Lavender pouted, bored. A string hooked around her ankle, tugging at her skin. Looking down, she found two bottles tied to the ends of it. They were covered in barnacles and must have washed in from the ocean. Excitement surged through her as she picked them up and examined them more closely. Odd liquid swirled inside - one bottle was filled with a black or murky crimson fluid and the other seemed to contain some silver liquid.
"Rose? Marda? Can I please take this to Ani?"
"That girl from last night?"
"Yes."
"No, darling. You shouldn't bother her, and her friend."
"Especially that friend," Marda added quietly.
"Why not?"
"They have their own things to do on a Saturday."
"Oh..." She looked down at her feet.
* * *
Stacia lay stiff and cold on top of her bed. She blinked in the sunlight and stretched her limbs; the night's events had exhausted her. Slowly, she coaxed herself out of bed and dressed. She wore a navy blue collared tunic and black stockings with her soft calfskin boots. She observed herself in the mirror and pulled her mask over her face, deciding she'd rather go for a walk alone. Closing her eyes, she made the transition into a hawk and took to the skies. She soared for a few minutes before descending in the woods, far removed from the lake, the school, the estate - everything - and returned to normal, her mask becoming a necklace once more. She set off in a random direction, lost in her own world.
[This post is a collaboration between both members of the roleplay, played out via chat on another site and posted by Genrin619.]
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 6:36 am
"What are you doing here," she demanded loudly, angrily.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
"Are you following me?"
"How could I have been if I was here before you," he retorted. She had to admit that he had a valid point. With a sigh, she sat on the river bank. "I bet they hate me now...
I wonder if Lavender's okay." Tannem knelt next to her. "She's fine. They'll take care of her. It was just a bump on the head." She frowned at him. "I guess I'll never know, will I? 'As'ardens and Imperials will never mix well,' right?" Without waiting for a reply, she plunged into the river, not caring that she was fully clothed, and began swimming upstream. "Get back here," he called after her, frustrated. She ignored him. He jogged along the river next to her. "And just where do you think you're going?"
Stacia tread the water, struggling slightly with the force of the current. "Away from you. Now go away," she demanded.
"No," Tannem crossed his arms, staring down at her. "Come out of there or I'll have to drag you out."
"You're bluffing," Stacia declared. He scowled. "Fine. Drag me out." In a flash, he had plunged in after her. Her heart jumped and she attempted to out-swim him, shoving him away and yelling insults at him as he tried to heave her onto the muddy bank.
* * *
There was some shouting in the wind. It sounded vaguely familiar. "Ani?" Lavender stood, balancing on the tree trunk. She waited for Rose and Marda to become absorbed in their work to slip away, placing the vials in her shoulder bag before shifting into a deer. After a while of galloping as fast and discreet as her hooves could carry her, she finally came across the duo playing in the... Mud? Are they playing?
Stacia rammed her elbow into Tannem's ribs as hard as she could. She had succeeded in knocking the wind out of him; he released her and she stood, running clumsily from her water-logged clothing. She hadn't gone more than a few yards before he focused his attention on a root and tightened it. She tripped and fell in the mud. He threw himself at her and pinned her arms down. She looked up at him furiously, panting and hoping he could feel what she was doing to him in her mind. "See," he said, gasping for air, "I told you I'd drag you out of there." She struggled to hit him, but he had a firm grip on her. "Will you stop that!?"
"I would rather die than marry you," she screamed at him. He released her and she shoved away, sitting on the river's edge, her back to him. That's when she noticed she wasn't alone. A faun watched them curiously from across the narrow part of the river. She stared back, confused. "Hello, little one," she called gently, "Where did you come from?"
[This post is a collaboration between both members of the roleplay, played out via chat on another site and posted by Genrin619.]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 6:42 am
Stacia reached for them. "Oi! Don't touch those," Tannem shouted at her. She ignored him. He crossed the distance between them and snatched them from her hand. "Do you get a kick out of trying to kill yourself? You don't even know what these are!"
"What are they then," she challenged, standing. He held the vials to the sunlight carefully, minimizing contact with his skin. "This one," he said, dropping his hand and placing it upon a patch of moss, "is mercury. And this..." He trailed off, his expression changing from confusion to concern. "Blood," he said quietly. He looked at Lavender sharply. "Where did you find these?"
Stacia picked up the mercury and Tannem threw up his hand in irritation. "What did I just say?"
"Mercury and blood? What are they for," she asked him, turning the vial over in her hands and noting it's weight. He ignored her. "Where did you find these," he repeated sternly, "Please show me exactly where."
"I can't. They just drifted in with the current, I'm guessing. Hence those things," she pointed at the barnacles. "They must have found their way in from the sea which means someone is trading with blood and mercury? That doesn't make sense..."
His hands trembled angrily. "It does if you're raising the dead." He took the mercury from Stacia - who protested, complaining she was still looking at it - and placed the vials in a protective case from his pocket. "Better not mention this to anyone. I'll contact the authorities tonight. Parliament should know about this." Stacia frowned at the mention of parliament and the thought of her father. She turned away from him, examining a rip in her tunic. "You ripped my shirt," she said blandly.
"You broke my rib," he snapped, "One hardly compares to the other."
"You're right; this was my favorite shirt." Tannem groaned, irritated, and leaned against the tree, rubbing his eyes. Stacia smiled smugly. "So," she asked Lavender, "Are you feeling better, then?"
[This post is a collaboration between both members of the roleplay, played out via chat on another site and posted by Genrin619.]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 6:45 am
Stacia's eyes widened. "They... They wouldn't do that, Lav." She turned to Tannem. "Would they?" He heaved an annoyed sigh. "It's treason to even think that," he scolded her. She frowned and looked at the ground. "But what if they are?"
He came to stand beside her, looking directly into her eyes. "Our duty is to report this. After that, it's none of our business. Understood?" She glared, but didn't object. "Lavender, have you told anyone else about this, or showed them the vials," he asked.
"If they are doing something illegal, they might decide to punish you for your knowledge of this," Lavender said, avoiding his question for no reason. "If you'd like to take that risk, go ahead. Or we could investigate the matter by ourselves without endangering or troubling anyone."
"I wouldn't advise it, but I can't stop you. And I'd still like to talk to whoever you told," he said, noting her evasiveness. Stacia ignored this remark and smiled at Lavender. "I'll help you."
"No you won't. You I can stop. I forbid it." Stacia rounded on him. "Excuse me? You 'forbid' it? Who gave you control of my life?"
"Your parents when they betrothed you to me," he said simply. "I am responsible for you and I won't allow you to go running about, risking your neck over illegal activity."
Stacia's face remained impassive. "How far is the ocean," she asked Lavender. "We can start there, investigating the docks."
"Unbelievable," Tannem exclaimed. "It's like I'm not even here!"
"I wish you weren't," Stacia mumbled.
"I've only told you. Just make sure no one's around when you interrogate yourself," she bit on the tip of her tongue to keep herself from laughing at her own joke. "We're days, maybe even weeks, away from the ocean. However, I suppose we could go upstream and follow the river?"
[This post is a collaboration between both members of the roleplay, played out via chat on another site and posted by Genrin619.]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 2:40 pm
Stacia nodded and started upstream. "You're really going to do this, aren't you," Tannem realized incredulously. Stacia gave him a defiant look. He sighed. "Fine. But I'm going with you." She shrugged. "Tomorrow," he added. "We all need to make sure we're prepared... and I need to get to a healer," he added, clutching his ribs.
“Yay!” Lavender clapped her hands and jumped a few inches into the air, closing her eyes into a smile and seeming like a child. “Yes, you should. Sage is in the library. I’ll fetch her for you. Just stay here and make yourself as comfortable as possible. Ani, would you like to stay with him and make sure nothing comes to eat him, or would you like to come with?”
"I'll wait," sure said with a glare to him. She remembered all too well how things had ended up with the As'ardens and the library was the last place she wanted to be.
Lavender nodded and darted off, pulling her mask over her eyes and shifting to increase her speed.
Tannem allowed himself to slide down the tree he was leaning on, his breathing shallow to avoid the pain. Stacia felt a twinge of guilt. " Can't you heal it?"
"I'm a medical researcher, not a doctor. The most healing I can do is fix bruises." She frowned, the guilt increasing, and looked away.
They did not have to wait long before the faun reappeared at the horizon with a fox at her side. After changing back into their human forms, Sage said, "Where's the dying man? Oh, there you are." She swung her bag from off her shoulder and opened it - ready. "What's wrong with you?"
Tannem looked up at Lavender and the stranger. "Who are you?"
"You're one for useful questions, aren't you," she smirked, then turned to Stacia. "It's his ribs, isn't it?"
"Yes. Thank you for your help," she said anxiously. Tannem tried to back away, digging his heels into the ground. "No. I am going to an imperial healer." He mumbled something about sanitation regulations and nonsense herbalism, trying to stand.
“An Imperial healer? Please. Our medicine is more safe, reliable and effective than that of those pretentious idiots. Take off your shirt and sit still or I will immobilise you.”
Tannem glared, his hand on his belt, ready to change it into his mask and shift. Seeing this, Stacia knelt in front of him, unbuttoning his shirt. He felt numb, staring at her, mesmerized. She pulled it of gently and backed away to allow the girl to get to work.
Sage inspected the damage. The rib was poking up and almost breaking through the badly bruised skin. “Alright,” she started. “Girl,” she said to Stacia, handing her a wooden bowl. “Fill this with water and make sure there are no random particles in it. Lavender, fetch me some yarrow.” When they were off, she asked Tannem, “Do you feel hot or cold because of the wound?”
Tannem considered her for a moment. "Cold," he said quietly, finally looking away from Stacia. Blood bubbled up over his lips. "Might've gotten my lungs..."
The dark-haired girl nodded, remaining calm and giving him something to bite on. “This will hurt, but try not to scream or squirm.” She took a deep breath and gently stroked over the affected area. Her fingertips were warm and wet with some kind of oil – ivy or something that numbed the skin. Poking the bruise gently, she asked, “Can you feel it?”
He bit down on the object, his groan of pain muffled. He nodded. Stacia returned with the bowl of water. "How can I help?"
“His body is resilient,” she applied more of the ointment and waited for it to take effect. Again, she tapped at the bruised area to test skin sensitivity. “You can keep his mind occupied. Hmm, hope I won’t have to cut into it. Tell him a story or something.”
"Um... I'm not great with stories." She looked pained as she sat beside him. He turned his hand over, palm up. Meekly, she took it and squeezed gently. The object dropped from his mouth and he reached over, cupping her face in his other hand.
“You really shouldn’t move,” Sage mouthed, but took the opportunity and pushed down hard onto the bone. Concentrating, she fidgeted with it until it was where it should be, which did not take long, and massaged the skin where the fragments were disconnected. There was a warm glow around her fingers and the bone grew and reattached itself at an alarming rate. Lavender finally returned with a few leaves of yarrow and held them out to her. She shook her head, implying that it was not needed, and took oil from her kit. It contained a combination of eucalyptus oil, rosemary, geranium and some other essential oils mixed in almond base oil. This, she smeared over the bruised area and massaged it in thoroughly. When this was done, the bruise has disappeared completely and there was a lasting warm feeling in his skin.
Tannem didn't even seem to notice, though her work was painful. When it was finished, Stacia pulled away. "Thank you. I'm Ani-Stacia. This is Aidan Tannem."
“Sage,” she said, smiling and wiping her hands on her jeans before reaching out a hand. “Nice to meet you. Next time, sir, you might think twice before insulting an herbalist. You can stand up now. The numbing will wear off in a few hours or so.”
Tannem stared at her for a moment. " You're As'arden. But you helped me anyway... Thank you," he said, humbled. "I am in your debt," he added, hanging his head.
“In my debt?” She seemed surprised and almost as if the phrase was unfamiliar.
“As’ardens aren’t against Imperials,” Lavender explained, pocketing the yarrow leaves.
“No, but that doesn’t mean I like them. And even if I don’t like them, that would not stop me from helping them if it’s for a good cause. Don’t be ridiculous - you owe me nothing. What are you doing out here anyway?”
“They came to visit me,” Lavender defended.
[This post is a collaboration between both members of the roleplay, played out via chat on another site and posted by m i s s Rieux.]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 2:44 pm
“Well,” Sage said, hesitating. “I’m glad you made friends. You should keep that yarrow and brush up on your studies. You might make a good nurse.”
“But I’m not a healer – ”
“That shouldn’t stop you from absorbing knowledge like a sponge.” Lavender smiled in submission. “Anyone else in mortal danger? If not, I have a few hundred books awaiting me,” she glowed – happy to be of service and even happier to return to her reading.
Stacia hesitated. "I may be leaving soon," she told Sage. " When I do, may I entrust my books to your care? They are books on sorcery, Eridell... many things. They are at his estate, and you can come and go as you like. As a thank you," she said, bowing her head.
"I'd be delighted! May I read them?" Lavender gently elbowed her friend. "What? Oh, come on. It's books! There's no harm in that. And it's like asking a favour. How can I turn down anything to do with books?" At this, Lavender only laughed silently and pursed her lips, shaking her head, but not keeping her from making the deal.
"We would be honored if you would use anything at the estate as you see fit," Tannem replied as Stacia nodded in agreement.
A bright smile spread over her lips and into her eyes. “Thank you. Um. Where is this estate exactly?”
He pointed ahead, beyond the river. " Two miles that way, you'll find the road. Going right on it will take you out of the woods to the university. Left a few miles will take you to the estate. It's a large white and gold building. If you would both like, you are both welcome to come tonight. And whoever else you'd like to bring with you," he offered.
"We'd rather not impose. This one is grounded," Sage ruffled Lavender's hair, causing her mask to fall off. She caught it before it hit the ground and hugged it to her chest, glowering at Sage who did not seem to notice at all. "It's nothing personal, of course. It would be better for us if we lay low for a while. Hope you understand." She glanced at the sky and added, "They're probably wondering where I am. Don't let her out of your sight and stay away from rib-breaking situations, Tannem!" She leaped into the air, head first, and shifted, fleeing the scene. Lavender felt her discomfort and seemed slightly amused. Well, that wasn't awkward. Smooth, really smooth. Healers in As'arden were generally thanked with the happiness of their patients or trades between the families, but knowledge was a soft spot for the ever-curious fox and Stacia made an offer she could not refuse even though she felt guilty about it.
Tannem shrugged. "Probably for the best." He struggled to his feet as quickly as he could manage. "Um... could I have my shirt now?" Stacia's face turned red and she handed it back to him. He pulled it on, but didn't bother buttoning it, letting his chest show.
Lavender carefully examined the energies bouncing off her friends, fighting a smile, and decided to redirect their attention to the previous topic. “So, we leave to-morrow at dawn?”
"Before dawn might be better, in case anyone might see and get curious. Will we meet here?" Stacia tried not to stare at his chest as he spoke.
“Perhaps a while further up the river. We’ll need a map to avoid border patrol. If I’m not mistaken, we should be in Faerang in three days, if we can get our hands on some horses, and the guards won’t look for us there. I’m not too sure how we’ll fare in Faerang, though.”
"I can acquire a map from the university," Stacia assured them. "I'll get it tonight."
“This will be so much fun! Our own little investigation,” Lavender giggled. “What do we do now?”
Stacia smiled. "We could swim, just have fun while we still can?"
"You say that as if we'll never have fun again," her head titled to the side in puzzlement.
She laughed. "Well we're going to have to be discreet. There won't be much opportunity to just enjoy ourselves."
"If there's a will, there's a way. Tannem, could we please, please dance on the water?"
Still feeling grateful, he nodded and went about increasing the surface tension. He bowed and gestured broadly, presenting the river to them.
Lavender lightly touched Stacia's elbow. "Would you please teach me that dance you danced last night?"
"Oh," Stacia blushed deeper, remembering. "I don't really know it. Where I come from, it's considered very bold and inappropriate. But Tannem knew..." she trailed off. He smiled and offered his hand to lavender. "Shall I teach you both?"
Lavender nodded.
Tannem carefully and cautiously took lavender's hand and led her onto the surface of the lake. "May I," he asked, indicating he would need to hold her waist.
She gave a sharp nod, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
He placed his hand in the small of her back. "Just follow my lead,” he told her, moving slowly to allow her to see the steps.
It was awkward at first, but Lavender was a fast learner in the arts and it came to her naturally. Soon enough, she was able to dance with as much bold passion and speed as the style required. The sequence ended and she bowed her head in thanks.
He returned the bow and turned to Stacia expectantly. She shook her head shyly and found her way onto the surface with lavender. "Why don't we all have a race on - or over - the river," she suggested, gesturing to her mask- necklace. "If I beat you," Tannem told Stacia, "you have to kiss me."
"In animal or human form?"
" Animal," she replied with a dubious look at Tannem.
Confident she wouldn't lose, she didn't disagree.
"Where's the finish line?"
"Hmmm... you know this river better. Where do you think it should be? It should be a decent distance."
Lavender drummed her fore- and middle-finger on her lips in thought. "I'll run ahead, then, and then see which wins. Four hooves are going to lose terribly against a set of wings and slithering anyway," she laughed and leaped away some kilometers upstream before waving her hands in the air to signal that she was set.
Stacia shifted rapidly and soared through the canopy. She jetted forward, but quickly found the air currents too turbulent. The combination of surface tension and the natural agility of snakes in water meant that Tannem quickly took three lead with blinding speed.
Panicked, Stacia flew faster, but dodging the branches slowed her. She dipped into a sharp dive, but it was too late; Tannem crossed past lavender. They both returned to their forms, Stacia fuming and Tannem smug.
"Well," he prompted, "I do believe I won." Stacia couldn't meet his eye. She stared at the river below. He rolled his eyes and pulled her to him swiftly. Her eyes grew wide. "Rematch?"
"I don't think so," he said with a wink and dipped her backward, his mouth pressing against hers greedily.
Stacia felt her knees give way, but he had a firm grip on her waist, supporting her. Her head spun out of control and the world around her faded away.
Passionately, he grazed her bottom lip with his teeth, sending an electric- like shiver down her spine. On impulse, she parted her lips slightly; he obliged her unspoken request. She noted vaguely that he tasted sweet before he pulled her even closer, rendering her brain useless. She gasped for air, but he pulled her back in, his hand finding its way onto the bare skin of the small of her back. She stopped resisting and sighed, contented, leaning into him.
Without warning, he released her; she fell back, dropping into the river and emerged soaked and gasping in shock - and pissed off.
Lavender averted her gaze. Their energy was intense and the instance of the previous night returned to her memory. She bit on her tongue and allowed the feeling of envy, longing and exclusion to die down and exchanged it for sympathetic happiness: Stacia would be happy. She would, at least, marry someone she felt attracted to. The tolerance and understanding will come later, she thought and smiled at them. When they made eye contact, she turned on her toes and marched away with stiff legs, whistling as though she was innocent of witnessing their kiss. She laughed, turning around. "Hungry? Lunch is on me. And no special tea this time, I promise!"
Tannem shrugged, "I could eat. What did you have in mind?" Stacia stumbled after them, dripping and still incapable of speech.
"There should be a good tavern somewhere in Th'ardrod with a decent menu, shouldn't there be?"
"I know of a few," he agreed. "But my treat; I insist," he said, stopping. Stacia walked into him and cried out, blushing, mumbling something incoherent.
“If you insist,” Lavender replied, making a mental note to eat something small and inexpensive. She went to walk next to Stacia, linking arms to give her some stability.
Stacia flashed Lavender a grateful smile and allowed Tannem to walk ahead, out of earshot.
((This post is a collaboration between both members of the roleplay, played out via chat on another site and posted by m i s s Rieux.))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:07 pm
"And?" was her first word accompanied by a big, excited smile.
"And what," she asked innocently, her face blushing yet again.
"Nothing," Lavender's eyes closed into her smile. Blushing was also an answer; a more that satisfactory answer. "Only upwards from here," she told her, not bothering to explain what she meant by it. "What are you hungry for?"
Stacia had to bite her tongue from replying with 'Tannem'. Instead, she replied, "I don't know. I can't really think. My brain is a bit numb."
Lavender giggled inwardly, then grew quiet. The walk was relatively uneventful, which was troublesome. Lavender, if you’re going to keep brooding I will make you understand the true meaning of pain. Besides, storybook tales don’t exist for people like you. Stop wanting that. Stop dreaming. Damn you, stop being selfish. She lifted her chin and felt the sun baking on her face as they walked. Finally, they reached a tavern and followed Tannem in.
Tannem pointed to a table in a quiet corner. "How's that one?"
“Looks good to me. Ani?”
Stacia nodded, looking away from him. He frowned, wondering if she hated him even more. It seemed likely to him. "I'll be back," she mumbled, finding her way to the powder room. Tannem took his seat gloomily. "I shouldn't have done that," he said quietly.
"Why would you think that?"
"She can't even stand to look at me now. And she said... she said she'd rather die than marry me." A waitress came over with two pitchers.
"Water? Ale?"
"Ale," he told her miserably. She smiled. "You got it," She poured him a tall tumbler and turned to lavender.
"Water, thank you." After the waitress served her and left, she brought the glass to her lips. "You think too much," she said with a sly smile and took a sip. "Time and patience, my friend."
He drained his drink and sighed. "Maybe it's time to just give it up." He shrugged. "Perhaps I'll shift my interests elsewhere," he added with a glance at the waitress. He shook his head. "Maybe not..."
“Maybe with a big fat ‘not’,” Lavender frowned up at him, but let it go before lecturing and paged through the menu.
The waitress returned, winking at Tannem. "See anything you like," she asked suggestively, pointing at the menu. "Uh... pheasant," he told her, picking the first thing he saw.
“Sorry, I think we’ll wait to order until his fiancé returns,” Lavender smiled sweetly, but her voice hung heavy with the obvious warning.
The girl raised her eyebrow in challenge and gave lavender a once over before leaving. "Don't like her," Tannem asked curiously.
“Where does your loyalty lie?” Lavender’s hands balled into fists as she glared at him.
"Until recently, with a woman who hates me and would rather die than be my wife," he retorted. "I am tired of fighting for something that's not there. It's always been one sided. I have to accept that it's a lost cause."
She rested her head on her hand and stared off into the distance in front of her, sighing. “It’s there now,” she said quietly, wishing Stacia would come back before he asked her any more questions.
"What are you talking about," he asked suspiciously.
Stacia splashed water on her face from the basin. She assured herself she wasn't falling for him. It was a hot kiss. That was all. She took a deep breath. After fixing her hair and drying herself somewhat, she made her way through the crowded tavern and to the table, opting to sit beside lavender and refusing to look at Tannem.
"Look closer," Lavender said before she joined them. "Tannem says he'd like pheasant. What are you having?" She greeted Stacia with a warm smile.
Stacia shrugged. "Veal, I suppose. What about you?"
"I was thinking of steamed vegetables with nuts for protein. I'm not too hungry. What exactly is veal?"
"Young cattle," she replied. " It's served a lot in Eridell."
Lavender looked down, sorry that she had asked. "Think I'll just have steamed veggies. Where is that waitress?"
"I'll go find her," Tannem said, standing and heading for the bar on the other side of the room.
Not wanting to cause a scene, she trusted that he would not do anything stupid. "So, what exactly would we need on our expedition? I can bring some herbs and things from home. Even some glow in the dark paint, if you'd like," she laughed, trying to seem as casual as was normal.
Stacia stared after him. The waitress was chatting with him. "She's pretty... umm... maps. Money. Don't know what else, but I can take care of that." The waitress tossed her hair and Stacia frowned.
"Perhaps she is, but she's not very beautiful," Lavender commented under her breath. "And horses are settled, too. We'll need some snacks and things, though - like fruit and nuts. I like nuts. You should probably go fetch him before someone gets too hungry and start eating tables. Oops," she laughed, realising that it might have sounded rude.
((This post is a collaboration between both members of the roleplay, played out via chat on another site and posted by m i s s Rieux.))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:44 pm
"Too late," she said as Tannem turned and began crossing the room again. "Finally remembered us, did he? That vapid harpy didn't suck up his brain cells?"
He took his seat, grinning. "I placed our orders."
"Did you remember my nuts?" Lavender asked with a serious expression that was almost comical. "Pecan nuts, almonds, hazelnuts..." She went on mumbling by herself, then snapped out of it, mentally decided that men were stupid and a waste of her time, and changed the subject. "What is the capitol like? Is it very different than the tribes?"
"Very," she replied, watching him watch the waitress. "Very different," she repeated.
Lavender sneaked an 'I will make your life miserable'-stare at Tannem before turning her full attention to her friend. "Be honest: which do you like more?" She realised that the question could have had more than one meaning and shifted uncomfortably.
She shrugged. "I like both. It's so wonderful and beautiful here. But Eridell is my home. It always has been..." She looked away from Tannem, wondering why it bothered her.
"You should see As'arden. And Faerang has a savage beauty to it, they say."
The waitress placed the food on the table, smiling at Tannem. "Well, that's it for my shift. I'm off now. I'll see you later, Leon." She departed, Stacia scowling.
Lavender took a deep breath and observed the both of them. Could he not see her jealousy? Stand in the line. Don't leave the queue to fetch something to quench your thirst or soothe your hunger. Stand your ground, else you'll never move forward in anything you truly want. You're an idiot, Tannem.
He watched her walk away. Stacia viciously stabbed her veal. " So we need a plan for investigating."
The sudden, violent movement made Lavender jump with fright. She left the answering for Tannem and remained quiet.
"I was thinking about that when I was at the bar-"
"Oh *were* you?"
He gave her a look and continued. "I realized that taverns see a lot of covert affairs. Perhaps we check around the taverns once we reach the coast. We could build a reputation along the way. We'll be notorious. The traders will find us." Stacia was annoyed to admit it was a good plan.
Lavender blinked, entirely lost. After a while her chewing was interrupted by an "Oh!" and then that was it.
((This post is a collaboration between both members of the roleplay, played out via chat on another site and posted by m i s s Rieux.))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:27 am
Stacia began eating in silence, staring in a random direction, lost in thought.
Tannem glanced at her and followed her gaze. She seemed to be watching a group of men. He gave lavender an I- told- you- so look and cut into his pheasant.
Lavender gave him an ‘oh, please’-look and stacked another fork with veggies.
Stacia sighed and pushed her plate away. " I'm not hungry anymore."
Lavender looked her way, concerned, with her cheeks still puffed with food, and then at Tannem, expecting him to say something.
Tannem shook his head silently and pointed from lavender to Stacia, then mouthed, 'she *hates* me. *You* do it.'
She made a noise that might have been ‘She doesn't hate you!’ or ‘My mouth is full!’
Tannem sighed, and pushed his plate away too. "Are you always in a bad mod by default," he asked.
Stacia scoffed at him. "Only when I'm dropped in the river!"
"Is that what this is about?"
She frowned, on the verge of being honest, but then she realized she didn't know what the truth was. "Yes," she lied, "among other things." She shoved away from the table, annoyed with herself. "I can't stand you," she snapped. "I'm going to get some fresh air."
After she'd left, Tannem gave lavender a knowing look. "You were saying?"
“Men are blind. Yup, I’m convinced,” she swallowed. “Kiss her like that again and I can promise you she won’t pull away. You should have seen her face when you kept looking at that tramp. Regardless, why are you pulling me into this?” She pointed her fork at him and squinted her eyes.
"You're the one who kept telling me to 'look harder.' I was giving her what she wanted. It's a waste of time." He sighed and sat back in his chair, thinking. "We should both just let it go and let her be happy."
“Tannem,” Lavender started, sitting up straight and loading her next mouthful. “Let go of what? And who are you to decide what would make her happy? There’s a good chance that not even she knows that at this point. An arranged marriage means that there’s no way out. Even if she says she can’t stand you, there is obvious chemistry. My aunt had to marry someone who she considered a brother. Appreciate that chemistry – it could have been much worse. Plus, why give up now when you’ve come this far?” She placed the food in her mouth, chewed and swallowed as fast as she could. “Test the wind before you set course.”
He frowned at her. "I haven't gotten anywhere! But... You're right. I don't know what will make her happy, but she's been clear on what wouldn't - and that's me. You can't honestly deny it."
“I can, and I will, and I just did.”
A man from the table Stacia had been staring at came over. "Where's that friend of yours? She looked like she took a shine to me. I want to give one back, if you know what I mean," he winked.
"Excuse me," Tannem asked, his voice loss low with warning, his eyes gleaming dangerously. The man - clearly drunk - continued, oblivious. "She's a hot little number, you know? Wouldn't mind getting to know her better," he laughed.
Tannem stood angrily, hands clenched into fists.
“You just signed your death warrant,” Lavender chuckled and finished eating.
Hearing lavender's remark, the man threw a punch at Tannem. It was blocked with a metal tray from a nearby table. The attacker swore as his companions roared with laughter. Tannem wasted no time, striking the man in the neck with the edge of the tray; he crashed to the floor, gasping. In a flash, Tannem had begun bashing his faces in with his bare hands. They grew wet with blood.
Strong hands grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to his feet. "I think it's time you left," the bartender ordered. Tannem threw a generous sum of coins on the table and exited.
Stacia was leaning next to the door and noted the blood and his disheveled appearance. "What did you do!?"
"Just defended your dignity," Lavender said casually, biting into a bun that she took with her. "You should probably wash that off before people think you're a murderer."
"Let them think it," he replied, his voice rough and still breathing heavily with adrenaline. Stacia frowned in confusion. "My honour...?" She sighed. "Lavender's right. We had better clean you up. Do you know a stream or something around here," she asked her friend.
“There should be something similar at the back of every restaurant,” she replied, taking another smug bite out of her bun.
"It's probably best we lay low," she said, motioning for them to follow as a group of angry men came from a side door, looking around for someone. The man at the front had a smashed up face; she was pretty sure she knew who they were looking for.
Tannem walked ahead in silence, ducking low branches. Stacia turned to lavender. "What happened back there," she asked in a low voice, watching him carefully and curiously.
"One of the guys you were staring at earlier came over and asked for you, showing serious and mindless interest. He called you a number, or something like that, and then I said something, and then something happened, and then Tannem punched the guy in the face - repeatedly," she tried her best not to laugh and continued to nibble on the piece of fluffy bread in her hand.
Stacia watched him stop at a small stream and kneel to clean his hands, mumbling about germs. She smiled and suppressed a giggle. " He really did that," she asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Lavender reported, smiling sheepishly into her next bite.
Stacia stepped forward to lean on a nearby tree shyly, smiling slightly. "Thank you," she said simply.
He looked at her in the surface of the water, just over his shoulder. *Look harder.* It echoed in his mind; she was smiling, her eyes kind. *Kiss her like that again and I can promise you she won't pull away...*
"Lavender," he said quietly, turning to them and standing, "I think I cut my hand. Perhaps you can find a healing herb for me," he asked, giving her a meaningful look.
"I think there should be something around here," she nodded sharply and had to turn away in order not to expose her 'I was so totally right and this will be so awesome'-expression. She wandered a while away. He wasn't really hurt, she knew that, but what else was there to do? She gathered as many samples of paper birch bark, white oak leaves, thyme sprigs, and such as she saw fit, exploring into the forest on the other side of Th'ardrod's centre.
Stacia watched lavender turn and leave. She knew how skeptical Tannem was about using herbs and grew suspicious. "What was that ab-" She got no further. Tannem had seized her; his lips pressed against hers. She stumbled back against the tree in shock. He closed the gap between them, his bare chest crushing against her. She felt it rise and fall with his breathing. He pulled away, but she yanked him back to her, melting into him. She felt him tense, caught off guard by her actions. She reached up, running her fingers through his hair. His lips curved into a smile against hers; consumed by euphoria and passion, his mind faded into silence.
With her shoulder bag stuffed with things they probably won't need, Lavender shifted into a faun and returned to her where she had left them, coming to a standstill a while away. Their figures were pressed against a tree - joined. The dopamine levels were almost tangible as before, but there was something else; something more delicate than animalistic desire. The faun blinked slowly, satisfied and smiling. She turned and headed back towards the river on the other side of the village, granting them their privacy until she would bother them again the next morning.
"Where were you?" Ryan scolded as Lavender shook the droplets our of her hair.
"I was out gathering things we seldom see at home. See: paper birch and white oak and more yarrow -" She was cut off by a crushing hug. "Er."
"I know you're hurting and I don't know why, but you should never stop fighting..."
"Ryan..."
"It's hell being a minstrel, we all know that and we all go through this."
"Ryan, you're..."
"But grounding you is for your own good!"
"I. Can't..." "You understand that, don't you? You're not mad at me, are you?"
"Ryan! I can't breathe!"
"Oh, right. Sorry about that," he put her down, holding her by her shoulders so that she won't topple over.
"Besides, I'm fine."
"But... Your memory will return -"
"And you knocked me unconscious to save Joshua and Tannem from fighting. I remember everything and I get it, but I have everything under control now. It's fine. Really."
"Promise?"
"Promise!" she sighed, pushing past him and entering the kitchen, looking for a sharper knife and maybe some spices and fruit.
((This post is a collaboration between both members of the roleplay, played out via chat on another site and posted by m i s s Rieux.))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:59 am
 Part 1
* * *
The school was quiet an empty. Sunday evening ensured that all of the students were out of the way, but still she had to dodge the professors as she navigated the halls to the archives. After what felt like hours, Stacia finally reached her destination, closing the door quietly behind her.
The shelves stood several feet tall, towering over her. She sighed. The hall seemed endless and she wondered how she'd find what she was looking for. She shrugged and set to work, consulting an index on a podium in front of her. The first half was concerned with tracking the origins of documents, so she skipped it. The second half was something useful - the location of the documents and number of copies. "Maps," she read. "Faerang territory, case 34, shelf 11, slot A. Six copies. Northern coast, case 34, shelf 17, slot D. One copy. As'arden and Th'ardrod border and forest, case 34, shelf 11, slot J. Four copies." She committed it to memory and set off, climbing the ladder of case 34.
Carefully, she bundled the maps in her arms, heading for the door. Something caught her eye next to the door - a lending sheet. With a devious smile, she took the quill and wrote down the documents in the appropriate section. "Name..." She hesitated and then scratched through that section. "Loan term." Her smile returned. On permanent loan, she wrote in large, bold letters. She peeked out the door. Seeing that the corridor was clear, she quietly sprinted toward the exit.
A door appeared on the right of the hall. Stacia stopped short and back-tracked, curious as to how it materialized and why. Someone opened the door; she pressed flat against the wall, obscured in the shadow. The professor passed her without a glance and set off in the opposite direction. She caught the door before it closed and looked in - empty. She slipped inside.
A pedestal sat in the center under a glittering beam of yellow light. Stacia rolled her eyes. How cliche. She approached the book; as she did so, it fluttered open to a random page as if stirred by a gentle breeze. The inky black text was in a strange language. She couldn't read it.
As she thought this, the ink glowed gold and changed into something she could understand, returning to their original color as if nothing had happened. Intrigued, she skimmed the page. One word made her stop, her breath catching in her throat - necromancy. This is it. The tome of the dead. The only necromancy book... She backed away slowly. On impulse, she stopped and lunged forward seizing the book. It felt warm in her hands, making her palms tingle. She tucked it in her bag with the maps and left the university as quickly as she could without looking back, sure that someone would give chase; none followed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 12:33 pm
 Part 2
She took the chair opposite him on the other side of a small table, set with coffee. "Look," she began awkwardly. "We kissed. And it was... interesting."
"Understatement," he told her. She fought back a grin. "Okay, it was fantastic," she amended, continuing. "But I just want you to know, it doesn't really change anything between us. I'm attracted to you - I know that now. But I still don't want to marry you. Or be with you."
His smile vanished. "Because you'd rather die than marry me, right?" She remained silent, at a loss for words. "Alright," he said, standing. "My turn.I counter that you do have feelings for me, beyond attraction; that you might even love me." He opened a case on the fireplace mantle and selected two vials, returning to the table. He opened the first one, full of white powder. He poured it into the coffee in front of him; the coffee bubbled and hissed for a moment. He poured the contents of the second vial - a light blue liquid - into her coffee.
"You claim you would rather die than marry me. I offer this alternative: I will die in your place. My coffee contains a fast-acting deadly iocane poison; if I drink it, I will be dead in less than two minutes. Yours contains the only known antidote. Drinking it will not effect you. If you don't feel anything for me, as you claim, you will let me die. If you do care for me - even the slightest - you will give me the antidote. Either way, I will consume the poison; what happens after is completely up to you."
Stacia frowned. "This is stupid. You will die; I really don't feel anything for you and this serves no purpose."
"I'm confident that you care about me," he told her, raising the cup. "To your health," he toasted with a wink and downed the coffee. Stacia's blood ran cold; her heart hammered in her ears so that it was all she could hear. For the space of two heartbeats, nothing happened. On the third, he fell to the ground, clutching at his chest. Stacia hurried to his side. His face reddened and all his veins stood out; his blood wouldn't take in any oxygen; he was suffocating. Four more heartbeats, his nose began to bleed. The blood was red and thick. Stacia was still in shock; all she could do was look on in horror, mouth agape, tears rolling down her cheeks. His eyes widened in surprise; he had obviously thought she would have saved him by then. She gasped as her brain screamed it to her through the numbness. GET THE ANTIDOTE! She snatched her coffee from the table and pried his mouth open, pouring the scalding liquid down his throat. Two heartbeats. He was still, eyes closed. She lay against his chest, sobbing. Suddenly, his chest rose, expanding as he took in air. His heart drummed loud and steady in his chest.
Stacia laughed with relief, still half-sobbing as she sat up. "See," he said, his voice exhausted and hoarse. "You care," he attempted a smile, reaching up to stroke her cheek lovingly and wipe a tear from her eye. She was too relieved to be angry; she decided that she'd punch him later - much later - and smiled a watery smile. "Just don't take so long next time," he grinned.
She slept in his arms that night, waking often to make sure he was still breathing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 11:18 am
***
"This is the worst guard duty I've ever received, who needs a tree guarded?" Madrach wondered how he got there and who assigned him to the post. A little girl appeared almost out of nowhere. "Why can't you help me?" she asked, eyes filled with tears and pleading for help. "Of course I can, don't cry, what do you need help with?" he answered. "No, you can't help me!" the girl screamed. Madrach was alarmed, he could sense something just beyond the light in the forest. "Shhh..." he tried to calm her down, "I can help you, just tell me what to do, but you're going to have to keep it down, this forest isn't safe." She looked up at him, her skin seemed to be melting, Madrach's eyes opened wide in confusion, "What is this...", the girl started giggling, "You already failed!" she screamed as darkness came crashing down in a series of roars and growls already forming into the next spell invoked nightmare.
***
The cell door slammed open, loud footsteps and then an bucket of icy water was thrown over Madrach's face. "Wake up dog, it's your lucky day." First one wrist, then the other was relieved of its burden. "The Elders requested for your presence, you are to wash up and make yourself presentable... dog." the guard spat at his feet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 11:34 am
Stacia woke a few hours before dawn. Leo was already downstairs instructing the staff that he had gone to attend to an urgent matter and that the wedding should be moved back one day unless he should send word otherwise. He also instructed that one by the name of Sage was helping him with research while he was away; she should be given full access to the library.
Stacia dressed quickly and quietly, and descended the stairwell. She put her bag across her shoulders and held it protectively.
"Ready," he asked, spotting her. She nodded. Leo placed his arm around her and led her to the stables, helping her onto a large Clydesdale before heaving himself into its back and taking the reigns. The horse had already been packed lightly and efficiently. She wondered how early he had woken as he eased the horse into a trot and headed into the woods.
Lavender tied her hair up and adjusted the bag strapped to her back to ensure a more comfortable ride. She looked up as the couple entered sight.”Morning. All set?”
Leo nodded as Stacia yawned. "Looks like you packed quite a bit," he grinned at lavender. Stacia clutched her bag tightly.
“Never leave home unprepared. I have everything we could possibly need: from snacks, to juice, to music,” she pointed at each bag as she skimmed through the categories. “Oh, and medicine all over. That is all we need, right?”
Leo nodded. Inside he was skeptical. Music? Not entirely necessary. Snacks and juice? You could find food anywhere. Still, he supposed that whatever made her and Stacia comfortable made him happy.
Her arms were still around him from riding. He rubbed her cold fingers; Stacia blushed and hid her face from lavender behind his back.
She took the opportunity to flash him an I-told-you-so grin. “Since you have the maps, lead the way.”
"Stacia," he prompted over his shoulder. Carefully angling the bag away, she pulled the map off the As'arden and Th'ardrod borders, handing it over to him. "Alright," he said, angling the horse next to lavender's, showing her the map. "First destination?"
"Faerang."
The journey proceeded in the peaceful quiet of the morning. Lavender drew out her panpipe and joined the birds in their waking song with a low, faint melody. The sunrise was as radiant as ever and cast a glow on the water. Everything seemed to liven up as the sun kissed every leaf and every stone. There was a rustle in the tree. It was a small golden cat, sitting on a branch. Lavender pulled Kinja into a halt and stood on the saddle to take it down. The critter refused at first, then jumped for it, clawing onto her neck to keep itself from falling. After sitting back down, she loosened the cat’s legs and set it on the saddle in front of her. “Well, hello there, kitty.”
“Miaauw!”
“What were you doing in that tree? Where’s your owner?”
“Owner?” The cat shifted into a lean, fair-haired girl with striking blue eyes. She was much taller than Lavender and had her hands pressed to her mouth before she could cry out in surprise. “Quiet now, little fawn, and nobody will get hurt. What do you have on you that is of value, hmm? You gypsy folk have plenty of shiny things.”
“Did someone say shiny?” A dark-haired man with a crow mask stepped out from the morning shadows and started throwing the contents of her saddlebags onto the forest floor. “Oh, tropical fruit. Not every day you get that. You must be from As’arden. Pity they never prepare you for something like this, eh?” The girl giggled.
Leo slowed the horse to a stop. "We should rest here now that the sun is out. The horses deserve a break." Stacia dismounted; lavender was not there. "Wait. Where is she?"
Leon jumped from the horse and landed next to her. " She's probably just gathering herbs," he assured her.
"No," she replied, " she cant be far. Wait here. I'll go get her."
“Oh!” the lady called out and brought her hand to her lips. “She bit me!”
“Keep your mouth shut and hold her still. Check her pockets, while you’re at it.” Lavender was grabbed by her backpack and yanked back onto the horse. She slid off on the other side, landing on her hands and bent over, coming to a stand. She pulled at the man’s arm to get him away from her things, but he threw her aside, laughed at her failed attempt and continued his search.
[This post is a collaboration between both members of the roleplay, played out via chat on another site and posted by m i s s Rieux.]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 10:51 am
Stacia landed on the river bank and shifted, pushing her mask out of her face to rest on to her head. She put her hands in the water, thinking. Leo was busy breaking open purification capsules to add to a cup of water he had drawn from the river.
"See," he said. "She was fine. She can take care of herself; there was no need to worry."
Lavender felt grateful for the lie and did not say much as they ate some of the fruit she had packed in for them. There was a wide variety: mangoes, pomegranates, grapefruit, nectarines, apricots, peaches, litchis, kiwi fruit, and even papaya. She kept the litchi kernels at her side and plopped one into the water every now and then, seemingly in her own world - neither sad not happy - and humming a melody. (Endurfodd by Eivor)
Leo watched the two start their fruit, opting for a bit of the bread he had packed.It wasn't that he didn't like fruit, but thanks to the tea, he had learned not to easily trust the things the As'ardens consumed.
"Ani? What's that?" she pointed at a small, but thick, leather-bound book that poked from Stacia's bag. It seemed to carry a bit of energy with it as if the object had been charged in some way.
Stacia shoved the book further in her bag. "Just one of the old books left in my room at the university that I never got around to taking of the shelf. Thought I might have time out here," she shrugged.
There was something about it that Lavender could not quite shake. It was frightening and intriguing at the same time. She would have left it there and have the thought fade into the quiet, but something nagged her to press on. "May I see it?"
"Shouldn't we get going," Stacia said to Leo, pretending not to hear her. She stood, pulling her bag close to her. "Quite right," he said, mounting his horse and helping her up.
Lavender frowned, but packed up, tossed the last peels and kernels into the river, and mounted Kinja. She's hiding something. There's something about that book. But why, and how? "Fine, what is it about then?" The words were out before she could stop herself. They seemed urgent and slightly agitated - emotions that she was not aware of having.
Stacia turned to her, angry. "I told you, it was in my university room when I got there. I hadn't even taken it off the shelf. It's not like it's written on the cover. What's your problem? Why are you so pushy?"
Leo tensed, confused at the two.
"It's not a normal book, that's why!" Kinja neighed, unaccustomed at the intense vibrations.
Stacia glared at her. "Oh gee," she started sarcastically, "it came from a school of sorcery, so maybe it's a recipe book!" She mock gasped. "Mind your own business." She shifted with the book and flew ahead, seething with anger.
Leo stared at Lavender. "And what the hell just happened? What was that all about?"
Lavender took a deep breath. The further the book went, the calmer her aura became. "It's," she started, searching for words. "There's an energy about it - as if it's alive; as if it was tempting me to be opened and read, yet threatening my very existence if I did. It doesn't make sense. Didn't you feel it?"
Leo brushed off the question. "Just magic. Let's go." He clicked his tongue at the horse and spurred it into a gallop.
"Books don't have auras," she mumbled, but followed. The horse underneath her was jittery as if she was going to break into a run that Lavender would not be able to stop. She started with a melody to soothe its nerves.
Leo scanned the canopy often, keeping an eye on Stacia. The truth was, he felt it. With every fiber of his being, he felt to it. It called him. If not for the mental blocks he managed to put up, it would have succeeded in making him kill them both for it. Just ten seconds more, and they would be dead. The thought chilled him.
"When do you think we'll reach Faerang?" She decided to make small talk. He was emitting a dangerous essence that she could not risk around Kinja's delicate senses. As'arden horses were finely tuned to the pleasant vibrations of the tribe and were often shaken by the unease of others and their environment.
"Probably dusk," he said simply, returning to silence, scanning the canopy again.
[This post is a collaboration between both members of the roleplay, played out via chat on another site and posted by m i s s Rieux.]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 3:15 am
Spying? No, it's not exactly that. I've been observing them. There's no harm in that. Imperials, no matter how nice they may seem or how they thank you, should not be trusted. Their ways are not our own and they don't share our beliefs and devotion to the truth and absolute truth.
Sage paged through a thick, black book. She had taken Tannem up on his offer and were having breakfast in his library. It was a fair trade, she thought. Knowledge for a simple favour.
The favour: to watch over these little guys until they return, and then, so conveniently, the notorious Tome of Death was reported stolen this very morning of their disappearance. Dance on the water? Playing around the river, yet far enough so Marda and Rose wouldn't be able to see them? They're dragging Lavender with them, corrupting her. My little sister. I have to find her.
She closed the book, allowing the wind to tug gently at strands of her hair. She touched her temples with the tips of her fingers - wet with a eucalyptus, lavender and sweet orange blend. If Lavender took her perfume with her, she would be easily tracked by a trained hunter - especially when they know what to look for. There's something I need to find out first. If they have the book, they are in danger.
The doors clicked into their locks and Sage drew up her hood. Her cloak flowed with her movement and trailed behind her as she left the apartment and took the quickest path to the Elder's chambers. Unlike As'arden's elders that stayed in their own houses and attended to their own stores and farms and apprenticeships, Th'ardrodian elders kept to themselves, united always, as a counsel, ordering their Guard and other officials. If anything significant happened, these Chambers were where the action will begin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
