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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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 Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:59 pm
[ PRINCE OLYVER ]
He was called the Blackheart for his weapon of choice. Prince Olyver wore a sword and carried a spear, but it was the venom of the shadowsnake that his opponents feared most. One never knew which of Olyver's weapons was treated today, and which wasn't -- and the tiniest of scratches spelled an agonizing death, though shadowsnake venom was used as a healing agent in the right concentrations.
Olyver never used the right concentrations.
Tall, with the olive skin of desert Eramierans, Olyver was black of hair and eye, though he dressed in the desert tans with a veil covering his nose and lower face. At eighteen, the prince was younger than his brother, The Heir, by a full year but already he was more respected for his prowess with arms and poisons.
Olyver's brother was too soft to rule the hardened desert Eramierans; the plainslanders may accept him, but the desert riders would never. To be betrothed to the Kerthess princess, the crown prince had balked at the idea of sending the ambush to kidnap the Sullaeris girl to ensure the marriage would happen and Eramiere would have its hostage. Olyver had ordered the attack, instead, but had been thwarted by the draongriders the Dhalvians had attacked.
Speaking of the red-skinned bastards - they were late. Olyver and his men had been sweltering at the Oasis for a full two days now, and Olyver was only prepared to wait a day longer for the Dhalvian emissary. The dragonriders had reached Talquis and the idiot child queen folded without protest to their demand for help. The prince snorted; what idiot let a child rule? A weak ruler, like the one Olyver's brother would make, was bad enough - but a child, a girl no less, of eleven?
"Highness," one of Olyver's men approached; the Blackheart bade him to speak without so much as turning to face him. "There's been a - a communication from the Dhalvians. They'll be here soon."
"Soon?" Prince Olyver Cartspel spat with disgust. "What did they do, lose themselves in the dunes? Get distracted by something shining in the sun?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:31 pm
[ PRINCE ALORDIN & QUEEN MADI & PRINCESS ALLOREN ]
Alordin gave the foreign prince a friendly clap on the shoulder. "You must imagine our family to be massive. 'Tis only my sister and I, our younger brother, our royal parents, and an uncle and his small family. Now - let us head for the city, where dinner waits on our return."
Prince Aerik and Finn should have been eager to sit at dinner -- once they had eaten and drank under the king's roof, they fell under the ancient laws of hospitality that required the lord of the castle do everything in his power to keep his guests safe while they continued to reside beneath his roof. Alordin did not know if the eastern prince knew of Terrini customs, or the two scared rules: no man was as cursed as he who broke the god's law, or he who killed his own kin.
The prince set off towards the castle built into the base of the cliffside, commandeering Prince Aerik's attention with a barrage of curious questions; little was known about the Ghens, other than that they were clansmen who, for the most part, kept to themselves and stayed north of the mountains. "Tell me of your lands, if it please you, cousin," Prince Alordin requested. "And of your dragons of fire - does the hot weather lend them strength, as it is with our companions of ice?"
"Think about it, ser," Madi continued, holding Elsina's hand as they followed after the two crown princes. "Wouldn't a dragon be wonderful? I would even name it Warty. Is it not a name fit for a most majestic creature, Elsi?"
"It is," Elsina replied gravely, with a twinkle in her eyes. "Ser Stalwart would be your dragon's namesake, I presume?"
"But of course!" giggled the queen. "It would be a honor, would it not, ser?"
Princess Alloren turned to the sound of Finn's breath as soon as she heard the others footsteps begin to move away. "If you would lend me your arm, Ser Finn, I would be most obliged; it seems my brother's curiosity has gotten the best of him."
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 5:54 pm
[ Aurora Ela'dalem ]
Lounging, one elbow against the thick, silken pillows, Aurora rested her head down onto a slender wrist while she closed her eyes against the bright, outside world. Her husband, the Storm King, had sent her into this forsaken burning land of sand and wind to treat with an insolent prince, and while she, as the youngest of his wives, must obey his command she was not above her own insolence. Refusing to speak to any of her considerable envoy, consisting mostly of blood slaves, she had spent the entire trip within her shaded, cool palanquin born by the largest of her personal slaves. It meant that the trip had taken much longer than it should have, but she cared little. This 'Prince of Poisons' did not frighten her - nothing frightened her.
Born and bred to power, Aurora had the gift of foresight and, as such, was treated to and allowed many privileges that the other wives of the Storm King would not dare to seek - such as delegating with foreign ministers and royalty. Because her gift would be forever lost if her husband consummated their marriage, she remained in the white robes of her priestess binds but was granted all the privilege of her station. While her husband was set to a task, which was currently subjugating a new province for their mighty empire, it fell to her shoulders to treat with foreigners. At seventeen, she already commanded more fear, respect, and power than any of her husband's men - a thing almost unheard of for a Dhalvian woman, and she did not let any man forget it.
"Most holy of stars," A voice interrupting her self-reflection; Commander Hasif, Eb'n sa Galad. She opened her painted eyes lazily and, from behind the dark pupils lighting throbbed. Waiting for the man to speak, she gestured with her hand impatiently for him to continue.
He lowered his shaven head, "We have arrived at the meet. The Prince awaits your presence. "
Yawning dramatically, and loud enough to be heard from beyond the softly billowing silk curtains, Aurora waved for the man to begone and sat up. She exited the litter without a flourish or announcement, too impatient for such idiotic practices, and took only a moment to arrange her loose, revealing robes - practical for the humid climate of her home, but not so for the glaring sun and dry heat of the desert, she noted with a frown - over her light, violet skin and approached the foreign delegation followed by six of her husband's guard.
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:08 pm
[ PRINCE OLYVER ]
"Aurora Ela'dalem," Prince Olyver greeted with a nod of his head when the violet-skinned woman climbed out of her litter. Disgusting, Olyver thought with contempt - it was the weak who could not travel in the desert, and that was why the Eramierans would have the whole of the desert by war's end. For those who could live in it, the desert was a treasure and whether the Dhalvians were true to their word or the Eramierans had to take the desert by force, Olyver would have it. And the throne - though the throne would have to wait until his father's death.
"I am sorry you were so delayed," the prince said coolly. "I am sure it was for reasons entirely unavoidable."
He kept the disdain for this woman and her palaquin from his features, schooling them to blank politeness, but he knew his men shared his feelings. They, too, were stony-faced; every one of Prince Olyver's men were true desert dwellers, hand-picked by Olyver himself for their talents and unquestioning loyalty.
"You will, of course, want to speak immediately in favor of resting," Olyver continued, skipping over the hospitality niceties by claiming Aurora Ela'dalem's delays would require her to wish to begin the meeting immediately. Olyver turned to a make for a small tent furnished with four chairs inside - two for himself and Aruora Ela'dalem, and two for their second-in-commands. He spoke as he walked. "As you most likely know, your dragonriding opponents have gone to Saayeri to seek help."
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:25 pm
[ SER STALWART, PRINCE ÆRIK, & FINN ]
Ærik eased quickly, the friendly manner in which the pale prince spoke to him aiding the process, and he consented to speaking of Roeghenon. Though at first he found it difficult of where to begin, he slowly found it easier as the Prince Alordin was an attentive listener. "Aye, our dragons find many strengths in the land of their birth, but none so great as the fire inside of the mountains or the red rock that burns." It was almost therapeutic to speak of their home to Ærik, much like when he had spoken of it briefly to Elsina, and the Prince allowed the process to sooth his nerves as they approached the looming castle.
Ser Stalwart rubbed his temple, midst all of the Ro'gan he now found himself very much regretting the chances he had declined to learn bits of the old language. When the Queen spoke in familiar (and blessed) Terrini, he was apt immediately, but his face fell as the subject of her conversation unfolded. He remained dutifully quiet as she teased him, much as she had at the dinner the night before their departure, but could not hide the ash color that took to his cheeks as his imagination took him to new heights - literally, as he imagined should the Queen find herself in command of a Dragon, he would ride with her as his honor commanded hi to do for her safety.
Even her giggle did not lessen look of disapproval her jest he cast her way, though he could never level a measure of severity even close to that of her father, while he replied. "There's already one Dragon of considerable fierceness and instigation at the royal palace, my Queen."
While the rest began the trek upwards, Finn looked for a mean to follow after his younger brother but stopped at the sound of the Princess Alloren's soft voice. "O-of course, my lady." He answered, raising his arm to her hand. He hesitated, having been born to fight, not to lend aid to beautiful ladies, the Steward feared being too close to the younger woman. "The sentiment is shared," He said once they began to walk, awkwardly as Finn avoided leading too strongly, "Although, it seems my brother's best has gotten away from him."
After a moment, he added quickly, "Apologies, Lady. I should not speak so of royalty." He sighed, too, dreading the dinner to come where there would be even more royalty, and surely more social blunders. It had never been so clear until now just how "barbaric" he and his brother truly were compared to the others.
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:41 pm
[ PRINCE ALORDIN & QUEEN MADI & PRINCESS ALLOREN ]
Alordin nodded thoughtfully. "And you have only female dragons? Or is it only female dragons who pair with male riders?" Alordin asked. The Saayi prince was so used to his own sister and her dragon Ch'yain that he did not even think of the possibility that Ghens women did not ride.
"And at what age do you when you pair with your dragons? Forgive the questions, cousin, but no dragonriders but ourselves have stepped foot in Saayeri in hundreds of years. You will find most of my House to be inclined towards inquisitiveness," Alordin warned Prince Aerik with a good-natured laugh.
Madi had to double-take at Ser Wart, taking his words literally. "There is?" she demanded to know dubiously. "No there isn't!" After a moment's further thought, Madi added crossly, "And the stone dragon at the North Bridge doesn't count, either."
Elsina smiled. "Perhaps he was speaking less literally, Madi. Your lord father is quite dragonlike, don't you think?" she suggested, purposefully misinterpreting Ser Stalwart's metaphor.
"Do not apologize, cousin," Alloren said with a laugh. "We here understand that not all customs are the same, and we do not expect you or your brother to have memorized all Saayeri niceties. So long as you speak from the heart, my father and the rest of my House will hear you plainly."
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:45 pm
[ AURORA ELA'DALEM ]
Even ignoring his comment of "delay" - as if she would have hurried for this man's sake - Aurora did not like how this man spoke to her, especially considering that, from what she could see, he was nothing like what she had imagined when her husband had sent word for her to meet with this Prince. He was at least twenty-summers younger than the men that she was used to dealing with, and she suspected that his youth would bring much arrogance to their dealings. As she was already arrogant enough for the both of them, she was not looking forward to further dealings.
So, when he suggested (in buttered words) that they skip any formalities, she did not hesitate to consent. "Of course the Storm King knows.' She replied, in slightly accented Terrini, and walked past the prince towards the tent, neglecting both his title and his invitation with a cold shoulder and a raised chin. "There is nothing that the Storm King does not know, Prince - including your hunger for power."
She did not have to look to know that her commander, Hasif, followed but she doubted he did so as brazenly as she. As most men, he was bred to lower his head and rest on his knees. Entering the shade of the tent, she took her seat with no sign of relief from the outside element.
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:58 pm
[ PRINCE OLYVER ]
Olyver took his seat, and Lord Actmai sat to his side. At Aurora Ela'dalem's remark, he snorted. "I think my whole kingdom knows that," he said with barely concealed scorn. "It is not uncommon for younger sons to depose their elder brothers, if the brother proves too weak a ruler. My father was his father's third son."
"Now," he said dismissively, "if we could get on to what is really important: if the Saayi throw in their strength for the Ghens, my father is hesitant to continue lending aid unless we can be absolutely sure you have the dragon power to defeat the full might of such ancient kingdom."
The Saayeri were not to be trifled with -- they were a kingdom thousands of years older than the oldest of the Terrini kingdoms, and not even the most ambitious and bloodthirsty Eramierans would choose to make war with them lightly. Old Eramyn had fallen for such a folly.
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:06 pm
[SER STALWART, PRINCE ÆRIK, & FINN ]
Ærik shook his head cordially, "I welcome the questions.. cousin." After slight hesitation, the Prince took a cue from the other and addressed him informally. "I only fear that my answers will not satisfy. Our ways have been the way they are for so long that none among us, save for the Queen, understand why - and that is only because she communes with the Dragons' Patriarch, the High Dragon."
He stopped then, realizing that he was only about to create more questions. "In our mountains, there is only one male Dragon - the High Dragon. It is said that he is so large and ancient that the mountain grew around him as he rested, and it is from there that the females come. They reside in the magma rivers and tunnels until it is time for a rider to be chosen. The rider is always male because it is the only way for the Vhenan to form, with a female."
Looking over his shoulder briefly at his brother, he continued. "We are bonded to the dragons when the Queen chooses us, though my brother was the youngest to be chosen when he was fifteen. It is not unheard of the the Queen to choose a rider when he is very old, either. She follows the High Dragon's council."
Stalwart caught Princess Elsina's eye briefly, but did nothing to correct her interpretation. He suspected that she knew well enough who he had been referring to and, in hindsight, was grateful for the redirect.
Finn looked to the princess, grateful for her understanding, but lowered his eyes to the ground as he spoke. "Speaking is the concern, your majesty. Between my brother and I, it is his place to speak and mine to listen." As shadow, ward, and councellor, Finn took his station very seriously.
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:18 pm
[ AURORA ELA'DALEM ]
Bristling visibly at the ostentatious pride before her, Aurora turned her head away and closer her eyes to gather what little patience she had. Her husband would be very unhappy if these "talks" failed, and his disapproval was very, very unpleasant - especially for her.
Returning her storm-cloud gaze to the young Prince, she spoke as calmly as she could. "You are very young." She stated, a criticism rather than an observation. "You are arrogant, and you are quick to speak when you should instead think." Needless to say, she was also many of these things but for the latter.
Letting out a slow breath, she crossed her legs and continued. "The red dragons fall easily to the Storm King's power, and those that do are quickly, and easily, subjugated to his will - as are all of his enemies." She did not need to cast an eye to the mindless, obedient slaves outside of the tent to make her point - it was well known the the Dhalvian empire was built on the backs of their slaves. "Any enemy that fights the Storm King will soon find themselves fighting their own men. Any number that is thrown against the might of my husband is added to his own."
Of course, she spoke with the utmost confidence in her King's power because she had grown up first in fear, and then in thrall of it herself. The lightning that hummed between her eyes was the Storm King's touch - his assurance that her gift would always be his, or she would die. Sighing audibly, she brought her hand up to inspect her well-kept nails and said, with a well-pampered tone, "All this talking makes me thirsty."
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:22 pm
[ ALORDIN, MADI, ELSINA, ALLOREN ]
"That is - interesting," Alordin said. "Then you Ghens are a queendom, as Talquis is? Or does it not matter which gender rules so long as someone counseled by your High Dragon? Here, in Saayeri our female dragons lay eggs. Hatchlings large enough to carry one of us chooses one of us," he explained to Prince Ærik in turn. "Be it male or female, our ice companions choose those they think are worthy, be they highborn or lowborn. The royal branch of mine own House is comprised only of those worthy of dragons."
Alordin's father, King Mahaerin was the second son of his father, but the eldest son chosen by an ice dragon. His eldest brother, Sulri, was but a lord but his younger brother, who had also been chosin, was a prince. The dragons of ice were intertwined with the ruling House Sœun.
"Yes, but he isn't a dragon," Queen Madi complained. She still did not understand. "He's Kerthborn, and your own uncle, Elsi. A Roseysnake, not a dragon."
The Winter Rose smiled not unkindly, though it looked strange as her eyes were covered. She heard the subservience in Finn's voice, but it would not do here in Saayeri. All dragonriders commanded respect. "That may be true in Roghenon," she corrected gently. "But here, all those who have learned a dragon have a voice. And the dragon you have learned is aged and wise - in Saayeri, cousin, your voice is near equal to Prince Ærik's."
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:53 pm
[ SER STALWART, PRINCE ÆRIK, & FINN ]
Ærik chuckled quietly at the suggestion of a Queendom, though he cut it short as he remembered the present company. "No, we are no Queendom. Though all Valhiri respect and obey the Queen's council, she does not rule over us. The Queen is merely a vessel, chosen by the High Dragon at birth, and serves until her death. In truth, she is only Queen because it is traditional that the King marry the High Dragon's chosen, both to keep her safe and to breed the next ruler." It was why Ærik and Finn shared a mother, but not a father. "Though, how our riders are chosen is not so different from your own. My brother, Finn, would have followed his father's path as a woodcutter had he not been chosen to ride. Though my father's blood separates us, we are both Valhiri."
He was intrigued that the Saayi had knowledge of their dragons as infants, or 'hatchlings,' and said as much. "You are fortunate to be so intimate with your dragons at a young age then. In Roeghenon, the dragons do not leave the mountains until they are fully grown. They are born into the fire, and would not survive exposure to the outside world if they emerged before adolescence." To himself, he noted that the same could be said of himself and his emergence from Roeghenon.
Starwart closed his eyes, unable to foresee the Queen's dismissal of the matter until her confusion was abated. He did not have the skill with words, or the wisdom behind them, that the young Princess from Kerth did, but he did have the fortitude to not hide behind them. "My Queen," He began his confession, "They were poorly chosen words, and an inappropriate jest. I apologize for the falsehood."
Finn considered the Princess' words, and, following her advice, he spoke when he otherwise would have refrained. "My lady, I fear that you do not fully understand - or that I have mislead your thinking. I do not serve my Prince because it is my place to do so blindly; I follow him, and I serve him because I wish to. Despite my brother's many faults, he is a good man, a stronger man than any I have known, and if I may somehow aid in his growth to becoming the wise and brave ruler that I know in my heart he will become then I will do so, even if that means that I do so in silence, unheard and unseen." In fact, unheard and unseen put Finn in the perfect position to hear and see better than any one else, unencumbered by social obligations, maintaining expected decorum, and performing political 'dances' he was truly free to move and observe, and act when need be.
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 5:00 pm
[ PRINCE OLYVER ]
Olyver waved a hand at his attending lord and the man rose and left the tent. Minutes later, he returned with one of Olyver's pages bearing a pitcher of chilled Westers wine from the Eramieran plains, as well as four goblets. As the page poured wine and served it, Olyver frowned.
"And how good are these mages of yours? Should Saayeri lend its full strength to your dragonriders, then the Citadel of Talquis will follow -- and their mages are very good. Every archmage they have are learners, and if you think they will not adapt to your Storm King's tricks, you are sorely mistaken," the prince said coolly.
"Please do not take offense; it is not that I do not trust your king or your people, it is that I wish to be absolutely sure of victory. And, of course, I wish to ensure that you are fully aware of Saayi strength."
His smile just barely passed as friendly.
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Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 5:11 pm
[ PRINCE ALORDIN, QUEEN MADI, PRINCESS ELSINA, PRINCESS ALLOREN ]
"Do dragons of fire not grow quickly?" Alordin asked. "Here, they are able to carry a human at five years running, and by ten they can fly with them. By fifteen they are considered young adults, and they will continue to grow year by year, month by month, so long as they have the space and freedom they require. We Sœuns learn our dragons as hatchlings - we are fostered together, and by the time we are ten we can fly with our hatchlings."
Alordin smiled at fond memories he shared of a small Ch'yaia winding her tail around him and teasing him in the practice yards all throughout his childhood, stealing his bow and his practice swords and running around with them. "Some ice dragons will choose to learn a second human, but the dragons of kings return to the Frozen Mountains to sleep until a king calls on them to serve, for the memory of their royal pairs."
The Saayi prince shared this piece of information with Prince Ærik because it was the dragons of the Frozen Mountains who would fight, if King Mahaerin chose to aid the Ghens prince.
"I think Sir Stalwart is apologizing for calling you a dragon, Madi," Elsina added with a sidelong glance at Ser Stalwart, who seemed genuinely upset by Madi's confusion.
The young queen fairly preened. "That's because I am a dragon," she boasted.
"Then I apologize for my people, for unless you lose Wynne, they will seek your voice," she told Finn. "In Saayeri, with a dragon of fire as your pair, you will not be unheard nor unseen.
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haphazardly parked Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 6:30 pm
[ AURORA ELA'DALEM ]
Aurora accepted the wine but did not drink it, holding it before her and looking into it while the Prince spoke of Talquis. It was true that the Talquisian mages were powerful, and one of the reasons that the Storm King did not expand to Terrini before - yet.
"Then we should ensure that the Saayi does not join the dragonriders." Her dark eyes reflected lighting as she raised them and then darkened once more. "Should Eramiere be attacked by the Ghens, then would Talquis not be moved to defend the future home of their Princess?"
It would be a minor trifle to arrange it, but it could be done. With the Prince's aid, it could even be convincing. "The red dragons are slow to dominate, their minds are very ancient, but there is a small number that my husband now commands." The question was whether or not this Prince would be satisfied with this plan.
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