|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:01 pm
Good day, Princess Lucina! Can I get you anything? Is there anything I can do for you? I found some sweet grass over here, but you can have it if you'd like! How are your siblings? Oh yes, I agree! Yes, thatis annoying...
Ugh, they were terrible. If any of them actually meant to be nice, it would be one thing, but they were only so nice to her so they could boost their rank in the herd. She snorted inwardly, flicking her ears back a bit as she absent-mindedly followed a winding path towards her favorite grove that housed a sparkling pond, surrounded by rich grass and shaded by several stunted fruit trees. She never took advantage of the kiss-ups, of course, despite how much she would've liked to. Never took more than half of what they offered, allowed them to pester her for a while with their irritating behavior and sickeningly sweet voices...
She shook her head and forced her ears forward, flicking her dark curly tail slightly as she rounded the corner into the little grove. It wasn't good to think such negative thoughts so often, she decided; hopefully something interesting would happen today, otherwise she might have to go for a swim somewhere. That'd be interesting, considering she needed (a lot of) practice.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:22 pm
Now he knew why there were times and places that he felt more alive than could possibly be normal. Were he to open his eyes he knew he would find every leaf was better defined, the grass greener and the water brighter than otherwise would be the case. To him, at any rate. To any Nequus not blessed with magic it would probably just look a pleasant place to relax for a time. To Dahak, the as yet unadmitted shaman, the place was sweet fruit and cool water without tasting either of those things. This, right now, was the only place in the world to be.
Finding this feeling that his mentor had told him of was the first positive step towards improving his powers he had taken in a long time, he was quite sure of that. It would not be long now until he could announce himself to the herd and take the position that would come with his abilities. He would do as Mordre had asked of him, he would be somebody, makes something of himself. Yes. Dahak the Shaman. His time would come, and it would come soon. What a day it would be. Smiling faintly to himself, the tri-coloured stallion drank in magic and consentrated, for once, on merely existing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 3:36 pm
The little mare stopped in mid-stride as she noticed another, quite colorful, brindled Jala already there. Bugger. She frowned slightly but, instead of moping that her spot had been taken, smiled and stepped a bit further into the grove. Perhaps this was the interesting event she'd been hoping for.
She noticed that the predominantly red stallion's eyes were closed, so she stopped a fair distance away and cleared her throat gently. At least she wasn't within kicking distance; some didn't like their solitude to be disturbed. "Greetings," she said with a polite bob of her slender head. From his coat colors, he was son of Xla and Undine, that much was certain. It was hard to mistake either of the two, and they were the only two who could have spawned the tri-colored stallion that stood before her. However, though she had memorized every nook and cranny in their lands, she had yet to memorize all the names. She offered a slightly apologetic smile as she swished her silky, curled tail. "You are one of the sons of advisor Xla'Lanan and tactician Undine, are you not? I'm afraid those are the only names that come to mind with such singular coloring, and I regret to say I do not know your name."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 3:54 am
The bright-coloured stallion blinked back to awareness at the sound of the voice. A small mare stood before him and, after a moment, his mind supplied him with her identity; princess Luciana. Humm, another one who knew his parents and not him. Well, it was only to be expected; as yet he was a nobody. Well, he might as well start rectifying that now; it never hurt to have more acquaintances especially if they happened to be royal.
The tall stallion gave the brown coated mare before him a return smile and bowed his head respectfully. "I am, princess Luciana, and my name is Dahak." At this point, the stallion's smile became slightly crooked; the words forming in his head now were a risk but a calculated one. They might make her angry, he supposed, but he doubted it and if they did they would probably not make her very angry.
"I might have introduced myself to you sooner, but you seem to be forever surrounded by folk wishing to know you and I did not think you in need of one more... I do hope I am not intruding on plans of solitude by being here." Bugger. If he was he was going to have to be all respectful and leave the magically rich air. Well, perhaps she would not object to his presence; there was no need to depress himself with something that might not come to be. Still smiling faintly, Dahak rearranged his wings by his sides somewhat and awaited a response from the royal-blooded mare.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 2:30 pm
"Dahak," she repeated, trying the name out for herself, and matching face to name to remember for later. "It's a lovely name; suits you well." And it did. At least, in her opinion. A unique name for a unique stallion - not only in colors, but also in behavior. At least, so far. He wasn't acting like all the others who surrounded her and her siblings daily. But then again, she decided, he didn't really have to, especially with his parents' ranks in the herd. The Royal adviser and the best tactician in the herd. Quite a lineage.
As his polite smile morphed into a sort-of crooked grin, she couldn't help but cant her head a bit to the side. Before she could even think of something to say, he'd spoken, and an amused grin alighted her features. "Indeed, I am; I wish I wasn't, but such is the curse of being the Queen's daughter. One of them, at any rate. And yet, even though I'm constantly surrounded by a crowd of at least ten and usually more, I feel friendless." It was a true statement; despite the numbers, there wasn't a single one who really, truly knew her, and vice versa. She pushed the thought aside with a light chuckle and a bright smile, and took a few more steps into the grove as she tossed her curly mane to the other side of her neck.
"Certainly not," she stated, pale sapphire eyes bright. "I didn't think anyone else would be here, but I wouldn't ask you to leave. That would be rude and hypocritical; the former because you were here first, and the latter because I'd been hoping for something to do or someone to talk to for a while now."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 2:55 pm
Humm, this was going well. Perhaps he might even be able to make a real friend of this princess; he did like the idea of making a real friend. Trouble was, most people were such damn idiots that he could hardly stand them. Luciana, or princess Luciana as was proper and should be maintained until otherwise notified, didn’t seem like a twerp so far and that was always a good sign.
“Thank you princess Luciana,” the brightly-coloured stallion said as she finished speaking. “I have found myself somewhat wanting for conversation these last few days as well." True his isolation had been self imposed but it still hadn’t been entirely pleasant. With him at least, the herd instinct remained strong. Whenever he could seek out intelligent conversation he loved to do so; there was little so refreshing as a debate or a friendly matching of wits or even simply intelligent commentary on life in general.
“I haven’t been here before but I must say this is quite a lovely spot,” the stallion commented after a moment as he looked about again. Even if magic were not hanging in the air he felt that it might be a nice place to be. Food, water, shade; it was all here. What else could one want when one felt the need to escape the pressures of herd life? As he thought back over the small mare’s previous words, a small smile of sympathy crossed the magically inclined stallion’s countenance. It was said that the pressures of herd life were worst at the top and he could believe it. “I have had some little taste of hangers on myself,” he commented, “but I suspect you and your siblings have it ten times worse or more.”
For him, there had been a balance of fawners and bullies, and frankly though the fawners were useful he preferred the company of the bullies. The idiots never actually dared to strike him, and their idea of a crushing insult was frankly pathetic. The slight amusement and the drive to better himself he had gleaned from them was far to be preferred to the wearisome monotony of yet another unsubtle hint from a comely mare.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:56 pm
The brindled mare gave herself a thorough shake before flopping herself down on the grass besides the sparkling pond. Much better. She snorted a bit as a small half-grin formed on her muzzle, and she focused her sapphire eyes on the pond before her as she extended one wing, waving away the 'thank you'. "Enough of the 'princess' bit please, Dahak. I'm sick of such formalities," she said with a smile as she folded her wings back against her sides, looking into the small body of water pensively.
"Oh yes, this is one of my favorite spots," she said with a smile towards the tri-colored stallion once more. "I've found all of the hidden groves and ponds and trees -- one of the things I used to do as a foal was explore every inch of the mountains as I could, it helped get away from the irritating clinging Jala -- and this is, in my opinion, the best spot. I'm not sure why, as there are several similar to this in features," explained the small mare with a furrowed brow, gazing back into the clear waters as she turned the thoughts over in her mind. "But this place feels different somehow, although I can't quite place why. It just.... feels different. Must sound silly to you, though," she said with a small smile and a light chuckle as her sapphire eyes traced the outline of one of the trees.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:41 am
The tall stallion smiled to himself; that was interesting. Perhaps it was just a coincidence but to him it sounded as though normal folk could sense a magical place even though they had no idea what it was that they were sensing. “Not at all Lucina,” the slimly built Jala assured the princess. “I agree, it is a very good spot. Enlivening, I would say.” Giving his wings a stretch, the brindled creature paced over to a spot a little way from the other Katilenuck and cast himself down in the grass with a contended sigh.
After studying the water for a few moments in silence, the blue-eyed stallion turned his gaze back tho his companion. “What do you make of Illusionist Mordre?” he asked, canting his head slightly to one side. “I had not had a chance to speak with him until a few days ago, I was quite surprised by how decent he was after all I’ve heard muttered by my father.” True, Lucina was not exactly a typical mare, but if he could get some inkling of what other Katilenuck in general thought of magic it could only be a good thing.
He’d have to put the question to others too of course, but this was as good a place to start as any. The more he knew what people thought of magic and those who possessed it the better prepared he would be for revealing himself to the populous at large. He hoped the advisor's gripe was against Mordre specifically not against magic users in general. He didn’t want to have to lose his father over this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:25 pm
Lucina smiled warmly, allowing herself a contented sigh as well. It felt rather nice to avoid the formalities, the 'princess' title, the 'can-I-get-you-anything?' sort that attempted to attach themselves to her every waking moment. It was even more wonderful to relax and converse with another who treated her not as princess, not as Queen's daughter, but as an equal.
And then the topic switched to Mordre. Oh dear. She clicked her tongue in thought as she pondered over an answer, sapphire eyes focused on the crystal clear waters in front of her. She'd have to be quite careful here, she knew - but it shouldn't be too hard. "He's an interesting sort," she began slowly before casting him a smile. "Mother always had him come and tell us stories with his illusions when we were just foals. He really is a very nice Jala," she said with a firm nod. He was, of course. She furrowed her brow for a moment though, concentrating again. "Father," oh how it pained her to call Mavasu such a word, "doesn't seem to like him much, though, and I can't imagine why. He's never done anything to father that I can tell, but maybe it's just because he's, well, my father. He always seems so mad and angry with everyone," said the little mare with a frown, flicking her ears back. She didn't like Mavasu at all, and indeed the only one he actually seemed to like was her mother. Not even his children, nor those he thought were his children, received much compassion at all, if any.
"I think not many like Illusionist Mordre because he's a tad strange. Mother told me before that even though he looks like a little colt, he's really very much older than that. It's hard to imagine though, but it might explain a bit as to why several of the herd members dislike him so," she explained as she offered him another warm smile. Oh, it was wonderful to actually talk with someone. "I think it's because maybe they know, like mother does, that he's very much older, but no one could really see him as such because he looks like a little colt. Imaginations run away with some of those in our herd, and I suppose they think that, if he can merely look like a colt to fool the entire herd, what is the true extent of his power? I think that, most of all, is why many, including father, dislike him so. They don't know how much power he really has, and they're frightened of it, I suppose," she explained thoughtfully, flicking her curly tail and ruffling her feathered wings a bit, shifting them to a more comfortable position. Perhaps that had been a bit too much? She certainly hoped not, it was such a magnificent thing to be able to have a conversation with someone, and she didn't wish for it to end now because someone didn't like how she'd spoken forever on one subject. Pushing the negative thought aside, she turned her slender head towards him and offered him a sheepish grin. "I do hope I haven't bothered you with all that; it isn't every day I get the chance to actually have a conversation, and I'm afraid I get a bit carried away sometimes." Maybe it was time to turn the tables? Yes, that seemed like a fine idea. "What do you think of Illusionist Mordre, Dahak?" Indeed, why had he asked? It seemed a rather strange opening topic for conversation, albeit a very interesting one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:58 pm
Dahak smiled and nodded along to her words; they made sense and fitted with what the grulla had said himself. People were afraid and jealous of power, and the mystique of appearing so young helped the old stallion to keep people back and offered him the element of surprise in a sticky situation. As she spoke of her father, the bright-coloured Jala quirked a crooked smile. The only person he had ever met who liked that particular git was the Queen. Perhaps the patriarch was as jealous as anyone else of the green-eyed majiker’s powers but had more influence to express it that your average Katilenmuck. Come to think of it, that probably explained his father’s attitude too.
“I assure me you do not bother me at all, I feel much the same way. Most people, I find, are inclined to always chatter and never talk, if you understand me...”
...What did he think of Mordre? The slender stallion frowned thoughtfully at the question and arranged his wings slightly differently at his sides as he pondered this.
“We did not speak for long,” he said slowly after a time, thinking hard about what he would say in order to avoid revealing his own magic to the princess, “but as I say he seemed like a decent sort to me. He was... kind to me actually, imparted quite some wisdom to me too. He didn’t seem to discriminate against me for being the son of somebody who seems to insist on antagonizing him and I know that many others in this herd would... Yes, I liked him. I look forward to speaking with him again, sometime soon hopefully.”
Once he had done some more work on healing, perhaps, and was either making progress or utterly failing to. Perhaps he would try on Virgil later, he was sick of having to damage himself to get any practice in, and then perhaps go to Mordre in the morning. He did want to see the old stallion again. He rather liked having a mentor to look up to, it had been hard to look up to anybody since he’d discovered his magic. He could respect people if they earned it, yes, but he couldn’t look up to them. Sometimes he felt like he was a completely different species to his fellows, he truly did.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:30 pm
"Hee.." She giggled, ruffling her wings a bit. "Yes, I've noticed that many people seem to have an awful lot to say about nothing, and they never really say anything for all the words they have." At least, it certainly seemed that way to her. Mostly from the ones that clung to her, and from a select few higher ranking Jala.
She smiled then, flicking an ear idly. "Yes, he's very kind. That's why I can hardly understand why there's anyone who could dislike him so. It must be their own fears, I think; they don't bother looking past what they see -- or in this case, don't see -- for the personality beneath," she said thoughtfully, her bright eyes tracing the outline of one of the trees on the other side of the small crystal pond. "It's like that with many things, I think. Everyone always looks at power and rank and status -- hardly anything more, unless their target has a sour attitude," and she giggled a bit; more often than not, the one being talked of then was Mavasu. "I do enjoy talking to Illusionist Mordre; he's seen much of the world, or so I've been told, and he is very kind. He still tells me stories on occasion, when I ask him to. He seems one of the very few who looks more at the intangible things that make up a Nequus, like personality and attitude and behavior, than just looks or rank in the herd."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:13 am
Dahak smiled softly and bobbed his head in reply. “He seemed that way to me, but as I say he and I have only spoken once. It’s good to know that what I made of him is at least a part of what he is.” It would have been awful to find out that the grulla was some craven fool, or that in truth he cared only for himself. The princesses’ words were indeed a great comfort to him. Having so recently gained a person to respect and admire he didn’t want to lose him.
“I don’t think I should like to be judged solely on rank or exterior or what I could do,” Dahak mused after a moment. “While respect and awe would be nice, I shouldn’t like the jealousy and the assumption that I was little more underneath than what I was on the surface, what I could do." Oh yes he wanted the rank and power and respect that would doubtless come with his abilities yet... Yet he did still want to be Dahak, and not just Shaman Dahak. He knew and accepted that to most he would be only that, but provided there were a few who just called him Dahak and treated him as a Jala rather than a useful freak he thought he could be quite content.
“I suppose,” the bright coloured stallion went on eventually with a slight smile over at the brown-maned mare, “that is is most often the ones who say so little with so many words that judge a Nequus so.” And that was fine; he didn’t have any use for such folk beyond their awe and obedience in any case. Let them mutter and stare if they would, but when they injured their leg chasing after a pretty mare or handsome stallion they would come to him and smile and grovel. That, he felt, could be really quite amusing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:38 pm
"Oh, yes," she said with a warm smile, flicking her curly tail a bit. "I've been fortunate enough to talk with him quite a few times, besides when he told us stories as foals. He really is very kind, much unlike what some of the others say." Like what Mavasu says, as well as Xla'Lanan, though she kept the thought private. It wouldn't do to possibly insult the adviser's son by talking about him like that. Of course, she didn't know what Dahak thought of his father, but in any case she refrained from speaking her mind upon that point.
A soft smile alighted her features as she chuckled slightly, one of her ears twitching a bit. "I don't like it at all, it's nothing but a load of trouble. Thus, the crowd of clingers-on that follow me everywhere," she said with a light sigh, although a small smile remained; it was only a little problem, after all. Nothing to get horribly upset about. "I feel like I'll never be anything but princess Lucina to most everyone. I don't know what else I could do. I know my brother, Ra'cuv, has taken to the life of a soldier, and in some way he's no longer simply prince Ra'cuv. I envy him a little, I think; I'd like to be thought of as something more than just a silly princess who hasn't any responsibilities." Which, despite what anyone thought, she did have responsibilities, just not as many as her two eldest siblings, nor her mother, father, and 'father.' She frowned slightly and another sigh escaped her as she furrowed her brows, staring at the pond before her as if it could answer her innermost questions and give her suggestions on what to do. "I'm afraid that's all I'll be; I don't know what else I could do. I'm not fit for the title tactician, I have hardly any skills in that profession. Perhaps a teacher of foals, or something similar. I'm just not sure," she finished with a soft smile and another chuckle. "I still have plenty of time to figure something out though, I'm sure."
She paused then, her hide twitching once or twice to displace a fly that had settled in an irritating spot on her back. Her bright curious eyes flicked to Dahak and she smiled again, shifting her wings a bit. "What about you, Dahak? I'm sure someone so intelligent as yourself aspires to be something more than what others think or say you are."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:18 am
Dahak chuckled softly at that and gave a shake of his head. “When I was very little,” he told the princess with a lopsided smile, “I thought that I should be a soldier like a good Katilenuck stallion. Then I discovered just how weedy I was and decided it would be a waste of my brain to get is dashed out by some brute intent on taking our lands.”
It had not been long after he had decided that the soldier’s path was not for him that he had met those Bae and, through his dip in the river, discovered his powers. The bright coloured stallion smiled softly to himself at that. Though the memory was a terrifying one, one he still had the odd nightmare about, but the moment he had realized what he had done had been one of the best moments of his life. It had confirmed for him that he would not be a nobody.
“Anyway,” the blue-eyed stallion went on after a moment, realizing that he had become somewhat sidetracked and smiling apologetically for his lapse. “It wasn’t long after that realization that I decided I ought to go into healing. As the role of tactician is not open to young stallions such as myself, I thought it seemed like the best use for my brain. I never really considered the idea of being a teacher or anything else to be honest, something about being a healer just drew me in, I suppose.”
Well it was the truth, just not all of it. Healing had drawn him in; why bother with a position that wouldn’t use this magic he’d been gifted with? Since he’d found out that he was a Shaman, that was all he had felt he could be. Nothing else would do. He hoped Lucina wouldn't be angry with him when he did announce his powers. He could understand why she might be; a feeling that she had been deceived and such, but there was nothing he could do about that. Right now, he wasn’t ready for them to know and until he was it would remain a secret between Mordre, himself and possibly Virgil if he ended up using the Bae for practice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:41 pm
Lucina giggled slightly before unabashedly studying the slender stallion before her. He didn't really look like the warrior type, in her opinion, and the thought brought another light giggle. "I think healing others would suit you much more than the life of a soldier," the thin mare offered with a warm smile. She really thought so; Dahak just didn't have the build of a soldier, plus it seemed like it would be such a waste for his bright mind to be wasted on the battlefield when he and his knowledge could be put to much better uses more suited to his talents.
"I thought about healing, myself, but I don't think I'd be very good at it. I love foals though, so I'm hoping I can figure something out that involves them." Perhaps a teacher, yes; she'd been thinking on that for quite some time. She had many stories from her true sire that she loved to recite to small foals eager to hear stories. There was just something about their young faces light up with the thought of a story, something about their unbridled enthusiasm with certain things that intrigued her so. They were so full of life and love and energy, and they were such adorable things.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
