|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 4:46 pm
Who: Lord Yizhaq, Hayat, and Shati
When: Late Evening
Where: Shati's farm in Imisus
Why: To track down baked treats
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 7:13 pm
It was with the eager face of a child, and the humor of a woman, in his mind that Yizhaq left the small estate that evening. The sun was setting, yes, but some of the market stalls stayed open later than others, and there was only one that he was intent upon.
Clothed in expensive, well-cut clothing, his silvery-green tunic was covered by a dark, high-collared coat, secured by silver buttons at the wrist. Gloves covered his long fingers, and the boots below his black pants were a matching shade of dark leather.
The blade at his hip spoke of his nobility, if his clothing did not, and it was with a air of good will about him that he walked along the streets.
A slight knit to his brow as he returned to the place where the merchant, an attractive young woman with a thick accent, had sold him the sweet bread only hours prior. She was nowhere to be found.
"Ah, ya lookin' fer Shati, then, mi'lord?"
Yizhaq turned his pale, green gaze to the fat grocer, who was leaning against a broom and watching him.
"Shati?" An eyebrow.
"Yessir, the lass that sells 'ere. Dark 'air, dark eyes, dark skin?" Nodding at the memory, Yizhaq's mouth twitched as the man continued. "Well, yer sore outta luck. She's gone fer the night. I can help ya out, I'm sure!"
"Ah, no thank you, grocer, though I appreciate your offer." Yizhaq reached out to the man, shaking his hand and smiling slightly at the near instantaneous information he gathered. The fat man's irritation with the girl, something about a bat, and... A farm. Brava.
He was on his way again, until he saw the acreage in his memory, lit from the inside. It was just after sundown, not too late to call upon her, surely?
A polite knock on the door would broadcast his presence. The things he did for that spoiled son of his...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 8:33 pm
The day had been crisp, and sundown had turned it to a sharp chill. Shati had long since lit the fireplace and decided to settle in for the night, money made and chores done. Who was still wandering the streets at this hour, anyway? For the past hour or so, she had been sitting by the fire and reading in the glow until it had reached the point of mental strain, and then decided it was time to go back outside. Passing back into the cold seemed immediately idiotic even thickly dressed, especially with the animals all asleep for the night. Only Kitty trailed at her heels as she exited through the back door, and immediately turned.
Was that someone knocking?
Nobody ever came this far outside the city past sundown, not without malicious intent. She went for the front gate, head inclined to try and see around the corner, after noting the nearby shovel as a possible weapon. There was indeed a shape at the door, but not one the girl found particularly threatening. Pulling her coat closer around her, she called to the shadow.
"...hello?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 11:10 pm
"Oh," Yizhaq was only slightly surprised, turning toward the sound of her voice, and the young lord's hand went the back of his head, a bit sheepish. "Hello, Miss... Shati, is it?"
Spreading his hands, palm up to show his harmlessness, he laughed at bit at the oddity of the situation. "I'm sorry to disturb you at home, so late, it took me quite a bit longer to find this place than I thought."
Clearing his throat, he didn't bother to try and squint to make her out, Hayat, he knew, could see her just fine, and would let him know if there was any danger.
"Your stall-neighbor, the grocer, told me of you. My name is Yizhaq, and I was hoping to commission some baking from you. I came to your stall far earlier in the day, perhaps you do not remember my face, I'm sure you've been quite busy."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:21 pm
Shati lifted a finger to her lip and knotted her brow. Were the man any closer or the sun any higher, she may have been able to recognize this man, but for now he was an undefinable voice in the dark. His odd request stirred her nerves as well, because who came to your house in the middle of the night to ask you for baked goods? She decided then to not let him inside, and perhaps not even cross through the gate. Damn the grocer for handing out personal information! She would give that man a piece of her mind if he wasn't somewhat intimidating.
"What is it you're interested in, exactly? I can't say I've ever worked on commission before." She dared to move closer, placing her hands on the fence to try and get a better look at her visitor. If she could recognize him, maybe she could stop worrying about him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:41 pm
It was more than a bit awkward, to have to half-shout/half-whisper to her in the dark, unable to see her beyond the gate. Clearing his throat, Yizhaq resisted the urge to over-explain himself, thereby making things weirder.
"Do you have a light, Miss?" He couldn't help but think that might make things easier between them. "My son, he is two, enjoyed what you sold me, and I was hoping to have a servant pick up the same, daily, for the duration of my family's stay in Imisus."
There wasn't much more to say than that, really. He felt a bit foolish, all in all, for not simply trying to catch her in the market the next day. Still, he was here now, and the sudden exhale by his ear let him know that Hayat was particularly interested, for reasons, as yet, unknown.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 2:03 pm
"Ah, yes. One moment." Shati could have hit herself for not thinking of it earlier. To reveal the man's face would (hopefully) put her mind at ease, and what better than a light? She stepped back around the corner and inside, eying the shovel again before crossing the threshold. When the woman emerged again it was through the side door, the kitchen candle in hand. She had also, as an afterthought, tucked a knife into the hem of her apron. It was for this move which she had, as she stepped closer and lifted the candle to her visitor's face.
A soft sigh escaped Shati's lips, and she smiled. She had seen this man earlier today, and he had indeed purchased sweet bread. What better for a two-year-old, after all, save maybe jam? The fear of being attacked or robbed was far lessened now. She remembered this young man as an upstanding and entirely non-intimidating gentleman, smacking of lordship.
"I don't often bake the same thing daily, but I suppose I could. What is it you're interested in, exactly? I bake other things than sweet bread, I assure you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 2:30 pm
"I see," He was quiet a moment, before his face brightened and an easy grin pulled at the corners of his wide mouth, in response to her own smile of recognition. Now that the light was there, giving them both expressions to go with their voices, he was much more relaxed.
"That is even better. Perhaps I could persuade you to present a different basket of goods, each day? Something surprising and delightful. Perhaps a mix of sweet and savory." It would be best if both Altair and Bhakti could take pleasure in the baked treats. From the sample he'd had earlier, Shati was quite skilled.
"I shall compensate you both for your time and goods, of course, and should you not have time to deliver to my estate, I can, naturally, have someone pick it up."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 2:38 pm
A daily delivery would be a lot of work, but all things considered didn't she already have enough for a basket each day? Sure, it might not all be the freshest of fresh, but it would be a good bounty. She even had the basket itself in mind. It wasn't as if she had to worry about payment either, not from someone who could call their home an "estate".
"Where is it you live, exactly?" Shati asked, not wanting to commit to an hours-long trek every day. There would be no time for work, and then what of it? It would be nice to have some steady income.
Meanwhile, Kitty leaped gracefully up onto the porch rail and stretched her neck to sniff at the air around the visitor. She wasn't used to newcomers, so her unasked attention wasn't immediately startling to her owner. It was likely, though, that the feline smelled something strange in this man's shirt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 2:45 pm
"Perhaps daily was a mite ambitious, weekly would quite probably suffice, we..." Trailing off as the cat approached, the handsome noble lifted a gloved hand, almost protectively placing it above his collarbone and throat.
"My family and I shall be here for approximately six months, you see." Gesturing off into the distance, he referenced the more exclusive, spread out area of Imisus, where only the truly weathy and those they employed were found. Though not nearly as large as his father's [and now his] fortress estate in the mountains of Shyregoad, the smaller Imisus "House" was nothing to laugh at, far more elegant and wordly in design.
"I can pay you a substantial amount in advance, to compensate for any loss of work you suffer."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 2:56 pm
Shati looked off at the horizon, as if she'd be able to see the houses there. She occasionally wandered those streets with her wares, and even had a couple of regular customers. Perhaps she had seen this young man's son and not known it, and certainly she had seen his home, if not from afar.
"Oh, no, weekly is entirely manageable," she smiled then, her attention turning back to the man, "It would be no problem to deliver, given your address... and perhaps a name?" Neither had offered identification what with the awkward situation they'd begun with, and neither could really be blamed. Now the poor woman just felt socially awkward. Here she was, talking to a clearly wealthy and upstanding gentleman, and she had absolutely no idea what to call him.
Kitty was now leaning forward as far as possible, toes barely gripping the edge of the rail, sticking her nose out into the air. There was no threat in her manner, not yet, and Shati thought it odd that her visitor seemed so protective. Maybe he just didn't like cats.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 3:14 pm
The good-natured embarrassment that flashed onto his face was quickly replaced with concern at the cat's continued approach, his distracted nature almost as if someone had been speaking to him. Taking one, careful step away from the railing and the cat, he gave the feline a long, measured look as if to warn it off, before turning his attention back to Shati.
"Forgive my manners! The first name I gave you does not, after all, give you much to work with. Lord Yizhaq bin Saleh is a more formal way of addressing me."
Distracted once more, his voice dropped an octave, a sort of absent-minded whisper, as if he was brushing aside someone's questions. "I don't see anything," was the murmur, before he blinked at Shati, smiling again.
Then, carried on the wind, came the whispery, dry voice of Hayat, escaping his collar and destroying his image of relative normalcy.
"I know that he is here, mi'lord. I can smell him."
Clearing his throat, Yizhaq raised his brows. "I apologize for the intrusion of my mages' familiar, Miss." He revealed himself to be a member of the Fellowship, hopefully clearing up a bit of the oddity. Hayat remained hidden, for the moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 9:44 am
Given the extra distance between herself and the man of interest, Kitty just sat back on the rail and watched. Her tail swayed carelessly and her attention was drawn anywhere but there.
"Milord!" Shati said, giving a little bow. She was pretty sure she'd never met an actual lord before, especially not one apparently from a foreign country. How was she supposed to treat him, aside from with respect? Of course, her attention was almost immediately drawn away by his whisper. "I didn't--"
It struck her then that Lord Yizhaq had not been addressing her at all. There was someone else here, perhaps hidden in the bushes or waiting in the shadows nearby. Her nerves flared up again at the fear she may be attacked, and then doubly when something small and glowing popped up out of her visitor's shirt. The poor woman couldn't help herself; she gave a startled little peep and nearly dropped her candle.
"Mage's... what? Forgive me, milord, I--!" Poor Shati had no idea what she was hearing. This man was of the Fellowship, certainly, but she'd had no idea they carried familiars. For a girl who had grown up in a land of wild things and spirits, this little white being was frightening.
It was behind her where a shadow swooped low, skimming the collected rain water off the top of a barrel and disappearing into the dark again. Kitty perked to watch it. In moments, it repeated the action again and flew away. A bird perhaps? Oh, no. Hayat was correct. There he was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 11:48 am
"Oh," He waved a gloved hand, dismissing her surprise and formality as if it was a distracting insect.
"There, mi'lord." If possible, the small Servos' tone was pleased, and a squeeze to Yizhaq's thumb let him know that she wanted to be presented properly to the baker. Allowing her to step onto his palm, he displayed her small, ladylike form to Shati. A slight curtsy, and she spoke directly to the woman for the first time.
"Good eve, I am called Hayat. I apologize for startling you." A smile flashed onto the young lord's face at his plague's good manners. His gazed briefly followed the flight pattern of something dark, before moving back to Shati, his expression showing his clearly pleasant surprise.
"So, you are a Grimm, as well! What is his name?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 10:17 am
The bat seemed to have retreated to his tree, but perhaps if turning slightly left or right one might find the predatory flash of eyes near the home proper. Shati was, however, completely enraptured by this polite little creature presented to her. The fear had petered out into curious interest, and she offered Hayat a little bow.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," she said jovially, and then turned to watch whatever Yizhaq had seen. His question brought her back to reality suddenly, though, and she tilted her head.
"A what?" she asked, brows furrowed, "Whose name?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
