|
|
Post by Sabiruna Goddess Of Love on Dec 22, 2007 15:06:49 GMT -5
As there was no specific request she was as she preferred to be. Her long red hair fastened behind her in a complicated half twist that left curls cascading down her back and about her shoulders. Her dress was a simple soft sheath in ivory that floated about her and off her shoulders with long bell sleeves. A velvet bodice was all she wore over it and the soft straps went over her shoulders it tied in back with silver threads. She had soft matching slippers on and a burgundy cloak open, with the full hood back. The clasp holding it at her throat was made of hand forged silver and shone bright as the day it was cast and molded into a perfect just blossoming rose.
There was much love being bartered and begged for within the castle walls. Unrequited love, love of job, love of the people, for and from the king. She wasnt' here to grant them all. But even those that had intrigued her would find soon enough that the course of true love never ran smooth.
She made hardly a sound as she walked down the halls a soft smile on her face.
|
|
|
|
Post by isaac on Dec 22, 2007 22:21:25 GMT -5
As he paced around his bedroom, his mind whirled in turmoil over the reports.
Once again, his former lieutenant was attacking the provinces. And this time,
he was working with a powerful black dragon. A small part of him was relieved
at the appearance of the dragon, it explained so much. From the histories, he
knew of the power and cruelty possesed by the evil dragons. Why the dragon had
elected to turn his childhood friend and trusted ally against his friend and king
was a question for other times. The important thing was to defeat the cause, slay
the evil that had warped his friend and besieged his people. Then the healing could
begin.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deft on Dec 23, 2007 16:31:56 GMT -5
"Lower the bridge! Lower the bridge!" She cried, her voice sandpapered into a harsh, steely note- she needed to get in, right away...
"Oi! Draw them back! Lower the bridge!" The rain was thundering harder, now, it was littered over the ground and it stung at the touch- her fingers were freezing, even within her gloves... Large tufts of smoke rose from her horse's nostrils as he pawed the edge of the moat- he knew that he could not cross by himself, it was too deep: the only way to get in is if they would:
"Lower the bridge! Gatekeeper- lower the bridge!"
If only she still had that phoenix- that might get there attention. But, in the absence of a calling-bird, she began to thrust her hand back and forth, hurling her fist widely about the air, her other hand fastened tightly on her prisoner's waste...
|
|
|
|
Post by isaac on Dec 23, 2007 18:55:52 GMT -5
The gate guard grumbled as he hastily donned his cloak. A few months ago, he'd have been solely tempted to "accidently" not hear the traveller demanding entrance, especially on such a foul night. However, with recent events, the traveller could be a messenger reporting another attack or a refugee from one of the villages. The king was eager for information that might help with the current troubles, so he decided he'd better lower the bridge to see if they needed help. Before he stepped outside, he picked up the metal winch handle and rapped the gong next to the door. The sound carried to the nearest guard towers on either side, who would then dispatch a couple of guards against the precaution of an attempted invasion. Stepping out into the rain, he cursed again as the wind blew his cloak over his shoulders, leaving him no protection against the driving rain. "Who in their right mind would be out in this...." Stopping next to the drawbridge winch, he slotted the winch handle onto the crank. Bracing himself, he began turning the handle. Moving slowly at first, it became easier as the series of gears came into play and the drawbridge dropped to the ground with a loud thud.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deft on Dec 23, 2007 19:41:34 GMT -5
"Ah! Thank you, sir." And she urged her horse within: he did not like the feel of castles, and only after much prodding was he willing to plow forward.
As he battled within himself, Deft unfurled a spare cloak from her oilskin pack, responding to the tattered cloak now being beaten away by these western winds. As the horse passed the man, she thrust it out of her own cloak's protection, saying, "Take it quickly or it will be as soaked as you are. And I need... some sort of room. Something hard to break out of."
|
|
|
|
Post by isaac on Dec 23, 2007 23:06:32 GMT -5
The gate warden heard but a handful of her words before the winds swept them away but he clutched the cloak given to him and hastily wrapped it around his shoulders. Gesturing, he led the way back to the gatehouse alcove where the projecting guard towers to the side gave them some protection from the winds. "Well, out with it then. What's your business here, out on a night like this?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Deft on Dec 24, 2007 1:46:52 GMT -5
She leaped to the ground, her knees catching her from fall, and placed a steady hand on her trembling horse's muzzle, and, speaking as loud as possible (without being rude) said,
"I found this," she motioned up at the man still heaved over the horse, his uncoiled hands hanging limp like withered flowers, something dark fingering the skin just above his wrist. She tugged away at his heavy sleeves and found a dark dragon tattoo spiraling around his arm. "He was left unconscious at the side of the road I was traveling on- I roused him and he immediately attacked; it wasn't until I had him tied to a tree did he tell me why. This man was in the enemies troops- he spoke of some sort of attack on a Rendoria colony: it's already taken place, I think, but it's being kept quite by the soldiers. I don't know, that's all I could get from him before he passed."
She paused, then added,
"I- I thought you ought to know. The palace, that is. But I don't know what this man's capable of, or why he was abandoned on the side of the road... I think he's got some magic in him, but I can't be sure."
|
|
|
|
Post by isaac on Dec 26, 2007 15:12:40 GMT -5
The gate warden gaped at the man's tattoo. "But...which colony? I mean where? Oh, hells." A guard appeared from either side, staring quizzically at the body on the horse. The gate warden was torn. Should he notify the king straight away or seek more confirmation in order to avoid worrying his liege unnecessarily. Oh, hells. "One of yous send a message to His Majesty, we think there's been another village attacked." If it was a false alarm, better safe than sorry.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deft on Dec 26, 2007 15:23:00 GMT -5
"We'll need some sort of a room," she told him, "If he wakes up and has some sort of power, his guard is dead unless he is secured." She glanced at the limp form and gave him a stout club to the head with the back of her hand- she had read that small impact could keep someone unconscious longer...
"I believe it is a province near Yuuangi; there is a small village there that would be easy to take- he spoke of terror in the south- it is the only place I think they could keep quite for long. Perhaps they mean to use it as a post for further attack, but, as I said, he did pass on me before much was said."
|
|
|
|
Post by isaac on Dec 29, 2007 13:40:32 GMT -5
"My Lord?" King Isaac looked up to see one of the guard standing in the corridor. "The gate warden thought you should be informed. A traveler has arrived, with an unconscious man. She claims he's one of Val's men and that he's spoken of a secret attack on one of the villages."
"What! Take me to them now."
Moments later, Isaac listened to the young woman's tale and nodded. "Very well. Put him in the east guard tower with two guards outside the cell and two guards down the hall. If he does have some kind of magical attack, the farther guards should have time to signal a warning. In the meantime," he gestured to the sodden ranger. "Let's make our guest comfortable. We have much to discuss later." Pulling one of the guards aside, he whispered "Without being obvious, let's keep an eye on her as well."
|
|
|
|
Post by Deft on Dec 29, 2007 16:36:16 GMT -5
"Thank you, my lord." She bowed, still rather shaken- she had spoke to the king, she had spoken to the king.... He was just as dramatic as she had thought to imagine; and seemed that of a goodly soul...
Deft, however, knew that she must shake off her all-too-common loyalist-admiration for the king she was going to gain control of the situation: the king would have her kept in constant watch, and this worried her...
|
|
|
|
Post by isaac on Dec 31, 2007 0:24:24 GMT -5
"No, thank YOU. You may have rendered us a great service." Isaac gestured to the guard he'd spoken with before. "Escort our guest to comfortable quarters, she's had a trying journey. You are to remain available to her in case she needs anything." The young guard nodded his understanding.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deft on Dec 31, 2007 19:57:10 GMT -5
She felt her lips tug into an amused smile:
'You are to remain available to her in case she needs anything...'
Well- she understood polotics fair enough to catch his meaning: 'spy on her, I don't trust her...'
Well, that's how it went, did it not? She supposed she was glad the king was cautious...
She made ready to follow the gaurd, thrusting her oilskin pack unto her back, and then, hesitantly, to no one in particular, "My horse is... well, I think he could use a stable- if this pleases the company...?"
|
|
