Aquatic Adventures [NeonCat & Persephonegreen]

[NeonCat]

As soon as he stepped oh of the tent Raliz got to work on the rope with her sharp nails. She made quick work and broke her bonds within a couple minutes. She didn't know how long it would take for someone to bring her the food and drink, but she figured not that long. She ran to the table where he had written the surrender note and grabbed a clean sheet of paper and a quill. She quickly wrote a note reading that she was safe for the time being and to give her time for inside sabotage. She also promise updates as often as possible. With the ink still wet she stuck it to the back side of the surrender note and rolled it back up in the tight scroll.

Afterward she ran back to the post and acted like she was still tied up. To make it more realistic she picked up the rope and held it agains her wrists.

[Persephonegreen]

As ordered, a burly soldier entered the tent some time later, a tray of food and drink in hand; stuffed lobster, crab cakes, skewered flounder, and sea grapes along with a mug of vere. The Talthiens were expert hunters, their ability to see in the dark giving them advantage over a majority of their prey. A large fat lantern fish entered shortly after the soldier left, eyeing her for a moment before swimming over to the desk and scooping the message up in his large jaws. He let out a small snort as he passed her, swimming out of the tent to deliver the message as his master had commanded.

Mikael returned some time later, to find her picking at the tray of food as he moved to pour himself a glass of vere, taking a seat in a chair across from her. "Tell me, little lule...how is it a woman comes to find herself in the wake of battle? Do not most women dream of marriage and children? Why is it you dream of battle and glory?" he asked curiously, reclining back in the chair as he propped his feet up on a small table in front of him. His dark eyes watched her intently, dark blue webbed finger tracing over the rim of his mug.

He was curious to say the least; there was something different about this Pryon, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. There was a fire that burned within her, something both dangerous and alluring; it made him all the more interested in hearing her tale. What was it that drove this beauty to such determination? What fueled her strength and courage, even in the grasp of defeat?

[NeonCat]

When the food was brought in the guard didn't bother to untie her. This resulted in a few curse words and a strong glare. As soon as he left however she dropped the rope and made her way over to the food. She ate properly, but like a man. She used her fingers instead of utensils, and sat with her legs crossed. Years with the army had made her sort of forget her ladylike manners.

When her captor returned she only glanced at him and continued eating, but when he asked her questions she looked him dead in the eye. Which for her culture would be punishable for a normal woman. "Why do you fight? It is probably for the same reason. You fight for your country. Sitting at home taking care of domestic affairs is not efficient enough. You want to be on the battle field with your comrades knowing that you might be making a difference with every life you take." Her words were passionate, not about death but her eyes lit up with she spoke of comrades.

She kept her identity secret from him for a reason. If he found out that her father was one of the men in charge of a very large section of their troops then it would open up a lot of ransom possibilities.

[Persephonegreen]

Mikael shook his head, getting up from his seat as he folded his arms behind his back and began to pace the length of the tent, the light reflecting off his iris skin. "That is where you are mistaken, little lule. I do not just fight for my country...I fight for peace." he explained softly, turning to face her. "Decades, each kingdom warring against another...petty squabbles leading to the loss of hundreds and thousands of men...I fight to see them all united under one banner; to see peace spread to every corner of every ocean. That is why I fight." he answered her firmly, his dark gaze focused on her intently for a long moment before he returned to the chair to pour himself another glass of vere.

"Tell me, lule...what do they call you?" he asked curiously, wondering if her name did her any justice. She reminded him of a jellyfish, beautiful and graceful, but a deadly sting if you rubbed her the wrong way. That thought made him grin a little, folding his arms behind his head as he relaxed back in his chair. The cut ropes hadn't escaped his attention, and his grin spread a little as his dark eyes darted to the ropes before focusing on her once more.

((sorry it's short. I'm having technical difficulties and trying to multitask))

[NeonCat]

She had finished the food and pushed the plate away. "Raliz." She said as she leaned back against the support where she had been tied. No last name was given, and honestly to most men it didn't matter. "You speak of wanting peace, but you started this war. Your people were the first to send hundreds of troops to our border. The squabbling will always happen so long as we have ambitions and greed." She paused and a more solemn look crossed her face for half a second. "It's our nature." Her gaze returned to a sharp stare, not wanting to show any emotion or weakness.

(I figured since they're talking our posts would get a bit shorter)

[Persephonegreen]

Mikael sighed, shaking his head. "You are mistaken...or misinformed. My father and I sent word to your king many months ago, requesting a treaty between our two nations. A peaceful union. It was only after our request was refused and our messenger returned wounded that our legions advanced upon your borders. Your king started this war, not I." he informed her quietly, his gaze stern and indignant as he thwarted her accusations. "Do not speak to me of loses and casualties, of the pain that this battle brings upon your people. I know well the suffering that it inflicts...I have experienced it first hand." he answered quietly, getting to his feet as he turned his back to her once more, occupying himself as he removed the blade from his side to clean it.

[NeonCat]

Raliz leaned her head against the pole, and feeling the conversation was over she closed her eyes. She knew he would not harm his hostage and she hadnt been sleeping well. As she sat letting her mind wander she remembered a rumor she had heard. "Weren't you supposed to marry our princess? Seems cliche , but there was a rumor that something happened and the messenger was sent to inquire about why the wedding had been canceled." Raliz opened one eye to see his reaction.

[Persephonegreen]

Mikael's jaw tightened and his muscles seemed to tense as if her words had physically struck him. "Indeed...I refused to dishonor the woman publically...but the vixen stole my heart, and then betrayed me by bedding one of her guards. It was I who discovered them." he grumbled, anger and hatred leaping into his dark eyes. Taking a deep breath, he regained his composure before turning to her. "So you see, little lule...there is much you do not yet understand." he added gently, nodding in the general direction of the makeshift bed, covered with sealskin pillows and whale-hide blankets. "Take it. I still have much to do. I will not sleep."

[NeonCat]

Raliz's eyes softened a bit when she saw the obvious pain in his expression. She had never loved a man and didn't know the feeling that he had experienced, but she knew it had to be one of the worst feelings. Normally, if he had been one of her own, she would have offered a word of comfort and perhaps a strong drink, but these were not those circumstances.

With a look towards the bed she felt her exhaustion weigh on her, but she didn't want to sleep. Even with her reassurance that he wouldn't do anything to her she still wasn't comfortable being a prisoner of war. "I will stay up with you." She told him. "I have to plan my escape, right?" She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on her folded arms with a grin.

[Persephonegreen]

Mikael chuckled, shaking his head. "you are a stubborn woman...but I look forward to the challenge." he added with a devilish grin, offering her a wink before returning to his desk to pour over the scrolls and documents that were piled upon it. After a few long moments, he sighed, glancing over at her with dark eyes and a playful grin. "If you are going to stay up, you might as well make yourself useful." he suggested, offering her a pen and a stack of paper. "Letters of thanks, to the nobles who have aligned themselves with the Talthiens."