MicahTheRogue

When the Flames Die

"Nice to meet you, Sir Jezin Tremora." Noah replied, a bright smile on his face. Seeing warriors, especially warriors in armor, always excited Noah. He loved to be caught up in all the fanfare of knights, and soldiers, and war. "I like your armor." Noah complimented Jezin. The bodyguard's armament impressed the young boy. He was used to the hard leather, and fur, armor of Cressen. It wasn't often that Noah saw a man in full plate, for multiple reasons. "How long have you been the protector of Princess Sophia?" Noah asked, excitedly. Most of the time while in Cressen, Noah would go without a personal bodyguard, most of the time, as was the tradition of the royal family of Cressen. Needing a bodyguard to walk around with was looked down upon, but once Noah suffered his injury, he was granted a bodyguard entourage.

When the Flames Die

"I came with a entourage of about 15 of my father's most trusted warriors." Noah replied with a smile on his face. "More for protection on the road here, and back, than protection in the capital. Their spending their time relaxing in the various taverns in Mullen, right about now, get some much needed relaxation." Noah wondered what kind of debauchery they were going about now, and secretly wanted to join in on whatever they were doing. "What about you? Is Miss Eva the only one who accompanied you to Mullen?" Noah asked, politely nodding his head and acknowledging the silent servant of Sophia.

When the Flames Die

Noah looked at Sophia, obviously very interested, as she went on to explain, in depth, the religion of Lyok. "I've never heard of the Eternal Serpent, before." Noah replied, as he grabbed his glass, and drank from it, pondering it as he did so. The people of Cressen practiced the art of animism, but it seemed like a very foreign concept to all of Cressen's southern neighbors that Noah had came in conduct with. "I'm definitely going to have to take a trip to Lyok when I'm older." Noah added, with a sincere grin. The country sounded like quite the place, much more exciting than the land of Cressen. Most of the days in Cressen, Noah would simply learn about the intricacies of diplomacy, or even study the details of commanding an army. Since Noah could not fight, his father wanted him to become a brilliant general, a concept Noah didn't exactly like.

When the Flames Die

Lyok sounded like a much better, and extoic, place to live than Cressen. As Sophia described the various amounts of things Lyok was known for, Noah desperately searched his mind for what Cressen was famous for. Warriors and snow. That was it. Noah was jolted from his absentminded thinking by Sophia's question about his being in Mullen. "My father is bedridden, and has been for years now. So, he sent me as goodwill between the nations of Cressen and Keilaudrin, to congratulate the new king!" Noah replied, with an obviously trained court smile. Once Aripert had been declared dead, Noah's father made sure to train Noah in the small details of court, so that'd he be able to act like a proper prince once he arrived in Keilaudrin, but he had failed to truly adopt the art. "Temple of the Snake?" Noah asked, quizzically, tilting his head to one side. "You worship snakes in Lyok?

When the Flames Die

"Wow, an Empress." Noah remarked at Sophia mention of her mother. Noah's father had told him stories of faraway empires, and wondered if Lyok one of the empires his father had talked about. Noah was brought out of his excitement by Sophia's next question, which brought another smile to Noah. "It's in the far North of Estovet. We cover most of the frozen lands." Noah replied, realizing that there wasn't a lot about Cressen to describe to people. "There's always at least 2 feet of snow year-round, and during the summer the sun stays up for 3 months in a row." Noah figured that at least this information would be enough to impress the youngest daughter of an Empress, at least he hoped. "All we have is snow, and huge fortresses. What about you, Sophia? What is it like in Lyok?" Noah was eager to hear about the place. If the empires of faraway were anything like his dad told him, they had magnificent buildings, huge armies, and harvests that feed the entire nation for a year.

When the Flames Die

Noah's grin increased ten fold when Sophia mentioned that the two of them shared royal blood. "You don't have to refer to me as 'your grace', Eva. I'm a prince, not a king." Noah remarked, smiling at Eva. Noah then hurriedly turned his head back to the supposed Lyoki royalty. "You're a princess?" Noah exclaimed, obviously very excited at the recent revelation. Noah, being young and isolated in the North, had never gotten a chance to meet other royalty. He only wished it was in a proper setting, instead of a table in a cafeteria. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Sophia." Noah finally added, with a grin as wide as his face. Noah gripped the half-finish peach he had left on his plate, and took a great bite out of, a smile poking out from his full cheeks as he chewed.

When the Flames Die

Noah was taken aback by the sudden appearance of Sophia, and another girl, who took seats across from the boy prince. Noah glanced down at Sophia's right hand in the sign of a introduction handshake. Noah frowned, as he placed down the glass of water he had been drinking. "I'm sorry, madam. I can't shake with my right hand." Noah's voice was sheepish and shy, now avoiding eye contact with the girl. Noah attempted to stiffen his visage, just for the sake of trying to appear like the royalty he was. "I'm Prince Noah Ardian, from Cressen." the small boy was now beaming, happily. "And whom are you, madam?" Noah nodded towards Sophia's guest, who had taken a seat without so much as a word. Lyok. Noah thought, having never heard of such a place, but it definitely had an exotic name. An exotic name for exotic women, the young prince thought, trying to hide a smile at his own mischievous thought.

When the Flames Die

Noah took a huge bite of the peach he had placed on his silver plate, enjoying the taste that was considered a delicacy in the North. As he chewed, he saw the man whom had stormed out of the Great Hall earlier walk back into the Great Hall, then walked out the door. Noah guessed the man had work to do in the town, or some sort, but he did look a little more calm than before. Noah placed the peach down, and grabbed a nearby fork, poking a piece of the meat and placing it carefully in his mouth. While the food had been out for the while, it did not bother Noah. Hot meals were not common in the North, nor were meals where a wide variety such as the one in front of him. Noah was determined to enjoy the every bit of food he could get his hands on. The 3 weeks it had taken him, and his entourage, to make it to Mullen all he had eaten was winter wheat bread, and stream water. Not a diet he was fond of. As Noah feasted on the wonderful food, he would occasionally shrug his right shoulder forward, just making sure his right side was completely hidden.

When the Flames Die

Noah nodded to Wallace's advice. His father had told him the same thing. He was far too young to be getting caught up in all the lies and games at court, and far too vulnerable to do such in a foreign court. "Thank you for your hospitality, Sir Regent." Noah thanked Wallace. Noah looked around the room, finding the left over food still sitting on the table to be a welcome sight. Jerky and potato stew was the staple of Northern food, so Noah didn't get the chance for much else. Noah smiled up at Wallace. "I appreciate everything you've told me. My father always said, an honest man is a good man." Noah said referencing how upfront Wallace had been with his explanation with what was going on, instead of sugar coating it. Noah marched forward, ready to assault the food that laid on the Great Hall's many tables. Noah quickly found a seat, carefully picking a piece of meat and fruit, and placing it on the silver plate in front of him. With his left hand, he also grabbed a pitcher of water, and poured himself a glass. It looked awkward, considering he was using but one hand, but he did a good enough job that he still hid his entire right arm, still.

When the Flames Die

Noah allowed himself only the smallest of smirks to Wallce's revelation that Bard was well into being an adult, only attempting to hide his disappointment. As Noah was about to question Wallace about the nature of the misconduct investigation, he was jolted to view the end of the Great Hall, where a younger looking man, and a man that would of fooled Noah for an ox if he was covered in hair, had just slammed down a drinking glass. The feud between the two people seemed to end shortly, triggering the younger to stomp off, only to be followed by the walking mountain. "Is the Great Hall always like this?" Noah asked, shrugging his huge cloak forward, in an almost defensive posture. "Everything there seems melancholy, and tense." Noah commented, momentarily proud of himself for remembering to make well-use of his ever expanding vocabulary.