Time: 11 AM Location: Execution at the Athletic Arena Attire: Outfit Interaction: @Helo Leo Mentions:
The tightening of Leoâs jaw wasnât lost on Mina and she realized that her words could have been misunderstood as her not caring about the disappearance of his father. The truth was that her feelings on the matter were quite the opposite. Sheâd lost a parent of her own and never knew the other, it was something sheâd never wish on anyone. âQuite capable hands indeed, I was merely unsure if anything had changed since Iâd last seen you.â She said and then her tone softened some as she glanced at him once more. âI keep hoping I hear word that your father is found and in good health.â She said, tone gentle and truthful.
She was mildly intrigued by his comment of âlast night's follyâ, but wasnât entirely surprised to learn that the afterparty got a little out of hand. The logical side of her was glad she couldnât make it, knowing it would have brought unwanted attention upon her uncle. Yet, at the same time, she wondered if there was a missed opportunity there. She couldnât dwell too much on it, however, as it was in the past and there was certainly going to be more of those parties.
âOh I certainly agree with you, it is effective for a while. Itâs the instant the ruler stops appearing for them, however, that things become more likely for a turn to be taken.â She pointed out, the fact neither Edin nor Alibeth were there not being lost on her. There was a slight smile on her face as she mirrored some of his excitement, even if it was only to remain on familiar ground with him. âBecause once they stop appearing, people begin to question things. They question how much those ruling over them actually care about their wellbeing. Itâs poor form when they donât appear because it removes the hope of a pardon and hope is a powerful thing to keep feeding into.â She went on to explain her views on the matter, but then was chuckling in agreement about being glad Varian had moved beyond such barbarics.
Taking note of the rage filled eyes of the man that was about to be executed, she had to agree with Leo that something was different with this one. âI see what you mean, how very intriguing. Perhaps weâre about to witness something thatâll make history? Wouldnât that be thrilling.â She was feeding into his excitement, yet found herself eager just to know what this man had down to earn himself such a sentence.
The warmth and comfort brought on just purely from Charlotte taking her hands caused Thea to choke up again and she began to tremble ever so slightly. She bit her lip as she tried desperately to keep from losing it again. âIâŚH-heâŚâ She was struggling to find the words to explain her sudden intrusion. It was John approaching them that helped to clear her head ever so slightly. She blinked at him as spoke of the checkup sheâd skipped out on this morning, but he was blaming himself for it and this threw her off a bit. âW-waitâŚâ She couldnât stop herself from mumbling out, her mind reeling. He wanted to talk to her now? Was he upset with her maybe? A pang of anxiety ran through her briefly as she began looking between the two.
âY-you donât have to lie about that, John. I s-skipped out on the appointment, IâŚâ Her voice broke a bit again as she thought of last night, of Felix, then of the letter. She took a shaky breath as she glanced at the paper in her hands. âI suppose we can speakâŚâ She said, but glanced over at Charlotte and held out the letter.
âUmâŚt-this will explain things someâŚâ She said as she handed it to her and then turned back to John.
Time: 11 AM Location: Guest Houseâ>Execution at the Athletic Arena Attire: Outfit Interaction: @Helo Leo Mentions:
Mina had seemed to sleep in far later than sheâd intended, but what was one to expect when they were up until the early hours of morning. It seemed her uncle had already ushered out the young, lesser noble man whoâd spent the night in her bed. She hadnât even heard him stir, she had been so exhausted. She yawned some as she slowly got out of bed and smoothed out her nightgown. On quiet feet, she padded towards her bedroom door and opened it a crack to glance out into the drawing room. âUncle, are you awake yet?â She called out, but a maid answered her instead.
âIâm sorry Lady Mina, but Count Blackwood headed out about an hour ago. He said he had some business to attend to.â So her uncle was feeling well enough to go out and about? Well that was a good sign. Mina thanked the maid and requested some tea before going to get dressed for the day. She decided to go for a bit of a different look today, finding a pair of black pants and pairing it with a white ruffled shirt. She left the top few buttons undone, showing off some of her cleavage before putting on a black underbust corset. She then paired the entire thing with some black boots, finishing getting dressed just before her tea arrived.
She sat down to drink the tea while reading over the morning paper. She took note of the poor woman who seemed to have a reward out for her, wondering all of what she did to piss off some noble. They wanted her alive so either someone wanted to exact justice themselves or she wasnât all that dangerous. She then moved onto the gossip column, reading over the absurd things written there. Whoever wrote this certainly had a wild imagination and Mina was rather surprised that she hadnât ended up in the paper yet. She knew she likely would at some point and she would get a good laugh when she did. She didnât laugh, however, when she read Charlotteâs name. Instead, Mina felt a bit of irritation for whoever decided to drag the poor woman through the mud like that. If she ever found out, she would certainly have some strong words for the person who wrote the Morning Tea.
Once she finished up, Mina decided it was time to start her day. Sheâd taken a moment to memorize the events that were happening for the day and truly wasnât sure what she wanted to do. At very least, she could head to the execution that was scheduled for 11. The public display of an execution was something gruesome and horrible, but it brought some useful things. First, people often were loose lipped at executions as they longed to gossip about whatever they heard. While gossip wasnât always completely truthful, it could help one discover what was the truth. Second, it displayed the power and stability of the government and often brought out what the people thought of such things. Mina was more interested in the former reason, curious on what this man had done to earn such an end.
Mina had entered the arena just before they led the man out, quietly listening to those she passed and eyes scanning over the people whoâd decided to attend as she looked for a spot to watch. She was mildly surprised to see that neither the King or Queen attended this execution, something she found to be a poor decision. It indicated that they cared little for their people nor would this man have even a chance to be pardoned. His fate was sealed and Mina felt a moment of pity for the man, despite knowing that he could very much be guilty of whatever crime they claimed he committed.
Her eyes caught sight of familiar curly, red hair and her gaze fell on Lord Leo Smithwood. A soft smile crossed her lips as she made her way towards him, seeing an empty spot that would suit her need to watch the execution. âIâm thankful to see a familiar face here, Lord SmithwoodâŚor is it Duke Smithwood now?â She greeted him as she dipped into a brief curtsy. Her eyes traveled back to the convicted man once more and she let out a small sigh. âA shame that such barbaric displays of power are still felt to be necessary. Itâs no wonder many sentenced to death try to find ways to escape or kill themselves before being put on display.â
She hadnât won the entire competition, but Thea didnât mind that. She had gone merely as a distraction, but she was slightly disappointed in herself for not doing better. She could have done so much better if she werenât so pathetic. Thatâs what she was, pathetic. Sheâd broken down last night, let some of her feelings loose around Felix, but perhaps that was a mistake. No, she was positive it was a mistake. He likely wouldnât look at her the same anymore and this fact stung a little. Had she actually been starting to consider he wasnât such a bad match? Perhaps she could come to be okay with this marriage arrangement, maybe even learn to love him. The thought was scary, but she could try couldnât she? Perhaps she should see what his day looked like and spend some more time with him.
As Thea was preparing to leave the shooting range and head back to the guest house, it seemed a servant found her first. âLady Thea, I have a letter for you.â They said, but seemed to be shifting nervously and this merely confused Thea. âOh, why thank you. Would you mind taking my bow and quiver back to the guest house? You can leave it in my room.â She asked, handing her things over and the servant seemed to take them eagerly before practically fleeing. How odd, was all Thea could think before she looked at the letter. A brief smile crossed her face as she recognized it being from Felix and she wondered if he was âformallyâ inviting her to some event. She broke the wax seal and pulled out her contents as she began to read the letter.
My Lady,
Regretfully I must inform you that I cannot proceed with our marriage arrangement. I, like any gentleman searching for a wife, need someone thatâs much more level headed like my sister Beatrice. I had hoped I could help temper you, but it has proven to be too much and I have chosen to end our engagement. I have sent a letter to your mother as well to inform her of the same thing. My sister Beatrice and I shall be departing this evening and heading back to Varian.
I wish you the best, Prince Felix Camilia
Theaâs blood seemed to turn to ice in her veins as she read over the words onceâŚtwiceâŚby the third time she felt tears begin to blur her vision and one slipped down her nose, splashing onto the paper. Her hands began to shake and she felt as if her heart was falling to pieces. Sheâd scared him off with her confession last night. Sheâd made a mistake, a horrible, terrible mistake. She felt like she couldnât breathe. She needed to talk to someone before she lost herself completely, but who? Anastasia? No, she loved her best friend dearly but she couldnât burden her with this today. Annie deserved to have some fun and not worry about her. She could go to her brother, but heâd likely be disappointed in her and she couldnât handle that. Not right now.
Charlotte. She was always calm and caring and knew the right things to say. Yes, she needed her old friend more than ever right now. Thea hurried down the road, heading for the Vikena estate and praying that Charlotte would be home. More tears fell down her cheeks and she tried desperately to stop them, hating that she was crying over this. Hadnât she wanted just yesterday to do something to make Felix break off the engagement? She felt as if she was losing her mind.
Soon she was knocking on the front door of the Vikenaâs estate, trying to wipe away her tears before someone answered.
Charlotteâs maid, Delilah, had opened the door rather hesitantly at first. Seeing Theaâs face through the crack, she swung it open, greeting her vivaciously, "Lady Thea! Oh sweetie I havenât seen you in a long time. â She smiled warmly at her, but it slowly fell as she noticed the tears. âCome, come in. I can see youâre in need of a friend. Lottie is in the drawing room.â
Thea had tried to give the maid a weak smile as Delilah greeted her, but she broke some as the maid invited her in. A small sob escaped her as she stepped inside, grateful for the kind woman and her ability to read a situation. âTh-thank you Delilah. Youâre an a-angel.â She stuttered out between small sobs, once again trying to get ahold of herself as she made her way to the drawing room. Even though she hadnât been here in a long time, she somehow remembered where things were and soon she was all but bursting through the doors.
âOh but-âDelilah recalled to remind Thea of the company Charlotte was in, but was a moment too late as Thea had moved past her in her hurry.
âLottie, Iâm so sorry to bother you but-â Thea abruptly stopped as she realized that Charlotte wasnât alone in the drawing room and Theaâs face reddened to the point it matched her puffy eyes. She silently cursed herself for not knocking first and making sure Charlotte wasnât busy. âI-Iâm so sorry, I didnât realize you were busy. I, um, I can come back another time. Iâm sorry.â She said, feeling completely flustered now as she gripped the letter tightly and looked like she was about to flee as quickly as sheâd come in.
Time: 11 am Location: Entrance Hall of Sorian Castle Attire: Outfit. Hair, and Makeup Interactions: Mentions: @Helo Callum, @Inertia Auguste, @Silverpaw Wulfric
âI would like you to get close to the royal children.â These were the orders given to Saiya by her Sultan. Simple sounding orders, but not something that would easily happen overnight. No matter what, Saiya was up for the task and the best place to start would likely be at The Princes Court event today. She knew many would be going to swoon over the princes and likely many would be dressing to impress so she knew she had to wear something to catch the eyes of others. It was true that the warmth of her skin, the shape of her eyes, and her typical dress would likely be enough already to get people talking as the Alidasht seemed to be quite the talk, but perhaps she should go a little bit extra. So sheâd retired to her rooms right after her meeting with the Sultan in order to get ready.
The lehenga and choli she decided on was rather vibrant in color, which truly wasnât that unusual for her culture, but Saiya felt like it may be a bold choice for Caesonia. She then had another servant help her with her hair and makeup, wanting to break away from her normal of having her hair pulled up, but also didnât know if she was completely comfortable with leaving her hair down. The servant started to pull her hair up, but Saiya stopped her. âLeave it down today please. Letâs try something different.â She said as she gave the woman a soft smile. She got a quick nod and soon her hair was curled and left loose. She found it strange to feel the loose strands brushing against her back and shoulders, but she took a deep breath and smiled at her reflection. The look was finished off with some makeup and some of her motherâs jewelry sheâd inherited after her death. She went to place the veil on her head, but stopped once more and decided to just drape it across her arms instead as she didnât wish to cover up her hair.
She now found herself standing in a line of excitedly chattering women, waiting to be permitted in to see the three Caesonian princes. She was part of the next group to enter, but was patiently waiting for the group before her to finish up. She could hear several whispers around her, some complimenting her looks while others scrutinized her. âWho is that? Is she one of the Alidasht princesses? Sheâs frighteningly beautiful.â She could hear one girl whispering to her friend. âLydia, you know theyâre not called princesses! Besides, sheâs not that pretty.â Her friend huffed in response and Saiya had to suppress a small laugh. She certainly was drawing the attention of others, that was good. Now to just see if she could catch the eye of one of the princes.
Rolled up Tent 3 days of rations (roughly) Small dagger with purple hilt (gift she doesnât know about) Waterskin Tinderbox 20 ft of rope Dual enchanted short swords
So much happened in a matter of a few moments, Amisra barely had time to process it all. One second, she wasnât sure if sheâd be fighting a light elf or not while on her way to do something stupid. Then she wasnât sure if she was about to get in a fight with her best friend, but it was the appearance of a human that threw her for a loopâŚa very angry looking human. It was her bag being shoved into her arms and Tanithilâs voice that snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked at her friend for a moment, then to the other two men. âOh for fucks sake⌠She sighed dramatically as she dropped her bag to the ground, sheathed her swords, then picked her bag back up to sling it over her shoulder. âYou win, Tanithil. Iâll quell my vengeful spirit for now.â She said as she turned her attention to the other two again.
She eyed those flames closely, watching the man behind them for any signs that he was going to attack. She was fascinated by the magical display, but also secretly fearful of those flames. To have a human with them, however, could be a huge advantage. Amisra wouldnât say it out loud, but she saw a useful weapon that she could use to eventually get to that bitch of a general. She looked straight at Kaleb, holding up her hands to show she meant no harm. âAye, my friend and I here mean you no harm nor are we with any of the assholes out there that want this war. You want to kill some dark elves? Well so do I, the ones that wish to bring harm to this world at least. Though Iâm sure my pretty words wonât be enough to convince you, so Iâll instead offer my assistance if it means getting out of harm's way for right now.â She said to him before turning to Siv, but keeping Kaleb in the corner of her eye.
âAs my friend has made clear, we donât really want anything to do with this war unless itâs to kill General Zarra. Beyond that I donât really wish to fight my kin nor do I wish to fight any of the other races of this world. War is not the answer to these problems in the world. It seems like our immediate goals align, though, and thereâs strength in numbers. So I offer my assistance, if the human agrees, to get you both out of the city and on the path you need. After that, if we part ways then so be it.â She said before giving him a cheeky grin.
âSo, Candlestick, think you can stomach working together with two dark elves?â
Rolled up Tent 3 days of rations (roughly) Small dagger with purple hilt (gift she doesnât know about) Waterskin Tinderbox 20 ft of rope Dual enchanted short swords
Amisra weaved through the busier parts of Ironhold, hood up as to not panic too many, but she certainly still stood out from her height alone. She was relieved as she got closer to the gate and there were far less people to wade through. She began picking up speed again, but she quickly came to a halt as someone now blocked her path. In an instant, her dual short swords were in her hands and she was poised to attack if needed. Her eyes narrowed at the light elf as a smirk spread across my face. âSomeone like me? Am I really more curious of a sight than the walking, talking dick right in front of me?â She quipped right back at him, a cockiness of her own showing. âUnfortunately though, I donât have time to squabble with you, Candlestick. Iâve got a dark elven bitch to dispose of so if you would kindly get the fuck out of my way-â She was cut off and forced to come to a halt as Tanithil landed in front of her.
She took in the sight of her friend, the bags, and she knew he wasnât about to let her go. She almost growled in irritation as she glared at her friend, but kept an eye on the light elf as she didnât entirely trust him. âWell, my dearest Tanithil, I was going to take the opportunity provided to us to attempt to make that bitch of a woman pay for what she did to us. If you would kindly move, Iâd greatly appreciate it.â She said, a deadly calm to her voice now as she gripped her swords tightly. She didnât want to fight her friend and would avoid it at all costs, but she wasnât going to give up easily. She wanted to watch the general suffer.
Escaping Daka Island proved to be more of a challenge than the duo really anticipated. Everything seemed to be against them, including the weather as it seemed to start snowing on them the instant they left the city. Truly, though, this was a blessing and a curse. While it made travel rough and they had to be extra careful due to the freezing cold, it also helped to cover their tracks. Amisra knew there was a fishing village a day's walk from the capital and she directed them that way. Thankfully growing up in this cold, harsh climate meant they were better off than most, but between their injuries and the decrease of adrenaline, it made things difficult.
There came a point several hours into the journey that Amisra found herself having to pause. She was shivering severely and her eye was aching bad, the crusted blood now feeling frozen to her face. Her eye was swollen shut at this point and she still wasnât sure if she had actual vision in it still. Everything in her body was screaming to give up, to give in and let the cold take her. âT-Tanithil, h-hold on f-for a moment. I n-need a b-break.â She said between chattering teeth as she leaned up against a tree, her arms wrapped around herself as she tried to warm herself.
Tanithil was no stranger to the cold, but he despised it nonetheless. He preferred the warm fires of his home, but that was a comfort he had chosen to leave behind. He looked over to his friend and noticed that she was shivering just as badly as he was. His arms draped across his body in a desperate attempt to shield himself. âI-i-if only I c-c-c-could use my m-m-magicâŚ.could m-m-make a stupid t-t-t-thermal shieldâŚâ He stuttered out as he heard his friendâs plea for a break. He weighed his options before them. A small shield to protect them from the cold might be a good idea, but he could only do it for a short burst every so often. Nothing concrete, but he wagered he could shield them each for 10 minutes maximum, and he wouldnât be able to recreate such a reprieve for another 1 hour at least. It would undoubtedly alert any of the search dogs or drakes if they were within a reasonable distance, but Tanithil also wagered they stood no chance against the cold and would risk it. âA-amisraâŚletâs find a t-t-tree. Iâll m-m-m-make a slight b-b-barrier. It w-w-wonât w-w-warm us up, but itâll s-s-stop us from g-g-getting c-c-colder.â He despised this stuttering speech of his, and would walk to the nearest tree he could find and would wave his hands over the both of them, a slight shroud of shadow both hiding their physical presence and stopping anymore of the frigid winds or snow from battering against their skins. He shivered and found himself rather close to her, finally seeing the frozen scar across her face. âAmisra..y-your eyeâŚâ He took his hand and slowly brushed the crust away, ignoring any yelps of pain or protest from her. He removed a small amount of gauze from their supplies and wrapped it around her head a few times, making sure to tuck the end piece into the wraps to secure it. âThere. Y-you shouldnât g-get much more snow on that. W-we canât risk an infection t-this far from home. Letâs warm up some and continue in a little bit.â
She wanted to tell him no, to not use his magic because it was too much of a risk, but the words refused to make it past her lips. She could barely unclench her jaw at this point and she just wanted some relief from the wind even if it was for only a minute. So Amisra didnât protest as Tanithil shielded them with his magic. Even though the temperature wasnât any warmer, just the relief from the wind began helping tremendously. She finally had the strength to start rummaging around in her pack, beginning to pull something out right as Tanithil began tending to her eye. âI-itâs f-fine TanithilâŚreally, you d-â She sucked in a sharp breath as she winced, but she also didnât pull away. She knew even if she protested he wouldnât stop and before long heâd bandaged her up. She looked up at him with her one good eye, smiling softly. âT-thank youâŚNow, l-letâs try to w-warm up some.â She moved in close to him, actually leaning into him some, before throwing a large blanket sheâd packed around the two of them. She hugged the blanket close, the relief from it almost magical. âW-we can use each o-otherâs body heat to w-warm up some and t-the b-blanket will help keep the w-warmth in.â She said as she pressed her body in even closer to him.
He felt his body already soothed against the bitter weather around them, the blanket and natural warmth from his friend only added to it. The only thing he could feel at this point was the sharp frosty touch of the snow beneath his shoes and the slight rush of warmth to his face as he realized just how closely huddled they were. He exhaled large and slow breaths, warming up his one good hand and rubbing it onto his own arm, and then very carefully along his wrist where the cut was still fresh. He sharply inhaled as the pain from the cut returned with the flow of warmth throughout his body. âOwowowowowowowowoowwwwwwwww!â He whined out as a single tear came across his cheek. He quickly wiped it up and wrapped some fresh gauze around his already heavily bandaged nub. âTh-thereâs a fishing village nearby right? Were y-you thinking of jumping aboard there? See where we l-land?â He wagered it had already been about five or six minutes, and knew there wasnât much time left. He wanted more than anything to just sit and feel even slightly comfortable but knew time was of the essence. He continued rubbing his hand along his and even her body as he exhaled warmly against his palm and allowed the friction between his hand and their bodies to help provide a little heat in this enclosed bubble.
His cry of pain had caused Amisra to jump in alarm as she looked at him, desperately trying to figure out what was wrong. It only took her a minute to realize it was his injury and the sight of the tear had her heart aching. âWeâre going to have to really attend to that o-once we get somewhere s-safe.â She said as she helped him rebandage his injury, feeling a little better now that she was warmed some. âThe fishing v-village should o-only be about an h-hour out now. I think it would be w-wise to hop a b-boat and head towards the m-main land. Iâd rather take my c-chances there than stay here.â She said, shivering less now as he worked at warming her and himself. She did her best to do the same for him while keeping hold of the blanket.
She would reluctantly remove the blanket from them, fold it up, and stuff it back in the pack in order to keep it dry just before they decided to head out again. She took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly before looking up at Tanithil. âWe should get moving again. Thank you for the break.â She said, managing not to stutter this time and braced herself for that cold wind once more.
The next hour went about just as well as the previous ones did with trudging through the snow. Thankfully, though, they made it to the village before becoming completely chilled to the bone again. Amisra stopped them just outside of the village, keeping as hidden as possible as she turned to her friend once more. âThink youâll be okay to use your magic once more? We need to make it to the docks, identify a ship that will be headed towards Aldrakh or something, and sneak aboard it. From there itâs going to be a fun game of âcan we stay hidden the entire trip.â Who knows what theyâll do if they discover us.â She explained to him so that they could be on the same page.
The immediate biting chill hit his skin as they journeyed the village. Each minute he counted as if to literally hold her to the one hour time limit. He knew full well it wouldnât be exactly 60 minutes but anything to distract him was good enough. As they approached the village he scanned their surroundings to see if General Zarra had sent someone ahead of her to cut them off, which to their luck she hadnât. âThink youâll be okay to use your magic once more? We need to make it to the docks, identify a ship that will be headed towards Aldrakh or somethingâŚâ He heard her begin the explanation of the plan and looked around, spotting a ship with several large crates with slightly rough transcriptions on it. From a distance he couldnât make out the words but he noticed the heavy weight of the boxes as the shipwrights struggled to bring them aboard. He pointed to the nearby ship and nodded. âMy magic is running low with how much Iâve been spewing but Iâve got enough juice for one stealth trip and one final âoh shitâ moment. Those f-fellas are having a hard time lifting those. I imagine âcus theyâre chock-f-full of weapons or supplies. M-my betâs on that one.â Amisra glanced at the vessel he was talking about, taking a moment before realizing what it was. It was risky because the boat was one transporting supplies for the coming war which meant those on the boat would likely be very loyal. They likely wouldnât look kindly upon two traitors.
He took his fingers, a small black spark emitting between them as a light snap sounded out, quickly eaten by the howl of the winds. A shroud of purple and black mist surrounded them for a moment before causing their forms to bend and warp like shadows to conceal themselves in plain view. âTread lightly, and h-head for the b-boat. The l-lower deck might be a g-good spot to s-start.â He took her hand with his and began to guide her. He watched the floor as he took light steps and avoided any obvious cracks or loose objects. He snuck them both between two sailors as they huffed two large containers on the ship's upper deck. Their attention was so absorbed in not dropping the âprecious cargoâ that the duo slipped right in undetected and made their way below deck. Tanithil felt his magic beginning to fade as he breathed slightly heavier from the strain. He quickly pulled her into the far corner towards the bow of the ship and practically fell with her down onto the hard wooden floor, still keeping quiet as he let the shroud finally drop. âOkayâŚ.at least itâll be w-warm for a little while. Keep watch while IâŚ.restâŚ.hahâŚâ The color in his face was paler than normal despite his gray complexion. He took the blanket from their bag and silently folded it onto itself to lay his head down, his good hand patting her shoulder as he smiled. âI think weâre o-okay for now.â
A small gasp escaped Amisra as they fell into the dark corner. She wasnât expecting him to pull her down in such a way. She did her best not to make too much noise as she slowly moved to settle into their new hiding spot. Thankfully it seemed this section of the ship had already been packed up. She took a moment to glance in the crates, making sure they werenât near the food as that would only increase the opportunity of them being caught. She would have to discover where that food was, eventually, though in order to steal some to feed themselves. Thankfully it seemed this section was weapons and so the chances of someone exploring this section was low. It was him patting her shoulder that caught her attention and she looked down at him. His use of the blanket as a pillow caused her to laugh a little bit and shake her head. âBy all means, rest up and Iâll keep watch, howeverâŚâ She settled herself down, leaning against a crate, before grabbing at his blanket pillow. âThis will be far more useful being used as intended. You can rest your head on my lap, which will help keep me warm, then wrap yourself in the blanket to keep you warm.â She said as she patted her lap before spreading the blanket over him.
He furrowed his brow and let out a slight sigh in protest as he lifted his head up to allow her to hold the blanket. âWell if you insist. I wonât complain about laying on such a soft lap.â He let his face sport a cheeky grin as he laid on her legs that she laid for him, the blanket now draped along his body. He could feel that warmth trickle in through his body, which came with its own set of positives and negatives. While it finally provided him comfort, the pain of losing his hand began to throw itself in waves over him, making his sleep restless. He would groan and toss every few moments, his hand clutching the blanket every few moments. He awoke after what felt like a long drawn out few hours of shallow sleep. He looked up at Amisra as she undoubtedly refused to move while he was laying there and let loose a slight sigh followed by a wince of pain. âGods aboveâŚwho wouldâve thought that getting your hand cut would suck this muchâŚhahaâŚah!â He slowly sat up, some color remaining on his face as he looked at her and motioned to his own lap. ââKay. Your turn now. This is going to be a long week of being on our toes.â
Sheâd kept alert as he slept, glancing down at him on occasion as he would groan and move. She wished she had a way to take away his pain, to allow him to sleep better. A few times she found herself stroking his hair, trying to provide some comfort and calm him. She was also left with her own thoughts and quite dark thoughts they were. She found a few tears slipping down her face a few times and would quickly wipe them away before they could drip and hit Tanithil. She was in the midst of doing exactly that when he finally woke up, ready to take over. She let out a small laugh at his words, trying to distract from the tears. âI can only imagine it not being a fun experience.â She said as she moved to adjust herself, quite ready for some sleep. There hadnât been a soul come down while he slept, but she had felt them leave the docks and were headed out into the open ocean. She lay herself down on his lap, now covering herself in the blanket and letting out a yawn. âItâs going to be quite the interesting week, thatâs for sure. Weâll have to find some food eventually. For now, though, rest is more important.â She said before she slowly drifted off.
Her dreams were filled with visions of her family, her motherâs smiling face slowly morphing into one of pain, her sisterâs joyful eyes losing their light. She would let out whimpers in her sleep, not getting much restful sleep either as she seemed to be plagued by nightmares. Last she knew her father was still alive, he was to watch his whole family die before they gave him the relief of death. She wondered if they would keep him alive until they caught her or if they would finish the job before then. Could she still save her father? If only she could have saved her sister. She woke with a gasp as her mind started to play out the scene of her family dying and she shot up off of Tanithilâs lap. She looked around wildly before her eyes fell on her friend. âFuckâŚsorry, seems sleep isnât much in the cards for either of us.â She said with a sigh as she rubbed at her face.
He was already rather down enough as is, and seeing his dear friend tossing and turning in her sleep weighed heavily on his heart. He held her cheek in his hand and frowned for the first time in what felt like an eternity. He wanted to keep at least a neutral expression on at all times but, in times like these, he felt he earned the right to show a little sadness. His wrist, while still burning at the ends, felt somewhat dulled as he was distracted by the duties of his watch. He kept his ears on end, listening for every little visit to the lower decks he could hear. A few trips down to the corner opposite of them made him believe that to be an area of vital importance. He felt a grumble in his stomach at the thought of potential food, but a sudden jerking from his friend below him snapped him back to reality. âI guess so. But hey, some sleep is better than permanent sleep.â He let loose a weak chuckle at his attempt to lighten the mood. âThis is going to be a long tripâŚâ He trailed off his words as he brushed his hand over her cheek once more.
The next few days proved to be rather long and arduous for the duo. After some initial scouting, Tanithil confirmed his suspicions that there were indeed rations being stored below. He took great care to memorize when folks would come down for meals and tried to sneak between trips with his padded shoes to make less noise. He brought back meager portions of hardtack and small berry-infused tarts to fill their bellies. Enough to stave off hunger, but not too much as to cause suspicion above deck. They both took turns sleeping, feeling drowsy and fatigued from the half-baked attempts at sleeping they both did. Tanithil took the time to adjust to his lack of a right hand, and even felt himself showing signs of a âphantom limbâ tricking his senses from time to time. He ignored it and put on a poker face for his friend, not wanting to add to her troubles. He was thankful to be near her, but felt a deep sense of sorrow for her loss. He took every peaceful moment they had to comfort her and would often let her sleep an extra hour during his watch, against her protests. After what he counted to be around 8 days, they finally made it on shore, the boat lurching forward and coming to a stop for the first time in so very long. He prodded Amisra and nodded. âTime to make our escape to the surface. Stretch your limbs and letâs find an opening before they start unloading boxes.â He readied his fingers as if to prepare his âsnapâ from last week, ready to cloak them at her signal.
Amisra blinked, having dozed off again at some point and glanced at Tanithil as she registered his words. She stretched a little, waking herself up the best she could and readied herself for their escape. If she had to guess, it would be these crates theyâd want to unload first as they were the weapons. With that in mind, they would have to be quick. âIt may be best to move closer to the doorway, keep to the shadows, and once they come down to get some crates we slip up to the deck and off. Sound like a plan?â She asked, but could already hear them heading down below deck and she beckoned her friend to follow her.
Following her lead, they made their way to the rations crate and waited for the trio of sailors to make their way below deck and head towards crates of varying sizes. To their luck they did indeed start towards the back as Amisra said, and with a silent snap of his fingers a hazy mist formed for but a few moments before concealing their presence to the world. âFive minutesâŚâ Tanithil whispered, barely letting his words escape his lips as he ushered her above deck. On the docks, he noticed a conversation between a tall green-skinned figure and the dark-elf with a dark blue coat who he could only assume was the captain of the ship. He had no time to eavesdrop as they made their way off the ship with little resistance and began to jog towards the shoreline, taking care not to make too much noise on the creaking wood while they slipped past the several figures who were working or preparing themselves for what Tanithil assumed to be proper combat.
As their feet hit the more solid ground, Tanithil had them break into a near-sprint to create as much distance between them and any prying eyes as he could. The threat of being discovered waned with each footstep they made, and he took great care to not knock into anyone passing by within the villageâs walls. After a few minutes he could feel the spell's magic waning, so he opted to duck into an alley between two stone buildings and let the magic fade. âLetâs just be as nonchalant as possible and march out of here. Thereâs only orcs and some dark elves. I doubt theyâve had the time or chance to inform the less populated places like this. At least I hope.â Tanithil took her hand once more and began to walk briskly with her at his side, making sure to use his cloak to hide his obviously deformed nub welting on the end of his arm. Aside from some odd glances, no one decided to approach the pair as they made it outside the city limits. From the pack on her back, Tanithil fished out a map he had decided to stash there. Albeit outdated by a few decades, the major settlements would still be the same. He took a moment to survey the land and then look at the map. âBased on what I see around us and how this map is, I think we landed somewhere around Aldrakh. If thatâs the case then lucky us, we just need to head West and weâll see Ironhold.â
He wasnât wrong, their best play was to act as if they belonged there. The likelihood of any of them actually recognizing them was quite slim. So she walked with her head held high and each look they got she returned in kind, her now healing scar only adding to her intimidation factor. She felt as if she could breathe easier once they were out of the city limits and she took in her surroundings as Tahithil found his map. She listened to him speak and began nodding, actually quite aware of where they were at. As a spy and assassin, sheâd actually made several trips to the mainland here and Aldrakh was a common place for her to end up. âYes, that was Aldrakh we were just in. Thereâs a path we can follow that will lead us to Ironhold, though I fear we may run into more people on that path. Itâll be harder, but we should travel a lesser known route or at least stay off the main path.â She suggested as she pointed in the direction they needed to go.
Tanithil nodded in agreement. âYeah, letâs stick to the edge of the mountains and just follow them until we hit the city gates.â He folded the map and began to walk with her by his side as they traversed the open plains like biome.There was very little to impede their journey along the mountainside. They would take notice of stray caravans and patrols moving along the roads on the horizon, but were far enough that nothing seemed to notice them or care enough to investigate their presence. Minutes stretched into hours, which stretched into days. Long nights were had of them watching their backs, taking turns similar to what they had done on the boat. There were new dangers, sure, but the risk of being caught somehow was lower overall. After another few grueling days, with nothing much to their meals other than packed snacks and small game they found in the wild, Tanithil could feel his general fatigue growing. He noticed his stomach slightly caved in from the lack of proper nutrition for upwards of 2 weeks now.
In the middle of the day they found themselves looking upwards at the stone gates and archways leading into the city proper. There was a fair amount of traffic along the main road as they approached, filled with both carriages, carts, and mobs of folks traveling into and out of the city for all manners of personal and professional business. The pair of dark elves found little issue in being able to slip between mobs of folks traveling in town, making sure to wear their hoods over their obvious facial features. Tanithil himself tucked his wounded arm inside his cloak sleeve, a slight numbing pulsing pain still rounding throughout his limb. The road into the dwarven stronghold proved to be long and well-trodden, with a brisk air hitting their bodies as they made their way underground. The roof expanded ever higher as this city built into the mountain began to give way to an expansive network of buildings and streets. The crowd dispersed into streams of people, and not wanting to get lost, the pair snuck away towards the more shadow-clung areas of alleyways. Their journey to Ironhold had finally ended, but their path to redemption had just begun.
The next four months would be spent in Ironhold, staying as inconspicuous as possible. This proved to be quite the challenge as they were two taller dark elves amidst a majority of dwarves. While they were used to hardships, their time in Ironhold would prove to be quite difficult as they initially wouldnât be able to find a place to stay. They tried a few inns and if they werenât chased out of there, they were swiftly turned away. Many nights were spent among the streets, stealing food where they could and taking shifts to keep each other safe while one slept. They had little money to their name and so they attempted to find odd jobs from those that werenât immediately hostile towards them.
Their luck would change however, as one day during Tanithilâs watch, he managed to stop a mugging in progress that happened in front of one of their hiding spots. Grateful to Tanithil for the rescue, the dwarf asked how he could repay him, to which he simply said âA job would be great.â The man, later known by the duo to be Yukrem Boulderfinger, agreed and set the two of them to work. The man was a tinkerer who made custom projects for citizens that often were valued at high prices. This is why he often finds himself being targeted by robbers and muggers alike. Amisra acted as hired muscle to protect him on those late night strolls, and Tanithil would act as âinsuranceâ if a client would try to stiff him on pay. This in conjunction with several other small house chores and duties earned them both a small cot in Yukremâs toolshed and the occasional hot meal. As they grew to know each other, he even made an iron prosthetic for Tanithilâs busted hand, which he made specially for him to pilot with his magic should he need more âsophisticated motionsâ.
Tanithil wasnât the only one to benefit from Yukremâs generosity and hospitality. After proving she could protect him and proving she wasnât a threat to him or anyone else within Ironhold, Yukrem decided to have two special short swords commissioned for Amisra. He even went as far as having a friend of his inscribe some runes upon the blades to add an enchantment to them. He had them imbued with an enchantment of returning, something she was quite excited about and began practicing using. She would throw the sword then speak the command word to have it return. She practiced until she had it down to a science and could swiftly throw both swords with deadly accuracy before theyâd return to her.
In time, the dark elven duo began to gain trust within Ironhold as many realized they were little threat to them. Many remained cautious around them and they still werenât treated the best by most, but at least they werenât being chased out of town. They were associated with Yukrem and many respected the tinkerer and trusted his judgment. Amisra did a fine job protecting him and thatâs what she was currently doing now as her and Yukrem were making their way back to the house. âHow are those weapons holding up, Amisra?â Yukrem asked her, idly chatting as they went along.
âTheyâre doing well, honestly they are the finest blades Iâve ever owned. Iâm still so grateful to you for purchasing them for me, Yukrem. It is a kindness I feel Iâll never truly be able to repay. That and what you did for Tanithil, I owe you so much.â Amisra said as she glanced at him, a genuine smile crossing her face. Her wound had healed up, leaving an ugly scar down her face that she always seemed to stare at and sneer. She hated it greatly and deep down she felt as if it made her rather hideous.
âYou owe me nothinâ, lass. Youâre earning it by doinâ your job as you have today.â Yukrem said before his attention was caught by a rather alarmed looking guard running down the street. A friend of Yukremâs whom the older dwarf waved down briefly. âSifet, what is the matter?â He asked the guard who looked reluctant to stop. Sifet eyed Amisra briefly, clearly wary of her with what he had to say, before looking back to the other dwarven male.
âScouts have returned and informed us there is trouble approaching the gate. An army of dark elves approaches led by a fierce looking general wielding ring blades. We need to prepare for an attack.â Amisraâs brows furrowed as the man spoke and she felt her heart begin to race. No, it couldnât beâŚcould it?
âSifet, what did this woman look like?â The guard seemed to hesitate only briefly before Yukrem urged him on. The man began giving a description, but before he could finish, Amisraâs jaw clenched. âOf course that bitch would be here. Yukrem, weâre not far from home now. You should be safe. I have something I need to take care of.â She said just before taking off in a sprint towards the gates of Ironhold.
Tanithil had been cleaning around the workshop when Yukrem barged in the door, slightly in a ruff and to Tanithilâs dismay, alone. âYukremâŚ.where is Amisra?â A brief pause and a confused look on his face only fed Tanithilâs fears as he spoke. âThereâs word of some dark elf bitch with fancy ring swords is tramping about our area. Somethinâ about an attack beinâ planned. Amisra overheard my friend talking about it and took off like a bat outta hell.â Tanithilâs face worsened as his fears were confirmed. He dashed to the shed where they kept their things and began to re-pack the two newer backpacks hey had acquired during their stay in Ironhold.
âWhat the hell is all this ruckus? What are yâall not telling me?!â Yukrem stormed out of his workshop in a huff, now watching as both his hired hands began to leave on such short notice. He wasnât going to stop them but he at least wanted to know why they felt the need to sprint out of here, where they were likely safer from the dark elf threat. âIâm sorry for the abrupt departure. I really am. AmisraâŚshe lost her family to that very general, and she is a vengeful woman. Knowing her sheâs likely sprinting straight into the army to try and âlone wolfâ to get her revenge. I need to be the voice of reason and stop her impending suicide.â
He resumed packing their things as best he could, preparing two backs and slinging one over his back, the other slung over his chest. He made his way out into the yard where Yukrem was standing, dumbfounded by the sudden twist in events. Tanithil reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocket knife that had a special red-tinted hilt on it. He handed the blade to Yukrem and spoke sternly and quickly. âLook. Iâm sorry to leave like this. I really am. But I need to go stop her before she kills herself. That blade belongs to a local alley clan called the âBlood Bladesâ. If anyone approaches you with intent to harm you, flash that blade and tell em that âno river runs deeper than thisâ. If they value their skin theyâll back off. If they press it then shout at the top of your lungs âthe well is tapped!â Someone will save you but ask for the blade back. Iâm afraid itâs all I can do right now. If we meet again, drinks are on me.â
Before the dwarf could respond, black wings unfurled from Tanithilâs back. The elf took flight and moved as fast as he could towards the front gates. He moved as fast as the winds under his wings could carry him, hoping to stop his beloved friend from throwing her life away. Yukrem looked at the blade, then the shadowy mist that was left behind. All he could do was shrug and head to bed to rest off this extremely weird night he was having. âYeah yeah. Iâll drink your wallet dry, young pint.â He scoffed as he was both bitter at the loss of his employees but oddly happy to have even had them in the first place.
Tanithilâs magic had improved over the months, his wings seeming fuller and sharper than previous iterations. His time working in the shop gave him access to several back alley dealings due to its proximity to so many âalley clansâ as they were called. They operated like gangs, with turfs and rivals to constantly bicker and fight for power with. His words to Yukrem were no bluff, as Tanithil made sure in his off time to make plenty of friends in low places. It was the perfect place for him to practice general trickery as well as his own magic, which had many uses amongst the slums of society. These skills he found would be useful in the coming times, especially now that the threat they ran from was very much knocking on their door.
Time: Early morning until 9:30am Location: Guest Houseâ>Archery Competition Interactions: Mentions: @princess Anastasia. @Helo Leo, @Aerandir Verrick, @Mole Felix
Thea had awoken early in the morning with the first rays of light just peaking over the horizon. She was positive sheâd only gotten a few hours of sleep and her blaring headache and the still slightly tipsy feeling helped to confirm this. She needed some water, her mouth felt so dry. She glanced around the room only to see that Felix was still asleep. It was at this moment that she remembered where she was and she let out a small gasp as memories from the night before came flooding back. Sheâd shared more than sheâd intended and she felt the panic starting to set in. She had to get out of there and fast.
She quickly stood up and almost immediately regretted it as the room spun some and her stomach felt a bit queasy. Shit, she needed to get back to her room and take some of that ginger tincture the apothecary made for her before she lost the contents of her stomach. She took a moment to get her bearings before she made her way towards the door. She quietly exited the room, closing the door with a light click. âLady Thea? Have you-â A squeak escaped the blonde girl as she spun to see a servant who had to quickly catch her before she fell. âMy Lady, perhaps you should see the doctor.â The woman began saying as she worked to steady Thea, but Thea only pressed her finger to the girl's lips before shushing her.
âIâm quite alright, I promise you this and if the good doctor inquires of me please let him know I shall come visit him later so he doesnât need to worry.â Thea explained to the woman in little more than a whisper before leaving her and heading towards her room, not listening to anything else the woman had to say. Once she was there she found herself passing out once more after taking her tincture to calm her stomach.
Sheâd awoken once more around 8am only to realize she was to enter the Archery Competition today and almost panicked as she fell out of bed. She quickly got up and ran to her closet to get dressed, finding the perfect orange dress. She paired it with a fairly new fashion piece, fishnet stockings. She then added some thigh high boots before grabbing a pair of leather gloves, her bow, and then went rushing out of her room.
The ride to the archery range was a quiet one as Thea tried to focus and get past her slight headache. She ended up turning to her tried and true method of getting rid of it, drinking more alcohol. Only enough to keep her mind and body calm and just function through the day. She wanted to win this god damned competition. By the time she arrived it was just barely after 9am, fashionably late. She quickly made her way to the desk to sign up, getting all sorts of looks from men and women alike as they took in what she was wearing. She simply ignored them as she grinned at the person taking names. âLady Thea Smithwood, Skilled category.â She said and watched the man eye her up and down. She then watched as he started to put her down under the beginner category. That sweet smile quickly disappeared from her face as she slammed her hand on the table and leaned in closer to him.
âListen here, you little shit, you better move my gods damned name over to that skilled list or Iâll be using you as my fucking target and then youâll be hoping Iâm not a beginner.â She wasnât in the mood for any condescending pricks today who decided to judge her based on how she looked. She watched shock and fear cross over the manâs face before he did as she said. That sweet smile once again appeared as she thanked him and turned to find a spot to practice. She scanned the crowd, wondering if Verrick would be there and realizing she needed to speak with him. She also realized she needed to find some time to spend with Annie and make sure she was okay. She also hadnât spoken with her brother in a long while and needed to do that as well. Her head began hurting some as she thought of all this and realized she needed to clear her mind and get lost in her archery. It was her favorite weapon to use when she would go hunting with Leo and sheâd become quite skilled at it. So she found herself a spot and began practicing after Roman had made his announcement of what the prize would be.
As the Sultan had reentered the guest house, he was not surprised to find Saiya lingering in the entrance hall. She had always been reliable whenever called upon. Raif did not utter a word as he met her gaze intently. After a moment, he gave her a simple nod and then moved forward through the foyer. It was clear he expected her to follow. On silent feet, Saiya quietly obeyed and followed the man sheâd lived under for many years. She kept her eyes lowered as her heart slightly raced, unsure of what he would say or do to her. She truly blamed herself for not being able to protect his children better, and she wondered if he blamed her as well. Only time would tell as she followed him to his private chambers.
Once the door had shut, Raif turned to her. âThank you for awaiting my return, Saiya.â He could not help but add a sigh as he lamented, âYou could not imagine how draining that discussion wasâŚâ It did take the Sultan a moment to pull his thoughts together as he laid his eyes on the spy. He gestured to the upholstered seats by the window. Once he had sat, he spoke again, âWould you mind giving me your rendition of what happened last night, my dear?â
Saiya could only blink for a minute as he expressed how drained he was. He wasnât yelling at her? Truth be told, she only knew of a handful of times heâd actually yelled at her, and even at that, she knew it wasnât at her, but the situation sheâd revealed to him. He wanted to know her rendition of the events, that was quite fair. Sheâd remained silent through the whole situation earlier, doing her best to keep eyes off of her, but now it was time for her to speak up. She bowed before she began speaking. âI fear I remember little as well, but I will share what I do remember. Nahir and Mayet had informed me of a party and they were determined to go. I decided I would join them, but I also knew Farim was coming in tonight and was instructed to stay behind so I could bring him. Him and I made it to the location which seemed to be in an unsavory part of town. From here it all becomes fuzzy.â Her brow furrowed as she once again tried to recall all that happened, but to little avail.
âI remember loud music, I remember dancing, and I remember Farim suggesting we get drinks butâŚâ She paused as something odd occurred to her and she met the eyes of the Sultan. âI donât remember having a drink myself.â She explained, only adding to her confusion of the nights events.
Loud music, dancing and alcohol. These are all not out of the ordinary for a young gathering. Where did things go wrong?
The Sultan suddenly did a double-take. âYou do not usually drink, do you, Saiya?â Her role required her to be alert, and he knew she took that seriously. He could not recall a time he had seen her drink alcohol to such an extent. âI did not take you for someone to get so intoxicated you cannot remember an entire night⌠Something is very wrongâŚâ He narrowed his eyes slightly. âThey were so quick to usher over how strange this all is⌠I do think they know more than they let on.â
âI would have to agree with you, my Sultan. Something isnât adding up and I donât like it.â Saiya responded with a nod, confirming that she didnât often drink. She couldnât even recall the last time sheâd actually been drunk as she often avoided that state. She didnât like feeling not in control of herself, it bothered her. So the fact she remembered so little was getting under her skin. âWhat would you have me do? I am at your disposal. I wish to know more about this as well in order to keep this family protected.â She asked him, ready to do whatever he needed.
âI would like you to get close to the royal children.â Raif stated calmly and lowly.âBefriend them and get to know them as much as possible.â He wanted to take a patient route with this situation. They were here to find out if there were good suitors for his children, and he figured this way, he could hit two birds with one stone. Saiya was close enough in age to the Danrose offspring and had already demonstrated her chemistry with one of the princes.
That was a logical request and one Saiya had already been working towards last night during the dances. She had promised Prince Auguste dance lessons, perhaps she could use that to her advantage. She could potentially befriend the young prince and princess as well as they seemed like trouble makers and that was always useful. âAs you wish, Iâll find out all I can from them.â She said as she bowed once more, waiting to be dismissed.
âThank you Saiya. You are appreciated. You are dismissed⌠â As Saiya had been about to leave, he added, âKeep your eyes peeled, Saiya. Be careful.â
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