Tpartywithzombi

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Violet & ???

_Mentions:@ReusableSwordRoman

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Violet walked away from the loud voices, the fireworks and the comfort she felt being near a friend. Each step she took she felt herself sinking further and further back into that black void she felt so lost in.

She let out a long breath that she had been holding in for so long. Her head continued to pound as she felt her body in its weakened state feel even more sluggish. She had just eaten yet it felt as if she was famished and needed energy. Perhaps a rest would do her good.

A presence lurked behind Violet from behind the trees, moving swiftly and silently with every step. She was being watched, whether she knew it or not. The pair of men had been watching Violet for some time now. They had been waiting for a few conditions to be met. The first had been that they needed to be certain that the target was indeed Lady Violet Damien and that she was living. Then, secondly, Violet needed to be alone and alone she was at last. Perhaps there had been guards in the distance, but they were a bit preoccupied for the moment.

Taking small steps to keep her balance, Violet counted as she stepped, 1..2…1…2. She paused for a moment, stopping in her tracks as she rested her weight on the cane. She pretended to be out of breath but truthfully, she felt eyes on her. More than one at that. The feeling of being watched sending shivers up her spin. She hoped it was just Roman perhaps watching her off but something felt off.

Something certainly wasn’t right…

Her head began to hurt even more, the sharp pains in the temple of her eyes. She shut them to rest her vision for a moment, feeling as if her senses were somehow sharper. There was someone watching her. But who?

Opening her crimson eyes, she began to walk again, this time her feet quickening. She continued to count 1-2-1-2-1-2 the beats hitting faster as she focused on keeping her balance. Her legs were already causing problems as they buckled slightly under her from the new speed she attempted. It was useless, she would just need to hope one of the guards was paying attention.

Before Violet could react, a figure stealthily closed in on her from behind. Like a predator stalking its prey, this mysterious assailant made their move, their presence only becoming known as strong, unyielding hands covered Violet's mouth, stifling any potential outcry, "If you scream, you die... again," He hissed the words, “If you scream, you die. Again.”

“It would be better if she did. She’s a mistake.” With a haughty laugh, a second person had moved up from the shadows as well. “She shouldn’t exist. She’s an anomaly goes against the very laws of nature.... We should kill her here and now while no one is here.’

But before she could even comprehend their words, a blade materialized under Violet’s vision, pressing against the tender skin of her throat. In the moonlight, the knife glimmered ominously, its sharp edge reflecting her own gaze back at her. The man behind her spoke once more. "No..." he declared, his tone unwavering. "We'll bring her to him alive."

Violet felt a hand wrap around her mouth as her back pressed up against their body. Her hands gripped onto the cane as her crimson eyes widened. She struggled in their grasp as whimpers escaped from the hand that held her mouth shut.

You die..again? Die..Again?

It was then that the sharp pinch of the blade pierced her flesh as her head tilted back instinctively. She pressed her body against theirs trying to gain as much space as she could from the blade but it was held so tightly to her skin she couldn’t struggle. Her body felt so weak and frail as it was that even the attempt of taking off was out of question.

“R-Rr” her words mumbled behind the hand, “R-Rom-an,” She tried to shout as she squirmed in the arms of the captor in some hopes he may hear her. It was useless though, the words came out as nothing more than muffled sounds behind their hands.

Violet's eyes searched around frantically, but it was useless; she still could not see or focus on anything. She still looked towards the direction of the mocking voice, her face still not showing even a drop of anger or frustration but she certainly felt something in the pit of her stomach. It wasn’t fear but something else.

"Rr-R-Ro-Ro!"The second man cruelly mocked, his voice dripping with contemptuous amusement as he approached Violet. His malicious intent was obvious in the look in his eyes as he moved closer, even going so far as to shove her with brute force back into the other man’s body, her breath escaping her lips as she had slammed into him.
A sadistic grin stretched across his face, his eyes filled with perverse pleasure as he scrutinized her expression. "Stupid corpse can't even talk," he jeered, obviously relishing in the situation. His lips curled as he bit down on them, savoring the sight of her vulnerable state.
"Does she even have any emotions anymore, or is she nothing more than a mindless zombie? …Well, let's find out, shall we?" With sudden and cruel intent, he roughly seized the bottom of her dress, viciously tearing at the fabric. The sound of the garment being ripped apart echoed through the air as her leg was exposed to the cool air.
Violet didn’t say anything or try to draw attention; she just simply allowed him to push her around, waiting. Feeling the arms of the man wrapped around her tightly as the second approached with a predatory tone in his voice.
She stood still, looking towards his direction as he approached. The faceless man then reached for the bottom of her dress as she heard the shredding of the fabrics. She stood there allowing him to do as he wished, You die..again? Die..Again? The words repeated in her mind as her body quivered, her lips piercing as she felt the cold air sting her skin as her leg was visible from the amount of torn fabric.
The first man, his patience wearing thin, finally intervened.
"Enough," he barked with authority. With a firm grip on Violet's arm, he forcibly yanked her away from the second man, twisting her out of his grasp. Ignoring her pain and discomfort, he began to drag her across the uneven terrain, cutting through the grass with relentless determination. Their path led them back into the concealment of the dense tree line, where no one would see them. He then threw her back into the other man’s arms once they were within the dark sanctuary of the trees. “Oscar, I am going to bring the carriage back over to the nearby road…For now, keep her out of sight and quiet.”

Littering around her the small pieces of her dress floated off into the breeze landing at various parts around the hill she had just left with Roman. She gripped her cane tightly in her fingers as she prepared to raise it but before she could she felt a firm grip on her arm as she was yanked away nearly tripping over her weakened legs as she had to drag herself to her feet while being pulled into an unknown location. Her cane dropping from her fingers as she struggled to catch her balance trying to not shout in fear they may do something worse.

As the first man disappeared into the night, Oscar, the second man, leered at Violet with a malicious glint in his eyes. A malicious smile curled upon his lips as he reveled in his newfound control over her.

She felt her body tossed once again back to the original man as he wrapped his large around around her squishing her tightly to his chest to the point she found it slightly hard to breath. She Thrashed around as she tried to loosen his grip but it wasn’t working. She watched the shadowy figure leave into the distance when she finally spoke.

“Are you afraid of blood Oscar?” Violet asked, her voice was deep and eerie with its lack of emotion. She didn’t wait for a response. “ Let's find out,” Violet threw back her head, her lips parting as she opened her mouth. Her head snapped forward as her teeth sunk deep into his flesh in hopes to loosen his grip on her.

She felt his skin tear under her teeth as a hot liquid pooled into her mouth. She grimaced at the feeling but as the warm thick liquid touched her tongue she felt the urge to bite harder. Her teeth sunk into his flesh further as she felt him loosen her grip on her. Her hands quickly shot up gripping onto his arm as she bit all her might into the latch she had created. She pulled back for air as she stumbled to her knees into what felt like a patch of grass. The red , thick and warm liquid dripped down her chin as she swallowed hard. She scrambled back slightly till she hit a tree, creating as much distance from the man as she could.

Oscar frantically scrambled backward, hand over his wound, eyes wide in shock. “What! …What the hell are you?” Blood trickled down from his wound, staining his clothes. He stared at her with a mixture of anger and fear, his eyes locked onto her as he realized that his captive had proven to be more formidable than he had anticipated.
Rising to his feet, he took a deliberate step toward Violet, his face contorted with determination. "I'll… I’ll make you pay for that," he seethed, his voice laced with venom and hatred."You... you fucking bitch!"

Violet raised her hands above her head cowering on the ground as she shielded herself. She shut her eyes tightly feeling nothing but a sense of peace. She felt like she was about to return home, a smile spreading on her face as she awaited the light.

The night was calm, but Cassius felt restless as he left the tavern. He had spent the evening decompressing in the comfort of a stiff drink. It had been a strange time recently. The death of his mother, him leaving his life as a mercenary behind for the time being to seek out a father he never knew existed, later confronting that very man on the doorsteps of his grandiose estate, making his debut in the city at as an impromptu competitor in an archery competition, and even witnessing the execution of a strange man that proved to be an even odder spectacle than he ever expected… His life had changed so suddenly, and in typical Cassius fashion he hadn’t properly taken the time to process everything. Instead, he had found the solace of women and wine to distract him while he pushed everything down to deal with another day.

As his stroll truly began, he wandered aimlessly, still not truly knowing the layout of the city. He was good at learning his way around a place quickly, it had been a helpful skill in his usual line of work…but as of yet he had not spent enough time here to commit it to memory. He wasn’t bothered though, by the prospect of simply letting the wind guide him and seeing what the night would uncover. For almost an hour he walked, and whistled songs from his past lives.

Cassius found himself in a park. It was dark out, but somehow the surroundings were still beautiful…just barely being serenaded by the dim rays of moonlight. He had a tendency to find beauty everywhere he looked. Believe it or not, it was a learned skill. Another among his arsenal of abilities to cope with the harsh life of a sellsword. It helped to brighten up the times between all the bloodshed and horrors he had endured. As he sauntered through the park, he noticed a scrap of fabric on the ground beneath his feet. His eyes focused on the cloth, and he realized that it wasn’t alone.

He took in the sight of what almost appeared to be a trail of ripped fabric littered around marking a path. Just as his curiosity began to pique, he heard a commotion beyond the tree line. The specific sound was one that made his blood run cold, and though his brain told him otherwise…his heart and the loosening of his will gifted to him by the wine in his bloodstream caused him to rush towards the sound. Palming the handle of the axe at his belt, and cautiously slipped into the trees and moved towards the ruckus, staying low and ready for trouble. What he found was a more ghastly sight than he had initially even imagined. A blood stained man stood towering over a cowering woman aggressively. Cassius paused for a second, trying to piece together some semblance of an idea as to what had transpired here, but there was no time. The man’s violent intent was clear. If Cas was to intervene, it was now or never. He stood from his strategic position and spoke in a stern, but still unnecessarily charming voice.

“It appears I have made a wrong turn, friends. Forgive me, but now that I’m here…I wonder if everyone should just calm the fuck down.” He raised his axe, using it to point at the bloodied man. “Step away from the girl now, or I’ll stain the rest of you with that crimson.”
Violet's hands fell down to her side as she looked up. Her face was pale from fear but the blood had decorated her mouth and chin with the streams of the thick red liquid. She still felt the taste of the coppery tasting blood in her mouth, the pupils of her eyes the size of a pinhead. Her headache had somehow disappeared and strangely enough, she felt slightly better.

She looked up at the new figure who arrived, hoping it was Roman but turned out it wasn’t. She hadn’t heard the voice before, perhaps it was just some passer-by that heard the man's cries of pain.

Caught off guard by the sudden intervention, Oscar momentarily froze in his tracks. His anger and determination were still evident, but he was forced to reassess the situation. He narrowed his eyes, contemplating his options and assessing. Then the other man returned before he could react.

“Alright we’re ready to go, but her guards have bested our guys and they’re on their way. We have to go now-“The man halted his speech seeing Cassius. “…Who the hell is this?”

“Some guy trying to score points with the corpse bitch... “ Oscar drew off then suddenly bolted at Violet, “Fuck him! Let’s just take her and run!”The other man unsheathed a sword and got in between as Oscar began to try to throw Violet over his shoulder. However, his movements were hesitant and he was weaker than before.

Cassius began to saunter around the sword wielding man, circling him strategically. He sized up his foe, taking in everything from the confidence in his face to the tightness of his grip on the weapon. The man seemed comfortable enough brandishing that sword, but Cas could tell by body language alone that he was tense…and that was never good against an opponent as at-ease in combat as Cassius.

“Does it usually take two of you idiots to harass a woman in the dark like this? If I was your boss, I would have killed you myself long ago for such a lack of efficiency. Looks like I’m going to get that chance anyway. Lucky me.” He did not hesitate as he finished his words, taking the opportunity to dash towards the man. Using the underside of his axe’s blade, he hooked the man’s sword and parried his foe’s defensive maneuver with ease. This man was a thuggish ne'er-do-well, but he was no Cassius Vael.

With the same momentum, he brought the side of his fist around and into the man’s nose hard. He could feel the bone crunch beneath his strike. You break the nose…and they may as well be blind. The man stumbled sideways and groaned in pain as his already crooked nose now set on the other side of his face. He came back quickly from the attack, swinging his sword wildly as his eyes were blinded by the effects of the injured nose. Cassius side stepped each swipe, playing with his prey and enjoying the thrill of it.

Violet struggled as the man attempted to grab her. She ripped at the wound on his arm with her fingers, pressing into it deeply as she yanked, tearing at his flesh more. The man screamed out “You bitch!” He shouted before grabbing her and forcefully tossing her over his shoulder. Standing to his feet Violet thrashed around her fists punching anything that could “Let me go.” she growled deeply, yet true to her new nature there was no emotion , no fear, no anger. It sounded like a threat.

The sound of the woman’s struggle beyond this man pulled Cas’ focus momentarily. It was enough of a distraction to allow his foe to land a glancing slash on his left arm, nothing major…just another scar to add to his collection. It was time to wrap this up. Cas aggressively blocked the man’s next attack with enough force to knock the blade out of his hand. A look of shock filled the eyes of Cas’ opponent. Normally, Cassius would allow the man to retrieve his weapon…but this wasn’t a man of honor, so that luxury had not been earned for him. With one quick downward slash, Cassius brought his axe down hard into the man’s head, cracking through the skull and into the soft meat of the brain beneath. Using his foot to kick the man backwards, he released his weapon from the man’s skull and turned his full attention back to Violet.

Oscar’s eyes darted between the two of them, quickly realizing that it was two-on-one. He swallowed hard, a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead His gaze was locked on the man sprawled on the ground. Oscar’s mind raced for a split second before making a decision. With a sudden burst of adrenaline, he slammed her down on the ground, his hands breaking freeing from her waist. He gritted his teeth and glared at Cassius. “This is far from over.” He seethed, his voice laced with a promise of vengeance, “I’ll find out who you are and then we’ll make you endure the pain that will exceed the realm of your nightmares. ” He sneered before his glare snapped to Violet. “ And you. I’ll be back for you.” With a wicked grin that twisted his features, he hurriedly retreated backward, disappearing into the darkness of the night.

Oscar left them with some chilling parting words, “Don’t worry, you won’t have to wait very long.” The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the silence, leaving the two siblings to deal with the aftermath of the encounter.

Violet let out a loud groan as she pulled herself up off the ground. Slowly pushing herself up with her hands, pushing up her knee to slowly rise to her feet. She stared at the figure with dead eyes. Violet's blood soaked face held no emotion, her deadpan stare, frail and bruised body standing before the man.

“ You should have let them kill me.”

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: 6pm
Location: Guest house
Mention:
Appearance:Dress, Hair style but red,

Ariella looked at the bottom of her glass as she realized she had finished the entire drink. Lifting her head and looking around the room began to sway slowly from left to right. Her vision warped as she tried to squint hoping it would somehow fix it. She leaned back in her chair, her hands fidgeting on her lap as she tried to hide this new feeling.

As she scanned the room she still couldn't help but think How are they all so freakishly beautiful...And even more so when they get angry* Ariella shifted in her seat as she started to fan herself with her hand. "Is it getting hot in here?" she asked with a panicked tone to her voice but it wasn't for the reason someone may think. She tried her best to listen to everything being said, but the room continued spinning, so she decided to focus on one painting across the room. Her eyes nearly tossed anchors into the spot on the wall.

All of a sudden her nose perked at the smell of all the amazing food. She drew her attention back to that realizing that the conversation had calmed ... for now. " Mmm! Whipped peanut butter " She said enthusiastically after Lorenzo's interpretation of the food before reaching for some herself. As Ariella took a bite of the hummus she paused for a moment as a frown appeared on her face. She struggled to swallow the dip, her face trying its best to hide her dislike of the taste.

She leaned over to Farim and whispered "That's not peanut butter"

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Location: Sorian Park
Interactions:Sadie @Potter, Felix @Mole, Zarai/ Mathias @Rodiak, John @Conscripts, Fritz @JJ Doe, Roman @Reusablesword
Mentions: None
Outfit: Dress Hair

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Unease blanketed her, wrapping around her entire being as she felt the air grow cold. Her eyes scanned the crowd of people. Her red eyes watched around trying to find something familiar but couldn't. Why couldn't she remember any of the people who appeared to know her? The confusion was starting to give her a headache. Perhaps being alone would be a better evening than one spent in so much confusion.

A few others joined the group, sharing in their enjoyment but Violet just stood there quietly the smile still eerily on her face. Her lips slowly sunk back as her smile faded. A voice that chimed in caught her attention. Her gaze shifted over to a rather large figure, he stood out amongst the crowd. Yet another who knows my name... Her eyes scanned him for a moment and she did feel something. She wasn't sure what exactly it was but a familiarity was present. Ravens...

Violet..

The man said her name so intimately. There was no Lady in front as many of the other times she heard her name it was always after Lady. This man knew her, and she could hear the worry in his tone. She started to regret her decision. "Yes, I am fine thank you for asking... I hope you are well." The response sounded rehearsed in a way, nothing like the women he met the night prior. " Did you need to speak with me? I am so sorry for leaving so abruptly I might have not been feeling well." Violet lied as she offered another smile.

Truthfully she had no idea what happened the night prior. She had some foggy memories of her family, reading books in the library, and her sister...but it was as if she were looking at a storybook of someone else's memories they didn't feel like her own. She couldn't recall anything that happened over the last few nights let alone a dance. Perhaps he may offer some clues as to what happened.

"We could catch up this evening if you wish." She said hoping he would agree. She needed some clarity and her mother was useless in that matter. She was surprised they hadn't yet come looking for her considering how they reacted when she arrived back home.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Location: Sorian Park
Interactions: @conscriptsDr.John
Mentions: None
Outfit: Dress Hair

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Violet's red eyes moved over to the speaking man, still unable to look anyone in the eye, Violet appeared to look in his general direction. " How rude of me. My name is Lady V-Violet Damien.." Her words trailed off slightly as if she wasn't even sure that was her name. She offered him a friendly smile but appeared to be visibly forced. "I just arrived home after some traveling and saw the Fireworks. They were so lovely I couldn't pass up the opportunity to enjoy them when I ran into my new friend here." She still had yet to know the man's name, and no one had actually called him by his name. "May I ask your name Sir?"

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: 5pm - 6pm
Location: Guest house
Mention:Farim - [@LavaAlckon]
Appearance:Dress, Hair style but red,

Ariella felt a rush of confusion hit her, her mind was still stuck in the woods and she hadn't fully integrated back into her social abilities yet. She couldn't wait to go back and start her practice of magic. Everything else felt trivial at this point.

The room was filled with so many beautiful people she couldn't help but stare at many of them. Ariella smiled and nodded to the ones she was introduced to. She was taken aback, however, by the show of the Grand Vizier and his attention to Lorenzo and where he sat. She tried to hide the surprise in her face as she continued to smile perhaps looking a little foolish with the altercation happening.

She smiled at him as he pulled the chair out for her. She had sat and smiled at Nahir "Thank you, I really appreciate that. I-" She paused as Nahir turned her attention to Mayet. There was so much going on that she didn't even know what to do or how to think. She took the napkin from the table and set it on her lap.

As she was about to turn to Farim when she caught the eye of a new arrival. She was about to say hello when he took it upon himself to give her his own hello. She felt Munirs hand run against her bare back and over her shoulder, her smile faded as he moved to the table. She was in a bit of shock as she watched him take his seat and wink at her. She just returned a smile.

Leaning over to Farim she whispered " Are all your family gatherings like this?" she asked softly with a smile on her face that said "help.."

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: 5pm - 6pm
Location: Guest house
Mention:Farim - @LavaAlckon
Appearance:Dress, Hair style but red,

The afternoon with Callum was nothing short of amazing for Ari. Having someone she could trust with such an important thing and having that person love magic even more than herself was inspiring to her. They finished off their afternoon talking about so many different things she couldn't keep track of it all. However, she did promise Farim that she would attend the supper and with Ana running off she would feel horrible if he ended up going alone.

After some time at home, Ariella had cleaned up and headed towards the estate for dinner. Arriving outside she stood around nervously. She had never really gone to such an intimate private event before and her mother certainly did a bunch of work on her nerves. When she found out who would likely be attending she was quick to pull out a new dress she had ordered, making sure that she was overdressed as always. Ari just hope she wasn't TOO overdressed.

Finally spotting someone she pulled him aside. " Um..excuse me..Could you find Farim, please? My name is Lady Edwards, I was supposed to meet him for dinner." The man didn't say much, he simply nodded and walked off. Once again she stood alone, nervously shifting as she looked around. It wasn't long after that she heard a familiar voice that pulled her attention. She smiled at him nodding "Yes, it went very well actually. However, I cut it short to make sure you wouldn't be attending the event alone." She offered him a smile. "I do hope I'm not overdressed, I wasn't sure what you wear to a dinner like this, and Mother insisted I wear the new gown she ordered." She looked down at her gown pulling at the sides of it. "You're right we should head inside, I don't want to keep anyone."

She followed him inside the Estate and towards the dining room where there was already a group of people chattering amongst themselves. She looked around clearly nervous as her fingers fidget with the fabric on her dress. She smiled nervously trying to keep her cool, she started to second guess why she decided to come but her new friend was simply more important than her silly anxiety.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Location: Damian Household > Sorian Park
Interactions: None
Mentions: None
Outfit: Dress Hair

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Violet couldn't get much rest. Her mind was so foggy. She felt like she was on a wooden boat, sailing in the middle of blackened waters—the sky above her was black, void of any stars or signs of life. The water reflected the dark sky as the mist formed around the boat, floating above the black liquid as she continued to move forward. Or was she moving at all?

She sat in her chair, her eyes void of any emotion. She was existing.

She looked over to the left then the right. Scanning the room that felt familiar yet different all at the same time. Pieces of her furniture had been covered with sheets to protect them from dust. Her room used to be filled with so much life but now it was simply a place that her parents had preserved. They didn't have time to prepare it for her, so it simply felt like she was sitting in a museum of her belongings. The only thing that they had done was removed all the mirrors at her mother's request. She would not be allowed to see herself, not until she was fully healed.

Violet didn't understand what her mother was speaking about. She wasn't aware of any reason why but truthfully her mind was so clouded that she didn't remember much. The faces of people were blurred and fuzzy, she couldn't quite make out who or what they were. She just felt a familiarity with the voice she heard, trusting in her instincts that the woman she met was her mother.

The sounds of fireworks echoed in her room, and the large noises of exploding stars captured her attention. Looking up and out her window she saw the bright colors off in the distance. It was the only thing that drew her out of the misted waters of her mind.

Leaving the estate Violet made sure to inform one of the workers who was instructed to care for her that she would be going for an evening walk in the park. Violet also instructed her mother to be notified as well, so she wouldn't worry. She had to listen to her panicked voice the whole carriage ride back to the estate, going on and on about how relieved she was. Although Violet didn't remember much of anything, it couldn't have been that bad, it wasn't as if she had gone missing or died. She was right there.

Trying to not fester on the unknown she took a carriage over to Sorian Park arriving just in time as another set of fireworks was sent off into the air. Stepping out of the carriage she felt a sudden rush, she gripped tightly onto the side of the carriage as her vision and mind tilted and spun. Closing her eyes she held a hand over her ears as the sudden noise of all the people overwhelmed her senses. She reached inside the carriage with a shaken hand and grabbed a long ornate cane that her mother had given her. She pulled it out and used it to steady herself. She wasn't sure why she needed it but it certainly did help.

After a few moments of rest, the sense of spinning had slowed to a simple sway. She could feel eyes on her but she did not pay attention. Using the cane she started to take a few steps, slowly moving at first until she found her stride. She decided it best to walk slowly, counting each step as she took one. Her eyes opened now, the world around her so unusual. Faces still were as if someone smeared their appearance, she could tell they were people but they were simply blocks and shapes of colors and shadows. The lights were bright, appearing like stars with long streaks of colors exploding from their centers.

Taking each step slowly she continued to walk, her eyes darting each time to the sky as she watched the lights explode. The colorful stars twinkled in the darkness and faded out until there was nothing left. Crowds of people moved around her, paying her no mind. The blurs of faces and people createing a sense of unease.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Ariella& Callum

Part 1

Location: Secret Location
Time: 4pm

Farims escape plan seemed to work without a hitch. Ariella and Callum had exited the tavern with no issue. Jumping into the carriage and heading off toward the gardens. She was grateful for Farim, he didn’t even seem to hesitate when she asked for his help, They likely wouldn’t have been able to sneak out if it wasn’t for him.

Some time had passed since they left the Tavern and after a good trek, the pair arrived at a wooded area behind the youth education buildings.

The woods were lush and thick, appearing to be untouched by any human hands for a very long time. Large bushes of various berries and smaller plants littered the forest floor alongside multiple logs and branches that had fallen off the surrounding trees.

Ari and Ana had come here during their younger years, Ana would sneak boys back here while Ari tended to just hide with her books and drawings. Some of her best memories were shared in this forest. It took them almost a year before they even found their little spot but when they did it was the most magical place Ariella had ever seen. Still to this day, she felt like she was stepping into another world when she walked through the gate. Ana and Ari made a pact that they would only bring people who would appreciate this place, respecting it for what it was and hopefully, they could keep it as their special oasis forever.

Picking up the hem of her dress she trekked over and around the large logs and sticks, moving in and out of them like an expert. After another short walk, the two ended up at a gate. The gate was made of overgrown vines and flowers that had taken over an old wooden structure. The woods had grown over any existing man-made object covering everything but the door. Normally this would be where Ana and her would remove the top layers of their dresses, hanging them off some branches that grew from the sides of the fence. However, with the prince being here she would just need to be extra cautious with her dress.

Callum followed quietly but couldn’t help but wonder why there was a fence and a gate in the middle of nowhere. Had someone lived out here before? The denseness of the forest and the amount of overgrowth made it clear that this area had not been maintained in a while. The air was less irritating than he’d initially thought, though he could still feel the tingle of pollen aggravating his nose and eyes, it was not nearly as overwhelming as the botanical gardens near the palace.

Ariella turned back to look at Callum with a pure and genuine expression on her face. " You are one of few now who know of this place, it's top secret. I ..." she paused for a moment holding back a giddy smile " I just hope you like it as much as I do. " Ariella turned back around and pushed open the gate, the wood scraping against some old concrete stone that seemed to create a path inwards.

“Sometimes the place matters less than the company, but this place is beautiful. And not like anything I've seen before. More like, something from a fairytale.” Callum offered a nod, he understood; places and things that were kept secret deserved reverence when shared. He understood from the way Ari talked about this place that it meant as much to her as magic did to him. He already planned to be properly respectful and to try very hard to only see the positive side here. And it was much easier than he truly expected.

Walking through the gate she let him take the lead, She after all had seen everything before. Falling back slightly she held her hands up around her face, the expression of an overly excited child on her face.

Walking further into the woods the path would lead them to a ravine filled with crystal-clear water. Inside the ravine, small fish can be seen swimming up and down hiding under small lily pads that sat on top of the calm water. The water cut across the stone path wrapping up around a very large gazebomade of beautiful marble that also was covered in vines, ivy, and flowers.

Off to the right of the gazebo was a Swing that Ari and Ana had put up years and years ago. Just behind the swing in the far-off distance was also a fountain that too had been grown over by the various foliage.

The air here held more than pollen and tiny creatures that buzzed about. Something almost sacred, almost exactly the same feeling the air within the god's temples held. It was entirely serene, with none of that frantic energy that encapsulated the rest of the city. Here everything was calm and at peace, that feeling was so easily taken in with the air here. As he walked, and breathed, in the silence he better understood the magic of this place. He continued to follow the stone path, which flowed as smoothly as water, as it twisted its way around the ravine.

She gave him a moment to soak it all in but while he did so Ari had already started pulling off the murderous shoes she had just trekked in to get here. Letting out a soft moan as her bare feet touched the cool ground she let out a long sigh of relief. Standing back up she smiled at him, " Shoes off, it's the rules. "

“I am a known rule-breaker so if I abide by this one you’ll have to keep this secret as well or my reputation will be ruined.” He joked as he went ahead with the removal of shoes and socks. He didn’t entirely understand the need for this step, how the addition of feeling slimy rock with his feet added to the magic of this place but seeing as he’d made everyone uncomfortable at the tavern he could stand to be uncomfortable for a while.

Ariella chuckled at his comment “ Your secret is safe with me. Plus, anything done or said here doesn’t leave beyond that gate.” She smiled at him. She put her hands on her hip as she looked around “Well..this is it. I know the shoe thing might be sort of weird but…” she paused looking down at her wiggling toes on the dirt “ Not only do women's heels create a lot of damage to the ground from walking around but so do men's shoes digging rivets into the path it just keeps the places more true to nature, we are the guests here.” She looked back up towards the Gazebo “ We tend to spend a lot of our time in the Gazebo, it's great for keeping any sun off of us or any stiff winds that may break through.”

Callum only nodded to indicate his understanding, this was respect for the earth. Fair enough. “Is there anything inside that gazebo?” He asked.

She was a bit taken aback by his question. She should have figured he would have been curious, it's not unusual to ask such a question being in a new place but the gazebo certainly had a lot of things inside of it. If he hasn’t judged her yet, this may be the moment he does.

“ There are..things,” she said softly her voice trailing off as she felt a bit shy omitting what was in there. “ Easier to show you I think…” Ariella started to walk towards the Gazebo. Stepping over the ravine to the other side where some marble steps lead up into the large structure. Standing near the door she grasped her hands nervously. “ Ana doesn’t really come here that often anymore so I’ve kind of taken over the space. I have never shown anyone this so I'm strangely nervous for some reason” She laughed nervously as her fingers played at the fabric of her dress.

“I think you’ve already seen me at my wo-,” No not his worst, not even close, he pivoted his words. “Well not my best and you let it go so unless this gazebo is where you murder unsuspecting princes I think I can do the same.” Callum said, grinning. As the door to the gazebo opened he felt the familiar presence that was Starcatcher radiating from inside. He hesitated before he even set foot inside, he avoided even looking in the Book’s direction, and he said nothing, keeping his attention fixed on Ari.

Ari felt his eyes fixated on her, she looked over at him feeling his reluctance to go inside. “ I promise no murdering of unsuspecting princes takes place here. “ She offered him a friendly smile. “At least not yet “ she joked.

Callum didn’t have to look at the crimson grimoire with its pages lines in golden text to know it was there. The Book held a force more powerful than anything else he’d ever experienced. More than drink, more than drugs, It called out to every part of Callum; body, mind, spirit, and blood. He would have expected the secret prince murdering room before ever guessing to find the presence of this very book.

Inside the Gazebo were tons of books along the edges and floors, stacking so high in some areas they would be up to his knees. Many of the books were various romance novels, herbology books, greek tragedy stories, and mythology books. Alongside, the books were homemade wax candles, dried leaves and flowers, little trinkets, and rolls of twine. The center of the gazebo was clear except for a large plush fabric cushion where an opened book sat comfortably on it.

He may notice a familiar book sitting amongst her pile with a red binding and gold lettering. The title read star catcher, with a tassel hanging out the side of it. Around the book were some recently burnt candles, twigs, and a lock of hair that matched similar to Ariellas. She had nearly forgotten it when her eyes noticed the book open from the other night. Her eyes widened slightly as she hoped he wouldn’t take notice, that he would just see it as another one of her books since there were so many.

she looked around nervously as she started to ramble “I spend a lot of time here, I don't like being at home. A lot of my books I’ve collected over the years, read them all but couldn’t seem to get rid of them. Each and every one of them here is important in its own way. Lots of lessons to be had in this room” she joked laughing nervously again.

“I don’t really have a home, I have a palace I live in but don’t belong in and there is none of the warmth that makes a building into a home. Last night our Queen who calls herself my mother found her two youngest intoxicated enough to worry we might not wake. But what she really cared about was how it looked to the rest of the world. So today she thought executing Darryn, the man who drove our carriage, would be an appropriate punishment. She thought her embarrassment and our disobedience were worth innocent blood. That is the sort of family I come from, and that is why it is nearly impossible to put my faith in anyone who shares my blood.” For the second time today he offered up an explanation for why he acted in all ways he did. He began to walk the perimeter, taking in the titles of a variety of books that lined the room. Many he recognized, some he did not. But he was still thinking of only that Book.

Ariella listened to her friend, and Callum certainly seemed to need one. She felt her back press up against the cold marble pillar as she looked over at him. Ana had told Ari about a lot of what happened in her family, all the things that her parents did..or didn’t do. As she got older the stories dwindled but so did Ana, drowning herself in whatever she could find to keep the smile on her face. She started to realize that while Ana drowned herself Callum wore a lot of guilt and anger on his shoulders.

“ My mother, although she would never execute someone mainly because she really doesn’t have the power to I assure you that if it made her look better or put fear in her station she would. She forces me to treat people a certain way, put on beautiful lush gowns and expensive jewelry, and parade myself around like a circus animal. She belittles and treats people like they aren’t anything more than a cockroach under her shoe and how dare they mess up her pretty little shoe. If I don't comply, then I am locked in my chambers with guards posted at my door day and night. “ Her eyes dropped to the ground, and she focused on her feet planted against the cold stone.

“ You don’t need to explain yourself to me, Our situations are slightly different but our burdens are very similar. I will never judge you, you don’t need to explain.” She shrugged her shoulders softly “ In a lot of the books I’ve read it's common for the misfits, the forsaken, or the misunderstood to find their family with others who don’t share their blood. Finding people you trust and making your home with them instead. You have a home here..if you want it” she said softly looking up at Callum her face unable to provide anything more than a look of understanding.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Ariella, Anastasia & Farim

Part 2

Location: Prince Callum’s Tavern
Time: 3pm

---

Farim could tell the woman was eyeing him up, perhaps to see what he was made of or judge his initial reaction. All Farim would do is flash his innocent playboy smile before realizing his social snafu. “My goodness! Forgive me, Lady Edwards! I suppose I should familiarize myself with proper titles and names in this place. I’ll make it up to you for my error.” He gave a sly wink before sitting himself at the table, making sure his flowing silk garb wouldn’t be caught in anything. Anyone looking at the trio would certainly be surprised as their combined net worth was likely more than the entire building. But this did not affect Farim, for he simply enjoyed living in the moment.

”While I would normally say to go heavy on the drinks, I must maintain some composure for dinner tonight, Princess. My father would have my head if I were too inebriated. So I shall request something in the middle, but still tasty if possible. I shall not be picky.” He leaned onto the back of the chair, one arm slung behind the wooden back and another draped over his crossed knees. ”What exactly have you been up to since you departed from the park, Princess? And you, Lady Edwards. I hope your day has been peaceful if not eventful. I’m sure the Princess could whip up something fun to do after dinner!” He merely teased at the thought, but felt like the King and Queen would sooner pay their entire treasury out than let any royal children out at night again.

“Your wish is my command.” Anastasia said with a giggle, and then gave the duo a theatrical bow. She paused before departing to fetch the drinks. Perhaps her intention had been to not blurt about the Damien Estate drama to an Alidasht, but she found herself unable to hold her tongue while under the influence. “Hehe, I just was hanging out with some friends. We didn’t do anything crazy like going to Count Calbert’s house to investigate gunshots or anything. We actually did really normal things like… Eating annnnd drinking. Mundane stuff… Okay beee right back! ” With that, she gracefully made her way over to the bar to order some drinks.

Ariella tried to catch her friend but before she could even get a word formed she had left. Her hands resting on her lap she leaned back against the booth seemingly nervous in the presence of Farim.

Twisting her fingers together she smiled nervously, “Don’t worry about the titles, I personally find them rather confusing as well. “ Her eyes scanned over the Alidashst man as he seemed so comfortable and yet held some kind of charm; she felt strangely entranced. Her normally pale complexion flushing slightly pink as her cheeks flushed. “So how are you finding your visit? Are you here for the courting season or just sightseeing?” The quiver of nerves in her voice was clear.

There had been a question he found asking himself a lot. What exactly was he doing here? His expression turned from a simple smile to a more neutral expression as he thought about her question. Before too long, however, he felt himself blink once to snap himself back to reality. Her immediate meekness made Farim lower his voice to a gentle and almost sensual tone in an effort to put her at ease. ” Well as for titles, I shall call you Lady Ariella if you wish. But whatever name you prefer I shall use! As for my reason for being here…I have worked and lived a lot of my life and found it time for me to start laying more than just business expenditures. So yes I would say I am here for the courting as well as to see my family, much of whom I haven’t seen for quite some time.”

He took a brief pause, readjusting himself to a more normal sitting position as he spoke to her, both feet on the floor and arms on the table in front of him. “My visit has been lovely. I’ve already met two very kind souls who are giving me such wonderful hospitality. And now I get to share a drink with them both. I can’t think of many places I’d rather be than here, getting to know these wonderful people.”

She felt her shoulder drop as her body relaxed slightly, “You say you have lived a lot of your life already, but it seems you’re only just starting such a …what I would presume to be a wonderful journey.” She smiled lightly, “I am envious of that, it seems my personal journey is much the opposite. Being a lady, at least in my home, means you must find a partner before your life can truly even start.” There seemed to be a sense of sadness behind her words but before long she leaned forward on the table. Her head rested on her hands as her eyes lit up slightly.

“What kind of places have you traveled to? I have a feeling you have seen some amazing things in your travels. Though you say you can’t think of other places than here…” She gave him a slight smile, “ There must be at least one.”

He showed a concerned expression as she mentions her family, nodding in understanding at the thought of one's life being decided for them. ”Yes, well. I once was told what to do, what to say, how to act, and so on. I still somewhat am but that life grew old fast. So I set out on my own to establish a trading company. Quite successful I might add. But in the eyes of some, not enough.” He shrugged afterward, one arm resting in front of him while the other supported his head as he relaxed.

“You do make a good point. I’ve been all around the Dunes and have linked many of the smaller towns to the capital. Even now I’m looking to expand our caravans into the sea, where even more places can be seen or explored. If I had to pick a favorite however…” Farim took a moment to contemplate his answer. “There was this one place, out in the south in my country. A little spot that not many knew of. It is a small oasis cut off from the harsh desert dunes. A real gem of beauty amidst a cruel landscape. I would say I’d like to be there but I would still very much prefer company such as yourself.” Farim flashed yet another smile.

“Since you mentioned it, I imagine you are in the market for courting as well? Any interesting prospects come your way? Surely you have men lining your doorstep.”

Ariella seemed to get lost in his description of this oasis, being pulled out of her thoughts at his last comment about having good company. She returned his smile with one of her own and leaned back against the booth. “Yes, I do agree. Spending time with people whose company you enjoy makes things even sweeter than when alone.” Though she had not much experience with that, she just assumed.

“Yes, my mother has made it her lifelong dream for me to marry into a title.” She sighed lightly, “But truthfully, I’ve been sheltered for so long I find it hard to meet people. I did have the chance to meet Prince Callum; he is much like me in many ways. I feel sad for him, trapped in a title and no ability to just be.” She shrugged lightly, “So I suppose that is why I am in no rush to find one of my own, the idea of being trapped in a lifestyle even more so then I am now doesn’t really appeal to me.”

Her eyes looked back up at Farim having wandered into thought. “ You are very kind to say such nice things about me but I assure you there is no line. Ana is the one to have all the luck it seems.” She smiled and looked over at her friend who was still busy at the bar, “I envy much about her. She has the ability to charm the room and doesn’t even seem to realize she is doing it.” Ari leaned back on the table, this time her fingers were wrapped into each other, resting in front of her.

“ No prospects, and No line. Though, that could very well be my own doing. I have an oasis of my own, Ana showed it to me actually. I spend a lot of time there alone or I’ll find a nice scenic place where I can just take my shoes off and feel my feet in the summer grass. “ Her face seemed to light up while talking about it. “Sorry that sounds so silly, but there is just something about being under the sun and soaking in nature just grounds me. Maybe you are right though, maybe it would be better with someone. Perhaps I shall have to find that person to share the experience with.” She gave him another soft smile.

Farim glanced behind him as she looked passed at Anastasia. He could feel a slight ping of familiarity with being overshadowed by far bigger people in his life. “Well that is a shame. But some folks take years before finding a diamond in a mine of coal. So perhaps there is just a certain someone taking their sweet time finding his shiny diamond.” His hand waved to the side as if to accent his speech as he talked.

She spoke of her own oasis, and he raised an eyebrow in curiosity at the idea of seeing such a place. “By all means. I would love to see such a beautiful little slice of nature nestled within the limits of a bustling capital such as this.” He leaned in, placing his hands together and locking his fingers to rest his chin on as he spoke with a sly tone. “And it is only natural for such a beautiful flower like yourself to bloom in the sunlight. There is no strangeness to it.” He chuckled lightly. “I know we have just met but I’m sure you could convince someone to spend a little alone time with you.” Farim made sure to add a teasing inflection to his words as he gave the lady in front of him all kinds of vague ideas.

Ari sat wide-eyed for a moment, she bit back a giggle that was lodged in her throat. She reached for her glass of water taking a long sip as she tried to cool herself before she regretted responding foolishly.

Her cheeks flushed pink as she tried to act cool. “ Well, it's a secret spot, only very few know of its location. There are rules, however..” She paused before taking another sip of her water. “Only the brave have ever been able to follow the rules.” She smirked playfully. “You see, this place ..” She thought for a moment about whether it would be absurd to tell a stranger all about this place and her small ritual. She looked up at Farim as that feeling of ease still flooded her. She started to wonder if all the Alidasht people were this entrancing with their words, perhaps his charm was just a false wall. She was still curious to find out, however.

“It's a safe space, there are no titles or stations. You just are you. So, when you enter, you must remove all footwear. “ She paused to see his reaction to her statement, many people would be disgusted at the thought. “You have to enter in barefooted, and if you so choose, remove anything that you feel is a burden. I personally…” She paused, “ Maybe I shouldn’t say. Would be rather inappropriate. Either way, it is a safe space where you can just be yourself and I have not invited anyone but Ana there.” She smiled. “ Ana actually was the first to show me the space and I kind of made it my own. No other has seen it yet. I haven’t really met anyone who I feel would actually appreciate it as much as I do.” She took another drink of her water, “I did invite Prince Callum there, he said he would be interested however I think he was just being kind. I would imagine he is far too busy to spend an afternoon in the woods with someone.”

“I’m sorry,” Ari said as she realized just how long she had dragged out the conversation with her silly oasis talk again. “I seem to have a problem with knowing when I am sharing too much.“ She shrugged, “But you never know, maybe I could convince someone or maybe someone will end up convincing me.” she smiled back at him. “ Has anyone caught your eye yet? I am sure you’ve been around a bit by now, there are so many beautiful women this courting season. The amount at the Prince’s ball was overwhelming, after I spoke with Prince Callum I left. That is why I'm so overly dressed. I haven't found my way home yet. The idea of having to tell my Mo-...” she stopped, “ Oversharing…sorry.” Ariella started to feel embarrassed. Her mother taught her better yet Farim just seemed so easy to talk to. Where is Ana…Please save me from embarrassing myself more. She groaned to herself.

Farim listened intently as talks of “rules” were dished out. He kept that same soft smile and incher ever closer in his leaning stature as she described this place. It seemed to fit his style particularly well, this hidden spot. “Oh darling. I am never not Farim. That is technically how I like to introduce myself but you know the game of titles and status. Gotta make myself known to be a Sultan in the making.” As if. He thought to himself. He highly doubted his shot at the Sultanate to be much higher than the others, but a man can dream. “This garden of yours sounds like an amazing place. It would certainly take very little to convince me to come with you there.”

He shifted his body to lean further toward Ariella. He tilted his head slightly to think about what she had asked him. “Oh I actually missed the ball last night. I arrived rather late, spoke with my sister, and then….I can’t seem to remember the rest of the night. I was rather tired. I woke up and spoke to my cousin and met your friend Anastasia. Then after a short walk with my long-gone brother, I happened upon you both here. As for who I’m interested in….” He spoke slowly, lowering his tone and clicking his tongue once. “If everyone is as beautiful as you and the Princess, I can hardly believe that I'll ever be able to choose. Not to mention how kind you both are already. Just a few short moments and I already want to spend more time with you. I like that quite a bit actually.”

Ari leaned into the table more, seemingly matching his movements as she felt invested in their conversation. “ A sultan? Well, from our short conversation I have a feeling you’d make a good one. You certainly know your way around words, I think I could listen to you speak all day.” She gave him a smirk, her cheeks still flushed with color. “Oh, so you really haven’t had a moment to catch your breath even. Well..” she paused trying hard to come off calm and confident. “If you were ever interested in a tour, I certainly could clear my very busy schedule to make room for a future Sultan.” Her voice trailing off at the end in a low tone. Her lips pulling back as she once again bit back a small giggle, her nerves were certainly biting back.

Although Ariella’s words came off confident in their own way, her face spoke volumes as to how she was feeling. Her pink cheeks, nervous lip biting and a quake in her voice made it all to clear that this was easily her first time. Then reality hit her, the smile slowly fading as the nerves took over again, A future Sultan? He will have a lineup of women before soon, once another caught wind of such a handsome, well-spoken and charming suitor, there was no telling how long that line would be. After that , she would become an afterthought just as she had with so many others.

She felt herself sit back once again, trying to hide her intrusive thoughts. Still smiling towards him “Perhaps Ana would like to join us on that, She knows a lot of people..”

He yet again found the soft voice of hers to be all he could really hear among the rabble. Somehow he tuned everything else out and merely enjoyed the conversation. He took note of her mannerisms, and the way her body reacted to him, as well as the rapid decline as he felt she may have delved too deep too fast and wanted to rescind her eagerness. He too wanted to be delicate, but didn’t want her to feel excluded either. His hand gestured as he began to speak, tracing errant circles in the air as he proceeded to talk both with his mouth and his body.

“I am used to being…busy during the day. I have many ways to unwind at night. But as for that tour…” His hand stops and reaches across the table, gently laying atop hers as he flashes a wide smile. “I’d be very interested in a place free of titles and notoriety. To be truly…’us’.” He took a brief pause, a slight rise in color to his face as he felt his gaze shift to the side. “But I won’t act like I’m not excited to hear you refer to me as a future Sultan..” He kept his joyful expression and slowly pulled himself back as to not overstep any physical boundaries, and nodded at the thought of Anastasia joining us.

“I do believe that the barkeep has been keeping her for some time now that you mention it. But you may think about who you wish to invite and how many people you wish to talk to. I am no stranger to competition.” He smirked slightly before continuing, his facial features now returning to their normal sun-kissed hue. “I know courting can be intricate. And many folks are involved. I myself want to get to know the lovely women that find so much interest in an Alidasht man such as myself. So let’s stay in touch~.” He felt his fingers rub together, slightly anxious that he was laying it on too thick. I swear cousin Munir…You’ve influenced me far more than I care to admit when it comes to women…

”Drink time!”

The blonde returned in her elegant floor-length dress, but her arrival was far from graceful. She stumbled visibly as she made her way over, barely managing to balance a tray filled with drinks. Her complexion was flushed and she seemed a little more disoriented than before. When she finally collapsed into her seat, she spilled some of the alcohol haphazardly. She wore a smile on her face that did not completely match the look in her eyes.

“I hope you love birds don’t mind If I join because I got a little lonely over yonder…” Anastasia slurred, pushing a strong yet fruity mixed drink towards Ariella, a lighter cocktail towards Farim, and keeping a tall glass of something that smelled like pure alcohol for herself. The rest of the tray held a dozen shots in total. After a moment, she leaned her chin on her palm and spoke again, trying to sound cheerful. "I hope you both like what I picked out!"

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: 3pm
Location: Lovers lake - Prince Callum Tavern
Mention:
Appearance:Dress, Hair style but red,shoes

The sun continued to beat down on Ari as she lay basking in the sun. Her book had somehow found its way over her face as she hid her eyes from the blinding light just soaking in the rays. She wasn't sure if she had dipped into a light nap, but the slight drool on the side of her mouth said a lot.

Pulling the book from her face as the pages slightly stuck to her lip, she brushed the pages off with her fingertips before sitting up. Her eyes fluttered as they adjusted to the bright sun. She figured she had gotten enough sun for the day, her mother would be all over her if she returned home with a sunburn on her porcelain skin.

Gathering her stuff, Ariella set back to her carriage. Along the way she dusted herself off making her outfit more presentable than it was at the lake. Sadly that included putting back on her shoes.

Getting into her carriage she instructed the driver to bring her to a local Tavern, she was feeling quite hungry after the events this morning and all the sun. It didn't take long for them to arrive at the Prince Callum Tavern. As the carriage came to a stop she peeked out the window to see the sign wondering if this was some kind of strange joke. She couldn't help but think about Callum however. She wondered how he felt about a Tavern named after him. Seemed a bit of an ego stroke, but she got the impression he had no say in the matter.
Paying no mind to it any longer, Ariella got out of the carriage and headed inside the beautiful Tavern. It was loud and busy full of people enjoying their late lunches or early suppers. The smell of ale and meat pie filled the room as she clearly was overdressed for the place, however, she normally overdressed if her mother had any say.

Finding a nice place in the back Ariella hid away from the normal patrons and snuggled into a booth. She kept her book handy but enjoyed the large pitcher of water that the barkeep brought to her table.