The Shade Travels
A’Madrel rose to the surface. She could do no other. When the one called Gabriel had destroyed her body she had been left with the choice of accepting death or becoming a part of the power of AnAkbar. It had been an easy choice. His plan was one she would have been eager to aid without any compulsion.
Soundlessly she wafted over the grasses, purposefully leaving a faint trail of withered blades and the taint of evil for someone to find and follow. Though AnAkbar’s orders had not included the conditions around the portal, she knew he was not happy with the recent changes. Bringing the storms back was a small thing for her to do and AnAkbar would appreciate it, so long as it did not delay her by much. If some Guardian’s followed the trail she left, so much the better.
The portal itself was still as tainted as the Sisterhood and AnAkbar needed it to be. Caressingly the Shade floated around it as she worked the little magic it took to get a decent storm to whip up whenever someone came too close that shouldn’t have. Satisfied with the result she wafted around a malformed pine and then on into the portal to visit Un’Macha.
Discoveries
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Julian derKorst
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Lucien had left Topaz after the Overlord challenge. He did not want to admit it, but Topaz’s rejection of his gifts hurt. After so many centuries of not having to deal with emotions, these last months had been everything between unadulterated joy to the depths of suffering.
He flew above the city trying to make sense of what he had seen in Topaz’s mind, but he had to confess, he simply did not understand. He found himself in Ariel’s office where she was working on a new piece of art. She did not seem surprised to see Lucien solidify in her chair.
She paused and studied him a moment. “You are unhappy brother. And I presume you have come to talk. Shall I continue working, or would you prefer that we go elsewhere?”
Lucien watched her hands as she worked on the piece, and considered her movements a soothing distraction as he kicked his heels up onto her desk to watch. “Ariel, I know I did not mistake her views on what she thought was lovely. I know I chose things from her memories that she found most pleasing. There is no mistake in what I saw there. But now that I have given these things to her, she despises them, and will never wear a single article. Why?”
Ariel kept working on the sculpture. “You say you cannot understand what you see in her thoughts, tell me what you see there.”
Lucien closed his eyes, focusing on what he had seen, “She is angered that she was not along when these things were chosen. She feels that another woman’s input is offensive, never mind that that ‘other woman’ is the Marchioness. She despises the time that was spent with the Marchioness rather than her. But Ariel, we were not mated, and it was meant to be a surprise. How do you surprise someone if you’ve taken them with you?”
The sculpture was slowly taking on recognizable shapes as Ariel contemplated. “So your mate is unhappy with the clothing because you did not take her along?”
“So it would seem,” he replied before crossing his legs into a more comfortable position.
“Does she know this was your wish to provide a surprise for her?” Her eyes never left the sculpture, but Lucien knew she was listening not only to his words, but his feelings as well.
He flew above the city trying to make sense of what he had seen in Topaz’s mind, but he had to confess, he simply did not understand. He found himself in Ariel’s office where she was working on a new piece of art. She did not seem surprised to see Lucien solidify in her chair.
She paused and studied him a moment. “You are unhappy brother. And I presume you have come to talk. Shall I continue working, or would you prefer that we go elsewhere?”
Lucien watched her hands as she worked on the piece, and considered her movements a soothing distraction as he kicked his heels up onto her desk to watch. “Ariel, I know I did not mistake her views on what she thought was lovely. I know I chose things from her memories that she found most pleasing. There is no mistake in what I saw there. But now that I have given these things to her, she despises them, and will never wear a single article. Why?”
Ariel kept working on the sculpture. “You say you cannot understand what you see in her thoughts, tell me what you see there.”
Lucien closed his eyes, focusing on what he had seen, “She is angered that she was not along when these things were chosen. She feels that another woman’s input is offensive, never mind that that ‘other woman’ is the Marchioness. She despises the time that was spent with the Marchioness rather than her. But Ariel, we were not mated, and it was meant to be a surprise. How do you surprise someone if you’ve taken them with you?”
The sculpture was slowly taking on recognizable shapes as Ariel contemplated. “So your mate is unhappy with the clothing because you did not take her along?”
“So it would seem,” he replied before crossing his legs into a more comfortable position.
“Does she know this was your wish to provide a surprise for her?” Her eyes never left the sculpture, but Lucien knew she was listening not only to his words, but his feelings as well.
“I thought that was obvious, that my gifts were awaiting her the first time she came to my home as my mate. I wanted her to have everything she could desire waiting there to welcome her.” He knew he had not mistaken her joy at the first glimpses, it was not until she realized he had not done the choosing alone that her joy dissolved into something that felt like complete resentment.
Ariel paused then and turned to look at him, “What have you done with your gifts to her Lucien?”
He shifted slightly, “I have had them removed and destroyed.”
She nodded and went back to the sculpture, “Perhaps in her world it is acceptable to reject the gifts from a mate. Do not be too harsh in your views of her actions. Just because in our world such actions are inexplicably rude does not mean that in the world of the fey such is not perfectly acceptable.”
Lucien dropped his feet to the floor, rising slowly he walked about the piece Ariel was working on shaping, “So you do not think I should be… hurt…. by her actions?” His fingertips lightly brushed over the marble she was shaping.
She turned her pale amber eyes onto her brother then, “Lucien, she is your mate, and I do not believe she means to hurt you. Her ways appear to be very different from ours, and she did not complete the shift into our world. The two of you are going to have to find your own way, and I suspect that road will not always be easy.”
Lucien kissed his sister on the cheek and faded into the night. At the Palazzo, he made certain to remove everything from that first night, leaving her room completely free from any items that had been a collaborative effort with the Marchioness.
Ariel paused then and turned to look at him, “What have you done with your gifts to her Lucien?”
He shifted slightly, “I have had them removed and destroyed.”
She nodded and went back to the sculpture, “Perhaps in her world it is acceptable to reject the gifts from a mate. Do not be too harsh in your views of her actions. Just because in our world such actions are inexplicably rude does not mean that in the world of the fey such is not perfectly acceptable.”
Lucien dropped his feet to the floor, rising slowly he walked about the piece Ariel was working on shaping, “So you do not think I should be… hurt…. by her actions?” His fingertips lightly brushed over the marble she was shaping.
She turned her pale amber eyes onto her brother then, “Lucien, she is your mate, and I do not believe she means to hurt you. Her ways appear to be very different from ours, and she did not complete the shift into our world. The two of you are going to have to find your own way, and I suspect that road will not always be easy.”
Lucien kissed his sister on the cheek and faded into the night. At the Palazzo, he made certain to remove everything from that first night, leaving her room completely free from any items that had been a collaborative effort with the Marchioness.
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Topaz
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Topaz woke up hungry. She listened to Lucien but there was no sound, none at all. Idly she wondered what time it might be as she studied her mate. Even in deep sleep he was beautiful beyond words. With a fingertip and barely touching she slowly traced the lines of his face. She could look at him for hours and still not have seen enough. But that would do nothing to keep her stomach from growling nor would any work get done this way, she thought with a soft sigh.
She had a long list of things she wanted to get done this day. Food would have to be first on that list, then she needed to meet with her officers, move those of her things she’d like to have here, get in a training session with Julian, officiate the tournament on the isle, and hopefully get a hold of Azjah for a private word.
Moments later she was up and dressed. Her senses told her that Azjah was not at the palazzo at this time. So correcting Lucien’s misconception would most likely have to wait until evening, she thought with a small frown. She did not at all like having to put that off. Topaz picked up the doll she had meant to give to Lucien and stepped up to the bed again.
“Well, my heart and soul, I have to be off.” She whispered softly, knowing he could hear just fine even if he could not reply. “I know it’s not like me being here, but I do hope you’ll like having something that looks like me to look at when you wake up. I’d rather be here then, but that may not be possible.” She arranged the doll on the pillow next to Lucien’s head before she brushed a kiss to his lips.
She had a long list of things she wanted to get done this day. Food would have to be first on that list, then she needed to meet with her officers, move those of her things she’d like to have here, get in a training session with Julian, officiate the tournament on the isle, and hopefully get a hold of Azjah for a private word.
Moments later she was up and dressed. Her senses told her that Azjah was not at the palazzo at this time. So correcting Lucien’s misconception would most likely have to wait until evening, she thought with a small frown. She did not at all like having to put that off. Topaz picked up the doll she had meant to give to Lucien and stepped up to the bed again.
“Well, my heart and soul, I have to be off.” She whispered softly, knowing he could hear just fine even if he could not reply. “I know it’s not like me being here, but I do hope you’ll like having something that looks like me to look at when you wake up. I’d rather be here then, but that may not be possible.” She arranged the doll on the pillow next to Lucien’s head before she brushed a kiss to his lips.
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Topaz
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Topaz arrived at the Beacon just in time for the meeting with the senior officers. Though the vampires and all evidence of them having been in the valley were gone, enough had happened over the last couple of days to make for worrisome news.
The patrol that had been detailed to check on the area around the broken portal had been missing for a day. They had been found and brought back, but the news brought back was disconcerting. The weather there had changed again. It was not the previous continuous and torturous rain, but stormy in patches.
Another patrol had found that the Kazur guard house was empty again. So far the intelligence people could not say one way or the other if the Kazurs knew what had killed their guards or not. The Emperor of The Black Throne had accepted the invitation to visit the coming spring, but the acceptance had been written before the deaths of the boarder guards. Either way, the preparations for the imperial visit could be allowed to progress at a slower pace.
The patrol that had been detailed to check on the area around the broken portal had been missing for a day. They had been found and brought back, but the news brought back was disconcerting. The weather there had changed again. It was not the previous continuous and torturous rain, but stormy in patches.
Another patrol had found that the Kazur guard house was empty again. So far the intelligence people could not say one way or the other if the Kazurs knew what had killed their guards or not. The Emperor of The Black Throne had accepted the invitation to visit the coming spring, but the acceptance had been written before the deaths of the boarder guards. Either way, the preparations for the imperial visit could be allowed to progress at a slower pace.
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Topaz
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“Halt.” Julian stopped their practice after he had scored a second hit that would have been fatal in a real situation. “You are distracted. We can pratice some other time.”
“I’m sorry, Julian.” Topaz allowed the tip of the practice blade to sink to the floor. She was distracted. Her thoughts kept going over the previous evening’s conversation with Lucien. He was hurt and she was at a loss on how to make that hurt go away. For a moment she was tempted to ask Julian’s advise as she had done in the past. But her doing so may only cause Lucien further hurt and she decided against it. This was something she’d have to figure out without help. She was supposed to make Lucien happy, and so far she wasn’t doing a very good job with it.
“Just stay out of trouble until you have this issue resolved.” Julian offered when Topaz did not add an explanation to her apology. “The challenge isn’t until Thursday. There’ll be time.”
“Thank you, Julian.” Topaz was glad that he didn’t press her. “Not all that much time, though.” She put up the practice blade. “Don’t worry, I’ll come up with some focus for the challenges, both of them.” She’d just have to find a way to make herself more comprehensible to Lucien and one to function despite missing him every moment they had to spend apart for some reason or another. “We’ll pratice Wednesday then?”
“I’m sorry, Julian.” Topaz allowed the tip of the practice blade to sink to the floor. She was distracted. Her thoughts kept going over the previous evening’s conversation with Lucien. He was hurt and she was at a loss on how to make that hurt go away. For a moment she was tempted to ask Julian’s advise as she had done in the past. But her doing so may only cause Lucien further hurt and she decided against it. This was something she’d have to figure out without help. She was supposed to make Lucien happy, and so far she wasn’t doing a very good job with it.
“Just stay out of trouble until you have this issue resolved.” Julian offered when Topaz did not add an explanation to her apology. “The challenge isn’t until Thursday. There’ll be time.”
“Thank you, Julian.” Topaz was glad that he didn’t press her. “Not all that much time, though.” She put up the practice blade. “Don’t worry, I’ll come up with some focus for the challenges, both of them.” She’d just have to find a way to make herself more comprehensible to Lucien and one to function despite missing him every moment they had to spend apart for some reason or another. “We’ll pratice Wednesday then?”
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Topaz
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Julian and Topaz had agreed on an approximate time before she had left the practice arena. Now she stood in her room and surveyed what of her things she needed to move to the palazzo and which needed to stay here.
She’d bring the two blades that had turned into her everyday blades over the last view months, the dress she had made for going to Tera’s wedding with Lucien, the Goth outfit in case that they would attend the masked ball, the latest picture of Tormay, and the few personal gifts Lucien had given her. She had preserved the Edelweiss and Jasmine blooms and did not want to be without them. She did however leave one of the Edelweiss blooms to sit on the desk in her office.
There was really no point in bringing anything else. She did not want anything in their home that held even the slightest chance of offending Lucien. She picked up the few items and hurried back to the palazzo.
She’d bring the two blades that had turned into her everyday blades over the last view months, the dress she had made for going to Tera’s wedding with Lucien, the Goth outfit in case that they would attend the masked ball, the latest picture of Tormay, and the few personal gifts Lucien had given her. She had preserved the Edelweiss and Jasmine blooms and did not want to be without them. She did however leave one of the Edelweiss blooms to sit on the desk in her office.
There was really no point in bringing anything else. She did not want anything in their home that held even the slightest chance of offending Lucien. She picked up the few items and hurried back to the palazzo.
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Topaz
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When she had put up everything and once again checked on Lucien – he was still sleeping deeply – she once again went in search of Azjah. The sooner she could talk with her, the better Topaz would like it. She hoped it would be before Azjah learned something from Lucien's thoughts.
“Good afternoon, Azjah.” Topaz had found her, curled up on her chaise with several documents. She gave her a friendly smile and watched her reaction to her greeting and approach closely for any hint of what may have transpired already.
Azjah glanced up upon hearing her. “Good afternoon Topaz.”
“Are you terribly busy just now or may I beg a few moments of your time?”
Azjah sat down the documents. “Just trying to get ready for a tax audit. What can I do for you?” There was a wry smile on her face as the documents were laid down.
Topaz took the invitation with a relieved look and sat down on the ground in front of the chaise. “I believe I messed up royally last evening and gave Lucien some wrong ideas in the process. I wanted to explain before you accidentally picked up his idea of me doing anything less than liking you.”
Azjah lifted a pale brow at her, and Topaz thought a moment on how to start. “Would you like to wear clothes, be it seductive negligees, lacy panties or dresses Klinton purchased with me along to help him pick them out? Not that Klinton would ever come up with such an idea.”
Azjah gave her a puzzled look. “I suppose it would depend. If he has sought your help for ideas, I would find the gift very thoughtful. If he bought them because he thought they would look good on you and wanted to try to 'imagine' that I were you, I would have issues.”
”The reason I asked such an odd question is that I have issues with wearing such, despite knowing Lucien isn't fantasizing about you. It just feels wrong.” She gave a helpless shrug. “I still can't explain it any better than when I tried explaining it to Lucien. The clothes you picked out together are all lovely, and I loved them a lot when I thought them a personal gift from Lucien.”
“But they were personal gifts Topaz. The idea to create the trousseau was his, but I was asked to come along to do the talking to the dress makers since it is something I know more about. I take it you've told him you cannot wear them?” The surprise was clearly written in her features.
Topaz nodded thoughtfully, paling a little as she compared Azjah’s word to what she learned from Lucien. “He did not tell me that. He led me to believe you did the picking and choosing as much as he did. I do appreciate you helping him, and I'm guessing it was as much motivated by the reason to do something nice for me.” Obviously there was more to reading thoughts, too.
“I do not think you would have enjoyed some of his choices.” Azjah chuckled.
Topaz smiled a little as she imagined some of the choices Lucien could come up with. “Possibly. But even if the only thing I'd have come across in his mind would have been something totally unsuitable, I'd have treasured it above all else, just because it was him picking it for me. Does that make any sense?”
Azjah gave her a long look. “Topaz, everything he had brought and made for you was chosen specifically for you, based on things he'd seen in your thoughts, things you had seen that struck you as beautiful. I cannot say that it makes sense to me, but my opinion is irrelevant. But I still don't think you would have liked being covered from finger tips to toes, chin to floor. I think I would prefer Klinton to seek the advice of someone who knows me over a stranger in a shop.” She gave Topaz a smile.
“Probably not.” Topaz agreed with a chuckle and then turned serious again. “Obviously I have something to make up for to Lucien. I want to make him happy, and I certainly wasn't doing that yesterday.” But she had not come for advice on that. “Either way, he seems to think that I resent you. And that just isn't the case.” With a good natured grin she added, “I've no idea what kind of underwear you like, if any. I do appreciate and treasure our friendship, but I'd really not like to find out about that either.” Nor did she want Azjah to know what she wore under her clothes or for sleeping.
“If I know Lucien, he has remedied your concerns by now?” It was not really a question, but she couched it as such.
“You do know him rather well. Our bed room is looking rather empty now, even with me having brought over the few things I wanted along for our life together.” Had Lucien explained more, there would have been a lot less to remedy.
“I've known him a long time Topaz.” She knew Dyson had removed everything the evening before, and disposed of the offending garments in their entirety.
Topaz nodded. She knew how they had met and how long ago. “I wish I already did. Then maybe making him happy would be easier and I might actually have already come to appreciate time away from him rather than resenting it.” Though Topaz doubted that she’d ever truly enjoy time apart from Lucien. “Say, with all these blood exchanges, can you do all those tricks Lucien seems to think I should be able to do automatically?”
Azjah gave her another long, assessing look. “You will learn to do everything in time and with practice. You are not fully in their world Topaz.” The question itself was not answered.
“Good afternoon, Azjah.” Topaz had found her, curled up on her chaise with several documents. She gave her a friendly smile and watched her reaction to her greeting and approach closely for any hint of what may have transpired already.
Azjah glanced up upon hearing her. “Good afternoon Topaz.”
“Are you terribly busy just now or may I beg a few moments of your time?”
Azjah sat down the documents. “Just trying to get ready for a tax audit. What can I do for you?” There was a wry smile on her face as the documents were laid down.
Topaz took the invitation with a relieved look and sat down on the ground in front of the chaise. “I believe I messed up royally last evening and gave Lucien some wrong ideas in the process. I wanted to explain before you accidentally picked up his idea of me doing anything less than liking you.”
Azjah lifted a pale brow at her, and Topaz thought a moment on how to start. “Would you like to wear clothes, be it seductive negligees, lacy panties or dresses Klinton purchased with me along to help him pick them out? Not that Klinton would ever come up with such an idea.”
Azjah gave her a puzzled look. “I suppose it would depend. If he has sought your help for ideas, I would find the gift very thoughtful. If he bought them because he thought they would look good on you and wanted to try to 'imagine' that I were you, I would have issues.”
”The reason I asked such an odd question is that I have issues with wearing such, despite knowing Lucien isn't fantasizing about you. It just feels wrong.” She gave a helpless shrug. “I still can't explain it any better than when I tried explaining it to Lucien. The clothes you picked out together are all lovely, and I loved them a lot when I thought them a personal gift from Lucien.”
“But they were personal gifts Topaz. The idea to create the trousseau was his, but I was asked to come along to do the talking to the dress makers since it is something I know more about. I take it you've told him you cannot wear them?” The surprise was clearly written in her features.
Topaz nodded thoughtfully, paling a little as she compared Azjah’s word to what she learned from Lucien. “He did not tell me that. He led me to believe you did the picking and choosing as much as he did. I do appreciate you helping him, and I'm guessing it was as much motivated by the reason to do something nice for me.” Obviously there was more to reading thoughts, too.
“I do not think you would have enjoyed some of his choices.” Azjah chuckled.
Topaz smiled a little as she imagined some of the choices Lucien could come up with. “Possibly. But even if the only thing I'd have come across in his mind would have been something totally unsuitable, I'd have treasured it above all else, just because it was him picking it for me. Does that make any sense?”
Azjah gave her a long look. “Topaz, everything he had brought and made for you was chosen specifically for you, based on things he'd seen in your thoughts, things you had seen that struck you as beautiful. I cannot say that it makes sense to me, but my opinion is irrelevant. But I still don't think you would have liked being covered from finger tips to toes, chin to floor. I think I would prefer Klinton to seek the advice of someone who knows me over a stranger in a shop.” She gave Topaz a smile.
“Probably not.” Topaz agreed with a chuckle and then turned serious again. “Obviously I have something to make up for to Lucien. I want to make him happy, and I certainly wasn't doing that yesterday.” But she had not come for advice on that. “Either way, he seems to think that I resent you. And that just isn't the case.” With a good natured grin she added, “I've no idea what kind of underwear you like, if any. I do appreciate and treasure our friendship, but I'd really not like to find out about that either.” Nor did she want Azjah to know what she wore under her clothes or for sleeping.
“If I know Lucien, he has remedied your concerns by now?” It was not really a question, but she couched it as such.
“You do know him rather well. Our bed room is looking rather empty now, even with me having brought over the few things I wanted along for our life together.” Had Lucien explained more, there would have been a lot less to remedy.
“I've known him a long time Topaz.” She knew Dyson had removed everything the evening before, and disposed of the offending garments in their entirety.
Topaz nodded. She knew how they had met and how long ago. “I wish I already did. Then maybe making him happy would be easier and I might actually have already come to appreciate time away from him rather than resenting it.” Though Topaz doubted that she’d ever truly enjoy time apart from Lucien. “Say, with all these blood exchanges, can you do all those tricks Lucien seems to think I should be able to do automatically?”
Azjah gave her another long, assessing look. “You will learn to do everything in time and with practice. You are not fully in their world Topaz.” The question itself was not answered.
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Topaz
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“Aye.” She had started to accept that she would never really belong. “It will take a lot of practice. The whole idea of forcing anything is rather alien to me. It works well enough now for the dueling spells, but even for the scrying and the shield magic Klytus tried to teach me I have found it easier to work with the fae magic than trying to force the energies that humans use into compliance. I've already found that these supposed abilities pose a similar challenge.”
“It will take time, and forcing things will not likely improve anything.” Azjah laughed then. “You believe we force energies into compliance?”
“Of course.” Topaz had found that it took imposing one’s will was required for the magic of humans and elves and that what Lucien thought she could do did not work on merely asking nicely, either.
“Perhaps in time you will discover it is not forcing.” Azjah smiled.
Topaz grinned, she was not all as patient as some insisted on believing her to be. “It's certainly not mere suggestion to get a mage bolt to arc across the ring, just as there's a need for a stronger will than the suggestion of, oh, swimming around like a fish, for example. The voice trick isn't working so well for me either and Lucien keeps mentioning channels, but he seems think I'm to find them without a map or instruction. I'm definitely curious enough to try to figure out one or the other thing, but perhaps not insistent enough to keep trying despite constant failure.”
“Then ask him. Take him somewhere quiet, without people. The thing I have noticed is you prefer the crowds, and yet, Lucien is more of a solitary soul. Where have you two shared the best times?” She was trying very hard not to intrude on their relationship.
That was another misconception. “I like being alone with Lucien. Crowds are not a preference of mine, just the way life turned out to be for a large part.” She smiled as she remembered the few dates her and Lucien had. “On the iced over lake where we were dancing all night, the beautiful cave in the desert and walking on the beach of Twilight Isle.”
Azjah nodded. “In those kinds of places I would expect him to open up more than in public.”
“Apart from the times spent at home, his or mine.” Topaz grinned and blushed a little.
Azjah laughed. “Well, I suspect then he has other things on his mind.”
Topaz chuckled and honestly admitted, “Not just him. I've been meaning to ask him for another date. He's just so very busy most of the time or ever so distracting.”
“Mikhail's arrival has thrown everyone's schedule into chaos.” Azjah offered by way of explanation. That and Gabriel's wounding.
“Yes, it has. I'd like to get that meeting over with. That would go a long way to restore some peace of mind. At least for me.” She smiled a little. That visit was throwing more than just schedules into chaos. “I'm still more nervous about that than even Jengtal's visit.”
“Mikhail should not worry you so.” She shook her head slightly, but then, she knew the man.
“But it does. As you already said, I'm not fully in their world, and likely will never be. It's been a very long time since I've been fully in any world, as long as it's been since I last saw another of my kind.”
“That has to be a difficult thing.” Not belonging entirely in either world was tough in the best of times.
“Yes.” There was no point in denying that. Even Tormay was not exactly of her kind. But she had already said more than she wanted on that subject and would not say any more. “Lucien certainly had to wait long enough for the fates to have come up with someone better suited in that regard.” Then she chuckled. “Though one of the first things I thought Lucien to be was a fairy of some kind. How wrong that impression was.”
“Definitely not of fey descent.” Azjah agreed with a soft chuckle.
“I absolutely adore it though when he shape shifts into one.” Topaz smile disappeared briefly when she took note of the passage of time. “Oh, look at the time. I should be getting ready for the tournament.”
Azjah nodded and reached for the documents again.
“Thank you, Azjah. If you come across anything in Lucien's thoughts before I had a chance to correct a few things, please do remember that I like you just fine. I'll see you later.”
“Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. I'm sorry you cannot accept his gifts.” She watched as Topaz headed for the Citadel.
“I'm sorry, too.” Topaz would have added more, but she had to hurry now if she wanted to get there on time. In essence, everything had already been said anyway and Azjah knew that the sentiment did not apply to all gifts.
“It will take time, and forcing things will not likely improve anything.” Azjah laughed then. “You believe we force energies into compliance?”
“Of course.” Topaz had found that it took imposing one’s will was required for the magic of humans and elves and that what Lucien thought she could do did not work on merely asking nicely, either.
“Perhaps in time you will discover it is not forcing.” Azjah smiled.
Topaz grinned, she was not all as patient as some insisted on believing her to be. “It's certainly not mere suggestion to get a mage bolt to arc across the ring, just as there's a need for a stronger will than the suggestion of, oh, swimming around like a fish, for example. The voice trick isn't working so well for me either and Lucien keeps mentioning channels, but he seems think I'm to find them without a map or instruction. I'm definitely curious enough to try to figure out one or the other thing, but perhaps not insistent enough to keep trying despite constant failure.”
“Then ask him. Take him somewhere quiet, without people. The thing I have noticed is you prefer the crowds, and yet, Lucien is more of a solitary soul. Where have you two shared the best times?” She was trying very hard not to intrude on their relationship.
That was another misconception. “I like being alone with Lucien. Crowds are not a preference of mine, just the way life turned out to be for a large part.” She smiled as she remembered the few dates her and Lucien had. “On the iced over lake where we were dancing all night, the beautiful cave in the desert and walking on the beach of Twilight Isle.”
Azjah nodded. “In those kinds of places I would expect him to open up more than in public.”
“Apart from the times spent at home, his or mine.” Topaz grinned and blushed a little.
Azjah laughed. “Well, I suspect then he has other things on his mind.”
Topaz chuckled and honestly admitted, “Not just him. I've been meaning to ask him for another date. He's just so very busy most of the time or ever so distracting.”
“Mikhail's arrival has thrown everyone's schedule into chaos.” Azjah offered by way of explanation. That and Gabriel's wounding.
“Yes, it has. I'd like to get that meeting over with. That would go a long way to restore some peace of mind. At least for me.” She smiled a little. That visit was throwing more than just schedules into chaos. “I'm still more nervous about that than even Jengtal's visit.”
“Mikhail should not worry you so.” She shook her head slightly, but then, she knew the man.
“But it does. As you already said, I'm not fully in their world, and likely will never be. It's been a very long time since I've been fully in any world, as long as it's been since I last saw another of my kind.”
“That has to be a difficult thing.” Not belonging entirely in either world was tough in the best of times.
“Yes.” There was no point in denying that. Even Tormay was not exactly of her kind. But she had already said more than she wanted on that subject and would not say any more. “Lucien certainly had to wait long enough for the fates to have come up with someone better suited in that regard.” Then she chuckled. “Though one of the first things I thought Lucien to be was a fairy of some kind. How wrong that impression was.”
“Definitely not of fey descent.” Azjah agreed with a soft chuckle.
“I absolutely adore it though when he shape shifts into one.” Topaz smile disappeared briefly when she took note of the passage of time. “Oh, look at the time. I should be getting ready for the tournament.”
Azjah nodded and reached for the documents again.
“Thank you, Azjah. If you come across anything in Lucien's thoughts before I had a chance to correct a few things, please do remember that I like you just fine. I'll see you later.”
“Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. I'm sorry you cannot accept his gifts.” She watched as Topaz headed for the Citadel.
“I'm sorry, too.” Topaz would have added more, but she had to hurry now if she wanted to get there on time. In essence, everything had already been said anyway and Azjah knew that the sentiment did not apply to all gifts.
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Julian derKorst
- Adventurer
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:36 pm
- Location: The Beacon
A Chance Meeting
The sign of a red dragon did fit his mood and he entered the common room. It was near empty, but the hour was early for the partying folk. Of course, he would have to be report for duty at 500 hours. He parked himself on a stool and ordered ale.
Josh had opted for bar in Rhydin for this evening’s escape because the bars in Beacon town were patronized by fellow guards and soldiers. He didn’t want to see any of them now. Major derKorst had demoted him this morning – unfairly so, of course. Julie must have told lies about Saturday’s dance. It had been the outsider that threw the punch, not him. And he had had to work three times as hard as anyone else to get the promotion to Lieutenant.
The common room started to fill and half way through his second mug of ale and the incessant noise of conversations and insipid laughter floating around him started to grind on his nerves. The women present were all like Julie and Danielle, too: flirting with everything remotely male, and then react outraged when anyone called them on it or acted the invitation. He grabbed his mug and headed for the table in the dark corner.
Only when he was about to pull out a chair did he notice that someone was already sitting at his table. A priest, to judge by the robe he wore.
“Never mind.” He already turned to find another out of the way table when the man spoke up. The table right next to this one already had some unsavory and already more than half-drunk looking person sitting at it.
“That’s quite all right, son. I don’t mind.” The priest lifted his mug in a silent salute to before he brought it to his lips. He was here to observe, and the brooding of the young soldier would not keep him from doing so.
Josh took another look at the priest. He appeared to be of a slight built with a comfortable paunchiness, an entirely forgettable face, and thinning brown hair. Unobtrusive company, he judged, and accepted the offer with a nod.
“Joshua Jones.” He mumbled as he slumped into the chair.
The priest lowered his mug. “Father Marcus.”
For a long time they just sat quietly, Josh frowning into his mug, the priest seemingly staring into space. But little escaped the priest’s notice. When their mugs were empty, the priest ordered two more with a silent gesture to the bar maid as she passed by.
“Unbelievably supercilious.” The priest mumbled to himself and at Josh’s questioning grumble explained, “arrogant.” He had been watching the entrance and movements of a fancily dressed and styled young man and the way he reacted to the inviting smiles of the women.
Josh glanced over to the bar; curious about whom the priest was referring to. “Women.” He sneered with a hateful glance at the overdressed male. The word carried all his resentment of their abusive treatment of him over the last weeks.
“They can be.” Father Marcus readily agreed.
“Whores, the lot of them.” Hatred gleamed in his eyes as he thought of Julie and Danielle. “Sweet and innocent looking to start with, too. Then something like that walks in and they forget who they came with. You can tell them they’re evil all you want, they’re blinded by money and muscle and turn on you. That half-breed bitch, all smiles and thrusting her rack under my nose all the time, begging for attention, and when I give her what she wants she cries rape. And that Danielle, all jealous over me smiling at another one moment, the next moment when I’m extra nice she acts all snooty and lies until you get taken off to the brig. Even the commander fell for such a power-dripping high-stepper.”
The sign of a red dragon did fit his mood and he entered the common room. It was near empty, but the hour was early for the partying folk. Of course, he would have to be report for duty at 500 hours. He parked himself on a stool and ordered ale.
Josh had opted for bar in Rhydin for this evening’s escape because the bars in Beacon town were patronized by fellow guards and soldiers. He didn’t want to see any of them now. Major derKorst had demoted him this morning – unfairly so, of course. Julie must have told lies about Saturday’s dance. It had been the outsider that threw the punch, not him. And he had had to work three times as hard as anyone else to get the promotion to Lieutenant.
The common room started to fill and half way through his second mug of ale and the incessant noise of conversations and insipid laughter floating around him started to grind on his nerves. The women present were all like Julie and Danielle, too: flirting with everything remotely male, and then react outraged when anyone called them on it or acted the invitation. He grabbed his mug and headed for the table in the dark corner.
Only when he was about to pull out a chair did he notice that someone was already sitting at his table. A priest, to judge by the robe he wore.
“Never mind.” He already turned to find another out of the way table when the man spoke up. The table right next to this one already had some unsavory and already more than half-drunk looking person sitting at it.
“That’s quite all right, son. I don’t mind.” The priest lifted his mug in a silent salute to before he brought it to his lips. He was here to observe, and the brooding of the young soldier would not keep him from doing so.
Josh took another look at the priest. He appeared to be of a slight built with a comfortable paunchiness, an entirely forgettable face, and thinning brown hair. Unobtrusive company, he judged, and accepted the offer with a nod.
“Joshua Jones.” He mumbled as he slumped into the chair.
The priest lowered his mug. “Father Marcus.”
For a long time they just sat quietly, Josh frowning into his mug, the priest seemingly staring into space. But little escaped the priest’s notice. When their mugs were empty, the priest ordered two more with a silent gesture to the bar maid as she passed by.
“Unbelievably supercilious.” The priest mumbled to himself and at Josh’s questioning grumble explained, “arrogant.” He had been watching the entrance and movements of a fancily dressed and styled young man and the way he reacted to the inviting smiles of the women.
Josh glanced over to the bar; curious about whom the priest was referring to. “Women.” He sneered with a hateful glance at the overdressed male. The word carried all his resentment of their abusive treatment of him over the last weeks.
“They can be.” Father Marcus readily agreed.
“Whores, the lot of them.” Hatred gleamed in his eyes as he thought of Julie and Danielle. “Sweet and innocent looking to start with, too. Then something like that walks in and they forget who they came with. You can tell them they’re evil all you want, they’re blinded by money and muscle and turn on you. That half-breed bitch, all smiles and thrusting her rack under my nose all the time, begging for attention, and when I give her what she wants she cries rape. And that Danielle, all jealous over me smiling at another one moment, the next moment when I’m extra nice she acts all snooty and lies until you get taken off to the brig. Even the commander fell for such a power-dripping high-stepper.”
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Julian derKorst
- Adventurer
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:36 pm
- Location: The Beacon
That last utterance of Josh’s long ramble made Father Marcus raise a brow. He didn’t want to appear too interested and make the lad suspicious, but that description was as good as any for the kind he and his associates were collecting information on.
“Come to think of it, the whole mess started around then; when that snob started showing up. Uncanny that one.” Josh had noted the priest’s attention and craved more. Besides, now that he had started talking, he found that he didn’t want to stop. “All those night drills and meetings. There were none of those before.”
“That it is remarkable. Have you ever seen that one during the daylight hours?” Josh now had the priest’s undivided attention.
“No, never.” He drank deeply from his mug. “That commander has changed her schedule, too. No more early mornings for her or afternoon practices. It’s just not right for the commander to not show herself until the day’s almost over.”
“Interesting. Have there be any other changes?” The priest leaned forward.
“Possibly.” Josh searched his memory for something further, if just to keep being entertaining. “The commander is spending a lot of time in the dungeons of late. No one spends much time there.”
“Did you see either of them eat anything of late?”
Josh thought for a moment, then shook his head in the negative. “Where are you going with this?”
Father Marcus leaned yet closer and whispered, “Vampires.” Then he pulled back again. “They’ve become a murdering pest. It’s gotten so bad, it’s even been in the paper.”
Josh gasped and his skin crawled. He remembered the rumor that had come from the healer’s hut while the only surviving member of the murdered patrol was there. There had been hushed whispers of vampires then, too. Vampires in the Valley would explain so much, everything, really. “She even had all the silver removed.” He thought out loud.
Father Marcus nodded thoughtfully. After a slow sip from his mug he offered, “Might you be interested in seeing what can be done about this menace?”
“I might.” In fact, he would love to get some revenge for his unfair demotion. Perhaps that lying Julie was one of them now, too. She certainly appeared ridiculously happy about night shifts. It would be ever so satisfying to pay her back by hammering a stake into her black heart.
“I could introduce you to some friends tomorrow, if you’re interested.” A soldier trained to fight was just the sort of dedicated member the Society could use.
Tom Sekwasi had listened in on the conversation between the priest and the youngster with the military style hair cut ever since the whisper of ‘vampire’. Something about the fabled evil and deprived creature fascinated him. A group of people hunting vampires sounded like something he’d be interested in.
Josh nodded. “I’m interested.”
“Meet me at Venom Bros. Shipping tomorrow. Is around five a time you can make?” At Josh’s blank look he added, “That’s in Badside, by the docks.”
Tom repeated the address in his mind and resolved to be there as well. Killing some supposed monsters without getting the local law after him was perfect. It had been too long since he last saw the horror in anyone’s face as they realized how they were to meet their end. And if the priest was not living up to the promise, he could always have some fun with him.
“I’ll be there.” Josh was confident that he could weasel out of any extra duty, especially with that monstrous Julie and her cruel smiles being on night shift.
“Come to think of it, the whole mess started around then; when that snob started showing up. Uncanny that one.” Josh had noted the priest’s attention and craved more. Besides, now that he had started talking, he found that he didn’t want to stop. “All those night drills and meetings. There were none of those before.”
“That it is remarkable. Have you ever seen that one during the daylight hours?” Josh now had the priest’s undivided attention.
“No, never.” He drank deeply from his mug. “That commander has changed her schedule, too. No more early mornings for her or afternoon practices. It’s just not right for the commander to not show herself until the day’s almost over.”
“Interesting. Have there be any other changes?” The priest leaned forward.
“Possibly.” Josh searched his memory for something further, if just to keep being entertaining. “The commander is spending a lot of time in the dungeons of late. No one spends much time there.”
“Did you see either of them eat anything of late?”
Josh thought for a moment, then shook his head in the negative. “Where are you going with this?”
Father Marcus leaned yet closer and whispered, “Vampires.” Then he pulled back again. “They’ve become a murdering pest. It’s gotten so bad, it’s even been in the paper.”
Josh gasped and his skin crawled. He remembered the rumor that had come from the healer’s hut while the only surviving member of the murdered patrol was there. There had been hushed whispers of vampires then, too. Vampires in the Valley would explain so much, everything, really. “She even had all the silver removed.” He thought out loud.
Father Marcus nodded thoughtfully. After a slow sip from his mug he offered, “Might you be interested in seeing what can be done about this menace?”
“I might.” In fact, he would love to get some revenge for his unfair demotion. Perhaps that lying Julie was one of them now, too. She certainly appeared ridiculously happy about night shifts. It would be ever so satisfying to pay her back by hammering a stake into her black heart.
“I could introduce you to some friends tomorrow, if you’re interested.” A soldier trained to fight was just the sort of dedicated member the Society could use.
Tom Sekwasi had listened in on the conversation between the priest and the youngster with the military style hair cut ever since the whisper of ‘vampire’. Something about the fabled evil and deprived creature fascinated him. A group of people hunting vampires sounded like something he’d be interested in.
Josh nodded. “I’m interested.”
“Meet me at Venom Bros. Shipping tomorrow. Is around five a time you can make?” At Josh’s blank look he added, “That’s in Badside, by the docks.”
Tom repeated the address in his mind and resolved to be there as well. Killing some supposed monsters without getting the local law after him was perfect. It had been too long since he last saw the horror in anyone’s face as they realized how they were to meet their end. And if the priest was not living up to the promise, he could always have some fun with him.
“I’ll be there.” Josh was confident that he could weasel out of any extra duty, especially with that monstrous Julie and her cruel smiles being on night shift.
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Topaz
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 5:31 pm
- Location: The Beacon
- Contact:
AM Challenge
“Good evening Arch Mage.” Azjah greeted Topaz as she came down from the Citadel. “Are things smoothed over?”
“Good evening Azjah.” Topaz replied with a nervous smile. “Yes, I think so.”
“I am glad to hear that.” She sent sends a goblin for a glass of sparkling water and did not press further.
“Not half as glad as I am.” Just then Lucien arrived. His obsidian eyes instantly found Topaz and she walked over to greet him with a wide smile.
Lucien wrapped both arms around her and pulled her to him for a long lingering kiss before he asked softly if she was ready to face her challenger. He had tuned himself to every nuance of her being as she prepared to face Syous.
“No.” She replied just as softly. But Lucien’s mere presence had a way of making her feel a lot less nervous. “I'm so happy you could make it. Syous is a formidable opponent.”
“Where else would I be?” His voice wrapped around her like a velvet blanket as he slid his fingers through her silky hair.
Topaz gave a soft chuckle and leaned against him. “When you look at me like that I can't think of anyplace else.” He kept her pulled close to his body and dropped a kiss atop her head. “I'm a lot less nervous already.”
Just then Jaleeisa stepped through the portal. She hummed a merry tune as her gray eyes roamed the rings area. Her boots kicked small turfs of sand as she strode to join the others with a warm smile. “Evening, Azjah! Evening, Topaz, Lucien. And good luck, Topaz.” She slid into an empty chair.
“Good evening, Jal and thank you.” Topaz smiled back while Lucien nodded a greeting to her.
“I had to come and see at least the beginning. Who won the right?” Jaleeisa’s shield shimmered softly around her. It was visible to all with the eyes to see magic, but the spells seemed to be jumbled, mixed, making it obvious that unraveling them would be a difficult, time consuming, and dangerous task.
“Good evening, Jaleeisa. Syous Myst, the old coot himself.” Azjah answered instead of Topaz.
With a cant of head Jaleeisa mentally reviewed the histories she'd studied so hard when she first arrived. “Ahh, I recall reading about him. Kind of… stodgy, isn't he? I've not met him since his return.”
“Hasn't improved with age Jal.” Azjah confirmed that assessment.
“Then this should truly prove interesting.” Jaleeisa chuckled softly before she replied to Jake’s question if the old man was any good. “According to the histories he is.”
Topaz snuggled back into Lucien's embrace, determined to enjoy close contact while it's possible. “Have you thought of something for should I have to give the citadel to Syous?” Her whisper was so low only he could hear it.
Lucien gave a shrug as he looked down at her. “I could simply zap him with a big bolt of lightning, no one would know.” He lightly ran his hands over her shoulders.
“I'd really prefer candle light dinner or dancing on the lake or perhaps that gorgeous sacred cave.” It didn’t really matter so much which, so long as she’d get to spend some time alone with him.
“What ever you would prefer is just fine.” The outcome did not truly matter to him, but it mattered to her, and he would support her choices.
Syous hurriedly made his way towards the rings and nodded slightly towards those gathered as he neared the rings. Jaleeisa’s gray eyes latched onto the new arrival and studied him as though a book lay open before her. She was always interested in learning about the elder duelists. One could always learn from them, even by just watching.
“Ah, here comes the old curmudgeon, good evening Syous.” The Mage Emeritus grumbled softly at Azjah’s greeting. “Alright, Syous, do you still intend to challenge Topaz for the Citadel?”
“Indeed I do.” Syous replied.
Lucien’s soft whisper caught in Topaz’s ear. “Go show him who the true Arch Mage is.”
She winked in response and whispered back, “Though the consolation prize sounds far more desirable,” and gave him another smile before she turned toward Syous and Azjah.
Azjah was briefly distracted by greeting Brigath before she turned to the Arch Mage. “Topaz, do you still intend to defend the Citadel as the Arch Mage?”
“I intend to defend.” Topaz acknowledged the cheers of her friends with a wave and a smile to each, especially when she saw the brightly lettered sign Jaleeisa had pulled out and held up with a cheeky grin. It read, “Topaz for Arch Mage!”
“Alright, then we have Syous here as challenger, and Topaz Datrazanov as the defender.” Azjah started the official announcements. “The Challenger will be dueling without a second, and under the colors of black and red. The Arch Mage will be dueling with Lucien Datrazanov as her second, and under the colors of Light blue, black and silver, with a touch of blonde thrown in.”
Topaz winked to Lucien at the mention of her colors. Mages did not used to bother with seconds or colors. It was a fashion of sorts that Destre had started only recently. Azjah had asked earlier, half in jest, and she had made mention of the colors she used for dueling in the arena as well as Lucien’s favorite colors being light blue and blond when Azjah had insisted that Lucien wasn’t a color.
“When you are both ready, please enter Ring Lyrid.” Azjah finished the announcements before she turned to Brigath. Though she had lowered her voice significantly, Topaz could not help overhearing what she said. “Will you do me a favor while I'm gone Brig? Keep Lucien out of trouble while we're in Rigel.”
“Good evening Arch Mage.” Azjah greeted Topaz as she came down from the Citadel. “Are things smoothed over?”
“Good evening Azjah.” Topaz replied with a nervous smile. “Yes, I think so.”
“I am glad to hear that.” She sent sends a goblin for a glass of sparkling water and did not press further.
“Not half as glad as I am.” Just then Lucien arrived. His obsidian eyes instantly found Topaz and she walked over to greet him with a wide smile.
Lucien wrapped both arms around her and pulled her to him for a long lingering kiss before he asked softly if she was ready to face her challenger. He had tuned himself to every nuance of her being as she prepared to face Syous.
“No.” She replied just as softly. But Lucien’s mere presence had a way of making her feel a lot less nervous. “I'm so happy you could make it. Syous is a formidable opponent.”
“Where else would I be?” His voice wrapped around her like a velvet blanket as he slid his fingers through her silky hair.
Topaz gave a soft chuckle and leaned against him. “When you look at me like that I can't think of anyplace else.” He kept her pulled close to his body and dropped a kiss atop her head. “I'm a lot less nervous already.”
Just then Jaleeisa stepped through the portal. She hummed a merry tune as her gray eyes roamed the rings area. Her boots kicked small turfs of sand as she strode to join the others with a warm smile. “Evening, Azjah! Evening, Topaz, Lucien. And good luck, Topaz.” She slid into an empty chair.
“Good evening, Jal and thank you.” Topaz smiled back while Lucien nodded a greeting to her.
“I had to come and see at least the beginning. Who won the right?” Jaleeisa’s shield shimmered softly around her. It was visible to all with the eyes to see magic, but the spells seemed to be jumbled, mixed, making it obvious that unraveling them would be a difficult, time consuming, and dangerous task.
“Good evening, Jaleeisa. Syous Myst, the old coot himself.” Azjah answered instead of Topaz.
With a cant of head Jaleeisa mentally reviewed the histories she'd studied so hard when she first arrived. “Ahh, I recall reading about him. Kind of… stodgy, isn't he? I've not met him since his return.”
“Hasn't improved with age Jal.” Azjah confirmed that assessment.
“Then this should truly prove interesting.” Jaleeisa chuckled softly before she replied to Jake’s question if the old man was any good. “According to the histories he is.”
Topaz snuggled back into Lucien's embrace, determined to enjoy close contact while it's possible. “Have you thought of something for should I have to give the citadel to Syous?” Her whisper was so low only he could hear it.
Lucien gave a shrug as he looked down at her. “I could simply zap him with a big bolt of lightning, no one would know.” He lightly ran his hands over her shoulders.
“I'd really prefer candle light dinner or dancing on the lake or perhaps that gorgeous sacred cave.” It didn’t really matter so much which, so long as she’d get to spend some time alone with him.
“What ever you would prefer is just fine.” The outcome did not truly matter to him, but it mattered to her, and he would support her choices.
Syous hurriedly made his way towards the rings and nodded slightly towards those gathered as he neared the rings. Jaleeisa’s gray eyes latched onto the new arrival and studied him as though a book lay open before her. She was always interested in learning about the elder duelists. One could always learn from them, even by just watching.
“Ah, here comes the old curmudgeon, good evening Syous.” The Mage Emeritus grumbled softly at Azjah’s greeting. “Alright, Syous, do you still intend to challenge Topaz for the Citadel?”
“Indeed I do.” Syous replied.
Lucien’s soft whisper caught in Topaz’s ear. “Go show him who the true Arch Mage is.”
She winked in response and whispered back, “Though the consolation prize sounds far more desirable,” and gave him another smile before she turned toward Syous and Azjah.
Azjah was briefly distracted by greeting Brigath before she turned to the Arch Mage. “Topaz, do you still intend to defend the Citadel as the Arch Mage?”
“I intend to defend.” Topaz acknowledged the cheers of her friends with a wave and a smile to each, especially when she saw the brightly lettered sign Jaleeisa had pulled out and held up with a cheeky grin. It read, “Topaz for Arch Mage!”
“Alright, then we have Syous here as challenger, and Topaz Datrazanov as the defender.” Azjah started the official announcements. “The Challenger will be dueling without a second, and under the colors of black and red. The Arch Mage will be dueling with Lucien Datrazanov as her second, and under the colors of Light blue, black and silver, with a touch of blonde thrown in.”
Topaz winked to Lucien at the mention of her colors. Mages did not used to bother with seconds or colors. It was a fashion of sorts that Destre had started only recently. Azjah had asked earlier, half in jest, and she had made mention of the colors she used for dueling in the arena as well as Lucien’s favorite colors being light blue and blond when Azjah had insisted that Lucien wasn’t a color.
“When you are both ready, please enter Ring Lyrid.” Azjah finished the announcements before she turned to Brigath. Though she had lowered her voice significantly, Topaz could not help overhearing what she said. “Will you do me a favor while I'm gone Brig? Keep Lucien out of trouble while we're in Rigel.”
-
Topaz
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 5:31 pm
- Location: The Beacon
- Contact:
Lucien escorted Topaz to the ring, walking slightly behind her, his jet eyes locked on Syous. The mage politely waited until Topaz had taken her place before he entered the ring.
Brigath choked at Azjah’s request and she patted his back. “I take that as a yes?”
“No, it's not.” Brigath gave low chuckle and shook his head. “I'm sure he can manage to stay out of trouble with Topaz' assistance.”
Topaz bowed respectfully to Syous. He did not at all look old in his fashionable dark robe, but a formidable opponent. “Congratulations on winning the tournament. Cast well.”
Syous smiled slightly before he simply nodded his head in return before he declared his mage power. “I will be using Immolation.” Then he settled in and readied for the duel. His arms extended out towards the keeper with the intent to send a large bolt of powerful energy leaping across the ring towards his opponent. But Topaz’s fear inspiring grip left him simply standing there with his arms outstretched.
Dark clouds moved in from the horizon and Topaz wondered if they were because of the duel or Azjah inviting Brigath to attend the court function, supposedly in order to put Topaz at ease. Lucien stood absolutely still, his dark gaze on Syous.
‘Poor baby, are you hearing what Azjah is asking Brigath?’ Topaz reached out for Lucien’s mind.
‘Of course.’
‘You will just have to keep your arms tightly around me and let me be your tree.’ Topaz sent love and appreciation along with the thought. She knew that just the idea of Brigath being close upset Lucien, no matter how much she wished it would not be so.
In the ring six sharp blades suddenly raced forth. Each blade struck true and Lucien gave a low, rumbling snarl at Syous.
‘Actually, I will discuss it with her when you have won.’
‘She means well.’ Lucien’s confidence in her warmed her. ‘Is it really so difficult?’
‘It is interference. I do not interfere in her relationship with the Marques, well, not much.’
‘You did discuss with her about making me nervous. She is compensating. And just maybe it is her who will feel more comfortable for Brigath's presence. You males can all be very intimidating.’
‘What ever she feels for that wastrel is more than compensated for by the Marques.’ Obviously her offers of explanation made no sense to him.
‘He has a high sense of honor and duty, and I do not believe him to be wasteful with anything.’ Though she knew Lucien would not like her defending Brigath, she could not keep from doing so. ‘Not as high as you, of course, but nothing as bad as you want to believe him to be.’
Topaz called a set of meteors to rain down on Syous, but he rushed forward and struck fear into her with a simple touch. The rocks missed him altogether. But the fog Syous intended to follow up with was defeated by Topaz’s mage armor. Lucien watched with his arms crossed over his chest.
Calling upon upon the elements of wind and water Syous summoned forth a frigid wind of ice and snow to blow down over the ring. The winds flowed quite forcefully but Topaz sent forth a fog to react with the ice and snow and left Syous covered in toxic goo.
When a wall of searing flame rose high from the ring floor Topaz countered with a mental attack that kept Syous too busy to aim those flames. A moment later they had fizzled out.
The dark clouds now hovered overhead. Syous again darted forward, his arm stretched out. But he found a trio of sharp blades instead of Topaz.
Topaz smiled when she heard the cheers. But nothing pleased her more than Lucien’s proud smile and his, ‘well done my dear.’ She bowed to Syous. “Well cast, Syous. Do you need a break?” Syous simply shook his head.
‘Perhaps I should have begged for a date in case I should win.’ Having secured the first of the two wins needed in order to defeat the challenge she allowed herself to consider the possibility.
‘You can have a date any time you wish for one.’ Lucien smiled. ‘It is my job to grant your wishes.’
‘I always shall be wishing for one, no matter how many you will have granted already.’ Topaz sent the feeling of an intense hug along with the telepathic communication.
“The contestants may begin when ready then.” At Azjah’s announcement Syous and Topaz readied for the next duel.
Brigath choked at Azjah’s request and she patted his back. “I take that as a yes?”
“No, it's not.” Brigath gave low chuckle and shook his head. “I'm sure he can manage to stay out of trouble with Topaz' assistance.”
Topaz bowed respectfully to Syous. He did not at all look old in his fashionable dark robe, but a formidable opponent. “Congratulations on winning the tournament. Cast well.”
Syous smiled slightly before he simply nodded his head in return before he declared his mage power. “I will be using Immolation.” Then he settled in and readied for the duel. His arms extended out towards the keeper with the intent to send a large bolt of powerful energy leaping across the ring towards his opponent. But Topaz’s fear inspiring grip left him simply standing there with his arms outstretched.
Dark clouds moved in from the horizon and Topaz wondered if they were because of the duel or Azjah inviting Brigath to attend the court function, supposedly in order to put Topaz at ease. Lucien stood absolutely still, his dark gaze on Syous.
‘Poor baby, are you hearing what Azjah is asking Brigath?’ Topaz reached out for Lucien’s mind.
‘Of course.’
‘You will just have to keep your arms tightly around me and let me be your tree.’ Topaz sent love and appreciation along with the thought. She knew that just the idea of Brigath being close upset Lucien, no matter how much she wished it would not be so.
In the ring six sharp blades suddenly raced forth. Each blade struck true and Lucien gave a low, rumbling snarl at Syous.
‘Actually, I will discuss it with her when you have won.’
‘She means well.’ Lucien’s confidence in her warmed her. ‘Is it really so difficult?’
‘It is interference. I do not interfere in her relationship with the Marques, well, not much.’
‘You did discuss with her about making me nervous. She is compensating. And just maybe it is her who will feel more comfortable for Brigath's presence. You males can all be very intimidating.’
‘What ever she feels for that wastrel is more than compensated for by the Marques.’ Obviously her offers of explanation made no sense to him.
‘He has a high sense of honor and duty, and I do not believe him to be wasteful with anything.’ Though she knew Lucien would not like her defending Brigath, she could not keep from doing so. ‘Not as high as you, of course, but nothing as bad as you want to believe him to be.’
Topaz called a set of meteors to rain down on Syous, but he rushed forward and struck fear into her with a simple touch. The rocks missed him altogether. But the fog Syous intended to follow up with was defeated by Topaz’s mage armor. Lucien watched with his arms crossed over his chest.
Calling upon upon the elements of wind and water Syous summoned forth a frigid wind of ice and snow to blow down over the ring. The winds flowed quite forcefully but Topaz sent forth a fog to react with the ice and snow and left Syous covered in toxic goo.
When a wall of searing flame rose high from the ring floor Topaz countered with a mental attack that kept Syous too busy to aim those flames. A moment later they had fizzled out.
The dark clouds now hovered overhead. Syous again darted forward, his arm stretched out. But he found a trio of sharp blades instead of Topaz.
Topaz smiled when she heard the cheers. But nothing pleased her more than Lucien’s proud smile and his, ‘well done my dear.’ She bowed to Syous. “Well cast, Syous. Do you need a break?” Syous simply shook his head.
‘Perhaps I should have begged for a date in case I should win.’ Having secured the first of the two wins needed in order to defeat the challenge she allowed herself to consider the possibility.
‘You can have a date any time you wish for one.’ Lucien smiled. ‘It is my job to grant your wishes.’
‘I always shall be wishing for one, no matter how many you will have granted already.’ Topaz sent the feeling of an intense hug along with the telepathic communication.
“The contestants may begin when ready then.” At Azjah’s announcement Syous and Topaz readied for the next duel.
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Topaz
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The second duel progressed at a slower pace and Syous gained a sizable lead over the first view rounds. Though Topaz did manage to catch up and even to hold the lead for a while, Syous did secure the win of their second duel. Lucien snarled low, just beyond the range of most human's hearing.
Lucien wrapped both arms around her when she came to him while waiting for Syous to return. “You did not really want that date, you are dallying.”
“I was hoping to only have 2 duels. Of course I want that date.” More than just the one, really.
“Then you should have won the second.” He tried to keep a grin off his face.
“I tried!” Then she grinned. “You're teasing me.”
He slid his fingers through her hair. “Yes, I was.”
“I'll need lots of hugs after either way.” She snuggled deeper into his arms.
Lucien chuckled softly. “Go finish him.”
“I will do my best.” She gave him a brave smile, not the least convinced that she could do that. The last duel had been long and tiring. “I don't want to disappoint all these dear people cheering.”
“You won't, either way.” He assured her.
Syous had returned and Topaz sent a ‘thank you’ into Lucien’s mind as she re-entered the ring.
The third duel started bloody with both of them having cast wizard blades in the opening round. Mental attacks and meteors hit through flames and fog banks and the lead switched back and forth quickly.
Lucien snarled low and bared his fangs at Syous. But Syous was focused entirely on the duel and not in the least distracted by him.
Topaz in turn tried to distract Lucien. He should not suffer so just because she was dueling and he was not allowed to interfere despite his desire to protect her. ‘Did you find the doll?’
‘I did, when I did not find you beside me.’ His tone was very neutral.
‘Did you find it pleasing?’ She was not at all sure how he thought of the present.
‘I find you more pleasing.’ It was a simple statement of truth.
‘Of course you do.’ She should have known he’d avoid giving a direct answer. ‘I guess I meant in comparison to the empty pillow.’
‘There is no comparison. None.’ She had the sensation of his arms wrapping around her. ‘Absolutely none.’
His compliments turned her heart. She chuckled softly and returned the feeling. ‘I meant between the pillow and the doll.’
Topaz’s next counter spell took the heat from Syous’ wall of flames and the well aimed set of blades kept a bolt of black energy from leaving his fingertips. Then the duel once again slowed to a crawl as they both attempted to intimidate each other by showing off tightly woven defenses. When Syous re-claimed the lead, Topaz’s thoughts turned toward what to say when it came time to hand Syous the key to the Tower of Stars.
Topaz had been able to gain a slight advantage in the previous round and now darted forward. Her sure touch kept Syous’ last spell unfinished and she was awarded that last point that she needed to win.
Despite the applause and cheers, it took a while for the combatants to realize that the duel was indeed over and who won. Topaz recovered first and offered a respectful bow to Syous. “That was some grand casting, Syous, and a fine recovery from the first duel. Do not let the outcome of the last round take away from your grand win yesterday.”
Syous, too, regained his composure and bowed in return. “Indeed...” he smiled, “that was quite the duel.”
Lucien would not wait a moment longer and stepped into ring. He wrapped Topaz up in his arms and found himself hugged tightly in return.
Topaz waved and smiled to the patrons. “Thank you all for coming and cheering. Thank you, everyone.” She dropped her voice to a whisper so quiet it could only be heard by Lucien. “Thank you for being here for me and with me.”
“When I can, I am.” He needed her even more than she needed him, but somethings would not wait.
“I know that and yet I appreciate each time that you are like a gift.” With a wide smile she added. “Now you get to take me away for celebrating, Lucien.”
“Good, you're mind then.” He again wrapped his arms around her and, fading from the visible spectrum, took her away with him.
Lucien wrapped both arms around her when she came to him while waiting for Syous to return. “You did not really want that date, you are dallying.”
“I was hoping to only have 2 duels. Of course I want that date.” More than just the one, really.
“Then you should have won the second.” He tried to keep a grin off his face.
“I tried!” Then she grinned. “You're teasing me.”
He slid his fingers through her hair. “Yes, I was.”
“I'll need lots of hugs after either way.” She snuggled deeper into his arms.
Lucien chuckled softly. “Go finish him.”
“I will do my best.” She gave him a brave smile, not the least convinced that she could do that. The last duel had been long and tiring. “I don't want to disappoint all these dear people cheering.”
“You won't, either way.” He assured her.
Syous had returned and Topaz sent a ‘thank you’ into Lucien’s mind as she re-entered the ring.
The third duel started bloody with both of them having cast wizard blades in the opening round. Mental attacks and meteors hit through flames and fog banks and the lead switched back and forth quickly.
Lucien snarled low and bared his fangs at Syous. But Syous was focused entirely on the duel and not in the least distracted by him.
Topaz in turn tried to distract Lucien. He should not suffer so just because she was dueling and he was not allowed to interfere despite his desire to protect her. ‘Did you find the doll?’
‘I did, when I did not find you beside me.’ His tone was very neutral.
‘Did you find it pleasing?’ She was not at all sure how he thought of the present.
‘I find you more pleasing.’ It was a simple statement of truth.
‘Of course you do.’ She should have known he’d avoid giving a direct answer. ‘I guess I meant in comparison to the empty pillow.’
‘There is no comparison. None.’ She had the sensation of his arms wrapping around her. ‘Absolutely none.’
His compliments turned her heart. She chuckled softly and returned the feeling. ‘I meant between the pillow and the doll.’
Topaz’s next counter spell took the heat from Syous’ wall of flames and the well aimed set of blades kept a bolt of black energy from leaving his fingertips. Then the duel once again slowed to a crawl as they both attempted to intimidate each other by showing off tightly woven defenses. When Syous re-claimed the lead, Topaz’s thoughts turned toward what to say when it came time to hand Syous the key to the Tower of Stars.
Topaz had been able to gain a slight advantage in the previous round and now darted forward. Her sure touch kept Syous’ last spell unfinished and she was awarded that last point that she needed to win.
Despite the applause and cheers, it took a while for the combatants to realize that the duel was indeed over and who won. Topaz recovered first and offered a respectful bow to Syous. “That was some grand casting, Syous, and a fine recovery from the first duel. Do not let the outcome of the last round take away from your grand win yesterday.”
Syous, too, regained his composure and bowed in return. “Indeed...” he smiled, “that was quite the duel.”
Lucien would not wait a moment longer and stepped into ring. He wrapped Topaz up in his arms and found himself hugged tightly in return.
Topaz waved and smiled to the patrons. “Thank you all for coming and cheering. Thank you, everyone.” She dropped her voice to a whisper so quiet it could only be heard by Lucien. “Thank you for being here for me and with me.”
“When I can, I am.” He needed her even more than she needed him, but somethings would not wait.
“I know that and yet I appreciate each time that you are like a gift.” With a wide smile she added. “Now you get to take me away for celebrating, Lucien.”
“Good, you're mind then.” He again wrapped his arms around her and, fading from the visible spectrum, took her away with him.
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Topaz
- Legendary Adventurer
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Preparing To Meet Prince Mikhail
‘Of all the days to have so slept so late why this one,’ Topaz thought to herself as she moved away from the palazzo. A glance at the sky told her it was already late afternoon. This evening she was to be introduced to Prince Mikhail, provided he didn’t send word again at the last minute that he experienced a further delay. He had done so twice already. She had not minded then, but now she very much would like to get this meeting over with.
She was walking down the street by the Inn, headed for the portal to Atrebla, when a young man fell into step beside her.
“Yikes, a rapier?” He noted without an introduction. “A girl...with a rapier?”
“A fairy with a rapier.” Topaz corrected with a court smile. She could certainly do without the delay and answered his next question before the youngster could ask it. “They are much easier to wield than heavy swords.”
“Scary... when like me you only have a dagger. But a dagger is quicker.” He made it sound like an ordinary conversational remark.
“What kind of creature are you then?” In Rhydin that was not so odd a question to ask, considering the multitude of races that made the town their home. Some of them went to considerable lengths to appear human.
“Human, pure a simple.” He stated.
“Some of them are very good with daggers.” But she had seen the seemingly innocent movement of his hand toward his back and suspected that he had drawn a knife. She was instantly alert and with a too sweet added a subtle warning. “Are you new to Rhydin? I've not seen you around before. Neither at the Inn nor at the duels.”
“Fairly.” He admitted as he let the coil of rope slide into his hand with a shrug of his shoulder. “I am not fully acquainted with the ways.” He fell behind a step, grinning.
Topaz turned slightly to keep him in sight. She glanced pointedly at the rope and knew that she’d have to deal with this one before she activated the portal. If she wasn’t so much in a hurry she’d have enjoyed it more. It had been some time since anyone so obviously unskilled had accosted her on a Rhydin street – and in broad daylight, too. She tried a more obvious warning. “Whatever are you planning to do with that? Perhaps you should be warned that this fairy is also an arch mage?”
“No, just a girl, an unprotected one, too. I think you should kneel, with your hands behind your back.”
She bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing and gave him another friendly warning: a fairy-pinch. This was going to be fun after all. “I'm perfectly prepared to follow that with something more portent if you insist.”
He took a step toward her. “Kneel or defend yourself.”
“As you wish.” With a charming smile she sent a couple of tiny mage bolts at the upstart.
The young man promptly dropped his knife and rope and reeled back against a house wall. For a moment she felt sorry for him. He really had no idea who he had picked for his target. Even when she sensed a killing rage starting to rise to the surface within him, she pitied him.
“Gimme my rope back.” He demanded, all semblance of friendliness gone from his features.
Topaz conjured a circlet of daisies onto his head. “I don't have your rope.” She was certain he had never killed anyone before.
“It’s at your feet. I need it to tie your hands.” He sounded menacing.
“Is that so?” Topaz could not hold back a giggle. “I wonder how you'd like a wall of flame passing through you.”
“God.” He paled and stammered. “I'd rather my hands get tied than that... no... bad idea.”
“I have to agree, going after a fairy is a very bad idea.” He should run away, she thought. His actions reminded her of the games she and Tormay had played when he was little. Tormay had been better at those games then this one was now. And this one didn’t view it as a game.
“Women should be on their knees with their hands tied, not men.” He gulped.
“Poor dear. You're gonna have a rough awakening.” Where did some men come up with these ideas?
“Oh my god... wadda you thinking? I heard Rhydin was "kill or be killed.” But something kept him in place.
“I'm thinking you ought to walk off very quickly and give thanks to whatever gods you believe in that you still can.” Topaz smiled sweetly. She had no intention of killing the pup but it would be a bad idea to let him know that.
“Naah... you're bluffing. You aint no killer.” He gave her an assessing but uncertain look.
‘Of all the days to have so slept so late why this one,’ Topaz thought to herself as she moved away from the palazzo. A glance at the sky told her it was already late afternoon. This evening she was to be introduced to Prince Mikhail, provided he didn’t send word again at the last minute that he experienced a further delay. He had done so twice already. She had not minded then, but now she very much would like to get this meeting over with.
She was walking down the street by the Inn, headed for the portal to Atrebla, when a young man fell into step beside her.
“Yikes, a rapier?” He noted without an introduction. “A girl...with a rapier?”
“A fairy with a rapier.” Topaz corrected with a court smile. She could certainly do without the delay and answered his next question before the youngster could ask it. “They are much easier to wield than heavy swords.”
“Scary... when like me you only have a dagger. But a dagger is quicker.” He made it sound like an ordinary conversational remark.
“What kind of creature are you then?” In Rhydin that was not so odd a question to ask, considering the multitude of races that made the town their home. Some of them went to considerable lengths to appear human.
“Human, pure a simple.” He stated.
“Some of them are very good with daggers.” But she had seen the seemingly innocent movement of his hand toward his back and suspected that he had drawn a knife. She was instantly alert and with a too sweet added a subtle warning. “Are you new to Rhydin? I've not seen you around before. Neither at the Inn nor at the duels.”
“Fairly.” He admitted as he let the coil of rope slide into his hand with a shrug of his shoulder. “I am not fully acquainted with the ways.” He fell behind a step, grinning.
Topaz turned slightly to keep him in sight. She glanced pointedly at the rope and knew that she’d have to deal with this one before she activated the portal. If she wasn’t so much in a hurry she’d have enjoyed it more. It had been some time since anyone so obviously unskilled had accosted her on a Rhydin street – and in broad daylight, too. She tried a more obvious warning. “Whatever are you planning to do with that? Perhaps you should be warned that this fairy is also an arch mage?”
“No, just a girl, an unprotected one, too. I think you should kneel, with your hands behind your back.”
She bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing and gave him another friendly warning: a fairy-pinch. This was going to be fun after all. “I'm perfectly prepared to follow that with something more portent if you insist.”
He took a step toward her. “Kneel or defend yourself.”
“As you wish.” With a charming smile she sent a couple of tiny mage bolts at the upstart.
The young man promptly dropped his knife and rope and reeled back against a house wall. For a moment she felt sorry for him. He really had no idea who he had picked for his target. Even when she sensed a killing rage starting to rise to the surface within him, she pitied him.
“Gimme my rope back.” He demanded, all semblance of friendliness gone from his features.
Topaz conjured a circlet of daisies onto his head. “I don't have your rope.” She was certain he had never killed anyone before.
“It’s at your feet. I need it to tie your hands.” He sounded menacing.
“Is that so?” Topaz could not hold back a giggle. “I wonder how you'd like a wall of flame passing through you.”
“God.” He paled and stammered. “I'd rather my hands get tied than that... no... bad idea.”
“I have to agree, going after a fairy is a very bad idea.” He should run away, she thought. His actions reminded her of the games she and Tormay had played when he was little. Tormay had been better at those games then this one was now. And this one didn’t view it as a game.
“Women should be on their knees with their hands tied, not men.” He gulped.
“Poor dear. You're gonna have a rough awakening.” Where did some men come up with these ideas?
“Oh my god... wadda you thinking? I heard Rhydin was "kill or be killed.” But something kept him in place.
“I'm thinking you ought to walk off very quickly and give thanks to whatever gods you believe in that you still can.” Topaz smiled sweetly. She had no intention of killing the pup but it would be a bad idea to let him know that.
“Naah... you're bluffing. You aint no killer.” He gave her an assessing but uncertain look.
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