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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 14, 2006 19:56:22 GMT -5
It had been several days since the disaster in the conservatory. Elton had practically disappeared and the sly Aleron had reported as usual but had been scarce as well. No doubt both of them were off whoring, Elton to forget, and Aleron to pay me back.
I felt restless, needed to do something other than brood, read and handle the running of a Duchy. I donned my fighting leathers and went in search of Aleron. No doubt the boy had been lax in his training with Elton missing.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Apr 14, 2006 20:22:10 GMT -5
It was the morning after my assignation with Riva- I got back in just enough time to bathe and change clothes, then I headed out to the salle to see if Elton was going to train me today. In sorrow and rage he'd lately been partaking deeply of spirits- the liquid sort, of course- and often been too ill in the mornings to work with me. No matter; this morning I was more willing to train by myself anyway. It was almost like I was feeling lonliness.
Entering the salle, I made my way to the tourney-blades, gleaming on the wall.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 15, 2006 12:26:42 GMT -5
I checked the few usual haunts of Aleron's around the house, the servants had been kind enough to tell me where he was most ofter. Curious, someone had seen him in the D'Niege records rooms but I paid it no mind, most likely he was researching bloodlines for my request.
I finally found him in the salle, already warming up with a blunted blade. I watched him for a few moments, assessing. He'd improved considerably.
"Your offense needs work."
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Apr 15, 2006 12:31:51 GMT -5
I stiffened at Jaiden's voice- not suprising, considering the last time I'd seen her here- but I let myself relax a little. She sounded almost- pleased. Maybe this was going to be a better day than I'd thought.
"Thank you, I thought so," I said, turning to face her.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 15, 2006 12:59:36 GMT -5
I casually strode over and picked a suitable sword off the wall. The weight was a little off, but then again I was used to fighting with a masterwork blade. No tourney sword could compare to Svellmaer.
"As Elton is...indisposed, would you object to my training you?" It was merely a formality, I didn't really expect him to make a choice.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Apr 15, 2006 13:04:02 GMT -5
Part of me wanted to stomp off and tell her to go to hell, but my brain knew there was no way I was getting out of this, so I shrugged a shouler and looked nonchalant. "Sounds fine to me."
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 15, 2006 13:19:58 GMT -5
I raised an eyebrow at him and almost smiled.
"I doubt it's 'fine' to you, considering the events that happened here not long ago. So, we'll work on your skills so it doesn't happen again." More than one meaning was behind my words, a subtle warning and an offering of truce. I was tired of the chaos in my own House and one less enemy would suite me fine.
"Let's begin. En garde."
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Apr 15, 2006 13:29:46 GMT -5
Setting my weight I stood ready, sword in my hands and a guarded expression on my face. She didn't seem to expect a response to her words so I stayed silent, trying to figure out what was going on. I had too much at stake to take such silly chances anymore.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 16, 2006 23:14:47 GMT -5
We started slow, I wanted to test his defense, which was quite good considering his amount of training. But he was cautious to attack. I dropped back to a defensive position and circled him.
"Attack me, don't fear hurting me or yourself. But you need to attack. A true master uses offensive tactics in place of defense and gets his enemy on the retreat. A solid defense is not small thing, but without the impetus to kill, you will die, not matter how skilled your guard."
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Apr 16, 2006 23:20:40 GMT -5
Nodding in understanding I aimed a blow at her right shoulder, trying to disable her strong hand while leaving myself guarded. My blade was a good deal shorter than hers, which meant that if I could get inside her guard I would be better able to land blows while keeping myself defended from the ones she tried to land herself.
I felt myself slipping into a place where my mind was working faster than I could track, taking in the information I was getting from her stance and moves and trying to find openings. My mind was clear and instinct was taking over- but whether it was going to work was unclear.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 16, 2006 23:30:27 GMT -5
Better, he wasn't thinking, just moving. That is the art of the sword, your blade becomes and extension of yourself, you move and act without stopping to think, and yet you are constantly analyzing, calculating.
I held off his blows easily enough, but he made me work at it.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Apr 16, 2006 23:36:29 GMT -5
It seemed where this was an area in which I'd also been trying to use too much thought- but at least now I knew how to not think so much. Not now, I reminded myself sharply as I watched Jaiden and kept myself attacking, moving into every opening I saw and exploiting it to the best of my ability as I kept my guard up. I didn't relish the idea of another cracked rib and the remembered pain of it kept me cautious.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 17, 2006 7:56:03 GMT -5
He was still thinking, still hesitating.
"Attack! Use judgment, not fear to guide you. Pain is nothing compared to death, and hesitating brings death. Stop fearing pain." I would give him a few more moments before I turned the tables and attacked him in truth.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Apr 17, 2006 8:02:51 GMT -5
I crushed my thoughts beneath my instincts and attacked with renewed vigor. Pain is nothing, pleasure is nothing, confusion, sorrow- none of that mattered here. Staying alive mattered and I focused on it, using it to turn my heart and mind to stone for only a few minutes.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 18, 2006 22:01:02 GMT -5
We circled and spared for a half hour more, I defending and occasionally attacking when he retreated into caution again. He did well. At the end, he managed a blow under my guard. If I hadn't spun away, he would have broken my arm, as it was, I would be bruised.
"Enough. I think you've got the point of it now. Just remember to keep it always in focus during a match, and a real fight. If your enemy is dead, they can't kill you." I put up the blade and splashed water from a pitcher against my face. It was cool, my skin flushed from the bought. I felt still again, myself.
"Have you made any progress on my request?" I asked in neutral tones. We were at a strange accord, and I wasn't exactly sure how to hold it.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Apr 18, 2006 22:04:25 GMT -5
Hiding the mischievious light that wanted to come to my eyes I looked at her as neutrally as she looked at me and said, "A little; but there are still some things to check on before I try contacting anyone. I do have a few more questions to ask you about this contract, though."
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 18, 2006 22:08:56 GMT -5
Another splash of water. I unbuckled the leather jerkin and set it aside on a bench, my sweat dampened shirt clinging stickily to my skin. I sat down on that same bench and stretched my legs out.
"Ask away. I would be disappointed if you were ever anything but thorough." A slight smile.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Apr 18, 2006 22:14:38 GMT -5
For a moment I was confused, but then the new inner voice said 'relax' and I did, a wan smile coming to my own face. "Firstly, I need to know if you intend this contract to be a binding engagement- as in, once it is signed by both parties, they are contractually obligated to marry or else forfeit whatever has been recieved thus far. The second thing is the marriage itself- do you want a ceremony or a proxy marriage?"
In my mind I was thinking VERY quickly- this all had to look legitimate and like it was being done only for her benefit. I just hoped I wouldn't be killed for it.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 18, 2006 22:33:09 GMT -5
I leaned my head back and thought for a moment.
"Proxy. A ceremony would be a sham, and honestly, can you see me in a dress strolling down an isle surrounded by peers? I don't think I'd be a very convincing bride. As for the engagement, I suppose it doesn't really matter. If they want out, I can't stop them. What do you advise?" I gestured for him to sit, he had worked hard and done well. I took a drink from the pitcher then offered it to him.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Apr 18, 2006 22:39:16 GMT -5
Hiding confusion I nodded thanks as I sat down and took a drink, pushing loose tendrils of hair behind my ear. "Well, the binding engagement would mean witnesses, which would mean more people knowing about the plan, so I wouldn't suggest it," I said carefully, thinking that it would also mean revealing my plan entirely too early. "And proxy marraige would be best- do you want to set the meeting of your husband for any particular day?"
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 18, 2006 22:52:40 GMT -5
Husband. I closed my eyes and again firmly stated that this was necessary. My bloodline would not diminish with me.
"As soon as possible once he agrees to the arrangement. He has to be at least somewhat easy on the eyes if I'm to bed him any number of times to produce and heir. An announcement can be made to the realm after the deed is done. Bugger what they think of it too." We sat in silence for a few minutes, him plotting and me just, drifting. A novel thing, as my mind was usually busy non stop with work or tactics.
"How went your night with the girl?" I don't know why I asked. Some abstract curiosity about how my money was spent I suppose.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Apr 18, 2006 23:01:36 GMT -5
Nodding in acknowledgement I made a mental note of her more specific details.
Her question caught me completely off guard, so much so that I didn't even have time to put up my mental and emotional shields to any completion. Catching my breath slightly at the memories that flooded me I closed my eyes for a moment to catch my composure and then looked at the ground. "It went well," I said quietly, not knowing what else to say that would not leave me open to her jibes.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Apr 20, 2006 21:21:20 GMT -5
"Good."
We sat that way for a while, both of us silent and reserved. I didn't know if it was exactly companionable, but certainly not hostile or strained. Eventually I stood, I had duties to attend to and he as well.
"If you see Elton... tell him-" I'm sorry. "Tell him I wish to speak with him." I caressed the line of his jaw, my thumb brushing over his bottom lip. Again, the motivation behind the action escaped me, I just wanted to. I dropped my hand from him.
"Find me tomorrow if Elton doesn't show up for your training. We can continue." I left the salle for my office."
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Apr 20, 2006 21:45:36 GMT -5
Confused, I watched her walk out, reminding myself that she had no reason to act emotionally stable as I sighed and agreed to find Elton to deliver the message at my next opportunity. As soon as possible might be best, as it may keep my skin from being flayed from my body once my plan was revealed. Maybe there could be a way to stop this.
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