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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 11, 2008 16:54:46 GMT -5
"Sounds like a plan," I said with a smile. "I know of a little inn outside the city. We can ride there and back, but I have to return before sunset," I added. "I'm seeing Gad tonight." For the mention of my Shahrizai, I smiled softly. I'd missed him, I looked forward to spending time with him.
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 11, 2008 16:56:08 GMT -5
I kept my patience as we wound our way through the streets. I feel behind Julie as she lead, knowing where our starting point was. For the time being, I looked around watching the people, noting how different everything looked from on high, not in a cloistered carriage, or even on foot, with head bowed. How strange.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 11, 2008 17:05:38 GMT -5
A woman was offering small flower bouquets and I smiled, remembering how I marvelled at the city the first time. The throng was soon thinning, and I waited for Vince to catch up.
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 12, 2008 0:02:06 GMT -5
Once or twice, I lost my way in the crowd, distracted by certain groups. Somehow, I always spotted Julie's red mane of hair, and caught up. As we neared the entrance to the city, I came up to her side. "You know, if you were to ever cut your hair, I don't think anyone would ever find you." I said almost giggling.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 12, 2008 12:48:33 GMT -5
I smiled, shaking my head a little to show off. “I don’t know that there is ever a chance of that happening, in truth,” I said, very amused. “Not me shaving it, anyway,” I added after consideration. I was more and more worried about Father, and if he did come to pass into Terre-d’Ange-that-lies-beyond, protocol commanded I cut my hair as a sign of mourning.
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 12, 2008 13:28:08 GMT -5
I laughed a little now, my spirts seemed better every minute. "I bet you'd make a right good costume in your breeches and sword, you could probably pass for any squire in the army." I looked around once before saying again. "But yes, It is a good fit for you."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 12, 2008 13:36:25 GMT -5
“Thank you,” I replied with a grin. Slowly, we were making our way out of the center, but still people stared. Then again, we were an unlikely pair, dressed in white as he was, his hair making him look other worldly, and me, his hoydenish tomboy of a redheaded sister. Quite the uncanny pair, indeed.
“You look good too,” I said, “but you’ll need to get a good brushing when we’re done, your breeches will be covered in horsehair.”
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 12, 2008 13:43:48 GMT -5
"I suppose." I commented initially. "Come to think of it, I'll have to, I don't have very many sets of clothes, especially for an adept. Octavier thinks perhaps that might be one of the problems I have with getting patrons, is that I don't stand out much anymore."
I was starting to feel a wear of riding set in, I shouldn't be to surprised given I hadn't done it in a long time, but I hid any discomfort for now, enjoying the benefits nonetheless.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 12, 2008 14:24:13 GMT -5
I gave Vincent a surprised look. If anything, my brother didn’t look ordinary, not with his white lion’s mane. “Octavier thinks you don’t stand out? He must be out of his mind.” Whoever Octavier was… I grinned. “We’ll get that addressed upon our return, don’t worry,” I said with a grin.
“Besides, Nicole was eager to meet you, and we left without seeing her.” I cocked my head to the side, and asked, “Do you need help with a new wardrobe?” I bit my lip, hoping I wasn’t offending his pride. He was my brother, there was nothing wrong with my fussing over him, but still.
We were nearing the outskirts of the city, getting closer to the bridge that went over the Aviline. Soon, open spaces would embrace us.
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 12, 2008 18:56:46 GMT -5
I responded at first," Well, he sees me do nothing with it, so I think even he's got bored of it." I took note of her offer. "Well, I suppose that might be of some help. But who's Nicole, and why was I suppose to see her?" That bit had confused me.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 13, 2008 3:28:32 GMT -5
I let out a little breath of relief when he didn’t react poorly to my offer. “Nicole is the house maid, well, one of them, and we have an unlikely friendship,” I said with a little shrug I had done ever since I was a child. “I make her do some exercise, and she helps me with my hair when we go to court.”
There was a bit of a commotion on the bridge, and I sidled closer to Vince in a strange protective movement. Oh, Elua! A courier was going through in great gallop, and I said, “move aside,” already maneuvering to get us out of the way.
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 13, 2008 8:35:51 GMT -5
The horse was startled a moment at the sudden change, and tried to rear itself, but I hung on, and managed to calm it down. I sighed, "That was close." For a moment neither of us said anything, seeing the courier make his way out.
"Don't worry, I'm alright. You were saying.?"
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 13, 2008 9:01:53 GMT -5
I’d observed Vince as he dealt with the gelding’s momentary fear. Freya balked some as well, but I made a soothing sound, and she obeyed, straying to the side next to Vince’s mount. The courier passed, creating a commotion in his wake. For a while, there was too much noise as the crowd commented, and when it subsided, I heard the tail of Vincent’s sentence.
I didn’t feel like repeating myself, so I just gave him the gist of it. “Nicole is a friend, she works at the townhome. I told her about you and she was anxious to meet my lost and found brother. She’ll straighten up your breeches, so you’ll get to meet her anyway.”
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 13, 2008 14:00:52 GMT -5
"Ah, is that all." I said, no inflection added. We rounded one last corner, and found ourselves eying the gates to the city. It seemed out of instinct, I ducked my head low. "Julie, we must be careful, if they know I'm an adept, they might not let me leave. Even for a moment."
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 14, 2008 8:10:44 GMT -5
"Your Dowayne allowed you to see your family, didn't he?" I whispered back. "Then head high, Lord Deveroix," I replied with pride. Leading by example, I forced on my body all the elegance a sword wielder could learn, and looked proudly at the guards.
I gave Vincent a look or reassurance, and stayed as relaxed as I could be. He was a Deveroix, and visiting with the permission of his house, I assumed. He had nothing to worry about. Besides, it was just a quick ride, and we would be back soon.
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 14, 2008 11:06:55 GMT -5
"Yes, but the Dowaynes like to keep strict tabs on all their adepts. I'm free to roam the city at large during any free time I have. But, I must have it in contract to pass beyond the city walls." Still, I took her reassurances to heart. Perhaps I was being overly cautious. Just a force of habit I guess.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 14, 2008 11:56:11 GMT -5
I had to. I made my heart ache, but I had to. I stopped Freya, and turned us around. “This way, please, My Lord,” I said as I took a side street. I wasn’t going to make a scene, but I wanted to talk this through with him. It was important – I didn’t know much about the Night Court, but enough to guess we were about to do something illegal, and even I, in my nuttiest moments, had my limits.
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 14, 2008 13:07:04 GMT -5
I raised an eyebrow, but said nothing for a moment, following quietly behind her. The road got rather narrow, and there wasn't much room to navigate, though luckily there were no others that might be lost under hoof of us. "I haven't worried you, have I?"
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 15, 2008 12:33:27 GMT -5
The side street took us to the docking area, one I wasn’t overly familiar with, but I knew it would eventually lead to the banks of the Aviline – technically, still within the City. We were sidling close though, and there were only commoners around us, people that weren’t overly problematic if they were to overhear us.
“You have, darling,” I replied with a wistful sigh. “You have to tell me, are we about to break the rules of your House by taking this ride?” I looked at him with a furrowed brow, and said, “If we are, then I’d sooner drop by your House and settle this before it gets you in trouble.” You and me both, and I’ve stirred enough grime myself as it is.
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 17, 2008 9:25:53 GMT -5
Elua...I was torn. I couldn't bare to say anything. I wanted so desperatly now to have a chance to go outside, and seperate myself from the city, to gain some perspective. But, Julie cared for me, and a part of me understood I would be harming her putting her at risk as well should we be caught.
That moment seemed to last ages, I was frozen in indecision, something that I never, ever had a problem with. I had started to chew on my lip, wishing for once the future would be clear to me.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 17, 2008 14:01:37 GMT -5
Vincent said not a word, not one. Seeing as I was no mind reader, I relied on what I knew of my brother – memories from long ago came to my aid, and I allowed myself to decide he seemed not to be sure what to do. Gently, I said, “Let’s keep moving while you think.”
In my earlier roaming of the city, I had discovered that the banks of the Aviline were one lovely place where few people thought to thread. It would be a good place to talk. At a slow pace, I moved Freya in that direction.
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 17, 2008 15:08:23 GMT -5
So we rode, in a now strangly complicant silence. Only the sound of horsehoofs and roiling river water I heard. It was so strange, I usually don't have this kind of troubles. I started to smirk. "You know, maybe it's just me, but decisions always seem to have an edge when your around, don't you think," I said half heartedly. I tried inject some humor back into our conversation.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 17, 2008 18:13:03 GMT -5
“Me?” I replied in mock outrage. “Of course, I’m your drama queen, am I not…” Warrior queen. That’s what Gad called me. That made me smile. “But that’s not a decision, is it?” I asked. “I thought I’d asked you a simple question. Besides, it’s not bad out here…” I pointed with a little smirk. “We’re technically out of the city walls….”
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 18, 2008 10:56:18 GMT -5
I looked around, a bit confused. I'd never truely been here before, on a side of the city I never saw as I came in from Narmarre almost 10 years ago. I suddendly felt my hands itch with anticipation.
"Where are we exactly?"
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 20, 2008 4:20:20 GMT -5
“Just by the river,” I said with a smile. “Look,” I said, pointing at an area yonder, where barges were unloaded. “This is where the freshwater fish is brought into the city. And there,” I pointed a bit further, “is a lovely green patch where I hear some peers like to go for picnics in the summer.”
I didn’t regret not bringing a basket of goodies – it was still damp in mid spring, and we would have had nowhere to sit. “The bridge is there,” I added, pointing to the left.
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 20, 2008 13:21:31 GMT -5
I stopped for a moment, halting my mare, taking in the scenery. I leaned my head againts it's neck, thinking. I loved the work of Naamah's servants, but I hated being circumspect to these constrictions. "Julie, why did I choose the guild?"
I was fishing for answers I couldn't know. They're were a variety of reasons. Prestige of Naamah's servants, the luxery, the connections. But they all had their downsides, and now I found myself to far in to turn back, at least without repercussions.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 21, 2008 4:17:44 GMT -5
I couldn’t help but notice that Vince was leaning against the gelding more than his white robes warranted. Inwardly, I had a compassionate thought for Nicole, but for now, I said nothing – let that be worried about later. Vince seemed to have an inner debate of his own.
His question, I pondered. “Vince, I think you did exactly what we all did in this family, the three of us, anyway,” I said at length, very softly. I didn’t name it, he knew. Our mother’s death had been the blow to him. To Kendrick, it was Falla. To me… well, it was different, but I was starting to think that if Father died, the estate would be unbearable. I needed to return before it was too late – it was growing on me, this idea, even if I had ever growing ties to the city.
A thought came, and I blurted it out. “Vince, what is your goal in life?”
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 21, 2008 17:07:48 GMT -5
I looked up, and opened my mouth to answer, but at first nothing came out. What was it, exactly. All the subtlties I'd spend hours pouring over during my meditations, had I lost sight of what I wanted to do? Maybe that changed.
"To..." I stuttered at first, "To help those who are troubled," I reaffirmed, more certain.
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Post by Julie Deveroix (D) on Mar 22, 2008 6:41:04 GMT -5
It was as I suspected – Vince had lost sight of his objectives, much as I had myself, for a while. We were well on the banks, now, and I let the reins rest on Freya’s neck, only holding them so that they wouldn’t become unreachable.
“Let’s dismount,” I said softly. “I think you need to pace.”
Joining action to my words, I hopped off the horse, and looked up at him.
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Post by Vincent nó Gentian(D) on Mar 23, 2008 13:12:56 GMT -5
I smiled, never surprised that for ever how long we'd been apart, Julie still knew my habits. I hopped down, with a soft ripple emanating from the shawls. With the reins in hand, I started walking along the river bank, with the breathing of the mare at my shoulder.
"I suppose I've not payed attention as I've made my way, and the path is clouded now. The goal, that mission, like Elua himself I wish, is still there." I thought for a moment.
"Julie, if I could get permission, I'd like you to accompany me, I'd like to go to Nammah's shrine in Narmare. I don't know when, but I'd like to."
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