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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Feb 6, 2006 20:00:40 GMT -5
I had waited at Gentian for ten minutes, then stormed out, indignant; it seemed that the silly dreamers had other things to attend to. I briskly walked up the hill toward the palace.
Guards were standing at the gate. I knew I was just a lowly adept to them, and would not gain entrance, but perhaps I could charm one of them into giving something away.
I smiled charmingly at the youngest of the guards. "What is happening, that you must stand before the gate and mar your handsome face with such fearsome expressions?"
The guard flushed, flattered. "There is a meeting between- ". At his words an older guard gave him a silencing look and said to me, "Nice try, adept, but no answers will be found here. YOu will have to wait until the nobles release such information, should they choose to."
Miffed, I sat on a bench just outside the gates, waiting for the first person to exit.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Feb 9, 2006 1:00:23 GMT -5
The sun was well past its zenith when I made my way outside. My mood was foul as a nervous groom brough forth my stallion. Frost was a huge brute, built to carry a fully armored knight into battle, and vicious to boot. Many a D'Neige groomsman had felt his teeth in their soft hides.
I mounted up and kept Frost to a walk. He'd cast a shoe during the raid and I feared him going lame. He was a prime mount.
Frost snorted and reared just outside the Palace gates. I deftly kept my seat and got him under control. I scanned the area to see what had spooked him. A pretty thing, black curls obscuring their face, sat on a bench outside the gates.
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Feb 9, 2006 8:03:18 GMT -5
A stir at the gates brought me back from my sulk and a woman exited on a war-mount, the horse looking skittish and the woman herself fierce. The livery bore the seal of D'Neige- excellent, one of the nobility who had been at this meeting. My bet had paid off in spades.
I noticed the horse start at me and quietly stood, bowing low, then stood, confident. "Duchess D'Neige, how goes the meeting? My apologies for startling your fine mount."
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Feb 9, 2006 18:22:38 GMT -5
I leveled a hard look at the boy, for indeed he was male, though face and form made me think otherwise. Well dressed, but not lavishly, knowledgable of court, but obviously no courtier- he must be from the Night Court.
And how would a whore know of the meeting?
I dismounted and stalked towards him, riding crop in hand. We were of a height.
"My temper is short, boy, and your impertinance will cost you dearly." I stepped well into his personal space, kept my tone soft, "That is, unless, you give me reason to reconsider. I want your name and House. You will tell me what you know, who told it to you, and why you are skulking around the gates. And any other information that I care to know. Do not lie, I will know, adept."
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Feb 9, 2006 20:17:00 GMT -5
I smiled sweetly, something to infuriate her that she could take no direct offense to. Her invading my personal space caused me minimal chagrin; after all, I was an adept, and used to having people who were offensive to me in my space.
"My lady, I am Aleron no' Bryony, of the house of Bryony. I am waiting by the gates because my attempts to gain information as to why numerous adepts abandoned their assignations went unanswered by those silly, sex-addled children. Everything I know I have found only by overhearing and using my wits. Do those answers satisfy or shall you pay of my marque to put me to death?"
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Feb 9, 2006 20:44:11 GMT -5
"No. It does not satisfy." I assesed the surroundings, already several of the palace gaurds were looking at us curiously. This was no place for questioning, too open.
I looked once more at Aleron. A Bryony adept. I spoke in a language I knew he would understand.
"You have no choice in this matter, I want to make that very clear, you are going to quietly accompany me to my town home, with no fuss and answer my questions. If you do this, and cooperate, you will be paid. Protesting and evassion earn you nothing. Do we have an accord?"
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Post by Aleron Carle(Retired) on Feb 9, 2006 22:59:27 GMT -5
I bowed. "Duchesse, I would be honored. Am I allowed to stand behind your horse far enough back to avoid being kicked?" I gave another simpering smile but my eyes were blazing at her blunt methods.
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Post by Jaiden Liatris-Durante (D) on Feb 9, 2006 23:21:14 GMT -5
I smiled, oh the pretty thing was furious. But his quips, though spoken oh so courteously, irritated me. Briskly I remounted my horse. I rerached down and hauled him into the saddle behind me. He was less than graceful at my rough handling of him.
"I need answers, and if your pretty skull is crushed by an iron shod hoof, I won't be getting those, no will I? Hold on tightly, but be warned, you try any of your whore's tricks and you'll be missing a hand."
I kicked Frost into a canter, and rode for my villa.
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