Arriving in a Strange Place

[Maric du Verais]

The carriage pulled up the the estate late afternoon, it was a long trip and one I had never taken before. I was dirty and dusty and needed a bath badly, but there was an exuberance in being in a new place. There were so many things that I was excited about, surprising Sophine, meeting the people I would be staying with, being at the palace.

I was very excited.

I exited the carriage and looked around, taking in the view. It was nothing like I had seen before. Houses so close together, not like they were here in the city. I ordered for my things to be send inside and walked toward the house, entering in to it and looked around at everything.

[Lillianne Prévost]

It was the day that my new foster brother was supposed to arrive, so I had risen early to ready myself. First impressions were important, and I didn't want to disappoint Uncle Azriel by not being welcoming to his kin.

The day was long, but I filled it with study since I couldn't leave. It was edging close to dinner time, and I was wondering if this unknown boy would ever arrive when I heard the sound of a carriage pull up. Gathering up my books, I left our patio to return inside. I found him in the entrance hall. "Hello, you must be Maric," I said with a soft smile, putting my books on a side table and approaching him.

[Maric du Verais]

I hadn't been looking long when I heard a voice and turned to see a young girl my age. This must have been Azriel's niece; she was attractive at least and I wondered if she and I would get along.

"I am." I said smiling as I came toward her. I bowed deeply once I reached her and then rose to take in her face at a closer distance. It occured to me then that I had never asked my father what Azriel's nieces name was and felt a bit of an oaf because of it.
"Are you Azriel Shahrizai's niece?"

[Lillianne Prévost]

I curtsied as he bowed, looking him over. He was quite handsome and knew it from the way he held himself. But there was something off by the way he chose to label me, and I wondered if he remembered my name. "I am. Please, call me Lillianne or Lilli. And be welcome in my home. My uncle should be down in a minute."

[Maric du Verais]

I smiled a little wider.
"Lilli," I said softly. "Thats my sister's name." It was a pleasant thing, and a good sign hopefully. I came toward her a little more and leaned in discreetly.
"Is your uncle strict?" I asked with a playful grin.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I giggled a little at his question. "He might become so if you get into trouble," I said with a smile.

[Maric du Verais]

I clasped my hands behind my back and leaned back with a pondering look on my face.
"Hmm," I looked at her with a very small smile. "I'll just have to be careful then." My smile widened as I chuckled a little.
"Do you get into trouble?" I asked her as my trunk went past us.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Never," I replied with a teasing smile. "Dinner will be ready soon, would you like a drink beforehand?"

[Maric du Verais]

"Pitty." I said under my breath, though I was sure she heard me, my mouth curling into a teasing smile.
"I'd love a drink." I added.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I had been in the bath, and after I had dried off and dressed, I was informed that Maric had arrived. I hoped that Lilli had met with him so that he wasn't standing by him self in the middle of the lounge. Either way, I dressed in a deep green shirt and tan breeches before making my way down the stairs.

"Ah, Lillianne." I said seeing the pair when I reached the bottom of the stairs and entered the hall way.
"And you must be Maric." I added as I came closer to them.

[Maric du Verais]

Before Lilli could speak, the man I assumed was Azriel came down the stairs and toward us. He wasn't anything like I had pictured. If one wasn't observant they would have never known him to be a Shahrizai. His hair was much lighter then the blue black represented in his kin, but his eyes...well that was the only thing that was obvious within him.

"I am indeed my lord." I said bowing deep to him and then straightening. I knew that lord Azriel was not titled, but I had done enough research before I came to know he was very well off. Father told me all about his estate that rivaled some of the smaller Duchy's of the province, in fact my father told me that Azriel's father had been clever with his money and had saved much of his funds to by title. It was strange that Azriel never followed through and done just that. My father has even informed me that should Azriel sell his estate, he'd have quite the amount of gold from it.

The pair were a curiosity in themselves. Lilli was young and seemed studious, a future Duchesse. And her uncle....well they were certainly going to be interesting to be around.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"We were just going to go and have a drink before dinner Azriel. Would you like to join us?" I asked, looking between the two new men in my life.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I smiled to Lilli and nodded, thinking about her and how she was feeling, and then feeling suddenly very old at these two young people in my care.
"I think that would be wonderful, should we retire to the sitting lounge?" I asked glancing between the pair.

[Maric du Verais]

I glanced between Lilli and Azriel and smiled, my hands coming from behind my back to clasp in front of me.
"Sounds good to me." I said smiling.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Right this way," I said with a smile for Maric's benefit, leading them to the lounge. "What would you both like?" I asked, going over to the sideboard.

[Maric du Verais]

I smiled and followed behind Lilli, unable to keep my eyes away from the sway of her hips and rear. I was a young man after all, it was only natural, but I didn't let my eyes linger knowing that would set a bad example apon just arriving.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I followed behind Maric as we walked into the sitting room, wondering about what sort of person he would be.
"I think we should have a bottle of red, yes?" I suggested since Maric did not answer.

[Maric du Verais]

I had missed the question all together but looked to Azriel and then Lilli before taking a seat on a burnt red couch.
"Red sounds perfect to me." I said smiling.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I nodded with a smile before turning to uncork the bottle of red we had on hand. My movements were deft, a skill I had learned from my father, and soon there were three glasses poured. I served Maric and Azriel before returning to fetch my own glass.

"Would you do us the honour of a toast Maric?" I asked him with a soft smile, settling in the chair across from his couch.

[Maric du Verais]

Standing I took my glass from Lilli, offering a curt bow to her before righting as I sat down again.
"Hmm, let me see." I said thinking about what would be appropriate. "How about, to new people, and places, and new friends."

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Here here," I agreed with a smile, raising my glass to them both.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I took my glass from Lilli, standing still, and raised my glass as Maric toasted. I smiled softly before bringing the glass to my lips and sipped the wine gently.

"How was your trip here Maric?" I asked curiously after I drank my wine.

[Maric du Verais]

"It was perfectly acceptable my lord," I said after I drank down my sip. "The scenery was quite pleasant and we stayed at some very..." I glanced to Lilli and gave her a playful smile before glancing back to Azriel.
"colourful places." I sipped my wine, enjoying it as I looked at him. "I've never traveled so far, it was quite new to me."

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I saw Maric glance to Lilli and smile, it made me curious to know what they had been speaking about before I had came down stairs.
"It can be quite the undertaking, traveling from Kusheth to the City." I replied, thinking of my parents. It was on that journey that I lost them, that undertaking.

[Lillianne Prévost]

He teased me as he spoke to Uncle Azriel, and it made a little grin appear on my lips. "How did you like those colouful places?" I asked, returning his jest.

[Maric du Verais]

I smiled brightly at Lilli, I could tell I was going to like her.
"I enjoyed it greatly," I said still smiling at her. "I met some very interesting people, gambled a little, drank a little." I chuckled.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I smiled at the look he gave me. "Perhaps I'll have to take you to the Hall of Games then," I replied before taking a sip of wine. "It's certainly the place for a little gambling."

[Maric du Verais]

"I'd love to join you." I said smiling to her. "Do you frequent there often?" She didn't strike me as the type that would.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Sometimes, but I don't play for money," I replied, a little self-conscious about the topic in front of my uncle. I didn't want to disappoint him. "Some just like a game of cards without financial pressure."

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I listened at the banter between the two and smiled, pleased that Maric seemed to be a nice young gentleman. I would make sure to keep an eye on him though, even if I was to be watching Maric as my ward, Lilli was my niece and was my top priority.