Wandering Dahlia

[Prince Sabriel de Trevalion]

I found myself turning towards Mont Nuit. Before my exile, I’d just begun to enjoy the Night Court. I suppose one would say I should have been dying to return, but I didn’t usually find my desire something of top priority. In fact, I’d found what I needed when I needed it during my travels. It was nothing compared to the Night Court, but to me, it didn’t truly matter. Not anymore, atleast. No, I wasn’t heading to the Night Court for fun. I was thinking of seeing the damage August left at Valerian, so it was a surprise when I found myself noticing quite a different House. Dahlia, it seemed, had caught my eye. I didn’t disagree with the unconscious pull, wandering inside the House and to the adept waiting to welcome those who sought Dahlia’s pleasures. She gave a curtsy, one deserving to any noble who entered. I wondered what she would do if she knew who I was. Or if anyone even remembered there was a second son of Lucien de Trevalion.

“Greetings, my lord. How may Dahlia serve you?” She asked. She was pleasing to the eyes, but I had come here for better things than beautiful women.

“I’m here only to look. Would your Dowayne have a problem with that?”

“Not at all, my lord. I’ll gladly give you a tour.”

“No.” I stopped her. She seemed quite shocked that I would. “I’d prefer to wander on my own.”

She looked as if she was about to tell me I couldn’t, but my eyes hardened and she conceded.

“Should you need any assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

I nodded absently and continued on my way. I passed many adepts and apprentices, who watched me curiously, but I found nothing of interest. The library, the gardens, nothing caught my attention. Then I found a room, something that strangely made me pause. Gently I opened the door, glancing inside to see a lone figure. A smile curved my lips. This adept seemed to be a fighter. How interesting to find one here at Dahlia. She hadn’t noticed my intrusion, so I silently watched from the doorway. She held her wooden staff with perfect precision, seemed to move with it almost effortlessly. I continued to watch, waiting for her to notice me.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

The salle was mine alone again today- the students were in class, the adepts were getting ready for the masque and I was practicing, as I usually did with my free time. Today I was in one of my plain gowns; usually I wore pants and a shirt, but I needed to make sure I still knew how to manuver in a dress, just in case. People thought I was silly for me to make such an effort with what they considered 'mandatory exercise', but it gave me a chance to focus and I had the natural grace to do well.

In one of my movements I caught something out of the corner of my eye and looked over- something familiar about this man, obviously a noble, made me look again. A noble for sure, but that familiarity.. Still, I knew my place before a noble. Smoothly I lowered my staff to rest parallel with the ground, held loosely in my hand, dropped into a low curtsey, my eyes still on him.

[Prince Sabriel de Trevalion]

I nodded my head politely as she stopped to curtsy. I stepped further into the salle, gesturing for her to stand.

“I didn’t know Dahlia encouraged their adepts to be able to fight. Is this a hobby or a requirement?” I asked, genuinely curious. I didn’t know a lot about the Night Court. As I said, I’d only just begun to enjoy it before I left Terre d’Ange.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

Standing, I set the butt of the staff against the ground and said, "A certain portion is mandatory, my lord, but I practice above and beyond what is required, as do some others." I met his gaze confidently, knowing that I was decently proficient with this skill.

[Prince Sabriel de Trevalion]

She was deserving of Dahlia, there was no doubt. Her self-assurance rolled off her in waves. I moved around her, circling her and never letting our gaze break.

“Would you be willing to give me a preview of your skills?” I asked, stopping and turning to fully face her. Perhaps she could be entertaining. And mayhap entertaining enough to match her skill with my own. Could it be I might want an assignation with this girl? I raised a brow at the thought and stepped back to allow her room to maneuver.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

Curiously I watched him, turning my head to follow him as he walked around me. "As you wish, my lord," I said with a respectful nod. I was still warmed up from my practice, but I was feeling the relative lack of attractiveness of my gown acutely.

[Prince Sabriel de Trevalion]

I glanced to my side, picking up a staff not unlike hers, simply much more plain in design. Twirling it between my fingers, I stepped closer to her. I raised the staff in a defensive position and nodded to her.

“Please, continue.” I said, waiting for her move. I had plenty of practice with all kinds of weapons and I was sure I could block her attacks well enough. Besides, this was only a demonstration, not a full-fledged fight. That would come later if she proved entertaining enough.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

Nodding again in acknowledgement I swung my staff low at his feet and then up into a two-handed grip. My movements were slow but smooth, not designed to hit flesh at the moment as much as keep distance open. Still, I was good enough to help others practice and that showed.

[Prince Sabriel de Trevalion]

I moved back from her swing without much trouble, knowing she would want to give herself room. I didn’t try to attack, simply watched and waited for her slightest movement, ready to parry her away. I saw in her eyes she was confident, though not one to brag of her skills. She obviously was well acquainted with her staff, something I could appreciate.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

With assuredness but as the same speed I started with a moderately skillful attack- anyone who offered to spar with an adept and appreciated the skill involved knew what they were doing. No use to bandy around the beginners tricks. Still, I held myself steady, expecting a parry or a dodge and not wanting to get thrown off-balance. Falling on my face would make me look irrepressibly stupid and I doubted my pride would ever recover.

[Prince Sabriel de Trevalion]

She was concentrating hard, and I wondered what it was she was thinking. I blocked her attack, stepping in closer to her.

“Don’t be afraid. I won’t break.” I murmured, eyes locked on her body movement, preparing for whatever she could throw at me.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

If he insisted- it was rare that I actually got to spar someone else using a staff, I seemed to be the only person who preferred it. Instantly, eyes glowing with the challenge of it, I slipped into the place between thought and action where a fighter lives, forethought, action, and reaction all joined seamlessly through one part skill, one part practice and one part instinct. I was not good enough to beat him, that much I knew in my bones, but I could at least put up a decent fight and do myself proud.

[Prince Sabriel de Trevalion]

I saw in her eyes the moment she accepted my challenge. I thought I’d be content to merely parry, but I decided to play only a little. I swung at her feet, knowing she would move back. Without waiting overly long, I struck towards her side, hoping she could block me and come back for more. I wanted to see what this little hellion could really do.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

Instinctively I blocked the attack and spun in for another attack of my own, eyes watchful and gleaming for the next one. It was like a rhythm to a dance like those my mother had taught for money in Mont Nuit to make ends meet and I had learned on her hip as I grew. I had said before that my first steps were a waltz and it was true; this was just another dance, another pattern of possibilites and counters. I revelled in it.

[Prince Sabriel de Trevalion]

I parried away her attack, watching her glittering eyes. It wouldn’t take much to see she truly enjoyed this. One corner of my lip tipped upwards at the thought. I sidestepped to the right, beginning a slow circle. As I did so, I sent another swing towards her, this time directed at her head.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

A blow for my skull- instictively I spun low, ducking the staff that was wielded in an attack at me, and got under his guard, aiming my own blow as a swipe to his legs from behind with the heavier butt end of the staff. Since it was sparring I didn't go for the back of his knees as I usually would have, but it was typically effective nonetheless. Once I had him on the ground I was pretty much a guaranteed victory for me. Maybe I was good enough to pull this off.

[Prince Sabriel de Trevalion]

She moved as I hoped she would, striking for my legs to have me on the ground. But it was still hard to move fluidly from the attack to a dive roll, even with my experience. Truthfully, I’d been out of practice. I managed, though, diving sideways and rolling onto the floor. I jumped up to face her, giving a small smile.

“Very impressive.” I said. “Have you ever been contracted for a fight?”

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

Matching is smile I raised a brow curiously. "No, my lord- Eglantine is the house one usually goes to for any sort of mastery in a skill." My stance was regal as always, but also relaxed. "That does not mean I would not be open to such a thing though."

[Prince Sabriel de Trevalion]

I nodded, remembering Eglantine’s wide array of skillful adepts.

“I might consider asking your Dowayne to arrange it.” I said, thinking over the thought aloud. I didn’t quite know why I wanted to contract her for a fight, but I knew the idea was pleasing. I returned my staff to its stand and turned back to her.

“I suppose I should ask your name if I’m to know who to request.” I said, watching her and wondering if she had any idea who I was. I knew I looked like my brother, but who could make the connection? Honestly, I didn’t want anyone to know until my brother realized I wasn’t a ghost. I suppose I took a risk coming here where my brother had surely visited. Right now, I didn’t regret my audacious choice. And I hoped I wouldn’t.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

It certainly was not a request that had ever been asked of me before or even considered by a patron of any sort as far as I am aware, but it was certainly better than some things I have heard of adepts being asked to do. Nodding gracefully in understanding I kept my chin high and met his gaze as though I were a person of equal standing- after all, I was still a human being, peer or noble or not. "Allisande, my lord," I said. What was so familiar? It didn't matter, as I wouldn't have discussed a prior patron anyway, even with a family member.

[Prince Sabriel de Trevalion]

My lips curved as she answered, and I gave a small nod.

“Very well, Allisande. I shall leave the contract with your Dowayne. Should you choose to accept my offer, I’m sure your Dowayne will contact me.” I said, turning away and leaving her without another word. I stopped an adept in the hall to ask where the Dowayne could be found. After receiving directions, and allowing the Dowayne to be told I was coming, I entered her office.

“Good morning, my lord. I am Sabrie, Dowayne of Dahlia. I hear you’re interested in contracting an adept.” She said, giving a controlled smile. I’m sure she wasn’t sure how to address me considering she didn’t know who I was. I smiled to myself, not about to tell her.

“Perhaps. It’s quite an unusual request of a Dahlia adept.” I said, moving closer to the desk at which she sat. She gave me a nod, waiting for me to continue. I told her of Allisande and our time in the salle. I could see she was following my story and what I was about to ask of her. As I finished, asking for the contract, she was quiet.

“You know we are not the house to request this of. We do not specialize in this at all. Allisande is quite talented, there is no doubt, but she is not an expert.” Sabrie finally spoke.

“I realize that.” I said, “But I’d still like you to consider it. You don’t have to give me an answer now, but I’d like you to present it to Allisande. Should you choose to allow her and she chooses to accept, I would be quite grateful. I will be at the White Hart Manor awaiting word.” I gave her a smile and turned to leave.

“My lord—” She stopped me. “I have no idea who you are.”

“I’m not one to refuse.” I said. “If you would decline my request, I would be willing to wait until the time was right for me to tell you and your adept who I am.”

She gave me a blank stare and I could tell she wasn’t quite following.

“Good day, Sabrie.” I said, giving a nod. And with that, I left Dahlia and made my way to the White Hard Manor to find a room.

[Allisande nó Dahlia]

I was still in the salle practicing when Sabrie came to see me and I knew what it was about. Luckily, I knew she would trust my words; I told her the lord had seemed trustworthy as far as I was aware and even confided the slight feeling of similarity. Sighing but placing her faith in me and my exemplary behavior I was handed a contract and a quill and I signed it; I never turned a patron away, I had made a vow. At Sabrie's nod I went to my room to change into something decent and then left for the White Hart.