The Day After Mandrake

[Maric du Verais]

I felt different this morning.

I rose very early this morning, just as the sun began to break through into the sky. There was an exhaustion that wracked my body, but a sense of invigoration that made it hard to sleep. I ate early and made my way to the courtyard where there was an open space to work through my routine.

Since I was ten my father had been teaching me to wield a sword. He even went so far as to allow our guard captain to teach me some combat moves. It was one of my hopes that I could join the Queen's Army when I reached my majority. My father had teased me, calling me his little Camaeline, but he new just as much as me that it would bring our family honor. I had been practicing more frequently the last two years or so, but I had yet to do them since I had arrived in the City. But today felt like a good day to start.

The sun was just beginning to warm the earth when I took my sword from its sheath and plunged it into the ground. It wabbled back and forth as I kicked off my boots and then proceeded to pull off the white shirt I had been wearing, leaving me in nothing but my black breeches.

I knew the long deep welts were streaked across my back but I didn't care. I bore them with pride. I had felt nothing like the way I felt today, there was a sense of clarity in my life. True, I was still confused about Sophine and even more confused about Lilli. But I at least didn't feel the way I had before. Today I felt like man, today I felt sure and confident. There was something about being with Avianna, about being with a woman that made me feel like a man and not the boy I had been. It was a start at least.

I took a deep breath in and began to move, taking smooth and quick steps as I swung the sword at my invisible foe, wincing every now and then as my skin pulled at my welts.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I was combing out my hair after my morning bath when I heard odd sounds out in the courtyard. Putting my brush down, I went to the window and spied Maric going through patterns with his sword. I might have simply stayed at the window to watch, but he had been avoiding being alone with me for days now, ever since Sophine de Layne's natale. It was time to deal with whatever it was that was between us, for even my uncle was beginning to notice.

When I came to the courtyard, I saw the welts across his back. I had thought that he had been moving oddly, and this must have been the cause. My brow furrowed as I waited for Maric to notice me.

[Maric du Verais]

I was concentrating on my movement, taking each step in its proper form, swinging my sword as it was an extention of my body, or at least I was trying. When I came to a final move, a large upward and backward swing as you drop to one knee. It was meant to be a killing blow and I had been having particular trouble with it so I was doing again. I turned as I made the correct steps landing me onto my knees, I grinned, breathing a bit hard as I stayed still. I glanced up and noticed the figure of Lilli standing there and my smile faded, but only a little. I stood, grasping the handle of my sword, point down, I bobbed a small bow to her.
"My lady." I said softly.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Hello Maric," I said, my voice as soft as his. He was uncomfortable, and it made me want to sigh in confusion. "I didn't know you were training with the blade."

[Maric du Verais]

I looked at the sword, picking it up a little off the ground where it rested before letting my arm fall to the side. I shook it a little before holding it front of myself again and began to walk toward her.
"I have been for a few years." I said once I was closer, though still at a polite difference. "I plan to join the Queen's Army when I reach my majority." I added.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"I hope you haven't been getting into any fights lately," I said, watching the way he held the sword as he edged closer.

[Maric du Verais]

I chuckled softly and shook my head, my manner easing a little as I did.
"No," I said and shook my head. "No fights. The only people I plan to fight are people we're at war with." I chuckled softly again.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Well, it looks like you've been in a fight. Looks like you were on the loosing end," I said, confused by his lighthearted manner when he was moving so oddly.

[Maric du Verais]

"These?" I asked turning my back toward her and then couldn't help but smile as I looked back to her.
"I went to Mandrake."

[Lillianne Prévost]

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Oh?" I didn't know what to think.

[Maric du Verais]

I smiled softly and chuckled, some what amused by the look on her face. I retrieved my scabbard and then moved toward a bench. I sat down, sheathing my sword then looked to Lilli and gestured for her to come sit.
"I met a girl at L'Roches, ever been?" I asked curiously as I leaned back and rested against the wood bench, my feel sticking out with my ankles crossed.

[Lillianne Prévost]

He had the look of the cat who had caught the canary. And he clearly wished to tell the story. So I sat on the bench without complaint. "No, but I've heard of it."

[Maric du Verais]

I nodded.
"Its...I've never seen anything like it." I said as I looked at her. "You should go, I'll take you if you want." I added smiling.
"I've been exploring the city a lot since I arrived. It really is amazing here, I think I'm quite taken." I chuckled as I looked at her.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"And the girl from Mandrake?" I asked, still rather mystified. If I had the welts on his back, I wouldn't have been nearly so chipper.

[Maric du Verais]

"Avianna." I said looking at her and smiling fondly at my memories of my Mandrake fox.
"I've never met anyone like her." I added as I shivered, remembering the pleasure.
"Dripping in lust and power." I shook my head as I looked at then leaned foward as my feet pulled back toward me and tucked under the bench.

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Do you fall in love with every girl you meet?" I asked, the words out of my mouth before I even had time to process them. They brought up memories of Sophine's fete, and I clapped my mouth shut, so embarrassed that I rose and turned away.

[Maric du Verais]

I laughed as I leaned back once more, my feet sticking out as she rose and turned from me, one hand going across my stomach as I laughed.
"I hardly think thats fair to say." I chuckled as I looked at her back.

[Lillianne Prévost]

He laughed, and it pricked my pride. "And why not?" I asked, turning back to him. "First Sophine, then me, now an adept. And not a Valerian, but a Mandrake. You're as mercurial as a breeze."

[Maric du Verais]

I stood, knitting my brows as I came toward her.
"First of all I've known Sophine since I was ten, and I didn't just fall in love with her, it was only after years of time with her that I realized my feelings." I said raising my hand and pointing my finger as if to make my point.
"And I'm not in love with Avianna, I admire her. She's also willing to give me what I keep being denied by the woman in my life...a little reciprecation." I sighed and turned back to the bench, slumping down into it as I looked to the ground.
"I'm not in love with you either. You seem to think very highly of yourself if you think I've fallen for you that easily." I looked to her.
"Besides I was just about to say that I was confused that evening." I said, glancing away back to the ground.
"I like you Lilli, but I think its best if we just remain friends, keep out any complications." I looked back to her once more.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I sighed and passed a hand over my face, trying not to get upset from his accusatory finger and aggressive steps forward. I never did well with conflict. "I know you were confused that evening. That's why I said no. If it takes a Mandrake adept to make you realize it and stop avoiding me, fine. But when I met you, I thought that you were an honest person. Forgive me if it led me to jump to conclusions."

With that I turned away to head inside. He had upset me again, and I didn't want him to take anymore shots at me.

[Maric du Verais]

I furrowed my brows, putting down my sword and jumping up to follow after her.
"I am and honest person." I said once I was just a little ways behind her, then jogged forward so that I could stand in front of her.
"How have I not been honest?" I asked as I stood in front of her, though not close, I didn't want her to feel as though I was being agressive. My tone was calm and soft as I looked at her.

[Lillianne Prévost]

He stepped in front of me, and I ground to a halt. "You're not honest with yourself Maric. And I don't want to fight against that, and have you be mad at me." I knew much more of this and I was going to start crying, and I tried to keep myself calm and not let that happen.

[Maric du Verais]

I furrowed my brows as I looked at her.
"I'm..." I swallowed, this girl seemed be the only girl who had ever spoken to be about who I was and I couldn't help but be both confused and curious.
"What do you mean?" I asked feeling the confusion set in deeper. "I don't understand what your talking about."

[Lillianne Prévost]

I crossed my arms beneath my small breasts. "You're a confused adolescent boy. Fine. You're sexually pent up. Fine. I'm used to dealing with that in the boys I know. But you're Kushieline too. And you have desires that I don't understand, but I see them when you can't control your thoughts. So between that and your sexual tension, you're insufferable some days." My frustration finally crept into my voice.

[Maric du Verais]

I had to say, I felt a little shocked as she spoke and I felt my jaw drop open slightly as I listened. When she finished speaking I blush, deep and dark from the roots of my hair to my chest. I could feel the heat spread through me like a wild fire and I felt utterly embarassed.
"I'm not very...good at keeping it in." I replied as I looked at her and swallowed. "I'm sorry that I'm ... insufferable. I do want to be your friend, I'm sorry if I make that hard for you." I really did feel like a horse's ass in that moment.

[Lillianne Prévost]

I sighed and looked at the ground. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you. But you did ask," I reminded him, telling myself not to feel horrible.

[Maric du Verais]

"Oh I'm not embarassed." I said as I looked at her and then realized I was at least a little.
"Well, thats not true, I'm a little embarased. Mostly because no one has ever spoken to me like you do." I smiled more broadly.
"Thats why I like you Lilli, you tell me things others won't. I hope you always do that, it makes you a wonderful person."

[Lillianne Prévost]

"That's what I do, keep everyone honest," I replied with another sigh. I didn't like moments like these, when I said to much. I was just glad that Maric wasn't mad at me for it. "Now please talk to Sophine before you explode."

[Maric du Verais]

I smiled and nodded to her.
"Alright." I said softly. "But for now, tell me more about yourself. I feel as though I never get a chance to actually talk to you. I want to know more about you, if we're going to be friends."

[Lillianne Prévost]

"Let's go sit," I said, indicating a pair of chairs at the edge of the garden. "What do you want to know?"