|
Post by Mael Leblanc on Sept 11, 2011 0:12:14 GMT -5
"What do you think he wants now?!" I snarled in Adrien's direction as I paced, though technically Gillermo hadn't wanted anything in the past week, that was fine by me, I was content to avoid him even after I heard that the man from the clinic had passed in the night, gone to face Kushiel's judgement, and quite possibly His wrath.
But justice was not yet served, not fully, one man was dead, at least, his companions, however, still drew breath.
One of them had killed my mother. No, a group had killed my mother, one had just held the knife that slit her throat.
I pulled my thoughts away from painful memories to focus on the present, and the past week. I wondered if it was remorse that led me to leave a basket of healing herbs near the healers' tent, or to tend to the horses' tack, or any number of small tasks that I performed to make things a little easier for the camp's denizens.
Outwardly, though, I was still in a foul mood.
"I'd wager he's keeping us waiting out of spite!" I grumbled. "He is a very busy man, Mael," Adrien replied. "D'Angeline wars can be so complicated..." "Says you!" I shot back, beginning to fidget with my blindfold. Maybe he was really going to keep us waiting all day...
|
|
|
Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 13, 2011 2:32:05 GMT -5
There were several considerations which had prompted me to eventually seek out Mael and Adrien for a proper reconciliation. If I was coldly objective and calculating, which I'd learned to become over years and years of training in political scheming, Mael held, after a fashion, my house and my stewardess hostage. It wasn't a thought I liked to entertain – for one, I felt responsible for Raisa. For two, and that fed into another consideration much more subjective, I liked Mael, and misliked that our current strife led me to question the unconditional trust which I'd given him in my time of need.
The truth was, I felt like I was losing a friend, and I couldn't account for an abundance of those, these days.
So I'd finally talked myself into seeking them out, between two skirmishes with the Skaldi. I hoped the war would end soon – I disliked telling Mirielle what to do, but as things went, a truce seemed like the only avenue to this mad series of bloodbaths. Proud as we all were, though, it seemed unlikely.
In the interim, I'd received word from Leandre, and a present along with it, which had saved my life more than once. Bless the man, and bless his book. I only prayed his travails on Siovale would be to his advantage.
It was in this divided frame of mind that I found myself wandering over to their tent – I'd crafted the excuse of a reconnaissance for which I wanted a trusted escort, and one as discreet as Adrien could be.
And so I found myself interrupting an odd conversation, which I rejoined seemlessly.
“Complicated, bloody and desperate,” I completed after them. “Adrien has the right of it.”
|
|
|
Post by Mael Leblanc on Sept 17, 2011 19:43:26 GMT -5
I heard someone coming before Gillermo's voice slid smoothly into our conversation. I could have taught him to be quiet enough to fool even my ears, but I was not feeling charitable, especially due to what had transpired a week ago.
"What's this I hear, Adrien?" I asked, scowling. "Another high-and-mighty noblemen come to mingle with the plebs, tired of the high-and-mighty company he keeps?" I turned in the direction his voice had come from. "What do you want? Here to tell me you have decided to show mercy to the lot of my mother's murderers, now?" It was perhaps, not the wisest thing I had ever said, but Gillermo had been around me long enough to know that I could say the most irrational things when I was angry.
|
|
|
Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 19, 2011 21:08:09 GMT -5
“Yes, yes, a former slave come to walk among free men,” I replied mildly, and passed by Mael to come sit by a tree stump. I reached into my bag and plucked an apple from it, which I bit into with a crunch.
“Now, you can keep whimpering like an angry princess at a loss for ribbons, or you can make yourself useful,” I said after I'd swallowed my bite. I crunched again, took my sweet time masticating the apple – in fact, I was cultivating my calm so as to further infuriate Mael.
“I'm noting you're still here, though you've been relieved of your oath, both of you. Interesting.”
I spoke on a deliberately dispassionate tone. There was enough emotion in this conversation without me adding my own.
|
|
|
Post by Mael Leblanc on Sept 19, 2011 22:11:46 GMT -5
I'd never wanted to strangle a man in my life as much as I wanted to strangle Gillermo at that moment.
"I do not recall you relieving me of it!" I snapped. "I recall you giving me the choice to stay or move on to Eisande, and unless you are as blind as I am, you will have noticed that I am still here after a week!"
I began to pace again. "It took me forever to find those whetstones for you, you know," I remarked. "I suppose you also did not notice the herbs left outside the healer's tent, but of course, you only go there if you've sustained injuries, yes?" I could hear him munching on something, and so I stomped in that direction.
"Do you think, Gillermo Stregazza, that because I do not wear cumbersome armor and flail about with a sword that I do not do my part to aid you, or do you need me to be stuck to your side like a Cassiline?" I turned to the side and spat. "They still call me your kitchen boy, you know, among other things." Unexpectedly, I grinned. "They should know that a blind man makes a terrible cook."
|
|
|
Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 22, 2011 10:07:01 GMT -5
I tried not to smile through the apple juice that was trickling slowly on the left side of my chin. Ah, Mael. Of course. Too proud to admit that he wanted to stay, too proud also to claim his loyalty. In truth, I liked that man – even and maybe because of his volatile temper. I suppose I recognized a younger Gillermo underneath the blond Eisandine. If I'd had a guess to make, I suspected he had Azzalese blood running in his veins as true as Mirielle or I did.
I resolved to show him a lighter side of me, and laughed, “Ah, my friend, you really do have the temper. You'll have to tell me who has the audacity of calling my Captain a kitchen boy – discipline should be enacted upon them, or did you handle that already yourself?”
Of course, I'd used the whetstones – though not as much as expected, perhaps, for Leandre's blade had been a wonder. Yet my sword still needed to be kept sharp to chop off Skaldi heads. For the herbs, though, truth was, I'd not seen it – ah, bless his heart.
|
|
|
Post by Mael Leblanc on Sept 22, 2011 11:11:44 GMT -5
I snorted. "I am well aware that I need to maintain some semblance of...propriety...so I merely told them that if they said such to me again, I would report it to their commanding officer." I scowled. "How do you nobles stand it? If he had said somesuch thing in Night's Doorstep he would have walked away from a thrashing--if he walked away at all."
I sat on the ground. "Now I find myself having to say: 'Yes, my lady, what lovely weather we have to-day! Have you heard how Lord Fournier has been carrying on scandalously with Lady Martin? How shameful!'"
"Has he?" Adrien asked from my left.
"Oh, no, Lord Fournier is quite the upright man, from what I've heard, I was just using him as an example," I clarified, turning my attention to Gillermo. "I am finding it difficult to adjust to the fact that I may be insulting someone by not using the correct utensils. May you never rise in station so much that every word that comes out of your mouth is scrutinized for its level of insult to everyone, Gillermo. It's hard enough as your...Captain."
|
|
|
Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 22, 2011 14:06:51 GMT -5
Somehow I had the niggling impression that this conversation would one day come back to haunt me. I couldn't have told why, though, so i let that be a fleeting thought, and smiled a little at the exchange. “I'm sure Lord Fournier would appreciate your praise,” I said teasingly, “and I'll make sure to control my rise in station, seeing as I'm just about to die, smothered by ducal obligations. For now,” I added as I rose, “even though I may risk heroism and further glory, I must go and do my duty.”
A pause, and a small smile. “I was rather hoping for company – it's a reconnaissance mission, and a rather short one at that. Sharp ears and stealthy feet are more than an asset, then.”
As well as a quiet tongue, but I didn't add that – no need to give Mael another excuse to crow about.
|
|
|
Post by Mael Leblanc on Sept 22, 2011 14:54:40 GMT -5
I tilted my head to the side. The conversation had taken an abrupt turn towards very interesting. "I think I know two very discreet individuals who will be able to help you." I said, my grin widening. "Does it have anything to do with Messire Florence? I can hear him counting coins when he doesn't think anyone's listening to him. People do have a dreadful tendency to assume that because I am blind my ears are stoppered with wax, and I do have a talent for remembering voices." I rose to my feet, automatically brushing myself off.
|
|
|
Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 22, 2011 23:07:06 GMT -5
Coin, interesting. “Ah, I wish it did, but not of yet,” I replied. “Though I do reckon we'll be on our way south as soon as peace breaks and roads are practicable once more.”
I said nothing more, but let matters hang, so as to indicate that I might have business of my own to tend to, in relation to the infamous Danton. Part of me was playing with my friends a little. “But walk with me. This requires a few special things.”
|
|
|
Post by Mael Leblanc on Sept 23, 2011 0:00:58 GMT -5
I took Adrien's hand and we began to move. "Keep pace with him," I reminded him, hearing a snort in reply.
"What sort of 'special things'?" I asked, a tad suspicious. "The last time someone offered me a job involving 'special things', he was talking about poison and the liberal application of same in ways that I do not want to think about at this time....or ever!"
|
|
|
Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 23, 2011 0:23:21 GMT -5
I couldn't help but glance at Mael and Adrien, an eyebrow raised quizzically, then decided this was something I probably didn't want to know anything about.
“No,” I replied seriously as we walked towards the barracks. “It simply requires stealthier than what we are wearing, and long range weaponry for Adrien and myself.”
Mostly, though, I wanted Mael's ears – I trusted that he would know to keep quiet once we were out.
|
|
|
Post by Mael Leblanc on Sept 23, 2011 1:07:01 GMT -5
I didn't think I was wearing anything that was particularly cumbersome, and I was not making much noise already, unless my ears were faulty.
"I understand," I said softly. "But I've never heard Adrien pick up a bow before..."
"I can manage," came the reply.
"So, what requires all these special preparations?" I asked. "Surely you are perfectly capable of hunting for meat on your own?" Unless, of course, we were hunting for humans, likely Skaldi, although I shuddered at the thought of hunting Skaldi. They were giant in stature, or so I was given to understand.
|
|
|
Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 24, 2011 21:32:29 GMT -5
The truth of it was, I just wanted an excuse to spend time with Mael and Adrien, away from the camp. Still, came the reply, a little white lie.
“As I said, reconnaissance,” I repeated. “Must you always insist with questions, princess?”
It seemed I would have a hard time not calling Mael that – at least, for a time.
|
|
|
Post by Mael Leblanc on Sept 24, 2011 22:33:54 GMT -5
"If you do not stop calling me that, I will flay you alive!" I snarled, even though we both knew that I did not mean a word of it. "It's a bit hard to slip into the proper state of mind for reconnaissance if you haven't told me exactly what it is I am listening for!" I wished he would stop being so obtuse, then maybe I could get something done for him.
|
|
|
Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 24, 2011 23:18:43 GMT -5
I grinned a bit wider. “Mael, use your brain for something else than coming up with colorful rants,” I teased. “Where are we, Messire Captain?”
At this point, I was just enjoying making him go on, and on, and on. It was becoming a game of which I could hardly tire.
|
|
|
Post by Mael Leblanc on Sept 24, 2011 23:37:09 GMT -5
I stopped and placed my hands on my hips. "If this is all just a wild goose chase, I'll have you know that I am not amused by it!" I sniffed the air. "I smell smoke, and men and women who have not bathed recently. I also hear the annoying chattering of a Serenissiman nobleman of my acquaintance." If I had been putting any effort into sensing my surroundings, I could have said much more, but not while I was annoyed with my employer.
|
|
|
Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 25, 2011 17:52:12 GMT -5
“That would be the precise picture of our surroundings,” I replied, impressed. “But I was asking you in general. If a man such as you, with your ears, were to be able to drop his ears in convenient places, don't you think I'd ask you to eavesdrop on more interesting subjects than bathing folk?”
|
|
|
Post by Mael Leblanc on Sept 26, 2011 20:29:24 GMT -5
I thought about what his words implied for a moment before scowling.
"Are you telling me that this 'reconnaissance' was a mere ploy to engage me in conversation?" I snarled. "You did not have to go through all the trouble of lying to me, you know? I would have had to converse with you sooner or later." It seemed like such a waste to make the effort to deceive someone if all one wanted was an honest conversation.
|
|
|
Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Sept 28, 2011 11:33:07 GMT -5
“Mael, the day one won't need pincers to handle you has not come yet,” I said quietly. “Do y ou realize that in one breath, you have almost broken your oath to me and left my service? A commission, which, as I recall, you accepted readily in the firsts place and pledged yourself to on the road, but which you were quick to disparage in front of the Regent Sovereign Duchess, my future wife. I do realize that you are angry, Mael, and I have time and time again attempted to show you that I respect you as I would any other man, regardless of his birth. However, I do not believe that you are returning the courtesy, and frankly, I am tired of it. Your attitude needs to change, and sooner rather than later.”
|
|
|
Post by Mael Leblanc on Sept 29, 2011 13:43:29 GMT -5
I have never had much patience for lecturing, and that moment was no exception. "Unless my memory is faulty, we have been through this before," I said acidly. "If I am too rough around the edges for you, you should have thought twice before making me that offer in Night's Doorstep. I gave Adrien's hand a squeeze, was reassured when he squeezed it back.
"I gather your future wife does not like me very much," I said dryly. She had excused herself rather abruptly, and it did not take my sensitive ears to hear that she had been uncomfortable. "What have you told her about me?" I could safely assume that Gillermo had shared a portion of my history with her, but even he did not know the whole of it.
I sighed. "Since we're being honest with each other, perhaps I should tell you the method by which I made money for six years. I wonder if you would understand then..."
|
|
|
Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Oct 1, 2011 1:01:58 GMT -5
Ah, Mael. “Leave Mirielle out of it,” I said dryly, “and that's not something I'm going to ask twice. Rough is one thing. Downright rude to your friends, whoever they are, is another. I am not, Monsieur Leblanc, a slave at your bidding. I would be grateful if you remembered that fact.”
In truth that was the crux of it. To hear us speak, one might have thought that Mael gave the orders and I followed, betimes. I wanted to think of us as a team – and that didn't mean I was going to be a rug for him to wipe his boots on.
[OOC: I don't know yet what he told Miri, thread is, er, still happening...]
|
|
|
Post by Mael Leblanc on Oct 1, 2011 19:33:15 GMT -5
"Oh, now you're just being unreasonable!" I exclaimed. "Last I checked, your men still obey you, not me. 'Tis hardly my fault if you feel you are at the beck and call of a man fresh from boyhood! Why not give an order to lock me in the latrine if you feel so powerless?!"
I was aware of the silence all of a sudden, and I could feel eyes on us.
"Mael, you're shouting," Adrien hissed in my ear.
"Well, it's not as if I can glare back at them!" I snarled, lowering my voice this time before speaking. "My point, Gillermo, is that as much as you profess that a person's station does not matter, everyone else can see that it does. I'm not a noble, and the sort of social circles that Mirielle and her ilk surround themselves with will never be mine. Stone, Adrien," I felt him press a rock into my hand, which I hurled, hearing a satisfying thump as it struck a hard surface--a tree, most likely--that made me feel marginally better.
"So if you want me to keep trying to be something I'm not, then I..." This was so frustrating! Why couldn't he understand my position?!
"I miss Night's Doorstep," I said finally. "I miss my godsforsaken hole in the wall and my friends and even that bedamned Pit where I fought for coin! I don't miss nearly starving to death, but it seems like all anyone ever does at fetes is stand around and do absolutely nothing!"
|
|
|
Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Oct 3, 2011 23:25:49 GMT -5
[OOC: Relocated to KL, here.
|
|