End of an Era [MAIN PLOT]

[Emma]

It was the night of the Renaissance, and throughout Broddring, celebration set the streets on fire. Fireworks painted the oil-black sky in bright colours, and a great deal of decoration and eagerly milling humans crowded the lit streets. I had witnessed it several times on diplomacy missions to Broddring in the last ten years, and I would have witnessed it again if the Gala hadn’t required my attendance. Here, at the palace, the sky was an empty canvas studded only with stars. In the distance, most prominently in Lowtower, I could see the bright lights and hear drunken singing and jesting. But in Hightower and Azuan’s castle, the nobility liked to be more dignified about their joy.

I sat stone still in my palanquin, sucking in warm gusts of air. I was peering through the screen of the curtain- tinted dark so that I could look out, but none could look in. In the distance, I could hear the dismal singing of drunken humans as they cavorted like the fools they were, but here it was silent. The canvas of the sky was empty save for the blinking stars studding it. The moon had yet to rise, and the night of the winter solstice would be a long one. I closed my eyes, dreading tonight’s ball. Dancing and socializing were my weakest points. In the absence of having a proper son, my father had instructed me in the ways of war and discipline, not gossiping.

But I had always figured it was for the better. I had never understood what was so gratifying about whispering hated words behind backs, or how swooning rather than arming oneself was the proper response to danger. After hours of self-reflection, I had long ago decided that I was proud of who I was. However, thinking back to the social awkwardness I displayed at such events, I couldn’t help but feel a touch of anxiety deep within me. But I quelled it forcefully, pressing my lips into a thin line. Dwelling on the matter wouldn’t solve the issue. It was only a few hours, and then I could return home to Du Weldenvarden. Just a few hours of humans and their madness.

The palanquin was suddenly gently set down, and I straightened, waiting for the curtain to be pulled back by one of my soldiers. As it was, I was hit with the icy blast of winter air. The interior of the palanquin had had a shield of sorts added magically around it to preserve the heat within. One of my soldiers, Relas, poked his head around and nodded at me. I stood, gratefully stretching my legs and stepping out onto the cobblestones. It had been snowing this morning when I had arrived in the grand manor in Hightower set aside for important guests, but the courtyard had been swept clean.

“Orders, sir?” quipped another soldier, Nuada. Along with him and Relas, I had one other man, Valkyn, and a female lieutenant called Siofra.
“Siofra, you will enter the dance hall immediately. Nuada will join you in fifteen minutes. Valkyn and Relas will follow once the guests have all arrived.”
“And until then, General?”
“Do some reconnaissance. In the hall, you four will avoid each other and myself unless trouble arises. I’d rather you kept your ties with me secret.”

Siofra was already making a beeline for the castle, which loomed threateningly before us, not quite as black as the sky above. My remaining three men split off in opposite directions. With a long sigh, I adjusted my heavy black cloak, and began to walk. I went around the castle, not wanting to enter just yet. Instead, I eyed the human soldiers, who eyed me right back. There weren’t many, only enough to keep the peace. The courtyard was mostly full of slaves in black and gold livery stumbling back and forth, shivering. Beyond the courtyard, and behind the castle, it appeared to be empty except for said slaves- I suspected the main reason the guards were posted was to keep the nobles from killing each other, not for any actual threat. I relaxed, closing my eyes.

A sound from behind me, however, drew my attention. Footsteps along the snow, trailing along behind me. I did not speed up, slow down, or make any other indication that I’d heard the noise. I merely kept walking. In front of me, a small building, probably used as a storehouse, caught my eye. I moved around it, disappearing from the person’s view. Then, hurriedly, I grabbed the low shingles of the roof and hoisted myself up, going on all fours. Once suitably out of sight, I looked down. A figure cloaked in black, and hooded, was making for the corner I’d rounded. I waited patiently. When they went around, they halted, staring at where my footprints stopped. And then, almost too late, upturned their face. I saw skin darkened from sunlight and deep blue eyes, and leapt from the rooftop, blade already out.

A sword was raised to meet mine, surprising me as I landed on one knee in the snow. Kieran spun out of range, and then spun back, aiming to slash at me. I stood and raised my sword to block his attack both in one fluid motion, deflecting it with ease. The blades slipped and slid with metallic screeches against each other, clanging in the silence. Two minutes passed with nothing to show for it, and I dimly realized that my little brother had improved since I’d last seen him over two hundred years ago. This only fuelled my anger, and I struck him viciously across the waist with the flat of my blade. He stumbled awkwardly, but didn’t lose his balance. Before he could recover, however, I whacked him again, just under his knees, and he went down. Sucking in breaths of the icy air, I held my sword underneath his throat, just close enough for it to bite the skin there.

“So,” he said. “I suppose it’s a little late for an apology?”
“You suppose correctly.”
“Look, bitch,” he sneered, “I didn’t come here to beg for your forgiveness. I’m actually here on behalf of my daught-”
“Bastard, you can stop right there,” I hissed back. “Your half-breed family isn’t gonna inspire sympathy in-”

I broke off because he removed a knife from somewhere in his robes and flung it at me. Not quite quick enough, it grazed my left cheekbone as I dodged it. Then his sword was up and out again. This time, I fought harsher and more definitely, and Kieran gave ground. Moving closer, I moved faster and faster, my blade crackling round in a ring. Within a minute, Kieran’s sword flew from his grip, and he had suffered a blow to the right temple. Panting, I kneeled, pointing my sword at him again. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a guard gawking, and then turning to shout something. Not tonight, then. Sheathing my sword, I decided to leave my brother with one last threat.

“You and I,” I hissed, “have unfinished business. And not a damned thing you’ve done- including knocking up a human- is gonna change that.”
He smiled through the blood on his face. “There’s my little soldier girl.”

One uppercut had him sprawling in the snow, and I stood and moved away, hurrying back to the courtyard and not looking back. I only paused once to wipe the minimal blood off my blade onto the snow, and then kept moving. Once I was back in the courtyard, I raised a gloved hand to my face, muttering a minor healing spell- one of the few bits of magic I could manage. The cut disappeared, and I wiped away the blood. Many guests now crowded the low stone steps leading up to the castle courtyard, and I moved to join them. I pushed the raging thoughts of Kieran to the back of my head as I went. Now was not the time. I needed a clear head for meeting the Prophet.

---

Nighttime had arrived, and the guests with it.

My red-painted fingernails tapped softly against the table, the finely manicured points making a rhythmic rattle against the polished wood. A wine glass was in my other hand. I was gazing across the enormous banquet table at the doors at the other end of the room, but also at the man I could just see out of the corner of my eye. Edan Valaician, the middle-aged army general of Broddring, had plenty reason to be upset. But he was calm and collected, almost relaxed as he stared in the direction I was looking in. A pious family man, I had been hoping to see if I could unnerve him- and had so far failed. A pity. But then, if there was going to be any violence tonight, it would likely be started by that frigid elven bitch General Myaja Kolbjorn, not him.

“Humans and elves together,” I purred, sipping my wine. “And not fighting. Beautiful, no?”
“If you like.”
“Aren’t you worried, General?” I asked primly. “That something could happen? One misdirected insult, a drunken fool… to start the second Blue Divide?”
“It’s possible,” he stated. “But I wouldn’t expect a Gaul to know anything of war.”
“Half, General,” I chuckled into my glass. “Only half.”

The smooth varnish of the table caught my eye. Leaning over, I saw my own translucent reflection within. Placing one caramel hand on my flawless cheek, I gazed at myself in admiration- the perfect symmetry of my face, my moist red lips, the kohl-lined eyes- the irises of which were honey-golden tonight- and the way my ebon locks hung in soft waves down my shoulders, framing my face. I ran my fingers through my hair and tossed it. I could see Edan watching me, but he said nothing. In silent answer, I adjusted my outfit- which was nothing but a jewelled red cloth wrapped around my waist, scarlet heels, and rubies adorning my chest. But again, he didn’t say a word.

My little vanity holiday was interrupted when a secret door was flung open, and a tiny girl in the black-and-gold dress of a slave came scurrying towards me. I finished my wine and glanced at her patiently as she stopped to regain her breath, blonde hair clinging to her sweaty face. Once she had some composure, she bowed deeply.

“Your holiness,” she sputtered, “many guests are arrived.” She spoke broken common tongue with a heavy Skandian accent. “Will you be letting zem in, please?”
I glanced at Edan, and then at the girl, smiling sweetly at her. “Lead the way, dearest.”

Like a dog eager to be walked, the slave scuttled over to the doors leading to the ballroom, and hovered impatiently. I took my time in rising to my feet, eyeing Edan. He proffered his arm, which I graciously took, and we walked across the room, my heels clicking against the polished stone floor. Once we reached the girl, she kindly opened the door for the both of us. The moment we were through, she slammed it shut, bolting it and then yelling in her native tongue for the table to be set. I halted, gazing at the ballroom while still linking arms with Edan.

When he could be bothered to show it, King Azuan Angrenost certainly had excellent taste.

Most of the ballroom was deliberately polished white marble, interlaced with real gold. It was circular, with small balconies overlooking the entire hall. A band was setting up at the far side of the room, nervously glancing towards the steps that led up to the entrance hall, where the guests would be pouring down from. Decorative golden curtains- some covering windows, others hiding secret passages- lined the entire room. Portraits of the kings and queens of old were between them, and on the floor was the emblem of Broddring- a circle with nine smaller circles around it. The Nine Moons. My gaze, however, was drawn back to the flight of stairs as the doors were flung open.

The amount of guests that came down them, a literal flood of people, made me quirk a dark eyebrow. The entrance hall lay before this ballroom, and most of them had likely been waiting there for as long as a few hours. Chatter filled the halls as slaves came bounding out, armed with wine glasses and long lists to declare the more important of the visitors. One came up behind me, a small pale boy, to remind me of any names I forgot. Releasing Edan, I began to walk along the crowd that had arrived, casting my gaze over them all and giving gracious greetings. However, I noticed lapses of silence in the general conversation. Humans and elves eyed each other, suspicious.

“Your Holiness,” came a snarky voice from behind me. “Lookin’ good.”

I turned to see a very tall man, hovering a foot over me and watching me with a salacious grin. He was an elf, and very pale, with long white hair, several locks of which had been braided. He was dressed in an elegant black coat, the actual material of which I couldn’t quite place, that was fronted with silver buckles. Polished black boots were on his feet. Hovering, glancing closer, something seemed very strange about him. His teeth were pointed, and his eyes were deep golden, with slits for pupils. I had heard of elves who manipulated their appearances to their liking, but this was somehow different. The elf had linked arms with a human, surprisingly. She was tallish, and all hips and hair- which was thick and dark and pulled into an eloquent knot. She looked like she was from the far eastern deserts judging by her moderately dark skin, which was set off by the strapless golden dress she wore. She eyed me with disgust.

“Thank you, Lord…” I looked at the slave who was supposed to remind me of names, but he just shrugged and stared.
“It’s Tox. Tox… um, Sarethi. And this is Anck Seh Namun, my colleague.”
“I see,” I said, not impressed with the names, which had to be made up- Sarethi was Anurin’s last name. “Saxon, are you?”
“Ooh, nicely placed. Visiting diplomats, to Veela and Rusalka Venali.”
“Ah. Pity they did not come, then.”
“Oh.” The male elf, who I suddenly realized was jarringly similar to Veela Venali’s, face fell. I made an immediate mental note of it. Then he ogled me again.
“It was a pleasure to meet you, madam,” said the elf’s little whore, and she pulled him away with a surprisingly rough hand.

As they swept away, I saw, much to my grief, a woman I recognized- Laioni of Ilirea, a small elf who insisted on wearing striking black makeup and dressing only in dark clothing. Now in a black corset dress, the skirt of which was held up by a whalebone frame and embroidered with dark purple, she raised one hand- covered with a black glove that stretched to her elbow- and had the indecency to wave at me. Her lips, painted black, quirked into a smile. I turned away to get the guards to throw her out. I had strictly insisted no Riders come to the celebration, not even their little Wards. However, I was interrupted by the arrival of one of the most important guests.

An elven woman, not tall but who looked tall due to the length of her legs and the air of deathly command that she carried, was pacing past me. In stark contrast to the other women in the ballroom, whose heads were crowned with curls and who wore sparkling dresses decorated with oversized bows and flowers, she was dressed as a man. Gleaming black boots and deep blue high-waisted riding britches with a gold braid down the outside seam adorned her long legs. Her jacket, the same dark blue as her britches, was square-shouldered and tight at the waist, studded with large golden buttons. A navy cape, lined with gold, flowed down over her shoulders. Her ash-blonde hair was pulled back into a uniform knot, bangs hiding her right eye, and she wore minimal makeup.

“General?” I called.

Myaja Kolbjorn turned. She turned like a cat that saw another cat that had encroached upon its territory. Her blue eyes were, for now; calm as the sea- a sea with sharks in it. I noted the blade hanging at her waist, one of those long thin ones from the east- but whether it was ceremonial or not, I couldn’t tell. She approached hesitantly, moving carefully. My smile stayed pasted onto my face. The general of the elven army was renowned for her lack of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness- the ice queen of Du Weldenvarden. She never went anywhere without armour, so I supposed seeing her in a frock, even for tonight, would have been too much to ask.

“Atra esterní ono thelduin, Myaja alfa-kona.”
The blue eyes were now full of razors.
“Your Holiness,” said Myaja quietly. “What is this nonsense you’re spouting like an unblocked drain?”
The urge to slap her rose up within me, but I schooled my face and kept up the smile. “I’m simply being courteous, General. Manners exist among the elves, do they not?”
“Indeed. So does decent dress.”

She turned her back on me after that, leaving me seething. But I had one small saving grace- she was being trailed by three very stupid girls of the palace. Most of the human women had realized that their beauty did not compare to that of the elves’, and so they had now resorted to mocking their choice in dress. These particular ladies were convinced that the General was a transsexual, and were prodding at her quite viciously for it. With a relaxed sigh, I took a glass of wine from one of the slaves, sipping at it to steady my nerves. It was, after all, going to be a very long night.

Words;; 3009
Muse;; Unmitigated crap.
Thoughts;; It's awful how the first MP post on the site had to be my worst post on the site. >.< Sorry, guys, I'm out of practice.

[Nayeli]

( LADY NAYELI )
Featuring
Warrior Turin

The land had been celebrating this time of winter every year for as long as I could remember. My brother had told me about the parties that uncle would throw just for his friends and I even had the same things for me. Leilani was not much for the parties, but she had made a exception for tonight, along with the new addition to the family, Awiti. It was nice to have the whole family together, to have something we could call ours. I smiled at the warm water that covered my body, the bubbles over the top of the stone pool that I called my bathing area. The area was sunk into the ground and all I had to do was walk out. I smiled, allowing my skin to soak up the stuff I used for my skin.

My body held scars from training and fighting before I became the Courtess and I just wanted to relax into this tub and enjoy my time before the party. I could hear the sound of feet coming and I turned to see my Maid Servant and I set up slightly in the water, the bubbles covering my body. ”Yes, Irene?”

[/color] I rubbed my body with a wet cloth, allowing the soap to go over my body and clean it. ”Malady… Guest will be arriving soon, what dress do you wish to wear tonight?” Ah, the dress. I had not really thought about it, but I figured it was a need to for me to be down there before the guest were. ”The dark green one, not my normal one though.” She nodded towards me, bowing before she left the bathing room. I let out a sigh and stood, grabbing the towel and wrapping it around my body. My hair had been washed earlier today, so it was nice and dry.

I moved to look into the mirror, sitting down and began putting on the black liner that went around my eyes and the light make up I wore to events like these. Irene returned, the dress in her hands and I smiled. ”And my daggers please.”[/color] She looked at me confused, though I sent her away with the wave of my hands. They were already in my dress belt/sash, since they were meant for both battle and formal occasions. I pulled the thin brush over and under my eyes, making sure they were perfect before moving onto my lips and cheeks. My maid got what I needed help with and then she helped me get dress.

My dress held two pieces for it, the skirt and then the torso. First, we had to get my crest in it’s under garment and make sure that that was perfectly place, allowing my chest to be supported and able to handle my constant standing and straight back. It was also to pull my stomach further in and allow me to look completely flat, even though I was flat in the stomach, I knew it was only proper. She then placed the skirt over my head and then the torso. She button the pieces together at the waist and then brought my belt and I bulked it. It was a beautiful belt, meant for a lady and I loved it. My dress was a dark green, the color of ever green trees and held some silver fabric to make a beautiful design. It fit tightly to my body, showing my curves without a problem.

Within’ a moment, my maid was fixing my hair, pulling it back and adding some stuff to help it stand. My style tonight would be a messy bun, however, the hair that was out would be spiked in a circle around the bun. My maid was perfect with her hands, could fix anything to be how it needed to be. Once she was done, I walked into my bed chambers, where my brother stood handsomely looking over at me. ”Do you enjoy making me work? I mean, you always look very pretty my sister.”[/color] I smiled at my brother, his long hair had been pulled back into a braid that went down his back and his brown eyes looked into my ice blue ones. He was my guardian and I loved him for it.

He wore is dress armor, though, he wore a dark brown tunic under the shiny armor, his sword had been cleaned of any imperfections. His pants were of the same dark brown and on his back, he wore the kingdom colors with the emblem of our uncle. My maid brought forth my own cloak which would give me warmth if needed during the party, though I highly doubted that much. ”Thank You Irene. Now, you may go on to your chambers until the party ends tonight. I will send someone to fetch for your help.”[/color] She nodded, bowing to me and leaving my chambers. My brother came, kissed my cheek and we headed out. He had just come home from a long trip to the coast and now he was back. ”Why is that you need seem to have a girl with you besides me?”[/color] He chuckled, looking at me for a moment as we walked down the halls of the castle towards where the party would be.

”You would scare them from my midst, Sister.”[/color] I rolled my eyes at my brother as he escorted me to the Great Hall. I could not help but be protective over my lovely brother, he was all I had left besides my sister. I had no man in my life, knew I never would. Uncle had told me he wanted me to marry, but until I found that perfect one, they could leave for good. After a few moments, we could hear the chattering of guest. ”It seems were are late.”[/color] I chuckled slightly, just shaking my head before the guards at the door opened it and allowed us to enter. I could hear a few people go silent. My brother and I worked out way to our place among the crowd, wondering who would make their presence known to us.[/size][/blockquote]

( LADY LEILANI )
Featuring
Awiti Ekere

”Hold still Awiti, we need to get you dressed.”

[/color] I said to the young black lady as I worked on her beautiful blue dress. It was not a light blue, or a dark blue, but kind of like a… Oh, what kind of blue would you call it… A dim blue? I was not sure, but it was so pretty. The sleeves went down her arms, as many dresses did for our family and the neck was very tasteable. It showed no cleavage, of course, she was only fourteen, but she still had cleavage. She finally stopped moving and smiled as I laughed at her. One of my Uncles servants had accompanied me, helping me with her hair, since they were both from the same location. ”Do you think I will be accepted, Leilani?”[/color] I looked at her for a moment as I helped with her dress and smiled. I am sure you will Awiti… You are beyond beautiful and you are so sweet.”[/color] She looked down for a moment. She had only just recently allowed herself to smile.

She never told me why, but I knew from my uncles black servant it was because she was probably told to never smile, to never do anything that showed joy. I feared that Awiti would never actually help herself, but she was improving, though she was always quiet. I kissed her forehead and stood, allowing my maid to help finish my own dress. I had on a pink dress, which was beautiful and had a golden sash around my waist, my dress dagger slipped within the area of the sash meant to hold it. My hair was let to hand loose around my body, the black waterfall like hair was wavy and thick, beautiful. My skin was very pale, mostly because, unlike my siblings, I did not care to get out and train, I liked talking and proving points, which was why I was a Diplomat.

”Malady?” I turned to look at my maid, giving her a smile and waiting for her to say something. ”The party has begun, you and Lady Awiti should head down soon.” I looked at Awiti and smiled at her, though I went towards my bathing room and sat at my mirror. I had much to do and Awiti followed, along with the black maid. She was not done with Awiti’s hair and I smiled, offering Awiti a place beside me. I loved Awiti like my own sister, if not more. She was sweet and she was my child, that was all there was to it, no matter what anyone said. I could hear the many rumors or gossip that came from the mouths of common women or royal mutts.

I began to put on my face paint, though it was powder and such around my eyes. I placed pink powder on my eye lids that matched my dress and the same for my lips. I put black paint around the edge of the eyes and smiled as I got it perfect. I checked myself before adding some more powder to my cheeks and then checked my own fingernails, the pink paint that I had placed on there was staying on and I smiled. It was time we headed down, by my escort was not here and I did not want to go until he was here. Sean was my guard, but I could not help but think about the slight crush I had on him. He was strong and handome, his blond hair was different, but it was very nice to see him around me. He was my guardian, along with my older brother, Turin.

”Malady?” I turned my head as I finished with my cheeks. ”Your Escort has arrived.” I nodded towards her and stood, slipping on my pink slippers and helping Awiti with her own and then walking back into my bed chambers, where the handsome Sean was standing. He wore his kilt and the other things to match. He had told me some about his culture, but it still confused me. I could not help but think of the Kilt as a dress, but I respected him and his customs since he respected my own. I smiled at him, taking his arm. Awiti walked behind us and I looked up at the strong, blond man. ”You look very handsome tonight, Sean.”[/color] I glanced back at Awiti… The fourteen year old girl was of course smiling back at me. I could not help it, my crush on Sean had lengthen due to our time together, but at least I was blushing.

I was sure that my sister and brother would have already arrived, so I did not worry too much about it. It was not that I liked to be late, but today just seemed like a day to be a bit late. I was in no hurry and as the guards opened the doors to the crowded hall, we slowly walkted in. Awiti gained a few stares, but I stopped, turning slightly and out reaching my hand. She placed her hand over the top of mine and we walked into the hall. The way I brought Awiti forward, showed I treated her like a royal, when she held no family ties to me and showed clearly that she was born of slaves. I smiled at her for a moment and looked to see who came towards us to strike up conversation.
[/size][/blockquote]
( WORD COUNT ) - one.nine.three.one
[/blockquote]

[[-Kay-]]

The small frame that moved towards the ballroom from her massive black horse was strange. Only five foot high, with pale skin the color of ivory and snow, she wasn't even human. She had mismatched eyes that glittered in the dim light like stars. Brilliantly white teeth glimmered in her mouth as she smiled, revealing their sharpened points like daggers. She was leanly muscled, like a cat. How ironic for one such as her. She wore a long dress, with whale bone corseting underneath. It was black, with silver lines in everywhere. Her long black hair, that usually hung low and around her waist, was twisted up and around in little braids and loops tonight. It wasn't one of those ugly up-dos that some women had. Hers was pretty, elegant and minimalistic. Her eyes were lined with many colors that made her shimmer like a little jewel. A necklace, or rather, a silver collar around her neck had many gold lines and pretty little gems in it. The design in it was a series of Celtic knots that twisted around and away from themselves in a bunch of neat little designs. She wasn't very tall, as she had on little black ballet shoes, but she was graceful all the same. She passed through the tall doorways into the room, her shoulders and back exposed in her strapless dress. It was daring, for one to wear such a thing, but she did it anyway. Why should she care for the affairs of everyone here? Her shoulders and back and arms were exposed, and what they exposed were black ink. Twisting designs here and there. One was a dandelion with it's white fuzz flying away. One was a snake curling in on itself and over her shoulder with it's head resting on her collarbone, a four leafed clover in its mouth. A series of stars were scattered in a pattern in one area, an Ouroboros in another. A butterfly with Celtic writing inscribed there, something about a wave appearing on calm water. An etheral fox in one area, and then a final as a feather with little birds flying off of it. Her arms were covered with pretty swirling writing and designs of little stars intermingled in with them. She was definitly a sight to behold, and it was the most skin any here would see of her. Most of the time she wore long sleeved dresses with a cloak to hide the tattoos all over her upper torso. But it was her eyes that many here would be drawn to. The mismatched cat's eyes. Pupil's like slits. Many here would me astounded to know a were-cat moved through their mist, as many stayed far away from humans. But this one...she sure was somethin.

[/blockquote]

[phrostphyre]

The Pipes, the Pipes are Calling Here

The drone of bagpipes let every person in the room know that the Savage Faithful were living up to their name. Faithfully, not a man had decided to skip out on this particular duty. Savagely, they all were dressed in the barbaric splendor of their homelands with each man allowed to dress his finest, so long as it did not restrict ease of movement in battle or dancing. Their blades had been shined and polished so as not to look dull. Brian Conchobhar MacTìre paced, his eyes closed. His ceremonial piper’s dress also allowed for a hidden dirk in his pipes. Eyes closed, he listened to the beat of surf against rock in his mind, recalling piping lessons from a blind uncle. He about-faced, opened his eyes, winked at the blond giant entering with the petite Leilani Richards upon his arm, received a nod in turn, and went back to his routine. The sword at his side was not hiding in its sheath; all Savage Faithful blades were merely slid into a belt. Brian continued to skillfully work the leather lung of the bagpipes, feeling it breathe with him. The drone ended to applause only from the Gaelic Savage Faithful members; not everyone seemed to appreciate bagpipe music. He placed them in a hidden alcove below the stage where he had played, dropped from it with a thud, and began following the blonde giant. He had no clue who he was; he had only been told to protect the woman on his arm the life Brian valued so dearly; namely, his. Brian shrugged and accepted it with a fatalistic attitude. He only had to survive what this night might bring.

*************************************************************

Sean felt Leilani on his arm, but it was merely a distraction. He took every person in the room in as a possible threat, including the family of his principal. They were all threats. He had learned that the hard way on a green field of Hibernia, watching the grandfather he loved so well choke to death on his own blood because of an arrow through the neck. The battle had taken his father, too. Sean would not let that happen again. He grinned comfortingly at Leilani and Awiti, and began searching the crowd for anyone suspicious. He spotted a small woman with several tattoos, nodded in her direction, and took no pleasure in the fact that she might soon be answering questions the hard way in a cell beneath the castle. His headgear was not a bearskin shako, and it was far from close. It was a black beret with the emblem of the Royal House upon the flash. The piper with the shako had a badge with the same emblem upon his headgear. Sean and the piper were easily the tallest men in the room, at first glance. He watched the piper for a moment, and then turned to watch the interplay between Her Holiness and the Elf General. All Sean needed to know about them was that he would lose against the elf in a heartbeat, but Her Holiness had powerful magic to call upon. In other words, he would throw his dirk at the whore, engage the elf in a brawl, and hope that someone would be able to stab them both in the back while distracted. Neither man would enjoy this night, Sean knew that. However, it would be a chance for hopefully being able to talk to Leilani alone. He needed to discuss exactly why she couldn’t like him with her. He had noticed her glances at times. It was his job to notice everything. He would not have this royal fall for him. His head would be forfeit, and Sean wanted to keep his head.

[dantieduurden]

Dantie looked at himself for the millionth time in the mirror. " I don't know what to where." Dantie said out loud as he kept on switching his armor into different illusions. So far Dantie had gone through over eight different outfits and he could not seem to choose any. " You could always let me decided for you." his other half said inside his mind, " After all what is the worst I can do. You are about as hideous as an elf comes." And with that the piece of him he kept locked away flooded him with magic and turned his leather armor into an amazing outfit.

What was once a dull leather armor that Dantie mostly used in training combat and spars had become a white set of britches, with a white overcoat to match. Underneath the overcoat was a blood red vest,and underneath that a white shirt. On his Black leather gloves were now pristine white ones to match his outfit, and a silver belt kept his graduation sword in place. " Well for once I must say you are the one better in fashion." The lawful side of Dantie said to the one he held behind bars inside a mental prison. " Well one must do something while being locked out of there own mind now mustn't they." The chaotic true side of Dantie replied back slyly as it looked back upon itself in the mirror. I hope this matches Ed' or else you will be doing a new fashion makeover. The lawful side of Dantie replied to his prisoner. " O why match others, make a statement you fool. How do you expect to become renown if you hide in clothes that no one will notice you in." the chaotic side chided the other as they went back and forth arguing.

Lastly Dantie tied his long flowing white hair into one large braid that went down the middle of his back and when happy with it smiled. "Wont be as fancy as a dwarfs beard, or Dareks braid, but it shall do I hope." Dantie said to himself as he began to get nervous, for he was not good in large groups. He either jumped the gun, or did not socialize a all, it was one of the many reasons he did not attend any of the balls Ilirea had held. " Hopefully I wont be the same way around Ed'." Dantie said to himself before he walked all seven feet of him out of his changing room of the inn he had rented for him and Ed' for the night and went into the main room.

A few minutes later Dantie walked over to the door in which Ed would be changing in and gently knocked. " Are you almost ready Ma komitama?" he asked kindly as he added a red cape to his outfit finishing it off. As he waited for her reply, Dantie picked up the staff Darek had given to him. " This my young apprentice is my family's heirloom. You damage it and i will skin you alive. Now this will grant you access in my place for I am the one who attends these gatherings for my family now, and saying you are going in my place, you represent me. Don't screw this up Dantie. You have worked hard for this." Dantie remembered his mentors words as he held up the staff that was a deep crimson for the base, and on its peak was a golden dragon. It was a masterpiece in his eyes, but the true beauty of the night he thought was Ed' who was still behind those doors, and Dantie's piercing blue eyes could not wait to see her.


Word count :630 ( Ma komitama means my precious)

[[-Kay-]]

Will I come up for air, come up for air

After awhile the current is calling me
Lulling me, waving goodbye

[/color]

The small woman to which Sean had given a small nod, was amused by the thoughts she could feel radiating from him. She wasn't reading anyones thoughts here today. Just scanning them for hositility. If they were about her, she'd hone in on them and sense their general intention. But when the man nodded to her, just before he turned away, she caught his gaze, her slitted pupils and mismatched eyes holding him for a moment while her daggerlike teeth were exposed and a quick wink escaped her. Forever the flirt, she knew that he knew what she was and what his intentions were. And he would know that she knew. Her eyes scanned away, a stray thought that might possibly intrude on his consciousness, slipping towards him. 'Carefully now, you don't know what you're getting yourself into..' She thought, her eyes looking towards him once more. 'Just ask your trailer....he ought to know...' She smirked, turning back away to focus on the gala that was around her. She caught the eye of a young lord who had been watching her since he had spotted her coming in the room. Little thoughts called out in her mind, not necessarily reaching anyone. They were little strange bits, these thoughts. Something about the current calling to her and lulling her to sleep. She ignored it for the most part, slipping back into her music in her mind. [/color]

I'm out here alone, oh God can you save me now?

[/color]Sinking my heart turns to stone[/color][/left]

Word Count

[/color] -235-
Tagged [/color] None[/color]
Lyrics[/color] Lead Sails (And A Paper Anchor)- Atreyu
[/left][/center][/blockquote][/font]

[Tris]

Nothing is more hurtful to a street entertainers business then a bitter cold winter, so when an invitation came to Valsta from the Capital asking her to perform at the Renaissance for the same amount of money she got from performing for a month how could she say no. A few days before the ball Valsta traveled back to Carvala to get her instructions, they were that she would come a half an hour before the guests arrived and when inside she would be shown where to go and what to do very simple. So the night came and she did as she was instructed, Valsta walked up to a small side door and knocked, the door was opened by a small slave girl who looked tired and Valsta guessed she had been worked far to hard for a little girl, she asked for the invitation and it was given, then the girl led her through the beautiful halls to the ball room, “You’ll be peeformin ovter there missis,” She said as she pointed to a small corner out of the way of the dance floor, then she was quickly pulled away to a large room bustling with other performers. She was told to get ready then the slave quickly ran to do some other work, Valsta took one of the vacant seats and looked at herself in the mirror, she had taken great care with her appearance for this accession, she had put dark black makeup around her eyes and a rusty red lipstick which went with her red flowey dress and her black cape. A small bell started to ring and all the performers got up and when to the door, they filed out and into the ball room and into their various places, Valsta followed suit and just then the guests started to flock in. There were elves and humans alike and no fighting or insults had been started… yet, Valsta was quite amused when she saw the flood of glittering cloths and jewels that the lady’s were wearing to catch the men’s eyes, But she couldn’t study the people any more for the music began and so did the performances. Her show was mostly ignored by the elves but a few came over to insult her but the humans were a relatively good crowd.
So that was how Valsta spent the first half hour and then a man tapped her on the shoulder and said it was his shift, so she had a half hour to converse with the nobles as one of the slaves told her, well that’s not going to happen she thought as she made a move for the door. But she tripped on her cape and would have fallen on her face if it had dent been for a women in the way to break her fall.

[Nayeli]

( LADY NAYELI )
Featuring
Warrior Turin

No one had attempted to approached us and it made my lips rather smile into a curve that it normally did. I was not one to socialize, but on occasion, I did allow myself to mingle with the crowd. My brother was more of a watcher. He walked me to my seat, the throne which was seated next to my uncles place. He was not sitting there and as I approach, I could my father in his place. He stood, kissing my forehead as he had always done. ”My sit with you Father?”

[/color] He smiled, moving his hand towards my place and then looked to my brother, who bowed before him and took his place behind me. ”When is my daughter going to wed, your of age.” I chuckled at my father, turning my head towards him with a smile. I could not help but roll my eyes at his normal conversation starter. He was a idiot, I hated him, but for purposes of keeping on good face, I would be kind tonight.

”My Father, why do you always bring this up, when you know my answer.”[/color] He chuckled at me, knowing good and well what the answer would have been. My brother could be seen, smiling above me, as he patted my shoulder. He knew this it what our conversation would have been, but I was not at all worried. I watched as people mingled before me, though non eapproached as of the moment. I did not understand why many stayed far away, maybe it was because the guards who stood left and right of us were menacing, when I knew very well that they were nothing more then mere cowards who stood here to get there pay. Many of the braves ones stayed in the city in order to keep peace so nothing would happen here. It was rather annoying, but I could take care of myself and my uncle knew that quite well.

The sound of bagpipes filled the air. I had found their music weather pretty, I could not help it and as they ended, I turned my head, my hands clapping, wanting to hear more. I had spoken to my uncle about the pipers, told them that they held a royal feel to them, that they needed to be in our bands or musicians.

I turned my head as the door open and saw my sister coming into the room, on the arm of her Guard, Sean and behind the, the slave girl she had basically adopted and brought into the family. The girl was pretty, but my sister should have at least spoken to us about it first. As they continued, they stopped and Leilani turned, taking the girl’s hand and bring her up beside her like she was fully family. I stood at that, looking at my sister, who’s eyes found mine. She was showing the whole world now of her choice. My brother beckoned me down and I set, looking at him before turning my head forward once again. ”We may not completely approve, but she has done something far better then what others would have done… It is time we try and end the slave trade anyway, we make less money on it anyway.”[/color] My brother was right and I looked ahead.

The many guest were still pouring in, a few who looked a bit odd, but I said nothing, nor did I do anything. It trouble arose, then it would be the fault of those who started it and I would deal with them. The cells had been cleared out just for tonight, just in case trouble came upon us. The pink dress of my sister, the blue dress of her girl, and the large body of her guard came closer and I stood, greeting my sister as normal, kissing her cheek. I then went to Awiti, allowing her to take my hand and kiss it. I was not much for this formalities, but for a occasion like this, it was required. My brother did the same for my sister, but he kissed the hand of the black girl in greeting. ”Come, join us.”[/color] He said to Leilani who smiled, before releasing herself from the arms of her guard and going to my father, kissing his check and lowering herself. ”Hello my dear.” She smiled.

Leilani was beyond beautiful, her hair was like a cascading waterfall that went down her back. I turned to look at Sean, her bodyguard. She had told me in private that he was by far the most handsome man she had met and she knew she would not find another like him. But I knew those serious guards would try and keep themselves from such things.
[/size][/blockquote]

( LADY LEILANI )
Featuring
Awiti Ekere

The bagpipes had filled the air with music I had learn to respect. I had never heard the sounds before I could not help but love them as we came into the grand hall. Sean’s arm was muscles and tone, it was nice to feel under my touch as we walked into the crowds. I could not help but like him. I had told my sister and she thought I was crazy, but I could not help it. The song’s ended and I wished they had not, but it was no matter. On my hand now was Awiti, the black girl was catching many glances and that was okay with me. As we walked, I noted Sean glance at a woman who held tattoos and I also looked at her for a moment, but I looked back ahead, a smile on my face as I nodded to a few people.

”Lady Leilani… Do these stares ever get less menacing?”

[/color] I learned into Awiti and I smiled, shacking my head slightly. Sure, it go easier going into places, but they were always going to be menacing. I looked up to see my sister standing beside my uncle’s chair, who housed my father, and then my brother pushing back down into her seat before saying something into her ear. I knew the reason behind her stares and we began approaching her and my father. As we grew closer, she came towards us, kissing my cheek and then allowing Awiti to kiss her hand. I gave her a slight glare that basically said, watch it, but it was no use, she just looked at me and then looked back at my brother who came and kissed my cheek along with Awiti, who was slightly shocked. ”Come, join us.”[/color] I smiled at my brother and then went to my father.

Nayeli went to her place beside my uncle and he took my hands as I kissed his cheek, his lips then went for my forehead. ”Hello my dear.” His eyes then went towards Awiti Ekere and he looked at me, his smile was there, but his eyes were not happy. He motioned to a seat beside him and then stood, going to Awiti and allowing her to bow before me. ”Go, stand behind my daughter, you are family now.” I sighed… Only family was allowed to stand behind me and then he motioned to my guard to do the same. He did not mind the body guard to be behind me, because he seemed to trust the man. Awiti came to me and lowered herself. ”May I go and find something to drink?”[/color] I smiled, nodding towards her.
----- ----- ----- -----
I walked away from Leilani and her family. She was no nice, but I had seen the looks that came from his sister and her uncle. They did not welcome me and it was not at all surprising. I was scared I would be disowned quickly, or that Leilani would. I had heard from her that it would not happen, that she was on of the best at what she did and that her uncle needed her as he needed the others. I walked, looking for something, anything to drink, however, my search was cut short as someone hit me.

I stumbled, hitting the ground hard, my blue dress ripped at the bottom, but I stood, my face held downward as I spoke quickly. ”Forgive me… I am sorry, so sorry.”[/color] The memories of being back in a slave yard flooded back, I could feel the wipes coming, I knew I was in trouble, my fears of being hit were far from correct however.
[/size][/blockquote]
( WORD COUNT ) – one.three.seven.two
[/blockquote]

[Kite]

*Edan Valaician felt sick, and it wsasn't from the pressure of being one of the main people of a royal gala.

More likely it was Malandra Ramakrishna.

The woman was one of the main people behind the Voyage in Broddring, and therefore he did not all out oppose her, but she was dressed as a harlot would dress, and he was fairly sure that she was going to try to start something tonight, he just wasn't sure what. That was probably the source of that sick feeling.

She starts speaking to Edan, asking if he found the peacefulness of the meeting here, and that the lack of fighting in the meeting of Humans and Elves was not violent and was, in fact, beautiful. Surprisingly enough, he had to agree with her on that fact. His reasons were probably worlds different than her's, but he had to agree. That being said, he would never say that. Instead he spoke and included a shrug, speaking calmly as if this did not even get a reaction and was commonplace.*

If you like.

*To Edan's supreme annoyance, she kept prattling on about how he might be worried about some drunk-ass fool causing an incident and another Blue Divide. Frankly, it was his worst nightmare right now. He would not usher in another string of decades that further destroyed his nation. Not on his watch, not ever if he could help it. However, that was also the last thing that he could say. He spoke once more in the same tone as before.*

It’s possible, but I wouldn’t expect a Gaul to know anything of war.

*She chuckles and speaks about only being half, but it makes no difference to him. She turns her gaze towards the table and becomes slightly distracted, and Edan places his hand on the beautiful sword on his left hip and adjusts it slightly. The sword is in an embellished scabbard that is attached to the sword belt of the ceremonial, but functional, armor that he is wearing. It is a full body, minus the helmet, set of scale male, made of metal that is tinted as a light blue color, made by his old war companion Zaanroth on his return to the forces at King Angrenost’s request. His wife Nya had not been happy with it, but understood his decision and knew what an honor it was. Edan also had a crimson cape flowing over his back from his shoulders, and his hair was tidy and cropped as always.

He kept an eye on Malandra, and she saw that he was and adjusted her “outfit”, but he didn’t even blink at that. He just had to bear with her openness until he could escape to his wife.

A servant came to the room and bid Malandra to greet the guests and Malandra stood. Edan followed her in standing up and then held an arm out to her as politeness dictated, and she took it before following the servant out to the main ballroom. It was packed with nobles and rich merchants preening and showing off that they got in, and despite their stupidity the room was admittedly beautiful. Edan stepped down the steps with Malandra, then peeled off towards Nya when Malandra let go of him to make the rounds. Edan had to do the same, but preferred to do so with his wife. He made the rounds, greeting endless amounts of people who probably didn’t care who he was, and he didn’t care to know them either. About midway through he sees the Elven general, Myaja Kolbjorn, and speaks to his wife for a moment asking her to stay away while he speaks to her. Nya nods and walks off to mingle some more as Edan walks up to Myaja, straight but relaxed, and speaks to her. He is slightly worried, but keeps his face blank, presenting a calm and collected front to Myaja as she had turned off Malandra Ramakrishna quite quickly.

He’d heard the stories and knew her reputation.

When he reaches her, he holds out his hand to shake hers and speaks firmly.*

Good evening, General. My name is Edan Valaician, and I am your counterpart as the General of the Human armies. It is good to finally make your acquaintance.

--

*Clarus Maleficarum felt important. Fuck, he was important. He is a big, bad man doing big, awesome things, and he actually did warrant an invitation to the Gala. He did not get one, however, and that meant measures had to be taken.

To be honest, he felt like a party unto himself as he waltzed into the ballroom, the beautiful Samar dressed in a regal manor, but still with a touch of her exotic roots in the necklace that he had discovered came from her mother when they learned to communicate with each other, and her other taste in clothing. They made a striking pair, the pale one and the ebony beauty. He is glad, as he looks over the crowd, that she is one of the minority, but no less stunning because of it, and he turns to her and speaks softly, and haltingly, in her language.*

Please, Samar, will you go among them and listen? For anything…

*He pauses a moment, coming up with the correct words.*

Of intrigue… Interest, sorry.

*He smiles at her a little and waits for a moment for her answer before turning to the other person among their party, Artemis. She was making progress, but he had most definitely not taught her the information that she desire yet, the art of spirit summoning. Mostly, he was attempting to teach her intrigue at this point. Still, he turns to her and looks her in the eyes, speaking Broddring common to her.*

Gather information. Don’t reveal anything important about yourself or us, and don’t do anything stupid, like violence or attention-gathering tricks.

*He then looks back at Samar, winks, and strides off into the crowd, searching for the hostess of the party. It was not difficult, what with his stature and her mode of dress. She was a beautiful woman, although his tastes had shifted recently. Still, the sight of her would make any man’s blood boil and her aura in the air filled his nostrils and soothed the beasts within him with their oddity. She was of the religion, and she had something to do with the human’s study of the blood magics. He had found references to it, but never anything substantial enough to learn the basics, and knew that this woman was the key to acquiring that one power that eluded him despite the demons within him. He approaches her, tall and confident, breaking the crowd around her and speaking up.*

Your holiness, what an honor. I have long sought to meet you and have now found the experience to be well worth the wait. I am Clarus Maleficarum.

[ryan]

Eris Graystrider rolled his neck as he glanced up and down the castle looming over this pathetic little town. He could see it as clear as day, thanks to his powers, the castle almost as black as the night sky, but to him it all looked the same. He made haste as his the sex foot tall shade made his way up to the front of the castle. He muttered a few words to the guards who were standing outside of the gates, they looked down, and then took a quick glance at Eris.

"Go ahead", the guard announced as the shade quickly stepped past him.

He took a step in and as soon as he did he could here the commotion, there were dozens of people talking back and forth. Speaking of the usual nonsense that humans or elves talked about. The humans seemed more concerned about who was wearing what, about who was here, and about their own pathetic rock that they own. Everyone in this castle was of nobility. Pathetic. Nobility is not power, power grants one nobility. Half the people in the room had never even taken a life, they were just born rich, Eris just chuckled at the thought.

He made his way around the crowd, he would grab a few stares from people, but nothing to serious to cause concern. Most just turned back to their group and continued to speak of nonsense. How delightful. Elves and Humans in the same room, and no one has a weapon drawn. This is quiet odd. See how long it lasts. He made his way to a long table covered in a white cloth, on top of it lay various glasses filled with a red liquid. Eris drew one up and downed the whole drink into his mind, letting the beverage swoosh around in his mouth for a few seconds and then finally swallowing it all. He then turned and just looked about the crowd, noting the guards, and the most important one's here.
_______________________________

The two guards chucked a man out of the back of an inn. The man....teenager, collided with the ground. As he stood he yelled a few harsh words and began to stomp off. He brushed his fur pelts and armor off as he made his way out of the ally. As soon as he made it out he noticed a large group of well dressed citizens walking together toward a tower. Puzzled, Samuel decided he would see what was going on.

He continued to duck and run his way through the alleys as he tracked the humans, it was much easier then tracking down an animal. There was a group of them, each one of them proving they were superior by talking louder then the next person. "Rich people are so annoyin'," he muttered to himself as he came to a stop and the group made their way up to a guard. After the guard seemed to scan what seemed like a list they were all let through.

Samuel looked down at himself. Covered in dirt and grim, with various animal pelts, if he even attempted to go up to the guard he would be laughed at. His stomach growled against the thought, he needed to get inside. He was starving. He had run out of money a while ago, and he had only been able to eat what he was able to steal or hunt down. Which was not much lately. He quickly scanned the area, and there it was. A lone man made his way promptly to the castle. A grin spread across Samuel's face. He withdrew a medium sized rock from the ground and watched as the man crossed in front of the ally he was hiding in. Samuel looked around, making sure no one was watching, and he quickly leaped from the ally.

As the man made eye contact with Samuel he felt the rock collide onto his skull, he was sent reeling to the ground. Samuel began to drag the body into the alley, he was still breathing, thank the heavens. Samuel tied the man up using the makeshift string that he could conjure up. As he stripped the man down and put on his clothes he heard him stirring. Samuel withdrew his dagger and stuck it next to the man's throat. "What's your name?," Samuel held the blade as close as he could, drawing a little bit of blood.

The man whimpered, "James Hayneson of Terim."

"Thanks," another knock to the head sent the man back to sleep. One more and he could potientinally kill him. He did not want to kill him, but his need for food was killing him. He tied the man up, and covered his mouth for when he would wake. Samuel quickly gathered his belongings, wipped the blood from his hands, and stashed his equipment away. Fate had finally been in his favor. Samuel, strolled up toward the castle, trying to make himself look as arrogant as possible.

"Name?" The guard looked the boy up and down.

He was lucky that he had not shaven in a while, the facial hair made him look a little bit older then the seventeen year old teenager he really was. "James Hayneson of Terim," he spoke proudly. The guard scanned his list, looked up at Samuel one more time, then nodded him through. As Samuel slided through the doorway he made a quick dash over toward the smell that filled his nostrils. Ignoring anything and everything as he saw various snacks being brought around. He stood in front of a table with various plates, and began stuffing his face.

[Elloria]

(OOC: Italics = mental convo between the brothers. Everything spoken/thought is in the Ancient Language)

An elegant black coach, drawn by four equally black horses, rolled to a stop just outside the palace courtyard. A liveried servant hopped down from his seat by the driver and moved to open the door. A set of steps immediately rolled out as the door opened and a grey-booted foot emerged from within. It was swiftly followed by a tall, grey-garbed elf. As Niko set foot on the cobblestones, he swiftly stepped aside to allow Josk and Addison exit from the carriage. He looked about him as he waited for his companions. He wasn’t particularly impressed by the human palace - but then, he hadn’t been impressed with Ellesmera either when he had finally returned to it in answer to his brother’s summons. Nothing quite compared to the majesty and beauty that was Ilirea, the city of Dragon Riders. He turned at the sound of Josk’s feet gently hitting the ground. His twin was dressed nearly identically to him. From the silvery silk over-shirts with the family crest embroidered in gold over the left breasts to the slightly darker grey trousers and boots to the storm-grey cloaks that hung from their shoulders even to their unbound hair - had they dressed like this in their youth, they would have been indistinguishable from one another. Indeed, if they had still looked completely identical, the only way to tell the difference would have been the ring and necklace Josk always wore as well as the blue sash Niko kept perpetually tied about his waist. And, of course, the length of their hair. Still, they looked similar enough that Niko was certain others mind find it a bit disconcerting. Perhaps that was why he'd gone along with it. That and the fact he was affiliated with the Riders, which was a huge no-no in the world at large. But he wasn’t here on behalf of them. He was here for one individual. He smiled, eyes only on his brother. I feel we may make an impression, brother.

Josk hmphed, but smiled back at Niko. That was the idea, was it not? he replied as he moved out of Addison's way. Once they had all exited, Josk motioned to the servant who nodded and set about preparing the carriage for departure. “Remember. I expect you to remain within the vicinity that we may leave swiftly once this affair is finished.” The servant made no reply other than another swift nod as he reseated himself by the driver. As the carriage took off, Josk moved to stand close beside Niko and also contemplated the castle before them. It was large, it was stone - it was not even as lovely as Ilirea. And he hated Ilirea. So this place was pretty damn undesirable, in his humble opinion. But it was pretty much an event that required attendance. If you were invited and didn't show, it reflected poorly on you and your family. He heard Niko snort beside him as the younger twin caught the elder's thoughts. That’s the truth and you know it, brother. Josk strode forward, then looked back at Addison and Niko. “Coming?” Not waiting for an answer, he turned and continued on through the crowd until he entered the palace and ballroom.

Niko followed his brother, not moving quite as quickly so that Addison would not get lost in the mass of people. He pushed through the crowd, clearing a path for Addison to follow as they made their way into the palace and ballroom. He finally caught up with Josk and stood close to him, their hands just barely touching. He knew Josk was probably feeling quite uncomfortable in this mess of humanity and elves. He wanted to make absolutely certain his brother knew he was there for him. Niko turned his head slightly to address Addison. “What do you think of all this, Addison?”

==============

(OOC: I wasn’t sure if Awiti had been run into by Tris’ Valsta or if you were leaving that open, Nayeli, so I’m kinda including them both if that’s okay with you both. And! Samar's Dress)

Samar suppressed the shivers that wished to race through her. This was her first winter outside of warm climes and she was not pleased with the state of affairs. Neither was her body, so accustomed to the blazing heat of the Hadarac. She was beginning to think that she should have asked Clarus to choose a much thicker material for the gown he had wanted for her. Not this thin, even gauzy material. Even though it was in such a beautiful shade of blue, the color of the Fruitbearer. And the...embroidered? Was that it? The bead-and-thread designs were exquisite, all speaking to the Fruitbearer’s early work - all flowers and crawling vines. But it was so thin! And didn’t cover her shoulders and left hardly anything to be desired with her neckline. She would freeze like this, even in this large ballroom Clarus had brought her to. Bit late to be worrying about that, though. And the flimsy...shawl? Was that the word? The cloak-that-wasn't-a-cloak she was currently wearing with the gown did nothing to keep her warm. It’s only redeeming quality was the fact that it covered her bare shoulders, minimizing the amount of skin she was exposing. These pale ones were so bizarre. Especially the one she now called Master. But he was also unlike the other pale ones she encountered, as she had soon learned.

She looked around, deeply unsettled. So many pale ones here, almost no one who looked like her. Well...even those who looked like her were never as dark as her. The hand not linked around Master's arm strayed to her mother's necklace. She didn't normally wear it, but she felt it would be necessary to have it close to her heart - the better for the Mother Wolf to lend her strength in these trying times. As her fingers strayed across it, she felt instantly soothed. She turned her head slightly to focus on what Master was saying. He was always so fascinated by this...intrigue thing. She sometimes wondered why, but never asked. “As you wish, Master.” Her voice was quiet and there was no hesitation as she replied to him in the tongue of the pale ones. Though heavily accented, it was not difficult to understand her. Rather, it was pleasingly exotic. Moreover, she didn't like speaking to Master in the common tribal tongue. He tried very hard to speak it properly, but it was sometimes difficult to understand him. She could only imagine how terribly he would butcher the Gia language. The few words she had taught him of her mother's tongue were ample proof that he would most likely have insulted numerous of her tribe without even meaning to. The common one was much easier to learn.

Samar pulled her arm away from Master’s and after he addressed the light-dark-pale-one Artemis, she ignored his wink and all but disappeared into the crowd. She had regained much of her stealth skills while living with Master, easily hiding herself when she didn't wish to be found. Master could usually find her with ease, but he was gifted. So was the light-dark-pale-one. But if she wished to evade that one and its unwanted attention, she simply remained by Master's side. She allowed herself a shiver this time. The light-dark-pale-one disturbed her. The air around it seemed dark to behold. Hence why she was putting as much distance between them as possible. As she meandered through the crowd - her unbound hair gently swaying and brushing her shoulders, the looser fabric around her legs softly swooshing with each step - she paid close attention to what those around her said. She wasn't hearing anything particularly important, though she heard many whispered comments about her. She ignored them, for the most part, and silently prayed to the Mother Wolf for the courage to face this group of peoples so far removed from her own. She felt very uncomfortable and out of place in the figure-hugging gown, but Master had seemed pleased by it. She began to pull out of the crowd when she heard someone behind her say, “Forgive me… I am sorry, so sorry.” The voice was not familiar, but the fear in it was. She turned to find a dark-skinned woman like herself standing, head bowed, before a cloaked pale one. The dark-one wore a dress in a peculiar shade of blue, neither light nor dark. And it had ripped in a most unflattering manner. Was she apologizing to her she-master, then, for destroying the dress? Samar suspected she was not, but the dark-one's stance was so reminiscent of those she'd known in the place of uncountable wooden tents. Those who feared punishment from the pale ones. Without thinking, she pulled her shawl from her shoulders and moved to the dark-one. “Are you all right?” she murmured to the woman, her exotic voice ringing slightly in the sudden quiet. She gently wrapped the shawl around the woman’s waist, covering the rip. She then turned to face the slightly shorter pale one. Unsure of how this pale one would react, she chose her usual submissive tone. “Please forgive my impertinence, but I’m sure she meant nothing by her actions. I hope you won’t treat her too harshly for it.”

[Emma]

“Do you know who she is, ‘Tox?”
“Yah-huh.”
“Do you care?”
“She’s a babe, babe. Now go, get down, get funky, get nasty, woman!” I was roughly shoved towards the milling crowd. “You’re missin’ the fun boat.”
I stared at the female elf beside me. “And you two are blood relatives?”
“Irony would dictate that he is,” said Laioni placidly.

Wrapping my translucent golden shawl around me, I took another glance at the elf. Physically, despite being shorter and curvier than most of her kind, it was not difficult to see the family resemblance. I had only met Laioni less than an hour ago, but I could see that she was dangerous. Gorgeous, cunning, and thoroughly deceitful, she was the sort I envisioned as a puppeteer with her marionettes on their strings. Tox could be quite the magnificent bastard when his temper was on a leash, but he was bumbling. She was smooth. At any rate, I decided I liked her. Being one of the few people Tox could be guaranteed not to feed on, there was actually the chance of striking up a friendship.

“I don’t suppose you’ve got a boy for the dance, Laioni?”
Her lip twitched. “I may. A fool, but I would sooner stab these men in the face than dance with them.”

Suddenly, there was something like a bump, followed by a crash, and then a girl’s weak voice apologizing. I turned to glance behind me. A girl in a black cape and red dress, who looked like a performer, had narrowly avoided falling onto her face- inadvertently causing another girl in an elegant dress of a muted blue colour to trip. She was the one flailing, and apologizing. I scanned both of their faces. The girl in the cape had a completely closed face, with the coldest eyes. She was almost unreadable. The other girl, after a double take, was clearly no noble. She was awkward in her rich dress, and she cast her eyes down and stayed sheepish rather than making eye contact like everyone else. She was also dark-skinned, as I was, but her accent was different than mine.

“Well,” came Laioni’s purr. She stepped past the girl in blue, completely ignoring her, and approached the girl in the cape. “If it isn’t the vulture that encroached upon my lair all those weeks ago?” Her ice-grey eyes, lined with black like her lips, looked the girl over. “Intriguing that a human performed so well against a demon of that calibre.”
I offered one hand to the girl that had fallen, who was cowering as if she was about to be attacked. “C’mere, tiger. You’ll get trampled by all the bloated egos floating around.” As I helped her up, however, a shudder crawled down my spine. I turned around to stare.

Normally, regular soldiers- usually bored or drunk, but still soldiers- would be posted within the ballroom. I saw none. Instead, shifty figures cloaked and hooded in black had been placed at intervals throughout the room, each within a few metres of each other. They bore no obvious weapons, but the nine circles of Nyx were emblazoned in white on their black leather armour. The nearest, though his eyes were hidden by his hood, seemed to be staring at me and the girl. I became nervous. Rather than watching the particularly angry nobles or the drunks, they were watching everyone. Once the girl was standing, I released her with an apologetic shrug, and fled.

I found Tox standing beside the wall, his eyes going over the portraits there. Relieved, I slowed to a halt, and followed his gaze. This particular section featured current reigning counts and countesses, three among them being Nayeli Richards of Carvala, who I’d spotted among the crowd, and Veela and Rusalka Venali, joint rulers of Ceunon. Tox’s face was oddly sad as he stared at Veela’s portrait. For once, I didn’t make a sarcastic comment. I was well aware of the pain of premature separation from your mother. Where mine was dead, Tox’s mother had forgotten he had ever been born- the worse of the two. However, despite my empathy, the black-clad soldiers’ presence nagged at me.

“’Tox?”
“WHAT?!” he screamed in a pent-up rage I hadn’t detected.
“Ah, the tomcat still has his claws, I see. ‘Tox, look at the guards.”
“Mm?” his eyes followed mine. “Ooh, holy soldiers. Anck, hold my hand, I’m scared! Yeesh, woman. Funny story: vampire attacks puny human. Vampire wins.”
“They’re not just-”
“Why don’t you just stand around and look pretty? It’s what you do! Or sing-”
“I can be pretty when I want to be. Sadly, wanting to be more intelligent does not make it so.”
Now that I had his attention, he fixed one reptilian eye on me. I met his gaze evenly.
“Ay, women. Oy. Fine. I’ll check ‘em out, just for laughs. But you…” he leaned in closer, eyes near the center of the room. I could see Malandra Ramakrishna striding past us, head turned away. “She’s got something planned.”
“What a plot twist.”
“I know, right? Is anyone surprised? Anyone? You don’t stick a pack of humans and elves in a big room just to hold hands and sing ‘Kumbaya’. See if you can find out what she’s after. Or who. Vamoose, babe.”

For once, I was more than happy to do his will. Tox had dragged me to the Renaissance Gala simply for the chaos that was bound to happen. However, it was also because his aunt, Pele, a vampire like him and an Oracle in the Hand, had personally asked us to keep tabs on the goings-on tonight. In return? She would set us up with a manor in The Tears and teach Tox hands-on magic. A permanent residence and a chance to locate my mother- it was almost too good to be true. I slipped through the milling crowd and quietly approached from the side, where Malandra was walking towards where the Richards family was assembled. Intercepting her, however, was a tall and pale Shade.

“Your Holiness, what an honour. I have long sought to meet you and have now found the experience to be well worth the wait. I am Clarus Maleficarum.”
Malandra’s smile was sweet, her eyes sparkling with true enjoyment. But I was a trained actress, just as she was. I knew a viper when I saw one.
“You are too kind, Mr. Maleficarum.” She seemed to ham up her Gaulish accent a bit more when speaking to important people. “I’ve ‘eard of you. Of ze Lake Leona Company, no? Care to accompany me to pay our respects to royalty?”
“Of course.”

She kept up her long-legged walk, moving over to the Richards family with the Shade at her side. Bryce Richards was the brother of King Azuan Angrenost, and all three of his children- Turin, the militia commander, Leilani, a diplomat, and Nayeli, the Countess of Carvala- were standing around him. Pele had mentioned Malandra often paid special ‘visits’ to the king himself, but never anything about the Richards’. Maybe she just wanted to mess with them. The entire family was black-haired, with blue or green eyes, and attractive. Malandra came to a stop before them, dipping into a curtsy.

“Sir Bryce, Lord Turin, Ladies Leilani and Nayeli… you all look lovely tonight. Care for some drinks? I am feeling gracious tonight.” She twirled around without waiting for a reply, and snapped her fingers at a tiny female slave carrying a platter of wine glasses. Strings of dirty blonde hair clung to her pale, sweaty face. Upon seeing who it was that had called her, she immediately rushed to the Prophet, tripping over herself as she did, and nearly lost her balance. As she did, one of the wine glasses fell off the platter and shattered on the floor, spraying alcohol on Malandra’s delicate heels.
“Oh…” she murmured. “I’m-” Whatever apology the slave could offer was remedied by a powerful slap across the face from Malandra, nearly causing her to lose her balance again. The Prophet’s eyes were full of razors now.
“Be careful, you little slut,” she said sweetly, but with a vicious lilt to her voice. “These shoes are worth more than you’ll make in ten years!”

Humbled, the slave sheepishly offered the platter to the Richards family. Malandra took a glass herself. As she raised it to her lips, her eyes caught mine, and I realized I looked entirely obvious standing there staring like a thunderstruck deer. I turned around, away from Malandra and the Richards’, and promptly walked head-on into a gangly, enormously tall young man. I had been aware that he was behind me, but nothing invited less suspicion than a ditzy noblewoman hunting for a husband. I stumbled, caught myself by his hands, and looked up at his heavy-lidded eyes. I simpered on command.

“Pardon me, hun,” I said, adding a light slur to my voice. “The wine, you know. Makes klutzes out of the best of us.”

---

As the pain of my wound began to ebb away, I took the healing poultice off of my temple. Seeing the cut still there, deep red and oozing, I irritably pressed it on again. Harder.

Myaja had always been the prodigy of the family, especially with a blade, but after a hundred years of nothing but training and rising in the ranks of the Hive, I had hoped to be her match- not get played like a Nyx-damned harp. The only reason I hadn’t been reduced to a steaming pile of guts on the snow was to keep the already-strained peace. However, despite my boiling rage, I did feel a touch of amusement at the entire situation. After two hundred years, nothing had changed about my sister. The fires in her had dimmed somewhat, and she now walked with a supreme confidence only gained by achieving her goal of military leader of an entire nation, but she was still the ruthless soldier girl I’d always known her as. Daddy would be proud.

I leaned over the washbasin, peering closer at myself in the mirror. Besides the whack in the face and my bleeding temple, I had gotten away unscathed. Once Myaja left and the guards came in, I had spotted a slave leaving the palace through a well-hidden door, which I’d slipped into. After running down several corridors, I’d had the luck to find this empty guest room where I could clean myself up. I smoothed down my clothes. For the occasion, I had chosen a crimson satin vest embellished with silver braid and matching trousers, and a white lawn shirt and boots embroidered with red. Both of my boots carried daggers hidden within them, should I run into any trouble. I stared at my outfit, and then my face, in the mirror. My scowl became a smirk, and then a scowl again.

Though I had come to the ball in hopes of seeing Myaja, she wasn’t the main reason I’d gone. With the raciness of sticking elves and humans in a big room together, many people were interested in the exact motives behind it, and the events, possibly violent ones, that occurred there. The Hive, obviously, was piqued as well. I had been sent by a particularly irritating Shrike to guard over a ward of hers while the ward- a girl, and a child- went hunting for secrets. I was supposed to meet her by the section of wall lined with portraits of the old kings of Broddring before the dancing began. I peeled off the poultice one last time, and saw that the wound had finally healed.

With a nod at myself, I turned and strode out of the room, taking the main hallway this time. I followed the sounds of distant chatter and foreign music back to the entrance hall, which, though not nearly as congested as before, still had a crush of guests. I allowed myself to be swept by the mob past the doors and onto the wide landing that led to a glittering white staircase, and finally down them and into the circular ballroom itself. Once there, I broke off from the masses, and looked around. The girl wouldn’t be difficult to spot. She wasn’t a noble, after all. However, I couldn’t resist paying another visit to my older sister. She was standing at the far end of the room, not socializing, beside a seven-foot elven giant, probably one of her soldiers in disguise.

The slave next to me looked genuinely surprised when I took his tray, now with only three glasses of wine left on it. Carrying it above my head, I swept over to Myaja, who was standing at attention beside the wall and gazing at the assembly like it was a mass of insects rather than people. There were three tittering girls nearby, probably gossiping about her, but she was doing her best to ignore them. Her one visible eye- the other was hidden by her bangs- narrowed when I approached. I took one wine glass off the platter, sipped at it, and held out the remaining two to her and her burly subordinate.

“Real dragon’s piss. Care for a glass?”

Myaja said nothing, giving me an unwavering gaze. After a moment, however, she relented, and took one drink with a sigh. Her soldier refused it, and instead glued his eyes on something behind me. I turned around to see a dark, lean human man in his middle years approaching Myaja. He had the build and posture of a warrior, but not being particularly well-versed with important figures of Broddring, I didn’t have a clue who he was. His expression was blank, but he moved with a good degree of caution, like someone approaching an injured wild animal. Myaja’s gaze was even, but piercing, as he stepped towards her, stopped at a respectful distance, and held out his hand in greeting.

“Good evening, General. My name is Edan Valaician, and I am your counterpart as the General of the human armies. It is good to finally make your acquaintance.”

There was a moment of silence, during which Myaja’s inner turmoil reflected in her eyes. She had been told to never hold back, and she held a great deal of contempt for any and all that were weak- humans included. Added to the hardships she’d certainly gone through during the Blue Divide and the verbal abuse she probably put up with on her diplomatic missions to Broddring, and she probably wanted nothing more than to turn her back on Valaician. During this moment, I held the last glass up to the general. He stared at me, but eventually, hesitantly, took the wine. Then I tossed the platter away.

“… it is a pleasure to meet you, General,” said Myaja finally, but awkwardly, in the unfamiliar common tongue. She shook his hand. “Your face is not familiar to me. How long ago was your promotion?”

It turned out her patriotism and desire to protect her country had won against her pride. Myaja was without forgiveness, mercy, or compassion at her best, but she never lost her rationality. She wasn’t going to start a war over a simple greeting. Once she had spoken, she gave me a death glare that clearly indicated I should go. I bowed, mockingly, and started to back off so I could turn and leave. I ended up being collided into instead, and froze, snarling. It was probably some drunken nobleman that needed a beating.

“Yeah, you fops are all the same. Prissy an' klutzy.”

Words;; 2600. Ow.
Muse;; Not fantastic...
Thoughts;; GRBLAH. Confusing-ness.

[dantieduurden]

Artemis was amazed at what Clarus would do for attention, though he had not been invited to the party he made sure he went, and not only that but to great one of the most important people. She was indeed shocked at her masters idea of subtle, but he had given her her objective, and she would carry it out to a T.

Slowly and gracefully Artemis made her way through the crowd, listening in her, saying hello there. As She walked her flowing purple hair swayed back and forth around her body, unlike the others, she did not believe in putting her hair up. " If I was meant to have my hair up, it would stay up on its own." She had once said when asked why she let it hang down around her frame.

As her indigo eyes searched the crowd for her first person to speak with she heard the sounds of bagpipes and quickly turned in the direction of the noise. When she did her eyes lit up, " So lets see what you have to say my dears." And with that Artemis was off, her purple hair wrapping around her as she did revealing the crescent moon on her forehead.

A small smile curved Artemis's lips as she saw Samar helping another dark skinned girl. " Why my dear so far away from your master." Artemis smiled as she picked up a wine glass and made her way towards Samar. As she got close to her counter part for her masters affection she feinted a trip and split the red wine onto Samar's dress. " O I am so sorry. Let me help you with that my sweet sweet girl." and with that Artemis called out " Slave bring us a cloth to clean this dress." And with a happy smile Artemis slowly glided away into the mass of people, keeping her cold indigo eyes on Samar the whole time until she was gone.

As Artemis finally turned around to look for some information she saw a werecat and quickly made a beeline towards her, bumping the guard the man in the kilt had sent out of her way. " O why what a lovely dress." Artemis said holding out her black leather gloved hand that was studded with sea pearls. " May I ask who made it, it is simply marvelous on you." Artemis said as she tried to get the werecats attention.

[[-Kay-]]

Will I come up for air, come up for air

After awhile the current is calling me
Lulling me, waving goodbye

[/color]

The small frame of the werecat slid between bodies, giving a nod to people here and there. She passed by Sean and the woman at his side, the Lady Nayeli and the man at her's. Her blue eyes, swirled with a gold-brown color, glinted as she caught a glimpse of Brian. A half formed thought ran through her mind, but she shook it off, her eyes turning away from him. If he saw her, he saw her. If not, then so be it. She wouldn't be accused of ignoring the man, yet she wouldn't be accused to interfering with his work either. Her gaze scanned the other people here, catching the gaze of one young lord who had stopped and started looking at her. She held his gaze, smiling to the point where the sharpened points of her teeth showed and he stumbled back. She snickered, her eyes turning away from the young lord and moving back. That's when she heard the voice of the violet haired woman. She turned, her gaze cold. She looked her over, the woman being a bit taller than herself, though not hardly as exotic in her opinion. Rather, it looked like an old friend of hers had gotten ahold of her and convinced her to try his headache-curing salve...that more often than not changed to color of ones hair. "From an elf...in Du Weldenvarden...." She said, her voice soft and lilting, but forever cold. It was strange. She had such an change in personality, she was truly like a cat. One minute cuddly and loving, the next grumpy and wanting to rip ones head off. "Might I inquire as to your name? Or why you happened to single me out?" She asked, the query a slight bit bitter. [/color]

I'm out here alone, oh God can you save me now?

[/color]Sinking my heart turns to stone[/color][/left]

Word Count

[/color] -00000-
Tagged [/color] None[/color]
Lyrics[/color] Lead Sails (And A Paper Anchor)- Atreyu
[/left][/center][/blockquote][/font]

[phrostphyre]

Brian continued to look for Ivory. After she had disappeared, he grew worried and took random samplings of the air every few seconds. Eventually, finding her led him past what appeared to be an elf with an arrow shoved up her arse. She bumped into him. Growling, Brian glared at her and watched as she continued past him. Eyes narrowed, he decided not to put his boot up her ass.

He shook his head at the rudeness of some people, then continued to hunt for Ivory. The idiot elf woman had thrown him off course. Muttering in Gaelic, he eventually found her scent once more and checked her for weapons from afar without actually getting close enough for conversation. After he found Ivory and checked that, yes, she probably had a dagger in the boot or on the thigh, Brian began making his way back to the stage and his pipes.

However, he was bumped into by a bonny lass. Dark, she simpered about something before being stopped by his glare. He moved aside, ignoring her pout, and continued on his mission. He weaved through the nobles of both races before finally reaching the stage. He climbed back then took his pipes from the alcove. Bowing to the hostess and the nieces and nephew of the King, Brian began playing a march. Eventually it ended . Grinning, Brian let loose a blood-curdling war cry of ”Sgurr Uaran!” and drew his sword. He dropped from the stage, rolled, and a kilted Highlander like himself met him with his own drawn sword. A cry of his own, Brian’s opponent drew his dirk while Brian pushed the plaid from over his shoulder to hang down. He stabbed forward, meeting the other Highlander’s sword, while the Highlander slashed with his dirk. Brian’s dirk appeared in his hand and met the other dirk. They stood like that for a moment, panting, and then steel clashed on steel while Brian explained to the onlookers:”From the glens and crags of Highland Alba, come the Highlanders. Clad in kilt and armed with broadswords and dirks, the Highlanders do not cower in the face of any enemy, meeting them head on and with fire in the eyes. Fergus and myself are Highlanders, providing for your benefit and appreciation an example of a Highland sword fight.” Brian and Fergus nodded, and they met with a flurry of tartan, steel, and Gaelic cries. Brian kicked Fergus’ knee, taking it out from under him, and then Brian was on top of Fergus, punching him in the face with the basket hilt of his sword. After about thirty seconds, Fergus tapped Brian on the elbow twice, signifying defeat. Brian stood, then helped Fergus up and helped walk him to a seat. He went back to the stage and bowed, then took a seat himself.

*******************************************************************************************

”Ladies and Gentleman, Hibernians are renowned the world over for not only their close held secrets of manuscript illumination, but also for their skill at the sport of bare-knuckle boxing. The demonstration of Highland swordsmanship turned into a brawl; as all battles between Highlanders do. Hibernians boxing, however, does not often turn into brawls. Myself and a fellow Hibernian will box. Neil! Step forward and be recognized!” As Neil stood forward, Sean removed his sword, seax, chain armor, and shirt. He walked down to meet Neil on the floor. They tapped knuckles, nodded, and began laying into each other. For every blow Sean landed, Neil landed two. Or so it seemed; for every seen blow, elbows were used, doubling the damage. Sean was the heavier and taller of the two, and after a few moments of what seemed to be an even exchange, Neil began to reel. A cut over his eye was bleeding, as was his nose, and swelling had almost shut the left eye. Sean had a bruised rib and broken nose. Moving in for the kill, Sean landed a massive punch to Neil’s ear, sending him staggering. He fell to the ground, landing on his rear as he stared at Sean. Sean reached down, pulled Neil up, whispered into his ear, and then they embraced for a moment. Each helped the other to where they could sit, and then they sat whispering in Gaelic. Sean’s hair had come loose from the ponytail he had had it in, and the blond hair flowed down about his face as tears mixed with the blood from his nose. They had exchanged greetings, then news and pieces of information each thought the other needed. They sat together for a moment, and then Brian stood and made his way back to Leilani. He slid his shirt on, then the chain mail. Buckling his belt on, Sean winced as the chain settled onto his shoulders, placing pressure on his rib.

[Nayeli]

( LADY NAYELI )
Featuring
Warrior Turin

Leilani had taken her seat, which was good in my opinion and the colored girl, Awiti, had gone to find something to drink. In my opinion, she should not have brought her to this party, but Leilani was much more free willed then I was and she held a good heart. I then turned my attention back to those of the party. I could see many were mingling with each other and a few danced to some light music, but they were mostly having to much fun to really dance. I glanced at my brother who a moment and then looked back at the crowd. ”It is amazing how many of these Nobles are nothing more then mere fakes.”

[/color] Turin chuckled at my words, though too low for my father to hear. The man was a idiot and I could not believe that my uncle had asked the likes of him to take his place at this party. Turin just patted my shoulder, watching everything that was going on. I wondered if he was looking for someone, but then again, I did not see a reason. Who would want to date one of these creeps inside this room. Sure, a few looked okay, but most had not even seen battle and he wanted a woman who was just right for him… Not a noble gossiper.

”Uncle knows what he wants, though father is nothing more then a coward unable to do anything… Why do you think Uncle chose you to lead this city?”[/color] I smiled at this. He was correct, why was so worried about my father. Even though I had not said my father’s name or even mentioned him, Turin knew what I was speaking about. My father was nothing more then someone who lived on the money he did not earn. I wish my uncle would kick him out, though I would love my mother to join me in the castle. I loved my mother, everyone did, however, I was not sure why she had chosen my father, or even still loved him, but she did and it would one day kill her.

Turin leaned slightly, my eyes glancing back over at him, trying to follow his gaze, but it was no use, whatever he had seen was gone. I glanced up at him and he just patted my shoulder before his eyes turned forward once more, though more abruptly then, causing my eyes to look ahead at whatever it was that caught his own attention. I saw Malandra coming towards us and also someone else was with her. I had seen her a few times, my uncle had spoke of her, but I did not care to make conversation with her. She was rude enough to even dress in such a way and though I knew my father would want to speak with her. “Sir Bryce, Lord Turin, Ladies Leilani and Nayeli…” I nodded towards her slightly and looked at her for a mere moment before looking at my father, who’s eyes were searching her body. I rolled my own, glancing at Turin who had a uninterested look upon his own face. ”You all look lovely tonight. Care for some drinks? I am feeling gracious tonight.” She was feeling gacious? This was our home and she was offering us the drink, I figured it would be the other way around, but my uncle had placed this whore in charge for reason unknown to me.

She summoned a young slave girl, who was tired and sweating from her constant running around. As she approached, she tripped, Turin moved slightly to help her, but I gripped his arm, glancing up at him, I wanted to see what would happen. Malandra was not a kind person and she knew of Leilani’s reputation I was sure, for her kindness was unreached within our family. ”Oh… I’m-” The wine had split on Malandra and she slapped the girl, causing my sister to stand. I looked at her, warning eyes, but she seemed not to care at all, her own eyes were full of anger, which was very uncommon. ”Be careful, you little slut,” Leilani took a few step forwards, looking at her as she spoke to the slave. ”These shoes are worth more than you’ll make in ten years!” Leilani looked at her now as she turned back towards us.

”You listen to me you worthless whore… This is our home… And I will not have anyone slapped for a accident… Another such move and your head will be on my dining plate tonight and your body thrown to my dogs.”[/color] I had never heard of such words that came from Leilani, but we all heard something and she turned, seeing Awiti had fallen. She looked back at Malandra and then was off. I stood, my brother standing behind me, taking a drink from the slave girl. ”Well, that was far different then my sister normally acts towards others.”[/color] I said, drinking the wine and glancing back at my father who had probably not noticed what had happened. I looked towards my sister who was not with Awiti.[/size][/blockquote]

( LADY LEILANI )
Featuring
Awiti Ekere

That whore was nothing more to me then the dirt I walked on and in my home she dared to hit another who had tripped. She deserved nothing more then the cell our prisoners rotted in and I would see it happen if I saw it again. However, my mind was on something else as I worked my way through the crowd towards Awiti. As I got closer, I could hear someone speaking towards Awiti, my ears were able to make out the words easily. ”Are you all right?” The other was also a dark skinned person and though I was thankful for it, I could Awiti was scared and feared. It was the life of a slave and I hated to see the fear. Her dress was ripped and I saw a shawl was wrapped around her waist. ”Please forgive my impertinence, but I’m sure she meant nothing by her actions. I hope you won’t treat her too harshly for it.” I was finally there, looking at the rip in her dress and checking her over quickly. ”If they do, they will have hell to pay.”

[/color] Awiti looked to me and smiled, my hand on her back. ”Did you find something to drink?”[/color] She shook her head and I kissed her forehead before looking at the other one. ”Thank You.”[/color] I said to the other, glancing over my shoulder to hear bagpipes. ”Awiti, I am returning to me seat, if you need anything, you know where to fine me… I would take you back and get another dress, but I doubt it would be a good idea leaving with such a large crowd.”[/color] She nodded to me and I kissed her forehead again, something only royals would do to family members.

I walked back to my seat, gaining the glances from Nayeli as she still stood before the whore who had dare to hit another in our home. I set down, watching the man play the bag pipes before he ended. I knew that there would be a show with Sean and Brian, but I was not sure at all. ”Sgurr Uaran!” I jumped slightly at the battle cry, but I smiled, leaning forward as he came off the stage and drew his sword. I found there shows very entertaining and maybe it was also because I held a crush on Sean that gave me a reason to want to learn more and more about them. I watched as two people went at it, back and forth. They soon had out what Sean had told her were Dirks and they stood still for a mere moment before Brian spoke, still moving quickly. ”From the glens and crags of Highland Alba, come the Highlanders. Clad in kilt and armed with broadswords and dirks, the Highlanders do not cower in the face of any enemy, meeting them head on and with fire in the eyes. Fergus and myself are Highlanders, providing for your benefit and appreciation an example of a Highland sword fight.” I smiled, listening to the sound of metal on metal. This was for show, but I could tell they were still hurting each other a bit here and there. Then, they were done and they seated themselves. I allowed my hands to clap for them and Sean stepped pasted me.

“Ladies and Gentleman, Hibernians are renowned the world over for not only their close held secrets of manuscript illumination, but also for their skill at the sport of bare-knuckle boxing. The demonstration of Highland swordsmanship turned into a brawl; as all battles between Highlanders do. Hibernians boxing, however, does not often turn into brawls. Myself and a fellow Hibernian will box. Neil! Step forward and be recognized!” I watched as Sean removed his sword, seax, chair armor, and shirt, his muscles showing and I felt my face glow red slightly. I turned to look at Nayeli who had not seen, but Turin had and he chuckled at me, before I looked forward. It was then that they started, first flying at each other. It worried me that they did not let up, that they were landing on each other. I saw blood slightly and I set up a bit straighter. I watched as Sean’s last punch hit the man ears and then he helped the guy up.

I clapped once again, looking at them for a moment and then watched as he walked back towards me, placing back on his armor and I smiled as he approached. ”That was a wonderful performance Sean.”[/color]

----- ----- ----- -----
I watched as Leilani returned back to her seat and I looked at the other dark haired woman before looking at the girl I had hit by accident. I took the shawl slightly and tied it around my waist, hiding my body from the men around us. I did not want to seem like a tramp and if I did, Leilani would be disappointed. ”Thank You again for helping me.”[/color] Awiti held a slightly accent from her old home, but for years, it had lessened. She heard the exotic accent of the other and looked at her. She was only fourteen years old and she wanted some water or something.

[/size][/blockquote]
( WORD COUNT ) – one.seven.two.five
[/blockquote]

[ladymoth]

▓▒▓▒▓▒▓▒░▒░▒░░░░▒░▒░▒▓▒▓▒▓▒▓

▓▒▓▒▓▒▓▒░▒░▒░░ Ed' came out from the behind the door trying her best to look like she wasn't in for the worst night of her life, it wasn't that she didn't think the night would be fun; in that respect she hadn't any idea what to think, she had never been to human's ball or even a ball with people that were her age; or what passed as her age. It was that she was forced to wear clothes of a human women when she had acclimatized herself to elvish fashion.

She was dressing in black, cream, and scarlet. She had cream trumpet sleeves and a square cut top with a tight black bodice that pushed out and showed off her assets. For Ed`, a girl who's sari showed off her midriff on a daily basis, she had never felt so naked. She assumed the low cut top was because humans had such a short time to live, so they had to find someone to mate with quickly, but for someone with her longevity it just felt cheep.

her dress was black and pushed in and cut in at the waist then inlaid with scarlet silk; it made her look like a black widow. Around the sleeves and bottom of her dress you could see that her under garments were red as well. gone were her heavy pieces of jewelry and anything else that would make her look like a woman of nobility, she wanted to be conspicuous, but she didn't want anyone thinking that she was of noble birth.

One thing that she did hold on to however was her head scarf, it was scarlet tonight; the purpose it served was mixed, it was both a fashion statement and a security blanket. One thing that she was forced to wear tonight that she had never worn before was shoes, and it showed; Ed` kept shifting her feet back and forth and tapping her toes against the ground restlessly. She gave Dantie a once over, ignoring his romantic address and rushed passed him to look into his mirror.

She examined herself, grimaced at her shoes and then the cleavage as her grey eyes swept upward. She pulled the head scarf off of her messy black bun and looked at the mad mess that was her hair. She sighed loudly falling back onto his bed and and pulled her hair out of the bun trying in vain to make it behave with her long slender fingers.

"Ma komitama, Ma komitama" she repeated (evidently she had heard him,) "How you play with the ancient language, I could never be precious to anyone in this" she gestured over the dress. She paused, examining his clothing closer "we're both dressed the part" she said looking stern "we look like enemies of the empire tonight."

»Addison nodded with exilleration, he had his hand in Niko's just to make sure he didn't get lost; he had a bad habit of getting caught up looking at something and then loosing people, it had happened with Josk and Niko about a two dozen times each. "I feel under dressed" Addison added looking down at his clothes, Addison was dressed in the same way as the twins, but he was probably one of the only people in the world who could carry off that powder blue color.

He did of course look amazing, and he was only saying that so that he would get a complement. Addison let his hand slip out of Niko's "lets go dance with girls" he suggested excitedly waving his hand toward the women in the far left corner of the hall who were all standing alone looking desperate and rather ugly, something a person like Addison just couldn't see.

▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼

▲▼▲▼►
If Addison had looked to the other side of the ball room he would have seen Jeralt dressed up for once in something other than a flamboyant fiery color. Today he was wearing an ivory uniform embellished with nine-moons in circular cycle that was meticulously stitched in white thread so that it could really only be seen when the light shone on it.

Now Jeralt was nothing if he wasn't catalyst for the most highly concentrated amount of testosterone known to Alagaesia but anyone who knew Jeralt knew that he was the only one who could have made stitches that immaculate without the use of magic or elvish fingers. Jeralt had an attention to detail that bordered on crippling, and he would only accept the finest things; take for example his date.

Jeralt's date was a woman about a hair shorter than he was, skin to match his clothes and gleaming light auburn hair that went down to the bottom of her back. She was dressed all in silver and pearls. She was faced away from the door but by the look on Jeralt's face she must have been the most beautiful woman in there, maybe in all of Carvala. And they were dancing, like hell they were dancing.

Jeralt's lanky legs were doing him a great service that night as they ripped though the room cutting through the crowd like a hot knife through soft butter. Jeralt was thrown back to a time long ago when he and his parents were still alive and balls were just part of his nightly routine. At least for this one night every year he could pretend it had all been a dream, and that he had chosen a different path, and that he was nobility once again.

[dantieduurden]

When Ed' opened the door he was slightly saddened by the dress she had chosen, it did not do her well or suite her. " The dress may be ugly, but it is the woman in the dress that shines through in the end." Dantie said as she sat down on his bed and he silently glided in besides her. " O ma komitama you are more then even those words, and you do not have to wear such drab. " and with that Dantie called upon his magic and glamored her a wardrobe fit for a queen "You go how you feel comfortable. Do not dress for them, but for yourself, as do I. " Dantie said kindly as he gave her a small smile as he took off her shoes. " And these things must go, I can already see you are not comfortable in them, and that I can not have." Dantie said with a smile as he placed them off to the side. " Impress your self Ed' beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And the only one that needs to believe they are beautiful is you." Darek finished as he held up his mirror to her again so she could see the glamor he had cast over her clothes. " You can do this to can you not?" Dantie asked kindly as he looked into her eyes. " If not show me a picture of what you wish to wear and I shall fabricate it for you." And with that Dantie placed a reassuring hand onto Ed's leg.

As Dantie's outer body showed no struggle at all inside his mind was complete and utter turmoil. The part of him that was kept bound in chains normally was freely walking around inside his prison still but he held no bounds. And it was that same half of him that had spoken to Ed so truthfully and done so much magic with no problem. " Now if only you allowed me out more we could really have something going for us you and I. We are not so different after all, the same goal, we just go about achieving it differently." The chaotic half of Darek said to the lawful side. At the moment it was a stalemate between the two in which they had both called for an arrangement, but both knew the stalemate would not last for long, and both sides prepared in there own ways for the unavoidable conflict that would come after they no longer held the same ideals.


( From this point on N. Dantie means the normal good dantie who is not chained up. And A. Dantie stands for the other darker half of dantie that is imprisoned inside his own mind.)

As his jailer walked out of his prison in which A. Dantie was held, he began his work. Changing the once dreadful and uncomfortable jail he had been held in for 75 years without a chance to escape into his castle. " You hold no more control over this mind now Law. Chaos shall rule once again." A. Dantie then laughed out as he filled his castle with guards that were more demon then anything. But in truth why should a demon be treated any differently then any normal person. They themselves had feelings to after all. And so the sounds of war began as both sides began to create there armies, and weapons. For both had already agreed on the landscape they would fight on.

N. Dantie left knowing full and well what that would mean, he had given his counterpart his powers back to shape the world around them, and now war would come. " He shall learn why it is I who rule this body and not him." N Dantie told himself as he walked into a beautiful city that looked much like Ilirea. " Ready the man. War has come." Dantie said to his second in command as he entered his kingdom which he had ruled over for more then 75 years. But unbeknown to him was that many of the residents were still loyal to there master and so many departed to the mountains to there masters Black and gold castle. " It makes little difference which side they choose, the war shall be mine as it was so long ago. The chaos that rules them shall stop them from working as a unit just as it did the last time." And with one last look out over his mighty kingdom N.Dantie began his preparations for war.


Word count 717 Dantie

[[-Kay-]]

Will I come up for air, come up for air

After awhile the current is calling me
Lulling me, waving goodbye

[/color]

Ivory caught Brian's gaze once before he moved back to his work. She let a sense of calm serenity to him mentally, just a reassurance. She knew the expression on his face well from years of seeing her 'employers' ask her questions and worry about this and that. She turned, her gaze settling on the stage where he stood, a soft smile appearing on her lips. As he leapt from the stage, her eyes went wide with surprise, then amusement as he drew a sword and began to fight with another man. His words made her smile even as he fought with Fergus, her entire attention focused on the fight that was going on. It made her happy, to see people doing something they loved to do. Even if those people weren't exactly...people so to speak. Her eyes scanned to Sean and Neil's boxing fight. She smiled as everyone dispersed, moving towards one of the outer walls and balconies, where the cool night air was drifting in to cool the room that burned with the heat of many bodies. Her eyes scanned the grounds, turning to the sky where the clear night sky shone, the moon a bright crescent, the stars glittering pinpoints of light. She knew not if anyone would approach her, hoping sincerly it wouldn't be the violet haired girl that had so infuriated her with her very prescence earlier. She feared that if the girl showed up once more, that the rings she wore would end up connecting with the girl's face....more than once. Ivory wasn't usually a violent girl....well outside of work she wasn't. But she wasn't afraid to hurt someone if they made her upset. [/color]

I'm out here alone, oh God can you save me now?

[/color]Sinking my heart turns to stone[/color][/left]

Word Count

[/color] -0000-
Tagged [/color] None[/color]
Lyrics[/color] Lead Sails (And A Paper Anchor)- Atreyu
[/left][/center][/blockquote][/font]

[Tris]

The one lucky thing that happened here was that Valsta didn’t fall right on top of the unfortunate girl, more like hitting her and making her trip, but either way it was bad and It made the girl rip a part of her dress. After regaining her balance Valsta turned around to help the girl up but she was already up and babbling something of an apology and looking at her feet. Valsta was about to say something to the effect of It was not the girls fault or something like that when she heard, “Well,” And walking toward her was Laioni the elf she had been through so much with, If it isn’t the vulture that encroached upon my lair all those weeks ago?”She seemed to study her for a moment then said. “Intriguing that a human performed so well against a demon of that calibre.” Valstas blood boiled at the aphesis put on the word human, Laioni it seemed to knew exactly were to hit her, but she guessed that Laioni was only looking for a fight so she thought she would ablige, but before she did she took a quick look at the girl she had hit but she was already moving off so she gave her full attention to Laioni, “It is very nice to see you to, Laioni,” she said adding a venomous smile, ” And thank you oh so very much for the complement to me, a mirror human." This was said quietly but she surprised herself by how much force she had put in the words. She wasn’t quite sure how Laioni was going to take it, but she hoped that it was taken as a joke even if it wasn’t one.