Strong Spirits (OPEN)

[toriyuu]

Ambassador to Illirea, it sounded like an extremely important titled to everyone who heard it. Why wouldn't it? Illirea was the largest city in Alagasea and the Order of the Riders held more power than any other organization on the continent, and as the King's liaison them he was of importance. However, being important didn't necessarily make a person busy. While in Illirea Toriyuu was very rarely busy, and for that matter neither where the members of his brigade that he had brought along. Officially he was meant to keep track on the Order's international moves, forward any messages from Anurin and Almalexia to Azuan, oversee and report on the progress of human wards in Illirea, take complaint from Broddring citizens living in the city, and seek ways to make his brigade more powerful whether through numbers or magical abilities. The Riders' very rarely made any international moves, sent few messages to the human king, and rarely mistreated any humans in the city. Half of Toriyuu's time was spent monitoring the human students in the city. He never had to worry about them being seriously injured, the Riders were more than responsible for them, so he just sat in on classes at random. Most human students thought of him as a teacher as well calling him Master Toriyuu, the Elven students saw him as an equal though.

While not stalking the gifted human adolescents of Illirea Toriyuu could generally be found in the grand library furthering his knowledge of sorcery and testing his knowledge of the Ancient Language, or practicing with hardened Elves in the training grounds. Today Toriyuu was sore from one intensive defeat at the hands of an elf warrior, so he spent the rainy evening inside the Citadel reading. The brown leathery text he held in his hands at the moment was something no one could find in Broddring, and only former students of the Riders could access it. Inside of the tome were detailed descriptions of intermediate level spirits that were commonly called upon by sorcerers in the past. While still being trained by the Riders this book was forbidden, overshadowed by books about lesser spirits. However Toriyuu had long grown tired of the weak spirits under his control. He set the book down and tugged on seven, small wolf-head charms that had tiny diamonds in their mouths. Inside of each diamond was a weak hunter spirit, that while under Toriyuu's control would manifest as a ghostly wolf. Among most sorcerers in the Broddring Kingdom the ability to summon the ferocity of a wolf pack and barely get tired was amazing, but in Illirea it was nothing. Sure they could stalk prey or enemies, and could fight as well as a real wolf, but against another mage, an elf, a dwarf, or a kull these spirits were useless.

Toriyuu let go of the charms and sighed with frustration. He had spent his entire seventeenth spring in the Spine hunting down and tracking these spirit. The elves had pretended that it was a magnificent feat, and his human companions met him with applause. Three years later and he realized that if he was really going assert himself as a powerhouse among all peoples he would have to summon stronger spirits, trap these spirits, control these spirits, and do it on his own. Toriyuu refocused on his tome, and the fairth that lay on its right open page. In it were to beings that appeared to human or elf, but were really neither. They were intermediate spirits, famed for their strength and wisdom in battle. On the left was a feminine looking spirit flowing dark blue hair, pale skin, blue garbs of a tribal woman laced with white wolf fur, and a crown of bone with a large sapphire inside of it. Its name was Kra, a famous moon spirit known to be a strong protector and healer spirit, which still had limited attacking abilities. On the right was a masculine spirit with blonde hair that moved like flames, a warriors muscular body, bronze skin, gold gauntlets and jewelry, a tribal man's clothing, and red bear fur wrapped around his upper body. He was a spirit of the sun, known for his savagery in combat and raw, fiery abilities.

This was not Toriyuu's first time reading about the spirit duo. In fact he had spent quite a lot of time obsessing over the pair of spirits for many reason. First of all, if he could successfully gain control of them he would be the strongest, known, human sorcerer. The pair also had many appealing qualities: they were commonly called loyal to their sorcerers, they were never known to take over a feeble summoner, and they were used by sorcerers to keep other spirits in line during the summoning process. They were considered very strange in all of these aspects and because they seemed to be in love. Legend attributed this to the fact that they were once elven lovers who committed suicided because their Houses were at war, Toriyuu doubted that.

Toriyuu slammed the tome back on the table and sighed once more. He folded his arms on top of the book and slammed his head on top of them. He had memorized the spell that would summon the spirits, knew their true names, and could do the ritual in his sleep. What he did not have was an item that could hold the two spirits. Lesser spirits like his wolves could be held in metals or gems of any quality, in fact it was considered ostentatious for him to keep his wolf spirits in their tiny diamond charms, but Kran and Kra needed gems of a higher quality and to be held close together at all times. Kran needed a sapphire and Kra need a ruby, and should the gems ever be further than a foot away from each other the spirits would become free. Past sorcerer's had embedded their jewels things such as staffs and necklaces, but Toriyuu's idea was more befitting of a warrior. He planned on placing the jewels in a ceremonial style dagger, that would not attract attention if he wore it at all times.

Toriyuu picked his head up and gazed around the large library. Most of its visitors were elven scholars, but a few dwarf mages were crammed into their own corner. As fas as he could tell he was the only human in the room, but it did not bother him much. The diversity of Illirea had always attracted him. As the young man looked out the window and into a cloudy sky his mind refocused on Kran and Kra. He had spent the entirety of his last trip to Carvala amassing the gold necessary to have guy gems of a high enough quality and pay for one of Illirea's best to build the dagger, but he had know where to take his gold. The dwarfs would have the best gems available, but which one could be trusted with gems this important? An elven weaponsmith would infuse magic into the dagger, making it even more suited for the task, but where would he go?

[Emma]

If I was afraid of anything, it was undoubtedly the void.

I was suspended in black space, in what I somehow knew to be the deepest abyss in existence- it had once been the world, now reduced to nothing. It was impossible to plumb its depths, and even death’s boundaries could not confine it. I had walked the path of carnage for six hundred years. Blood and war, no matter how terrible, did not affect me. But infinite blackness, where not even the scents of what had once been still lingered, chilled me to the bone. Even worse was the well of emptiness I felt deep within my belly that I knew could not be a dream- devoid of the seed of life that had been so close in coming to fruition. There was no beginning to the journey, or an end. I could not fight the nothingness, or escape it. I could only lay in the dark and wait to be claimed by death.

A flash of lightning from one of the first thunderstorms of spring jerked me out of my nightmare. I came to in the wooden chair I’d fallen asleep in; sitting up straight as reality came rushing back towards me. The guard assigned to keep an eye on me was snoring peacefully in her own chair, head lolling to the side. I gazed around the bedroom that the Riders had given me for my stay here. After the trial for my transgressions against the non-aggression pact, it had been decided that though I was not a criminal, I would remain here, in Ilirea, under the Riders’ watch until further notice. I was no longer the army general of all Du Weldenvarden, but an important guest of the Order- one that required a guard stationed near her at all times, and her hands tied when not in her room.

I caught my reflection in the full-length mirror mounted beside my wardrobe. My ash-blonde hair was now untied, and it fell over my blue eyes in an unruly tangle. I tossed it clear and looked harder at myself. I was even paler than usual, and my face was lined with fatigue. I’d needed the nap. I hadn’t slept since my arrest. As for clothing, I had been forbidden my usual heavy scale armour, but I had been allowed to wear my ceremonial military uniform- gleaming black boots and deep blue high-waisted riding britches with gold braid down the outside seam adorned my legs, and on my torso was a square-shouldered jacket, the same dark blue as my britches, tight at the waist and studded with golden buttons and stripes. A navy cape, lined with gold, flowed over my shoulders.

“Sergeant Irlav,” I said sharply, as I continued to gaze at myself.
She jerked awake, and, horrified at being caught sleeping on the job, leapt to her feet. “Yes, General Kolbjorn!”
“What time is it?”
“Uh… not past six o’clock, sir!”
“I’m bored. I want to walk through the Citadel.”
“Of course, General! But I’m afraid I’ll have to…”

She looked at me apologetically. Wordlessly, I rose to my feet and held my hands behind my back. She took a piece of rope lying on the table beside us and expertly tied it around them, just tight enough to restrict their movement. Once she was satisfied, she paused, and then grabbed a comb and began compulsively brushing my hair. I winced, but let her do it. Skjorta Irlav was untested and soft, but she was also one of Du Weldenvarden’s most devoted soldiers. I dearly wished my lieutenants had been brought along with me, but Anurin and Almalexia had refused it. Keeping me apart from my allies- cowards indeed, but they were smart cowards. Once Irlav had arranged my hair so that it fell in much more maintainable, straight layers to my mid-back, we set off.

The ivory and crystal halls of Ilirea’s Citadel were almost too beautiful to bear. My room was set about halfway up the tower, and now I was making my way down the spiral marble stairs to the Grand Library. Books had never held my interest, but I would go mad inside that little room of mine, and I could not leave the Citadel without a Rider or a senior Ward at the very least escorting me. Despite the careful security, however, I was always greeted respectfully, even by the scholars in their shapeless grey robes as they scurried past. The humans generally gawked, having rarely seen an elf from Du Weldenvarden before. I did not endow them with a second glance. The multitude of exotic races held my interest, however, and I mainly eyed them on the way down.

I could see the Grand Library long before I arrived at it- crowned with its crystal dome and its massive garden taking up the center; it was probably one of the most baffling spaces I’d ever laid eyes on. Shelves stretched on in every direction, and stacks of books towered precariously high. Hundreds of pages rustled as they were turned. I was not a person that saw beauty in the passages of a faded tome, or love in a candle on a starless night. I could not grasp the passion of arguments over long-dead issues. To put it mildly, Ilirea was not the place for me. Tonight, however, the library was not quite as tedious as I usually saw it - rain rattled on the crystalline dome, and it was very dark, with only magical light and more conventional torches and candlesticks providing illumination.

“Irlav,” I snapped. “Bring me some texts on the Blue Divide.”
“Sir?” said Irlav hesitantly. “Are you… allowed to?”
“Of course,” I smiled. “I’d like to see what information the Riders, safe in their walled city, were able to amass from a war they did not participate in.”

She still looked unsure, but saluted sharply and ducked amongst the shelves. I took the steps down to the center of the library alone, eyeing its denizens warily. Though I received respect as usual, they were quickly rebuked by intense gossiping. The ruthless General of all Du Weldenvarden, Myaja Kolbjorn, lacking of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness, now reduced to a prisoner of the Riders. It certainly curdled my innards. I stretched my restrained hands up and over my head so that they were in front of me, and took a seat at one of the ornate wooden tables. I vaguely noticed there was a single daydreaming human nearby, far more muscular and weathered than the scholars, but I couldn’t be bothered to move to another seat. I merely tossed my hair and waited.

Character(s) Used;; Myaja Kolbjorn
Words;; 1111. Lulz.
Muse;; Not bad, actually!
Thoughts;; WOOT. I haven't RPed Myaja in ages!

[toriyuu]

Toriyuu's sharp mind was wandering far from the confines of his earthly form as he pondered his magical ability level. His eyes were directed at the nearest window and his came down on his bottom lip habitually. Under the table his left leg shook as he considered the preparations necessary to bind the spirits that he wanted and how long it would all take him to do. As a mage and a warrior Toriyuu understood patience well, but at the same time he could not bare his feelings of weakness much longer. The young man gazed around at the people surrounding him in the library, and thought with a peaceful disappointment that everyone around him could destroy him with ease. Even the elves who remained in training as wards were much to powerful for Toriyuu to combat, and it made him feel defenseless.

As surveyed the room of more powerful humanoids Toriyuu could not help but notice an elf in bondage walking toward him unknowingly. What struck Toriyuu first was the power that resided in this woman's walk, it was strong and confident, the walk of nobility. What the sorcerer noticed next was elf's gorgeous face, which left him in awe. As a ward of the Riders Toriyuu had spent much of his life living, learning, and fighting besides elves, so he had grown used to the features that made them so wondrous. This particular elf, whose golden strands fell lustrously down her back, had a heart shaped face that Toriyuu's strong hands wanted to gently cup and soft skin that his lips wished to kiss. The immediate intense attraction to this elf gave Toriyuu a puzzled look because it was truly unusual and at the same time reminded him that it had been along time since he had been romantically engaged.

The Rider's prisoner sat down at Toriyuu's table, giving him little more than a glance over. She wore some form of a military uniform, and because of it her identity was immediately clear. This was Myaja Kolbjorn, the form general of Du Weldenvarden's and new captive of the Order of the Rider's. It was fortuitous that she sat at his table! Her imprisonment, no matter how civil it may seem, was the major international affair of the moment and as a diplomat Toriyuu needed to be in on the loop. Unfortunately Anurin and Almalexia did not seem to be in a rush to inform Toriyuu or the Broddring Empire. This could be his opportunity to gain information, and if she happened to be the most beautiful elf that he had ever seen that would just be a plus.

The young student of many elven masters waited for the new arrival to formally greet him for a few seconds, but she did not seem as if she planned on doing so. Toriyuu looked at Myaja in her eyes, which were as mystical as the fairest among fairths, and spoke up. "Atra esterní ono thelduin, mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr, un du evarínya ono varda Myaja svit-kona." The ambassador did not move much as he spoke, which was not customary for an elven greeting, but neither was sitting without speaking. He did smile though, and how could he not? Toriyuu was sitting across from the very talented and beautiful Myaja Kolbjorn who could possibly give him interesting news to report back to King Azuan. She could also turn into a very useful friend, one who knew swordsmanship and may even be able to help him have a very special dagger built.

[Emma]

Irlav was taking her time in getting those books, and I was aware that I was being closely, intensely watched. I turned my head very slightly and looked at the human sitting near me out of the corner of my eye. Much to my irritation, he was the one gawking at me so openly. At least the others attempted to mask their stares. His eyes were roving over my face and hair, obviously entranced. Slight irritation turned into full-blown annoyance, and I began to tap my finger on my knee, wishing I’d been able to bring my katana to Ilirea with me. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to touch anything resembling a weapon while under arrest, and Kieran was doing Nyx knew what with my sword. Perhaps the idiot had gone and sold it to fund that human cesspool he called his base.

I looked the human over a little more carefully. Clearly heavily trained, he was about my height, but twice my girth in hard-packed muscle. He was also notably older than most of the humans I’d seen here, who were generally hyperactive children or moody adolescents, but his weathered face was probably throwing off my estimate. He would seem very out of place in any library, let alone this one. And he was drooling over me. My lip twitched. I was not the youngest of elves- most females my age would be with child by now, and I was clearly well past that. And even when I was young, I’d never exactly been the type of woman that had men lining up to be with her. I was unused to such attention. My hands made capable fists, and I prepared to spew venom.

“Atra esterní ono thelduin, mor’ranr lífa unin hjarta onr, un du evarínya ono varda, Myaja svit-kona.”

I blinked; utterly surprised at hearing the ancient language coming from a human’s mouth. But then I reminded myself that there was no need. This was Ilirea, after all- a different planet. The human’s voice was warm and friendly, clearly eager for my attention. I watched him for a few moments. What could he possibly want an imprisoned soldier for? He couldn’t be after me- and even if he was, only the most moronic of humans could ever believe in romantic chances with an elf. I curled my lip as his tender dark eyes gazed unflinchingly into my icy blue ones. I couldn’t think of any reason as to why he was so interested in me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Irlav hurrying towards us with an armful of leather-bound books, panting from exertion.

“Human,” I snapped in the common tongue as Irlav placed the books on the table. “Formal introductions mean nothing to me. Do I look like I have time for you?”

I then gazed down at the various tomes my soldier had brought me, eyes going over the titles. Fall of the Silent Plains. Report: Disaster at Kirtan. Biography of Vänskä Könungr, Part XI. How Ceunon Passed to Broddring. Palancar, a History. Carefully neutral names, all penned by the Riders’ scholars. I smirked and nodded my head at Fall of the Silent Plains, which Irlav immediately opened and began to flip through. I looked closely at the illustrations of the various towns and cities that had been sacked, and at the word choices they’d used. Friendly fire. Expiration. Deconstruction. Clever euphemisms that masked the horrors of the war. Upon seeing the name Anastasio D’artagnan, however, I snarled and jerked my head up. The human was still there.

“Are you going to gawk like an idiot,” I barked at him, “or are you going to tell me who you are and what you want?”
“He was just trying to be friendly, General Kolbjorn. Hopefully not too friendly, though.”

The male voice was so close by and so sudden, I started with surprise. Craning my head, I was utterly shocked to see my counterpart Edan Valaician standing not three yards away, poring over the texts in front of me with obvious interest. He, unlike me, had gone peacefully when the Riders had arrested the two of us at the Gala, and had made no attempts at violence during our short stay here. As such, his hands were not tied, although he did have a human guard standing directly beside him. Like myself, the middle-aged General of Broddring was in his military uniform, emblazoned with red and gold. I immediately rose from my chair and stood at attention. My restraints and my pride prevented me from saluting, but I was not above disrespecting an equal-ranking soldier.

“I apologize, General Valaician,” I said in a voice still tinged with more ice than civility, but not nearly the animal roar I had used on the human. “I did not see your approach.”

Character(s) Used;; Myaja Kolbjorn
Words;; 805
Muse;; Nice. =]
Thoughts;; Erm... yay for ice queen rage? XD

[Kite]

*Edan was growing accustomed to life here in the Rider's city of Ilirea, but it was taking time. He had been here for a while, ever since the feast and debacle that had been caused by Ramakrishna, and had been told that he was not a criminal and had not broken the non-aggression pact, but the entire time he was distracted. It irked him that he had lost control of his troops, and that more likely than not there were new holes in the command section that must have taken time to fill. It broke his well-oiled machine and would likely cause more troubles than that, but only time could tell.

He woke in his room as he normally did, to find the guard in the guest room that was attached to the room he occupied, a guest room that had to be moved through to leave the room no less, and he dressed himself in some light clothing before moving to the guest room and rousing the sergeant that had been tasked to him. The sergeant wakes and dresses while Edan waits in his room for the guard to come and get him so he could leave. The sergeant enters the room and salutes to him, which Edan returns, before speaking.*

General, I assume you have a desire to do your normal morning routine?

*Edan pauses a moment, and then nods in confirmation.*

Yes, sergeant. Afterwards, I would like to go to the Great Library as well.

Aye, sir, follow me.

*The guard leads Edan out of his rooms in the guest wing, and they move to the area set aside for practices of the physical kind. Once he arrives, he nods to the assorted youngling teachers and masters that make a habit of this as well in greeting before going off to a private corner and beginning his exercises. He was unfortunately prohibited from drawing practice weapons from the armory, even though he was not a criminal, and that irked him mightily. He would have to work for a while in order to return to the edge he had while in Broddring and Carvala, but then again he was also confident that he could best any human in residence here in Ilirea, so he kept his tongue. He worked through his non-weaponry regimen as normal, and began to work on the rudimentary Rimgar that he was learning from the Riders here. He was not practiced at it, and he was not as spritely as he once was, so it did not come to him quickly but he was definitely improving.

After some time, he moved over to the sergeant and nods to him, speaking softly.*

Back to the room to change before the library, son.

Aye, sir. This way.

*He is lead to his room once more where he splashes some water over himself to get some of the sweat off of himself before changing into his dress uniform, a red and black affair with all of his attached commendations and campaign ribbons, and looked into a mirror momentarily to check the placement and found no adjustments were needed before moving back to the sergeant and following him to the Great Library.

The Great Library was a marvel in and of itself. It gathered and stored all sorts of knowledge from every corner of the world, from across oceans and deserts, and was the single largest repositories of said knowledge, only rivaled by the libraries of Ellesmera, The Tears of Leona, and Carvalla, and not truly matched anywhere. He had visited it before, but only briefly. This time, however, he was able to wander through it in depth. He turned to the sergeant at one point and spoke, asking him to guide him to the section on the Blue Divide. The sergeant salutes and lead Edan there, and he arrives to find the section picked clean. He turns around on the spot, looking for the responsible party, and sees an elven sergeant carrying a large stack of books, exiting the aisle on the opposite side, and he moves to follow her.

After a few minutes of following, she turns into the study area, where she approaches a couple, one elf and one human, and Edan catches the last part of the human greeting the blonde woman in the military uniform whom he recognized both through having seen her once every little while around Ilirea since the ball and through the end of the greeting, Myaja svit-kona. He watches for a moment as she snaps at the man, a man who had a military look about him, but one who also didn't show the signs of being a veteran of battle. He could be wrong, of course, but he doubted that the man was old enough to have fought in the Blue Divide. He looked familiar, though, as though he might have seen him before, but Edan decided that he would find out in time.

Edan moves in on the general, his sergeant following close behind him, and closes in as Myaja snaps at him once more, asking what he is doing, and he speaks to her once he gets close, smiling slightly and looking over her shoulders at the texts her sergeant had gathered for her.*

He was just trying to be friendly, General Kolbjorn. Hopefully not too friendly, though.

*Myaja starts and looks around to face Edan, and he salutes as she raises to her feet at attention, and he notes the bindings. He was surprised to see them on her still, but he woulddn't worry about that now. As she begins to speak, he lowers his arm and nods, still smiling at her.*

No need to apologize, General, I did not mean to sneak up on you. Your sergeant grabbed the manuscripts before I arrived and I came to see if I could impose to take one off the reader's hand, but not anymore.

*He then turns to the man with whom she was "talking" to, and speaks to him.*

Ahhh.. I recognize you, I think. We must have interacted before, but when does not spring to mind. Will you forgive me if I ask you who you are?

*He stands with a slightly relaxed stance, and awaits both party's responses quietly, trying to project an air of calmness and pleasantness so that maybe the interactions won't be so cool.*

[toriyuu]

“Human, formal introductions mean nothing to me. Do I look like I have time for you?”

Toriyuu was taken aback by the aggressiveness in the Elven general's tone and her dislike for formalities. Toriyuu had been drilled on the manners of the Elves for a great portion of his life, and the majority of Elves in Illirea stuck by them. The young man was reminded of one of the riders, Master Mnemosyne, who also treated "formalities" with contempt. Part of Toriyuu wondered if this was common among female elves, but he doubted it. Myaja and Nemo were probably just two similar characters with dissenting attitudes. So Toriyuu decided to treat General Kolbjorn as he would anyone else, still with diplomacy.

"My apologizes General Kolbjorn," said the diplomat in the human language. "I have met few Elves who do not appreciate a formal greeting, especially from humans."

He couldn’t help but smirk as she turned away from him and directed her attention to the texts in front of her. She was such a beautiful elf, not just for her outer features, it was the strength and ferocity she exuded. Toriyuu had always been attracted to women with these traits, starting with his childish crushes on the female riders here in Illirea. Since then he had never dared view an elf with such affection, until now at least. He had dated several women back in Carvala and none of them could compare. They were all either normal women with common jobs, or noble girls who were hoping to land the future general of the Broddring army. Either way they could never compare to someone like Myaja Kolbjorn, a warrior and more than likely a skilled mage. Just as Toriyuu realized that he was still gazing at the elf woman, she looked up and noticed as well.

“Are you going to gawk like an idiot, or are you going to tell me who you are and what you want?”
“He was just trying to be friendly, General Kolbjorn. Hopefully not too friendly, though.”

Once again Toriyuu smiled at Myaja’s bluntness. It was rather humorous and still somewhat attractive. Just as he was about to open his mouth to introduce himself he turned around to see another surprising face. Standing before him was General Edan Valaician of the Brodrring Empire. Toriyuu had heard about his detainment as well, but it had slipped his mind for the time being. The young lieutenant was surprised to see the amount of respect General Kolbjorn and General Valaician with the tension that their nations had between themselves, but at the same time it was refreshing. Toriyuu often felt guilty for having friends of all races, so seeing one of his superiors be friendly with an elf put his heart at ease.
Once the General addressed him Toriyuu stood up in a rush and saluted, as was custom. He hadn’t really expected Valaician to remember him. The last time they had spoken personally he had been a child, tagging along with his father to a formal dinner between Brodrring officials. He had also briefly met the General’s own sons, but had not known any of them very well. Originally he would have been trained under General Valaician, along with his children and most other young men joining the army, but Toriyuu’s path had changed once he displayed the Gift. Having been sent to Illirea to train and study his personal connections within Broddring had been skewed. This presented him with another opportunity to become friendly with another person of importance in Alagasea.

“I am Lieutenant Toriyuu Doubleblade sir, but I believe you remember me as the son of General Arodas. I was trained here in Illirea, it’s probably why you don’t remember me.”

Muse: My muse is kind of off, I just need to write through the slump.

[Emma]

Valaician saluted me smartly as soon as I stood, without missing a beat. I took the brief lapse in conversation to study him. There were generally two types of high-ranking military officers- there were the complete and utter fools, either rich or charismatic, who used political connections to achieve their superpower status. And then there were those who earned it in battle, shedding their own blood for the sake of their country. Despite Valaician’s relaxed, almost reassuring demeanour, I suspected him of being the latter. Contrary to his years, he held himself up better than most humans half his age, and beyond those pale green eyes was something hard, some light that was now extinguished- a devoid I saw in the eyes of all who had witnessed the Cleansing firsthand.

“No need to apologize, General; I did not mean to sneak up on you,” he said warmly. “Your sergeant grabbed the manuscripts before I arrived and I came to see if I could impose to take one off the reader’s hand, but not anymore.”

He then turned to the human- who, as soon as he had gotten an eyeful of Valaician, was back to looking at me again. He’d responded to my snarl with shock, quickly followed by a just barely hidden smirk and even open amusement. On top of which, he continued to ogle me much like a starving animal would ogle a tantalizing piece of meat. This attention was unwanted and even troubling. I was unfamiliar with being stared at with anything except open hatred and terror, and no man I’d ever met was interested in a woman more powerful than he. Being placed in such a submissive position made me feel somehow vulnerable- which instantly translated into rage. Unconsciously, my hands strained against the rope to reach for a sword that wasn’t there- and made me realize.

“Ah… I recognize you, I think. We must have interacted before, but when does not spring to mind. Will you forgive me if I ask you who you are?”

I hardly noticed the human stumbling to his feet and saluting Valaician, even though I did not lower my gaze from him. After instinctively jerking against the rope, I’d realized that it was stretched almost to its limits. I didn’t even think to look down at my hands and give myself away, only kept my eyes on the two humans in front of me. Irlav must have done a poor job of tying me. I turned to look at her. She was busying herself with Fall of the Silent Plains, nibbling her thumbnail and totally oblivious to the goings-on around her. I glanced around the Grand Library, and decided it wasn’t nearly empty enough to attempt anything here. Instead, I clacked my tongue. Irlav immediately looked up and shut the book, tucking it under her arm and coming up to me.

“Sir?”
“Wait.” I jerked my chin in the humans’ direction.
“I am Lieutenant Toriyuu Doubleblade sir,” the human was announcing proudly. “But I believe you remember me as the son of General Arodas. I was trained here in Ilirea; it’s probably why you don’t remember me.”

Despite myself, I paid attention to the introduction. Part of me wondered what this human, Doubleblade, could possibly be a lieutenant of at such a young age. The Riders had no actual army, just their pathetic motley crew of winged lizards and super-powered traitors that had no place in war. He was probably in that fool Angrenost’s army, then, although considering Almalexia’s rampant hatred of humans that put mine to shame, that also seemed unlikely. However, he’d mentioned being trained in Ilirea- which meant magical proficiency in a human. I curled my lip, and was even gladder at the stroke of luck I’d had with the rope. Turning back to the general, who was just about to speak to Doubleblade, I leapt onto the brief lull in conversation.

“General, you are free to enjoy these manuscripts, as I will be retiring for some fresh air. It’s rather difficult to breathe with such self-righteousness clouding the room.”

I bowed to him slightly, turned my back and strode off, not waiting for an answer. Irlav was scandalized, floundering after me and calling my name as I began to make my way up the stairs. I ignored her for as long as I could tolerate her wails, keeping my gaze level as I began to make my way through one of the curved, winding hallways looping around the Citadel. I remained on the ground level, but was looking for any sort of empty hallway- preferably near an exit that I could get to with speed. Eventually, I found myself right by the doors of the Sacred Font, guarded by a single militiaman. Nobody was stupid enough to steal a dragon egg, after all. Upon arriving, I finally turned to face my guard, who’d drawn quite a bit of unnecessary attention with her constant cries.

“GENERAL! They showed you nothing but courtesy! That- hostility…”
I frowned at her. “Irlav, if I had been hostile, they would be bleeding.” I craned my neck, and irritably noted that she still had Fall of the Silent Plains tucked underneath her arm. “But if my rudeness bothers you so much…”
“Oh, no, sir, I didn’t mean to say anything like that-”
“Invite them to my room, soldier.” I smirked at the militiaman behind me. “For tea, to make up for my earlier transgressions. Go on.”

She gawked at me in utter shock and disbelief. Briefly, I wondered if she could see past my charade. I knew quite well how my vicious, dissocial demeanour was looked upon- the Ice General, the Stone Cold Bitch of Du Weldenvarden- and embraced it. Being nice never got anyone anywhere. Far better to be known for my actions and true thoughts. Irlav knew my feelings on manners. However, fear of insulting two upper-ranking humans seemed to win her over, and she nodded and scurried off. I let out a small sigh of relief when she left. I didn’t want her to be blamed when I made my escape. I turned my back on the militiaman- who had immediately perked up once my sergeant had disappeared- and pretended to be interested in the tapestries and wall paintings while pulling as hard as I could against the rope. It was no ordinary thing, magically enchanted for strength, and it tore at my skin, making me wince. But within a minute of the struggle, I felt and heard it break with a satisfying snap.

“Whoa there, knife-ears.” I heard the man’s voice from behind me, as well as the distinct sound of sword on sheath. It was a human. “Don’t you move.”

I bent my knees the moment I heard the heavy weapon slashing the air, and bobbed to avoid it smacking my head. He was surprisingly quick for a mere human, but still not nearly comparable to the elves I regularly trained against. I ducked inside his swings, sidestepped his thrusts, and hunted for an opening. Soon enough, I found one where he swung too wide, leaving his right side exposed. Without a moment’s hesitation, I buried my fist into his ribs, hearing a muted cry of pain and feeling bones break. I didn’t stop to see whether the injury was fatal or not, only took my opportunity and headed for the small wooden doors leading out of the Citadel. Flinging them open, I was met with pouring rain and frosty chill, but also the first taste of freedom I’d had in an age.

Character(s) Used;; Myaja Kolbjorn
Words;; 1265
Muse;; ... ehh. Could be better.
Thoughts;; BLEH. Not my best work.