Legends of Erandor

Jade exhaled, seeing that her way was not going to be the one to prevail in this matter. But it really wasn't something she could stew about. She smiled foxily at him, nodding in agreement to his statement. "Indeed, Xeras." her eyes glinted playfully. "I suppose only a select few are allowed to see both as polite and rude."

She turned toward the steps then, ready to depart with her arm still hooked in his.

True Justice

"Curse you, Jean! I'm going to my cabin! The weather is much to harsh! Toby shall manage the tiller." Seranoy growled. "I shall return to it later! Now get back up to your post, you disobeying dog!"

Legends of Erandor

Meironn started at hearing his name spoken, but smiled when he saw who it was.
"Byron! I hope you're enjoying yourself." To be honest he was surprised that the other man had come, Byron wasn't exactly the festival type, and as far as he could tell never had been... then again, he didn't know the fellow that well. "We're you wanting to speak to me about something in particular?"

~Lady Fee

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

David reached out a hand and helped her up from her place on the floor.

"Yes-- I'm staying with all of the other doctors here in the medical apartment complex..." She trailed off and looked uncertain for a moment. "I think I can go back there."

She let go of David's hand and made as if to move down to hallway.

"Wait just a minute, Grace," David said, grabbing her shoulder. She turned, frowning. "What?"

"What happened? Why were you back here?"

"Just...tired. Needed to think," She mumbled.

David looked as though he didn't believe her. "Well, we'll escort you to your rooms. I'm not letting you go by yourself."

"David..." Grace protested, but broke off. Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea. How long had it been since she'd just walked with her brother, felt protected by him? Too long.

A red light embedded in David's sleeve suddenly lit up. He noticed immediately. "The chairman needs me, actually. Ace, can you take her?" He quickly wrapped Grace in a hug, kissed her on the forehead as he used to when they were younger, and strode off down the hallway. "I'll see you tomorrow!" He called behind him.

Grace stood there, watching him leave. She was confused at how abrupt he'd been. "The chairman calls and he just...goes?" She thought aloud.

True Justice

Adrian worked his jaw for a moment before he felt that he was even capable of responding. "We're going to shore. Right now. Stuck there for two weeks, no ships leaving for the Capitol." He stared out at the horizon, but it didn't calm him as it usually did. "We'll have to ride. It'll be a long trip." He gripped the rail on the side of the ship for support and and swallowed hard. "Oh, that she'll still be all right," He whispered.

--------

"Who happens to be in your cabin, Captain?" Jean said, shouting above the din of the storm. "I'll escort you there."

Legends of Erandor
Erivale Festival

"I'm enjoying myself as much as I can, I suppose." Byron shook his head. "No, nothing in particular; just glad to see a familiar face in this mob of people. What have you been up to since our last council meeting?"

Byron was surprising himself. He wasn't usually this social, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

True Justice

"We're going to shore?" Shay couldn't keep the surprise out of her voice. She didn't know what to make of this news, either. It didn't bother her too much, but Adrian was clearly distressed.

"I'm sorry..." She said, at a loss for words. "It'll be a hard trip for all of us, I know."

She'd never been able to understand human emotions, much less a person in love.

Legends of Erandor
The Erivale Festival

"Hm... nothing to big, i suppose..." Merionn said slowly, trying to conjure up the past few days in his memory "I got to show my niece how to play a few chords on my lute this morning... I think she may have a knack for it." He let the conversation trail away as a new dance began in front of them. He watched the smiling faces of the people and wondered at how they all looked so the same when they were happy; all had the same slightly squinted eyes (a real smile does that to one), their cheek were all rather rosy (that was probably just the effect of dancing), and not one looked uncomfortable... at least not one that he could see from here.
He looked back at Byron. Poor Byron, as far as Meironn could tell, Byronn had never smiled (at least not a real smile) in his whole life. He wondered as to the back-story behind that perpetual lack-of-smiling (he couldn't exactly say it was a frown). "What about you, old friend? What have you been doing of late?"

~Fee

True Justice

Terence ran a hand over his stubbled jaw. It had been a rough night. Thoughts, some good and some bad, plagued his mind, robbing him of sleep. He stood from the hammock and climbed the ladder to the deck.

The sunshine immediately made him blink as he went to get a drink of water. He was tired, hungry and a little grumpy. As he swallowed the water, he saw Adrian and Shay talking. Setting the mug down, he made his way toward the two and said, “Well, don’t you two look cheery…What happened?”

-----------

Legends of Erandor

The sound of the horses’ hooves upon the gravel driveway brought a smile to Aedra’s face. She pinched her cheeks one last time, skipped out of her room and made her way down the stairs. She pulled the front doors open before the doorman could and made her way down the marble stairs in a wild flurry of excitement and anticipation.

A giggle escaped Aedra as the carriage door opened and outstepped the handsome Orlando, followed by his stuck-up sister, Olivia.

“Dearest Aedra.” He said as he took her hand and kissed it gently. “You look beautiful, as usual.”

Aedra bit her lower lip and gave a little wink. She turned to Olivia and said, “Fashionable as ever, Olivia…”

Olivia looked up and down. “Hmm, I can’t say the same for you. Walking barefoot is a very bad habit…”

“I see you’re just as kind as ever, too.” Aedra ground out, turning her attention back to Orlando. “Miss Daphne will also be coming. Though, she will be riding with my brother and his friend Jade. She should be arriving any minute.”

Within moments, Daphne’s carriage arrived through the large iron gates. She waved as she drove up and was out of the carriage as soon as it came to a stop. She embraced Aedra excitedly and then Olivia. To Orlando, she gave a slight curtsy. “Oh, what an exciting day this will be!”

Aedra nodded in agreement. “Yes, of course! My brother and Jade should be out soon. Xeras will be so glad to see you.” Aedra walked to the top of the stairs, “You may wait inside for my brother, Daphne. Orlando, Olivia and I will be leaving sooner than you will. Have a wonderful time and I’ll see you at the festival.”

“Oh, alright!” Daphne said as she went inside. Aedra shut the door behind her and went back down the stairs. She took Orlando’s hand and pulled him inside the carriage behind her.

Once Olivia was safely inside, the driver gave a command and the horses fell into a trot. As the hooves hit the gravel, Aedra laughed and said, “Oh, how angry my brother will be later tonight!”

~~~

“Are you quite well?” Kye asked as she observed Ainsley. Her friend looked unwell and Kye felt concerned. She gently placed a hand on Ainsley’s arm and said, “Maybe you should sit down…”

True Justice

Shay blinked at Terence. "You look terrible." She had no hesitations about bluntly stating the truth.

At his question, she inhaled deeply. "We're landing now. We'll be there for two weeks. A minor delay, but still, it's a delay. And in Adrian's case, it's one we might not be able to afford." She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. She definitely cared about Adrian's frustration, but that didn't stop her from being optimistic, and maybe just a bit mischievous--as always. "At least we can still ride. I like horses well enough." She smirked at Terence. "And on a horse, it's impossible to feel seasick."

Legends of Erandor
Tain Manor

Jade pulled on Xeras's arm, but he remained steadfast. "Not just yet, Jade. I'd rather put off my interaction with Daphne as long as I can. However, would you like to accompany us in the carriage? Your presence is one of the only things I can think of that could make the ride more bearable." With a charming smile, he bowed slightly, employing the trick he'd used with many ladies before. It always worked, of course. Xeras had a way of getting whatever he wanted.

The Festival

"I think that would be wise, though I assure you, I am fine." Ainsley eased herself into a seat, just as her vision blacked out for the briefest moment. She rubbed her eyes. "The heat must be getting to me, I suppose," she muttered to herself, feeling a slight chill of fear all the same.

---

Byron merely grunted at Merionn's comment about his niece. Byron had never much cared for little children. They only served as painful reminders, and seemed to pull up the scabs of his wounds that he'd tried so hard to heal.

"Me? Just playing chess. It's what I do in my days off." A short laugh escaped him. "I like carving chess sets, especially." A note of fondness and an almost-smile accompanied these words, but they vanished almost immediately, like chaff blown away by the wind.

True Justice

Terence scowled. "That's what you think."

He looked at Adrian and said, "You may have run into a delay, Adrian, but we will find her. Through rain and wind, we'll ride until we find her."

Terence faced Shay once again and crossed his arms. "Are you sure you're up to taking such a long trip by horseback?"

~~~

Legends of Erandor
The Festival

Kye frowned. "Stay here, I'll get you some water."

Running to the pie stand, she searched for a cup, found one and then filled it at the well that sat in the center of town. She carefully walked back, handed it to Ainsley and said, "Drink slowly."

Legends of Erandor

While Kye left to get some water, Elaina quietly rummaged through her travel bag for some calming herbs. "Here, if you feel like you can, chew this. It's a calming herb. Helps to settle the stomach and nerves." she said as she handed Ainsley two minty smelling leaves.

(((Just realized ya'll had been slowly moving this story along and that Elaina was just standing around. )))

True Justice

Shay scoffed. "What kind of a question is that? I've survived this long, haven't I?" She folded her arms tightly. "I'll keep going as long as I have to in order to find a job. It's not like I'm going to last long by staying on this ship."

Inwardly, she cringed at the thought of riding a strange horse. She only liked one horse in this world, and her gentle mare was miles away. She hadn't been lying when she said she liked horses well enough... not exactly. It was more like bluffing. She'd gotten over her aversion to horses... for the most part. Even so, she hadn't been able to get on a horse without a prickle of fear each time for a while. Not since the accident she'd had when she was younger. She snapped back to attention and tried not to glare at Terence. "Yes. I'll be fine," she snapped. The words were as much for her own benefit as for his.

Legends of Erandor
The Festival

"Thanks." Ainsley expelled a long slow breath as she took both the cup and the leaves. She chewed on the herb and an explosion of mint filled her mouth. Even after washing it down with a swig of water, the icy-green taste still remained. It at least helped take her mind off of how bad she felt... for now. She managed a small smile, even though her vision remained rather fuzzy. "So. Back to the pies. Are you selling many?"

As she spoke, she ate some more of her apple pie. The sour-sweet taste mixed with the mint made her want to hurl all over again, but she gagged it down. She hoped that the water and the herb would kick in soon. Maybe they'd help ease the sick feeling in her stomach.

((OOC: Good to have you back, Cor. ))

True Justice

"It's not about surviving, Shay. It's about keeping you safe." Terence said firmly. "If you think this trip will be easy, you need to think again."

"As your current employer, I will take it upon myself to place you back on a ship headed toward Griande." He held up a hand before she could protest. "Trust me, you'll thank me later."

~~~

Legends of Erandor
The Festival

Kye chuckled a little and glanced at the pie stall. "Well...It looks like 3 have been eaten."

She looked at Ainsley and said, "You don't have to eat the pie if you don't want too, Ainsley. I won't be offended."

True Justice

"No, Terence. I appreciate your concern, but I'm staying right here. I've been through a lot worse before I ever met you, so clearly you underestimate me." She inhaled deeply. "I know you'll want to drag me onto another ship no matter what the cost, but I doubt you'll be able to find one. Don't bother. I'll be fine." She managed a small smile, and paced a short distance away. Her arms were folded tightly and the sea breeze blew her blonde hair away from her face. "Thanks, though."

Legends of Erandor

Ainsley made a face and pushed the plate away. "I'm sorry, Kye. I'll try to eat it when I feel better. What I did taste was good, though." The harsh sound of the music in the background grated in her ears for the first time. "I think I may have to head home early."

Legends of Erandor

It always worked, of course. Xeras had a way of getting whatever he wanted.

And she knew. Jade smiled back at Xeras, knowing that he expected her to accept and that she would, but the vague thought of his reaction if she declined danced through her mind and she weighed the tangible little image of his possible facial expression, considering it's worth.

But of course I could never decline. There would be no earthly reason why I should, accept to annoy him and I only do that in tease.

With a gracious nod of her head, and a toss of her ebony tresses, she stood beside him firmly no longer eager to descend. She placed her hand on his arm gently and looked up at him, wondering would it would be liked to stand level with his deep, intense gaze, and stare into his eyes fully instead of at a slightly lower position.

She wasn't much shorter them him, but enough to make it pleasurable when ever he stood behind her and breathed down upon her neck. She shivered as she imagined his arms enclosing her during such an encounter, but didn't want him to know her thoughts and tried to keep her expression neutral. Someday... she purred to herself. Just maybe, someday.

True Justice

Terence nodded, holding up a hand slightly. "As you wish...But if you end up hurt or cold or sick, do not blame me."

Terence rubbed his stubbly jaw as he observed her. The summer sun was as hot as ever, but the sunshine gently washed her blonde hair until it shone like gold. It had been awhile since he had seen a woman that he actually found attractive, but Shay had captured his attention immediately. A rare thing indeed. He thought it best not to say anything to her, but once again he couldn't resist. "Then again, if you get sick, I could play the part of a hero and help you get better..."

~~~

Legends of Erandor

The Festival

Kye nodded, feeling concerned. "You look pale. I would hate for you to miss the festival, but maybe it would be best if you went home..."

Legends of Erandor

"I think that might be best." Elaina said after being silent for a minute or so. "Perhaps some rest will do you some good. Here, I'll take you back home."