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Post by Mallach Dirson on Apr 15, 2015 8:57:14 GMT -8
The man in white continued the healing process until Caius regained the majority of his senses, at which point he ceased and turned his full attention to the former Seeker's words. "I see, yes that could be troubling." But then the culprit for all the commotion spoke up and the elder man listened, turning his gaze to the redhead for a moment if only to raise a hand so she would keep her tongue behind her teeth. Which she of course did, albeit not without a bit of a glare in the archer's direction. "My lad, I do think you have the entirely wrong idea as to how we do things here. Please calm yourself and allow me to explain and see if we can't smooth things out after all this unnecessary commotion.
"Your powers have come to you late in life. This is both alarming and possibly dangerous. We only wish to help you learn to properly control those abilities that manifest themselves so you are not a danger to only yourself but to others as well. Aside from that you will have no obligation to join our Order." He smiled warmly and gestured a hand to the former Seeker. "Our Seekers, retired or not are creatures of habit and was just repeating words he has told to many parents who's children possess similar abilities to your own. He meant nothing sinister by them.
"For now, all I ask is you consider what I say to you now. What were to happen if you lost control and killed those you loved, such as those relations in the other room? What do you think would happen to you then, hm?" He gestured back to the Seeker. "It is a sad truth, but I am sure Mollandir here has seen such horrors and knows the outcome as do we all here in the Order. Not just for those families harmed by such events, but to the tormented soul responsible for such tragic events."
The remaining Guards with Azoth nodded, sheathing their blades almost in unison. They then slipped to either side of him with a mirrored movement and began to escort the Horse Lord to his cousin.
Mallach frowned and gave the guard holding him a small shove as he pulled himself the rest of the way to his feet on his own power. He'd be lying if he said he didn't feel a tad weak in the knees, but that wasn't a concern now. His daughter was anguish and that was more of a concern to him than anything else in this world right now. "Just take it slow, Aryn." He spoke softly and placed one of his big hands upon one of her shoulders. "Deep, slow breathes." He smiled a tad, his eyes seeming to sparkle. Yes, he was quite fit for duty now, both as a father as well as his station and he knew he had her to thank for that. "So what in he--- world is going on around here to make the Order's Guards snap into attention, hm?"
As one of the purple cloaks began to speak, Cat along with the Guard whom had done all to the speaking to her prior burst into the room. Mallach's eyes widened a bit at the discovery she was here and instantly a wide smile carved it's way upon his face. "Mi'lady." He bowed his head a bit. As she spoke though his smiled dimmed a bit and turned to a confused frown. "Trouble? Here?" His gaze turned back to his daughter, then the two guards and back to Cat. Finally he threw his hands up in a surrendering shrug.
"Will someone just spit out what in world is going on here please!"
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Post by Mhairyn "Aryn" Dirson on Apr 17, 2015 20:02:00 GMT -8
Another voice entered the fray, each spoken syllable a cacophony resounding behind her throbbing eyes – it was all too much, too fast, and before she was aware of the urge, a smattering of partially digested egg came unbidden from the depths of her stomach. She had time to turn her head to avoid the embarrassment head-on, but her gut was far too conniving for propriety.
At least it wasn't projectile, only a dribble, and as the fussing began, a thought rose, unbidden and reeking of Mollandir: why must some ask what was clearly obvious.
Almost ashamed, but primarily embarrassed, Mhairyn framed her body away, blocking her face with both hands – a very clear sign she wanted to be left alone, unmolested.
Mollandir's eyes dulled as the master spoke, memories resurfacing as though it was yesterday; the girl with the red hair, lighting her family on fire...the boy with the speech impediment, impaling his mother as she hugged him good-bye...the many parents weeping as he returned to them, informing them of their child's death before they even made it to the Order. Such was the life of a Seeker, one as grey as the cloaks they wore, one burdened by red and black and blue.
His tour had lasted longer than some, they had said when he hung up his cloak, almost 20 years; the emotional toll it had taken was extensive, degrading, and many could not endure what he had to endure. But all these lies, these misinformations, this...fear.
"My lord," the Seeker said quietly. "My sworn duty is to protect the Order, even though I no longer wear my cloak. I wish no ill-will upon the young lord, yet I feel he should be reminded of Anul and Ijusast's will. The world is forgetting..." he sighed, casting his glace away from the elder and toward the horse-lord. "What lies have been told to you, I know not."
The Seeker pinched the bridge of his nose between his eyes and cast a weary glance back in Mhairyn's direction, sighing slightly as he swallowed the guilt at leaving her behind to deal with her father. Steeling himself, he returned his attention to the elder. "I can mentor him, my lord, if you wish it. He wishes to leave this place, as does my charge. Perhaps he would find a degree of...solace...in her company, a certain kinship." He was, of course, referring to Mhairyn's lineage, as the boy had so openly declared his own, but also her love for her own equine companion, in addition to her thirst for knowledge. It seemed like a match.
Yes, for her, he would don the cloak again. He would fix this.
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Post by Cathlyn Nuëmenoïr on Apr 21, 2015 20:08:08 GMT -8
Weaving through the lines of shelves, Azoth made his way towards the source of raised voices, they being easy to pinpoint in the otherwise hushed atmosphere. Even with his calm demeanor, the male still felt uneasy with the purple cloaks trailing behind him. He felt guilty just by having them in his presence. He was supposed to be the model soldier, a man that abided by the rules, but his family was just as important to him and Cat's attachment to their cousin was something Azoth didn't want to sever. It would leave so much in disarry within their family.
Finally reaching the source of ruckus, the elder Nuëmenoïr had to stiffle a gasp as his steel colored eyes took in Caius' bloodied profile. For a brief moment, a flare of anger flickered across Azoth's face in a scowl before he quickly snuffed it out with his usual mask of calm. "What in the Gods name did you do to your face, Caius? I thought once was enough!"
The Lady Cathlyn started to speak before the rustle of purple robes caught her eye, causing her jaw to lock into a grimace as her teeth ground together. "It'd probably be best if these two explained. They didn't believe Azoth and I in the first place." The woman sneered before returning to silence as her gaze glared at the head of the group. If she were to cross paths with this man ever again, she didn't think she could keep from taking the gauntleted arm of hers to his face.
If the man did end up telling what he knew or not, Cat would turn back to Mallach, taking a step closer to him. "Mallach, please. There must be something you can do to help Caius. He's done nothing wrong. He's like a brother to me. He's family, and you know I'll do anything to keep my family safe. Anything!" She could feel the sting of tears as she choked on a sob. She kept her hands clenched into fists at her side, visibly shaking as she pleaded with her beloved.
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Post by Caius Nuëmenoïr on Apr 22, 2015 5:59:52 GMT -8
The idea of harming Cat or Azoth was impossible for him to comprehend. His mind literally rejected it out of hand. His power let him see, that was all it did. How could that be a danger to anyone? Still, he said nothing in response to the old man's question, instead, casting a resentful glare at those around him. The young Horse-Lord didn't like this, that was for certain, but while he did want to leave, he had come to the tower for purpose. The idea of going away without anything to show for it chaffed him. At Mollandir's word, the young man bristled and turned his angry gaze to the former Seeker. "Lies? Why do you people keep assuming I've been lied to, mislead, or coerced in any way? As I keep telling you, I ran because a complete stranger walked up and tried to detain me against my will. If the guards walked up to you and said 'I'm sorry sir, you have a sword, so we're taking you into custody', would you just stand there gaping at them like an idiot, or would you get the hell out of there?" Why was this such a hard concept for these Order types to understand? As the Seeker began conversing with the Elder once more, Caius cast a sidelong glance at the Red Headed woman who had so brutally bashed his skull in. He was making a rude gesture in her direction when Azoth rounded the corner, causing Caius to quickly dispense with the childishness.
"Azo!", He cried, struggling up to his feet, "No, no, this isn't my fault, and it wan't a sabercat this time. This was something way bigger, meaner, and a whole lot less beautiful to view from a safe distance." His reply came without so much as a glance in the female Gifted's direction, but Caius's mood at yet to improve at all, so she could just deal with his resentment. Noting the absence of Azoth's Twin, Caius felt a flutter of fear in his heart, and he looked to his taller cousin for answers. "Where's Cat? Oh Gods, she didn't kill someone did she!?" He should have known better than to ditch them like that, but he'd honestly expected his cousins to know the difference between providing a distraction and murder. Before he could get an answer from Azoth, Mollandir began conversing with the elder once more, resulting in a grim look from Caius as he inched closer to the reassuring presence of his elder cousin.
"Azoth..." he murmured, trying to keep his voice low and quiet, "I don't think they really know what to do with me. It's almost like they've never run into someone with powers like mine before."
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Post by Mallach Dirson on May 1, 2015 13:26:55 GMT -8
The elder smiled and simply shook his head at the boy's rebuttal. "Young lordling, you speak out of turn. Mollandir did not call you a liar." His eyes flicked to the arriving man whom was clearly this Caius' relation but paid him no mind as he continued to address the matter. "He's simply offering you his services, to mentor you in the world rather than here in the Tower. Is your mind so closed to getting our aid that you switch to insulting the intelligence of he whom is trying to help you?" As the cousins conversed, the elder's attention switched to that of the retired Seeker.
"That choice is not mine alone Seeker. If my understanding of your situation is correct you are in the employ of House Dirson, it is to them for you to ask. If this boy is a danger to himself and those around him, you may be putting the Princess is danger after all." He gave his old chin a rub which moved down to his neck and further examined the boy, whom was clearly trying to provoke the Justicar into further action. What a folly that'd be, more so as he waved a hand at her dismissing the redhead without a word. Which she obeyed with a simple nod of the head and quickly departed without evening glancing at the insulting youth. "Consult with your charge and her Lord father. Bring to them your concerns along with your better judgment. Once consulted, Lord Dirson's voice of reason will weigh heavily upon my decision." His gaze shifted back to Caius and while he was still speaking to the Seeker it was clear this was intended for his ears as well. "For in the end it is the Order's ruling in this matter."
As Cat and the Guard each said their piece, the former nearly breaking down after the guards explained what was going on with Caius, Mallach frowned. His gaze turned to his daughter whom while had been sick clearly did not want to be babied and so he kept his distance for the time being. His eyes remained on Ayrn for a few awkward seconds of silence before he cupped his hands behind his back and took a single step toward the Lady of Nuëmenoïr and looked into her eyes. "This matter is out of my hands mi'lady, this is a matter for the Order of Light to decide.
"If the guards speak true, Caius could be a danger to himself and those around him. The Tower is the best place for him." He gaze turned over his shoulder to Ayrn. "As it has been for my own flesh and blood for the majority of her life." His eyes fell back to Cat's, clearly they showed his desire to help but in this matter his hands were quite tied. "I am sure Ayrn would agree with me in this."
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Post by Mhairyn "Aryn" Dirson on May 2, 2015 20:28:46 GMT -8
"I do not think she would mind," Mollandir replied after a moment or two of thought. "Her Lord father holds no power over her; she has earned her cloak. She is to do as she wishes." The Seeker's gaze drifted over toward the cousins conversing and frowned. "As you insist, I will ask it of her," he replied quietly, directing his gaze toward their feet.
This was not how his day was supposed to go; he was supposed to collect his book, retire to the apartment, and lose himself in a rare indulgence. Perhaps he had gone soft in his retirement? Whatever had happened to Mollandir's spirit didn't matter anymore; as taught, he was to live in the now, treat each day as it came, and look toward a peaceful future...and if that future meant taking care of this boy, then so be it. Setting his jaw, he realigned his sight on the elder for a moment, nodding faintly as the Justicar made her silent exit, and spoke, directing his voice more toward the cousins than the elder. "I shall consult with the Lady Mhairyn Dirson on the matter." He waited before turning and leaving, wanting to see if Caius would have a slightly more favorable reaction to the lady's name (though 'princess' hadn't garnered much).
Aryn listened quietly as the story unfolded, her grimace shifting slowly into a frown as the pain in her head lessened. Her own thoughts echoed Mollandir's previous ones as she wondered why someone would run from this place; this was the Order! They were the children of the creators, the very best the world had to offer, not...not some dangerous beast to be feared and resented.
The thought angered her, and while she heard her father's words, soothing as they may have been, she interjected. "Enough! There is no choice! It is Anul's Will." She pressed herself against the wall as she slowly rose to her feet, the pointed glare on her face enough to stop anyone who offered assistance. "Your cousin was claimed by a Seeker, the very same Seeker who claimed me.
"'He with the Power of the Gods Above shall be Taken under my Wing, to be Protected and be Loved, to be with Me, as though he were my own Son, my own Family, to learn the Will as I learnt, He, the one who is Gifted with the Divine's grace, shall know the Love and Safety of Ijusast.'"
Mhairyn's deep eyes burned brightly as she recited Anul's writ, the entire basis on which the tower they stood was created. "There is no choice for your cousin, your grace. We are Children of Anul, your kin and I. We will teach him, guide him, love him. We are not a jail. This is life, as unfortunate as you feel. It is not some fool notion a mother tells her child to keep him behaved, not a place of evil as you imply. It's—" Her hesitation was slight, almost non-existent, as her tongue decided on a separate word. "—The beacon of Hope in an otherwise hopeless world." Mhairyn glanced at Cathlyn's gauntleted fist for the point she was trying to convey—the Order would stay strong, as it has been, even as armies rise and fall.
"You will be as removed from your cousin as I am my father." She gestured briefly in her father's direction, not even sparing him a glance...he had heard it all before, many times. The anger in her tone had subsided, leaving it soft and warm despite the coldness in which she delivered. "Which is to say, not at all."
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Post by Cathlyn Nuëmenoïr on May 7, 2015 13:42:43 GMT -8
Before the red head left, Azoth cast a glance toward her, giving her a nod before returning to Caius. A small frown was placed upon his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest. Caius spent maybe a little too much time with Cat in his youth, the youth reminded Azoth of her. There was no doubt they were related. "You know, you'll never make friends like that if you keep pissing them off." Upon the mention of his sister, Azoth's gaze drifted back towards where he came from, the frown still upon her face. "Cat hasn't done so, yet.." Leaving her unattended was probably not the best idea, but she was headed towards Mallach, so there wasn't much need to worry in the eyes of the raven haired man. "She went to go find Lord Dirson. We heard he was within the tower.
As Caius inched closer to the elder Nuëmenoïr, Azoth's voice would drop to a hushed tone, "you're just lucky it wasn't Cathlyn that came for you. She'd have your head on a pike for running off like that."
His voice then raised once more so the other two could hear, waiting for the men to finish their discussion before asking his inquiry, "Lord Elder, may I ask a few things to get some clarity?" Azoth cleared his throat before continuing, "why exactly did it take so long for my cousin to tap into his gift, and why didn't a seeker find him in his youth? Also, how much danger could he cause?"
Cathlyn couldn't stand to hear the words she was given for her cries for help. A myriad of emotions flared within her, fighting for dominance so she could take action. However, the only one that surfaced was sadness, hurt as she finally saw no way to keep Caius from the Order. It was just like Lilli was dying all over again.
Her eyes fell to look at the floor, tears streaming down her face. "I suppose there's nothing else you can do.." Losing this was going to be difficult for the woman to admit and deal with this. She wasn't used to defeat. "I.. I understand then."
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Post by Caius Nuëmenoïr on May 7, 2015 21:34:23 GMT -8
Caius hated this. Caius hated every damn second of this, and it showed in the way he paced back and forth beside his cousin. This was a problem, a big one, and Caius had to be careful with how he answered. The last year had been hard on him, and the young Horse Lord had never been of the trusting sort. He didn't like how calm the old man was about all of this. He clearly had the Nuëmenoïrs right where he wanted them: They couldn't do anything but comply, not with a contingent of armed guards surrounding them. The idea of having to follow around and answer to Mollandir chaffed him sorely, mostly because judging from the way the man carried himself and spoke, he already had enough on his plate. Caius would just be one more chore the old man didn't want or need, and whatever relationship they might build would suffer for it. If Azo was aware of how irritating and immature Caius could be at times, the younger Nuëmenoïr was even more aware of that fact. After all, who knew Caius better than Caius?
Speaking of Azoth, where did the big lug get off telling Caius how to make friends? Caius didn't make friends. He didn't play nicely. He was a rogue agent by nature, unwilling to be pegged down in one place for very long. He'd never been very good at getting along with anyone, and that was hardly surprising, given his dual loves of solitude and quiet. Frustration was making his mind scatter, and he had to pull himself together somehow. So he started with an attempt at reconciliation. As the Seeker made to return to his charge, Caius took a deep breath and approached the older man.
"Seeker," He said, keeping his voice low and steady, "I'm sorry for fleeing from you. I panicked, and made this all worse than it had to be." Of course, maybe if Mollandir had gone with suggesting the boy talk to someone within the order instead of going straight to implied detainment, it wouldn't have set Caius into flight, but what was done was done. "I've spent the last year abroad, not always in safe company. My nerves aren't as steady as my cousins', and running always seems to work more for me than standing my ground." There, that was out of the way, and though the words left a bitter taste in his mouth, Caius swallowed it and continued. "But I can't...I can't be shackled to this city, to any city. I have to be out and about, abroad, doing my own thing. If I'm stuck here, even if it's for a good reason, I'll go mad." Caius loathed cities, he'd never gotten used to the sheer volume of people, or how every single one of them seemed to want one thing or another from him. They were a necessary evil that Caius spent as little time around as possible.
The Order and its Tower were a gilded cage to Caius, and he was afraid that once he set foot inside, that smiling old man behind him would slam the door shut, and he'd be stuck there forever. Turning to the man in question, Caius waited for him to answer Azoth's question before continuing with his words. "I'm not one of your Gifted, sir. Whatever I am, it is something of a different nature altogether, and while our powers may come from the same source, I have sincere doubts that this is truly the best place for me to learn how to use them. I'm not saying you people are bad, just that I don't belong in this tower. I don't mind coming here to find answers, or to research, or to learn, but staying here? Staying in Vertholt? I can't do that. I simply can't." Glancing at Mollandir from over his shoulder, Caius felt defeat settling in his chest. "And while I question the wisdom of letting someone who is supposedly as 'dangerous' as I am within five feet of a princess, even with a trained Seeker on watch, I'd rather take my chances with one Mallach Dirson's men than fickle gods. Let me go with Mollandir and speak with Cathlyn. Clearly I'm not leaving the tower any time soon."
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Post by zoi on May 9, 2015 11:52:49 GMT -8
I'll be taking over the mod portion of the thread at Mal's request because Skype-tag is difficult.
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Post by Mallach Dirson on May 9, 2015 20:04:02 GMT -8
The Lighting Lord sighed after all was said and done. Ayrn's words were true and he knew it, and Cat was clearly feeling defeated by it all. Closing the remaining distance between himself and his fiance and cupped her shoulders with his big hands and smiled down at her. "It is as Aryn says mi'lady. We live here, in this city. He will be trained in this section of the castle. You can come see him whenever you're able and vice versa." Using his thumbs, he gently rubbed into her shoulders and arched his neck down a little bit to try to get a better look at her face. "There is no need to seem do defeated, or upset.
"No harm will come to your cousin, nor will he be locked away in a cell. As Aryn was given the freedom to roam and learn here, so will he. They're good people here, otherwise I of all people would not have given away my eldest child without a fight." Turning his gaze to his daughter he smirked at her from over his shoulder which was followed by an ever so quick nod of his head before his eyes turned back to his beloved.
"Besides, I'm sure if you ask nicely Aryn will look out for him. I mean he's only a lil fella right, this'll be a big adjustment for the tyke."
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Post by Mhairyn "Aryn" Dirson on May 12, 2015 8:48:22 GMT -8
The Elder smiled, a slight twinkle hiding behind his bushy brows. "The Power is in us all, lad. Some of us require an outside force to access and manifest it, such as your Eiphyre weapons. Others need a slight boost, but until that Power is accessed, we cannot sense them.
"We are all Gifted in our special ways. There is no need for an elitism here in our Tower. We are no better or worse than you. Someone of us come from great lineage, others from nothing. We are here to serve a purpose that the Gods have given us. And if you have the Gift, that is enough for us.
"As for not knowing what to do with you," he addressed Caius now before the lad headed down the hallway on Mollandir's heels. ""That is not true. You are not as unique as you think in your capabilities, nor are we naive enough to display all our collective talents where a warmongering Lord can see them. As in the Army, there are many variations within the way an individual fights -- it is much the same here.
The Elder turned away and began walking whence he'd come, but paused and glanced back over his shoulder to speak once more. "If you feel that this is not your place, perhaps it is where you need most to be. There is much fear in you; the entire Tower felt it when you displayed yourself. If that emotion is not controlled well, you can cause great harm, mind or body, or even to those you love if you succumb to it." He turned and carried on, addressing the group one last time: "And remember: Men are more fickle than those above."
Mollandir remained silent while the Elder was speaking, merely nodding and grunting as Caius made an attempt at reconciliation. The Seeker bent at the waist as the Elder left, remembering the same words that his own mentor had said time and time again. After a moment, he addressed the two lords beside him, "Come, let us find Lord Dirson." He led them a different, more direct path, and shortly the group would be united once more, for a time. Afterwhich, the Seeker would take both Mhairyn and Caius away, as both teenagers wanted to leave the castle as fast as possible...but a meal would be in order first.
Mhairyn frowned at the display before her, annoyed that her miniature lecture was immediately followed by it. Her brow furrowed as she retreated inward, hardly acknowledging the acknowledgement by her father. "It is a great honor to be chosen," she murmured quietly. "There is no shame in this."
Perhaps she misunderstood her father's words -- she was not ready for an apprenticeship! She had just taken her Oaths not two days ago! Her eyes widened in panic and she opened her mouth to speak, but upon seeing the look upon the lady Cathlyn's face, she closed it. She would decline it later, perhaps, in private. It would not do well to break the woman's heart further. Instead, Aryn looked down the hall, toward the sound of heavy boots on stoned floor.
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Post by Cathlyn Nuëmenoïr on May 19, 2015 11:40:33 GMT -8
Through the tears, the Horselady gave Mallach a skeptical look as she scoffed, "you obviously haven't met Caius, milord." Her hand not wielding the eiphyre made just for her rose to dab at her eyes before continuing. "He has gone through hell enough as it is, and his attitude shows it. And he's definitely not some little tyke as you think he is." Her eyes then turned to the young woman behind Mallach, gently brushing off his hands from her shoulders as she approached Aryn. Stopping just a few feet from the girl, Cathlyn clenched her left hand into a fist and placed it against her chest as she bowed slightly.
"An apology is in order, Lady Dirson. I did not mean to offend you and my actions were uncalled for. I understand if you don't accept my apology; but please, make sure nothing bad happens to him." She felt the tears well up once again, holding back a choking sob as she remained bowed before the King's niece.
It would be in that bowed position the group of men would find Cat in, Azoth's features deepening into a frown. He didn't like the feeling of the frown, it was foreign upon his usual smiling face. It seemed that his twin couldn't find another way for Caius after all. His eyes then glanced over to the young man, holding back a sigh. Cathlyn was going to need some space for a few days, maybe even a tavern.
Upon closing the distance between the second group and his, the tall Nuëmenoïr gave a respectful bow to the Lord and Lady, remaining silent as he waited to hear the conclusion to all that transpired in the past few minutes to an hour.
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Post by Caius Nuëmenoïr on May 19, 2015 20:28:14 GMT -8
Until stepping into the corridor, Caius had held on to some small hope that Cat might be able to work something out. As he and Azoth passed the desk where they'd been sitting at the beginning of this debacle, Caius paused to collect some of the notes he'd left behind in his flight, tucking them into his satchel. He did it quickly, without alerting Mollandir unnecessarily, and fell into step alongside Azoth. The young man kept his mouth wisely shut, all the way through the archway, until his eyes settled on Cat's kneeling figure, shoulders bowed in defeat. His lips twisted into a sad, beaten frown, and he cast a knowing look to Azoth before the two bowed in respect to Mallach Dirson and his daughter.
Formalities out of the way, he stepped forward and crouched down next to Cathlyn, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "C'mon, Saber-Cat," He murmured quietly, casting a glance at Dirson, "On your feet: The Nuëmenoïr don't bow in defeat." He kept his voice low, trying not to let the two nearby nobles hear him. He rose, helping his cousin up and then folding his hands behind his back, standing at attention. Addressing Mallach directly wasn't an appealing idea to the young horse lord, but he greatly preferred speaking for himself, rather than letting someone else put words in his mouth...then again, his mouth got him in trouble, which was why he went out of his way to avoid speaking when he could help it. Instead, he seemed a better idea entirely to let Mollandir do the talking. Why take chances? He'd already had his skull cracked open once today.
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Post by Mallach Dirson on May 25, 2015 15:16:24 GMT -8
It wasn't being brushed off or tears that bothered or surprised him in this situation. Nor was the sudden appearance of the retired seeker and now bodyguard of Aryn and his entourage. What did surprise him was this eye-patched young man addressing his lady so formally and expressing knowledge as to how her family would behave. He blinked a little confused. Maybe.. He poked his head out in the direction they had come from, but saw no one else coming. Huh.. He pulled himself back into the room and scratched his thick hair confused.
"Uh." He ahemed a bit and reasserted himself. "Where's the child who's rose all this commotion?" Now assuming looks of "Wut?" were shot his way (which I suspect there would be!) Mallach would look back at the one eyed youth and after a moment of consideration his jaw would drop. "Wut?"
[short post is short! sry for the delay family stuff]
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Post by Mhairyn "Aryn" Dirson on May 31, 2015 11:35:51 GMT -8
Mhairyn could only nod at the noblewoman's request, the girl's tongue still tied at the minor horror repelling itself around her aching mind. She would, at the very least, keep an eye on the child. She couldn't pledge herself immediately, not knowing how to, but maybe later? yes, that would make her father happy...
As the trio approached, Aryn turned to the guards still standing watch; for whatever reason, they had not departed, and now that the pair of Dirsons had recovered from their ailment, it was time for them to go back to their stations. "Thank you," she said softly. "You may return to your posts." They nodded to her, bowing their heads and clapping their left arms to their chests in the same fashion that Cathlyn had before turning on their heels and marching down the corridor. As she turned her eyes back, the trio had approached, Mollandir in the lead. She waited patiently for them to be introduced, her eyes flicking between the one whispering in Cathlyn's ear and the taller one standing back before settling on Mollandir.
Her head then turned to look at her father, the man who apparently had a knack for drawing all the attention to himself. It took her much longer to put two and two together, that this newcomer was the child, but by then, it was too late – Mallach had already stolen the show. Gifted // Frox // Primary The Seeker waited patiently for the reunion to be over, hard eyes softening slightly, almost in an apology, as they landed on Mhairyn. "My lords," he began, addressing each noble before pausing, at which point Mallach had interjected.... Which was a decent thing to do, the Seeker mused, as he didn't know the names of those he was supposedly to introduce, especially if he wanted to take the younger out of the castle with the lord commander's daughter. Gifted // Frox // Associate
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Post by Cathlyn Nuëmenoïr on Jun 9, 2015 11:42:33 GMT -8
Cathlyn rose at Caius' prompting, eyes remaining downcast as she moved to stand away from the group, shouldering her cousin's hands off of her. She was done, defeated, and defeat didn't settle well with the woman. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed at her chest as she tried to reign in the myriad of emotions that fought to gain control. She didn't want to talk to anyone.
Thankfully, Azoth stayed with the others, listening, watching, waiting to try and get some agreement before Caius left the area once again. When the Lord Dirson inquired where the child in question was, Azoth had a slight look of confusion upon his face as to what the Noble meant when it dawned on him. "Lord Dirson, it's been a while. Azoth Nuëmenoïr." The dark-haired man held out a hand to Mallach as he walked up to him. "I'm guessing Cat didn't tell you how old exactly the cousin was."
The eldest Nuëmenoïr pivoted his head towards Caius, waving him older, "This lad is Caius Nuëmenoïr. Pardon his appearance, he cracked his thick skull upon the floor while trying to evade some respectable member of the Order." He then turned towards Caius, "This is Lord Dirson. The one Cat is betrothed to. So be respectful."
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Post by Caius Nuëmenoïr on Jun 10, 2015 7:59:59 GMT -8
Caius looked away from Cat as she walked off, knowing that when she was done with her mood, she'd return. He hated this, hated putting his cousin through that kind of stress and fear. If only, he thought, I'd just stayed in the fucking Wastes. He could have sorted this out on his own eventually, right? How necessary were the Seekers anyway? But he hadn't stayed out in the middle of nowhere, had he? No, Caius had come galloping back in to Vertholt like an idiot. It was a lesson for the future, to be sure; Never walk into a situation without knowing a little about it. His powers were similar to the Gifted, but not the same, and that should have warned him that he might face more aggressive treatment in the Tower of all places.
At the Lord Dirson's befuddled expression, Caius winced slightly and glanced off in the direction of the man's daughter. Oh gods, I may have made a huge mistake here. The thought echoed about in his mind as Azoth introduced him. Reminded of the blood soaking the front of his shirt, Caius felt the color drain from his cheeks, and immediately shifted his cloak to hide the stains. "My Apologies..." He murmured, bowing the formerly cracked head in question. "I'm afraid I panicked when Ser Mollandir approached, and opted to flee. I have no ill will towards the Order, I owe my life to one of its members, but the Seeker's choice of wording and my interpretation were poor." He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, looking away once more, mildly embarrassed, and just aware of it enough to actually be on good behavior. "The Order has made it's will rather clear, leaving me with two choices. I can remain here, in the tower, as their ward, or I can ask Ser Mollandir to accept me as his student, and learn under his care." Caius felt put in the spot light, a sensation that made him uncomfortable. Suddenly the boy wanted to be hiding off in the corner with Cat. "As I understand it, he is under your employ at the moment, and would require your permission to do so."
Folding one arm over his midriff, Caius bowed in a respectable manner. "For personal weaknesses, I cannot stay in this tower. Please, Lord Dirson, may Mollandir be allowed to educate me in the use of my gift?"
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Post by Mallach Dirson on Jun 13, 2015 10:08:37 GMT -8
After things were explained, Lord Dirson's expression switched to a far more stoic one. His gaze flicked from one Nuëmenoïr to the other, nodding his head as introductions were given for him, a quick smile spreading on his lips in thanks for Azoth's explanation. As the youth spoke Mallach's arms went to his chest and crossed, his gloved hands gripping the biceps of either arm. After he had said his piece, he turned his gaze to his daughter and then to the Seeker.
"It would seem we have quite the interesting situation." His gaze flicked to the elder in white, but did not linger there long before it returned to the one eyed young man. He had never heard of someone of this one's age being discovered by a Seeker., this was extraordinary to him and he honestly did not have the knowledge nor understanding to give a verdict on the matter. Besides, this did seem a bit out of his area of authority even if his employee and daughter were concerned. "Young man, part of growing up is knowing that you do not always get to choose where your path leads you. It takes a certain amount of maturity to truly understand those words, maturity you may not have grown into as of yet.
"As such." He casually flicked his wrist a bit toward the Seeker, his eyes moving toward Ayrn and then to the elder before eventually landing upon Caius again. "I have no say in this. Whatever choice you made has lead you here, whether it was intentional or not it is something that you have to now live with, as I live with the ones I made when I was your age and younger. These men and women here only wish your well being and if Seeker Mollandir here wishes to guide you on your path, then so be it.
"I will however insist that he continue his duties where my daughter is concerned. And if the Lady Nuëmenoïr, whom clearly feels responsible for you does not mind, I shall increase his waging as well to assist in his new duties." His gaze turned to Cat and lingered there for a few seconds of seemingly uncomfortable silence.
"However Caius, if your mentor chooses to train you here or in the wild you will do as instructed." His gaze grew hard, stern and his eyes burrowed into the remaining one of the archer. "That is what it means to be a student, that is what it means to be a man. Putting your own discomfort aside for a better purpose." Oh gods, please don't tell me I sounded preachy....
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Post by Mhairyn "Aryn" Dirson on Jun 16, 2015 20:09:49 GMT -8
Mollandir sighed; being interrupted by his employer was one thing, but the others were something else, and the tone in which he was referred to stroked his ire further – those who did not know the Seeker, all those present save Mhairyn, would not have noticed it, but if the girl was paying attention, she would have. The two were very similar in that fashion, hers by upbringing and his by necessity, and propriety was very important within the Order; one could not expect to be taken seriously if one was impolite and irreverent.
Still, the Seeker held his tongue, setting his jaw against itself so that he may remain quiet, and waited for the triune to finish the discussion without considering two of the three parties involved. Mollandir was a fly on the wall...Mhairyn, not so much. The Seeker cast his eyes in her direction, still listening to Caius and Mallach's conversation, to see how she felt.
Mhairyn's headache was now but a memory, a distant throbbing lurking in the shadows of her taxed mind. She made sure her face was clear of emotion, for no reason other than to appear more mature than her stature dictated, though her eyes were slanted in irritation – there was much wrong with this current situation, and while appearing serene would benefit her, it was still difficult for her to maintain.
To be talked down to, especially down by nobility, was hurtful; to be ignored, both as nobility and as a member of their religious order was infuriating; Aryn had no love nor care for politics, but she was not ignorant of her status within the kingdom."Have I no say in this?" she ventured quietly, intentionally calling all sets of eyes to her. Her hand gestured towards the Seeker standing on the side of the group before coming back to a cupped rest across her still-nauseous belly. "As Mollandir's charge? Does he not? He should have been the one to proposition, not you."
Her dark eyes lingered on Caius for a moment before shifting to the tallest of the Nuemenoir. "And you would do well to watch your tone in present company; it is nigh-blasphemous to speak ill of the Order, especially to, or of, members of such esteem. Or when these individuals are instrumental in protecting one of Anul's children." Mhairyn may have been an apprentice, but she was a full-fledged member of the Order, as was Mollandir, though he was no longer active as his role had been. She, if she was to be honest, was the only one who had a degree of power – command – in the grouping within these halls. Her dark eyes skimmed across those present, gauging for reactions.
"Their behaviors are appalling. This request should be declined, Father, until he learns some manners. You," her eyes once again returned to Azoth, "as well." Gifted // Frox
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Post by Cathlyn Nuëmenoïr on Jun 18, 2015 18:19:37 GMT -8
The sudden outburst of the princess caused both sibling to direct their attention to her, Cathlyn with seething anger, and Azoth with bewildered confusion. The man didn't disrespect any member of the Order. His grey eyes scanned over the gifted girl before realizing what she was referring to. He was adding emphasis to what he said about said member to prove that he did respect the members, not that he thought little of them. If anything, it was to prove that he thought of Caius' previous actions to have been in the wrong, not what Lady Dirson was accusing the eldest Nuemenoir for.
"My Lady. I believe you took what I said the wrong way. I wasn't disrespecting anyone of the Order. Your Order has helped many a people, including Caius as he previously stated. If it weren't for your people, he would have lost more than his eye." He then glanced at his cousin before his gaze caught onto the glowering look his sister was directing in the group's general direction. "And if I did offend, I did not mean to intentionally and apolo-"
"Enough." Cathlyn snapped, her fists curled into the fabric of her tunic tightly. She was done listening to apologies. At this time, she had pushed herself from the wall, casting her gaze toward Mhairyn, jaw clenching and releasing before allowing herself to speak.
"You act as if you haven't been asked, but you have, My Lady. I asked if you would help Caius, to watch over him, and you gave me your approval that you would. I would have thought a member of the Order, let alone a princess, would keep their promise. What a fool I was."
And with that, the Lady Nuemenoir turned on her heel and made for the exit. Azoth stood even more shocked than before, slightly horrified at what Cathlyn had just said while she made her exit. As she was reaching for the door to let herself out, her twin called out to her, giving quick apologies as he chased after her. By the time he caught up to her, she was already halfway to the stables. He already knew where she was heading after collecting her steed.
[Cathlyn & Azoth exit]
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Post by Caius Nuëmenoïr on Jun 18, 2015 22:07:10 GMT -8
Caius met Mallach's eyes with an impassive look. In his youth, he'd learned it was often best to give as little expression as possible when not in the company of trusted and loved companions. Mallach may have had Cat's heart, but he was just an authority to Caius. The young lord had put himself out in the open, and though Mallach's words were as neutral as the young archer's gaze, the elder man's tone sounded patronizing to his ears. How in the abyss was he supposed to know the Order would try to 'take custody' of him? From what he'd come to understand, his kind were an anomaly in the history of the Order. He did not believe himself to be the only person with a natural gift, and that meant surely there were others out there who had received the 'blessings of the gods' later in life, looked over by the Seekers. If these people had, like Caius, already been living perfectly normal lives up until that point, had started careers or families, what right did the Order have to suddenly but in and rip a man away from his business, or a parent from their children? It was one thing for it to happen to a child, who had little self direction and no real say in what they did anyways.
It was quite another to demand it of a grown man.
All of this he kept inside, quiet behind his lone eye. the young man's gaze hardened as he absorbed Mallach's words. You do not always get to choose where your path leads you, that's what the man said. Well, you're right, Old Man, the winding path of life is a random and treacherous one. He thought, the left corner of his mouth twitching upward for the briefest of moments. One could never truly choose the where the path they walked lead them, but they could always choose what to do when they got there. He said nothing to Mallach, feeling it best to remain silent.
The man's terms were reasonable. Learning under Mollandir's tutelage could keep his wanderlust at bay, especially if he or the princess were prone to travel. It was the idea of being trapped in a city, cooped up in a tower, left to do nothing but listen to other people tell him how to learn his gifts. That loss of freedom tormented him. The Princess seemed to think it was all fine and good, and of course she would: If a person was raised in a gilded cage, how could they ever know what true freedom was?
Then the princess got a word in edge-wise, and his hopes of some measure of freedom were cruelly dashed to the ground. The fingers in his left hand curled into a tight fist as he struggled to keep himself from interrupting, maintaining his self control in the face of her scolding. That was the way with scoldings. You had to do your best to let the words wash over you. Listen, certainly, but only to the parts that actually matter. Azoth's tone might have implied slight to the Order, but Caius trusted to Azo to explain his position, and thus, remained quiet. All the same, he could not deny the gnawing pit growing inside of his stomach as his gaze settled on a spot on the floor just behind Mallach and Aryn. The boy's shoulders drooped a bit, and the prospect of being leashed and collared to this place, to this order, to this rigid doctrine of 'how things must be', began to instill a dread nausea within him. The words of his male cousin faded into background noise.
Then Cat cut in, and Caius felt his gut drop out from under him. The Cat had tried to coax some kind of deal out of those two? What? Why? She should have known better. But that the princess seemed to have agreed to the terms made Caius uncomfortable, and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. She said her piece, and as she turned to leave, Caius started to follow her, "Cat, w-wait a..." She wasn't listening, lost to the anger. He looked pleadingly at Azoth, feeling a bit abandoned. "Azo, don't g-" But then he was gone too, leaving Caius alone with these people...these strangers who didn't know him and didn't care, who looked at him and talked about him like he was some kind of volatile element.
He swallowed the hurt and locked it away, pushed it back in a corner to deal with later, when he was alone. He glanced at Mollandir, felt ashamed for his momentary lapse, and then shifted back around to look to look at Aryn. After a moment of silence, he realized he could hear his teeth grinding. "W-what are the rules to staying here?" He asked, looking pointedly at the Princess. "You've lived here your whole life. You never had a choice, you never knew anything else. I don't have that luxury. You're asking me to just take it on faith that you have my best interests at heart, and I'll admit, Caden seemed like a good enough fellow," he remembered the one known as Reinhart well. He had a friendly smile and a good nature, and if not for him, Caius surely would have died instead of losing his eye.
"But to me, that's an awful lot to take on faith. Let's say the option of learning under Mollandir is off the table, let's say I must become a ward of the Order. Can I leave the tower at will? Go where ever I want in the city? If I hop on my horse and decide to visit my family in the Bull Run, will I be stopped? Will I be leashed to a Seeker like a dog let out for a walk?" He swallowed the last statement, realizing his fears had slipped free again. "What if I refuse to stay? Will you detain me? Confine me to quarters until I cooperate?" His gaze became distant, a little cold. "Will you execute me because I might be a threat to others? Even if I agree to stay away from people?" He tensed, taking a half step back and angling away from Mollandir, suddenly feeling cornered and alone. "What are the terms?"
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Post by Mallach Dirson on Jun 21, 2015 19:45:21 GMT -8
Well at least the boy seemed to understand what Mallach had meant, the others may not have, or so it seemed. Aryn's outburst, followed by Cat's made things very stressful for the man. His bride to be and daughter seemingly at one another's throats. Oh yes that would make family dinners oh so fun. He ran his fingers through his hairs and groaned, well at least Ricard was likely to remain the life of the party, or at least try to.
Not bothering to try to stop the lady Nuëmenoïr, knowing that was like attempting to wrangle a wild steer he just watched her storm off, his mind already trying to think up ways to calm her down later on. Meanwhile, his own attention turned to that of the Seeker and his daughter, the elder man of the Order whom had suddenly turned quiet and of course the subject matter, Caius. And people think I like being the center of attention, this boy has caused more of a ruckus than that time in Bullgate with those bar wenches Ulric tried to set me up with. He shook off the thought and held out his hands, palms upright to Ayrn apologetic and spoke earnestly in tone of voice.
"Mhairyn," use of her full name, clearly he was being serious. "You mistook my words, for I was clearly not clear in my meaning. I am not making this choice for you, just making it known that if you do choose to help this boy that I am willing to assist in the ways mentioned and more so if need be." He offered a small, seemingly sad smile and nodded to the Seeker and then to Caius before returning his gaze to that of his blood. "You are a woman grown, able to make her own choices.
"All I ask is that you make the right one, without allowing your emotions to guide your mind, heart and tongue. Heed another's council if need be." He took a breath and dropped his hands, cupping them behind his back. "Perhaps you and Mollandir need to discuss this in more depth. If you will allow me, I will take the boy back to me in my part of the Castle while the two of you convene and decide what it is that you wish to do, and what is best for everyone." His face grew hard after he finished his say, truly he had put the ball in their court and now it was for them to decide. For the good of Caius, for the good of the Order. And perhaps even for the good of the Kingdom.
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Post by Mhairyn "Aryn" Dirson on Jul 21, 2015 14:36:12 GMT -8
"Mhairyn," Mollandir began, stepping toward the incensed girl as she closed her petite mouth and set her jaw in a stubbornness reminiscent of her father. "Let us explain—"
Once again, the Seeker was cut-off, and he turned his attention to the taller of the Nuemenoir. Mollandir stifled a sigh, bringing his dominant hand to massage his throbbing temples as he patiently waited for the say of the others; he, unlike his charge, knew this game, was jaded by it, but did not let himself become effected by it. Mhairyn, on the other hand....
As Mhairyn inclined her chin at Cathlyn's acerbic comments, a faint blush brushed across the younger's paled cheeks; the embarrassment paved the way for the anger that flashed in the young girl's eyes, which had Mollandir moving quickly to close the distance between the pair to cut Aryn off before she made things worse – whatever she had taken from Mallach had transposed a bit of extra tenacity, a particular quality that neither the Seeker nor the Healer exhibited.
Mhairyn's fists clenched against the softness of her robe in an effort to quell the shuddering of her shoulders; she was tired of being misunderstood, mistreated, and misinformed! She hadn't offered anything – she had nodded in an agreement to watch over a child, not offered (nor promised) to pledge herself to the woman's plight; her father had done that on her behalf, once again, without a consultation or care to her own thoughts. Aryn had her hopes set on going out of the castle, to see the world and spread the Light so wonderfully bestowed upon her, not to be swaddled with some pompous, entitled brat!
"Enough," the Seeker growled at the girl, cutting her line of sight off and forcing her to focus on his face and hiding their impromptu dialogue from view. His finger rose to her chest, then to his mouth, a signal that she needed to be quiet before she made matters worse. Mollandir turned in a half-pivot, allowing the girl to watch the remainder of the conversation but still blocking her off, leaving her to stew in semi-privacy.
"If I may suggest, my Lords, that we discuss this over a meal? There is much to be explained and these halls are not the proper place to do so." Not with thick heads and empty bellies, at the very least. Gifted // Frox
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Post by zoi on Aug 16, 2015 8:33:54 GMT -8
[The Deal]As it has been over three weeks since this thread has been posted in, it is now ended.
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Post by zoi on Sept 15, 2015 11:27:11 GMT -8
Points allocated as follows: Cai - 15 + 9 + 2QP (26)
Cat - 14 + 9 + 2QP (25)
Azo - 14 + 9 (23)
Mal - 12 + 9 (21)
Ary - 12 + 9 (21) Mol - 12 + 9 (21)
9 points added to base number as the thread became moderator controlled.
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