Completed Blackstone Deep

[Syvis]

Ellice moved a little in surprised just to be met with a little smack and a "quit moving." from Syvis.

"That is generous... after I have been so horrible?" Ellice looked at him skeptically.

Now it was Syvis' turn to jump in, "When I left home I had no connections and little money. You haven't left home we took you from your home. I've built a life and crawled every inch it took to get my status and position. We will not hand you status and life, if that is what you wish to achieve you may earn it yourself, but as I knocked you out and we have taken you, you are our ward. We wish to help you in the best way we can."

Ellice got a slight smile on her face. "So I'm your staff and ward not your slave? You've just kidnapped me so Conrad may leech off of me and you may give me a better life? What kind of twisted vigilantes?" Ellice said in a awestruck voice.

 

[Conrad]

Ellice got a slight smile on her face. "So I'm your staff and ward not your slave? You've just kidnapped me so Conrad may leech off of me and you may give me a better life? What kind of twisted vigilantes?" Ellice said in a awestruck voice.

He Chuckled. "Not really vigilantes. Had you been much older than we likely wouldn't extend such courtesy. But you are young, which means you had very little choice in what you were doing with those criminals. So I take it you've accepted the deal?"

He had one hand testing on the pommel of his sword, not in a threatening sense, but just a convenient place to put it.

After getting confirmation he began packing up the tent and bedrolls. Which he loaded onto Smoke's back. "Alright ladies. Let's be off."

 

[Syvis]

Syvis helped Ellice on Smoke and then swung herself over his back. "We've still two days right love?" Syvis asked as they went along their trek. Ellice's hair did look pretty that much Syvis could attest to, plus with Ellice being so small Syvis' old gowns now had a use after they'd been altered of course.

Syvis was deep into her thinking when she exclaimed out "What day is it??" She looked panicked. "I booked an event with Lord Balden a week after I was with Fredrik." Syvis felt bad for Ellice as the poor girl had no clue about her profession or what was happening right now. "Say! If we reach a village, I could send a letter. He'd send us a carriage and myself a couple of clothes it could be done." Syvis looked excited now.

 

[Conrad]

Syvis helped Ellice on Smoke and then swung herself over his back. "We've still two days right love?" Syvis asked as they went along their trek. Ellice's hair did look pretty that much Syvis could attest to, plus with Ellice being so small Syvis' old gowns now had a use after they'd be altered of course

"Yes, two more days, we can reduce it to one if we go nonstop." He said, taking off at a run, keeping pace with the cantering Smoke.

Syvis was deep into her thinking when she exclaimed out "What day is it??" She looked panicked. "I booked an event with Lord Balden a week after I was with Fredrik." Syvis felt bad for Ellice as the poor girl had no clue about her profession or what was happening right now. "Say! If we reach a village, I could send a letter. He'd send us a carriage and myself a couple of clothes it could be done." Syvis looked excited now.

"I'd say it's been five days since before we got to Blackstone Deep, and four days since. I think that it's already too late. But doubtless the raid on the castle is known, so I shouldn't worry too much about it. You can send him a letter but I doubt it'd arrive before we could be at the stone and in Alliria. You might as well wait till we get there, and if he's in Alliria then you might inform him face to face."

 

[Syvis]

"If it's too late, no point. He's a bastard brute. I'll just have to refund him." She looked pissed. She hated the impact this would have on her status, it was already a fickle thing.

Ellice looked at the two of them before saying shyly "Why is Syvis dating other men if you two are whatever you are? I just don't understand." She rubbed the back of her neck like she normally did when nervous.

Syvis clucked. "Ladies do no such mannerism." and she swatted Ellice's hand.

 

[Conrad]

"If it's too late, no point. He's a bastard brute. I'll just have to refund him." She looked pissed. She hated the impact this would have on her status, it was already a fickle thing.

He looked up at her, "it's not that bad. If you're reputation is under threat well, just tell them who you were with and what happened. I doubt anyone would blame you."

Ellice looked at the two of them before saying shyly "Why is Syvis dating other men if you two are whatever you are? I just don't understand." She rubbed the back of her neck like she normally did when nervous.

Syvis clucked. "Ladies do no such mannerism." and she swatted Ellice's hand.

He chuckled. "We haven't been together long. And it's one of the ways she earns her money. She's had to do it for quite some time from what I understand. Much like with you and the bandits, I don't think she had much other choice. Though I have been working on eh... acquiring a few businesses of my own, still a year or so off but it will definitely help support us."

 

[Syvis]

"I have a pretty blue dress that will fix everything." Syvis said with a sly grin.

Syvis nodded. "I used to be a thief. Stole from a white knight and he didn't much appreciate it. The punishment was enough to get me to start thinking of a different career choice. I've done this about two years, I'm a professional Sycophant. You could be one if you wanted, I feel you'd be good at it and few women do what I do." Syvis told Ellice happily.

Ellice made a face. "I'd sooner die then conform to the sick patriarchal views that I as a woman am meat men can rent for a good time." She spat out passionately.

Syvis chuckled. "Then this world will likely chew you up, spit you out, and stomp on you. You have to do what is needed Ellice regardless of what it is."

 

[Conrad]

He chuckled at the exchange. It was most amusing. He was content to listen.

The rest of the trip was uneventful. Their evenings consisted of setting camp, eating, Conrad pulling Ellice aside to feed, Syvis getting a harsh rutting, and waking up to continue the journey.

They arrived in Alliria at noon on the second day. Conrad happily leading the horse carrying two beautiful, collared women. He brought them to the inn that Syvis had mentioned, and said he'd be back by sundown, he had business to attend.

 

[Syvis]

Syvis sniffed in the air of the inn before motioning to the tiny old woman who had been here since she was a babe. "Mrs. Black, prepare the adjoining room to my suite for Ms. Ellice here." Syvis gave Mrs. Black a look her family often gave when there was shady dealings at hand. They'd kept Mrs. Black employed due to her household magicks and she'd use those magicks to wipe away the window in the room so Ellice was trapped. "Oh and please make my suite more homey. Take Ellice with you also I've to speak with Mr. Quimaer."

Syvis watched as little red haired Ellice bounded up the stairs under Mrs.Black's watchful eye before Syvis went down to the basement offices she knew her father would be at with his associates like he always was in these months. She rounded the corner before meeting a tall man who didn't look a day over 27 despite him being nearly 176 years of age.

"Hello father." Syvis said bowing her head. She felt his gaze burrowing into the back of her neck. She'd wished she'd changed and cleaned up.

"So the Sycophant daughter returns with a vampiric oaf." He spat in the gravley tone she hated. She heard the swish of fingers meaning all the elven associates were fleeing the room. It was just the two of them. "Lift your head my daughter." Syvis did as she was told with haste.

"Seven years.. we were close once, you hated me not once." Fhaornik told Syvis looking into her eyes as he rest a large hand on her shoulders. Syvis' eyes welled "Hate? Never hate father." She told him through the burning of her closing throat.

"Have you come home?" He asked her in a distant voice. "You belong with your people Syvis Quimaer. With your kin. Not here, not with the band you've assembled." Syvis listened as she wiped her eyes. "Can't you see, you are my elder yet you are blinded, you've made this place my home." Syvis removed his hand.

"I wish you well, I wish us well but if you wish me to return to your estate I cannot. I will be here a few days, to pay my fares and do my duties. If you wish to fix this with me, you know where to find me." With that Syvis walked back up the stairs and then some to her suite looking utterly defeated.

 

[Conrad]

Conrad returned to the inn a little bit before sundown as promised. He asked Mrs. Black where Syvis had gone and he went up to join her. He came in and saw her face and was at her side instantly.

"Syvis. What happened?" He asked, concern clearly audible in his voice. "Did someone come in here? Are you hurt?"

He lifted her face gently with his hand, and wiped away any tears he found with his thumb. "Tell me. I can help you."

 

[Syvis]

"This place is mine. Well.. my family's and my father is in the basement doing his business. I met with him, I tried to fix things I thought maybe he'd changed after 7 years but I suppose that was foolish. He called you an oaf and told me I was to return to the Quimaer estate or to nowhere at all. I thought maybe just maybe he'd missed me, or he'd understand. It's always the same." Her face was puffy now and she leaned into Conrad's touch.

"You're not an oaf. You've more pure blood then I. I'm just a wench's bastard."

 

[Conrad]

"This place is mine. Well.. my family's and my father is in the basement doing his business. I met with him, I tried to fix things I thought maybe he'd changed after 7 years but I suppose that was foolish. He called you an oaf and told me I was to return to the Quimaer estate or to nowhere at all. I thought maybe just maybe he'd missed me, or he'd understand. It's always the same." Her face was puffy now and she leaned into Conrad's touch.

He pulled her into a hug as she spoke. "I'm sorry Syvis. No parent should disdain their child so. I'm sorry."

He held her, her face to his shoulder, keeping her wrapped protectively in his arms, he'd let her cry if she needed to, for as long as she needed to.

"You're not an oaf. You've more pure blood then I. I'm just a wench's bastard."

"A choice you never made. You should not be ashamed of your parents, you aren't either of them. The fault lies with your father and your mother, not you. As far as I'm concerned, you have purer blood than I." He said stroking her hair reassuringly. "Is there anything I can do to help you? Anything at all?"

 

[Syvis]

She felt better in his arms, all of her crying had been done so she just sat there. He was right. About everything, Conrad was right. "Just stay." Was all she had to say. She reckoned if he held her long enough she'd fall asleep.

Ellice's ear was pressed up against her door the past couple hours as she sat on the floor by it. She felt bad, there was nothing she could do. Conrad was likely the only one that could help here and now that he was here she stood up trying to sneak to her bed. She prayed neither of them heard her with their good hearing and all.

 

[Conrad]

She felt better in his arms, all of her crying had been done so she just sat there. He was right. About everything, Conrad was right. "Just stay." Was all she had to say. She reckoned if he held her long enough she'd fall asleep.

"Alright." He said kindly. And he did just that, he held her until she slept. Then laid her down gently, so that her sleep might be more comfortable.

He heard Ellice, but he didn't think on it. What she heard was heard and what could be done had been done. So he let her sleep, and he sat, sleepless by her bed. He didn't think he'd heard the last of her father.

His first concern was a home. He did have enough to buy them a cozy little place while he worked up enough to build that castle he'd promised her. She'd be a proper lady, with an authentic title, he'd see to that.

 

[Syvis]

Fhaornik paced on the landing halfway between the bottom and the top of the staircase. He didn't know what he wanted to do, so here he was stuck ears straining for an angry Syvis destroying his inn yet he heard nothing. He found it odd the daughter he knew was destructive and hate filled not this one. He could smell the vampire who was likely feeding on his daughter he tried to summon those feelings of rage to move from this blasted spot yet nothing.

Syvis' sleep was restless, she passed out from emotional exhaustion yet she was tossing and turning like a log going down a river. She wanted out of this place. Away from her childhood. She should have let that relationship rot and die like it was doing. It was a shame really as she was so excited for a bed.

 

[Conrad]

Fhaornik paced on the landing halfway between the bottom and the top of the staircase. He didn't know what he wanted to do, so here he was stuck ears straining for an angry Syvis destroying his inn yet he heard nothing. He found it odd the daughter he knew was destructive and hate filled not this one. He could smell the vampire who was likely feeding on his daughter he tried to summon those feelings of rage to move from this blasted spot yet nothing.

Footsteps and the smell of a male elf. He knew for a fact that it was her father. Maybe not due to evidence, but he just knew. He also knew that if he came in there, he'd face him down if he had to.

Syvis' sleep was restless, she passed out from emotional exhaustion yet she was tossing and turning like a log going down a river. She wanted out of this place. Away from her childhood. She should have let that relationship rot and die like it was doing. It was a shame really as she was so excited for a bed.

He took her hand in his while she slept, unsure of how else to help. He'd stay there until she woke. He'd smile sadly at her, "feeling any better?"

 

[Syvis]

Syvis woke up and her head felt like it was run over by twelve horse drawn carriages. She looked up at Conrad and his smile. He'd done as she'd asked. "I feel better." her voice was raspy.

"Where's Ellice?" She shot up looking nervous. She'd been so involved with herself she didn't even think.

She smelt her father and knew Conrad did too. "Did he come up?" She asked him both hopeful and scared.

 

[Conrad]

Syvis woke up and her head felt like it was run over by twelve horse drawn carriages. She looked up at Conrad and his smile. He'd done as she'd asked. "I feel better." her voice was raspy.

He frowned. "Is there anything I can do? Can I get you some water, food?"

He really didn't know what to do here. He had no experience regarding this type of issue and he was a little bit at a loss for what he should do.

"Where's Ellice?" She shot up looking nervous. She'd been so involved with herself she didn't even think.

"She's in the other room, she's still asleep. She overheard what happened and it seemed to keep her up."

She smelt her father and knew Conrad did too. "Did he come up?" She asked him both hopeful and scared.

He shook his head, "no. He's been pacing on the landing since before you fell asleep."

 

[Syvis]

"There's nothing to do. You helped a lot thank you." She stood up and gave him a kiss before grabbing a decanter filled with a clear alcohol. Mrs. Black did a fine job transforming the suite. There was still gowns hanging on every wall yet there was a giant bed and things made for a king.

"Poor girl, she didn't need my drama." She held up a glass. "Want any?"

Syvis grabbed her pipe that sat idle for a few weeks and packed some tobacco in it's pale ivory cylindrical shape before lighting it. She held it between two fingers and and her glass in her remaining fingers. Syvis grabbed a gown off one of the walls and headed to her bathroom to bathe. "You and Ellice may have whatever you wish. There should be a couple gowns that fit her." Syvis called out from behind the closed door.

 

[Conrad]

"There's nothing to do. You helped a lot thank you."

He nodded, "if you ever need me, just let me know and I'll help however I can."

"Poor girl, she didn't need my drama." She held up a glass. "Want any?"

He shook his head, "I don't drink. And she won't need to deal with it either. She's a hired cook, you and I are the only ones who need to handle it. Besides. If all goes according to plan we should have ourselves a nice little house, maybe a tad small for all of your dresses but it'll work until I've worked up enough coin to build that castle I promised you. I'd estimate it'd take roughly a hundred or so years for me to get enough, then another three or four for it to be built, but it will happen eventually."

Syvis grabbed her pipe that sat idle for a few weeks and packed som tobacco in it's pale ivory cylindrical shape before lighting it. She held it between two fingers and and her glass in her remaining fingers. Syvis grabbed a gown off one of the walls and headed to her bathroom to bathe. "You and Ellice may have whatever you wish. There should be a couple gowns that fit her." Syvis called out from behind the closed door.

"I didn't know you smoked." He commented.

He nodded, and picked out of his pocket the gag he'd purchased for him and Syvis's funtime, as well as when he fed from Ellice. He entered Ellie's room, and gently shook her awake.

"Morning. Sorry about this, but I do need to eat every now and then," he said fitting the gag in her mouth. Once he finished feeding the gag was removed and he said, "Syvis said to choose any gown that fits you. There should be a couple by her reckoning."

 

[Syvis]

"I only smoke when I'm stressed or around other people smoking. It's a nasty habit, I'll be the first to admit." She responded to his comment honestly.

"It's fine, how is she?" Ellice asked quietly over Syvis' bath.

Ellice had only gotten a brief look at the room with thousands of gowns on her way into her lavish prison. She ran her hand over the fabrics. Gods above she could eat for a lifetime if she had the money Syvis did to throw away on this many gowns of lavish fabrics and bead works. She found a skinny purple one that looked decently small that she decided to throw on. She sensed Syvis was in a bad mood and she didn't want to mess up too much of her order. The dress fit nicely and so Ellice picked up an elvish book, Ellice was illiterate but the literature had a pretty cover. When in doubt Ellice would bluff so her hands weren't idle.

 

[Conrad]

"I only smoke when I'm stressed or around other people smoking. It's a nasty habit, I'll be the first to admit." She responded to his comment honestly.

"At least it's not constant." He shrugged.

"It's fine, how is she?" Ellice asked quietly over Syvis' bath.

"She's doing better." He answered, unfastening the collar that looped her neck. Her rubbed it before sinking his teeth in, and the dopamine entered her body.

Ellice had only gotten a brief look at the room with thousands of gowns on her way into her lavish prison. She ran her hand over the fabrics. Gods above she could eat for a lifetime if she had the money Syvis did to throw away on this many gowns of lavish fabrics and bead works. She found a skinny purple one that looked decently small that she decided to throw on. She sensed Syvis was in a bad mood and she didn't want to mess up too much of her order. The dress fit nicely and so Ellice picked up an elvish book, Ellice was illiterate but the literature had a pretty cover. When in doubt Ellice would bluff so her hands weren't idle.

He nodded with approval. "You look nice in that one Ellice."

He approached her as she sat and re-fastened the collar around her neck. "You interested in aeromamcy huh?"

 

[Syvis]

Ellice blushed in embarrassment "Oh yes. It's so thrilling." Ellice smiled at him. "What to read it?" She offered him the book.

Syvis came out of the bathroom dressed to the nines yet she was already nearly drunk and reeked of tobacco. She should've opened a window rather than causing a smoke chamber in the bathroom. "Oh yes I was hoping you'd find the purple gown." Syvis said through her painted lips. "Now that I've the proper materials I'll make you so pretty."

Ellice's eyes got big. She'd never been painted up. She shot Conrad a "please save me" look. As she complimented Syvis. "You look so pretty, I can't believe how nice these gowns are." Ellice wore a crooked smile as Syvis patted her on the head. "Thank you pet."

Syvis stumbled a little in her heels as she went to go to her decanter just to smell her father hadn't moved.
She had half a mind to throw the decanter at him like she did when she was 16, yet she was trying to repair this relationship so she'd have to wait. Good thing she established a way to leave through the window at 15. She'd spent more time in this room then she'd like to admit.

"Did Ellice eat yet?" Syvis asked as she pulled on the rope that rang the servant bell. "I need someone to book me a manicure, and I need a haircut. So much to do. So does Ellice. Do you need a haircut?" She whipped around to look at Conrad.

Syvis dropped her pipe atop the table as she crawled on all fours to access her safe, piles upon piles of gold sat there and more had been added. She shot up banging her head on the table. Her father gave her money and lots of it. How perverse.

There was no denying it, Syvis was a mess.

 

[Conrad]

Ellice blushed in embarrassment "Oh yes. It's so thrilling." Ellice smiled at him. "What to read it?" She offered him the book.

He grinned. "You don't actually know what aeromancy is do you?"

Syvis came out of the bathroom dressed to the nines yet she was already nearly drunk and reeked of tobacco. She should've opened a window rather than causing a smoke chamber in the bathroom. "Oh yes I was hoping you'd find the purple gown." Syvis said through her painted lips. "Now that I've the proper materials I'll make you so pretty."

Ellice's eyes got big. She'd never been painted up. She shot Conrad a "please save me" look. As she complimented Syvis. "You look so pretty, I can't believe how nice these gowns are." Ellice wore a crooked smile as Syvis patted her on the head. "Thank you pet."

Conrad laughed a little. But as Syvis's behaviour got a little more odd he grew increasingly concerned.

Syvis stumbled a little in her heels as she went to go to her decanter just to smell her father hadn't moved.
She had half a mind to throw the decanter at him like she did when she was 16, yet she was trying to repair this relationship so she'd have to wait. Good thing she established a way to leave through the window at 15. She'd spent more time in this room then she'd like to admit.

"Did Ellice eat yet?" Syvis asked as she pulled on the rope that rang the servant bell. "I need someone to book me a manicure, and I need a haircut. So much to do. So does Ellice. Do you need a haircut?" She whipped around to look at Conrad.

Syvis dropped her pipe atop the table as she crawled on all fours to access her safe, piles upon piles of gold sat there and more had been added. She shot up banging her head on the table. Her father gave her money and lots of it. How perverse.

There was no denying it, Syvis was a mess

He stopped her before she rang the bell and said "woah there. Slow down. First things first, you can't get anything done in your state. You need to lay down for a while, recover from all that alcohol and get your head on right."

He pulled her to her feet away from the safe, picked her up and set her on the bed, he kicked the safe closed with his heel as he walked. "Stay there love. You've been through a lot. Take a moment to start thinking again. Sleep."

 

[Syvis]

"No.." Ellice said sheepishly. "I'm illiterate." She told Conrad as her fingers thrummed on the book.

Syvis did as she was told laying down in a gown. She put a hand to her head "He's still there. What could one man do on a landing for hours and hours?" She looked at Conrad apologetic "I'm sorry love. You don't deserve a drunkard." She waved a hand over to Ellice who came running over.

Syvis gave the girl a pat on the cheek. "This isn't what ladies do." Ellice nodded "Get some sleep. It's good for your complexion." Despite their ups and downs the little family was becoming more functional in Syvis' mind.

"Ellice?" "Yes?" "Dump the decanters." Ellice got up and did as she was told, dumping the decanters out of the smoky bathroom window. This was the best thing Syvis could have asked for in Ellice's mind.