Recent content by Kristen Pirian

Kristen's word, Zephyrine's threat, the sheer daunting weight of certainty, these brought low Enkardo's sword and it did not rise again, save only what motion was needed to sheathe it. And as Mortivore brought the captured Cortosi priestess back to Kristen and Zephyrine, and thus firmly into...

Kristen laughed into the side of her hand. "Oh, at the time I was mortified! Years have proven a fair enough balm for the wound of embarrassment, however, and 'twas a small thing, when compared against the full variety of the Academy's rigors. Had it happened at a gathering of nobles...oh...

The tiniest cock of her head, alighting of her eyes, and motion of her brow, all in the manner of one pleasantly surprised. In with a hearty breath, and she said, "But let us put aside those dreary things, those matters of state and duty. Hardly is there time for joy in these trying days of...

There came the clatter of swords, however hastily, however desperately, being drawn from their sheaths. Kristen turned about, such that she faced again Enkardo and the Cortosi delegation. "You would be wise to consider yourselves fortunate we stopped you in your deceitful ploy. And yet, now you...

Kristen smiled in a small and bashful manner and said briefly, "One must be humble in these regards." For now they arrived at their room—or rather, suite, as Kristen had been told. And indeed it was. As the servant opened the door for them and stood aside with the retinue of Stormguard, the...

The Stormguard and the servant turned right and guided them down the upstairs hall. "Perish the thought!" said Kristen in reply to Sable. "You endured the worst of the excesses of our erstwhile ways in Vel Anir. And who would be so cruel as to demand perfection in that regard, that your claim...

Kristen took his hand, held her dress with the other, and the stairs saw their rise. "Oh, splendid! It may as well be my first time too, for all the busyness to which Proctor Magomo and I attended last time. All the city will be engrossed in the festivities of the Tournament, but aside from...

Kristen laughed lightly and touched his elbow ever so briefly. "Oh Sable, I share in your nervousness!" Similar thoughts to Sable's own occurred to Kristen, of the natural ease of occasions past, and now today and this coming week, with the character of the occasion certainly changed, how a new...

And Kristen looked to Sable as well. "Both, I should say. For it was I who beseeched him for aid, and then Uncle Tobias who made the suggestion. And why not? You are well known to House Pirian, to my uncle and my father and myself." Inside the Jewel the grand foyer received them with its...

Oh how could one in a single moment miss so deeply that which had been long absent? When Sable took her hand and kissed it Kristen felt as though she had been absolved of all her duties as Dreadlord, that never had she enrolled into the Academy, that all the years of her youth were instead...

The driver made his announcement shortly after the carriage and its entourage entered into Alliria's prestigious Inner City. For the duration of the Tournament of Tides, theirs was to be a stay at The Allirian Jewel, an inn whose splendor might well reign unchallenged. For it was so that the...

THE FIRST NIGHT The promise of something wonderful awaited. Kristen Pirian, alongside a retinue of Stormguard and Piriansworn men, had at last been informed by the driver of her carriage that they had just entered Alliria proper. Evening had just settled upon Arethil, and to the west ahead of...

Kristen stopped when Mortivore's hand fell upon her shoulder, and she listened. Behind her the horses wailed, men grunted and gasped and cried out as their wounds bid them, and Zephyrine struggled all the while to upkeep her magic. Kristen looked up the winding path to the Hilltop and to the...

Subtle did the intercession start—quiet whispers from Mortivore, a small gasp of frustration from the priestess. Kristen shot a quick and hard glance over to Zephyrine: do it. And now the priestess's incantation suffering interruption was the least of the problems of the Cortosi. Zephyrine's...

The rider immediately to Enkardo's right bristled in his saddle, on the verge of whipping out a terse and impassioned response to the string of Mortivore's provocations, but Enkardo raised his right hand and the rider kept his peace, and slowly Enkardo let his hand descend to rest as Mortivore...