Recent content by Talorgan

Talorgan felt a twist deep in his gut. It was two conflicting feelings stirring up into a storm. He didn't understand his own feelings so he didn't know how to express them. He smiled back at Faye. They were one another's shields in the arena of public perception. He had gone from fearing...

Faye Valimir Talorgan hadn't remained in the city for a period of weeks for a long time. He'd taken Biersys out for a trip in the morning to stretch her wings. He had spent some time thinking. After the dance he had spent the night with Faye. Theirs was supposed to be a fake courting, even...

She was open an honest with him, even as he felt her sidestep the question. They hadn't even known each other that long, he reminded himself. After the way many noble families had tried to take ownership of her trade and skills, she had been brave - and a little drunk - to show him the cellar...

The act was once again put before the crowd by two actors very close to their roles. He wouldn't have known how to pretend to look at someone as if he wanted them. She was beautiful and suddenly he could feel the way she moved with him. "I'm going to have you tonight?" he whispered. There...

"But of course," he said politely. The last song came to an end with a little flourish on the drum. The rebec player started a little interlude for people to get ready for the next number. Talorgan took Faye's hand. He glanced down at it and smiled. She had taken over his thoughts since her...

Talorgan looked at Nadya in genuine shock. "You wouldn't..." he hissed. "...you also wouldn't have known until you got back to the other riders and told them." It would have been slightly too cruel, he realised, to have her reiterate some made up fact proudly. "People might not even...

"I hadn't thought about that," Talorgan said. She would see the hint of nerves in the corner of his eyes. It had felt very far away when they had spoken about it. For a while, he had thought she had been winding him up about the reality of the parties. That was even after she had presented him...

"Fine here," he replied. "I thought you were referring to the dance floor as the wilds. Would have been a good joke actually." He felt a slight flutter of nerves that was nothing to do with the dance. It was a simple gesture for her to lean in close, but he could feel her breath as she spoke...

He should have guessed that her real social circle - not the high society she infiltrated to sell her wares - wouldn't have cared much about the rumours. After she had shown him her wine cellar, he had to imagine there was a level of trust in that community. Reminding himself that he was...

Talorgan smiled before feigning an indignant snort. "I should say something that sounds poetic about choosing the outside over the indoors life of a noble, but I am starting to enjoy myself tonight. But I'm glad you liked seeing me that way." He glanced around them, only to pick a route to...

"I don't know," Talorgan admitted. "I feel like I should. Was tempted to make something up. See what I could get you to believe." He didn't turn his eyes towards Nadia. Even knowing where to look, it was still a rare sight. People said they were reborn from the flames every morning, but he...

"Might trip over bodies?" he asked, twisting her meaning. In just a moment he was back to being at ease talking with Faye in private. The little smile was visible to everyone around them. He managed to cement the ruse without even trying. "I can dance you know," he added. Everyone had lessons...

"Erm..." Talorgan had imagined a smooth performance that would please Faye. Unfortunately he was far more comfortable out in the wilderness. He talked at length with a few good friends, but not with strangers. "Thank my lord," he said quickly, offering a slight bow of his head. A noble lord...

Talorgan hadn't considered this as putting on an act and a show until he was here in the crowd. He wasn't the centre of attention; there were far too many political games going on. He still felt like they were being watched. He didn't notice, but the way he appraised her outfit convinced the...

His visits to the city were usually tedious affairs. Talorgan had a few friends who liked to hear of his trips. There were a handful of scholars who liked to categorise the flora and fauna of the wilds who would take his sketches and stories and document them. Part of him wanted to rebel...