Open Chronicles A Rowdy Night [Eretejva Tundra]

[Mikaela Ryurik]

Mead, food, sweat, and a faint trace of blood hit them in the face as the pair entered the hall. With snow still frozen on their furs and eyelashes, Miakela took a look around while inhaling deeply. Feasting Nordenfiir weren’t out of the ordinary and she hoped that Talus wouldn’t mind the loud laughter, the splashing of ale, and.. the fighting. There were always some sort of struggles going on wherever alcohol was involved. Whether for a dumb look or an actual offense - the Nordenfiir never backed away from a fight. Even during times when it made very little sense to proceed, they could push things to the very limit.

Her grip on Talus’ shoulder tightened.

“Come in!” she grinned widely. The warmth was already melting away the snow on her furry cloak leaving little puddles on the ground next to their boots as they took their first steps into the crowded hall. She took off the outerwear, shook it a couple of times and then threw it over her shoulder. Here and there she thought to recognize faces, but having not been a part of this particular life-style when she had left the capital for her journey, it still felt slightly odd to be here without any guidance. Now she was the guide, and therefore she had to be confident. The glyphs beneath her clothes gave her that confidence.

“Her, over there,” she pointed out to the formidable redhead in the distance. “she is our queen.” Where there was the desire to disturb Maude to tell her a few things she’s seen here and there, it would be impolite both to Talus and the queen.

Hence, with a faint smile, knowing she would have her moment to talk now that she was home, Mika sat behind one of the tables. A seat was left next to her for Talus. “Let’s eat some, drink some, and hear about what’s been going on here.”

* * *
Talus​

 

[Maude]

Aether made a sound, a subtle shake of his head as he watched Brenna sign her response. Maude didn't catch the first part but at the Priest's silent pardon she leaned over towards him, "She's asking if you want to learn."

"Ah," the elder chuckled and shook his head again, "not as such, no. I'm afraid I'm a bit old to be learning new tricks, but the other Priests in Kiringsaal I believe would be very interested in learning. They can take your notes," he tapped a quaking hand at the parchments she pulled out, "and copy them. One for each of the great settlements of Nordengaard so that they may all learn."

Maude took this reprieve for another bite of her meal and a full swig of her drink. Seemed like all her meals were quartered between trouble and duty. Could she never just simply enjoy her food?

"The Queen will be making for the south with a stop at Kiringsaal. I would like for you to accompany her," Aether pointed to Brenna, "with your notes. Take them to Priest Remmir. Yes?"


Maude looked up as Hugi ushered the pair forward, Arnor seeming to be in accompaniment. She fashioned the men with bemused stare and a deep sigh, green eyes honing in on Gylfi first, "Again?" Apparently the Norden had a penchant for trouble, "Why is it behind nigh every wind of trouble you are there?" The Queen gave the man a sharp growl, putting her horn down and glancing off in irritation. Her gaze eventually landed on Magrin, "And who are you?"

 

[Magrin Kor]

As the weight on his chest abated when Hugi removed his paw Magrin would roll to one side and slowly get back to his feet. When he came up to his full height it was no surprise that he was several inches shorter than even the smallest of the duo that came to separate both Gylfi and himself. Not surprising seeing as how he had always been a tad short for a northerner.

Raising his hands Magrin would run them back over his gray hair, pulling it back out of his face before he was ushered in the direction of the Queen. He didn't say anything, it hadn't been his intention to engross himself in violence this evening but things happen and the rage Magrin felt in his heart didn't have him feeling remorse for his actions either. That was neither here nor there though.

When they came closer to the table where Maude ate and drank Magrin let his eyes shift, he had heard of the Queen after all though he'd never laid eyes on her prior to this moment. He'd wait, standing sullenly while she addressed his counterpart in the brawl before she turned and questioned him in turn prompting the answer of...

"Magrin Kor. A Wanderer who was seeking a drink, nothing more."

...a simple enough answer, he had no roots to speak of or a home with which he could claim that he was from so his name was all he could give alongside his business. In some way Magrin did regret attacking the the man who had broken the flagon against the side of his head now, it seemed to have shined a light on him and that always came with a feeling of unease.

 

[Talus]

Talus found himself completely out of his environment, out of any environment he had ever been to in fact.

The idea that someone like Mikaela, someone like him could be at the same feast, much less in the same room as the Queen was utterly startling.

He had lived in Vel Anir for almost twenty years. He was a Dreadlord, a person of at least some standing, but he himself had never even seen the King of Vel Anir. Sure the Great Houses flounced their nobles about, but the royals?

They were as rare as a white Eagle.

Talus marveled for a few seconds as he felt himself being dragged about by his host, watching the Queen of these Tundra's for a moment before Mikaela plopped herself down onto a large communal table.

The young Apprentice fell into place besides her, gazing at the assortment of roasted meats and fish. "This is quite a bit less...formal, than the parties at home."

Not that he had ever attended any of those parties, only heard the stories.

Mikaela Ryurik

 

[Brenna]

Brenna sat agape: he wanted her to go to Kiringsaal? The legendary city was known for its advanced learning but she had never thought that they might be interested in her work. The Rangers had a version of Sign that worked well enough for them, and her advanced work was met with enthusiasm in Faarin to help with the Hunting there, but she had never really thought about the uses beyond her home. The idea that it would be spread so far and wide with the authority of the Priests of Kiringsaal was an honour.

Out the corner of her eye she tried to gauge Valthar's reaction: this was the same journey he was going on after all and they were hunting for a murderer. It was going to be dangerous and he was already upset with her about the idea of being one of the Protectors of the Sanctuary. She hesitated for a second before giving Aether her full attention and nodding enthusiastically. Now that she knew he couldn't read signs, and not wanting to divert the Queens attention from the newcomers she was vaguely aware of at the end of the table, she scribbled in her notebook instead.

It would be an honour - thank you for even thinking they would be interested.

And then, hesitantly she added at the end.

Age is a number. I would be more than happy to teach you one day, perhaps when I get back?

She slid the book to him so he might read.

 

[Mikaela Ryurik]

“I wouldn’t mind attending one of your parties one day,” she laughed keeping her wide smile. “Some things are raw, we Nordenfiir don’t mind, not sure how you prefer it, just so you know.” the warning was something she had learned to tell to those coming from the far South. They all seemed to prefer their food cooked in some ways. For the Nordenfiir it was a mixture. She reached out to get a fish, and a cup of ale.

Gesturing for him to dig in, she took bites from the fish and gratefully enjoyed it. Good thing they had made it through that storm. The boat, the bartering. Cro- her mind wanted to go there, but was interrupted by one of her own coming to sit across her.

His eyes went from Mikaela to Talus. Dark eyes and dark hair. She estimated him to be in his early twenties. A small beard had been grown. She wondered if he wanted to looked older than he did or tried to come across fiercer than he was. In either case, she wasn’t interested in him the way he was interested in her. His flirting looks were ignored in favor of her food, and when she turned to speak to Talus the stranger growled.

“Bringing a prisoner to the feast?” his fist landed next to her cup, she rolled her eyes. Men.

“He’s a friend, let him be, go find someone to bother elsewhere.” the young Nordenfiir spoke with narrowing eyes. This wasn’t what she had come for. This male should find himself a female that was equally interested to share the fire that burned within him. Mika could almost smell his desire. She, on the other hand, felt nothing alike.

“A friend?!” the alcohol had probably added to this one’s thoughts and visuals. “A foreigner that smells like nothing, one you’ve been banging perhaps? You l-.”

He never got any further for the ale that’s been in her cup was already splashing him in the face. Soaked and angry, the man placed his hands flat on the table, standing up and leaning over. With Mika doing the same, the two Nordenfiir were now baring teeth at one another.

* * *
Talus​

 

[Gylfi Runarsson]

Gylfi was used to being scolded and punished. He was not one that actively looked for trouble, but his volatile temper more often than not resulted in the young man finding himself in positions such as this: the Queen, or any person of authority for that matter, rebuking him for his actions.

The boy pressed a rag against the cut on his head while his other hand hung on his hip, and he averted Maude's stern glare. Not caring to hide a grimace, he grumbled something about it not being his fault, and that he doesn't go out of his way looking for trouble. As Magrin spoke next to him, Gylfi raised an auburn brown at the man. He had no real grudge against him, but the unfinished fight left a bad taste in the boy's mouth.

 

[Arnor Skuldsson]

Arnor followed Hugi's stern gaze, narrowing his eyes. He knew the look. Arnor didn't particularly have any ill will towards the big man bear, particularly due to the fact that Arnor felt that he had been drug through the mud more than Hugi had.

He returned closer to Maude, but still a distance away. There were several gathered around Maude, namely two younger blonde-haired compatriots. Siblings, maybe. Siblings or her kin. Hard to tell.

Arnor scanned the rest of the room. Of course, the arrival of a Dreadlord did not go unnoticed in the community, so Talus got a stare, along with the one that brought him, Mikaela. But as usual in the tundra, Arnor was distant and aloof, and not particularly as social as he should have been. He seemed restless as of late, fingers rapidly tapping on his biceps as he seemed to be overthinking, or underthinking something constantly.

But for the time being, he was content with simply watching the Queen rip into the two brawlers at her fancy dinner.

 

[Maude]

Aether watched the girl curiously as she wrote on the paper, peering as she pushed it to him. The Priest smiled, a gravelly chuckle sounding from deep in his chest.

"Kind girl, you will do well at Kiringsaal. Send my regards to my fellow Priests, hm?"


Maude narrowed her eyes at the stranger, catching a whiff of his scent and finding it especially odd. Dog. Wild dog. But her austere expression did crack into a half smirk as she looked between the two, "I suppose it's not a good drink without some blood in it. Welcome to Nordengaard, Magrin Kor - someone get this man a fresh drink and a new seat. Enjoy yourself, wanderer," she leaned forward, fixing him with a sharp look, "but be it on your head if you break another one of my tables."

"As for you," that same gaze rounded on Gylfi, "Your temper will be the death of you. Pack your things tonight, you will be joining my party when we leave to head south tomorrow," the Queen leaned back into her seat, green gaze shifting over to Brenna, "you will serve as Brenna's Guard on the journey."

 

[Magrin Kor]

When Maude had made her declaration Magrin would incline his head to her briefly, dipping it once before replying..."My thanks."...a grim smile touching his features..."I am sure the drink will be all the better now that the blood runs hot in my veins."...he had noticed how she had narrowed her eyes but acted as though he hadn't. In a place such as this where the Nordenfiir were packed wall to wall during such revelries it would be difficult not to notice the difference between he and they, his scent would likely stand out easily.

After she had said as much Magrin would have been greeted by a new flagon thrust into his hand which he gratefully accepted. Lifting the flagon he'd tip his head before bringing it to his mouth and taking a lnog drink from its contents, the mead ran down his chin before he lowered the flagon again and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand then he turned to walk away and find a new seat.

As he turned to move away his gaze would settle on Gylfi briefly, he would raise the flagon before taking another drink to show that there were no hard feelings though this was likely not the end of it.

Walking away Magrin would blend in amongst the Nordenfiir, trekking back towards the seat he had originally taken in the corner of the Mead Hall so that he could drink his fill now that he had the means to do so again. If the evening permitted as much he would indulge in several more drinks after this one too, his constitution being that he might make himself drunk and feel few of the effects in the morning.

 

[Brenna]

Brenna promised to Aether's request and then put her papers carefully back into her satchel. Her mind was racing with excitement, going through a mental list of all the documents she should take with her. Suddenly she could feel the weight of the Queen's gaze on her and she glanced up, catching the woman's last sentence. Her gaze flicked to Gylfi and the smile faltered a little as she registered who was being punished by being her guard. The man from earlier.

Well, shit.

 

[Talus]

Things were certainly different here. In his own country the actions of this man probably would have seen him executed, and Mikaela tossing a drink in his face would have been met with the same reaction.

Vel Anir was strict when it came to Noble protocols. Everything had to be done right, everything had to be set through tradition. Yet here things seemed about as wild as he could possibly imagine. His lips thinned as Mikaela and the man faced off, and slowly he stood as well.

He placed a hand on Mikaela's shoulder. "I ask you not to insult a person who has been nothing but kind to me."

Talus very much doubted that Mikaela was in need of any sort of defending, but his own honor wouldn't allow him to just sit there. This man had insulted his friend, or at least, someone whom he'd come to consider a friend in such a short time.

No doubt the formality of his tone would strike a very foreign tone, but well...that couldn't be helped.

"But if you're worried about my smell." He offered. "I'm more than happy to join you in the dirt."

 

[Mikaela Ryurik]

Slightly surprised by the hand on her shoulder Mika tilted her head with confusion written all across her face. Surely Talus found this to be offensive as well?

Then came the enigma of sorts. Instead of letting Mika solve this issue on her own, he wanted to do it himself. Well, she could see that he had pride as well, but his tone was quite gentle. Where the other man was heat and rage, Talus was all calmth and confidence. It caused her to become quite curious about his abilities, though if judged by his posture he should be able to take on a brawl or two. Before she could snap out of her amused confusion and obvious curiosity the male Nordenfiir on the other side happily jumped up to accept -- what he deemed to be -- a challenge.

“Oh! Hear, hear, this one wants to fight!” the stranger announced with his arms wide open, pushing someone that’s been passing in the process. Gazes met, people laughed, some moved aside. “The Queen won’t be pleased,” one warned the lot of them, but the bearded nuisance waved it off with a faint scowl. “We’ll take it outside, as this one thinks he can handle a real bear.” The drunk boasting left them enough room to stand up, and with a sigh and a glance toward Maude somewhere in the distance, Mika slid off the bench and took a hold of her spear.

She would have rather had him to have disappeared, or dealt with him on her own, but now multiple curious Nordenfiir were seeping into the snow outside to see one of their own fight this newcomer. At least they had respect for warriors, so assuming he was one, Mika figured it wouldn’t end up too badly. Worst case she would have to jump in. Afterall, it was her he had offended, not only Talus. Though, two against one wasn’t quite honorable.

Leaving her stuff where she had put it as their society was disgusted by thievery the tall raven haired female threw on her furry cloak, and with her spear in one hand and the fish she’s been enjoying in the other, made her way into the cold.

“Should it have been in the Frozen Halls, the palace, then I would understand taking it outside, but it seems there’s been a previous encounter of sorts.” she whispered to Talus before giving him room. A nod of trust showed her support for him, even when he wasn’t one of her own.

Meanwhile the other male prepared for a fight. Seemingly without any weapons. Perhaps he wanted to smash his fists into Talus face, perhaps he had some steel hidden beneath layers of leather. Mika did find herself hoping that Talus would be capable of defending himself. To step in should things get out of hand would leave a mark on his image not easily wiped off here in the North, especially because he was a foreigner. Unless it wouldn’t be to save him, though that too would have its issues.

Mika hissed to herself. Even the fish couldn’t lighten her mood now.

* * *​

 

[Talus]

Talus briefly looked around, wondering if anyone would stop them. When it became clear that no one intended to, a simple shrug rolled over his shoulder. He followed after Mikaela, glancing back for a second before deciding not to take the furs that she had given him so many days ago now.

It would only slow him down.

As they walked outside, escorted by a small contingent of his companions countrymen, Talus watched his opponent. With a studious eyes he took in the man's form, the way he moved, the shift of his muscles.

The man was strong, stronger than Talus, but that wasn't much concern. He'd spent his entire life forced into being a weapon, honed into killing some of the best fighters in the world. Even without magic, he was confident in his own abilities.

Hal was stronger than this blowhard, and Talus had managed to down him more than once in the sparring ring.

Mikaela leaned into him as they came to a clearing outside the Great Hall. He nodded in reply to her, then asked quietly. "What does he mean by handle a bear?"

It was at that moment that Mikaela would realized that Talus had absolutely no clue about the true nature of Nordenfiir.

They had discussed magic before, shamans and the like, but the ability of their people to change had never actually come up through the course of their journey.

Cold air whipped around him, and Talus found himself wondering what he'd stepped into.

 

[Mikaela Ryurik]

She found herself more worried than she liked to admit when the young man swung at her friend. Fists quite large tried to find their target in Talus’ head and chest. There appeared to be no strategy. This drunk fool was simply attacking someone he didn’t think was worthy to be feasting among his own people.

Mika’s eyes narrowed further. It wasn’t his decision to make. Should Maude had said for them to leave that would have been one thing. Mika would have respected the command and done just that. Mostly because she assumed that the redhead would make her decision based on wisdom not on xenophobia.

In front of her the fight continued. Either the alcohol had left its marks on the stranger’s coordination and focus or he was worse at fighting than Mika was. Certainly not one of the greatest of their age. Perhaps he was inexperienced, though she doubted that considering their upbringing. Maybe he had never actually been in a fight where the opponent might try to kill him, that could be.. but she her doubts about that as well. Somehow she thought that it was his mysterious rage that blinded him in this fight. He was going to lose. Already she could say that for sure. Talus stood his ground well and almost appeared to be shy.

“Whack him on the head so we can get inside again, will you, Talus?” she shouted, laughing lightly while knowing this would be over soon. Then she could explain to her friend what the bear thing was all about.

Unfortunately, the young Nordenfiir was as stupid as he was drunk. In a blur of unclear magic the bear inside him took over and there it stood, charcoal black in colour, with fangs ready to tear into Talus who was way too close to him for Mika’s liking. She almost choked on her fish when seeing the transformation. In fact, she hadn’t actually expected him to do it. This wasn’t a real battle. Talus was not an enemy of their country. He was but a man coming through and getting to know the culture and people.

Dropping the last bit of her meal, Mika was ready to move in. This one had already lost in her eyes. The game was over.

* * *
Talus​

 

[Talus]

"WHAT IN THE FUCK" Talus yelled as a giant bear claw swiped forward towards him and threatened to eviscerate his entire torso.

The sharp nails just barely grazed over his chest, shredding some of the loosely tied shirt and leaving four thin trails of blood. The man so far had been sluggish, slow, not landing a single strike on him, but this? This was entirely new!

"He's a shapeshifter!" Talus said as he took another weary step back, glancing back towards Mikaela. A realization dawned on him, eyebrows raising. "Are you a-"

His words died on his lips as he turned back just in time to see the bear-person lunge at him.

A barrelling form four times his size pounced, claws and maw lashing forward in an attempt to rend him into pieces. Time seemed to become slow, and the Dreadlord fell back on instinct.

In the space of a single heartbeat Talus' entire form suddenly turned a translucent blue. His skin, clothes, and even hair shifted into an unholy shade. The bear tumbled through the ethereal Talus, tumbling uneasy to the ground with a thud.

The ghostly Talus then moved, hopping up and onto the Bear as he just as quickly shifted back into corporeal form.

His foot crashed hard into the bears skull, slamming it's head into the ground with as much force as he could muster.

 

[Mikaela Ryurik]

“Look out!” she yelled at him, angrily. The idiot was posing questions while he was supposed to concentrate on the fight ahead! God dammit! Mika felt her temperature rise as she stabbed the iron spear into the snow. There were already stripes of blood across Talus’ chest, and while he dodged the next attack with something Mikaela had never seen before. The foot on a bear’s skull didn’t mean much. So while he could dodge, she wasn't sure if he could meet the Nordenfiir with equal force.

Fortunately the foot wasn’t bitten off, but the bear did turn, roll over in the snow, growled and jumped again.

That’s where he was met with an equal force of a somewhat smaller bear. Even darker fur covered Mika as she growled very quietly at the offender. The glyphs marking her left side were invisible now, but it was obvious as to what had just transpired. She threatened him with another low growl. Even while this form was new to the young Nordenfiir she would push herself to the limit to protect her friend from someone who had decided to use claws and fangs on human skin.

Without another warning she swung at his head and her leaner, quicker form, had its advantages here, too. He roared and stood on his hind legs. That’s when she tackled him into a nearby wall. Wood collapsed from the wall where the two bears had crushed it. While he tried to put his claws into her side her fangs were already on his throat. He could, if he wanted to, dig his claws into her fur and flesh, but she would tear his throat out before he did.

“This what you wanted?” she asked, fangs still against his throat. Breathing into his fur she waited what he would choose.

* * *
Maude & Talus​

 

[Maude]

Maude didn't get a chance to finish her meal. News of the second brawl outside reached her by way of a whispering Ranger at her shoulder. With an aggravated growl she pushed her seat back and stepped out from the table, downing the rest of her ale before stepping off into the crowd. The Queen easily parted the masses of her people by mere presence alone. While not the largest in size of her people, the power exuded by the amulet tucked beneath many layers compelled them in ways that words and brute strength could not.

She stepped out into the frigid evening air, green eyes blazing as they rounded on the circle surrounding the fight. Pressing in to find a human and two svalen (Mika's scent immediately filling her snout), it became apparent quite quickly that this wasn't a friendly scuffle, either. The claw marks on Talus' front and the scent of blood on the air set her blood to boil, a fury rising with such suddenness that it seethed as black ether from her figure like steam rising in the bitter cold.

["ENOUGH."] she snarled at the pair in Fiirevik, the word and intent seeping through armor and flesh and pelt alike, inducing compliance into her followers by esoteric means of Eogorath's legacy.

["Who dare attack a human guest in svalen form on peaceful ground?"]

 

[Arnor Skuldsson]

Arnor, son of Skuld.

The Axe of Knottington.

Slayer of Unholy Lords, ridder of curses.

A flash of metal, and a movement of feet. Arnor crossed the room like a hellhound, teeth bared, outside. Flesh met flesh, claws shifting. He could smell the rust-like scent in the air. The iron in the blood, and all. Things traveled far in the air, smells that were foreign. Blood was a tell-tale scent.

The blade stood not even an inch away from the Dreadlord. The room grew eerily still. It was one thing to fight, it was another to stomp on another's head. Arnor was joined by others, but Arnor was the first out into the cold night, his boots crunching under the snow. The other Nordenfiir backed off, realizing that the attention now was drawn to them. But the blade remained aimed at the Dreadlord.

"You came to our lands, as a guest. We do not allow many guests. And you are the reason why."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Dreadlord."

He said it with such disdain, hatred and malice in a single word- that the air in the room grew stiff with tension. Arnor had escalated the situation, in an attempt to defuse it. The Dreadlord was simply outmanned here, and had worn out his welcome. Arnor would let the others deal with the Nordenfiir that brought him here, and was destroying the Queen's feast hall in the process of their petty squabble. His eyes didn't leave the Dreadlord, content with letting everyone else deal with the woman, or whoever came to his aid. But for the moment, the feast had come to a halt again.

Arnor stepped between the attacked Nordenfiir and the Dreadlord, keeping his eyes on the outsider, even while the Queen spoke. Arnor paced forward, rotating the blade to let it lay flat in his hands, tip pointed directly at the Dreadlord. Out of all the threats currently present, Arnor was not concerned with the Nordenfiir- no one would be stupid enough to kill another Nordenfiir in the Queen's presence. But from what he knew of Dreadlords, from personal experience and stories he had been told-

The greatest threat presently was the Battlemage.

 

[Talus]

Talus didn't move, his gaze moving briefly beyond the man that had placed blade to his throat and towards where Mikaela and the other Nordenfiir were tussled in a pile of what was now scrap wood.

It was difficult to tell if she was still alive, even more so when the Queen of this place came out into the cold and bellowed in a language he did not understand. His lips thinned briefly, eyes drifting back towards the man that threatened him.

"Are you sure you don't allow them just because you don't know how to treat them?" Talus said, glancing down at his bleeding chest. "I've been here an hour, and twice I've had my life threatened."

The smart move likely would have been to keep his mouth shut, but nobody liked being antagonized.

All he'd done was defend his friend, and then his own life when it had become necessary. "Perhaps you should turn your sword on those too feckless to fight with honor."

Even Dreadlords taught honor, well, some of them.

 

[Mikaela Ryurik]

Maude’s voice cut through Mika like a blade made from ice. There was so much strength behind the command that the young bear almost bit into her opponent’s throat out of pure panic. Catching herself, a little bit, she felt the claws leave her sides, having left no injury there either. The two bears disentangled and turned to what they were before the scuffle happened: a young, drunk male and a proud young female worried for her friend. She almost didn’t dare to move or look up, because of Maude’s obvious anger. However, the threat she could see out of the corner of her eye, a threat to Talus, was something she had to react to.

“Leave him alone!” the angry raven head stormed toward the two men. Her fear for Maude’s reaction was still present in her bones, but right now she had to make sure that Talus was safe. She had been the one to bring him here, so she would take care of him to her best abilities. Even if that meant pulling him back a step and standing between the two. Now the blade was directed at her.

“If you’re defending someone who can’t understand the word ‘no’ then I pity you.” she announced, eyeing the man and his blade. Whatever came next really wasn’t up to them anymore, she realized.

* * *​

 

[Maude]

The Queen seethed, gaze of acidic green tracking the movements of those present. There was nothing happening here that was tolerable on any level and it sickened her into rage.

"I said ENOUGH," the switch back to common would include all those present, citizen and guest alike, before turning a heated glare at the drunk Norden in question, "you are dishonored."

"Wait ... no, I-" the man stammered, attempting to bungle forward towards her only be to caught by two other Nordens by the arms, "I can explain."

"Get him out of my sight. I'll deal with him in the morning," she turned her attention next to Talus, Mika, and Arnor with his blade. Though Arnor was perhaps quicker to assume the stranger's fault than she liked, Maude trusted the man's sense of instinct. He'd lived within the Summerlands far longer than the vast majority of any Norden, and far longer than she. The name Dreadlord was not one of familiarity and if he deemed it to be enough of a threat, she'd leave him to his stance.

But he need not intercede with his tongue. The Queen held a hand up to stay the man's words, though did nothing to indicate he should drop his weapon.

"Mikaela," Maude looked to the young woman, "explain."

 

[Mikaela Ryurik]

Every fiber in her body was filled with both tension and fear. Tension for what the blade might do and fear for what Maude might say. Firmly keeping her stand she didn’t reach out of her dagger, was too far from the spear, and this was no longer a matter of fighting anyway. Now was the time to elaborate. She trusted for the man of her own kind not to stab her in the back, and turned to look at the quite furious redhead. Even if she wasn’t raising her voice now, there still was plenty of power behind it for Mika to almost feel like a cub again.

“We met in the forest south of Sittekar, I was hunting, he was freezing. From there we’ve travelled together, took the ship here, because I wanted for him to see our capital. He did me nor anyone else any harm on the way here, I vouch for him, Dott’rhi.” Still somewhat shaken, she dared to look up in those green eyes. If emerald could burn then this was it.

“It wasn’t supposed to come to this. My apologies.” she bowed her head. There was no use in talking Maude through everything that’s happened and the offending words she had reacted on but Talus had paid for in blood.

* * *​

 

[Arnor Skuldsson]

"A fool starts a fight, the idiot continues it."

Arnor scowled at the Dreadlord, but refused to lower the blade. Though he didn't need that to put any further hurt on the Dreadlord, what with his bigger size, his more physicality as a fighter-

And the fact that at any given point, he could turn into a giant fucking bear. Arnor didn't acknowledge the other Nordenfiir, the woman. Maude, could deal with that. She looked scared shitless as it was. He didn't need to add fuel to that fire.

 

[Maude]

The Queen's gaze bore into Mikaela with unblinking intensity, holding the simmer of fury that threatened to spill should the night pose one more troubled event. They turned to the man in question as Mika explained his presence, openly sizing him up. Several moments passed, drawn on the tether of peace or violence before she relented to her own preachings.

Maude stepped towards the smaller girl, lifting a hand to press a single finger at her chest, "He is your responsibility here." Any incursions or slights against law or respect would be as much on her head as his own, "Keep him out of trouble."

Stepping back and taking a deep breath, she passed a narrowed glance around at those present, "This man is our guest. He will be treated with welcome and respect, as any other. Any who take issue may see me personally."

Her eyes landed on Mika again but the coldness of the look did not abate. She'd had enough socializing for the evening and it was time for some much needed peace and quiet. Maude growled and shifted to press between Arnor Skuldsson and Talus, her own armored self pushing the blade aside if Arnor did not drop it on his own before stalking off into the cold.