Private Tales Another One?

[Esmeralda]

exactly optimized for fighting. And I'd hate to see you at a disadvantage." He told her, "I'll keep my eyes averted so you needn't worry about privacy."

"Oh Sung Chei, are you scared you loose to a princess in a dress?" She bantered and took a few steps backwards.

"Lets dance pretty boy." Esmereldas stance was that of defense, she Sung Chei to attack, she wanted to watch his movements, pin point any possible weaknesses

 

[Sung Chei]

He chuckled. And when she said "Let's dance" His face grew grim, he closed his eyes, inhaled then exhaled, and his eyes opened. They'd gone sepentine, catlike really, and as he exhaled he let out the sound that very few people had heard, his family was referred to as "The tigers of Xian Kin" for a reason. (This is the sound he makes while fighting Sound)

He blurred forward, going to strike low at her abdomen with an open hand, his fingers curled back like claws, but actually striking with his palm. that was likely to be avoided, should she swing at him he'd strike her actual forearm with the same technique to shock the sword from her grip.

 

[Esmeralda]

Esmerleda was taken slightly aback by the sound erupting from Sung Cheis throat.
Her eyes narrowed and her nostrils flaired, jaw clenched.
Esmerelda twisted away from Sung Cheis grasp. Vikings were often thought to be heavy set and aggressive fighters, but from young they were taught to be light on their feet, flexiable. Esmerelda twisted and brought her sword down, half an inch from his bicep.

She moved back, took her stance , a forearm gaurding her chest and her sword facing slightly upward, the hilt held at her hip.

"Thats one for me."

 

[Sung Chei]

Esmerleda was taken slightly aback by the sound erupting from Sung Cheis throat.
Her eyes narrowed and her nostrils flaired, jaw clenched.
Esmerelda twisted away from Sung Cheis grasp. Vikings were often thought to be heavy set and aggressive fighters, but from young they were taught to be light on their feet, flexiable. Esmerelda twisted and brought her sword down, half an inch from his bicep.

She moved back, took her stance , a forearm gaurding her chest and her sword facing slightly upward, the hilt held at her hip.

"Thats one for me."

"Not bad." he said calmly.

then the growling started again. It was time to show a little more skill. He approached again. This time he went forward, but went even lower, spinning low and sweeping his leg across the floor, aiming at her ankles, and very suddenly leaping up, and following through this spin his foot came up to lightly tap her cheek. It would be clear that he had immense control over his body, and that he could have taken her jaw off if he wanted to, but she'd only feel a light tap, as though a large insect had flown onto her cheek.

"And one for me."

 

[Esmeralda]

( sorry real ife got in the way I will bee back soon )

 

[Esmeralda]

"Fair enough." Esmerelda nodded and grinned. "Quite the gymnist I have on my side I see."

Out of nowhere, Esmerelda dropped her sword and tooking a run at Sung Chei, her plan was to jump and mid air bend her knee, it slamming into his chest and placing him on the floor, giving her the apper hand.

But he was to quick, he seemed to simply slide out the way, as if in slow motion.

Esmereldas eyes grew wide as she realized what was about to happen, she tucked her head and took a hard roll down onto the floor, knocking into old milk cans which came tumbeling down.

"Who goes there!" Shouted a voice, the luminance of a light swayed and grew closer.

Esme got up, despite the now aching pain in her back she grabbed her sword, Sung Cheis hand and ran. "Time to go."

She laughed as she led him out the barn, through the stables and to the edge of the forest , all the while still having a firm grasp on her sword and her fingers intwined in his.

When they were a fair enough distance away she plopped down onto the grass, took a deep breath, brushed her hair from her face and lay down.

Esmerelda turned her head to face him, "thats the most fun i have had since taking the crown."

 

[Sung Chei]

She was quick too, quite the promising warrior, as he stepped aside to avoid her flying knee-kick he also spun backwards to strike the back of her head with his heel. While the attack itself wasn't particularly impressive, her response to the threat his riposte posed was. Ducking into a roll to avoid being hit and to put distance between them was exceptionally well-executed. Except for the part where she crashed into milk cans.

Esme got up, despite the now aching pain in her back she grabbed her sword, Sung Cheis hand and ran. "Time to go."

She laughed as she led him out the barn, through the stables and to the edge of the forest , all the while still having a firm grasp on her sword and her fingers intwined in his.

He was surprised when she grabbed his hand, but he went with her without resisting. Her soft laughter was also a surprise. But what was there to question? She was enjoying it, but what exactly was enjoyable was a mystery.

When they were a fair enough distance away she plopped down onto the grass, took a deep breath, brushed her hair from her face and lay down.

Esmerelda turned her head to face him, "thats the most fun i have had since taking the crown."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. But I must ask, was running really necessary? If he were a servant then he'd have no reason to complain about you being there, and if the situation were explained, it could easily avoid any issues. So why run?"

 

[Esmeralda]

if the situation were explained, it could easily avoid any issues. So why run?

"Oh come now Sung Chei," she propped her self up on her elbow. "Is there no mystery left in life?" She laughed again and looked towards the stars. "Servent or no, it is not necessary for those around me to know my every move now is it."

She went quite for a while, "When we were younger, my father would tell my brother and I stories of how the stars where all of the greatest viking warriors and rulers, once passed, were up in the sky looking down apon us." She turned her head to look at him, "its quite silly the things we believe as children. Don't you think?"

 

[Sung Chei]

"Oh come now Sung Chei," she propped her self up on her elbow. "Is there no mystery left in life?" She laughed again and looked towards the stars. "Servent or no, it is not necessary for those around me to know my every move now is it."

"I suppose one in your position would value privacy more than most." He admitted. He looked up at the sky, observing the western constellations he'd been trying to familiarize himself with.

She went quite for a while, "When we were younger, my father would tell my brother and I stories of how the stars where all of the greatest viking warriors and rulers, once passed, were up in the sky looking down apon us." She turned her head to look at him, "its quite silly the things we believe as children. Don't you think?"

"A true statement, but that particular myth isn't so ridiculous as one might think in your position, there have been several stories told of heroes and warriors being preserved in the stars. We have very similar stories where I come from. Though not quite as all-inclusive as yours. Our story is of a single instance, one man, one man only who fell in love with Ce Nin, our goddess of the moon, and she for him. He was a hunter, a good one too, hunting beasts both majestic and minacious. And he hunted by moonlight only, even on nights when the moon did not shine, and he always went to burn the heart of his prey at her altar. See, the moon is beautiful, but it does not grant us a good harvest, it does not protect us from bad weather, so Ce Nin is not widely worshipped, so his offerings spoke to her, and after a while she fell for him and came to earth. So they lived, but he, being mortal eventually passed away, so Ce Nin took his spirit and gave him a place among her stars. He became shè shǒu, the archer. A constellation, there." He pointed out the constellation in question as he said this. "And there he remains to this day. Hunting among the stars, and bringing his prey back for Ce Nin. At least, that's how the story goes."

 

[Esmeralda]

among her stars. He became shè shǒu, the archer. A constellation, there

Esmerelda was mesmerized by the story. "That sounds like such, beautiful, pure love. "

Then she thought of Ce Nin, "are the pair atleast together still? I do not think I would be able to deal with such a heart break of loosing a love that close to my heart."

Whenever Sung Chei told stories of his culture, Esmerelda became emersed in every word. His world seemed to her like one out of the very fairytale books she had in her study.

It was as if the pair were worlds apart, but his was just to interesting to her to be bothered by the distance.

 

[Sung Chei]

Esmerelda was mesmerized by the story. "That sounds like such, beautiful, pure love. "

Then she thought of Ce Nin, "are the pair atleast together still? I do not think I would be able to deal with such a heart break of loosing a love that close to my heart."

"That depends on the storyteller. Some say they can speak, some say they still live together, others say that his constellation is simply a keepsake for her to remember him by. I've always been told the second version during my childhood." He remained standing but kept his gaze fixed on the sky.

"Do you have any similar stories my lady?" He asked. "I have yet to master western culture and I find that being acquainted with western lore has much to do with my ability to understand this place."

 

[Esmeralda]

childhood." He remained standing but kept his gaze fixed on the sky

Esmerelda chose to believe that the pair continued to live out their lives together, happy and in love.

Before she could start to say anything to Sung Chei she heard the sound of a horn, "Oh hell!" She jumped up and her eyes grew wide. "Everytime the guards change they check on my chambers. They must think something happened."

The quickly walked back in the direction of the castle, telling a servent to calm the guards, she was just out for a stroll. Before going their seperate ways, she whispered to Sung Chei, "do not be surprised if the servents have gossip turning in the kitchens, they love a good story."

With that she walked off. Esme hoped none of her suitors were alerted, especially that none found out that she had been out with an advisor after dark, then they would definitely be discouraged and pull out of the courtship and she did not need that for a second.

 

[Sung Chei]

Before she could start to say anything to Sung Chei she heard the sound of a horn, "Oh hell!" She jumped up and her eyes grew wide. "Everytime the guards change they check on my chambers. They must think something happened."

"Your guards are most vigilant. I applaud them." He says helping her up.

The quickly walked back in the direction of the castle, telling a servent to calm the guards, she was just out for a stroll. Before going their seperate ways, she whispered to Sung Chei, "do not be surprised if the servents have gossip turning in the kitchens, they love a good story."

"Servants always gossip, it's one of the trademarks of the profession." He remarked. "Sleep well my lady."

With that she walked off. Esme hoped none of her suitors were alerted, especially that none found out that she had been out with an advisor after dark, then they would definitely be discouraged and pull out of the courtship and she did not need that for a second.

Such might not necessarily be the case. It wasn't exactly uncommon, or even unexpected, for one to speak with their advisors alone. They might just think something else happened or particularly sensitive orders were being delivered, it was in no way a potential problem. He returned to his dwelling, and set about trying to sleep.

 

[Esmeralda]

The following morning , Esmerelda met her suitors in the dining room. The hall would be miles to big for such a small party.

She dressed in a morning frock, her hair curled and tied back low with pink ribbon which formed a bow.

She was the last to arrive and stood behind her chair.

 

[Sung Chei]

The following morning , Esmerelda met her suitors in the dining room. The hall would be miles to big for such a small party.

She dressed in a morning frock, her hair curled and tied back low with pink ribbon which formed a bow.

She was the last to arrive and stood behind her chair.

Sung Na stood clad in a tigerskin vest and loose-fitting pants, much like Sung Chei's white tigerskin vest. The duke and baron wore comfortable but formal clothing, all stood behind their seats as they waited for the Queen to enter. All of them greeted her politely with bows and wished her a good morning. They sat when she did.

 

[Esmeralda]

sat when she did.

"Well, seeing as I am to pull out my own chair." She stated bluntly but a her tone was mocking, taking her seat she greeted the three, "Baron, Sung Na, Duke. I hope you all slept well."

A maid filled each of the 3 tea cups with hot water and another dishes up breakfast for Esmerelda, then moved on to dish up for the men.

Esmerelda was not in the mood for the day that lay forward. After breakfast she was to look over parchment the treasury sent for her to sign, then spend time with the baron and afterwards a meeting - which she knew would turn into a screaming match - with her council. So why havent you gotton any proposels yet , you need to get married and have hundreds of babies, you need to build allies, you must pick a main suitor and tour the kingdom with them and install hope in the people blah blah blah

It was all just silly politics. The only politics that concerned her was when her uncles would try to pull another stunt.

 

[Sung Chei]

"Well, seeing as I am to pull out my own chair." She stated bluntly but a her tone was mocking, taking her seat she greeted the three, "Baron, Sung Na, Duke. I hope you all slept well."

The baron and duke had the grace to look embarrassed by this, but Sung Na appeared confused by her statement. Such might not be quite that surprising as he wasn't native here, but even so he seemed to understand that he'd done something wrong. He'd make it a point to remedy that later. He responded to her statement with, "I apologize for our rudeness my lady. And in spite of such inconsideracy you are still concerned for our comfort, I am humbled by your magnanimity."

It was all just silly politics. The only politics that concerned her was when her uncles would try to pull another stunt.

Oh, they wouldn't be trying any more stunts. Sung Na would make sure of that. He'd gotten up early and looked through family records, finding her uncles and cousins, and after reading through their histories and researching them over a few hours he determined which ones were most likely to succeed, which ones were the most dangerous, and which ones could be intimidated. Well, a bunch of their brothers beheaded and flayed in their own rooms should be plenty intimidating. He had left a letter in his new office, informing her that he'd be out on "business" for a few days. Once she'd get the first report of assassination she'd know exactly what he meant. Well, not so much assassination, as one-man assaults on castles leaving noone alive.

That would definitely warn others off after a few of those.

 

[Milo]

Esmerlda finishes her breakfast, dabbing her mouth with a napkin she spoke now to Baron Dunnard. "Once you have finished eating you will meet me at the stables. We will be going horse back riding today Baron."

With that she stood and left the dining room. Dressed now in appropriate riding attire she made her way to the stables. Sir Bailey would be accompanying the pair as an escort.

The stable boy readied Esmereldas horse, a thorrow breed stallion, an appaloosa named Spirit. He then readied two other horses for the Baron Dunnard and Sir Bailey.

Esme now waited patiently for the Baron to arrive

(Sorry posted as the wrong character

 

[Sung Chei]

The baron arrived just as she was mounting up. "Apologies about keeping you waiting my lady."

Seeing as she was already mounted, he went to his own horse, a majestic, black destrier and mounted with impressive skill despite his slight potbelly. He urged his horse next to hers and asked, "Shall we be off?"

On the other side of the kingdom, people, a lot of people, were dying. As blood sprayed across the stone walls of the castle, and Sung Chei speeding through the hallways, slaying everyone he saw, save the servants, and wrapped in an all-white robe, and wearing a mask and hood, also white, and brandishing his swords as he slaughtered all who stood in his way, until at last, he stood in front of one of her uncles. Wordlessly he sliced the man's head from his shoulders, and with noone still alive in the castle, he began his work skinning the man, and hanging both his flayed corpse and his skin above the castle gate. The message was clear.

 

[Esmeralda]

The baron arrived just as she was mounting up. "Apologies about keeping you waiting my lady."

Seeing as she was already mounted, he went to his own horse, a majestic, black destrier and mounted with impressive skill despite his slight potbelly. He urged his horse next to hers and asked, "Shall we be off?"

On the other side of the kingdom, people, a lot of people, were dying. As blood sprayed across the stone walls of the castle, and Sung Chei speeding through the hallways, slaying everyone he saw, save the servants, and wrapped in an all-white robe, and wearing a mask and hood, also white, and brandishing his swords as he slaughtered all who stood in his way, until at last, he stood in front of one of her uncles. Wordlessly he sliced the man's head from his shoulders, and with noone still alive in the castle, he began his work skinning the man, and hanging both his flayed corpse and his skin above the castle gate. The message was clear.

"Lets," Esmerelda led the way, the baron at her side and Sir Bailey slightly behind them, allowing the pair some privacy."

"I hope you are enjoying your stay Baron." Esmereldas voice was not relaxed. It was a sophisticated tone, she was not yet completely comfortable with Dunnard yet, they hadn't spent much time together. There wasn't exactly a love connection apon their first meeting, but the same could be said regarding her other two suitors.

 

[Sung Chei]

"I hope you are enjoying your stay Baron." Esmereldas voice was not relaxed. It was a sophisticated tone, she was not yet completely comfortable with Dunnard yet, they hadn't spent much time together. There wasn't exactly a love connection apon their first meeting, but the same could be said regarding her other two suitors.

"Your concern for my comfort is touching my lady, I thank you for it." He says back to her politely. "I do apologize for not attempting to approach you earlier. I was simply unsure of how exactly to approach one such as yourself, and whether it would be appropriate or not."

He caught on to her unrelaxed tone and said, "Do you enjoy riding my lady? Or is this simply a medium?"

 

[Esmeralda]

attempting to approach you earlier. I was simply unsure of how exactly to approach one such as yourself, and whether it would be appropriate or not

"I am flattered, " she gave him a small smile.

d, "Do you enjoy riding my lady? Or is this simply a medium?"

"I for one adore riding, often Spirit and I go for a gallop when I get a chance. How about you?"

 

[Sung Chei]

"I am flattered, " she gave him a small smile.

He smiled back, almost shyly. He told her, "I'm sorry for my earlier rudeness. For that I have no such excuse."

"I for one adore riding, often Spirit and I go for a gallop when I get a chance. How about you?"

"It is enjoyable." he said simply. "I don't often do it just for the pleasure though. Not enough time in the day for it. I'm glad you can take the time to enjoy the simple things such as riding."

 

[Esmeralda]

Esmereldas conversation with the man did not seem to flow, but she put in the effort. She needed atleast one proposal. Who know, maybe the pair could learn to love on another, or atleast enjoy each others company. "How do you enjoy your spare moments?" She tried to start up a conversation.

 

[Esmeralda]

( sorry for the late reply im not getting proper notifications anymore )