Fable - Ask Learning Never Exhausts The Mind [Lady Briseis]

[Errune Thesius]

Malakath - Thanasis
Royal Palace Archives
Head Archivist's Private Study
Late Afternoon - Two days following the city festival

​

There was only three days left to finalize the preparations for the year's census and Errune felt, strangely enough, that he didn't need them. The newest hires to the Archives had proven to be quite the fast study, which was all the more useful to a man who felt as though his work was never done and there were simply weren't enough hours in the day. With swift efficiency, his new assistant Suli had organized the various tomes and necessary supplies required for the rounds, then set off to peck after the younger Interns who were footling about the lower levels of the Archives just for fun.

This left Errune some highly valued quiet time in his private study.

Sat at his desk, his hound Baron snoring just off to the side in a plush dog bed, Rune took this time to settle into his own plush chair for his afternoon dose of numbing agents. They awaited him on a silver tray: several small glass phials containing various separate ingredients of liquid and powder variety all set next to a chrome teapot and matching mug. Producing a pair of half-moon spectacles from his center desk drawer, Rune delicately affixed them low on the bridge of his nose and began carefully measuring out his medications.

One pinch of ground root.
Three drops of tonic.
A teaspoon of off-white powder.
A full basket of medicinal tea leaves.
One, two-

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

He jumped at the sound, nearly dropping the phial of liquid in his hand and turned a bristling scowl toward the entrance doors of the office, "Enter."
"M'lord, I have today's missives."
Rune waved the Intern in, adjusting the spectacles on his nose and resuming his careful measurement of drops. Thre-
"Oh, and there's a woman here to see you."
His green gaze leveled on the young man, brows lowering in a pointed stare, "Who?" Rune asked slowly.
"Brissis?" said the Intern, "That was the only name she gave. Said she had an appointment M'lord, but ain't have no letter."
"Did not."
"M'lord?"
"She did not have a letter." By the Gods, where did these Interns come from?
"Yes, M'lord, that's what I said. Should I tell her to leave?"
"No, you will escort the Lady into my office and next time you have something for me, ring the bell."
"Yes, M'lord, of course. I'll bring her right away."

Rune's gaze followed the boy out the door, which was left open, and slowly closed as he silently reminded himself that he was a gentleman of the Court and not the crotchety old man he so desperately wanted to be in that moment. Old Man Higgins would have given no second thought to braining the boy with his cane - so why was it he should, again?


The young man returned to where he'd left Briseis in the main archive foyer, "M'lord Errune says he'll see you even if you ain't have no letter. This way."

 

[Briseis]

Kaveh's wives had enjoyed dressing her today, as though a trip to the Royal Archives was some sort of grand affair. They'd scoffed at her when she'd suggested wearing something simple, and instead had experimented with different colours and fabrics, seeking to make their little doll appear far bolder than she felt.

"A-are you sure?" she had asked Shirian as she tried to cover a little more leg than the dress did when she moved. The woman batted her hands away, insisting that she stop fidgeting.

"She's ready.. You can take her.." Shirian smiled coyly at Kaveh's guards, of whom Briseis required two as an escort. Even the palace was a dangerous place for her.

The dark fabric was soft, and yet rich and heavy, and she rather enjoyed how it swished around her ankles as she walked, and the way it sparkled subtly. What she was less comfortable with was the way it split diagonally from shoulder to hip, cinched in the middle only with a thick belt of silver dragon scales. Her left leg was almost entirely visible, and there was a narrow window to the bare, olive skin of her chest. It was far more visible flesh than she'd ever been used to.

Briseis hadn't quite gotten used to the weight of holding her head up either, having spent so many years with it bowed obediently, but she'd had the reminder drummed into her mind by Kaveh and his wives. They were moulding her, slowly but surely, though into what - she wasn't yet sure.

Head up, shoulders straight, don't fidget. My Lord, not M'Lord.
Head up... shoulders straight....dont...fidget......My Lord, not M'Lord...

She had been more than happy to turn away as the intern requested a letter that she did not have, but she forced herself to remain where she was, and insist that Lord Errune would be expecting her. Her lips pursed at the intern, and the guards remained outside as she followed him into the study.

The palace never ceased to amaze her. Everything was always so spacious, so pristine, and so much for her eyes and mind to take in. It was difficult not to look enthralled by it all, so utterly bewildered by the life she had stepped into, and she dreaded the day she got used to it.

She stopped at the top of the short stack of stairs as she admired the room as the warm glow of golden hour poured in through the many windows. "This is quite lovely.." she smiled.

 

[Errune Thesius]

With enough peace and quiet to finish crafting his tonic-tea, Errune released a deep sigh as he pushed aside the tray on his desk and held the silver cup beneath his nose. Suffused in the warm, herbal aroma, the man closed his eyes and let his mind drift to better, more enjoyable times. Days when his name was a staple among the chatter of Nobility and his deeds had been written in the annals that he was now tasked to keep. When countless hours were lost in the sky at the back of Asari - a dragon whose likeness could now only be seen in the Memorium Gardens. When afternoons were for his son Roane and evenings were given to his beautiful wife Emelin.

Footsteps and quiet voices entered the man's meditation and he furrowed his brow, resigning to the loss of his peace with a sip of his tea. The memories faded into the oblivion of his current incessant suffering and the lines of regret emerged once more on his visage.

"Here we are miLady - oop, wait just a mo-" the Intern announced as he walked through the doors, then doubled back sharply to pull the braided cord that rung the bell.

Rune released a deep, terse sigh and furrowed his brow deeper, "Enter."

"MiLord this be the Lady Brisis," the Intern swept into a graceless bow, arms gesturing to her as she strode in behind him.

The Head Archivist waited a moment longer before giving in fully to his reality and opening his eyes. When he did he found the young Lady Briseis striding into his study in an ensemble that would have made a lesser man blush. Rune was not a lesser man. Instead he assaulted his hairline with his flippantly raised brows and choked on his sip of tea. Narrowly avoiding depositing his cup onto his desk, he sloshed its contents across his front and the papers just aside. A rigid slew of dragonspeech curses flew openly from his lips.

There was no covering up this hideous social blunder. May the dragon gods strike him where he sat.

"My Lady," Errune devolved into a coughing fit and promptly set his tea down on the tray. There were several moments of him wresting a cloth napkin free from beneath the tray to mop up his mess, all whilst he attempted to find a way to breath again. The tea fought back. His eyes watered.

"Forgive me," said the man through a pinched voice, "I should have waited until after your visit. Please-" a fist clenched and pounded once against his chest. Errune cleared his throat, forcefully, "come in and have a seat."

 

[Briseis]

She didn't correct the intern as he mispronounced her name. She wasn't in the habit of correcting people, and if anything she rather liked that he didn't seem to know anything about her - something she was surprised to miss about her old life. Being nobody was far less stress than being known to most people in Thanasis for the wrong reasons. Fuck she'd quit happily be Brisis, though Brisis felt like a bit of a harlot given the drastic reaction Errune had paid her attire.

Blood rushed to her cheeks and the little pools of rouge scalded her face as she bit down hard on her lip. She was going to kill Shirian. Well, no, she wasn't - but she'd perhaps be bold enough to insist on something less immodest next time.

The spilling of tea was like some deeply ingrained trigger to work quickly, and she rushed to the other side of the desk to aid in moving papers out of the way and attempting to help mop the little puddle. "I'm sorry.. You have nothing to apologise for.. I.. Let me.. Are you alright?" she grimaced, fumbling over her words and quite unable to look at him.

"I can come back, another day perhaps.." in something less offensive. Who did Shirian think Briseis was to flaunt skin? As if it was not insult enough that she walked the halls of the palace at all...

"I.... Feel ridiculous." she admitted with a sharp breath of a laugh, but there was no mirth in it. Her head remained bowed as she stepped back, fidgeting incessantly as she waited to be dismissed.

 

[Errune Thesius]

As if the man were not already flustered enough, the sudden flurry of action given by his guest might've made him explode if being a gentleman and good host hadn't been ingrained into the very fiber of his being since he was a child.

"My Lady-" he attempted, hands straining to keep himself from shooing her away from his papers, "it's not - please don't-" don't touch the ink, don't touch the ink - fffffff. She touched the ink. Rune's hands hung in the air over the mess, tea-soaked napkin dripping upon bare desk, smudged and blotted ink burning a hole into his retinas. Rune closed his eyes, drew a leveling breath through his lips, and held it.

Briseis' words of humility pierced a hole into the Archivist right through the heart and deflated all sense of tension from him.

Pale greens opened between a pinched brow and discontent frown before settling on her lovely face and only on her lovely face, and his level of self-loathing rose about ten notches.

"You and me, both," the man replied. Ridiculous about summed up this entire encounter. Rune sniffed indignantly and cast the wet napkin onto the tray, "but misery loves company, so let us muddle in our misfortunes together, hm? Have a seat, Lady Briseis. It's nothing a fresh pot of tea and an hour of my assistant's day cannot fix."

Rune leaned and rang a small silver bell that sat on an ornate stand at the corner of his desk to call in a servant before carefully setting himself back into his chair with a grunt. "I would be remiss to break an offer to a Royal Wife given in the presence of her Prince, no less. I need not give him any reason to offer me as a snack to Rayvath."

But on second thought...

 

[Briseis]

Her hand recoiled when she realised what he'd been attempting to prevent, which was exactly what she'd done. Hazel eyes flicked between the splotch of ink and his face, and she grimaced at the look he wore. Briseis could count on one hand the amount of times she'd been clumsy throughout her life in servitude, and she could recall each time so clearly in her mind because they had not been treated lightly. Things were different now, she knew, and she wouldn't be punished for her foolishness, but she felt foolish all the same.

She stepped back, surveying the mess and dropping her gaze in further apology, wishing her cheeks weren't burning as furiously as they were. She tried to hide what she could of her embarrassment by uncurling the chestnut waves from behind her ear and letting them fall more freely around her face and neck, and in doing so only brushed a little ink onto her flushing cheek.

Her eyes rose to him as he invited her to sit and her brow furrowed briefly in confusion, having fully expected to have been dismissed. She glanced toward the doors she'd come through before sitting as she was asked, her hands folding atop her knees as she offered an awkward smile. The sound of the bell was a shrill thing, at least to her. It sent a cold tremor of anxiety across her back, but she managed to suppress the shudder at least.

Briseis wasn't entirely sure where to look, with nothing to focus on in front of her other than the mess she'd made and the look on Lord Errune's face, which looked generally pained as it was let alone after she'd ruined whatever he'd been working on. Her gaze wandered the walls of books and the many windows instead, that was until a certain word caused her attention to snap back to his face with a look of perplexity.

"Wife?...Oh, n-no I.." she blurted a laugh and then held back the urge to let out any more.. "The Prince's wives are each wonderful and talented in their own rights. I am..." her head shook.. "No. Prince Kaveh was kind enough to offer me his voice and his protection from the courts and houses over what happened.. I am privileged to have his friendship, but, no.." she cleared her throat, offering a small smile as she let her gaze linger on him for only a moment, before it fell once again to her fidgeting hands.

 

[Errune Thesius]

And that would mark the second time Errune Thesius' brows invaded his hairline. Beneath them the man's expression remained implacable and stern, as though someone were attempting to explain a subject to him of which he was considered the regional expert. Except, of course, he wasn't. Merely the discomfort of being caught listening and believing the gossip of the people was enough to mortify him to an early grave.

If only it were so simple.

"I see," he began, "my apologies. Seems I was misinformed of your..." his gaze left her fleetingly as a young servant girl appeared at the doorway, "situation."
"My Lord, was your tea not to your liking? I made it just the way Marise said."
"The tea was fine, Pema, we will be needing a second pot and another setting for the Lady."
"Oh, but of course. Shall I bring sugar and honey as well for the Lady?"
"Yes, yes," Rune gently dismissed her with a wave and a sigh.

Over on his bed Baron began to snore. A puddle of drool had formed under his large head that presently hung over the edge of the cushion. Rune gave the hound a nonplussed glance before deciding it was well time to get the scheduled visit underway.

"Well, while we wait for the tea, let us begin," with effort he pushed himself up from his chair and took hold of his cane to soldier out from behind his desk with the determination of a man fleeing cover from enemy fire.

"This chamber was once the Small Court room many years ago where the King and his Small Court would meet for Council. Today it is the Head Archivist's Private Study - my Private Study, courtesy of the Queen's never-failing sympathy for my... plight of mobility." Rune slowly shifted across the polished stone floors toward the far end where several monoliths of Thanasian history sat upon pedestals: a massive dragon's skull; a weathered and war-battered set of blackened armor; and the ornate saddle from said massive dragon and warrior to match the armor.

"These aught to be in the palace museum," Rune's gaze lifted upward as he came to stand before them, "but the chamber was built around them and they'll no longer fit through the doors without extensive reconstruction."

 

[Briseis]

"That's quite alright.." she laughed under her breath, her hazel eyes shifting between the servant girl who had appeared, and the man giving her instruction. Briseis cleared her throat, and her lips twisted slightly as she followed Errune's gaze to the sleeping hound for a brief moment of amusement.

"Yes, o-of course.." she nodded quickly and stood, fidgeting with the scandalous fabric of her dress as she followed slowly behind him, taking in all that she could. She stood beside him, her hands folding as she looked up at the history so proudly displayed.

"The Queen is most kind. She must think very highly of you." Briseis commented quietly as she stared back at the hollow eyes of the dragon's skull with a sad smile on her lips. "It's quite remarkable." she added, glancing over the well-polished plaque without reading it, only because she couldn't.

"Will.. You tell me about them?" she asked, turning her attention back to him.

 

[Errune Thesius]

Rune couldn't truly say if the Queen thought highly of him, but she certainly thought enough of him to remark upon certain things often enough. He forewent any comment on the topic and instead opted for the opportunity to educate the new Lady on the heritage of her home.

"As you wish," he replied, turning to look back up at the armor on display before him, "this belonged to Lord Warrick Mortaine, one of the first dragon riders of our people and a founding member of Thansis." The man's brows tipped upwards slightly in a mark of respect not just for the man's accolades and battle prowess, but that he along with a group of key individuals were responsible for their very existence here.

"He rode the great black dragon Mawgrim, the progenitor of House Murizi's black hides..." and he continued on, speaking on the history of the bonded pair and how important they both were to the founding of the city.

"Of course," Rune digressed as he realized he could well and truly babble on all day, "you did not come to listen to a single story. There are several books to the late Lord Mortaine that you might read to learn more about him."

 

[Briseis]

Briseis stared up at the artefacts in admiration as Errune educated her on the history of Lord Mortaine and Mawgrim, her lips curled and her gaze distant as she pieced together the story in her mind.

His suggestion about her reading more about the Lord dragged her attention back to Errune in a slight fluster. "Oh.. Yes, of course. Forgive me, you've likely retold these histories a hundred times or more. I have a lot to learn, I know, but I do appreciate you taking the time to indulge me a little.." she offered a warm smile and turned to wander slowly to another case, this one displaying a sword and dagger.

"I have as much to learn about these..." she huffed and shook her head, glancing back at him nervously. "I've never held a weapon in my life. They're going to eat me alive.." she murmured with a wince.

 

[Errune Thesius]

"Mark me," Rune watched her closely as she passed from the presence of one artefact to the next, "if there is one thing I never tire of, it is the history of our people. My own ancestors played an integral part of it. Roanen Thesius rode alongside Lord Mortaine as his equal and was the first to tame the dragons of this land... or so the story goes."

The man's gaze shifted from the woman to the new case in front of which she stood, leveling with a tethered sense of regretful nostalgia as he gazed upon the weapons within. He took a slow, deep breath and shifted his weight to close the distance between them.

"Does the dragon fear its own claws?" Rune asked of her, lifting to take hold of his cane just beneath the handle to display its curved silver dragonclaw to her. Hooking it over his forearm, he reached forward to lift the front glass panel of the display to carefully withdraw the dagger within, "You must be as willing to protect your dragon by any means necessary as it is to do the same for you."

With the deftness of a warrior intimately familiar with the feel, weight, and balance of the blade, Rune spun it atop his palm to catch the back edge and offer it handle-first to Briseis, "You can only do that when you no longer fear your own claws."

 

[Briseis]

She watched him over her shoulder as he spoke of his rather impressive ancestry, her eyes warm with fascination. “Goodness… That’s quite the lineage.” she laughed under her breath in awe. “I know nothing of mine, but I’m certain it’s not quite as interesting, until now, I suppose..” Slaves and beggars, no doubt. She wore more wealth on her skin in this moment than her entire family tree had ever likely had between them.

Briseis quietly watched Errune, her cheeks slightly warmed. How afraid she was, but when it became a question of protecting her dragon her brow furrowed with a glimpse of determination, her gaze set upon the dagger in his hand as he flourished it with such ease.

After a glance up at him to seek surety, she took the offered blade to study it, the question on her mind darkening. She knew as she held it that if it were a question of defending Ciraxis, she would plunge this very blade into the chest of any man, woman or beast, currently provided of course that they were weaponless and immobilised. But at least, she was certain of one thing, and her grip tightened on the weapon at the thought.

Briseis nodded and lifted her chin to look back at him. “By any means necessary.” she confirmed quietly.

“I shall have to learn well, and quickly.”

 

[Errune Thesius]

"And so you shall," Rune agreed with her, pleased to see that she understood the gravity of the position she'd been put in. He reached forth into the cabinet to withdraw the handsomely crafted sheath, hewn from a dark marrowood and inlaid with silver and pearl.

"These were my claws," he said quietly, "when I was a younger man. They protected the lives of myself, my dragon, and our people countless times before. The sword was made for me but the dagger ... could serve you well. Take it," Rune offered her the sheath, "and may it give you strength and courage as it once did me."

 

[Briseis]

Slender brows rose as her hazel eyes shot to his, fixing her gaze intently on his face as he spoke of those he'd protected. Her chest tightened and her head shook.. "Oh, I.." she frowned, looking back down at the dagger in her hands for a brief moment of reconsideration. She was as used to receiving gifts as she was wielding a weapon, and she wasn't quite sure what to say in response to the gesture.

It took her a moment to accept the offered sheath, and with a shy smile and another shake of her head she sheathed the blade and sighed. "It's... Thank you, Errune." she nodded, pressing the blade to her chest as she looked back up at him with a smile that she hoped expressed what she hadn't the words to say.

"I'll ensure it's taken good care of."

 

[Errune Thesius]

The Archivist leaned in toward her, perhaps a bit closer than was proper for the pair, intense green eyes staring into her own, "Lord Errune," he corrected her firmly but not unkindly. Pausing there a moment, recognizing her slip up for something he once knew in his own heart as emotions, he righted himself once more. Not so familiar with them anymore - at least, not the sort she was presently entertaining. She was young, overwhelmed, and not of their world. Though, calling people by their proper titles aught to have been something ingrained into a servant. Either way, he didn't let the moment or her potential embarrassment linger.

"Let us move on to the hall of scrolls," the man pronounced quietly, rich tamber echoing within the broad space of his office chambers. Clicking shut the lock of the display case, Rune took the handle of his cane and carefully set off with a purposeful hobble.

 

[Briseis]

The smile she wore faltered and failed as he corrected her. She managed to hold his gaze for only another moment before her head lowered instinctively. "O-of course..I'm sorry. Forgive me, Lord Errune." she frowned. Her cheeks were burning. It wasn't often that she forgot herself, but the kindness of the gift had been unexpected. She shouldn't have gotten so used to calling the Prince by his name. Perhaps she was getting more comfortable than she had anticipated, but she was not one of them.

She didn't look back at him as he spoke or as she followed behind him. Her eyes remained fixed on the sheathed weapon in her hands until they entered the hall of.. so many scrolls.

 

[Errune Thesius]

The hall of scrolls certainly lived up to its name. Rows upon rows, stacks upon stacks, of rolled scrolls rested here. It was impossible to see the entire breadth of the hall's contents from any one place, but as they quietly strolled in she might spy (if she lifted her eyes at all) several people within at desks, tables, and within the stacks.

"Much of the annals of Thanasis' history are here," Rune began, his voice quieter now that they were in the company of others diligently at work, "some of our story has been lost to time unfortunately. In war, many scrolls were destroyed, and as the years progress those that remain are degrading. This team has been assigned the task of preservation. Through science and the application of chemicals, we have found ways to protecting the old inks and parchments from aging. Others that are beyond repair are carefully copied letter by letter onto fresh tomes that are better able to weather the coming years."

Walking down the center main aisle, they passed by a row of podiums. Nearly a dozen in total, half of them were currently occupied by robed scholars who used magnification glasses on metal rods hooked to the stands to carefully read text from the older scroll in order to copy it over to the new tome page. Some of these included brilliantly drawn, handpainted artwork and illustrations. The young woman standing nearest them was working on applying gold foil to one illustration.

"This is Eduina," Errune introduced her to Briseis, "she specializes in the replication of the artworks from our older pieces. What are you working on now?"

The girl in question carefully stepped back from her work with a shy smile to the man and his guest, "An illustration depicting the bonding of Stoneback to the warrior Amal Cristlen. It was originally painted by the Scribe Artist Terrin Furst, a great many years ago."

"You do him a great credit, Eduina. Do you agree, Lady Briseis?" Rune looked to his guest.

 

[Briseis]

Her mouth gaped in silent awe whilst her gaze drifted around the hall, snagging on those he spoke of as he explained their task. Letter by letter...

"Goodness.." she breathed in amazement, wondering at how long such a feat would take. Briseis almost walked straight into Lord Errune having failed to realise that he'd stopped, and so when the introduction was made, she flustered and a warmth crept into her cheeks once more. She dipped her chin in greeting, and let her eyes fall to the pages Eduina was currently working on.

"You, painted this?.." Briseis asked, only just resisting the urge to touch her fingertips to the page before she recoiled. She had not looked through many books in her life, but she was quite certain she had never seen anything quite so beautifully detailed.

"Indeed, Lord Errune is quite right. It's really beautiful work, Eduina.. I am quite envious of your talents.." she said warmly.

 

[Errune Thesius]

Eduina demurred brightly at the compliments and stifled a small laugh of excitement at gaining such notice, "Thank you My Lady, I take great pride in my work though it is I that have always been envious of the dragon keepers. To think it was possible to steal a dragon-"

Rune made a sound of disdain, brow furrowing over a stern gaze, "We do not trade in gossip here, Miss Eduina, only truths and facts."

Eduina blanched suddenly and nodded, "Beg your pardon, Lord Archivist, but what else would you call what has happened?"

For a moment Errune held his stony expression in disapproving silence. With a long-suffering sigh through his nose, the man gently stroked his thumb over his cane's claw handle, "What happened was nothing more than a healthy reminder that our dragons choose who is worthy of their partnership. Their minds are indeed entirely their own and not so unchangeable as many have been lead to believe. Anyone who subscribes to the idea that a fully grown and realized dragon can be stolen against its will has clearly never tried for themselves."

"I suppose I had not thought of it in that way, My Lord."

"Sowing the seeds of gossip makes only a garden of weeds for the mind, you will do well to remember that next time you hear the whispers of the Court, Eduina. Come, Lady Briseis, there is still much to see and Miss Eduina's paint is drying."

 

[Briseis]

Bri's gaze fell momentarily at Eduina's words, the smile she had been wearing slowly fading and a frown briefly marring her brow. Even still, she was not used to defending herself despite the sting of the rumour. Her head lifted at Lord Errune's answer, and she felt her chin lift slightly. It was easy to forget that she was allowed to speak, that she was allowed to have an opinion, or even a stern word, if she wished. Any anger she'd felt as the accusation reared its head once more, quickly gave way to amusement at the image that his words conjured in her mind.

She cleared her throat and smiled, her eyes shifting back to Eduina with understanding.. "I have always been fascinated by them too.. I think it's natural to wonder about the bond they forge with their chosen partners.". She paused for a moment before continuing, her tone thoughtful. "While the circumstances of my own bond with Ciraxis is quite unique, I believe it serves as a testament to the profound connection that can form between humans and such magnificent creatures. Rather than focusing on the idea of stealing, perhaps we should celebrate the miracles and mysteries of such extraordinary partnerships.." she shrugged gently.. "A pleasure to meet you, Eduina." she nodded, and followed after Errune.

"Thank you..."

 

[Errune Thesius]

Her words earned her a curious look from the Head Archivist. Muted surprise shifted his brow and drew his eye, having not expected any such ceremony of words from her mouth for as reticent and soft spoken as she had been. It was an example of grace and kind dignity that most nobles failed to conduct themselves with. It reminded him of his late wife and that unsettled him quite deeply.

Rune gently cleared his throat as he pressed on, the deft ting of his cane heralding their progress into the next chamber, "You spoke well," he replied, "and kindly. An admirable quality for a Lady."

The next hall was more similar to his own study: broad, expansive, and holding a collection of paintings, sculptures, artifacts on pedestals, and several more dragon skulls.

"This is our hall of honors and antiquity. Each piece represents a person, place, or event that has proven quintessential to the formation of Thanasis and our legendary dragon riders," he stopped toward the center to give her a moment to look about, his own eyes slowly roving to the double doors that lead out to a balcony overlooking the royal Memorial Gardens to the south. Rune gave the claw handle of his cane a squeeze while saying a silent prayer that the Lady would not wish to visit them.

 

[Briseis]

Compliments.. Another thing she was not used to. "Oh...Thank you." she answered quietly. She may have been born on the wrong side of the city walls, but she had been lucky enough to find work on this side of them, and growing up as a ghost amongst nobility had made it a little easier to speak like one. The comment on her apparent kindness made her lips curl into a small smile.

"I've never much understood the need for cruelty.." she shrugged. "Kav-- Prince Kaveh believes it is what lost Lord Sahar Ciraxis, to me. His cruelty only grew with his power, but that.. Didn't match Ciraxis' soul." she frowned.

"It wasn't intentional. I simply showed him kindness. It's an admirable quality in men and dragons too, not just in women."

"Goodness.." she breathed as she stepped into the next hall, her hazel eyes having once again, too much too take in. She circled around Lord Errune in slow steps as she studied the relics and skulls as much as she could without having to read anything, though ever observant, she noticed the archivist's apparent discomfort and followed his gaze to the doors his attention had settled on..

"Would, you like to get some air?" she asked attentively.

 

[Errune Thesius]

This take on the shift of Ciraxis' loyalty was enough to garner a strong look of curiosity from the Archivist. There had, of course, been all manner of rumor and conspiracy about what had happened. Errune had not believed for a moment that the young woman had done anything to steal a dragon from its previous bonded - the idea that Lord Sahar's cruelty had turned Ciraxis from him however...

It brought the Lord into a new light for certain.

"Indeed," the man replied to her story, "if that is true, it only proves what I have thought all along," green eyes shifted to the dragon skull displayed nearest him, "that our dragons may be bonded, but they keep their own counsel."

Just as marital relations may grow sour when those involved change over the years, so too could that of the relationship between a dragon and its rider. Even a loyal dog could turn on an abusive master when offered a kind hand by another - why would dragons be any different?

"Air?" he queried after her, having grown lost in thought for a moment, then realized rather quickly she'd been tracking his own gaze that had slowly turned once more in some subconscious wariness toward the garden doors, "No," Rune dismissed the notion sharply, "I make poor company for promenading through the gardens. Far too many stairs and too few benches. If you wish to tour them, I suggest taking one of the other Courtiers with you ... or perhaps the young Prince?" She seemed to be on quite casual terms with him, judging by how easily his name nearly slipped from her tongue.

 

[Briseis]

Her gaze fell to the floor and her head bowed slightly, fearing she'd caused some offence with her assumption. "Apologies.. I merely thought.." she paused, her brow furrowing gently as she lifted her attention back to him. "I've no urgent desire to visit the gardens.. And Prince Kaveh has been kind to allow me to live here under his protection, but he is quite the busy man, with plenty of wives to keep him company." she answered with a light smile..

She turned to look around the hall with wonder and her shoulders rose and fell with in a quiet sigh. "Thank you, Lord Errune, for indulging my curiosities.. I feel I've taken up quite enough of your time, I'm sure you're a busy man also." she turned back to him. "I hope I have not disrupted your day too greatly."

 

[Errune Thesius]

My but she was a delicate flower. Dismayed by the slightest errant wind. Lord Errune frowned, silently wishing he could impart upon her a stronger skin simply through his dour expression. Alas, it was not a magic he possessed and she was already dismissing herself from their appointment after only... had it even been twenty minutes?

Perhaps it was him, and who could really blame anyone for resisting the need to be in his presence for any longer than absolutely necessary.

"No more than a breeze through an open window, Lady Briseis," the man responded, his tone noticeably more gentle, "if a departure is what you wish, then I will not stop you. You make your own schedule now," his brows rose as he said this, asking that silent rhetorical question.

"I had prepared the Lineage of Scales for you in the last chamber so that you might learn more about Ciraxis' bloodline. But if that does not interest you..."

Briseis