Private Tales Through the Mists

[Thren]

Thren considered in silence for a moment. Though he enjoyed the simpler things in life, The Barbarian was far from a fool. Whatever the situation was within the city he was better off knowing. Particularly given that he could already tell this woman was at the center of it.

How would that effect him? Simple; he was walking into town with her.

That was the trouble with nobles, all of them. He didn't care if they were from Vel Anir or...Miranith? Minarees? Whatever she had said. Nobles made assumptions. They saw what they wanted to see and nothing else. As soon as he stepped foot into that town alongside her everyone would think he was with her.

Didn't matter if they never talked again.

Some smarmy little princeling would try to talk to him, get his bite of flesh, something. The fools were all the same, unable to see the truth in front of their eyes. "Out with it then, lovely. Before the wolves comes hunting."

Even he wasn't quite sure which wolves he was referring to.

 

[Keyleth]

Keyleth frowned slightly, the elk shifting it's weight beneath her impatiently.

"Our Duke, my husband, was killed weeks ago in an attack carried out by the Naga. We nearly lost the city itself. Our daughter was sent off the island to protect her... but she is the only heir to the throne. There are factions that believe I am not fit to rule, since I am not noble-born. And I have the great misfortune of being a woman. So far, there has only been mutterings of disapproval... but I suspect it will not end there." She explained simply, stating the facts in as short a summary as she could muster.

"They've already made demands that my daughter be recalled, so that she may take a husband who would rule until an heir was born. I do not plan on allowing her to be used as a pawn." Keyleth said sternly, her voice almost a growl of disgust that she even had to broach the topic.

Tonguing the inside of her cheek, she looked back towards the city for a brief moment with a scowl on her features. She despised herself for being forced into the decision of whether or not to send Aviana away. But it had been the right one. Had Aviana stayed, she would be in an even more precarious situation. At least, Keyleth had managed to spare her that pain.

And the dragon egg was safe, as well.

She knew that power is what many of the men seeking to gain control of the city wanted. The dragons of old were a way of life for the people of Minaris, but there had not been a dragon in the city for centuries. Aviana would not be able to safely return for sometime.

Keyleth took another deep breath and returned her gaze to the tall barbarian. "Being an outsider, I am not sure how these men will see you. Perhaps as an opportunity.. perhaps as a threat. It would be wise for you to be cautious, sailor."

 

[Thren]

Kasim let out a loud guffaw, his hand gripping his stomach. "Sailor? No."

It would more than likely seem rather odd to Keyleth that out of her entire story, her warning, that was what he would take away.

For Thren though, it was really the only thing that effected him. He didn't particularly care about Keyleth's late husband, nor did he care about her wayward daughter or the troubles within the city. To him they were all just leaves on the wind, present, but something easily ignored by someone like him.

"I am no sailor." Thren said as he calmed down, his laugh dying down into a soft chuckle as he looked at the woman. "I am of the Siruk."

He didn't particularly care if that meant anything to her. "Let your enemies and friends come to me, Tikaya."

Thren slipped into his native tongue, a smile still clinging to his face.

"They will learn their fate." With that, Thren seemed to consider the conversation done. Without so much as another word he turned, having the gall to motion to her to follow him.

 

[Keyleth]

Internally, Keyleth sighed at the barbarian. Before he'd told her to explain the situation, she'd had no real intention of divulging the information. It seemed unlikely at the time that he would care, and his flippant reaction to the explanation only confirmed her original suspicions. So, why waste her time?

As he started down the hill, the duchess did not budge so much of an inch. There was a frown on her lips as she stared down at him with a raised brow.

"And just what exactly is, Tikaya, Mainlander?"

She had known the man wasn't a sailor, but she had used the term of address as an invitation for him to give his actual name. When he answered with only the name of his people, she opted to call him a generic term for outsiders instead. It was difficult to tell if the man was intentionally trying to get a rise out of her, if he was playing games, or if he really didn't understand her position. In the end, she decided that she didn't much care.

Long ago, Keyleth had learned to not follow a man, simply because he expected her to do so.

 

[Thren]

Thren looked back as she asked her question, not seeming at all annoyed by the fact that she wasn't following right along. In fact, a small smile seemed to touch his face, though why would have been impossible to tell.

For a moment the Barbarian didn't answer, instead he seemed almost content to stare at her, as if his mind were somewhere else. Only when his thoughts concluded did he speak, his voice that same confident tone. "Tikaya."

He said the word again, the harsh syllables sounding almost honeyed on his tongue.

"A woman who has had what is hers taken." Among the Siruk even the women were warriors. They knew how to fight, how to kill better than the men of most cultures. Yet sometimes their loss was still great. Husbands would fall, sons would pass, and worse tragedies befell them. "And intends to take it back."

Violently.

Tikaya was a title, a term of power and oddly endearment. There was a similar term for men, though it could only be spoken by women.

 

[Keyleth]

His explanation of the term earned a small smile from the duchess and she dipped her head once. Her boots gently nudged against the elk's sides as she urged the beast to move forward after the barbarian. The way he had looked intently at her before speaking, it had not been the leering expression of a man openly fantasising. No, it had seemed more of a man who was collecting his thoughts; of a man who thinks before he spoke. It was a skill many people struggled to master.

"An apt word, if ever there was one." She mused quietly once she had come up beside him.

His words from earlier were rather surprising. They sounded almost as if the man was already choosing to stand by her side on the matter. She was not going to pressure an outsider to make such a declaration of loyalty. He had no blood in the fight to come, and there was no reason to involve him, unless he chose it.

"I had my men prepare the infirmary before I left, but I suspect you may be more hungry than anything." She asked with a small smirk.

 

[Thren]

"I'm not injured." Thren said simply, a shrug rolling over his shoulder as Larik fell into step behind him.

The Hound didn't seem particularly bothered either, in fact his coat was entirely untouched by wounds, both of them did for that matter. The Mist had certainly been dangerous, he'd felt it himself, but in truth Thren himself could not have said how. Most of the people on board the ship had hung themselves, others simply left.

It was a darkness that he did not understand, and one he was not eager to travel through again.

Glancing at the nearby city Thren frowned, wondering ihow he would ever get back to the Mainland again. Out of the corner of his eye he could still see the fog in the distance. The Great mist seemed to loom miles away, cutting off...Minaris? From the rest of the world.

It was something he would have to puzzle out.

After he fed himself of course.

 

[Keyleth]

"Supper it is then." She remarked with an amused chuckle.

As the pair approached the outer walls of the city, the massive gates swung inwards with a heavy groan. Keyleth slid gracefully out of the saddle, and a stable boy hurried over to her to take the beast. She sighed a little at the absurdity of not stabling her own mount, but it was hardly an issue that was worth arguing over. If it gave the young man some sort of employment, what harm could it really do?

She stopped long enough to tell the gate guards that Beslin and two others would be along shortly.

A few of the men looked at the massive hound dubiously, clearly thinking that the creature had no business within the city walls. She shook her head, indicating that all was well without actually uttering a word.

From there, she gestured for Thren to join her as she walked up the black stone streets.

"Would you prefer to find an inn here in the village? Or shall I arrange quarters for you in the fortress?" She asked, plucking an exotic looking fruit from a vendor's stall, paying the man and then offering the colorful morsel to Thren.

 

[Thren]

Thren took the fruit, biting into it without much inspection or hesitation. After having eaten nothing but dried beef and salted fish for the last few days the morsel was more than welcome, and even though some of it's juice spilled onto his beard The Barbarian didn't seem to mind.

Larik, the hound, seemed to whine slightly, clearly jealous of the food. Thren glanced down at the dog, rolling his eyes before leaning down and breaking a piece off from the fruit. The hound nibbled on it happily for a moment, then snapped up the whole piece that he had been offered. "That depends."

He had gold, but he was in no mood to spend it by staying at an Inn.

Though Thren generally didn't like nobles, he did like the comforts that they received. It was a rare treat for someone like him, and when one could take advantage...well why not?

"Which one has the more comfortable bed?" That mattered more than the pampering.

 

[Keyleth]

She eyed the man out of the corner of her eye. He was tall, which meant she had to also look up, but she it didn't bother her too much. The juice dripping from his beard brought an amused smirk to her lips, and she shook her head. If he was scarfing that down so quickly, he must have been ravenous. Best to get him a proper meal then.

They worked their way through the streets of the village. Many of the locals pausing to stare at the barbarian that escorted their duchess, confusion and curiosity evident on their faces. A few seemed somewhat hostile, but for the most part, the Minarisan people were more intrigued by his presence than anything.

"The beds in the fortress are comfortable, yes. But if you're looking for... Paid company, you will not find that there. You'll need to stay in the village, if that is the case." She answered, offering a small nod to a pair of guards as they patrolled through the streets.

Thren would not be able to tell, but the amount of patrols through the city and around the walls had nearly doubled in the past weeks. There were simply too many threats looming to allow for lax security. Even with the mist wall raised, Thren's very presence made it clear that she'd not been wrong to issue the order. Naga could regroup and press for a second attack. If that happened, she feared for the city. Many of the spell weavers had died with Leonell. It left them vulnerable.

Unfortunately, it also had emboldened some of the Noble families to vie for control. Which was another reason for the increased patrols, but Keyleth would never put that logic to voice.

 

[Thren]

"What sort of man pays for any sort of company?" Thren mused with a smile, apparently unaware of the stares he was receiving from anyone and everyone they passed on the street.

Larik, at least, for his part seemed to be more in tune with how the city was reacting. The hound kept his ears low and his eyes wide open, apparently searching for any threat that might come at them. He was a guard dog of course, his role was to protect The Siruk from threats he himself could not see.

The tradition of animal handling was strong among his people, though few chose the Hound as their companion.,

Many of his tribe preferred things like Hawks, owls, or Mountain Lions. For himself, Thren had always found Larik to be the most loyal of all choices, and the two of them had been through more battles than most. "A bed will do fine."

Thren said, paying attention to the people around him for the first time.

 

[Keyleth]

"You would be surprised." The duchess answered the question with a shrug of her shoulders. The movement caused the shield and halberd across her back to clatter quietly together.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the inner gates that led to Drakefall. The two guards posted outside clapped their fists to their chests as Keyleth approached, then they turned to open the massive stone doors. It was a marvel how the gates had been constructed, all those centuries ago. The metal bars that crossed the dark surface supposedly werr forged in a dragon fire.

Inside these gates, lay the realm of Minaris nobility. Keyleth set her jaw and her eyes hardened slightly. Visiting noblemen would no doubt notice the massive barbarian accompanying her, and she knew the issue would be raised in the future. How dare she allow such a heathen inside the inner walls? Then again, the likely thought the same of her now that her husband had died.

"Drakefall Fortress." She explained to Thren, striding through the main courtyard. In the center of the large circular space was a massive oak tree with broad golden colored leaves. A pair of nobles sat on a bench at the trunk of the tree, and one of them rose as Keyleth passed them by.

"Lady Selai, we have been waiting for hours. You kept us waiting for..." The man's ridiculing gaze swept over Thren's form and then back to Keyleth. "For a heathen? What would your husband have to say? I've a right to address my conce--"

Keyleth rounded on the man, holding up a hand with a stern glare, but it was difficult to tell which silenced him mid-sentence. "I was unaware that we had suspended our own code of honor after the late Duke's death. Is that something we only adhere to when a man is currently sitting the throne?" Her tone was sickeningly pleasant, but her smile looked positively dangerous.

She gestured towards Thren with a strangely regal movement of her left hand, staring the Noble down. "Your concerns will be heard, but only after I have ensured this man has eaten and given a place to rest. I doubt that a few more hours of waiting will kill you, the fresh air is good for you."

 

[Thren]

Thren hardly seemed to pay attention to the conversation.

It was much the same for Larik, who by now had decided it was of the utmost importance to instead begin to sniff around the courtyard of the keep. The Barbarian of course paid the dog no bind, well used to him wandering around. It wasn't like anyone here could hurt him.

Even if they wanted to.

Thren himself seemed somewhat lost in space, glancing around the inside of the fortress as though he were inspecting it's defenses. Not too long ago he had been a part of a siege. The castle had been much smaller than this one, it's defenses less impressive, but they'd managed to survive in the end.

Though the ordeal was not something he wanted to repeat. Briefly he wondered how many of the soldiers within this Keep were actually loyal to the Amazon that had saved him. If he had to guess, he would say a good chunk, but then again money always was rather tempting.

Eventually his gaze had wandered enough, and slowly icy blue eyes fell on the sneering noble once more. Larik wandered around behind him, sniffing the ground and recoiling as though he'd scented something foul.

 

[Keyleth]

A furious expression crossed the man's face, but he still had the forethought to think better of scolding the duchess further in such a public setting. Reluctantly, he took a step back and gave a stiff bow to the woman, though he shot a glare at Thren and Larik before he turned to make his way back to his waiting spot beneath the ancient tree.

That only amused Keyleth all the more. A beast such as Larik was a rare sight within the city walls, especially here in Drakefall. No doubt Lord Cossick wished to protest the hound's presence, but that only endeared her more to the creature.

She stood her ground until the nobleman had taken his place, and then she turned to guide Thren into the main doors of the fortress that opened into the great hall. Normally, she would not bother with such an entrance, and she would have utilized one of the side entrances that would allow her quicker passage through the side halls... but she could not resist one last jab at Cossick. Taking a heathen in through the front door was just the same as saying he was a royal guest. Which as far as she was concerned, he was.

The hall was adorned with refined and elegant furniture. Silver weapons were affixed to the stone pillars that lined the outer edges of the room, supporting the high-vaulted ceiling that arched overhead. Tapestries with the city emblem emblazoned in black on a sea green base fluttered in a gentle breeze from the open windows. Natural light filtered in through the enormous windows at the far end of the hall, which overlooked the bay that stretched out below. It allowed the lord of Minaris to keep a watchful eye on their city, as well as the horizon beyond.

A heavy sigh escaped Keyleth as her eyes landed on the throne that was positioned on the raised floor in front of the windows. It was not long now until supper was prepared, and she knew that she would be expected to make an appearance. That left her with little time.

She waved a servant down, and the portly woman hurried over to her with a warm smile. "Yes, My lady? How can I help you?"

"There will be a guest dining with us tonight, Miss Marisol. If you could please set a place for him at my table?" Her gaze turned to the massive hound and she raised a brow, clicking her tongue in thought before she looked back to the servant. "And if you could be sure to provide two bowls for the hound: one for food, and one with water. Thank you, Mari."

"Right away, Lady Selai!" Marisol exclaimed with a small curtsy, then hurried off to see to her chores.

A few moments later, a slender man slipped up to the pair and clasped his hands together in front of his chest. "I'm told we're to have a guest, madam. Shall I escort him to his quarters?"

 

[Thren]

Thren chose not to speak. At this point he figured that it was all the better to remain silent while he was within these halls. The Barbarian was not a man that interacted with Nobles often. He'd fought many battles and been at the head of an army or two, but most of the time his engagement with the nobility was kept at a minimum.

He'd always preferred it that way.

Nobles had a habit of forming their own little societies within society. The spoke and acted differently, not to mention that more often than not those actions did not meet their thoughts at all. They were a crafty bunch, indirect and always plotting something just beneath the surface. Thren was sure that the story would be much the same here in Minaris.

Of course, even knowing that The Barbarian wasn't really too concerned with the fact. He had Larik to watch his back while he slept, and any noble fool enough to try anything would be met with a swift end. Though he wondered what the consequences of that would be. They would probably have to execute him.

A brief frown flickered across his face, but he decided not to focus on the fact.

For now all he needed was some food, and perhaps a bath. The days he'd spent alone on that ship had not done well for him. Not in those departments.

 

[Keyleth]

Keyleth nodded quietly to both Thren and to the servant that had arrived to take the man to his accommodations. "Yes, thank you."

With that, the slender half-elf waved a hand and gestured for Thren to follow him.

Once that had been taken care of, Keyleth turned and slipped away down a hallway in the opposite direction. The Duke's personal quarters were an abrupt right that led to his own wing. It was close to the main hall, and yet private enough that he was not disturbed unless he would have wanted it. After he had died, there was quite a bit of discussion about whether or not Keyleth should take the wing for herself.

At first, she had attempted to be diplomatic and left the quarters empty, out of respect for her late husband. But as time progressed, and it became more and more apparent to her that men like Lord Cossick wanted nothing more than to steal that legacy for themselves, she had come to regret that decision. It had sent a message that there was an "empty" space that needed to be filled, not that a grieving widow was paying respect to her lost partner.

Power hungry men had no place on the throne.

While her marriage to Leonell had never been exactly conventional, she had cared for the man in her own right. They had made a strong team, each with their own skill set that could be used for the various situations that would arise. She would be damned if she allowed his sacrifice to be in vain.

She had dawdled long enough.

It may not have been hers by birthright, but Leonell had chosen her to be his wife for a reason. He had wanted someone like her to stand beside him. Part of her wondered if he had known what would happen if he died, or if he'd seen some prophetic vision of his fate. Either way, he had picked her, the Aegis of Minaris, as his duchess. And she would make certain to live up to that title.

Setting her jaw, Keyleth continued down the corridor towards her and Aviana's wing. Two servants were already waiting inside her private chambers, and she withheld a heavy sigh. She'd been hoping to at least get out of her armor before they arrived to dress her.

The older servant smirked a little and crossed her arms over her bosom. She had worked for Leonell's father, and his father before him. The elvish blood was strong in her, however, was she didn't look a day over forty. "You look a proper mess, my lady. Romping through the woods again, were we?" She chastised.

Keyleth scofffed, setting her weapon and shield down on the bench by the entry way. "Must you ask?"

"I would expect nothing less from the likes of you, my dear. Well, come on, come on. Let's get that armor off ya, and get you into a nice, warm bath."

 

[Thren]

Servants had always been a bit of an odd concept to him and the rest of the Siruk. The idea that anyone would willingly spend their entire life in the shadow of another was an entirely foreign concept.

It was different with slaves of course. In his own culture those were often men and women captured in battle. There was no choice to be made there, and servitude was expected. Generally among his people slaves were treated well enough, and some could even join the tribe eventually, but he knew that it was not so elsewhere within the world. He also did not think this servant was a slave either, though it was just a guess.

”Your mistress.” He had heard the title used in various Fortresses and cities that he had stayed in. Thren had no idea if it applied here in Minaris, but he figured that it could not be too far from what it was supposed to be.

Nobles liked titles of all sorts. ”What sort of woman is she?”

Larik trotted alongside him as they made their way through the halls of the Keep. The Dog seemed more than pleased with where it was going, happily panting as they made their way. A few times his ears would flick and his gaze would wander, almost as if he were mapping out the way that they walked. Thren paid him no mind of course, even when he growled at a passing soldier.

 

[Keyleth]

"My mistress?" The man asked, clearly confused by the statement. He glanced around worriedly for a moment, as if suspicious that someone had overheard an accusation. He clasped a hand over his chest, indignant.

"I am a loyal husband, I would never take a woman to bed that was not my beloved wife." The man hissed back to him, wringing his hands together in a worried fashion.

He stopped by a door, his hand resting on the door knob as he looked up at the tall barbarian.

 

[Thren]

Kasim looked down at the man with a perked eyebrow. ”I was speaking of the amazon. The one that brought me here.”

These people were strange.

”Your employer. “ Thren stated more plainly, unsure of how else he would put it more clearly. Larik came to a stop besides him, sitting down and glancing up at the door for a moment before looking to his master with an expectant expression.

”These lands are strange to me.” Thren continued. ”I am simply trying to understand the situation. “

And perhaps also if anyone stood in his way when it came to-well, no need to continue that thought for now.

 

[Keyleth]

The servan't cheeks reddened some what and he cleared his throat, perhaps exposing more of his personal life than he had intended to. "Oh right. Of course. The Duchess, you mean."

He turned the knob and pushed the door open with his shoulder. The heavy iron hinges groaning slightly as the door swung inwards to reveal a simple, but quite comfortable room. There was a large mattress in the center, with a fireplace across from it on the opposite walls. Furs and pelts of various great beasts were placed across the stone floor to help insulate it, and there were fur blankets on the bed as well. Heavy curtains were pulled over large windows, blotting out most of the fading sunlight that would have filtered through the glass.

"I would never speak ill of the Lady, though there are some who are not so respectful. She's a good woman and a fair leader. A bit strong willed for some people's liking, but I find it suits her quite well. I am at your service, per the Lady's orders. If you wish to understand something, you need only ask, my good sir."

 

[Thren]

For a few seconds Thren simply peered around the room. It was nicer than likely any Inn he could have found within the city, and of course it was free. Larik was the first to step inside, wandering around the room before The Barbarian even had a chance to enter after him. The servant followed half a second later, Thren turning to speak.

”The situation within the city.” He knew that the Amazon had mentioned something of her husband dying, though much more than that he didn’t know. Nobles were funny like that, he imagined there was talk of coups and murder and death.

He doubted the servant would know much, but there was a chance.

”It seems…” Thren shrugged. ”Tense.”

He paused for a second and then continued. ”Has your lady done something to offend the other nobles?”

The Barbarian had gotten some information from the amazon already, but he wanted another perspective. He was not a player of ‘the great game’ as some Nobles called it, but he was no fool either. This was a time to find out as much as he could, later would be the time to act.

 

[Keyleth]

"Ah. Yes." He raised a hand to his mouth and quietly cleared his throat, then turned to shut the door behind them.

"I do not know the intricacies of the situation, of course, being the humble servant that I am... but I do know of some rumors that are flitting about the castle halls." He strode across the room and set about digging through the large wardrobe on the far side, trying to find something appropriate for the tall mainlander to wear.

"The Duchess was not born into her title." He explained, pulling out a large red tunic and frowned, putting it back inside the drawer, "Too small." He muttered under his breath, before continuing. "Though that only endears her to the many of the common folk."

He rummaged around for a moment longer, producing a black tunic this time and he held it up towards the barbarian. "Perhaps this will work... try it on, if you would, sir."

The man seemed quite content to gossip as he turned back to find more clothing. "I heard from one of the kitchen girls that some of the other nobles are quite displeased with her ladyship because she's turned down not one, not two, but three offers of marriage from the other families. Three! Such a scandal if that is true."

 

[Thren]

Thren took the shirt, glanced at it, and then threw it at Larik without a second thought. The Hound seemed puzzled for only a second before he grasped the black fabric in his maw and began to chew on it.

Siruk did not play dress up. Even the women.

”I see.” Marriage was another one of those odd outlander customs. There was something similar for the Siruk, though it was a ceremony of bonding rather than one of ‘marriage’. The bond was fairly simple, a promise of loyalty and death, though it did not have the same connotations as in other lands.

”So they seek to unseat her.” He had already known that, but at least now he knew a bit more. ”Those families that are displeased with her…”

Thren glanced out the window. ”They are powerful, yes?”

Anyone would make that assumption.

 

[Keyleth]

When the man turned back around with a matching pair of trousers in his hands and his eyes laid sight on the hound chewing on the expensive shirt, he audibly gasped and fumbled with the pants in his grasp. The audacity of such flippancy was not something he had experienced in his service at Drakefall. "I... erm... sir!"

He was far too skittish to snatch the shirt back from the beast, so he left the garment to its fate.

"There has not been a female ruler in Minaris in..." He decided to continue on with his discussion, stuffing the trousers back into the safety of the wardrobe. "Well, in recent memory. There are tales of a Queen that once ruled, but that is mostly legend. I've heard rumor that the houses may be seeking to reinstate a King once more, but that is a far fancy. There hasn't been a King since the last of the dragons vanished."

He moved over to the barbarian and took an errant sniff, wrinkling his nose. "Will you allow me to at least run you a bath, sir?"

 

[Thren]

”Yes.” Thren stated simply.

There were still things to be considered. The houses were clearly uncomfortable with the current situation, and if they chose to unseat the Amazon it would undoubtedly be through violent means. Nobles always pretended they were better than everyone else, but the reality was they were little more than a dressed up mob.

Thren had been through more than one coup, on both side in fact. There had been one in Illyira just a few months before in fact. The King had hired him and a few others to root out his former brother who’d been hiding in the nearby forests with a sizeable army.

It had been a swift conflict, and the coup had melted away after one of Thren’s companions had beheaded the naescant wannabe Monarch. ”Leave after.”

There was much to consider about what he’d gotten himself into, and more importantly how he could use it to his advantage.