Plagued by a Rose [concluded]

Lance grinned sheepishly at Thornton, and decided to keep the sword where it was for now. It would be plenty safe in this room. He watched as the prince's expression suddenly changed. A wary look descended onto Lance's own face, but he kept quiet.


"If it is something that could possibly save her life at a certain point in time, then I can't. But I'm sure it's nothing like that." The bells' sounds distracted Lance for a moment, and he glanced towards the door, but he quickly returned his gaze to Thornton. "You have my promise; I won't tell Cecile a word." While reluctant to keep something from the princess--and surely it had something to do with her, if Thornton was asking him to leave her out of this--Lance decided it would be best go along with whatever Thornton said.
 
Unfortunately for Lance, he would have to wait to learn what Thornton was to share with him. The chiming bells meant that they were out of time. Thornton was relieved to know that Lance would respect his wishes in this matter, and would present the information to him at a later time. "The bells mean that the banquet is ready to begin. We will continue this conversation tonight", Thornton commented. He hadn't realized how much time had passed since their return. He gestured for Lance to follow and began leading him through the castle once more.


The two went down a flight of stairs to the ground level of the castle. They then made their way to the opposite end of the palace and eventually came to a side entryway leading into a massive banquet hall. Torches lit the room and towards the back area was a great fireplace with a raging fire burning at its center. There were three long tables decorated in piles of fresh food and scattered across each tabletop were large goblets filled to the rim with rum. On the wall above the first table hung a red banner displaying the Rose family crest outlined in gold; it was where royalty and guests of honor would sit.


The room was spacious and inviting, decorated with skins and stuffed animals that had been hunted. It was also warm from the fire. At the very front of the room was a set of wooden doors leading outside the palace. The Rose family crest was engraved into the old wood on both sides. "Open the doors", Thornton commanded; there were many servants about finishing final preparations. Two servants obeyed and pulled the heavy doors open, and before Lance could take in any more of the scene the celebration had started.


Behind the great doors was a rambunctious crowd of burly Rose knights dressed in the same tartan uniform as Lance. Many of the knights were still filthy from battle, and it was evident that some of them had already been drinking. All at once the mob of knights entered the hall, cheering and hollering like beasts. As men walked by the two kings they each took turns punching Thornton's shoulder and heavily patting his back while they greeted him. Just when the situation became as chaotic as Lance could have anticipated, a pipe band came marching drunkenly into the banquet hall blaring their drums and bagpipes to a victorious tune. It was a Roseland feast indeed.


Thornton couldn't help but grin at the lively festivities and he immediately lifted a goblet to the group in a toast. He had to yell to make his voice heard over the noise of the pipe band and crowds, "tonight we feast!" The men hollered pridefully in response; they were already eating and drinking. It was suddenly apparent where Cecile's unusual manners may have originated.


He turned to Lance and patted him hard on the back, "come now, enjoy yourself", he said. He hoped that the rest of the group would soon make their appearances.


@Robyn Banks @Andraus
 
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Yaro had spent the rest of the time preparing himself. He would soon be addressing his crowd, the people that had followed his family since they first settled as a House in Yunakai. Rarely did Yaro find himself in a leadership position, but it was clear that he was made for it: His mannerisms, his constant concern for others, his fierce anger towards mistreatment of those close to him. It was in his blood, and he had been a leader before. It was because of this fact that he was nervous to address them.


The last time he lead, people had died, by his hand and another's. He didn't know if he could do it again.


Looking towards Prudence, he took a deep breath, his blue eyes now staring at him through the mirror. He had gone through what he was going to say in his head a thousand times, and though Prudence didn't know what he was planning, she'd see that Yaro was pouring his heart into it. As he stared at the mirror, Yaro's fist would simply clench before he would speak to her. "I have to be honest with them.....I love Maeve, I want to protect her.....but I cannot protect her if she chooses to fall down with those she follows."Yaro said, looking at his hand. "Dammit.....Dammit! Why do I constantly have to make the hard decision?! First my friends, now this......I feel like sometimes life just likes to use me as a personal punching bag...."Yaro said. It was the second time he mentioned his friends, and it was clear guilt was evident in his eyes.


What caused it?





Lanister was with the rest of the Assassins present, each-one bearing their standard mask and cloak, though most had their hoods down, and their masks off their faces. Lanister was entertaining those that listened with old combat stories. ".....-and then, when we saw the destruction Troy caused, and asked her why she went through such a length to take down the dragons, she said and I quote 'They destroyed my favorite bakery' "Lanister said, earning a round of laughter as he told them how he first met the Dragon Hunter.





Troy would simply roll her eyes at this, before grabbing a platter, and packing it high up with a bit of everything she could carry, including some drink. Walking through the nooks and cranny's of the Castle, she would then jump high up enough to find a level spot on the roof. Laying down a blanket, she'd set the platter down, and would just lay down on blanket, staring at the sky. She would simply reach her hand up, as if to touch the moon, and made an attempt at grabbing it.


"You know, no matter what, you'll never grab it. It's just too far out of your reach. Even mine."





"Maybe, but perfection is not a state of being: It is a motivation, a goal to ever strive forward to achieve."





"Say you become perfect one day, what will happen next?"





"Keep working every day to remain that way."





".....~sigh~ I can never understand your optimism. You've seen first hand the cruelty they inflict on others, and yet..."





"Everyone can make mistakes, and everyone makes choices. In the end, however, Our choices make us. You know as well as I do that, despite the fact of who Thornton's father was, that he is nothing like the man."





"Where is that old bastard, anyway?"





"Dunno, and don't care."





Troy would continue staring at the moon, before an old song cropped up in her mind. It was one she hadn't sung in years. Not since she....last saw Prudence. Believing she was alone, she began to recite it.





"Born with no life


Into subjugation


Treated like a worthless animal


Stripped of all rights


Just a lesser being


Crushed by Cruel ruthless human rule


When it started


All we wanted was a chance to live our lives


Now in Darkness


Taking everything we want and we will rise


We'll rise


We'll rise





From Shadows


We'll descend upon the world


Take back what you stole


From Shadows


We'll reclaim our destiny


Set our future free


and we'll rise


and we'll rise





Above the darkness and the shame


Above the torture and the pain


Above the ridicule and hate


Above the binding of our fate



​



To anyone listening and not seeing Troy, they'd think it was just an oddly dark song, but those that would see her face would see old wounds, old memories, all being released again. Troy spent her life trying to forget her past, but she had several things as constant reminders: Mursamasa being one of them, who was just laughing at her choice.


"That old song? Didn't 'she' teach you that?"





"Muramasa, if you know whats good for you, you'll shut the hell up."





"Alright alright! Sheash, never seen you this testy."





"I....sorry, it just brings back a lot of memories."





"You know we could always just go back, try to start again."





"....No. We're committed to our path now. I won't chase after that foolish pipe dream again..."
 
Lance nodded and followed Thornton through the castle. His mind was perfectly at ease--in his youth, before the plague, he'd attended plenty of gatherings, although much of it was spying against his father's wishes--and so he felt no anxiety. The Roselands obviously held many celebrations, as their banquet hall was larger than Bathelon's. The hall was also more lavishly decorated, and Lance paused to observe for only a moment.


Then, unfortunately for the sensitive-eared Lance, a raucous group of knights entered the hall. Lance took a step away from the stream of cheering soldiers and barely resisted the urge to cover one ear with a finger to block out some of the sound. Not to mention the drunken band that followed after; the strange sound of the bagpipes didn't help the king's susceptibility to headaches.


Instead of moving out into the crowd to greet the soldiers, Lance hung back silently, feeling slightly uneasy, which was strange. It had little to do with the celebrations; the king knew that. Fortunately, the Roseland's lack of love for Bathelon kept most people away. Feeling rather antisocial for the time being, Lance simply leaned against a wall and watched the festivities.


It seemed Maeve had decided to forgo the celebrations completely, Lance noted as he saw a shadow dart across the rafters high above.


Maeve had discovered the banquet hall long before the festivities had started, and had gotten to know any and all possible exits. While Kuvira was getting married to Prince Thornton, reducing the chance of attack, there was no guarantee of anything. That woman--Troy?--had a dislike for royalty, if Maeve had heard correctly, and the girl not displaying such a thing made her extremely paranoid. Kalamitat's rambling of all the villages and people it and Muramasa had slain together didn't help.


:Oh, poor baby! Because memories mean everything. At least Muramasa only kills to eat..:


And Muramasa is a glutton, as well, so that helps nothing, Maeve replied, growling. Finding a good spot where she could survey a good portion of the hall and still get a good view of Kuvira, Maeve sat, tracing patterns in the wood with a bored expression. She'd forgone her mask and usual uniform in favor of dark clothes she'd disappeared to buy from the market, though it'd been hard to find a pair of trousers. What she was wearing now leaned closer to leggings, but they were comfortable and helped her hide in the shadows. The assassin had originally tied her hair up, but had chose to cut it instead; in the possibility of an actual attack, she didn't need to be grabbed by the hair.


:That didn't stop you before,: Kalamitat muttered; while most demons had no gender, with this one's vanity Maeve would swear it was a female. :Shut up,: it added.


I was also wearing my uniform before. I left it behind now because I'd rather not be recognized. By anybody. Even Kuvira; if she sees me she might alert others to my presence.


:Paranoid as ever..:
 
Troy would simply look around, before looking at the Demon blade. She would then climb down, and start climbing near one of the windows before seeing Maeve, hanging on a rafter. She would climb into the castle, and start hanging on the side of the rafters. Moving so she was hanging upside down, she would lift up a hand, and 'boop' Maeve's nose. Staring at her from the underside of the Rafters, the Hunter would simply shoot Maeve a Grin. "Hell-o there, Maeve! Fancy seeing you here. Did you come just to.....hang around? "she said, laughing at her own bad joke. "If ya want, I got some food and drink up on the roof. More than welcome to join me up here a spell."


"Also, Kalamitat, try blocking out your aura more. I swear, if a mage focused hard enough, they'd be able to sense the energy you give off a mile away. Has being without a body made you soft?"


"Muramasa, you give off the same aura, if not a bigger one."


".....That's not the point!"


"Honey, yes it is."Troy said rolling her eyes, before looking towards her. "So you wanna join me, or am I gonna have to eat this food with sour puss here?"
 
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Before Cecile could make her way to the banquet hall she was intercepted by her old chambermaids, who until then believed that she was dead. The three girls looked a bit younger than Cecile. They cooed over and coddled the princess, each taking turns embracing the girl. Then of course, they just had to do her hair.


Cecile's short hair was like a curly tumbleweed, and the girls were sad to see her luscious locks were gone. They decided on a thick braided crown for the princess that wrapped around her scalp. The maids then forced Cecile into make up, something she had come to slack with.


At last the maids were satisfied with Cecile's appearance. After being subjected to a slew of additional cuddling, the princess was allowed to leave for the banquet.


When she arrived at the hall she was somewhat timid, as she often was now with social gatherings. Thornton was busied at the royal table, socializing with the grand masters and awaiting his queen. Cecile was left to find her own entertainment. The noise of the party seemed to soften wherever she went; none of the knights spoke to her. There two groups of knights present: those who knew the truth behind her disappearance, and those who had previously believed her to be dead. Neither groups knew how to approach the princess, and so everyone seemed to be awkwardly avoiding her.


She quickly found Lance, however; and hurried to where he was hiding by the wall. She couldnt help but grin when she saw his attire, "you look so cute in a skirt", she teased him.


"Do you like mine? You can borrow it!" she exclaimed with a twirl that flared her skirt outwards. Cecile was dressed in a royal tartan skirt with a button up black bodice top and her tartan sash.
 
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Prudence stood facing Yaro from behind. He was looking into a mirror, and through the reflective surface her eyes were locked into his. His words drew concern from her, causing her green eyes to widen somewhat. She could see that he was dealing with internal struggles of some kind. Her eyes narrowed in thought as she found herself questioning whether or not Yaro was someone she could trust and depend on. She imagined there were already Wilting Rose agents in search of her, and remaining out of their sight would be a challenge indeed. She hoped that with Yaro's history he would know the best way to evade the Wilting Rose.


Taking a deep breath Prudence stepped forward until she was directly next to Yaro. The two now stood side by side looking at each other from the mirror as Prudence searched for the right words to say to him. She could see he needed motivation. She reached a hand out to grasp his, "don't you see, Yaro? What we are doing will be what's best for all. Soon, everyone will be on our side", she said. She let go of his hand and crossed her arms before adding, "and it is up to us to make sure of that". Prudence already had a small group assembled in the Rose Kingdom, and the two had a long way to go before they would be a powerful resistance.
 
Yaro just stared at the mirror, before tracing a small scar under his chin. "....When I was adventuring, we did it with several friends. Maia, Dorian, Aveline, and Krem.....We grew up in Yunakai, though I was the only noble. They never treated me like a noble....but as a friend. We joked, we laughed, and I swear, I think Dorian and Aveline were an item....The two years I spent with them were the best of my life....but..."Yaro would close his eyes, and she could see he was visible shaking.


"Then we met 'it'. A Demon of Possession."





"It....took control of Krem......she was one of the strongest warriors on our team, and it made her......Maia, Dorian, Aveline......It made her kill them."Yaro said, placing his face in his hands. " I saw it in her eyes though......she was being forced, that monstrosity was controlling her!....I couldn't let her be a pawn to that sick thing!......I.....I...."Yaro couldn't finish the sentence, but it was clear what he had done. He had killed Krem himself. "I had too....by the spirits, what was I supposed to do, let her kill me!?......I had no choice....."Yaro said, and it was clear he was close to tears. No-one should have to go through that, forced to kill those that were closest to them. "I failed them as a leader, and now I'm supposed to lead my people against Kuvira....how the hell can I do this, when I failed those that trusted me before?!....."





Yaro would simply look down, and took Prudence's hand. He gave her the warmest smile he could muster. He would squeeze her hand tight, before getting up and hugging her close. "Thank you.....for listening, and for telling me that.....I needed to hear it...."He said,before he would realize how close he was, and back away, a ting of red on his cheeks. "oh, sorry! I didn't mean to get that close....I would probably make your partner jealous."he said, referring to the one that had given Prudence a child, unknowing who it was.
 
Prudence listened carefully to Yaro's story. She needed to learn as much about him as she could. She gave him a look of understanding upon hearing of the dreadful deed he had committed.


"Sometimes we are faced with unpredictable situations, and our options are limited. You did what you had to do for the bes--", Prudence was silenced by Yaro suddenly embracing her. She stiffened and quickly stepped back in surprise; the move had caught her completely off guard.


Before the agitated female could snap at him, the man apologized out of respect to the "father". Now her demeanor became passive and she glanced to the floor in shame. In truth, Prudence was able to relate well to Yaro's situation. The witch knew how horrific a powerful demon could be. Her own situation was the result of a promise she could not keep with a demon. Chills crept over her skin as a sick feeling shifted in her stomach; it was stirring again.


"He is deceased", Prudence answered in a dismissive tone. It was a lie, but she did not know how Yaro would respond if he were to learn the truth: that she was carrying the offspring of a disgusting demonic being. The witch needed to get to Bathelon right away. There was a witch doctor there whom she hoped would know the best way to handle her predicament. @DemetrioMachete


The pregnant female began to make her way to the exit of Nephenee's shop. When she reached the door to the shop Prudence turned to Nephenee, "Thank you for showing me such kindness", she said. She then turned back to Yaro, "we must hurry", she added sternly.


With that, Prudence stepped out of the shop and stood there in wait. There was a trading route leading to the east of Yunakai, and the road would take them directly to Bathelon although it was a lengthy trip. She expected Yaro would soon follow after her.
 
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To the right of the shop, the sounds of fancy shoes on cobblestone rang forth. This was the pace and weight of someone not in hiding, or wishing to be in hiding. Someone tall and slender, his black garbs making him a practical silhouette amidst the road. His face.. It was concealed too.covering this face was a strange white mask with a long beak and rose tinted lenses. The silhouette seemed to be counting its fingers, as it walked forward. With each count of each digit, a small whisper rang from beneath the mask.


"Klaus.. Klaus.. Klaus.. Klaus.." he continued counting his fingers, draped in black gloves. Eventually, he began to count imaginary fingers on his hand, still addressing them as "Klaus".


This figure walked right by Prudence, seeming to pay her no mind. Seven paces after he walked past Prudence, though, he stopped walking, and he stopped counting. He just stood there, as though his brain hit an error. On his back.. There was a rusty mace. Was it rust..? Or, could it have been dried blood?


"Oh.." the person groaned to themselves, looking towards the sky, throwing their hands into the air.


"OOOOOH KLAUS!!" he raised his voice, clenching his fists.. Though he didnt turn around. Just what was he doing..?


"I am very off track.." he murmured audibly. "This isnt Bathelon at all!"


Now, he turned around, stealing a glance at Prudence..as he began shambling towards her, murmuring that same K word beneath his breath. He stopped.. Roughly ten feet away from Prudence. Plenty of personal space, he thought. He rubbed his gloved hands together, taking a deep breath. It went on... And on... And he still kept inhaling. Chances were.. If Prudence wanted to do something.. Shed have a pretty large and open window.
 
The witch began to take deep breaths to herself; the creature was still stirring. It created a hot, burning sensation in her stomach as it moved. She shifted anxiously, but nothing would alleviate it until the thing rested again. That was when the crisp sound of footsteps pierced through the air causing Prudence to glance up and narrow her eyes. It was a strange looking spectacle of a man. He was dressed as a plague doctor, but the witch did not believe that such an... obnoxious individual could be a true plague doctor.


He quickly became an annoyance to the sensitive female. Another side effect she suffered from carrying a demonic entity was heightened senses. The "doctor" was whispering a word to himself over and over again. She found it to be especially irritating paired with the sharp clattering of his footsteps. The man began to pass her, paying her no attention as he did. Did he not realize what a disturbance he was? She wondered. She closed her eyes and tried her best to block out the incessant noise coming from the man. Just as she thought he would be out of her hair, she was startled by him suddenly raising his voice to once again babble the same word.


Now the witch had lost all patience with him. She turned and snapped, "hey!" The man seemed to ignore her, however; he began murmuring to himself about being in the wrong location. She stepped nearer to him, stopping just several feet away from him. She cocked her hip and placed her hands on it, interrupting him now, "I don't care what your problem is, but you better shut up". Her temper flared, and as if in response so did the burn in her stomach. Prudence's green eyes flashed red for a moment and she grimaced in pain. She leaned forward, hugging her stomach and groaning softly. Where are you, Yaro? She wondered impatiently although only several minutes had passed.


"Just get away from me", she hissed at Klaus while still hugging her stomach in pain. Like most pregnant females, Prudence found herself sensitive and easily agitated, perhaps even more so than a typical pregnant woman considering her situation. She felt no qualms about snapping at the stranger; she would never have suspected that he could be the special doctor she sought.
 
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Yaro came outside, carrying the baby dragon Avenix on his back. The creature looked freshly fed, as it was lazing about on Yaro's back. Strangely enough, it appeared to have grown quite a bit, considering it was only a few days old. Yaro immediately ran out at the sound of Prudence yelling, before getting in front of her, and placing a hand on his sword. "You there! Who are you, and what is it that you want?!"He said, keeping an eye on the man, but not yet drawing his sword. When he heard Prudence's cry of pain, and saw her hugging her stomach, Yaro turned around, and held up his hands, which began to glow with healing magic. "What can I do to help?"





(Sorry, but that's all I got)
 





Kuvira resistance the urge to clinch her fist and punch both in the face, her father taught her not to tolerate such disrespect but then again, he wasn't the most peaceful person. They were petty anways, she didn't want them to think they could bring her down to that level. She took a quick glance at Cecile as she left her presence with a slight smirk on her face. "I should perhaps prepare for the feast. Excuse me." she said leaving without another word.





After taking a while to prepare herself for the feast, She could hear the bells ringing. It wss obvious that the feast had already begun without her presence. She was late. She thanked the servants before maneuvering her way through the castle. When she reached the banquet, she resisted the urge to back through the flight of stairs and have some alone time. It was more chaotic and unruly than the feasts she attended. Men in kilts running about cooing and hollering at the type of their lungs, music blaring with the sounds of bagpipes and drums. As she passed some of the men, she was either received with a stink eye or perhaps a kind bow for acknowledgement.





She yearned to see someone familiar. She scanned the perimeter for Maeve, who was nowhere in sight. Soon spotting the arrogant Cecile instead of talking to her subjects with her partner Lance, deciding to leave them alone with their talks. She adjusted her dress before making her way to Thornton since he was probably awaiting for her to accompany him. The knights moving out of her way as she walked pasted them. it was clear she already made a representation for herself, being a short tempered girl nevertheless it had its perks. Again with her frequently practiced smile, she courtesied in front of the future king and the grandmasters. "I apologize for my tardiness, I took longer to prepare than expected." She announced. "The banquet is invigorating. the music, the people. I'm honored to be apart of it." Though what she saud was a half truth, she was compelling. People fake a lot of human interactions, but she felt that she faked it all, and she faked it very well. She guessed that was her burden.​
 
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While awaiting Maeve to respond to her inquiry, Troy would lean down, so she was upside down, before seeing Kuvira. She would then begin climb along the rafters, calculating her descent. She would then let go of the rafters, before landing right behind Kuvira. "Boo!" Troy would say, fully expecting to be hit with something. Nevertheless, she'd have that same grin on her face. "Ahoy Ku-ku! Thorny boy! "Troy said, greeting them in a friendly manner. She would look around, before looking towards Thornton. "Excuse me, Thornton? But do you have any prisoners here waiting for the headsman's block? If so, I'd be willing to take care of them, free of charge! Even turn it into a little bit of a show for you and the rest of the people here. "She said, bouncing back and forth in place, obviously eager for a fight.
 
@Enuky K


@Andraus


The quirky doctor seemed to ignore Prudence's demands to silence. Though her own raised voice was enough to make the doctor tense up. He seemed to whisper malevolent words to himself.. But what they were, there was no telling, as they stopped as quickly as they started.


Now the doctor was near Prudence and Yaro, his expression and emotions concealed by his mask.


"You." he addressed Prudence, pointing at her. "You would tell me, Doctor Klaus... To shut up?" this "doctor" was silent for some time.. His pointed finger clenched into a fist, which trembled violently.


"Heh heh.." that fist dispersed.. As the doctor began to laugh. "Heh.... Aheheheheh...." after some brief period of stifled giggles, the doctor bellowed with maniacal laughter, as though he had heard a magnificent joke whilst being brutally tickled.


"Ooh.. Ooh Klaus.." he touched his mask.. Retracting his hand once he realized he couldnt wipe his eyes. "There is a tinge of boldness in you. Most are so content to merely observe me with fear in their eyes. For that, I say you must be like me..!" from his distance, the tall, lanky plague doctor regained his posture and bowed to Prudence and Yaro.


"Heinrich Klaus.. I mend the ill and maim the heretical. My business is in Bathelon.. Alas I have taken the wrong route, for I saw this adorable little bunny.. And I just HAD to pursue it and cave its suculent skull in.. And so now I am here." the way he spoke of all this.. It was so casual and light-hearted.. Like he wasnt talking about killing small woodland critters for some morbid sport.


"More than anything, I would like to return to Bathelon.. My work is.. Largely unfinished. Do you perhaps.. Know the way back?" all the while he spoke, the doctor never broke posture, maintaining his lanky bow.
 
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Maeve gazed steadily at Troy as she suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She shrugged in response to the girl's question and was about to politely decline, but the girl suddenly dropped from the rafters, landing just behind Kuvira. Holding back an annoyed growl, Maeve dropped down as well. "I'm going to have to ask you to address Kuvira with more respect, and not with a pet name, as well as leaving her be. After your actions earlier, as petty as they may have been, I'm sure your presence is not welcome with her," she snapped.


Lance couldn't help from flushing slightly when Cecile reminded him that he was practically wearing a skirt. The king stubbornly crossed his arms. "I don't think something so tiny would fit me," he muttered, though not unkindly. "I didn't ask to wear this.. Just trying to be kind to Prince Thornton. He is host, after all," he said in an attempt for defense, although he knew it was useless.


Cecile was looking rather nice tonight, Lance noticed, but he was reluctant to comment on it, since Cecile would probably never leave him alone about it. On the bright side, it might shut her up for a while, so he quietly spoke, not exactly wanting to incur Thornton's fit of rage. Lance knew the prince probably wasn't on the best of terms with him. "You're looking wonderful yourself, Cecile." While he was a bit awkward about it, he managed.
 
OOC: "Ooh Klaus" lmao xD


Prudence took an uncertain step away from Yaro as he offered to help alleviate her pain with a spell. "I didn't ask for any help", she then snapped to him. The witch was distrusting of others.


She then stood taller and forced her arms to her side although her stomach still burned. The doctor was pointing at her; he seemed stunned by what she'd said to him. Then the man introduced himself by name and Prudence found herself feeling more sick.


He is the doctor? This is unbelievable! Prudence thought bitterly to herself as the strange man fell into a fit of hysterical laughter. Her eyes narrowed when he came to himself and commented on her supposed "bravery" for snapping at him, "Perhaps I'm not someone you should irritate", she muttered in response to his unusual behavior. She couldn't help but stare at the man.


She crossed her arms as the man began to speak more about himself. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, but the longer he went on the more sure she became that he was, in fact, the infamous Dr. Klaus. Now the girl was puzzled when the man bowed and asked for their assistance in getting to Bathelon.


Prudence took charge of the situation then, and her hands returned to her hips as she stared down upon the witch doctor. She was a powerful and strong willed leader, after all.


She rolled her eyes and lowered herself to a squatting position where she was nearer to the kneeling man and could look into his mask. She spoke coldly, carrying a nasty look. "You annoy me", she began followed by a long pause, "...but it just so happens that we are already in route to Bathelon. You may accompany us, but you'd better not annoy me".


The witch knew that she was already in need of his services, but decided she would ask for his help later, perhaps once they arrived in Bathelon. She was admittedly embarrassed by the encounter. She would never have spoken so rudely to the man had she known of his title, but now it was too late and if there was one thing being an orphan had taught the witch it was never to apologize. It was a sign of weakness.


She rose again to her feet and stepped closer to Yaro where she reached a hand out to stroke the young dragon's neck. "It is a two days trip by foot", she spoke while paying attention to the dragon.The witch was not looking forward to such a laborious journey, and ordinarily would have flown on her broomstick. It was unfortunate that her broom and wand were still in Valpurina.
 
OOC: Now the monarchy side xD


Lance was correct in his assumption that no explanation would cause the princess to lay off. The girl was willing to poke fun at her own culture for the sake of irritating Lance. However, Cecile found herself quickly disappointed. Her antics garnered no amusing reaction from him as she had hoped. Instead, Lance only answered her question as if it were a real question.


Then the situation took an unexpected turn when the Bathelon king chose to compliment the princess. It was a genuine comment, and Cecile found herself unprepared for it. She blushed and glanced around as if expecting to find the proper way to answer him floating about the banquet hall.


When her eyes finally met his again her expression looked more as if he had said something wrong to her rather than nice. "Thank you", she sputtered, her cheeks were still reddened. Lance was correct in his estimate that a compliment of all things would be enough to silence the princess.


It was then that a small raucous drew the girl's attention. She looked ahead to the guest of honor table where Troy was stirring up more trouble with Kuvira and her brother.


Before addressing anyone else in the room, Thornton bowed to Kuvira. He rose and took her hands, "you, my queen, are always on time", he said with a smile. However, Kuvira was quite late and the feast would soon draw to a close.


His smile disappeared as he turned to Troy. Thornton had ample experience dealing with troublesome young ladies, considering he had been raised alongside Cecile. He carried a stern expression but spoke patiently, "No. I cannot grant the wishes of someone who has just had the audacity to interrupt and disrespect my queen. If you continue to do so you will be told to leave".


It was then that Thornton reached for his goblet of rum and stepped to the tabletop. He took Kuvira's hand as he did so and nudged her along with him, giving her no choice really but to climb atop the table with him. It was then that the pipe band came to a stop and the entire room fell silent. The sound of the fire crackled softly in the background.


After waiting to gather everyone's attention, Thornton began to speak, "it is with great honor that I present to you tonight, her highness: Queen Kuvira." Thornton then knelt to one knee for all to witness. He then rose to his feet and continued. He raised his goblet high into the air, "let us rejoice! tonight we have become the most powerful nation in all the land!" He looked to the back of the crowd to Lance as he made that last remark with a smirk. It was true that the Yunakai nation combined with the Rose kingdom would make a massive and powerful pair.


As the men cheered in response and raised their goblets Thornton helped Kuvira step down from the table. The pipers and drummers now joined the feast, and the room fell to a much quieter volume filled with happy and drunken chatter between the knights. Soon, guests began to leave in groups and the noise became even softer. The hall became chilly as it became less populated and it made the fire and atmosphere much more pleasant.


Thornton then prepared a platter of food for Kuvira, piled high in fire roasted vegetables and duck. He placed it before her and gestured for Troy to have a seat and eat. He also gestured to Cecile and Lance, who he was unhappy to see were still together in the back.


Cecile turned to Lance, "should we go?" she asked as she started her way to the table followed by Lance. The two sat down as Thornton spoke to Troy, "and why exactly have you been permitted into my kingdom?" he asked. He was not sure what position Troy was in to have any business in his kingdom at this time. As soon as the group finished eating, they would be brought to their designated quarters and put to bed for the night. Then it would be time to for their plans to be brought into action.


OOC: Feel free to leave a short reply to this as I know not much can happen as they "finish their meal", and so that'd be easier and we can move this along a little faster. @Trombone Geek @Andraus @Robyn Banks
 
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Troy would simply look towards everyone, and raise an eyebrow, as if confused. "Well, to answer your question, Thornton. "She said, as she would pull out a book, and hold it up for the male to see, but not touch. "I am a Mercenary. I was trained by the Wilting Rose, I'm an adoptive sibling of two of it's members. When I took up the Dragon-hunting trade, I like to think I retained most of my teachings: To defeat your enemy, you must know your enemy. A sound phrase, and one I still follow by. "She said, flipping open, and showing. Inside would be a diagram of a random species of dragon, along with a cache of information.


"I am the foremost expert of Modern Dragonology. The Yunkanians may claim them as their sacred animals, but as to my furthest knowledge, only two have been seen in recent years, and they've both only been seen this year."She said, closing the book. "Since I had the freedom of travelling unlike you nobles, I managed to learn more than most about a dragon in their natural habitat. Hell, The armor I have on isn't just for deflecting attacks: Dragon scales are naturally resistant towards magic. You could hit me with a lightning bolt, and I wouldn't feel the full force of the attack."She said, tapping her clothing.


"That being said, Dragon's are not invincible. I know of several different soft-spots that could be exploited to kill one with ease, such as close to the arms under the belly, their eyes, and their mouth. Cutting through a dragon's scale and bone isn't easy, but it is possible."She said, pulling out her own flask of water, and taking a drink. Everyone would notice that she wasn't touching the food that was laid out for her, and she seemed to eye it with caution.


It was as if she feared it was poisoned. She obviously did not trust many people here.


"While I would like to talk more about the subject, I would most likely bore you. Let's just say I came here simply to see my brothers. "She said. She then looked towards Maeve and Kuvira, then back towards Thornton. "What, I'm supposed to treat her differently, because she's a Queen?I'm a Dragon slayer. Big whoop, it's not like i'm the only one that has managed to do so, just like Kuvira isn't the only Queen ever . I don't know if you noticed this or not, but.....I'll be perfectly honest with you Thornton? That doesn't matter to me."Troy said, shrugging.


"I mean, go ahead, call me disrespectful and whatever, do whatever makes you feel best, kick me out if you want to, but please hear me out first. I fly no flag but my own: I'm not a Valpurinian, a Bathelonian, a Rose Citizen, or a Yunkanian. I am a free person, loyal to no-one and nothing but myself, and those I care for. Because of that, I am free to act out and speak my mind as I see fit. I'll give you no lies Thornton, but let's just say that the kingdoms are not my best friend."She said, being as polite as possible with Thornton. The way she spoke wasn't antagonizing, She was simply explaining. "Also, Thornton, you should be glad I am speaking to her in such a friendly manner. She did try to kill my brother, and did kill many members of my family. If she had done that to Cecile, I'd suspect you'd be out for blood as well. Family is meant to be there for one another." Troy said, revealing one tidbit of information.


She was Yaro's Adopted sibling. She had more than enough reason to hate Kuvira, and yet.....she acted like she didn't care. she still wore that same smile on her face, as if she was talking about the weather. There was no hint of malice or anger in her voice either. It was like this wasn't anything new to her. She also trapped Thornton with her words: If he said that he wouldn't be out for blood if anything happened to Cecile, it would make it seem like he cared more for a woman he barley knew, than his twin sister. it would also be hypocritical, considering how he acted with Lance.


"Sure, I could do what my brother did, and be angry about it, swear vengeance and all that. But honestly, whats the point? It's a waste of effort."She said, acting as if retaliating against Kuvira was not even worth the trouble. A great warriors insult, was to say someone was not worthy enough to kill. But then she would say something that would remind Kuvira of her dream. "She'll pay for her own sins. I'm not going to waste my time trying to hurt her when she's doing it to herself. Besides, vengeance won't bring my family back, and it's not the first time I lost family because of Monarchies. At the end of her road, she'll find the hell she made herself. I don't need to hurt her, She will do it to herself."She said, paraphrasing Sotha's words, and strangely not referring to just the Yunkanian Monarchy. She acted like she had a deep grudge against ALL of them.


What caused the woman to act so disregardful and spiteful of the Monarchies? Her actions were also odd. Though she was acting carefree and rather good spirited in the palace, she seemed to know every nook and cranny of political intrigue, from not trusting food to her extended vocabulary. She chose her words carefully, and spoke without hesitation. She was obviously well-trained in diplomatics, but seemed more interested in a life of constant combat to diplomacy. She had a wandering warriors spirit, always looking for the next big challenge, a trait any fellow warrior would respect. But she was also intelligent, knowing when and when not to act.


She would then look at one of her swords, before silently cursing to herself. "Dammit all to hell, the crystals cracked.....I need to replace it, please excuse me."She said, standing up, and walking away. She had a small skip to her step, as she went about to repairing the mechanism on her sword.


 
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Kuvira returned the gesture as he took her hand. Only to jump when Troy appeared. She turned to soon see Maeve. Her hair shorter,Her mask removed, and her uniform replaced with a more Gothic outfit. She looked lovely before She could comment she was cut off by her king and her guard, who defended her when she honestly felt she could defend herself though she appreciated the actions they took.


Soon she found herself on top of the table with Thornton by her side. The room fell silent as she felt the crowds eyes piercing into hers. She was embarrassed not expecting this especially Thornton publicly getting on one knee but tried her best to hide it ,covering it with a smile. Soon it became more genuine when Thornton made the remark. When they wed. Her vision will be a reality and it only took her freedom to accomplish it.


She thanked Thornton as he helped her down and offered her a massive plate of food. To be polite she sat down and took the leg of the duck and took a bite. It was tastier than she expected, savory and delicacy. Taking a another bite blissfully. She watched Cecile and Lance take their seats, gesturing Maeve to a seat next to her prior to turning the glance to Thornton who was obviously taking charge of the situation.


She remained quiet as Troy made her rebuttal. She had the urge to object but resisted. She was not only belittling Kuvira but her country as well. When she used Cecile as an example, she stiffened up looking to Thornton to see his reaction. She stood up before walking to see Troy going down the hallway before speaking in an unfazed tone. "What is this some type of ploy!To try and make me fear you. To make me feel unworthy? Before I used to feel so much guilt and regret for what I've done but now I feel nothing. The nobles were right when they said that the Azarus family was a weed that needed to be ripped out from the garden and I regret the fact that it took me so long to see that. Don't blame the monarchy for taking the actions needed due to your house's mess, everyone wanted your family eliminated. you didn't have any backing, no other came forth to defend them, there was no vengeance in my choice just reason. Dear Troy I don't attempt to do anything, I do it. Even if the results isn't what I expect. you dare talk to my fiancee or my closest advisor like that ever again or you might find yourself burnt." Though Maeve was a guard, she always saw her as more than that. She was the only person she knew that her allegiance was unchangeable, something she admired. She realized how she was acting before starting to to calm herself down. She turned to everyone before apologizing for her actions. "I just got infuriated. I will retire to my chambers to relax myself from this matter but please don't mind me."

She went up the flight of stairs, walked down endless hallways. To go forth into her chambers. She closed the door quietly before looking down at the fireplace. She was starting to get worried. Her dragon still hasn't hatched yet but she knew she had to be patient. She placed more wood into the fire before taking a seat at the desk,waiting quietly for thornton.

​
 
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(OOC: I apologize in advance to anyone unhappy with this post, but we are running out of time to close all this up... here goes...)


At last only the guests of honor remained in the banquet hall. Thornton made no protest as Kuvira chose to leave, and instead found himself leading Lanister and Troy to the large set of doors at the front of the hall. He gave no reaction to Troy, deciding it was best to treat her as he would his sister. He spoke to Lanister, "I apologize, but I must ask you and Troy to leave now. I cannot allow a guest to stay after saying things of that nature". Indeed, not only had Troy insulted both he and Kuvira, but she also expressed anti-monarchy beliefs, and such behavior was unacceptable. It was simply the law of the land. Guests and subjects could not speak in whatever way they wanted to royalty. These were medieval times, and logically a king and queen would not tolerate a person like Troy, nor could a person in her position override this decision.


After Lanister and Troy left, Thornton lead the remaining grand masters and Lance to where they would be staying. He brought the group to each of their respective quarters, giving an entire hallway of bedrooms to the grand masters to share. He then brought Lance a floor above, where he and Cecile stayed. There was a third, smaller bedroom on this hall, and that is where Thornton brought Lance. Dante's sword was already waiting there for him paired with a fine sheath.


Next Thornton went to Cecile's room where she was getting undressed for bed. The girl was quite tired from the social events, and Thornton was there to tuck his little sister into bed. He was still in a state of disbelief over his sister's return, after all, and admittedly wouldn't let her sleep alone if not for the way he was criticized for babying her. He kissed her forehead and waited by her bedside until it was evident by soft snoring that she was asleep.


Thornton then rose from where he was and slipped silently from the room. He barged into Lance's quarter's without knocking. "You are not to step near Cecile's door", he grumbled as he entered. He then sighed and looked to the floor. He wasn't happy about saying these things to Lance, but after taking a deep breath the man proceeded to spill everything to him. He spared no details as he recounted the events of King Thornton's murder.


He let out a long sigh as he finished his story. He shook his head, "Cecile does not deserve to know that she was so unloved here". He did not want his sister's mind plagued with such sorrowful truths. However, he was confident that Lance would have no qualms keeping such things from her. "Tonight we must... remove the body." Thornton gestured to Lance and started his way down the hallway. At the end of the hall, Thornton and Lance ascended a flight of stairs to the hall above that served as the King's Quarters. Thornton knocked softly on the door to Kuvira's bedroom, and she was quick to open it.


(OOC: doodly-dee, time skip because we're out of time)


It was in the dead of night that the three royals arrived to their destination: the curatite mines. Thornton stood for a long moment looking into the dark opening of the cave before them. A sick feeling returned to his stomach as he thought about what they were about to do. He looked to Lance and then to Kuvira before nodding and taking his first steps towards the entry. The three entered the cave together, and by the light of a torch made their way deeper into it.


"Be careful", Thornton warned. The mine was breathtakingly beautiful. Blue colored crystals decorated the interior of the cave like a geode. Finally the group arrived to the spot where he had last seen his father alive. Thornton carried a look of horror; there was no foul smell or any other indication that a body could be rotting nearby. Thornton pointed to where the crystal floor suddenly fell into darkness. It was where the cave had collapsed under his father.


"This is where it happened... I just know it", but there were no signs that a murder had taken place there. For the next several hours they searched the cave more thoroughly, but after finding themselves traveling in circles they had no choice but to give up. Thornton appeared horrified by the discovery, but the three returned to the Rose Kingdom palace empty handed. Was it a blessing or a curse? Thornton could not be sure, and there was no more he could do about it. The next morning operations in the mine would resume, and the cure would be distributed.


(OOC: Last one... xD )


The next morning Thornton awoke before any one else. The sun was just beginning to peek over the mountains, and there was much to do. Thornton dressed in his royal uniform and headed to where he would find Commander Vohon. The Emerald Thorns had been in charge of mining the precious mineral because of how secretive the operations were. Commander Vohon spoke abruptly to Thornton; he still believed him to be connected to the disappearance of Old King Thornton. However, with no body or evidence of a crime he had no case against him, either. Grudgingly, he would have to respect young Thornton as his leader.


Thornton gave the commander instructions to begin operations in the mine, and by the end of the day enough would be collected for Lance to bring with him to Bathelon. Commander Vohon and a group of Emerald Thorns began their mission right away.


The Rose King returned promptly to the palace, where he would wait for his guests to soon awaken. He would need to discuss some things with the Bathelon knight and the grand masters.


 
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The other two Grand-masters had left, but Osuin was still there, waiting to train Cecile. He would then turn towards Thornton, and shake his hand. "Please excuse our associates words last night. She has more than a little reason to hate both you and Kuvira, and though she hides it behind a smile, that woman is in pain." Osuin would say, before holding up his hands. "I am not saying that she was justified in her speaking as she did, I'd like you to understand that she does have more reason than most. "Osuin said, before sighing.


"Valpurina didn't only act as a stronghold for our needs......it also served as a place of refugee, where many were brought when no-one else would shelter them. Vampires, werewolves, half-lings, many came to our city. However, before recent years, many came there because magic was illegal to most. "Osuin said. "Her parents were healers, using their arts to mend wounds instead of fight. However, they failed to heal a noble's son, and were branded witches by his vindictive parents.....they were burned at the stake, as most were."





"She grew up in our city, and though I am not familiar with when she started acting as such, she was an outspoken anti-monarchal person. She believes that no matter what, no-one should rule over their lives, but themselves. Religion, politics, military: She believes they are simply tools to control and coerce, and Laughs in the face of those that say they do it for the 'greater good', when she believes that it is a weak excuse."Osuin said. "She passed her final tests, but refused to join the Wilting Rose, saying she needed to 'Find her own Liberation'. After that, only Lanister or Yaro kept in contact with her."





" I'm not asking you to excuse her actions. I am simply asking to understand. Add her past experience, along with the most recent wound of the loss of her adoptive family, and it has only reinforced her views. She travels around, seeing sights, and preaching them to anyone that would listen.....She isn't the first to be so vehement about her beliefs, but she is by far the most peaceful, and the most loyal. Should Lanister or Yaro ask her to, she'd lay down her life for anyone. "Osuin said, as he would bow his head to Thornton, before he went back to waiting.
 
Grand master Osuin was the first to emerge from the guest rooms. Thornton was waiting in the fairy garden. He smiled to Osuin and greeted him as he approached. Thornton then listened with a grave expression as Osuin relayed the details of Troy's history to him. Although Thornton was sympathetic, he did not find himself comforted by the words of the grand master. In fact, his story only further affirmed that Troy could not be allowed into the palace. If she held that kind of deep-rooted hate for the royal family she was considered a threat to the royal family. As such, a threat could not be allowed into the palace. It was a security concern.


He shook his head and stared out into the garden. The two were standing on a wooden bridge that stretched over the top of a small stream that flowed into the courtyard from the mountains. Thornron rested his weight against the railing along the side of the bridge. "I am sorry to hear that she experienced such things, but there is nothing I can do to remedy her situation. Anyone who threatens the royal family will be treated as a threat."


He took a step back and shook his head, "are you forgetting that Cecile was just attacked by someone else like Troy?" he asked. Before waiting for Osuin's response he changed the topic, "there should be enough of the cure mined for Sir Lance soon... and he will leave shortly after he awakens. Osuin, I would like for you to remain here at the palace. Cecile can be trained right here", he gestured over the fairy garden. Thornton would be more confident in his sister's safety here than in Valpurina, where she had been attacked already. He wondered vaguely when Kuvira and Lance would awaken.
 
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"I would be honored to help train Cecile. Ysmena already has lesson plans on teaching her how to harness the power of her staff, and Clementina has agility exercises planned. She may simply be a princess, but we'll train her the best we know how. However, that brings up two things, Thornton. "Osuin said, leaning back on the railing of the bridge. He would then take out a notice. It was one from the Orphanages around the city. It's wording and rallying call clearly stated it's anger at the Monarchy.


"Troy is by far the most peaceful, but she is not the only one. There are people in Valpurina, those that had been hunted by the monarchies, who voice open-hatred of the royal's because of how many lost their families were lost due to them. Tribes, mage's, witches, warlocks, and supernatural beings. They were hunted because of what they were, and now, in their eyes with magic becoming legal, Many are furious. "Osuin said, before he began explaining.





"They suffered for years, and now it seems like they're supposed to forget what happened to them. I'm not telling you anything, Thornton: I'm warning you. These people are not small in number, and they are angry. I'm asking you to make peace with them. Hopefully, with a Mage Queen finally in a position of great authority, they'll be appeased for awhile, but after the wedding, you must try to make reparations with them." Osuin said, speaking with great concern. He didn't know how far the Resistance was, and so far, all he knew was that they were a simple protest group, but Osuin was not blind: He saw the hatred any had, and feared it. Hatred simply lead to suffering.


"Now, onto the second issue, and the reason why I want Troy to be allowed here briefly: It's just as you said, Someone like Troy attacked Cecile, and if I know anything, it's that 'Birds of a feather flock together'. If we're lucky, Troy may recognize the curse and be able to tell us who cast it."Osuin said. His reasoning was sound, and he obviously wasn't going to push the issue if Thornton was adamant about it, but Osuin obviously was trying to take Cecile's safety into consideration.
 
Thornton appeared pleased to hear that the grand masters would be willing to lead Cecile's teachings in the Rose palace. After having his helpless little sister attacked he began to feel differently about Cecile's training. In a society with magic, his sister would have to be better able to protect herself. He knew that in the grand master's hands Cecile would be well trained. He also hoped that Kuvira could assist in her teachings.


The Rose King reached out and took the flyer from Osuin's hands to better examine it. A look of worry came to his face, but after just a short moment he tossed the small flyer over the railing of the bridge. It fell slowly to the water, where it drifted away. He smiled warily, "and perhaps we already have a strong mage queen that will appease any opposition to our new government." Thornton feared he was underestimating the resistance, but he decided it was an issue he would face when it came.


His blue eyes sparkled with interest as Osuin explained more about Troy. "She could know who is responsible for Cecile's attack?" he asked. He looked down into the water of the stream. He did not trust Troy in the least bit.


The conversation was interrupted as a group of Emerald Thorn knights entered the courtyard. Each pair of men was carrying a large wooden chest. There were three chests total. They brought the chests to the grass before the bridge and placed them on the ground. One of the men came to Thornton, "your highness, we have here the Kingdom of Bathelon's portion of the cure". It didn't look like much, but the mineral would need to be ground down into a fine powder and boiled into an elixir to be used orally. Only a tiny portion of this miraculous mineral was necessary to treat a large number of people.


"Very well. Have someone prepare provisions and a stallion for Sir Lance's journey home".


The knight bowed and the group of nights left. Thornton turned his attention back to Osuin, "if she could help us identify Cecile's attacker then I have no choice but to allow her presence. However, she must remain under your watch for as long as she is to stay".
 
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