She felt like she was heading to some kind of war. Armed with her bow and half mask. Geared for a struggle. Which in a way this would be a struggle of it’s own. She went to face the man who had helped make her life hell for many moons.
Pausing for several long moments as she stared up at the gates leading to Ishgard. This was it. This would end one of two ways. Her death or his. There was no other option. Even if she had to die she would do so to protect them.
The letter was still fresh in her mind. Threats against her mother and brother. Dragging her brother into something like this. They barely spoke as it was. Now his life was in danger without him even knowing. There was no one to protect her mother and brother but her. Especially since if she involved anyone else he had threatened to kill them. The noose was already around her neck. Now it was her choice on how this all ended.
Twelve be damned if she would let this end with the blood of her family on her hands…
Even if it meant her own death. One life for many. It was a sacrifice she was willing to make.
Destiney marched into Ishgard with a purpose. Straight to the Aurifore household. Now before her nerves failed her. Before she could second guess herself. While her resolve was still as strong as steel.
Thankfully the door was already part way open. A younger looking version of Lancefer with sea green eyes and tousled hair was on his way out. Destiney brushed past him without a word, leaving the boy looking a bit flabbergasted. Straight towards the study where she knew Vladislav would be. Doors banging open as she shoved them and stepped inside.
Vladislav looked up from his paperwork. Clearly not amused by the current level of noise. Though that expression soon became a smile of triumph as Destiney stood before his desk on the other side. Even if he couldn’t see her full expression with that mask he knew he had won. His prize had just delivered herself right to him. Without even considering he might be keeping guards after the incident with the trial and his son’s death. They waited off to the sides in the shadows. Waiting for his signal.
“This ends now, Grandfather. No more games. No more threats. Just you and I.” Destiney said as she reached for her bow. To hell if this would be a crime. He hid enough of his own crimes behind the money and power he had built in his lifetime. More blood on her hands was a small price to pay.
Glimpses of that day she nearly died. The feel of blood on her hands. Blood of men who had been innocent of the crimes she hunted them for. The aftermath she recovered for years from. Yet this time…
Her hands were steady as she aimed that arrow at Vladislav. If nothing else the Aurifore had made her stronger in hunting her. In accusing her of things that were not wrong. They had given her back the final pieces that had been shattered. No more suffering. Her eyes stared at him with their own steel as she waited to see what his reaction would be.
“Indeed. It does end here. Not the way you want it to though. You are a smart girl but you are easily thrown off your game when the lives of those you love are held in the balance.” Vladislav sneered as he raised a hand.
Those guards in the shadows moved forward. Destiney looked about in shock just as a shield slammed in her left arm. Her bow dropped with a cry of pain as she held the injured arm. Something in her arm had given with that hard smash. Her arm had been taut as the bow string. However they did not give her a chance to recover or call upon aether to help the pain. There was a sword point at her throat. Another against the small of her back.
“Take her away. She will be tried for her crimes. The latest being the threat of murdering me.” Vladislav told the guards. His expression was calm though his eyes glittered in triumph. “Use caution. She is also a mage besides a mere archer.”
Defeated… She had failed. Her emotions had let herself be caught off guard. The only comforting thought was that maybe now he would leave the rest of her family alone. She silently prayed to the Twelve to protect them. She cradled her left arm close as she let the guards roughly escort her away. The only signs she had even been in that room where the arrow in the wall and the bow on the floor.
She would end up in prison. Possibly at the bottom of the witchdrop. Yet rage still burned in her against Vladislav. However what else could she do. Teary eyes looked skyward as she was lead through Ishgard’s streets like a criminal. So this was how it would end… She had been so foolish to think she could stand alone against him. At least she had gotten to leave her goodbyes…
(The last couple of days between talks with friends and other things I’ve come up with an idea for Dest. An it continues the plot I had going with her family in Ishgard even. Two parts because it’s late. So this is mostly Dest’s departure. The good stuff will be tomorrow when I’m fresh. I’m feeling better even if still a bit sad. It’s… Hmm. A sadness that will take time to heal but one that might have been for the best in the long run. Only time will tell.)
One last glance. One last parting. Deck of cards and her linkpearl left behind on Rhisi’s desk. Maybe the cards would answer to someone else in time. A moment’s pause to slip something by Nate’s door. This was goodbye.
Thank you for everything. I’m sorry for this. For getting you hurt for nothing. If I come through this by the will of the gods… I’ll come back for this. So please hold on to it for me for now. You have been the most dearest friend I have never deserved. If I don’t return please… Find a way to be happy for me.
The gift he had given her from starlight carefully wrapped in the letter. If she wore it, it would sure meet a grim end. If she survived this… She was definitely coming back for it. She had cried more then enough tears since it had arrived. The letter that diverged her path from that of the people she had chosen to call family.
I’m sorry because I know you are head of security. And that you are protective of those you chose to protect. Please don’t feel bad for what is about to happen. Know I went of my own choice. Please do not come after me. I have to do this on my own. Thank you for everything. You and Raiden both.
One for Yuti. Sweet and caring Yuti.
Yuti,
I’m sorry I didn’t have a true chance to better help you learn. I’ve enjoyed your kind and caring heart. Please never change. Keep helping people. Keep being kind and sweet. If you ever have to seek out my uncle, Ricard Starkweather, for more help in studying. He taught me. Surely he’d be willing to help you if you mentioned me. Goodbye.
Thank you for all that you have taught me in the moons that I have been with the Order. I’m sorry I was never able to really get to know you well despite the time I’ve been with the company. I wish you and Oni many happy years. You are a strong woman and I’m glad to have gotten to work under you.
Another pause at Dusk’s door. Her hand lingering on the wood a moment before finally sliding the note under.
I hope you are truly right about the steel I possess. I’m about to test it to it’s limits. Thank you for all the talks. For generally being like an older sister to me. It has meant the world to me. Maybe if the gods are kind and I make it back we can deal with sending Leon on. I wish you well.
She couldn’t really leave one for C’lest. She remembered the woman was not able to read. That was disappointing. C’lest had been such a help to her. Had helped to try an teach her to defend herself. They had never gotten to finish those lessons. She also left one for Chloe as well. Thanking her and wishing she had had a chance to hear her story. That was something she had never gotten to do. Might never get to do now.
If she lingered too long they would stop her. They would try to convince her there was something else that could be done. This was something she had to do alone. Too much was on the line. This was her problem. She would not drag any more of her precious family in on this.
She paused at the doorway. One last look for however much longer she would remember this place. A place she had chosen to call home for so many moons. She untied the red string at her wrist before letting it fall to the floor at her feet.
“Goodbye… I love you all…”
Now. It had to be now before she lost her nerve. Or before the tears began anew. There was no more time. She focused on the aether to teleport herself away.
One last final stop. One last final goodbye. She owed him that much. Soren… Hopefully he would also pass along the note to Ikara.
Silently she left them at his house in the mailbox. There was no way she dared go inside. He’d question. She’d not have any answers she could give him. Like the rest of her family he would only try to stop her.
Thank you for all that you have done. Please… Just ignore Alexois. Please just stay out of trouble. I’m afraid I won’t be around to fix you up anymore. If you can please pass along the second letter to Ikara. I have to do this and I’m afraid of what might happen. So this is goodbye and I’m sorry.
I’m not sure what happened. I had not got a chance to find out. I’m so sorry I couldn’t say goodbye then or now. I can only hope someday you will forgive me. I hope I was never too hard on you as a healer. I just wanted to keep you safe and you have done so much for me. You have such a bright future ahead of you I’m sure of it. Please keep your chin up. I’ll miss you.
She teleported off again. She looked up to her house. It had been so neglected in all of this. She paused and turned around to look. Alexois was smugly leaning against the railing.
“Go away. I have no time for you.” Destiney said quietly as she turned to start walking in the direction of Chee’s house nearby.
“Well that is a shame. Walking to your death now are you? Shame. I would have liked to play with you more.” Alexois taunted with a sneer as he followed at a slight distance. “I got word of what Vladislav is doing. Here you thought I was bad.”
“Go away. Leave Soren and Lance alone. You’ve won. Just go away.”
Alexois raised a brow at her words. He casually shrugged though she was clearly not looking his way. “Just because you do this doesn’t mean I stop bothering them.”
Destiney decided it was best to just continue to ignore him. He had been haunting her with his presence for far too long. Unless he was planning to make a move he was only here to taunt and torment. She didn’t have time for him. Nor the patience.
She looked back and he was gone. Chee’s house stood before her now. One last letter. To her best friend and sister. She owed Chee this goodbye.
I’m sorry. I truly am. I should not be saying this kind of goodbye. Certainly not this way. I have to put a stop to it all. Grandfather has gone too far this time. I cannot risk anyone else in this matter. So I’m going alone to Ishgard to end this. Please don’t try anything. This is between him and I. I just hope someday you will forgive me for this. You have been like a sister to me. My best friend. I’ll miss you. Goodbye…
Arriving in Camp Dragonhead. Going straight to Ishgard would have been wiser. Yet she wanted to walk there. Time. To remember. To thank the gods for all that she had been given. Cerulean eyes looking off towards the distant spires of Ishgard. Towards whatever fate lay in wait for her there.
“It’s time for this to end. I’m coming Vladislav Aurifore. It’s time you and I ended this. For good…”
(I blame Rhisi for the title. She labeled the event like that on the FC calendar and I decided to keep it this way. This is what happens right before the events that start at 9p. Hence why I waited to long to share this. I wanted to wait until as late as I could to avoid giving anyone too much of a heads up for my FC friends that follow my tumblr. >:D)
Destiney shivered slightly as she arrived at Falcon’s Nest. She had agreed to come out here and help her cousin with a bit of work. It would also give them a bit of time to discuss matters. Matters dealing with the Aurifore family.
Nebula chirped in impatience beside her. Her chocobo clearly not a fan of standing around in this cold either. She petted the bird’s beak affectionately before saddling up. “Alright. Let’s be moving them. Don’t want to keep Lance waiting in this weather. Too cold to be standing still long.”
They had agreed to meet up at The Pike. It was hard to miss the large statue of a Dragoon. Easy enough of a location to find each other even if a sudden blizzard swept in on them. When she arrived she found Lance waiting for her on his own bird, Strider.
“Glad to see you could make it, Cousin.” Lance said with a warm smile before kicking his bird into motion. “It’s not far from here. Let’s go before the weather turns.”
They set down around Hemlock, north of where they had met up. Keeping an eye on the archaeonis wandering about as they dismounted.
“So what did we need to come here for again? An why did I have to follow you out here into this wasteland?” Destiney sighed as she tugged her coat tight about herself.
“I got a letter with information from a trusted friend that we could find something here that might help our case against Grandfather.” Lance explained as he began to look around the frozen ruins of the abandoned place. “Apparently father has been meeting with some rather… Shady individuals out here. Some of which are involved in the case at hand. If we can find find something to pin this on…”
He words went unfinished as five individuals stepped out from the shadows into their view. All of them cloaked in plain undyed cloaks of wool which shrouded their features for the most part. What wasn’t hidden of their faces by the cloak hoods, a mask covered the rest.
“You will find nothing here. Afraid you have been duped old friend.” the tallest of the five spoke as he stepped forward, lance still at rest against his back.
Lance’s face began with a frown that slowly became a snarl as he recognized that voice. “Alexois…”
“What do you want?” Destiney asked as she scowled and readied herself to run if need be. Or at least shield her cousin if it came down to a fight. Though she definitely did not like the odds. All she was armed with was her magic and tome. Not that she could have fought back even if she had her bow handy.
“We’ve been paid well to do what we are about to do. Come with us quietly an Lancey here won’t be harmed. Much.” Alexois said as he reached up to remove his mask, sneer clearly visible now.
“Never! I won’t allow you to lay a hand on my cousin. Father paid you didn’t he?” Lance snarled as he drew his sword and shield, ready for the fight that was about to unfold.
“Poor Lancey. You never learned to stop being so trusting. Even after all I did to you.” Alexois held his arms wide as he mocked the knight. The four others with him drew their weapons. Alexois motioned the group forward before reaching back to draw their own weapons. “Let’s pick up where we left off shall we? Get the girl.”
Destiney moved quickly to place a hurried arcane shield over Lance as the group charged forward. There was no way for her cousin to stop all five by himself. No matter how hard he tried. She would have to defend herself somehow. If only she had had more time on those lessons with C’lest.
“Destiney! Run!” Lance called back to his cousin as his shield met the blade of one of the attackers. Two others used to the chance to slip past him to go after Destiney. A glance back to his cousin was all it took. When he looked back it was just barely in time to avoid a fatal wound from Alex’s lance. He felt the cold bite of metal rip through his chainmail though. Could feel the warmth of his own blood and the stinging pain in his right side. His movement and the arcane shield his cousin had hastily cast had saved him from worse damage then a glancing blow. However the damage was still done.
Destiney watched the two come towards her, their run dropping to a slow approach as they neared. Obviously waiting to see what her move might be. The one to her left moved first. She quickly dropped her tome and raised her arm as C’lest had taught her. Her forearm met the taller attacker’s throat. The surprise of the movement made the man drop his daggers as he choked at the arm against his throat. Destiney used her free hand and drew him in close by his belt to not give him any room. C’lest hadn’t really taught her what to do next so she improvised. She brought her knee up to his groin. The man collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain with his hands over his injury.
The second one decided not to give Destiney a chance to pull that maneuver a second time. He had used the distraction to come up behind her. Strong arms wrapping around Destiney from behind, around her shoulders. Her necklace somehow getting tangled in his fingers as she struggled to get loose. The chain snapping and the green stone pendant dropped to the snow at her feet.
“Let me go!” Destiney screamed in panic as she struggled hard. Her feet kicked in the air as the taller man lifted her up. A bright green rune carved stone jostled from her coat pocket as she fought for freedom. It landed in the snow about a foot away from the pendant.
Lance looked back with wide-eyes as he put a brief moment of distance between himself an the three that now circled him. Fresh blood ran down his cheek from a shallow cut below his left eye. “Destiney!” The one rammed him from the left, sprawling him into the snow. His chest rose and fell heavily with each breath. Fighting three on one with skilled opponents was not good odds. He forced himself back to his feet only for Alexois to kicked him from behind. He had no idea when the Duskwight had gotten behind him. He fell to a knee an scowled up as a sword came to rest beneath his chin, forcing him to look up at the man holding him at sword point.
“I would highly suggestion you come quietly, Destiney dear. Or I might have to stain the rest of the snow red with your dear cousin’s blood. I’m sure the archaeonis would love the meal.” Alexois sneered as he looked back towards the struggling woman.
Destiney froze at those words. Her eyes met Lance’s. The options were limited. She could continue to struggle and maybe get free. But at the cost of Lance’s life… If she went with them… There was no promise that Lance would live but the odds were better then the first.
“Only if you swear on Halone to let him live. If you dare kill him… I swear to the Twelve I will make you live to regret it.” Destiney didn’t want to embrace that old part of herself again. Did not want to go back down that path. Her looked to Alexois as she waited for his promise.
“Destiney! Don’t believe a word that traitor speaks! He’ll lie!” Lance pleaded with her, only to be silenced as that sword drew a drop of blood from his throat an made it hard to breath, let alone speak.
“I swear by Halone’s mighty grace that I will not kill your cousin today.” Alexois’s sneer changed to a genuine smile as he bowed towards her. “I can not make any promises on the future however.”
“Fine. Then I will go quietly.” Destiney closed her eyes and bowed her head. All struggling ceased from her. Though she slipped a hand into her pocket. When her head came back up an her eyes opened, she found Lance’s concerned gaze. She nodded to him as the one holding her marched her forward towards the rest of the group. She subtly dropped a linkpearl into the snow near Lance, brushing a bit of snow over it to hide it from the attackers’ sight. Lance blinked to try an let her know he had saw what she had done.
There was no denying she was going to be leaving as a prisoner to an unknown fate. She stared up at Alexois with a defiant look.
“Come along, Princess. We’re going to have some fun.” Alexois chuckled at her gaze. He turned to walk off with two of the four others he had come with. Leaving two to keep Lance in his place while they left. Destiney cast one last worried look back to her bleeding cousin. She mouthed a few last words to him…
Tell the Order.
Lance clenched his hands tightly around his sword and shield. Eyes drifting between the two who had remained behind. He felt a sudden kick to his ribs from the one not holding him at sword point. He coughed and rolled to his side, having dropped his shield. He bit back the cry of pain as he felt the one with the sword stab the back of his left shoulder as he rolled to his knees to get up.
“He said we couldn’t kill you today. Dun mean we can’t have a bit of fun.”
The two remaining finally left after leaving Lance with a few more bruises and wounds. Laughing as they walked away. Lance wiped at the blood from his busted lip as he watched them leave. Too much time. They had wasted so much damn time. He scrambled to find the linkpearl in the snow.
Tell the Order. The last words his cousin had mouthed to him. He needed to make a call to arms. He couldn’t do this alone. Definitely not in the shape he was in now. If there was any hope of finding her still alive… Then it lay in the Order’s hands now.
Everything had gone as planned. Or at least it seemed that way. He had used the money Rhisi had provided to plant the seeds of distraction. To give his cousin a smoke screen. A protection of a different kind as she studied self-defense with C’lest.
It had taken more time then he had wanted. The extra caution had been necessary. If any of this came back on him it could not be something that would look bad on Haillenarte. He had told that much to Rhisi when he had agreed to this idea. He would not drag down the Haillenarte name any further with the chaos his family was causing among the shadows of Ishgard.
To think his family had gone as far to send death threats to Destiney. This game was getting beyond control now. He was almost afraid to stray far from her side. Part of this was his fault. He was to blame for telling them about Destiney’s past out near Wineport. They had used that against her. He was to blame… He hadn’t known back then but ignorance was not an excuse for what he had done. He would see this corrected.
Even if it ended with a Trial by Combat…
He had meant what he had said at the Order house. If it came to that in the Ishgardian justice system… He would stand in for her. Life entrusted to the will of Halone to see him through it. He had faith that Halone would see justice done. That the weapon he had become would be used to correct the problem.
“I cannot fail. I will not fail. Even if I must place my life on the line.” Lance muttered to himself as he stared up at the cold sky above Ishgard that promised more snow.
From the shadows a figure of a man watched in silence as Lance walked through the streets of Ishgard towards home.
“What a clever boy. However you still have so much room to improve.” the older man mummered to himself as he watched. Sharp dark blue eyes remaining on Lance. “You are definitely an Aurifore yet you leave much to be desired. If we can not find her then we shall just have to have you followed instead. You are bound to be with her sooner or later. One way or another. This ends.”
A wicked grin on that tanned face of Vairemont as he stepped out of the shadows. Still dressed in his armor for House Dzemael. A cloaked person silently walked up an leaned against the wall near the older Aurifore. The stranger’s stance casual yet still tense for movement. Vairemont never once glanced in the stranger’s direction.
“Follow Lancefer. Find a way to lure them together if you must. If we can not find her alone then we will simply use the boy as the weapon he was meant to be. You better be as good as you bunch are being paid. If you fail… You know the price of failure.”
The cloaked stranger nodded in response to Vairemont’s words before vanishing off as silently as they had arrived.
Lance paused in the study. No one was around today so the room sat empty and hollow. Slow steps drew him closer to the wall where the painting hung. Sky blue eyes looking up at the seemingly happy scene.
A family together. Smiling and happy. Three young children and their proud parents. His brother and youngest sibling still a baby in their mother’s arms. His little sister with a bright and happy smile. His own smile in that picture spoke of a time before he knew hardships and pain.
A time before he had become the black sheep. Before he had been old enough to ruin that happy image.
“What a farce…” Lance mumbled with a sigh as he turned away from that picture. That seemingly happy family couldn’t have ever been as true as that picture tried to claim. His choice of Haillenarte over Dzamael shouldn’t have been enough to ruin that happy image.
Yet a part of him missed those simpler days. Missed the simple joys and carefree life he led back then. Eyes left that painting as he turned to leave the library. Pausing at the door for one last glance back towards that picture. He had left that life behind ages ago now. There was no going back. Time could not erase the gap that had grown between him and his family.
Destiney had had enough. Everything was pushing her towards the edge. Tara, Nate, and now a death threat. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take. Should have told Rhisi. But… Her mind was not in the right place. There was too much pain. Too much hurt. She just needed out.
Tara’s words tonight when she had asked if there were any injuries tonight… Nate’s cold distance… If she didn’t get away something was going to break. Most likely her heart. There was only one other problem to focus on. One that didn’t threaten to crush her soul.
Her hands trembled slightly as she removed the crumpled letter from her pocket as she stood in Ishgard. There was only one place this letter could have come from. Or at least one city. The words had been clearly meant to cut like a knife. One with a jagged edge. Meant to rip and tear, causing as much damage as possible. Yet they were still only words. They didn’t cut near as deep as the way those close to her had been treating her recently.
Half breed bitch. You deserve to be witch dropped as a heretic. Messing with things no proper Ishgardian would ever touch. Your mother is a shameful creature. Laying with a filthy Gridanian hyur and producing half breed bastards. No wonder you consort with such people. You are no better then that bitch of a mother. No better then a blood thirsty heretic. Charlatan! You will get what is coming to you. You will be damned to the seventh hell. Halone can’t save you. You disgrace the blood that runs in your veins. Your death is coming.
Destiney crumpled the note up again. Nate had managed to read it when she had thrown it at his head in anger. He knew the words on the page. He had even mentioned that it was a death threat out loud in Rhisi’s presence. Well not that the letter was but he had mentioned death threats. Thankfully she had gotten out before Rhisi had had a chance to remember wanting to speak with her. She did not feel up to explaining this. This was her problem.
Yet… For Nate seeing the letter… He had been oddly cold about it. There had been a lack of emotion from Nate. No jokes about being her knight and protecting her. No real concern other then attempting to get Rhisi involved. An that hurt more then any words on a page. She felt alone…
“Hitoride wanai…” Destiney muttered the phrase that was the motto for the Order. But it felt so hollow to her right now. There was a feeling of hopelessness. Loneliness. A pain that was spiraling her back down into the darkness. Her hand gripped the green stone pendant that rested against her chest. A deep breath of the frigid Ishgard air. Masked face looking skyward to the softly falling snow. “Not alone… I can’t be alone.” The words were soft, a whispered plea.
With a heavy sigh, the healer headed off to seek answers. If any were to be found. She had a feeling she knew who had sent that letter. However he would deny it if she confronted him directly. The only other option was to ask questions. See if anyone remembered him dispatching someone with that letter that was delivered to her house. Or if anyone had seen him sending it via moogle mail. Someone had had to have seen something. Even if it was only something small.
Asking around produced the results she feared though. The bastard was clever. Making sure to leave no tracks. This didn’t surprise her much. No answers to her query. At this point all she could hope for was that it was a scare tactic. Something to make her afraid for her life. Hopefully send her packing back home to hide with her mother. No that was not what she would do. There was no way she would risk darkening her mother’s doorstep with this possible trouble.
Lance had just finished his shift of duty for the day. Could finally breath a sigh of relief that life was normal for the time being. There had been no further questions from his father or grandfather lately. Though in a way… That was just as bad. So much for that feeling of relief. It had been a fleeting feeling.
“Hey! Lance!” One of his fellow knights waved to him to get his attention. A letter in his hand.
“What is it?” Lance eyed the envelope with curiosity.
“Dunno. Was just delivered for you. You know I don’t read others mail.” The man handed off the letter to Lance before walking back towards his post.
Lance turned the letter over in his hand before finally opening it. The note was short but it’s meaning was plenty clear. A frown creased his brown as he read it a second time. “Tara.” If she was writing to him about his cousin she was obviously concerned. The fact that his cousin had left the Order for at least a day or possibly more concerned him. Something definitely did not sit well with him now. A nagging feeling.
“Halone have mercy…” Lance uttered the prayer softly as he picked up his service sword and shield. He had to find her. Something was clearly wrong. Tara knew about the dangers Destiney faced. This was the first time the wilds healer had warned him of his cousin’s actions. If he ignored this… No he wouldn’t ignore this. He couldn’t entertain the idea of what might happen if he did.
There was no parting words for his comrades in arms today as he hurried away from Skyfire Locks. He was a man on a mission.
Destiney had stayed the night at the inn in Ishgard. Resuming her search for answers in the morning light. Hoping that different hours might lead to a different result. Yet it was not to be. Still no answers came to surface. Her questions dismissed.
Her mind drifted back to the letter at first. Then back to the behavior of the man who had become her dearest companion. Thoughts on anything but where she was. The pain in her heart kept drawing her back to Nate. There was so much fear that she was losing him. It felt like hell. It was so akin to the pain that losing Leon had been.
Leon… She tried to let her thoughts drift to the duskwight. Memories of the joy he brought her. However her mind could not seem to grasp an hold those. All it recalled was pain right now. Ripping at her heart. Trying to tear open the scars and create new as well.
“Not the best of places for a pretty lass eh?”
Destiney blinked mask hidden eyes as the sound of a heavy voice brought her attention from thoughts. Her eyes settled on a rough looking man leaning against a wooden pillar. Brume thug by the looks of him. Had she really ended up in the Brume while thinking? Not good. Best to keep walking. Ignore the man. It was the best in this situation.
“Hey I was talking to you. You just ignore us like the rest of those high born bastards eh?”
Destiney quickened her steps but did not run. No she wouldn’t give this man the satisfaction of running her scared. The bow on her back had apparently not been enough of a deterrent. Glancing over her shoulder to check if the man followed had been a poor choice. She ran straight into another person. Her speed of purpose when she hit that solid body had nearly sent her falling backwards onto her backside. She swallowed hard as she looked up at the smirking face of the man she had run into.
“Now ain’t she a pretty thing. Didn’t ya mamma ever tell ya not to wonder the Brume? Bad things happen to pretty girls.” the new man sneered at her as she took a step back.
Shaking hands reached for her bow. Attempting to make herself seem a threat. Fight or flight. Eyes darting between the two men. looking for a way out. Those sneering faces though… Flashbacks through her mind. Those sneering faces of the Imperials… Her breathing quickened as she drew her bow forward. Willing herself not to give in. However she knew she was beginning to tremble. She wasn’t ready. Not yet. Not for this.
A hand reached out to grab her arm. Frozen like prey caught by a predator. They couldn’t see the fear widened eyes as she stared at that hand. Panic was slowly setting in. With a panicked shriek she ripped her arm from his grasp an turned. The other man still there but she was a prey trying to escape. She dodged his attempt to grab her, ducking to his left. Freedom beckoned to her. The steps leading out of the Brume taunting in the distance.
Her foot caught a broken shard of rock as she made for freedom. Felling her to her hands and knees. Eyes squeezed tightly shut as she heard their laughter. Their heavy steps approaching.
“Twelve save me…” Destiney whimpered softly as she moved to force herself to her feet again. Only to give a soft cry of pain. The knee of her left leg was torn. She could see the red of the blood even with the torn dark fabric.
Destiney couldn’t look. There was the sound of running feet. Another here to probably join them. Another to add to her pain and suffering. If she turned could she kill to survive? Or would the darkness consume her? She wasn’t sure. Indecision warred inside of her as she reached for her bow where it had fallen before her.
There were several grunts of pain. The solid thunk of metal meeting flesh and bone. The softer tinkling of metal, the movement of chainmail. A fight had begin behind her. Yet she waited in silence for the verdict. It seemed to last forever yet only took minutes. Thuds of two bodies hitting the stone ground.
“Destiney!”
The voice made her heart leap. She knew that voice. Teary masked covered eyes finally looked back towards where the men had been approaching. Now they lay on the ground in various states of pain an suffering. Before them stood a familiar face. Now she did give into the tears.
Lance moved forward, dropping to his knees beside his cousin. Leaving his sword and shield on the ground. Close enough to grab again if needed. His strong hand gripped her chin gently as he looked at her. The metal of his gauntlet cold as winter. “Are you okay?”
Destiney shook her head before throwing her arms around her cousin. He had come to her rescue. His surprise was plain on his face as she hugged herself to him. It had been unexpected to him. He gently wrapped his arms around her. Giving her a moment to try an calm herself. His eyes went back to the thugs who groaned softly in pain.
“Come on. We need to leave here.” Lance tried to pry her back from him gently. Her body was still trembling from the fear and tears. A frown creased his brow. He quickly secured his sword and shield before moving to pick his cousin up. It surprised him that she didn’t put up a fuss as he cradled her against his chest. Instead she merely buried her face against him. It worried him to see her like this. “Let’s get you home…”
Lance fully intended to take her away from Ishgard. There was no way he was letting her linger. He had a feeling those thugs had been hired to harass her. No second chances would be given if they tried again. The anger towards them had been deep. Remembering a time when he had once fought thugs like that with a man who had once been his friend. No these ones had not been targeting him this time. They had targeted his cousin who couldn’t physically fight back. This was clearly worse. Clearly deliberate yet he still had no proof. The game had continued forward.
No one was around when he walked through the doors. Well except the usual hall servants who worked for the Order. Thankfully one of them had opened the door for him. Somewhere along the way Destiney had dozed off in his arms. Putting her down would probably have woken her. He asked for the help of the elezen man who had opened the door. Needed help getting her into the back where her room was. He thanked the man as he stepped inside with his cargo.
Her room was warm and inviting. Clearly well cared for. Books scattered on the table with papers. A pillow on the floor nearby her work table. Probably for her wolf pup or the dragonet she had mentioned to him before.
Lance set her down on the nearest of the two beds. It looked like the one she slept in. The other was neat and clean. Not that this one was not but it showed more signs of use. Once she was safely down he moved to find supplies. He only knew basic first aid but her knee needed cleaned. Being a knight for a nation that had been at war for so long.. First aid had seemed like a good thing to learn. Not only to care for his own wounds but to help his fellow knights. He had no real training in aether though.
His cousin being a healer was a good thing. In the drawer at the foot of the bed he found what he was looking for. A clean cloth and some bandages. Gauntlets were ditched on top of the furnishing. He moved to the tub to wet the cloth and borrow the soap before moving back where she slept. His hands were gentle as he worked to clean the dried blood.
Sky blue eyes looked up to see if she still slept. He could not tell with that mask on her face. He could only recall seeing her in that mask a few times. None of them good times for her. He was beginning to wonder if it was some sort of symbol. Swiftly he had the shallow wound cleaned and bandaged. Hands reached up to remove that mask from her face and sit it aside. When his gave returned to her, cerulean eyes met his.
There was so much pain in those eyes that stared up at him. He was unsure how long she had been awake. Or if she had been awake the whole time. Yet beneath that pain was a flicker of the flame he was used to seeing in her.
“Destiney… What happened?” His voice was gentle, filled with concern. This was the side of the woman he was not used to seeing. He was used to the spark and vibrancy. Something had to be gnawing at her like a rabid beast to leave her like this.
There was only silence between them. She eventually rolled over. Gaze broken between them. He heaved a heavy sigh as he rested a hand on her shoulder. The only comfort he could offer her if she would not speak to him.
“Thank you…”
He had almost missed the words. They had been soft and barely above a whisper. “Of course. A knight lives to serve. To protect. To sacrifice.”
He was a bit shocked when she curled up an began to softly cry once more. Concern creased his face. He was unsure how to help her. Yet something needed to be done. Something had to give. An he needed to check into the attack. His eyes fell on a crumpled ball of paper that had fallen from her pocket as she had rolled over to her side. He allowed her a moment to cry as he examined the paper. Concern changed to anger.
“I’ll be back later to check on you. Please remain here, cousin.” Lance stood and gathered his gauntlets once more. He needed to check into this letter himself. He wasn’t sure this was entirely what rattled his cousin so much. Yet without her speaking to him… There was little he could do. He would find the lady of the house though an show her both the paper and ask her to talk to Destiney. Then he could do some searching of his own. He paused at the door an looked back once more. Wishing silently that there was more that he could do.
One step at a time. He would find Lady Rhisi and then deal with this problem in his own way.
is the middle child and engaged to be married in a few months time. Gwen is generally too stuck up to speak with me anymore. All she cares about is her upcoming wedding.
Lothaire
is the youngest and set to become the heir of the Aurifore name in the future. I know generally it is the first born son but he is still in the good graces of my grandfather and father unlike myself.
Lothaire
still speaks to me on occasion. I think my falling out with our father and grandfather has strained our relationship though. He wants to please them while I don’t care about their praise.”
(Lance so badly wants to admit how bad things feel with his grandfather and father. He wants to admit how dangerous the situation feels. How desperate the situation is making him feel. He is even willing to disobey Tara’s wishes for him to wait a bit longer before challenging Nate to a spar despite the damage his shoulder took from Leera followed by his father reopening the wound. This almost goes back to the breaking point thing from earlier. So far only two people have managed to begin cracking the mask Lance wears over his heart. Tara and Miu. But only Tara truly knows the full depths of what is going on. Yet he still holds back on just how much he is willing to openly admit.)
(So I decided on writing this Saturday while at work but was too tired to work on it. However the scene below took place today (Monday). Originally was going to have happened Wednesday last week after Tara patched him up but yesterday’s (Sunday) events changed my mind. So I wanted to write this taking place today instead because of those events. It’s a tad more fitting now then before. Hints at things to come somewhere after the holidays. But I wanted to write this before I finished the rest of the asks. So I am getting there. :D)
Sky blue eyes stared up towards the grey clouds. More snow soon to come they promised. Something that was not an usual occurrence for Ishgard. He had trouble remembering anymore what his city used to look like without the cold and snow. Hard to believe it had been so long already.
He knew he should have returned home last eve. Was probably going to hear about it from his mother at the very least. Hopefully his father was too busy with work for Dzemael to even be home at this hour. He could slip in an find his spare armor. The chainmail he had worn yesterday needed repairs. There was no way he could wear it to duty without questions being raised. He had no answers to give. None that made sense. There was no way he could explain it without seeming as if he was crazy. Though he had seen a good many crazy things since he had started following his cousin around.
Yesterday… The man with the snow white hair and teeth like razors. The one Tenrai had called a foul water sprite. His left hand came to rest over his right shoulder. There was no real pain. Tara had taken good care of the injury he had sustained. Yet… The memories of that brief fight still disturbed him. There was still no name to put with the stranger’s face yet he had claimed to know Destiney. Which disturbed him even more…
Chaotic. His cousin had some very chaotic choices of people to claim knowing. That was the best way he could think of it. Like turbulent waters of the sea. He hadn’t had a chance to see her an ask about the strange man he had found outside of Dragonhead.
It had started as mere curiosity and concern. The man had been sitting in the snow against the outer wall. Wanting to make sure the fool hadn’t frozen to death mere feet from the camp itself. There was a sort of madness about the stranger wearing the half-mask. Talking about dragon blood. Saying how it had no effect on him an wanting to test it on Lance. An then… The odd way the man fought like a demon. Trying to pierce Lance with those… Things! Like the tentacles of a octopus but far more dangerous. Their shape was not solid. More like half frozen water able to shift shape. The edges tipped crimson with blood. There was no way Lance wanted to find out if it was truly dragon blood in those dangerous tendrils.
Lance hadn’t wanted to fight. Not at first. However there was no way he was going to allow someone so dangerous to walk freely. Not in that state of madness. However he had no idea where his cousin was to call her to deal with the masked man. It had been like fighting a Hydra. Cut off one an two regrew. Until he was facing at least seven tendrils. In the end it wasn’t one of those tipped in the color of blood that caught him. He had opened up a gaping wound in the man’s chest but even that did not seem to faze the man. From there something shot out like those tendrils, caught him in the right shoulder. His chainmail hadn’t seemed to be much of an obstacle for it either. That creeping cold. Like something crawling under his skin. Then it was nearly over as quickly as it had begun. The man withdrew and fled away. Leaving him there stunned and wounded. Leaving him to wonder what sort of creature that man was.
His thoughts finally drifted back to the present as he approached the door to the house. A deep breath before his hands reached up to give it a push open. Cautiously without seeming like a thief sneaking about his own home, Lance made his way towards his room.
“Lancefer?”
He paused an mentally cursed his luck. His mother’s voice. So much for getting in an out without notice. Elviane always seemed to be keeping an eye or ear out for his coming and goings. Especially when it came to trying to set him up with a potential wife.
“Yes mother. I had to stop by an fetch something from my room. I have another shift of duty shortly.” He knew she wasn’t going to come out of the other room to see him though. She rarely did anymore. Not unless she had something specific she needed him for. Nor did he feel truly bad for lying about having duty soon. He mere wanted to avoid the possible conversation about his love life. Or rather lack of one.
“Your father and grandfather wished to see you in the study. Do not keep them waiting. You know how they hate being made to wait.”
Halone have mercy… Both of them? He grimaced an looked down the hall towards the closed doors to the study. It would have been easier to turn around an run. But he didn’t run. With a deep breath he pushed forward towards those doors. Looming ahead of him like the gates to hell. Dealing with them one at a time was bad enough. Dealing with both at once… Maybe he should have let that man kill him yesterday.
Inside the room Grandfather was his usual place. Behind the sturdy manor desk, polished to a shine. Papers spread across it’s surface. A tray of tea that was no longer steaming. Obviously they had been waiting for him for some time. His father frowned from where he stood near the windows looking out into Ishgard.
“You’re late.”
The urge to cringe was there as his father spoke. Vairemont was never a patient man. Yet Lance kept his face passive. He had been dancing to this game long enough. A respectable bow to both of his elders. He didn’t dare look up at either of them. Gaze kept down to the floor. They would not tolerate being lied to. Yet they didn’t truly know the lies he told them on a regular basis. There was no reason to give them a chance to suspect him now though. Tread careful. Dealing with both at once was like walking on cracked glass. One wrong step would have disastrous consequences.
“I apologize. I got caught up in business last eve an chose to rest before returning. It was already far late for travel back to Ishgard.”
He heard his father’s steps more then saw them. Felt his father’s displeasure. The man always seemed to radiate that feeling around him anymore. Ever since his fateful choice of Haillenarte over Dzamael. He was no longer the favored son. Had not been for many years.
“Resting at the beach I heard.”
Surprised eyes found his father’s stern gaze. Had they realized? Was his ruse up? Did they know every bit of information he fed them since finding out who the lady they had him following was, was false? Surely he had not slipped up that much to give himself away so soon. He was no shadow yet surely they couldn’t have found out. Unless… They had begun to suspect an had him followed… Or he was truly unlucky that someone his father knew was there at Costa…
“Her free company goes to the beach at the end of the week, every week. As I said. Business. Unless you no longer wish for me to keep trying to find information for you.” He tried hard to keep the venom from his voice. He hated what they demanded of him. The orders chaffed an cut at him. Defying them was hard. They were his family. Yet… They also made it so easy to do. His time among the men and women of Haillenarte had given him a better understanding of how family should be. Even his time learning of his cousin an her crazy free company that she considered family… Even they were more family then the one he had.
Fast. His father’s hand struck out at him. Hand on his injured right shoulder. Fingers digging into that wound. On purpose. The intent was clear on his father’s face. Lance couldn’t keep his face passive any longer. His teeth were gritted against the pain as those fingers pressed hard against that injury. Tara’s hard work… It pissed him off. Finally the pain subsided as his father shoved him back into the nearby bookshelf. A few of the books tumbled to the floor at the jolt of a body hitting the shelves.
“You will not take the tone with me, boy.” His father’s voice a snarl.
“Enough!” Age wizened eyes looked on at the scene of father and son before finally settling on Lancefer. Their disappointment was clear. “You have been failing to provide us with anything useful lately. If this keeps up… Well. I don’t have to remind you now do? Consider this a warning, Lancefer. You will not get another. You know what was asked of you.”
“Yes, Grandfather.” Lance bowed his head. A warning. They were indeed beginning to suspect. His lies had not been clearly as clever as he had thought they had been. Maybe he had been wise in warning Nate last evening. If they suspected it would not be long before they took this matter out of his hands. If they did that he would no longer be able to control the flow of information. He would need the help of men like Raiden and Nate. The purple-eyed aevis and the wolf of Dzamael. But would it be enough?
“You are dismissed.”
Lance did not wait around. Nor did he hurry in his departure. He would not give them the satisfaction of thinking they had him running scared. Once in the safety of his room, he slid down the closed door to sit on the floor. Slowly he removed his jacket and shirt. Trying to be careful of the bandages on his shoulder. They were stained with fresh blood where his father had dug his fingers into the wound. A quiet curse under his breath as he leaned his head back against the door behind him. He would have to think of something. Surely he could do this.
(So. First meeting for the cousins, Destiney and Lance. Since my characters cannot actually ever meet each other in game, of course, I wrote this for them. The beginnings of something I’m working on to happen in the future. @michisilver and @kindlingdusk who wanted to read this an helped give Lance the verbal kick in the pants he needed. 😀 Here it is. An @onidephor for Raiden who had a hand in helping make this go the way it did.)
Destiney quickly tucked away her
journal as she finished the last lines for the entry she was working
on. The fact that someone was knocking on her door had her curious.
Chee and J’siris usually didn’t bother knocking and waiting. They
usually just knocked then came in. Whoever was at the door today
wasn’t them. She didn’t usually get visitors at her personal home. It
wasn’t an address she openly gave out. This place was an escape from
all the chaos and activity in her life. Her one safe haven from
everything.
What she hadn’t been expecting was the
handsome elezen on the other side. She was pretty sure she had never
met this man before. His darker skin tone almost made her mistake him
for a duskwight at first. But the racial cuffs on the ears marked him
as a wildwood. His hair was raven black with what appeared to be dark
blue highlights in places. Faint freckles dotted his cheekbones right
below his summer sky blue eyes. She found herself speechless as she
stared up at him.
“Destiney? Destiney Delvanguard yes?”
He asked as he bowed politely to her. Even an Ishgardian accent
touched his voice.
“Yes. Who are you?” She finally
managed to find her voice to ask the young man before her. The accent
had set her on edge. It had been the douse of cold water she needed
when staring at a handsome elezen man. She knew very few people in
Ishgard. He was not among those. Very few of those she even knew
there could be counted among those she trusted. So what brought this
man to her doorstep then?
“Lancefer, Knight in service of House
Haillenarte. May I come in?”
Destiney stepped aside as she held the
door open for him to come in. She had not missed his lack of a last
name. Curiosity won out over caution though. There was no one she
remembered among Haillenarte. Never before had she interacted with
anyone from the High Houses. Not even a knight of one. She had always
kept her time in Ishgard limited after her five year stay had ended
years ago. Only returning as needed for information or items bartered
from a trader there. Not even returning to visit her aunt. Though she
did send letters at times to let her aunt know she was still alive.
Thankfully the recent remodel of her
kitchen allowed for better space to deal with guests. Mostly because
she had been tempted to invite members of the company by sometime.
Most definitely a few of them at the very least. She had already had
Felix over once. Along with his friend Rowan. It had just been a few
nights ago actually.
Lancefer picked a chair not far from
the doors, placing his gauntlet clad hands on the back but didn’t
sit. He looked anxious and nervous though he did hold himself well
without fidgeting. As if whatever he had come here for, was bad news.
Or at least news he was unsure how she would take. Destiney didn’t
take her eyes off him though as she moved around the counter into the
kitchen. The more distance between them the better. Not that there
was much room for escape if needed. Especially being in the kitchen.
Still the space between them an the counters made her feel a fraction
safer to deal with the Ishgardian in her home.
“What can I help you with, Ser
Lancefer?” Destiney asked as she grabbed a bottle of white wine off
the cupboard shelf before turning her attention back to him. There
was no way she wished to take her eyes off him for long. His sword
and shield were not drawn but that did not make him any less
dangerous. Her bow was downstairs on her desk as she had not expected
needing it. As was her soulstone so there was no way to call Daisy to
her aid. Fingers reached into her pocket to brush against her
linkpearl. At least that much she never left just anywhere. It was
also on her person.
“This… This is hard to explain.”
Lancefer said with a sigh as he ran a hand through his dark hair. He
finally let go of the back of the chair and began to pace. “After
speaking with both Lady Miu and Lady Dusk… They both thought it
time I come clean to you. That I come speak with you. I beg you to
hear me out until I finish what I have to say though. Will you?” He
looked at her with pleading eyes as he stopped his pacing for a
moment.
“Lady Dusk? You know Dusk?”
Destiney frowned as she looked at him. Lady Miu was a name she had
not heard before but she only knew one Dusk. It made her feel she
needed to be extra cautious now if the Dusk he spoke of was the one
she knew. Though it also made her want to find out the truth. Surely
if he was dangerous Dusk wouldn’t have suggested he come speak to
her. After all Dusk kept trying to warn her of Leera because she
thought the duskwight was dangerous. Granted Leera was dangerous in a
way but he had never proven a danger to her yet.
“Lady Dusk of the Order you belong to
yes. I have…” He hesitated as he took a deep breath as if to try
an ease the tension of his body. He could see the way Destiney had
tensed up as he confirmed that they were talking about the same Dusk.
“I… have been speaking with various members of your company. For
a while now actually. Raiden. Oni. Lady Tara. To name a few. I dined
with them for a brief time at the beginning of the week even. They
knew the truth an have held their tongues on the matter because I
pleaded for them to do so.”
“Held their tongues on what matter?
Get to the point.” Destiney said with a frown as she gently placed
the wine bottle down on the counter behind her. She no longer trusted
herself to hold on to it. Afraid she may either throw it or drop it.
Almost wished she had a seat in case she needed it with whatever this
knight was about to tell her.
“Please hear me out until the end. At
first what I have done is because of orders on behalf of my
grandfather. But as time went on my motivations changed. My reasons
for doing what I have done have changed. Fury take me… I even
battled Raiden on behalf of those motivations. Before the eyes of
Halone herself outside the gates to Ishgard…” A heavy sigh as he
resumed pacing once more as his story slowly unfolded. “I lost
gloriously to Raiden. I never stood a ghost of a chance. I thought…
thought you were safe with members like Raiden to watch your back.”
“Safe? Safe from what?” Destiney
struggled to remain patient. She found his words to grate her nerves.
Why had he challenged Raiden? What was she supposed to be safe from?
Interally she was screaming for him to get to the point. However she
knew screaming an getting angry would do little good. It was obvious
whatever this knight was trying to say was difficult. He wanted to
make his point with as many details as possible.
“From my grandfather. Our
grandfather.” His eyes met hers. He held his breath as he watched
her for any sign. Any sign of what she was likely to do. When she
just stared at him in confusion he pressed forward. His words came
quicker now. Hurrying to make his point before she had a chance to
toss him out of her house without finishing. “My name is Lancefer
Aurifore. I am your cousin. Grandfather at first sent me to spy on
you an report back to him. Looking for any weakness he could use
against you. Once I learned you were my cousin though… I started to
defy his wishes. I fed him false information. I fought Raiden for
your safety. He… Doesn’t have the best of reputations among the
knights but it is not my story to tell.”
“Wait… What? Grandfather…
That…” Destiney sucked in a sharp breath as she gripped the
counter behind her. Her eyes stared down at the floor beneath her
feet. She felt like a rug had been ripped out from under her. She had
had no interactions with the old bastard since she had left Ishgard.
Gladly had she kept it that way. Neither one of them wanted to be
family to one another. Yet this man in her home was calling himself
her cousin. She felt angry and confused all at the same time.
“I tried my best to work from the
shadows. To keep anything that might damn you as a heretic from
reaching grandfather. But… I am a knight not a spy. I have a
certain amount of honor to uphold. Haillenarte has already fallen too
far without me adding anything worse to their reputation.” His
pacing stopped again. Once more his hands gripped the back of the
chair nearest to him. His gaze was downcast. “Both Lady Miu and
Lady Dusk insisted this farce needed to end. That I needed to come
clean an speak with you. I… You are my family. I cannot stand by an
allow this continue. To allow this all to spiral out without you
knowing what sort of danger might lurk in the shadows. Please…”
His words seemed heartfelt. That was
what struck Destiney the most. Never before beyond her aunt had
anyone from that side of the family reached out to her. To most of
them her mother was an outcast. An she a half-breed bastard. Yet here
was one claiming to be different. To actually be trying to warn her.
Grandfather having a desire to brand her a heretic was actually not
very far fetched. She didn’t like the man an he certainly didn’t like
her.
“If you can not trust my words
alone… If you have reason to distrust me… Speak with Raiden or
Lady Dusk. Or even Lady Tara. Please. Even if you toss me out right
now… Please just believe me… All I want is to keep you safe.”
Destiney felt at a loss for words.
Every name of an Order member was someone she trusted. Even if she
was not currently on good terms with Oni. It still said something if
those people had trusted him enough to keep his secret. It explained
the occasional feeling of being watched.
Family. The gods were offering her
another piece of a family. A piece she had never known till now.
Could she trust his words rang true? Could she really just accept his
words for what they were? Haillenarte… It was one of the decent
High Houses. One she had always thought to be far more noble then
those monsters of House Dzamael. Maybe his words could be trusted.
Raiden had fought with him an allowed
the man to live. He had walked away from a battle that could have
very well killed him. If Raiden had allowed him to live… There must
be some shred of truth to his pleas. Which struck another cord in
her. After what she had watched Oni and Raiden to be capable of…
They had allowed someone who had clearly attacked them to walk away
alive.
Her hands clenched as she tried to
decide how to react. Slowly she reopened her hands and finally looked
up at him. His head was still bowed as if waiting for her judgment.
Part of her was angry, furious even. Part of her felt sympathy
towards him. Her heart was tugged in various direction of emotion as
her mind tried to sort through the information in a reasonable
fashion. How dare he assume she needed his protection. How dare he
spy on her! Yet… He was reaching out to her now…
Destiney stalked from the kitchen over
to where Lancefer stood, still not looking up as she approached. Her
hands met his shoulders, shoving backwards. With a clatter of metal,
Lancefer found himself on his butt staring up at her with wide
startled eyes. Destiney crossed her arms over her chest as she looked
down at him with a frown.
“How dare you assume I need your
protection. How dare you stalk me from the shadows yet call yourself
a knight. How dare you assume I want any contact with anyone in the
Aurifore family.” Destiney began. Her voice was firm yet the anger
was held at bay. Slowly she dropped her arms from where she had
crossed them. A hand stretched out to him. “Get up.”
He stared at her dumbfounded and
speechless. First she had shoved him and scolded him. Now she was
offering her hand out to him. Demanding he get back to his feet. Her
expression was hard for him to read. He took her offered hand,
getting back to his feet with her assistance.
“I appreciate your concern but I can
protect myself… Most of the time.” A tug at the corners of her
mouth was the first sign of true emotion since that frown had faded
into a blank look. “I will give you a chance. One chance. If you
screw up, you will never bother me again. If you are truly as honest
as you have made yourself sound… Then… Welcome to the family?”
Lance felt his eyes would pop out of
his head as he listened to her words. He threw his arms around her
without thinking, hugging her tight. She squeaked in protest at the
sudden hug by a man she didn’t really know yet. He quickly pulled
back with a sheepish smile.
“Sorry… I was expecting worse. Like
things thrown at me… Or spells. Halone have mercy.” He laughed
nervously. “I am… Overjoyed that you are going to give me a
chance. I have never been close with my siblings. I have been… the
black sheep of the family since the day I joined Haillenarte.”
“Well then…” Destiney looked
around at her kitchen, eyes settling upon the bottle of wine. “Tell
me about it over a drink? You already know more about me then I know
about you.”
“Ah… Tea maybe? You do drink tea
yes? I am afraid I have duty later this evening. Alcohol would not be
wise.” Lance said as he removed his sword and shield, leaving them
near the door.
Spirit of the Warlock 