Post by Elcie on Jul 24, 2014 0:35:53 GMT -5
By the time Alain returned, Xavier's heart rate had almost returned to normal, though he was still feeling very shaken. He was rather surprised when Alain turned and addressed him.
"That could have gone better. I apologise for what happened with Miss Ryer, Master Lynn, and I hope you forgive me for scaring you. Just understand it was necessary. She is alive, I did let her go, though I told her not to come back here in case Duval sees it was a ploy. I understand my brother relayed my message to you," Alain gave him a small bow.
Xavier felt himself relaxing slightly at that, and he relaxed slightly more when Alain revealed his wound, which made it seem much more likely that Alain was not lying. Elin would not have even been hurt. "Thank you," he whispered again. "You... you saved her life..." He would have done anything in that moment to save her, but he knew how unlikely it was that Duval would have accepted his bargain, even if Leif and Ambrose had allowed him to go through with it. Even if he'd spared her life he'd have wanted to hurt her somehow, or take her into Courdon as well, which... Xavier shuddered. No. He hoped Elin took Alain's advice and stayed far away.
He watched as Leif tended to Alain's wounds, feeling suddenly exhausted. The enormity of what had just happened was still sinking in - the man he still had nightmares about, showing up in the flesh in the city he'd come to think of as home. Threatening him. Threatening Elin. Xavier could not seem to stop shaking. Ambrose noticed, looking at him with concern.
"I'm sorry. You're shaking like a leaf, but it's no surprise, considering the experience you just had. Let's not stay here."
Xavier nodded fervently in agreement. Even flanked as he was by friends who'd already shown their willingness to protect him, he couldn't get far enough from the Courdonians. Ambrose suggested an inn, and Leif agreed. “The King’s Arms isn’t too far from here. Miss Wright should be in, right, Master Xavier?”
"Yes," Xavier said, looking at him with mingled surprise and relief. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of the King's Arms until now. As soon as Leif had said it, he knew that was exactly where he wanted to be. Ilsa's inn was one of the only places he had ever felt safe in his life. "Can we, please? I want to see Ilsa."
As they set off, Xavier's hand came up self-consciously to hold his right shoulder, covering where his brand was exposed. He'd successfully hidden his identity for two years, and now anyone who was in that square could have seen... And Ilsa. He'd have to tell her, he realized, if he wanted her to know what had happened. Xavier's brow furrowed, thinking about it.
---
Alain and Leif's final words were still ringing in Duval's ears as he walked away. How dare they. It was humiliating to have been bested by the Kythian nobles, and over a slave, of all things. He still couldn't quite fathom why they cared - even here, where Xavier would have been merely a peasant, they were still far above his station, weren't they? At least they had not had the temerity to defend his attacker as well. In Courdon he might have taken her as punishment rather than killing her, but the Kythians would probably have objected, and her death was perfectly acceptable to him. One less thing to worry about.
By Carricon, he hated this kingdom, though. He hoped King Malik would finish his business here soon so they could be on their way. And despite the risk to his province, he found he was no longer quite so opposed to war as he had been before. Someone needed to teach these people a lesson. And despite the fact that Talvace did not lie on the Kythian border, Corvus had managed to be a thorn in his side for years with their stubborn refusal to offer more than cursory assistance hunting down slaves.
He was indulging in a rather pleasant daydream about laying waste to Corvus and making House Jade his slaves before proceeding north to burn Destrier to the ground around Grand Duke Alain's ears, but then suddenly--
"Hello, and welcome to Medieville!" It was a young Kythian noble, wearing - of course. Of course it was another member of that blasted House Jade. "On behalf of House Jade, I hope your stay here is pleasant. And just to make you feel more at home, allow me to sing you a traditional Courdonian song!"
And then he started singing.
Duval stared.
(It was actually a rather good rendition of a traditional ballad. Duval would never have dreamed of saying this in a million years.)
He would have liked to fire off another subtle, stinging insult, but apparently his little disagreement with the Grand Duke had tired him, because all he could manage (still distracted by soothing thoughts of the city of Destrier being set on fire) was a flat "What."
"That could have gone better. I apologise for what happened with Miss Ryer, Master Lynn, and I hope you forgive me for scaring you. Just understand it was necessary. She is alive, I did let her go, though I told her not to come back here in case Duval sees it was a ploy. I understand my brother relayed my message to you," Alain gave him a small bow.
Xavier felt himself relaxing slightly at that, and he relaxed slightly more when Alain revealed his wound, which made it seem much more likely that Alain was not lying. Elin would not have even been hurt. "Thank you," he whispered again. "You... you saved her life..." He would have done anything in that moment to save her, but he knew how unlikely it was that Duval would have accepted his bargain, even if Leif and Ambrose had allowed him to go through with it. Even if he'd spared her life he'd have wanted to hurt her somehow, or take her into Courdon as well, which... Xavier shuddered. No. He hoped Elin took Alain's advice and stayed far away.
He watched as Leif tended to Alain's wounds, feeling suddenly exhausted. The enormity of what had just happened was still sinking in - the man he still had nightmares about, showing up in the flesh in the city he'd come to think of as home. Threatening him. Threatening Elin. Xavier could not seem to stop shaking. Ambrose noticed, looking at him with concern.
"I'm sorry. You're shaking like a leaf, but it's no surprise, considering the experience you just had. Let's not stay here."
Xavier nodded fervently in agreement. Even flanked as he was by friends who'd already shown their willingness to protect him, he couldn't get far enough from the Courdonians. Ambrose suggested an inn, and Leif agreed. “The King’s Arms isn’t too far from here. Miss Wright should be in, right, Master Xavier?”
"Yes," Xavier said, looking at him with mingled surprise and relief. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of the King's Arms until now. As soon as Leif had said it, he knew that was exactly where he wanted to be. Ilsa's inn was one of the only places he had ever felt safe in his life. "Can we, please? I want to see Ilsa."
As they set off, Xavier's hand came up self-consciously to hold his right shoulder, covering where his brand was exposed. He'd successfully hidden his identity for two years, and now anyone who was in that square could have seen... And Ilsa. He'd have to tell her, he realized, if he wanted her to know what had happened. Xavier's brow furrowed, thinking about it.
---
Alain and Leif's final words were still ringing in Duval's ears as he walked away. How dare they. It was humiliating to have been bested by the Kythian nobles, and over a slave, of all things. He still couldn't quite fathom why they cared - even here, where Xavier would have been merely a peasant, they were still far above his station, weren't they? At least they had not had the temerity to defend his attacker as well. In Courdon he might have taken her as punishment rather than killing her, but the Kythians would probably have objected, and her death was perfectly acceptable to him. One less thing to worry about.
By Carricon, he hated this kingdom, though. He hoped King Malik would finish his business here soon so they could be on their way. And despite the risk to his province, he found he was no longer quite so opposed to war as he had been before. Someone needed to teach these people a lesson. And despite the fact that Talvace did not lie on the Kythian border, Corvus had managed to be a thorn in his side for years with their stubborn refusal to offer more than cursory assistance hunting down slaves.
He was indulging in a rather pleasant daydream about laying waste to Corvus and making House Jade his slaves before proceeding north to burn Destrier to the ground around Grand Duke Alain's ears, but then suddenly--
"Hello, and welcome to Medieville!" It was a young Kythian noble, wearing - of course. Of course it was another member of that blasted House Jade. "On behalf of House Jade, I hope your stay here is pleasant. And just to make you feel more at home, allow me to sing you a traditional Courdonian song!"
And then he started singing.
Duval stared.
(It was actually a rather good rendition of a traditional ballad. Duval would never have dreamed of saying this in a million years.)
He would have liked to fire off another subtle, stinging insult, but apparently his little disagreement with the Grand Duke had tired him, because all he could manage (still distracted by soothing thoughts of the city of Destrier being set on fire) was a flat "What."
Xavier is relieved when Alain (Celestial) shows them where the blood actually came from, and is very much in favor of going to see Ilsa. He tries to hide his brand and thinks about what he's going to say to her as he, Ambrose, and Tiger head in that direction.
Meanwhile, Duval tries to cheer himself up with a nice daydream about destroying the Kythian countryside when he's interrupted by Joffery's singing (PFA). He is not amused.
Meanwhile, Duval tries to cheer himself up with a nice daydream about destroying the Kythian countryside when he's interrupted by Joffery's singing (PFA). He is not amused.