Fantasy What's worth fighting for

[Morris]

Daquan nodded at Alard as he escorted him back to the Vuldaraks' section of the camp. - "Yes... I would like that very much. If only... if only I could get a title somehow." - he lamented. - "Stupid *hic* ranks and costumes- I mean customs... not that I mind working for success, but *hic* don't those sissies from Maelkith have better things than war? Ehh..."

Eventually, they would stroll back to the appropriate part of the encampment. Lord Joel was leaning over some reports with a brooding face with Uldred by his side, when the squire and the apprentice magician let themselves in.

"Ah, Daquan, just in time to- gosh, you're reeking!" - Joel took a step back. - "What have you been up to that you need to lean on Alard to just walk?! You shameful excuse of a squire." - he ranted.

"E- excuuuse me, your lordship" - he protested, even as he was falling half-asleep as he stood - "I was defending our honor at the dinner table valiantly!"

"I wager he took a drinking contest." - Uldred shrugged. - "Go easy on him, father. It's part of the training to build up an alcohol tolerance anyway." - he added with a snide chuckle, remembering the times he and Thomas got him soaked as part of their own tutoring lessons.

This earned quite a disapproving frown from the esteemed patriach of the house, but ultimately he gave a resigned sigh. - "Well, I won't have much use for him in this state." - he turned towards Daquan - "Consider yourself dismissed and tuck yourself in. And please try not to vomit. You, Alard, please help him to his bed. Might as well play nursemaid since you are here. But after, I would have a word with you in private, if you don't mind." - he told her.

Lilbutterfli94

 

[Lilbutterfli94]

Aliarna had been expecting things to go quite as they had gone. Lord Joel was upset that Daquan had drank a little too much and he was rightfully upset about such actions, but they were still training and in her mind she rather have Daquan get drunk while he was here than out of the field when he was actually trying to protect his kingdom and... well indirectly protecting her.

She kind of let them talk, wanting to interject, but she knew better than to stop Lord Joel when he was upset about something. So, she just stood there, keeping up with supporting Daquan the best she could, which she was surprised she could even do given the, not only height but, weight difference.

When they were finally dismissed she bowed her head respectfully and nodded her head as she looked to Daquan. “Of course m’lord.” She said as she had to remember not to dress him just simply as Joel, which Aliarna herself did quite often when talking directly to him. After all, he was like an uncle to her in a way, though she had no uncles or aunts from either side. So, Joel and Olette were the closest thing she had to an aunt and uncle.

She then looked to Daquan and nodded her head, “let’s go. You’ve had far too much.” She said masking her concern as she guided him slowly towards his tent. “You should lay on your side tonight... it will prevent asphyxiation if you vomit in your sleep.” She admitted as she kept walking slowly.

She then thought again, “and water... you should have some water because if you don’t want to get a nasty handover then water is your friend. I heard some of the healer type magicians speaking of regular remedied to such things.” She said, lying about how she knew about water to prevent hangovers. She had known that bit of information because she had seen many a nobles drunk and nursing a nasty hangover the next day.

 

[Morris]

Daquan let himself be handled by Alard until they reached his tent. The squire would almost trip and fall face-down had he not held into the tent's central pole; after steadying himself, he slowly let himself down to ground level and started casually undressing for bedtime, exposing quite a bit of bare skin on his upper body while he listened to Alard advise him.

"Y- you seem to know an awf... awful lot about drunkness, Alard..." - he blinked, then stared blankly in front of him. His face would light up, as if he had realised a great truth, smiling at his helpful escort: - "Ahh-hah! Knew it! You have experience w- with drinks! T- that's why you drank so little. Got ya there *hic*, Al!" - his eyelids felt like they were weighted with lead, pulling themselves down in spite of his efforts. His body didn't feel like going to sleep just yet, but his brain was clearly in favour of it. Letting out a yawn and stretching his arms out, haphazardly reaching for a waterskin, he obeyed the magician's advice and downed a few gulp's worth of water. - "Uggh. Fine, I'll... I'll get some rest, don't worry. You're like a... mommy or something. Pestering, but in in a good way." - he chuckled at Alard as he slowly lied down on his side. - "Good night, buddie." - soon enough, he was gently snoring and murmuring in his sleep.

Uldred would gesture to Alard, inviting him back over to Joel's tent. Lord Vuldarak waited for the novice with an expectantly rigid expression.

"Well, now that Daquan is soundly asleep, I'd like to inquire about something, Alard." - Joel began in a hushed tone. - "As one of the royal magicians, doubtlessly you heard about princess Aliarna's conspicuous absence at home. But I'm under the assumption none of you have been told why she hasn't been declared kidnapped or the like, as would be proper in such a situation, and why instead she's assumed to be stalking the army."

He took measure of Alard's face as he presented his case. - "I'll cut to the chase. I know for a fact Daquan has a loose tongue when he drinks too much. Did he blather about things that would be considered... scandalous?" - he pressed that last word beween his teeth like a curse. - "I want a clear answer, and if he did, you must tell me whom he spilled. I don't want unsavoury rumours circulating the camp when we have a war effort to focus on."

Lilbutterfli94

 

[Lilbutterfli94]

Aliarna kind of looked away when Daquan started to strip, though her eyes did glide over every once in awhile to make sure he wasn’t tripping over himself once more. Then she would of course try to check out his body, which was pretty well put together considering the training he went through. Then again, what made her think that he would be scarred right now? After all, he hadn’t seen full combat and she knew the medics that Lord Joel had in him employ were actually fairly adept at preventing scarring. So, it wasn’t like Daquan had much to worry about while he had been training. Out here though that would definitely change and she knew it. He would get hurt and the healers and medics would do their best to prevent scarring, but it would most likely do nothing. He did still have remnants of the burn from just a week prior.

She soon listened to Daquan and smiled a bit as she nodded her head, “caught me red handed. I’ve seen many of the mages get drunk and I’ve seen what it does to both them and their abilities. So, as a precaution I prefer to not get drunk. Honestly, this was my first time drinking in a long time.” She admitted as she knew it was better to not lie too much, but there was a small lie since Aliarna herself had never touched alcohol until today. It was surprising that she wasn’t drunk. She attributed it to the taste, which was bitter and not her favorite thing.

Soon she watched him get down to the ground and she made sure he was comfortable before she exited with Uldred. She looked at him for a moment, knowing he was just there to escort her to Lord Joel. The best case scenario was that Lord Joel was still ignorant to the fact that Alard was Aliarna, at the worst case he knew Alard was her and was going to tell her father who would immediately send her home.

So, as she re-entered Lord Joel’s tent she remembered to bow respectfully before listening to what he had to say. Good, he didn’t know that Alard was her and that made things a bit easier. While Aliarna wasn’t the best liar, she could keep a straight face, not showing what she was thinking or that she was worried, when inside her chest he heart was pounding hard against her chest as she knew one wrong word and Lord Joel would know everything, then her father would know everything and this entire mission would have been for naught.

When he mentioned that Daquan had a loose tongue when he was drunk she kind of had to keep herself from making a snide Aliarna remark. “Yes, I have noticed that he’s quite talkative and I have heard the rumors that the princess is suspected to be here. From what Daquan has told me, I imagine she is suspected to be here given their past.” She started as she chose her words carefully, “I will have you know he only exposed this history with the princess to me and to the new witch who arrived with the centaurs, Tyrania.” She stated as she knew that was better than lying.

“While I can assure you that what he has said to me will just stay with me, I cannot speak for the witch. It’s dangerous information to say the least and in the wrong hands could tarnish the princesses reputation, calling every aspect of her personal life into question.” She said as she was well aware of the danger she was in if Tyrania exposed any of this information to anyone. “As I said, I can assure you I will not speak about what I have heard, if it would make you feel better I can even have another mage pull the memory from me so I forget about what he said.” She said as she knew that she wouldn’t because this was not information she didn’t already know, but Joel would certainly buy it.

Morris

 

[Morris]

Let is be said that when it came to staring at people in an intimidating fashion, Lord Joel Vuldarak was by no means a slouch. His icy glare, were it empowered by arcane force, could have flayed people alive. The gears of his mind shifted and turned, analysing the calamitous implications of his squire not holding his liquor-addled tongue in check. While it wasn't quite as bad as he thought, two unauthorised personnel - one of them a complete outsider - knowing such details was still more than could be tolerated. Staying in the background of the tent, Uldred eyed his father and Alard with a tinge of worry.

"Father, I'm aware secrets like this demand delicate handling but... a memory pull sounds excessive." - he voiced his opinion. Not that he was all that fond of magicians, as he had liked to remind others, but in his eyes deliberately ripping memories out of someone's mind just sounded plainly wrong, something he wouldn't wish on anyone regardless of who the person in question was.

"Excessive? No. Redundant? Yes." - Joel concluded his previously unspoken thought process. - "I'm not an expert on this sort of thing, but I'm fairly certain the one doing the pulling would get a glimpse into the memory him- or herself, in which case we're on the same page as before." - he reasoned. - "So I'm going to have to trust you, Alard, I suppose. But that... Tyrania is another matter. Uldred, do you know anything about her?"

Uldred shrugged. - "Saw her once or twice. Quiet young woman, keeps mostly to herself. Doesn't like being oogled I think. Which really begs the question why she dresses like... you know. Revealingly."

"That's her business. But what she learned from Daquan is most definitely not." - he turned about, pouring some wine for himself. He measured his intake with care, but right now his nerves needed a gulp. - "We're going to have a little chat with her tomorrow. Tell her in no uncertain terms that any delving into the royal family's privacy, and especially gossiping about it, will not be tolerated. Else we're stiching her mouth shut. In the event I'll be in a cross mood, maybe even literally. His majesty Leonard is already freaked out as is."

The firstborn son of Vuldarak sighed. While he didn't know the sorceress, he felt it was unfair to threaten her for something Daquan couldn't keep quiet about. Although knowing his dad, Daquan would not get away without punishment either. He was already foreseeing a diet of dried bread and water, along with a hellish obstacle course that Daq would have to run half-naked in public.

"Thank you for your time, Alard." - Joel grunted in a low tone. - "Consider yourself dismissed."

Uldred waited until the novice left the tent and was outside hearing range. There was something on his mind that just didn't let him rest. - "Father, have you noticed?"

Joel squinted his eyes. - "Notice what?"

"Alard is using perfume. You haven't smelled it?"

The family patriarch's stern expression was loosened. He sniffed into the air, feeling the lingering sweet scent, even as it was masked by the wine's taste in his mouth. - "Now that you mention it... yes. That's odd." - he thought about it for a moment until he shrugged. - "Well, whatever makes him content with his self-image, I suppose."

Lilbutterfli94

 

[Lilbutterfli94]

Aliarna knew she was treading on thin ice, but she had seen Joel’s temper and it honestly didn’t scare her like it had when she was a young lass. If she was well below the age of 13 she would definitely be terrified right now and Joel would know it, but she wasn’t still that 13 year old lass who got scared by everything. So, her face remained completely unchanged as she watched him.

She waited patiently while they discussed whether the memory spell would be too much or not. She was relieved that they weren’t going to do that because she certainly had no idea what she was going to do. After all, they would have most likely wanted to observe this all happening. So, having them turn down the memory spell worked in her favor because she didn’t have to have Tina fake anything for her this time.

She got up from her chair carefully and bowed respectfully. “I swear on my life I will not reveal anything that was discussed in Daquan’s drunken state.” She said as she straightened out and then turned to Uldred near the exit of the tent. She walked by him and exited the tent.

She didn’t break into a sprint when she left, but to say she rushed out of there would have been an understatement. She got back to the mage side of the training grounds with little to no breath.

Once inside her tent she took off her disguise and looked at Tina. “We have a problem,” She whispered as she sat down infront of her current mentor.

Tina looked at Aliarna for a moment, “well ya if anyone walks in.” She said and Aliarna shook her head, “no, Joel might have found out who I am.” She whispered and Tina let that sink in for a moment before she gasped. “Oh lord... he’ll turn you into your father!” She said quietly as they didn’t want to wake up the camp. “Well I don’t think he knows completely yet, but he’s sniffing around. We need to find a way to get him off my trail.” Aliarna whispered and Tina nodded her head in agreement.

“Well, we have a few choices. We could wipe his memory, or we could just monitor him and see what happens.” She said as she thought about it carefully and Aliarna sighed, “well I’m not the one to jump the gun... let’s wait and see.” She whispered and Tina nodded her head, “then we wait. Everything will be okay,” She whispered as she wasn’t going to let her new found friend get caught and sent home.

Soon they talked and then they put the disguise back in Aliarna before they went into the world of dreams and fantasy. They wouldn’t awaken until morning, and that was certainly going to be a difficult morning if Joel knew that Alard was in fact Aliarna.

Morris

 

[Morris]

Uldred would soon retire to rest himself, while his father busied himself with reviewing scout reports and other paperwork. Still, even as he forced himself to tear his thoughts away from the novice magician, there was a recurring sentiment which he pondered on. There were seemingly random details, piling up on each other, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place.

The royal mages couldn't find Aliarna. They went through several hundred questionings, a lot of illusory dispels (most of which covered up warts or other imperfections, earning the ire of most female subjects), and a lot of other related effort to find the princess, to no avail. But she wouldn't be far, would she? If she were, their scrying spells would have located her outside the camp.

He downed another glass of wine. There was this peculiar young novice, Alard. He keeps hanging out with Daquan, and just has these feminine qualities about him... could it be? - "...or maybe I'm just too drunk at this point." - he muttered under his breath. He felt like he could use some sleep himself. He would continue with his thought process later.

---

Lamptower was a small forward outpost in the vicinity of Ruthlan's Keep. It was named as such due to the large central structure within its palisade-walled confines: an ages-old bastion with a massive brazier on top. In bygone days, it might had been used for rituals of religious reverence; now, it was little more than a glorified early warning system for the villages around Ruthlan's Keep to evacuate, and for the watchmen of the keep to be at the ready, should it ever be lit - for that was its purpose now. Should Maelkith's forces approach, Lamptower's ignoble, but nevertheless important function was to alert everyone, before it would be inevitably overran.

Not that it was a dangerous occupation to stand guard there. Before King Leonard's uneasy peace with Orean, Lamptower was given up no less than four times; as soon as scouts so much as spotted a lone warband from Maelkith running about, the brazier would be lit and everyone scurried out long before any actual violence would happen. Maelkith's forces likewise never harbored interest in holding it for long - it was just too small, too negligible. It could barely house fifty or so men at a time.

And in that knowledge, the young watchman Peregrine felt comfortable in his position. He was strolling castually on top of the palisade, the large wooden planks covering him from outside harm up to his chest. The most excitement he has had in weeks was the arrival of some caravan yesterday. Two merchant families, supposedly on the run from raiders, sharing a single carriage, asking for refuge. The scouts were mostly outside, still looking for the perpetrators. Soon, they would return, and the merchants will move out, and wouldn't be his problem anymore. He yawned a bit. Dawn was still some hours away...

Suddenly, he heard a noise, not unlike an arrow getting stuck in wood. Instinctually, he ducked for cover, only poking his head out a few long seconds later. Quizzically, he looked around, only to find his instinct wasn't far off the mark. For there was indeed an arrow stuck in the palisade wall, with a small note tied around the shaft. He gazed around, but by the torchlight, he couldn't see far this cloudy night. Since there were no other projectiles incoming, he shrugged and untied the parchment, which was brief in its content:

LIGHT THE BRAZIER

Peregrine tilted his head. Would the scouts really be that lazy to shoot an arrow with a message, instead of walking a few hundred more paces? Were it not for the menacing demand, he would have wagered the rangers were camping and roasting a boar somewhere, and only now did it occur to them they should actually make a report. Really, would they be so lazy... or rather, desperate?

Then the arrows started raining. He felt two come down knocking against his helmet; before he knew it, steel-tipped bolts were embedded into the planks around him. Panicking, he ran for the nearest ladder, slid down, and started yelling: - "We're under attack! The brazier, light the brazier!" - he ran towards the barracks, only to be halted by sheer fear. It wasn't his comrades who emerged, but the merchants - not as he knew them, but as horned, disfigured freaks with bloodied knives and grinning fangs. He barely had time to gasp, they were already upon him. It was by a miracle he managed to slip through, make a run for the bastion's oaken door.

The elderly warden came jogging down the stairs. - "What's all this ruckus... by the gods! Quick, get inside, lad!" - Peregrine didn't have to be told twice. One of the changelings leaped after him, but the warden's spear halted him, tip first. Kicking him off unto the other assailants, the older watchman bought just enough time to bolt the door behind him and his younger companion. - "I'll hold the door, Peregrine. Go up and lit that damn coal heap!"

"Yes sir!" - he saluted quickly, and ran up the stairs, ran as fast as his legs would carry him, haphazardly pulling a torch from its holder somewhere along the way. Only a few more steps, and he was under the open sky, next to the brazier, which was wide enough to lay a man across it. Unthinking, he threw the torch atop of it, and in a moment, it caught fire brightly. He huffed and puffed, drawing and exhaling air rapidly. What now? Would he and the old man lock themselves in and starve to death? That wasn't the sort of demise he would desire. Not that he would desire his life ending in any form, though...

Blinking rapidly as he tried to calm himself, he soon came to a terrible discovery. He wasn't alone on the top of the bastion. Gazing across the brazier's dancing flames, he noticed a dark, towering figure on the other side. Did that guy just appear there? Did he scale the walls, or levitate like a mage? Peregrine shivered. He knew his death when he saw it. Clenching his fists, he decided to at the very least, appear defiant to the end: - "You are too late, fiend. Now all of Krustivan knows you're here!"

A lance of solid dark steel plunged forth across the brazier's fires, into Peregrine's chest. The harpoon-like head of the weapon lodged itself into him, and with a mighty pull, he was drawn into the brazier, even as he was choking on his blood.

The last thing he heard was a gleeful, mocking tone, coming from a needle-fanged mouth. - "Splendid."

---

Daquan woke up with a slight headache. He followed Alard's instructions, but it would appear that it only mitigated his hangover rather than diminish it. He rubbed his eyes, then shook his head. Gods dammit, why did he compete during dinner... good thing Aliarna was not around to see him like this. Doubtlessly she would lose a lot of respect for him. From the edge of his hazy vision, he swore he saw someone moving around the tent. - "Who's here?"

"Oh, it's just me." - came a reply from a female sounding voice. - "You looked soaked, so I brought some tea."

"Is that you, Clara?" - Daquan asked. Clara was one of the young huntresses who followed Lord Joel's entourage, along with her two brothers, but for the most part she was hanging around camp, seeing if anyone had enough blankets and clear clothes. That, and humiliate most contestants during archery training. She didn't have the arm strength to handle a longbow, but she damn well knew how to use a hunting bow up to a hundred and twenty paces. In any event, the voice sounded somewhat like Clara's.

"Um... of course it's me, silly. Lord Joel was quite worried about you yesterday. It's time you got back on your feet." - she said.

Daquan sat up, stretching his arms, feeling a tinge of pain running along her shoulder. Seeing his face contort in pain, the young woman circled around him, put a cup of tea beside him, then knelt down behind his back. The squire drank some of the warm tea. It felt quite relieving. If only there wasn't that damn ache in his shoulder. As if reading his mind, the woman began to gently massage her. He tried to shove off her hands and get up, only to be pulled back down a bit forcefully. - "Stay still, your lordship. You won't make a good impression on anyone like this."

"I suppose you're right." - he sighed. - "I ought to listen, I suppose... but you know, something just bothers me."

"And that would be?"

Daquan quickly threw his head backward against the woman's nose, then turned about, putting her under his weight, holding her down by the arms. He locked gazes with a disturbingly familiar face, as he gave voice to his issue: - "Nobody calls me 'your lordship'. Not even Clara."

The tiefling, Lusynndael, who was dressed conspicuously like a Vuldarak retainer - she probably stole the garb from someone during the night - smiled coyly at the squire. - "Don't tell me it didn't sound pleasant... twerp!"

With that exclamation, she raised both her knees against Daquan's abs, lifting him over her, almost catapulting him to the side of the tent, causing it to collapse. Daquan quickly got his wits together and threw the heavy fabric out of the way, revealing both himself and "Lucy" to the outside world, then she would tackle him, keeping up the unnecessary wrestling match.

The spectacle would soon gather a small crowd around.

Lilbutterfli94

 

[Lilbutterfli94]

During the night King Leonard could hardly sleep. With the fact that his daughter was missing and had yet to be found he had so many worries. If his wife found out she would surely kill him, but that raised the question, why wasn’t his wife sending messages to him? She had reported their daughter missing and then no new messages had come through since?

He sighed as he rubbed his tired eyes and went for a brief walk around the training grounds. He needed some air, and some room to think. It wasn’t like Aliarna to run off the way she did, nor was it like her to do so without telling her mother. What if she ended up kidnapped? What if it wasn’t even his wife who wrote to him and instead his daughters kidnappers?

No, that wasn’t a likely outcome, considering the type of control Aliarna had over her powers. While it was getting better, she still didn’t have full control. It was why they never really worried about kidnap attempts on her. Not that there hadn’t been any, but most kidnappers never got very far with her.

Leonard remembered one attempt when Aliarna was an infant. It was a guard who found her in the hall, drenched in water, unsure of what had happened to her. It was when they first discovered her powers. He still remembered seeing the tiny infant shivering in the wet blanket, crying because she didn’t understand what happened or how she became saturated in water.

He smiled a bit as he thought of all the memories he had with his daughter. He worried he wouldn’t get to see her beautiful purple hair ever again, or the shine her eyes got when she was excited to see him. He was then pulled to the events of Merrymaker Day. He had never seen Aliarna look at any other man the way she looked at Daquan, and who was he to get in the way of love? He could tell his daughter had been fascinated by Daquan at first, but he could also see the love. What if it was her only shot at true love? What if Daquan died here and didn’t make it back?

No, Daquan had to make it back, Leonard knew that. If not for himself, then for Aliarna. Maybe there was something Leonard could do, some steps he could take to give Daquan the opportunity to have Aliarna’s hand in marriage. If he finished his training and became a full fledged knight then it did technically make him an elidgible bachelor who could marry Aliarna. Leonard would gift him lands once he became a knight and while it wouldn’t make him a noble, it would put him above his current status.

“As King I can make this decision on my own, but I know I should consult Joel about it.” He said as he slowly started making his way towards his tent once more. His thoughts finally settling down, but before he stepped inside he looked outwards, beyond the walls of the camp and to the moon in the sky and smiled. “I only hope your seeing the same sky as me tonight my darling little girl.” He said as tears rolled down his face before he entered his tent and allowed himself to finally get some well deserved rest.

———

As the morning sun crept it way over the walls of the camp, Aliarna laid in her tent looking up at the top of it. Tina was fast asleep still, mages being allowed to sleep in a bit compared to the other soldiers since most of their training required them to have a decent amount of sleep.

However, Aliarna dawned her armor and slowly exited the tent. She immediately bumped into her father, rushing through the camp. “Ahh, your majesty, I’m so very sorry!” She said bowing respectfully to her father. She soon straightened out though and blinked. What was he doing here? It wasn’t like him to be rushing about the camp. This made her worry abit about whether or not Lord Joel knew about her secret, if he had told her father already.

Leonard felt the body bump into him and instinctively tried to catch the person, preventing them from falling. He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw Aliarna. Ahh, it’s nothing to fear my boy. I should have been watching where I was going.” He said as he smiled to her, a smile she knew all too well. It was his nervous smile and that meant that something was bothering him, and from the look of it it was something important. “I, uhh, actually need to gather the lords and it seems that the master mage is not around. Have you seen him, Alard?” He asked as he hoped that she held the answers.

Aliarna shook her head carefully, “not at all, sir. She’s not in her tent?” She asked and Leonard nodded his head, “yes... don’t let this slip to anyone quite yet, but while we were resting there was an attack on one of the posts.” He said as he looked at her, not sure why he trusted her with such information. “Alard, if you see her grand master can you please tell her she’s needed in the kings tent?” He asked and Aliarna nodded her head carefully, “of course m’lord.” She said as she bowed once more and Leonard nodded his head and smiled again. “Thank you my boy... now, go get some breakfast. It will be nice to have a early start to your day.” He said before he resumed his quick pace towards the Vuldarak camp.

Leonard soon got there and went to Joel’s tent and pushed open the tent. “Joel, wake up. Your needed in the kings tent.” He said as quickly as he could before he left almost as quickly as he came, going to Cather the last lord he needed, Lord Hawthorn.

Meanwhile, Aliarna went to start heading to breakfast, but couldn’t get over the fact that there were troops out there, the enemy was storming their boarders and was coming. It was at this thought she remembered Daquan and his drunkenness last night. “Oh, I better check on him!” She said before she did a 180 turn and bolted for the Vuldarak tents.

Well, by the time she got there she was met with the familiar face of Lucy fighting Daquan. “Oh god... this is worst than I thought.” She whispered to herself as she looked around. A crowd was gathering of course, wanting to see just what was happening, and Aliarna herself wanted to hold herself back. However, she knew how strong Lucy was and she didn’t want to sit aside like she had last time.

So, at the first opportunity she could she jumped right in and tried using a spell to bind Lucy to the floor, atleast that way Daquan could get a hit on her. She wanted to come up with some cheap one liner, like she had seen in the plays at the castle. Something cool to say when you outsmarted something, but she wasn’t that clever. So, she just decided to stick with what Alard would know, not what she would know... though anything Alard knew Aliarna honestly had to know since they were the same person.

“There is supposed to be no fighting between army members!” She shouted as she looked at Lucy and frowned. “Not before breakfast.” She said giving a more serious look. “If you want to spar, then you wait until after breakfast.” She said as Alard wouldn’t know who Lucy was, that she was working for the enemy. Aliarna would though, and she had to pretend she didn’t. Many of the members of the crowd also wouldn’t know Lucy was working for the enemy. She was giving Daquan the chance to expose this changling.

Morris

 

[Morris]

Lord Joel Vuldarak didn't experience the pleasure of an undisturbed sleep. It was again one of those nights where an instinctual dread loomed over him, and he felt something great and terrible will soon be afoot. Perhaps the princess would be discovered, and in an abrupt panic she would be flooding the entire army camp. Or Maelkith would launch a preemptive offense overnight. Or worse, both happening at the same time and leave them unable to respond quickly.

At any rate, he decided to pour an extra dosage of tea to calm his nerves. Sleeping hours were too precious a resource to be squandered. Yet when the rays of the morning sun came, along with a watchman announcing his majesty King Leonard approaching, it felt like he didn't rest an hour. Grumpily, he got out of his bunk and attempted to put up his best 'obedient subject of the crown' impression, difficult as it was with his unkempt hair and bloodshot eyes. - "I will join you as soon as I may, your majesty." - he promised to Leonard after he heard his liege's request. The subtle quivering in the king's voice and hands harboured no good implications. Something did happen.

As he donned his house's traditional pelt, his faithful bearhound, so often hanging around him, yowled silently at him. He fondled the thick fur of the great canine. - "I'll have Uldred take you to a walk, old boy, don't worry." - he sighed.

And so he did. Uldred took ol' Berhart on a stroll around the camp, along with his own two enormous dogs, Maudie and Fluffpaw (named by Olette, they were), who he grew up together with, whilst Joel was forced by duty to visit the royal tent. Whilst guiding the dogs (or rather being pulled around by them, given they weighted each as much as a grown ponies), out of the blue they suddenly halted and started sniffing in the air, as one of the retainer girls passed by them. All too sudden, they started barking merrily, and it took all of Uldred's arm strength and sure footing to not have them knock her over. She yelped a little bit in fright. Uldred apologised hastily: - "Gosh, I'm sorry, I don't know what's gotten into them!"

After the initial fright, the young woman smiled uneasily. - "That's alright, Lord Uldred. I just don't come around to this part of the camp often is all. They must have missed me after all this time." - she added an odd emphasis, then chuckled. Extending her hand, she let the dogs catch a faintly familiar scent, waggling their tails wildly. She petted them each, before excusing herself and wishing Uldred a fine day.

He looked after her with a raised eyebrow. Somehow, he didn't remember seeing this particular lady in the Vuldarak retinue - most of whom he knew by name. But the dogs did recognise her, alright. Were she a spy with ill intent, she'd be missing not just a finger right now, but her entire arm. Therefore he got over the case with a shrug. - "These early mornings must be screwing my brain over."

---

And that was the how and why of Lucy getting close to her intended target without being spotted prematurely. That, and braiding her hair around her horns in a way to conceal them, and using colored eyelenses instead of relying on illusions.

She wasn't really supposed to start a brawl with Daquan, but in her mind, the squire asked for it. He started this match after all, not her, and she was not one to back down that easily. She was slim and dexterous enough to slip out of his hold, and fast enough to land a few punches, but Daquan would not let her get away without a struggle either. She couldn't get out of grabbing reach, and Daquan did nothing in the past weeks but train and train and train - his only restrain being that he wanted her alive.

"I don't recognise her. Do any of you?" - one of the Vuldarak watchmen took notice, posing his question to some nearby female retainers. - "Nah" - one of them responded. - "None of us braids their hair like that. Not even Clara. And Daq would never start a brawl with us girls. Something is amiss here..."

Getting fed up since she wasn't going to get an easy victory, Lusynndael threw a handful of dirt into the squire's face, who only tightened his hold in response and headbutted her again. She let out a small yelp of pain, followed by really, really shitty acting: "Why is everyone just standing about?! Help, help! I'm an opressed damsel! Let me go you pervert! Violator! Chauvanist! RAPIST!"

"Damn right I'll wrestle you down, you ill-tempered shrewd! I remember you, you tried to kidnap the princess! You are not getting away on my watch!" - Daquan exclaimed as he redoubled his efforts to restrain her. Lucy in response bit him on the collarborne, sinking her sharp triangular teeth into his flesh, causing him to loosen his hold with one hand from the pain. Taking advantage, Lucy pushed him by the shoulder and rolled them both over, leaning above Daquan with a gleeful smile...

...only to feel a sudden force pushing her downwards, pressuring her towards the very man she was fighting with. There they both laid in a very suggestive pose, with Lucy's lips planted on Daquan's left cheek, albeit neither of them capable of moving an inch. Daquan's eyes - wet as they were from crying, trying to be free from the dirt the changeling threw into them - darted around, until he spotted the familiar figure of Alard. - "Well... played..." - he muttered with a weak smile - "But... please... let... loose?"

There was an onset of whispering, headscratching and beard rubbing all around. It was an awkward situation, all things considered.

Lilbutterfli94

 

[Lilbutterfli94]

Leonard rushes to the tents where Lord Hawthorn would be sleeping. He sighed as he pulled the flap aside, “awaken now Lord Hawnthorn, we have pressing matters in my tent.” He said abruptly. Lord Hawthorn was kind of known for being a bit of a sleez. Often times you’d find him drunkenly flirting with woman, given it wasn’t like he had a wife to worry about. His wife had passed long before this behavior began, but it didn’t really paint him in a good light in Leonard’s eyes considering he heard stories from his father about how his father had been much worst and at that would keep his mistresses and prostitutes in their home, next to his wife.

While he did view the current Lord Hawthorn as better than that, it didn’t change the fact that there was a little tension between their houses, that probably started years ago. The Hawthorns has been one of the noble families to oppose the Trustvars ascending to the throne, and at any turn found reasons to hate them to this day.

Funny enough the daughter who tormented Aliarna and tore her stuffed dog apart was Lord Hawthorns daughter. They had minced words over it, but Loren Hawthorn just had said that his daughter was playing a harmless where as Aliarna attacked her, and with magic no less. So, this kind of kept the bridge between the Trustvars and the Hawthorns.

Lord Hawthorn yawned as he awoke and grumbled, “why must the lords assemble so early?” He asked as he grabbed a cup of alcohol from the previous night and finished it off. Leonard ignored this though, “the King does not need a reason to summon his lords, now get your drunk ass to the tent within the next five minutes or you will be excluded from this fight.” He said before leaving.

Lord Hawthorn grumbled a bit and got up and got himself dressed into proper clothes before he made his way towards the tent folds and pushed them back, letting the morning light hit his eyes, which only made his headache and hangover worst.

———

Aliarna kind of got this look of pleasure at the fact that the spell had worked, but also displeasure at how that worked out. Maybe a levitation spell beforehand would have been better. However, she didn’t have the luxury of thinking things through and given her quick thinking it did make her look a bit better... well it didn’t make her look better, it made Alard look better, like he could actually take down an enemy in a moments notice, that he could protect those around him, despite the fact that just last week he had charred Daquan’s back.

Aliarna then realized she could probably still use a levitation spell and hold Lucy in place. Given the scene and how it played out it would be pretty obvious that Lucy was a spy for the enemy, and not someone to be trusted. Also this was why her father had precautions in place at recruitment, to detect the changling that had attempted to kidnap his daughter, not to mention it wasn’t unthinkable that Maelkith and it’s tyrant ruler would send spies, but sending the same person twice was a bit dumb, or maybe it was strategic, if only she hadn’t been detected. Probably stupid on her part for going to Daquan who could identify her.

“I’ve got something better,” she said as soon as she was done thinking, which wasn’t as long as one might have thought. She was a rather quick thinker and good on her toes. So, she kept hold with one hand and then used her other to focus a levitation spell to pull Lucy off of Daquan. “I’m sure the king would have a few words for her... if she tried to kidnap the princess, then he certainly would like to know her would be captor is here.” She said as she kept herself focused on her spells.

Morris

 

[Morris]

Daquan muttered a half-aloud "thank you" to Alard as Lusynndael was lifted off of him. The tiefling was blushing mildly as she was raised into the air above the squire, trying to move around her limbs in vain as she was still restrained. The squire would slowly get up, dusting off his clothes, looking at his slightly bleeding wound. Hopefully the changeling didn't have rabies or something. Grunting in pain, he decided it wasn't a grave injury, and decided to dedicate his efforts to exposing his assailant... by unfolding her braids, revealing her small horns. The spectators' tone quickly turned harsher.

It has been ordered, after all, that they be on the lookout for changelings, since the kidnapping attempt against Princess Aliarna was perpetrated by one. But really, how dumb was it of Orean to send one and the same changeling after the very squire who knew her identity?

"Nice to meet you again, Lucy." - Daquan sneered. - "Now, since you're at our mercy, might as well indulge us as to what you've got planned. If you came looking for her majesty Aliarna, I'm afraid you're in the wrong place."

"Nah, who cares about her? You can have her. If I wanted to get her, I would have just sticked around and watched you. I bet she's dallying around you every single day." - Lucy said in a phlegmatic tone.

Annoyed, Daquan lifted up her face by the cheeks. He didn't want the conversation derailed, nor be made a spectacle of himself. - "Cut the crap, you demented broad. What are you up to?!"

Lucy's expression shifted to a more serious one. Her eyes seemed to radiate a certain conviction. - "I have failed Orean. And failure is not something he tolerates lightly. I'm looking for amnesty... in exchange for information. So behave like good little lapdogs and carry me to your liege."

The squire had a puzzled look about him. Some voices in the crowd called for a lynching on the spot, others for lighting a pyre, whilst a few argued she should be heard out at first. Daquan looked at Alard questioningly. Sure, the changeling came in uninvited, and she choose to have an unnecessary fight with him, but that didn't mean there wasn't truth in her words...

"In the name of house Vuldarak, I claim this changeling as a prisoner to be delivered to his majesty Leonard Trustvar." - Daquan declared, nodding towards his house's retainers. - "Have her tied up while Alard maintains the paralysis, we shall present her for judgement right after."

"I knew you were into that sort of stuff." - Lucy unceremoniously snickered at the prospect.

Lilbutterfli94

 

[Lilbutterfli94]

Aliarna breathed a sigh of relief that this actually worked and she lowered Lucy back to the floor so that she didn’t have to focus too long on the levitation spell and risk losing concentration on the binding spell. She looked at Daquan for a moment, making sure he was okay, other than a few bumps and bruises, but she knew the damage that Lucy could do. She had experienced it first hand after all, but she couldn’t let that be known. She had to remain ignorant to Lucy’s skill set. It was hard to say the least, and a little irritating.

She sighed as she looked at Lucy and the horns which she remembered all too well. However, she kind of had to remain surprised. She watched the horns for a moment and sighed, “well if she is from Maelkith, then it’s definitely better to report to King Leonard.” She said as she knew that her father would know what to do. On top of that right now would be best because tracking her father down would be impossible.

“King Leonard is currently in his tent with the lords and the Grand Master. Right now would be the best time to go to them, while they are all together.” She stated as she looked at Daquan for a moment and then to Lucy. “Maybe she knows more about things that have happened over the past few weeks than she is letting on.” She said as she was basically trying to shift the blame for her not being found onto Lucy. After all, her father would easily buy that her would be captor might be dumb enough to try again, and maybe even succeed this time.

“It’s up to you though Daquan... we could wait here for Lord Joel’s return and report her to him.” She said as either her father or Lord Joel would be the best people to go to about this matter. However, she broke character a bit and upon realizing hopes no one noticed that she slipped.

Most of the mages referred to Joel as Lord Vuldarak (or Lord Hardass), never by Lord Joel. Princess Aliarna, King Leonard, and Queen Andrea were the only ones to call Joel by a title so informally, sometimes for the elder two simply by Joel would be how they spoke of their long time friend. Princess Aliarna bough always called Joel, Lord Joel.

She knew she had to pick her words carefully, and quickly move on from the little mistake before anyone has the chance to question the mess up. “Daquan?” She asked hoping that would give him enough of a distraction that he wouldn’t immediately ask her why she just called Joel the way she did. “We better get this moving before I lose focus, or else we’ll have a problem on our hands.” She said as she figured that might help strengthen the argument, and give a sense of urgency to moving Lucy away from the public eye.

———

Meanwhile, as the lords all gathered in Leonard’s tent as well as the grand master (who was one of the only two lady’s in the tent) a meeting was being held. “The attack in the middle of the night is to not be taken lightly,” spoke Lady Autrusta. “I agree, they’re trying to move on our location and if they get here while the trainees are still training I have no idea how this will happen.” Spoke Grand Master Elistra. “The mages are trained enough due to the school, or are you doubting your students abilities?” Lord Hawthorn antagonized. “Leave it to woman to want to run.” He said taking a drink from his cup.

Leonard shook his head, “stop the bickering.” He said more towards Lorenzo. “We don’t need a drink right now Lorenzo, we need a god damn plan.” Chimmed it Lord Ultran, as he played with his beard. “Or you can offer up your darling daughter for the slaughter.” He taunted, knowing that would shut him up. Lorenzo got up, “you want to fight old man?!” He yelled, “I was top of my fighting class in school!” He yelled, and Leonard slammed his hand in the table. “Enough! Father your being petty.” Lorenzo Jr screamed before his father could go any further, and before Leonard could say anything. “If you want a tactical option I say we have the mages cast an illusion, make Mealkith think we haven’t moved, all the while we evacuate the camp and move further south. It gives the men more time to train, not much, but a day or two more could prove beneficial.” He said as he sat down in his fathers seat.

Lorenzo Sr.’s kids were all vastly more mature than him, even Lyria who had come to war with them against her fathers wishes. Arthur and Lyria would have been here right now, but Arthur had road a day away to his wife to make sure she and his unborn child were safe and to tell them to move further in land, away from the battle with the orphans. To go to the orphanage if she had to and ensure that the children and herself remained safe. He should have been on his way back right now. Lyria had simply just said she didn’t need to see their father this early in the morning.

King Leonard sighed, “then it’s to a vote, we either stay here and fight, potentially losing ranks early, or we withdraw and move south to give the trainees more time.” He said as he looked at everyone, “unless anyone else has something to suggest.” He said as he was open to more suggestions if anyone had any.

Morris