The Zoo
Featuring Soren, Sysyu, Beran, Remus and young Cillian
Soren was playing with his siblings pulling Sysyu along for the ride as they paid attention to each of his little siblings. Young Cillian seemed to be growing the fastest, but Aeros transformation was impressive, another of his brothers a dragon! "I was thinking Sysyu, would you want to go with me to the zoo? I was thinking Cillian is aging faster than his siblings, we could take him and make a few hours of it, it would be fun." He said lacing his fingers into her own as they sat there teasing young Cloud, who was happily giggling as his elder brother played with him.:
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Sysyu smiled brightly at the idea of going to a zoo. She had read about them. She would love to see how well provided for the animals of Esscha Endor's zoo was. "I would love that, Soren. But won't the triplets be jealous if we don't include them? How can we make sure they don't feel left out?" She made her concerns known. Sysyu was now wearing her usual rather gothic but elegant looking dress. She was having her party dress refreshed for later when they returned for the reception.
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Soren had changed into a formal squire's uniform, a doublet of blue and silver emblazoned with the Esscha Endor coat of arms, and some dark leather breeches and boots. "That is a good point, I wouldn't want that, but.. will they have time to feel jealous meeting their new siblings? We could always take them as well, but we might have our hands full with so many, what do you think?":
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Sysyu saw his point about taking the other siblings his age along. It would be harder to keep watch over them all, though they had done well during the gryphon attack it had separated them to have three to protect and there would be one more if they took them all. "No, you're right. We'll just have to make off with Cillian without being obvious about it and take each of the trips another time so they'll get the same undivided attention." She considered. "So shall we ask the queen mother if we can take him now? I think we should leave as early as possible so we can get back to the reception before repast."
If Soren agreed they'd tiptoe out the children's quarters and to the queen who sat in that corner rocking chair in the nursery feeding Cloud. The feeding rotation had started up again only they were down Cillian now. Cloud was just nodding off when the young couple entered and Desiree smiled, looking tired but happy, and handed Cloud off to Sysyu while Kemish fetched Calliope for her. "So how was the wedding, Soren? Was it wonderful?" the Queen asked, keeping her voice low as usual.
When Soren got around to asking Desiree if they could take Cillian to the zoo she had to think about it. She looked to Sysyu when she returned then to Kemish when he returned with Calliope, and after positioning her to feed and once she'd latched on she considered the dangers. Soren had handled himself heroically with the gryphon and Sysyu had refused to abandon him and Magnus after making sure the other children were safe. Much as Desiree wanted to shelter the children she wanted them to experience the wonders in the world and the Esscha Endor Zoological Park sounded perfect. They even had a safari style tour though for visitors it was strictly observational, the hunting reserved for the king and his invited party alone. For Desiree the thing she had to ask herself was could she trust the two to keep Cillian safe if something should happen. She believed they would. "Well,alright, but at the first hint of danger you high tail it to the visitor center and ask for Lord Denar Anem or his wife Jaena and get their help. They run the park. If they aren't available get Lord Traezan who runs the zoo." She instructed.
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Soren smiled as he looked at Sysyu and nodded, "I think I have the perfect idea too, we can do something with each of them, in time something special to each of them that is catered to them specifically." He said with a grin as he took Sysyu by the hand and led her out of the room where he would gently close the door and twirled her about like they were dancing. "After we return I plan to ask your father for permission to court you, and then we can dance the night away." Soren seemed so excited for that, to dance with her, to spend the night laughing and having fun beside her.
When they joined Desiree he was still holding her Sysyu hand unless she pulled from it, as he joined Desiree where she was nursing. "Oh it was lovely, though their.. ritual seemed a bit frightening." If Desiree asked, he would tell her about the ritual suicide and the rebirth, or the rebirth they had been told would happen, he had Taken Sysyu to get some air though. "Was your wedding to my father like that?"
After a time he cleared his throat and did ask about it, after all it was why they were here. "Queen-mother," He said as he came to stand before her, "I Would like permission to take Cillian to see the wildlife preserve. I want to spend more time with all my siblings, but I think just one will be all i can handle out there, so I was hoping we could take Cillian for a couple hours."
When she gave her stipulation he took a knee and put a hand over his heart. "I swear to protect him with my life, and I will do everything possible to ensure he is kept safe." He then wrapped her in a embrace, "Thank you for giving me these brothers and sisters, I love them with all my heart already," Soren then smiled, "Thank you for letting us take him he will love it im sure.":
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Sysyu clapped her hands delighted with Soren's suggestions. "Oh that's a wonderful idea! Something fashioned to each child's interests. Let's do!" She hugged him then smiled happily. "That sounds even more lovely," she grinned at his promises of courtship and dancing. "I can hardly wait."
The conversation with Desiree went a little strangely thereafter. "Ritual?" she had to ask and cringed at the suicide bride explanation. "Ugh... No, your father and I actually had a very quiet, private, sweet little wedding with some friends that was more traditional to European earth customs. We just wanted to be married yuh know? I always thought big ole grand weddings were such a waste of money and a lot of stress. There's getting married then the rest of it is just an extravagant party right? My mama wanted me to have a big wedding. I would never have escaped it had she been around!" She felt suddenly sad and drew in a shuddering breath. "I'd rather spend that kind of money on the honeymoon. We had planned on a great honeymoon, a world tour kind of thing... but... a lot of crazy things happened like dominos, and we just never got around to it. That's life for yuh. But we're immortal. We'll get around to that tour. If not, what's the point of being immortal?" she scoffed and looked suddenly even more tired than before. Calliope had fallen asleep at her breast and Kemish came to collect her and put her back to bed, then brought Rhys out. Three down, three to go.
Desiree smiled when Soren made his oath to keep Cillian safe. "I know that you will. You certainly kept Magnus safe." The embrace caught her a little off her guard and she chuckled patting his back until he released her. "They certainly love you, Soren. Thank you for being such a wonderful brother to them. Now you two go get a few hours sleep then collect Cillian at ten. He'll be awake and have had his breakfast by then. Now go, shoo shoo, and goodnight, or morning." she bid. As soon as Rhys then Aeros and Athena were fed she was going to sleep like the dead.
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Sysyu’s warmth caught him off guard and as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug his own came to incircle her waist and he hugged her tight against him. “I am the same. I am eager for it, to see if all this princely training has paid off on the dance floor.” He teased before kissing her knuckle, “M’lady.”
At the dampening of his queen-mother’s mood he pulled Sysyu over so they could smother Desiree and Calliope in a fierce group hug! “When she gets back I’ll talk her into having another ceremony for you and father, you two can recommit your vows.” He said, it sounded like a very romantic idea to him! He had no doubt she and his father would eventually have their honeymoon, and if not he’d punch Seth for being an idiot!!!! Desiree was too good for him if he didn’t figure that much out.
Luckily, Seth was absolutely infatuated with his wife, and absolutely intended to make good on taking Desiree’s to see the world, he sometimes wondered if he smothered her a bit with his love at times.
“Well I am sure they just haven’t seen all my flaws yet, but, I will do my best to not disappoint my dear beloved siblings.” He then pulled back, scratching his head a nervously. “Sorry for being so forward, you just looked like you needed a hug, I will be less invasive from now on.” He said as he stood up and took Sysyu by the hand. “I promised you picnic and I think now is a perfect time, in fact no better time for the spot I’m thinking of, it will take your breath away, what do you say Shy?”:
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Sysyu pressed her cheek up against Soren's chest when he hugged her back and she smiled at his teasing about the dancing. "Learning to ballroom dance with my father in Acheron was interesting... I never imagined an orchastra of demons and devils until I saw them with my own eyes. There we were on marble floors so black and shiny thet seemed a mirror of the abyss and surrounded by great colemns in the shapes of all manner of demons and dragons. I doubt I shall ever dance as well as my father should I take a thousand lessons." She reminisced as she danced around with Soren just a bit.
Desiree frowned forbiddingly when Soren threatened her with asking her mother to help plan a wedding! "Oh no... don't you dare ask my dear mama to plan any such wedding. I was very happy with the wedding we had. It was intimate, just the way I had always dreamed it would be. I don't care how old you are, I will spank you if you breathe a word of a recommitment ceremony to my mama OR Seth. He felt he was cheating me when he gave me exactly what I'd always hoped for. We all have our flaws, Soren and I'm sure yours won't disappoint in the least. Though I will be gravely put out of you pursue this wedding subject a word further. And please don't bother yourself about the hugs. I'm just tired and didn't expect it. Now off with you two to bed. Don't make me say it again."
Sysyu curtsied to the queen then took Soren by his hand to lead him out of the King and Queen's quarters into the hallway outside before he riled the exhausted queen any further. She headed towards her own quarters just down the corridor which was in the same direction as Soren's tower chambers if he cut through Niall's tower. Niall was actually thinking of swapping towers with Soren so he would be closer to his family. Sysyu looked at him rather oddly when he suggested they go on a picnic then and there citing the timing as perfect. "Soren... you heard the queen. It's almost my morning and if we're going to take Cillian to the zoo in the morning we need to be fresh and alert. I don't know about you but it's been a long night and I am tired. I'll meet you pick up Cillian at nine in the banquet hall where we can eat breakfast then head out to the zoo. We'll have a picnic some afternoon or evening aftee we get back. Okay?" she was actually surprised he'd suggested they go so early in the morninb after staying up most of the night. Sysyu wasn't a night owl like vampires tended to be. She was an early riser.
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He guided her hands and soon her feet into a little waltz as they spoke of her learning to dance, and about her strange orchestra. "I cant imagine that at all, I am seeing cartoonish characatchers in my head. You will have to introduce me sometime." He looked at her with a grin, "Then we shall take two thousand lessons until we can make even his jaw drop by our ability to dance like a pair of.. peacocks." He said with a little laugh, He twirled her around before he pulled her into an embrace rubbing his nose against her own, and was standing as close as one could without it becoming... inappropriate. He ended it by giving her cheek a playful peck.
Soren waved his hands in defeat of course, "I promise queen-mother, I will not betray your confidence, I shall keep the words from passing my lips!" He would say nothing more she said he had done nothing wrong, so he took her at her word, then just pulled Sysyu by her hand as she curtsied and soon they were heading back to toward where they lived, her room first and then his tower.
He was a little disappointed, "If I pout a little will it change your mind?" He asked as he walked with her, "If I am being honest falling asleep next to you after watching the stars together, it had quite an appeal." He said as he pulled them to a stop in a little nook, where he kissed her hand with a smile. He was not a day sleeper by any means, even with all his vampiric blood, he had always gotten up early especially as a squire. Speaking of his vampiric side, her blood had the most delicious scent, and he wondered about the taste.. but he dared not ask for that, it was extremely intimate to let drink from someone you had feelings towards. "The spot I had in mind is more.. geared for an evening picnic, but.. we do have the wedding reception still to attend, after all. Shall I walk you to your door then, Shy?":
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Sysyu shook her head when Soren asked if pouting would help his case. "Absolutely not. Besides, the moons are full and the sun will be up in just a few hours. It's not a good time for star gazing. A new moon starting at around eleven in the eve would be perfect for a night time picnic." She smiled. Sysyu was both a nerd and very practical Soren would find.
To the question of walkinb her to her room Sysyu just kind of laughed. She was feeling rather sorry for Soren at the moment for even as they talked they had arrived at her door. It was only a short way dowb the hall from the King's chambers. "How about I walk you to your tower? I haven't seen your quarters yet." She suggested. "Then, you can walk me back!" she giggled.
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He was surprised by her rather deep knowledge of the best times to stargaze, wasn't she just full of surprises? "I suppose the brightness of the moons might drown out the starlight a bit, so I will concede to the ladies expertise. I find your nerdy intelligence rather attractive, you know, are you trying to wrap me around your finger?" He asked as he drew her close and guided her to take his arm.
"Sure, I would love to give you the grand tour, such as it is." He said, he didn't realize he had done something to inspire her to feel sorry for him, though he was more than happy to spend time with her, she was lovely company. "Any ideas on what we could do for Aezlen? I am not sure I know what a girl he age would be into besides braiding my hair."
When they arrived at his door he halted and looked at her, with his hand on the door handle, "Are you ready?" He said teasingly, then pushed it open, he played it up of course, as they door opened into the decorated hall of the tower, his actual bed chamber was higher up. She would see though about his room pieces of stone that were encased in glass, an old faded tapestry hanging from the wall, an old ruined sword. They were things.. artifacts perhaps one might call them, they were relics of a time long past. Taken from from the campaign he had been with his father on quite some time ago. "My actual bed room is higher up, shall we?":
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Sysyu grinned at Soren. "I wouldn't mind wrapping you around all my fingers." She wriggled her fingers at him in a spidery witchy way then laughed.
Sysyu had to think about Aezlen a moment. "She loves horses and playing dress up. We could take her to buy her a pony and a riding outfit. She is just the right age now for her first pony. I have plenty of money now Da is here. He opened a trust for me at the bank." Yep, little rich girl who wanted to do good with her money. She had it so might as well make use of it.
Sysyu was only too happy to take the arm Soren offered and nuzzled against him as they walked. "I really do appreciate how romantic you are, Soren. A late night picnic is a lovely idea and I hate spoiling it by being so... logical. All the impractical reasons aside the idea is lovely and we really must do it new moon or not on another night. I'm afraid I'm not very good at spontaneity." No that was Anwi's way.
Sysyu was all eyes when they entered the tower. She was fascinated by the relics, asking him about tapestry and tablet and where they were from, the significance of the broken sword, about everything in his collection. Then when he invited her to see his bedroom she smiled a little shyly but decided there was no harm in looking and followed him upstairs. "Now don't get any ideas Mr. or I'll have to give you what for like my Da taught me." she smiled a wicked little smile. She was just teasing of course and he could hear it in her tones and see it in her smile and eyes. She knew he would be a gentleman.
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He grinned at her playful tease, "I bet your fingers would feel great in my hair," she looked the part of some pretty goth witch, and it really did it for him. "But, you will have to work hard to get me that wrapped up in you." As if he were not totally under her spell already, she was very charismatic as he saw it, he enjoyed just talking to her, he could only imagine how good it would to be more than friends, granted they were more than friends now, but.. still there was protocol to adhere to.
"Oh that is a wonderful idea," Soren actually had a fair bit of money himself, up in his room he had a chest from his spoils of that very campaign, he had spent some, but most of it was kept. They were more mementos than treasure in his eyes, but for Aezlen he could spare some. "I would feel bad just letting you pay for it all, let me go in half with you." As it stood, he was also the child of a wealthy king, after all this was THE Land of Wealth.
When they began to meander closer to the room and she laid her head on his shoulder to nuzzle into him, he pressed a soft kiss to the crown of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair. "I hope I am not coming off too desperate or trying too hard, I just want to show you a good time, show you all the things I love about Esscha Endor." He then smiled, "It is fine, left up to me we might be up talking and snuggling 'til who knows what time." He tipped her head back to look into her eyes, "Snuggling wouldn't be too forward, would it, beautiful?" He was trying to turn her cheeks hot, she was cuter than she realized. "I will help you get better at it, and you can help me.. to look before I leap. Together, we will be an amazing team."
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"Oh you!" she cried in fake exasperation at his remark about her fingers in his hair and she leapt at him to muss his hair into a wild shock of black with her fingers. She grinned and planted her hands on her hips. "There." She reached out and flipped a single lock up and over as a final touch.
"Sure, we can split the cost if you want but my Da is as rich as .. well god."
Sysyu sighed happily as Soren cozied up to her as she had him. "I don't think snuggling is too forward at all, especially once we're courting." she assured.
Looking around at his bedroom she was rather amazed. "Wow... your rooms are very neat and clean. Judging by most of my brothers I thought boys were generally helpless slobs." she smirked. She then turned to face Soren who was perhaps getting a little cozy with her. She gently pushed him away but just a step. "I need to be going now. Don't bother walking me. I'm really tired. Midnight is late for me and it's almost four! Goodnight, Soren." She kissed his cheek and like a phantom breezed out of his quarters. "See you in the morning!" her voice called from below and sounded like a spirit on the wind just before exiting the tower in an ether stride that delivered her right to the one large room that was her quarters.
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He couldn’t help but laugh when she messed up his hair! It was funny, and he didn’t mind, he’d have a bath come morning and be presentable once more. “How do I look?” He said trying to find a spot on her side with his fingers that was ticklish to make her squirm!
“I don’t want you to feel like I’m taking advantage of your birthright or something. It is my hope after all to earn the right to provide and care for you.” He said as color came to his own face, speaking so straightforward was always a risk after all.
“You think I’m neat? I suppose I do like to keep a clean room these days, my mother never let me have anything but a clean room, so maybe it’s thanks to her.” Then she was suddenly and abruptly leaving, he was not sure what he did, just that he HAD done something to upset her! “Sysyu! Wait! I..” she was gone and he fell onto his bed. “I’m sorry for whatever I did to offend you..” he’d slowly get undressed wash up and get to bed, but he had trouble sleeping his mind trying to see what had spooked her, putting his arm around her? Regardless he eventually did pass out.
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Sysyu chewed on her far too kissable lower lip with her head canted slightly as she thought how to answer how he looked. "You look...silly." She giggled wildly. "Aezlen is a much better hair dresser." She reached out to smooth and comb his hair back more to the way it was with those svelte fingers of her.
She could see it was important to Soren to help pay for the pony. "Alright. Ponies are expensive so half it is. I just thought since it was my idea I should cover it, but I can see it's important to you to pitch in. I appreciate that. Thanks, Soren." she smiled.
Another smile lit up her face as he spoke of his mother which he did quite often she noticed. "You must love her very much. I can't wait to meet her." Then she realized where she was and how close she was being held and left quite suddenly it was true. Had she realized Soren might feel so guilty about it she would have tried to explain but instead she just reacted to her own thoughts. Her father had a way of knowing about things and she didn't want to compromise she and Soren's chances for courtship. She was also aware that he tended to test people and she was hoping to avoid THAT altogether. If they couldn't avoid it then she certainly didn't wish to encourage a more difficult trial by demonstrating a lack of self control. She was being cautious plain and simple. So off to bed she went, changing into a black shift to sleep in. Black was her non color of choice, although she did love the blue party gown she had picked out for the wedding. Today she was dressed for riding and the zoo in yet again a very gothic looking riding habit but unlike her other equestrian outfit which was mostly all black with a frilly white blouse this was more black and white with an ivory corset style top with a sort of half vest of black with textured black gothic print which extended down part of the white sleeves and around her cleavage, with a plain black quarter sleeve around the elbows and white tear dropped sleeve extending to her knuckles. Her tights were white while her flared layered skirt was black with bronze gothic florals and she was clad in gothically stylish over the knee black riding boots.
The horse Sysyu would be riding was not her albino Meg but her Stallion Cloud Minder (named after an episode of Star Trek), a horse she'd rescued from an illegal wild horse auction before reporting the auction to Seth's knights via Seress. She'd been meaning to ask Soren if he had been there when the knights broke up the ring of horse rustlers. Esscha Endor's herds of wild stormcloud horses were protected. Round ups were allowed with permission from the king and were monitored to keep the horse population in check and protected.
Sysyu was seated at the table with the older children and stood when Soren arrived to greet him with a chaste kiss to his cheek which encouraged a round of giggles from the children. The triplets bore the appearance of six pr seven year olds now as did Cillian for the time being. Aezlen ran over to Soren and hugged his legs as Sysyu returned to her chair where she smiled at the sight of Soren picking Aelzen up to hug her and carry her back to her own seat. The table was made to accommodate younger children so Sysyu and Soren were oversized for the small chairs and lower tabletop. The banquet hall was fairly empty because most, including the servants children, ate several hours earlier than nine there if they ate breakfast at all.
"Soren... while I was grooming my horses this morning I was wondering... Did you assist the knights with that vile horse thieving mob?" If he confirmed he had she'd ask him to tell her about it as she filled her plate from the platters of food on the table, most of them covered to keep the food warm. She chose quiche, bacon, hash browns and two biscuits. Sysyu worked hard so she tended to eat hardy meals. "My stallion Cloud Minder is from one of their auctions. He was in such an aweful state I just had to buy him, then I told Seress about them. I hope those terrible people got what was coming to them. The woman who sold me Cloud just radiated ickiness." The woman she referred to had been their ring leader.
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Those kissable lips did not escape his notice, but.. he dared not push his luck to far, at least not until he had permission to pursue her properly with her fathers blessing. As much as he wanted to kiss her, and he did.. But, he had enough discipline to keep his desires in check. "Oh come now do not doubt your skill, how bad could it be?" He then grinned, "You'd be surprised on how open the horse masters are to dealing with the king's family, I am sure I can get us a fair price." It was true after all, it was not just wild horses that got wrangled by the fiends, stealing horses was a crime that Esscha Endor was no stranger to. The king made it a high priority to send the patrols around the various ranches about the country regularly, though not to any specific schedule, it was best to keep things a little chaotic, so the criminal elements did not get too comfortable.
Of course he spoke well of his mother, and his father too, he had been raised well by Mariana, even with the troubles she had taught him to honor his parents and his elders. He loved Elizabeth though it seemed like he never got to see her anymore which sucked, they had been close as siblings could be once upon a time. Had he known about the troubles she faced at the hands of Tiber, he'd have been beside himself with outrage.
Soren would have felt much better if she explained her sudden departure! However he tried not to read too much into it, Sysyu was a genuine girl, so he would trust she had her reasons.
When Soren woke up he showered and made himself ready even applying a conservative bit of cologne he had chosen to let his hair be free and not tied him or anything fancy. He had visited the stables the squires shared with the knights to prep his own mount.
When he arrived at the hall they were to break their fast in, he was pleasantly surprised to see Sysyu dressed tot he nines, in his opinion, even dressed for a day on horseback and walking about a wild life preserve she looked amazing. To his own credit he was dressed well, blue on black doublet, the raised blue were designs fashioned after a pair of dragon hears that looked inward toward one another, and his pants were a supple does skin, he had chosen for comfort and some simple riding boots, he had wanted to prioritize comfort and fashion it seemed. He'd never put this much attention into how he dressed, it was said women made men do crazy things, was this what they meant?
"You look absolutely breath taking, I hope you wont be too embarrassed next to me, I did try my best though." He seemed rather pleased by the kiss to the cheek, and scooped up Aezlen, then kissed her atop the head, before offering his own kiss back to Sysyu on her cheek. "Isn't she just beautiful, Aezlen?"He said to his little sister, "I really like her," He said to his sister, he knew that Sysyu could still hear him, he just kept grinning like a damn idiot though, he had never hidden his interest and wasn't going to start now.
Soren soon joined them at the table with Aezlen, and looked around at the children, "I hope everyone has been getting along, I expect you older sibling to mind your youngers with care, understood? Just as it is my duty to care for you, it is your duty to care for them." He was a bit surprised by the size of Cillian, he had grown with an astonishing speed! "Cillian, you are so big already, goodness, you might be my big brother at this rate.
When it came to her question about an assignment that had at this point felt like ancient history, he nodded, that must have been.. was it before the storm? "Oh I remember that, that was you who tipped off the knights to that group? Slimey is right." He said as he took a bite of a thick sausage, thinking back on the raid they had made on the kabal of horse thieves. They had no just been a small group but a organized band of significant size. Horse thieves often fought harder than most criminals too, because in Esscha Endor the price for stealing horses was often death. It was a primary source of income for the country as well as important means of transportation and without horses tilling the land might been impossible. "You have my thanks for finding them, Sysyu, how they treated their horses was barbaric, if not for you who knows how long that would have continued for so.. thank you." He said and kissed her hand, "So just remember, my siblings, not all heroes are fighters. Everyone plays a vital role in keeping our home safe."
She would likely remember hearing, those who had not been killed in the raid had been executed, hung for all to see. Seth did not shy from showing those who would break the law what the consequences were, only the youngest among the horse thieves would have been given a second chance, those he believed could be reformed.
"My own mount, Storm Chaser came from that, my father awarded him to me." Soren's mount though was a trained warhorse, the squires all had been given young horses to train and bond with. "Well you should be glad to know they were utterly dismantled, so they will harm no more horses." He went into detail about this or that as his siblings asked while he ate, even telling them about how he brought up the flank with his brothers to save Seress hide! The trips of course knew of Remus and Baran, they were practically family after all.:
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Sysyu blushed a little when Soren complimented her then thanked her for ratting on the horse thieves and went on to allude to her playing an important role. "Anyone who cared about animals or horses would have done the same," she'd like to think so anyway. The girl who was absolutely dressed to kill without knowing it ate bites of her breakfast as she listened to Soren then wiped her mouth before responding to anything.
The part about saving Seress made her laugh. "I heard Niall berating him once about charging into danger when he should stop and think about it first. Sounded like your sponsor makes a habit of leaping into the fire." Seress wasn't foolish about it though. He just put himself in harms way to take the heat off others and it worried Niall who was more cautious.
"Storm Chaser and Cloud Minder... I sense a theme on our Stormcloud horse names," she giggled. She had the sweetest giggle, like a bird chattering. "Oh I am so relieved to hear you caught them. I'm sure they'll all have their reckoning in my Da's realm." She felt certain about that.
Now as the children one by one finished their meals and drifted off, Sysyu held Cillian back from leaving. Poor child thought he was in trouble for something. Was it because he painted Aezlen's hair blue? He thought it looked really pretty that way. The new Nanny on trial had difficulty washing it out of her hair and told Cillian to never paint anyone's hair again, then explained the right way to color hair blue or other colors, stressing that he must never bleach and or dye anyone's hair without their permission. Aezlen had permitted him to paint her hair though, after he convinced her of how pretty she'd look with blue hair, and told her so.
Once all the other children had left the table and only Cillian remained, Sysyu smiled at him. "Don't look so worried, Cillian. You're not in trouble. Is there any reason you should be?" Then he told them all about the blue hair incident and she laughed. "Oh my... well seems the Nanny already corrected you about that. No, we want to ask you if you'd like to take a little trip with us. Your mother has said it would be okay, but you must check with her first. Always check with your Mom or Dad before going anywhere with ANYONE, even us, okay?" She then looked to Soren to tell him the rest.
Now Cillian canted his head curiously when Soren said how he might outgrow him. "Oh no! I won't let that happen. I just want to almost catch up to you .. but first I want to play with Aezlen, Magnus and Xevos for awhile. Then I want to be a knight like you!" He grinned like the dragon who ate the eagle.
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A part of him liked making her blush, and the way she giggled lit up the room, he loved it. "I hope you are right, but until you spotted them they had proved elusive, so, I am glad you were there." He did his best not to appear like an animal and was on his best manners.
"Seress is a great knight, sometimes in the thick of battle instinct takes over, sometimes you just act and have to deal with what comes next. I trust Seress with my life though, so dont hold it against him."
"I like the naming theme it fits these mounts, they are as swift as the storm, and ride like the wind!" There was that giggle he adored! He had taken the initiative and had sent for a floral arrangement, that would be not being applied to her Cloud Minder, roses of blue, thornless of course wreathing her mounts neck. Soren thought she might appreciate the show of affection. "I hope they suffer back ten fold what they had made our horses go through."
He grinned, nodding, "That's right Cillian, do your best not to upset Father and Queen-mother, it is the last thing they need, to be worried about you." He reached out and mussed his brothers hair, "Don't rush, you have plenty of time. and when you do join me I will be waiting. You should enjoy your time with your sibling, you only grow up once."
"So we're going to take you to a wild-life preserve. I get the feeling that you like the wild things of the world and I think it would be fun to take you along to see the creatures of our wonderful Esscha Endor. What do you think, does that sound fun?":
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"A wil-life perserf?" Cillian asked, uncertain what that was. "Creatures...? I'm a creature. Will I be seen too?"
Remus and Beran had just walked in and seeing Soren approached the children's table. Beran laughed seeing Soren sitting there with his long legs all drawn up. The two plopped down across from them on those little chairs. "Aren't we a little old to be sitting at this table?" Beran razzed and reached for a biscuit.
Remus started filling a plate with food. He glanced over at Cillian who he overheard calling himself a creature. Remus had thought of himself that way too since he was a very young child. That mindset was cause for quite a bit of anxiety. When you didn't think of yourself as a boy or man it made it difficult to fit in with people. Girls in particular. "Well you're a boy and a creature aren't you?" Remus said with a warm smile. "So animals will see you as one of them and people as one of them too. You'll be able to see and learn twice as much." he grinned.
"But animals are animals or beasts and creatures are creatures or sometimes monsters. Do animals like creatures?" Cillian asked.
Remus wondered where Cillian was getting his ideas from. "Truth is, Cillian, we are all animals. Everything that lives, thinks, feels, is an animal. Everything else is just fitting things into a box so you can sort it all out. Boy or creature you're you and I'm me and that's all that really matters." He tried to explain in a way he might understand.
Remus then locked his eyes on Soren. "So you sneaking off with your girlfriend without us again? I'm beginning to feel unwanted," he pouted.
Beran nodded. "Yeah, he doesn't seem to need us anymore," he joined in the teasing.
Cillian tugged at Soren's sleeve. "Can they come?" he asked. He thought they really did feel left out and maybe they did.
Sysyu smiled. "Maybe we should invite them," she suggested, not wanting to keep Soren from his friends.
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Soren arched a brow at the pair, "Oh hardly too old to have a meal with my siblings, plenty left if you are hungry, my brothers." He noted calling them brothers might confuse his newly born sibling, "This is Remus and Beren, we came up together, they are brothers to me no different than you and your siblings, only they were not born of our parents." He'd not get into the siring aspect of things, that was a bit of knowledge that Cillian could wait to hear.
"Do explain it my dear sire, do please educate us." He said with a grin, he missed his brothers something fierce when they were not around! He nodded, "I think Remus is right though little brother, whatever you want to be, you can be. and if you ever need any help, I will be there for you."
"Sneaking off? I had to bloody beg you two to help me pick my suit, hardly sneaking off!" He said, glancing to Sysyu, "See what I have to deal with, these dorks trying to give me a hard time!" He said as he looked at his brothers with a smirk on his face. "You know I would be lost without you, trying to drum up some sympathy are you?"
"I dont know..." He said as he looked to Cillian and Sysyu, "It like pulling teeth getting them to come help me before.. But I suppose I do like having them around." He said making a face at them, "You two are so dramatic sometimes, of course you can come. But dont blame me if you get bored.. Besides I think you two should get to know Sysyu. How long would it take to get your horses ready?" Like him they had been gifted horses from the mounts recovered from the poachers.
He leaned close to Sysyu, "Hear that, you're my girlfriend." He said playfully, teasing her a little.
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Remus pointed at his plate which was piled high with food when Soren told them to help themselves to breakfast. His appetite had been poor for awhile but come back with a vengeance. Danni had improved his mood by leaps and bounds. She actually enjoyed his company. She was the one. Remus just KNEW it! He had no idea about Darkstar attraction and how strong it could be and if anyone told him that might be the reason he'd fallen in love at first sight he'd tell them otherwise. He had no more idea about Danni's past than she did. That she was ancient, was the daughter of Niall and had once been the wife of Belial as Henri? Had been kidnapped and concealed by demom flesh traffickers and died a death too horrible to ever want to remember. They were both clueless of all that. Memories often got lost during a Darkstar death journey and rebirth. Rebirth gave them a chance at a new start if they needed it and Dannalora had needed a fresh start after the horrors she had suffered.
Remus was munching on some bacon when Soren said to educate them. "Educate who about what?" he asked cluelessly then chowed down on his omelette.
Beren rolled his eyes. "He's been like this ever since he met Dannalora. He hardly hears a thing anyone says his head is so high in the clouds."
"I heard that," Remus growled and Beren laughed at him. "Well keep right on listening little brother."
Cillian looked between the two. "So he looks older but is younger like I'll be to my brothers and sister soon."
"So you growing fast are you?" Beren asked the kid.
Cillian nodded. "As fast as I want to grow."
"Really?" Beren double checked
"Really."
"I'd look older than Remus if I could do that right now." He meant it too.
Remus and Beren looked at Soren and shrygged when he debated about sneaking off. "So you didn't sneak. You sashayed off in your new suit. I see you're dressing a lot snazzier now. Remus must have made an impression on your sense of style." He gave Remus a little shove.
"I did?" Remus doubted that he made any kind​ of impression about much of anything.
Sysyu laughed at Soren's faux griping about the pair. "They remind me of squirrels. The way they bark at each other." She snickered.
"Hey now. Getting your girlfriend onboard your boat is not fair. All I have for ammunition is him." He pointed at Remus.
"Huh...?" Remus didn't get why he was pointing at him when he very well should be have.
"See what I mean?" Beren laughed. "He's got it bad, Soren. I don't know what to do." Their father was NOT going to be happy.
"What's he got bad?" Sysyu asked, confused.
"He's in love, Lady Kilcanoragh. Star crossed and that never ends well." Andros and Anwi would kick him for saying that.
"Please call me Sysyu, or Shy if you please." l
Beren nodded to her.
She smiled at Soren. "That makes you my beau then doesn't it?" she was still smiling at him.
"Our horses are already saddled. We were going to go for a ride after breakfast." Remus replied. See? He was listening. Maybe he just enjoyed having it on with Beren? His head was in the clouds so it could have been a little bit of both.
Cillian jumped up. "I'll go tell Mama we are ready to go!" He cheered and ran off. A guard fell in behind him to follow. It had been the same with the other children as well. The guards were discreet about it but vigilant.
"I'll go and bring him back." Sysyu declared and went after the tyke.
Beren looked to Soren. "That's amazing that he can control his growth. I wish I could do that. It's even more incredible that he knows he can."
"I'd have aged myself backwards if I could have, Beren," Remus promised him.
Beren sighed a little. Sometime he forgot how sweet his brother really was. He was a sweet kid who'd grown up way too fast out of no fault of his own. *I know you would, Brother. I didn't mean anything by saying that stuff, honest. It's okay that you look older than me. How else would we have come up with the older younger brother song?"
Remus laughed blithely. He then held his wrist out to Soren to show him his charm bracelet. "Look what Danni gave me this morning. She said we should both have one and buy charms for each other. She loved the one I gave her. I noticed Sysyu was wearing hers. Did she love it too?"
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"About what?!" Soren growled and pulled Remus to him by the collar, "You already did.. I was talking about the stuff about Cillian and the differences of being a boy and beast!" He then knocked his forehead against Remus, not hard just enough to cause discomfort to them both.
Right now was not the time he intended to scold Remus about his desire to pursue this girl, he had no right to do that with his own pursuit of Maelmorda's own very beautiful daughter. They were both guilty.. only difference is that Soren had not been in an arranged marriage.
~"Beren, is it possible your father would change his mind if Remus pulled himself together in other areas? I hate to suggest it.. but could you marry Treborn's daughter?"~ He was not sure if that would work, or if it would annoy Beren even hearing it suggested.
He laughed aloud, "Of course I will get her on my side! Sysyu is a great partner in crime after all." He said with a grin, "Very much like squirrels sometimes, that is a good observation." He said as he glanced at his brothers, he missed having them around.
"I mean I cant say I am much better, I think this girl has me wrapped around her fingers." Her said kissing Shy hand gently. "I like the sound of that, being your Beau." He said and then Cillian was in a rush to go tell Desiree he was ready to go, and Shy went after him.
"Yeah that was new to me, just yesterday he was a little newborn, all the sibling have grown fast.. but he has grown the fastest."
He pulled Remus close then and looked at the charm bracelet, "I am jealous! I guess you two must be serious. Is it normal for girls to give gifts to us guys?" He couldn't remember ever getting gifts from girls, look at you a regular casanova." He then looked at Beren, "So anything new with you, Ber?":
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It didn't take long for Sysyu to return with Cillian being he ran all the way to his mother as she fed Aeros and Athena and blurted out that he wanted to go to the wil-life perserf to see other creatures and could he go. When Desiree gave her consent with an "Of course you can, sweety," he hugged her and his tups with her fiercely then took off running again. Sysyu curtsied to the queen and laughing ran after Cillian again, who sprinted all the way back, even up to the table where he slid to a stop just in time to catch Beren talking about the song he and Remus had made up. "Sing it! Sing it!" Cillian encouraged with enthusiasm.
When Cillian roused them to sing the song they'd made up Beren grinned. "Seems like right now I'm up to singing a song," he told Soren, then, being the better singer of the two brothers he lifted his voice in song.
"I'm .. your older younger brother,
You'd look younger had you druthers,
But I'm the younger brother most others see,
I am older by six years,
You have all your childhood fears,
While I cry no more tears,
I'm the older younger brother thats me,
And you'll be even bigger by next year! Boozzah!"
Then Remus sang his part and though his voice wasn't as good as Beren's, mostly because he lacked the confidence to sing, his was still a pleasant voice.
"I'm .. your younger older brother,
I'd look younger had I druthers,
But I'm the older brother most others see,
I am younger by six years,
I have all my childhood fears,
While you cry no more tears,
I'm the younger older brother thats me,
And I'll be even bigger by next year! Huzzah!"
Sysyu clapped her hands. "That's wonderful and so funny." She cheered.
Cillian copied her clapping while jumping up and down. "Sing it again!" he crowed. The two brothers bower to their audience,looked at each other then sang it again for him only in chorus this time, each singing his part at the same time. Cillian squealed with laughter then sang with them when he asked them to sing it a THIRD time. He'd memorized every word of it the first two times. "Can I sing it with my brothers and sisters?" he asked them after they ended the fourth and last round of the song.
"Sure, Cillian. Our song is your song," Beren consented and Remus nodded on agreement. "It is definitely your song." The way he grew? It truly was his song. Remus was done aging and looked anywhere between seventeen and twenty. Beren would catch up and look older if he chose to, and Beren planned on aging until he looked in his mid thirties or early fourties, like their father.
Beren fixed his gaze on Soren again. "We haven't been up to much since you went to the wedding yesterday. Remus has been pining mostly. I did some training with Devyn. He's proof that mortals aren't pus... weak."
Remus polished off the last of his breakfast and burped. "So we off to the zoo now?" he smiled clueless of conversation hos brothers were having privately at the moment.
~"I don't know... it's aweful important to Da to marry Remus to Treborn's daughter."~ Then Soren asked of he wouldn't be willing to marry her. ~"I haven't really thought about it. He chose Remus because he's closer to her age... two years younger actually. I always expected for Da to marry me off to someone. I'm only four years older... Sure, I'd be willing if Da was, though I think he was hoping to marry me off to one of Lord Decasey's daughters. Mother is pregnant again with another boy they're naming Romulus of course, so... I'll see if I can help our little brother out."~ He smiled and Remus wondered what he was smiling about. Soren was being quiet so he put two and two together. He knew they talked to each other on their heads a lot. "I'm ready to go when everyone else is," Beren voiced for his part.
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Soren knew of the song, and began to clap to the rhythm as they began to sing, his brothers were much better singers than he was, his own voice carried, but.. he was not convinced it was a good voice for singing, maybe for shouting orders, but not singing!
He was glad they were such good sports with his younger siblings, not all would have been, but.. these were his brothers, of course they were good guys!
"Nothing wrong with a little pining, I wonder what you two must say about me when im not listening!" He said with a snort, "You know until recently I was Mortal as well, so watch it!" He said raising his fists in a boxing stance!
~"Romulus? Thats a strange name, why that name?"~ The star trek reference was wasted on Soren, he thought TV when he had occasion to see it was boring, he rather be training, reading, or doing something else. ~"It might be worth a shot, but we will have to convince him not to shirk his other duties if he wants even a shadow of a chance of convincing his father."~
Soren stood up and lifted Cillian up into his arm, "Who would you like to ride with, brother mine?" He said and offered a hand down to Sysyu to help her to her feet.:
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Sysyu giggled when Soren tried to imagine what his honorary brothers said about him behind his back. "They probably complain about how love sick we are and how I'm going to steal you from them." Then she winked at the Noctmaire brothers. "But don't worry, boys, I wouldn't dream of keeping Soren all to myself unless we're out on a date." She grinned and hugged Soren's arm which was quite muscular for his age.
Remus and Beren's mother had never watched TV or a movie. Beren was actually a little surprised that Soren didn't get where their names came from but didn't show it. He knew Soren was sensitive about he and his Father's forced lack of interaction. ~"Romulus and Remus are both named after a Roman legend. According to the tale, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus in 753 BC. They were twin brothers, sons of a human mother and the god of war, Mars. After their birth, king Amulius of Alba Longa, the region that would become part of Rome, ordered them killed. They were placed in a basket, put into the Tiber River and left to die from exposure. But their basket washed up on the river bank where they were found by a female wolf. The wolf nursed the hungry babies and cared for them until they were found by a shepherd."
"The shepherd and his wife raised the babies as their own. Romulus and Remus grew up and helped overthrow king Amulius for ordering their deaths. They wanted to build their own city along the Tiber River where their basket had washed ashore. They disagreed about where it should be, and Romulus killed Remus during their quarrels. Romulus built the city of Rome on one of the seven hills along the Tiber, the Palatine hill, and there lived a long life as king of Rome." Beren told.
"I'm sure your father is quite familiar with the legend. I always thought it was pretty ironic that both our fathers are Roman. Let's just hope our little brother doesn't grow up to be the kind of jerk Romulus in the legend was,"~ Beren jibed. "I guess we'll have make sure he doesn't," he promised with a cheeky smile.
When Soren asked who Cillian wanted to ride with he jumped up and down as he did when he got excited about something beit something happening or an idea. "I want to ride my friend Shimmer! He can carry me!"
"Shimmer?" Sysyu asked and Cillian nodded emphatically. "Who is Shimmer?"
"He's my dragon self, but I can call him out to play."
"How big is Shimmer?* Sysyu went on to inquire.
"He's just a baby like me. Here, you'll see. Shimmer. Come out come out," he called and a blue grey shadow emerged from him then took shape and form as a beautiful ocean blue and grey dragon with a long, thick mane of gray fur which narrowed and trailed down the length of hos spine and tail. His wings were leathery beneath and furred on top, his claws and horns gray, his eyes pumpkin orange. His turquoise scales were smooth as glass while his fur was soft as down. He was thickly built and larger than a draft horse. Cillian went over and climbed up on his shoulder to smile. "Can I ride shimmer?"
Sysyu looked to Soren. She wasn't sure. "Will he scare the animals?" she asked him quietly.
"Shimmer eats fish. He won't scare them," the child promised them. Cillian wasn't aware yet that Shimmer would also try to eat anything that attacked them.
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He grinned and nuzzled up against her, so he could give her cheek a kiss. "Lovesick? Is that what we are? I have never felt healthier in my life though!" He said as he looked to his brothers with a smirk, "I am unstealable, you should know that, I will give all of you pieces of myself. Speaking of dates, we will be going to the wedding reception tonight, so dont expect me to be around later this evening, so Beren you will have to keep Remus out of trouble." He teased, then looked at Sysyu curiously. "Is it appropriate to return wearing the same clothes, or should we go pick new outfits for tonight at some point?"
Beren was right that was a sore spot, he did not show it.. but it was. Perhaps Remus might feel that through their sire/progeny blood bond, it was not something earth shaking, but.. he had been denied some of the things Octavian would have shared with him, such as the tales and legends of Rome. He listened as his friend told the tale of the Founders of Rome, and it was not a happy tale either. "With brothers like you, he will certainly be a jerk." Soren said with a laugh, they'd know he was kidding though, "But.. he could do worse than the three of us, couldn't he?"
"You can manifest your dragon form seperate from yourself?" He looked at Remus, "You never told me that was possible, Remus!" He was amazed by what his brother could do seemingly at will with no training, these kids were going to be more powerful than he could even imagine to be in no time flat. He was sort of envious, but, he was also proud as could be. "That is amazing Cillian."
When the dragon manifested he moved over to stand beside his brother.. brothers? They were both Cillian, even if he called this one shimmer. "Can I touch him?" If Cillian said yes he would run a hand over his dragon head. "You can ride him, but.. if he causes the animals fright or you misbehave you will have to come ride with me. How's that sound?":
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"Oh I don't know about that," Sysyu said about Soren claiming to be unstealable. "I bet if one of us wanted to tie you up and hide you away we could." This time that sweet smile of hers was so sweet it was wicked.
Beren smirked. "You really are a little devil you know that, Sysyu?"
"Well I am a devil," Sysyu laughed, feeling more like one of the boys since they indoctrinated her into their teasing.
Beren and Remus both narrowed their eyes on Soren, Beren with censure because he broke the telepathy wall and Remus with ambivalence because Soren commented on something he hadn't heard. Remus was sharp though however dumb he played. "Talking about Romulus eh? Want to hear something really weird?" Remus told them the rest telepathically. ~"Romulus is actually my twin brother. Mother stopped him from maturing while we were in prison, placed him in a sort of limbo. She did it to us both but it didn't take with me. Da thinks its because I'm a Deluvian. Then when we got home Da went away to war so she kept Rom in limbo. Dont tell anyone though. It's just too weird to explain to the public. They already think I'm the spawn of Hesstromeph the Black. They don't need to think he is too and that mother tried to hide it."~
Beren was stunned. He wasn't even aware of Rom being his twin until just now. ~"So you really are like Remus and Romulus of legend... twins raised by a wolf if Hesstromeph played the wolf role. Well at least Da didn't try to drown you."~ He snickered, getting over the revelation just like that. Remus just rolled his eyes at him and Sysyu laughed. The three of them were like a comedy team she so wanted to be a part of.
Cillian nodded to Soren. "Shimmer has his own thoughts and feelings when he comes out," he explained as he stroked his soft mane.
Remus shook his head at Soren. "That is a high tier shapeshifter ability. It might be something else completely different in him. Something innate maybe."
Sysyu smiled at Cillian. "How long has Shimmer been with you?" she asked the child.
"Oh he's always been with me. He just didn't come out until recelly."
"Recently?" Sysyu corrected gently.
"Yeah."
"And he's his own person when he comes out? He's independent?"
"What's indepenant?" the child asked.
"In-de-pen-dent. It's when someone is a whole separate person all to themselves or someone who doesn't have to rely on another to exist."
"Oh... well I guess. Shimmer is a whole separate creature when he comes out but we rely on each other as friends."
Sysyu smiled. "That's good. It means you're both independent but help each other and are there for each other."
"Yes!!" Cillian crowed and hugged shimmer tight.
Sysyu looked at the three Noctmaire brothers. "You know... It could be Cillian was born with a proxy and Shimmer is that proxy. These siblings of yours are all kinds of unique. I've never heard of such a thing begore but that doesn't mean it's not possible and it fits."
Beren and Remus both nodded thoughtfully.
Cillian nodded when Soren asked if he could touch him. "He loves pets and hugs." Then he grinned at Soren when he posed some terms he found appealing for riding Shimmer. "Okay. We don't want to scare the animals." he agreed. "Can we go now?"
The dragon meanwhile purred like a very large kitten when Soren pet him and nuzzled it's broad muzzle against him. Though Shimmer could be fierce as any dragon he was by nature as gentle as could be and clearly affectionate. The dragon was also a trifecta of navigation being both amphibious and avian, able to navigate equally as well on land, water or in the air, although young as he was he still had a nymph's thickness and his wings were still underdeveloped. He could only fly short distances. As he and Cillian grew he'd get leaner and his wings much larger and stronger.
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Soren knew she was pure as driven snow, and could not help but to try and see if he couldn't make her blush. "We're not even engaged yet and already thinking about tying me up, Sysyu? In front of my friends too, naughty." He teased, he did not think the comment would register on Cillian, it was more innuendo than anything else. He leaned in to whisper to her, "You aren't the only wicked one."
"No I was just curious if you wanted to change your outfit, after all it is common for a lady not to be seen in public in the same dress twice." He had heard on earth often times a dress could only be worn once in public, he wondered if the same was right in Acheron. "The dress you wore yesterday was so beautiful, I think it is the right call to wear it again. Maybe this time Remus and Beran will see us off, last time I couldn't find you two!" He said glancing at them, curious what they would get up to while he was gone.. well, they were better behaved than he was most times, so nothing bad he imagined.
Soren didn't have much to say in regards to their other brother, Romulus... He did have thoughts on peoples opinion of Remus though, ~"The next person I hear claim that is going to get punched right in the face, it's none of their business."~ Soren would do his best to help Sysyu find her place in this group, after all, if things went right with her, she would be a fixture in his life for all time.
~"Have you two ever talked to Maelmorda much? I want to ask for the right to court Sysyu proper tonight at the reception, any ideas how I can avoid making a fool of myself?"~ He could have made noise about how he had rescued Sysyu from Evander, but he did not want Evander flayed alive, and it felt like a short cut. He hoped the Morning Star would see he was a good match for Sysyu without any such edge needed.
Soren did not realize it, but it was likely unlikely that Maelmorda was unaware of what had happened, he always seemed to know things, after all.
"He does?"
Soren nodded to Sysyu's observation, "Goodness that really is impressive." Born with his own proxy, and the way Cillian spoke, you'd think he'd been alive for years now, his growth both mental and physical were impressive. Sysyu was so good with his brothers and sisters, it was no surprise he had fallen for her, "Well it is certainly impressive, and here my childhood I was just a human boy, I cant imagine what it must have been like for the rest of you." Compared to his siblings, his Noct'maire brothers, and Sysyu, his own birth and childhood seemed so.. mundane.
After petting Shimmer a bit, he nodded, "We can, we can." Shimmer was an impressive creature, such a dragon would surely grow to be powerful. He knew enough about dragons to see that much, in fact besides him, at present only Remus and Beren likely knew more. Before he had been sired, he'd had an aspiration to be a dragon rider, that had changed though when he had been sired.
Taking Sysyu by the hand, he stood up straight, "Shall we?" He hoped Sysyu liked the wreath of blue roses he had her horse dressed in, was it too much? Well no matter, it was too late now, what was done was done.:
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Sysyu didn't actually get the inuendo herself. Bondage was as alien to her as an exposed penis. Her twin had at least seen animals 'doing it' but Sysyu hadn't even had that much exposure to sex. One would think that with two devils as fathers she'd have gotten her eyes filled with enough to traumatize her for life but they had kept their children sheltered, Sysyu in particular because she was their only girl out of many children. Sam had not wanted Anwi to go with Killian but Mael was very persuasive. He just wanted one of them to grow up outside of Acheron and its corruptive atmosphere. It was rather ironic that Nuanui, who was an isolated woodland dweller, was less sheltered than Sysyu was. Nuanui had a wild streak as untameable as the rainforest she grew up in. It was the fey in her, her connection to the wylde. Sysyu had more in common with a city girl who grew up with the church, only Sysyu's church was chaos. Soren had been struck by what he perceived as Maelmorda's conservatism, when what Maelmorda was in fact, was a disciplinarian. THE authority of Acheron and now also Haman. He ran a tight ship with well oiled machinery albeit it was a ship that navigated the oceans of chaos.
Sysyu's favorite roses were red, black or white but blue roses would look lovely on the white horse with the grey mane she'd be riding and she'd appreciate the rarity of blue roses. The only one who grew them in the country was Byron Decasey and Sarku. As AoM had destroyed the rose gardens and they were still getting reestablished at Gothtyrdan, the wreath of roses Soren purchased had come from the Redmoon Chateau.
"What does being engaged have to do with getting tied up?" Sysyu asked Soren, puzzled, carrying that look with even greater bewilder to Remus and Beren as they snickered. "Alright now, what kind of joke am I finding myself on the tail end of?" she demanded to know.
Remus grinned at Soren. "Yeah, tell her Soren." Beren just laughed, highly amused at the hole Soren dug for himself.
The already flustered girl frowned at the things Soren said about not wearing the same dress twice. "Well no one told me THAT rule, and it's stupid. Not wear something twice? That's just wasteful." Then he said it was the right call to wear the same dress. She stared at him while Beren made a hissing burn sound. "You are confusing me, Soren. You know that?" And she went over to pet Cillian's dragon friend and introduce herself to him. "Hello, Shimmer. I'm Sysyu. It's very nice to meet you. Is it okay if Cillian rides you on the wildlife refuge and to the zoo?"
"Of course. I enjoy carrying him," Shimmer promised in a deep but very child like voice.
"Thank you, Shimmer, that's very good of you."
"It's good of you to ask," Shimmer said, feeling there were few people who would bother or think to ask.
~"I don't know, Soren,"~ Beren said to Soren's promise to punch anyone who accused Remus of being Hesstromeph's bastard. ~"That might just give them more amunition. Maybe write them up on charges of insurrection instead,"~ he grinned at the thought. Yes indeed, he'd do that very thing next time he heard anyone publicly libeling his little brother's good name. Let the courts have their day with the jerks. ~"I don't really know the Morning Star. My pater does what he can to keep under his radar as much as he can. He rather enjoys his free walking privileges. What I do know from my pater suggests that maybe you should just be open and honest and not try too hard. Try to be relaxed but respectful?"~ He suggested.
Remus looked at Soren rather intently when he spoke of how mundane his childhood had been. "Being a cursed child isn't what I'd call mundane. My childhood was hardly exciting. It was dark and dull and I was a rat a great deal of the time. I think everyone's childhood is frought with challenges mortal or immortal." He shrugged.
Sysyu thought her childhood had been pretty easy other than her brothers teasing her pretty constantly. Theirs was a fond kind of teasing though. They adored their only sister, and would adore the sister they had yet to meet.
Sysyu was already over the trivial rough patch Soren had stirred up and smiled when he agreed it was time they got a move on. Sysyu patted Cillian on the shoulder and the child straddled Shimmer's thick, fur laden neck and rode him out of the banquet hall and through the corridors, people making way for him as they encountered them. In the courtyard outside the keep the stable hands greeted them with their horses, Sysyu's white horse with the grey mane Cloud Minder, Remus's blue grey stormcloud with the blonde mane and tail and white splotches Sisko, Soren's grey horse Storm Chaser, and aside from Cillian on Shimmer, Beren was the other odd man out on his blood bay Mars.
On the backs of their mounts the gate arch delivered them as near to the Dusky Lane Estate as their wards and gateways allowed, which placed them on the safari road midway between Lakeshore River and Dusky Lane Manor. The gateway at the zoo was down presently. The zoo and manor were at least a three hour ride away at an easy pace. They arrived beneath a copse of large scattered umbrella like trees that offered wonderful shade but beyond the trees the sun beat down on the grasslands. The day was hot as autumn was not quite full but the heat was not unbearable. Sysyu's horse was packed with six canteens of fresh cool water and food enough for them all for two meals. It would have been three had Beren and Remus not joined their party but she had packed extra water and there were springs to be found to refill their supply. If anyone had brought food and water they'd have surplus supplies and Remus and Beren went no where without water. They both also had some hard liquor in their packs. It was leisure time for them after all.
Sysyu patted her horses neck and looked around. "I don't think we're at the manor unless it has a long drive," she observed. "So are we north, south, east or west of it? I don't know this country." She felt a sudden wave of anxiety. A mild case of ptsd. They hadn't landed in a dense dark vast forest but the similarities to their experience at the Inn was close enough it that it disturbed her. "Maybe we should go back..."
"Nooooo please," Cillian cried out in protest.
"I could take wing and scout out where we are so we know where to go," Remus suggested. "Birds eye view. The land here is open enough to see for miles around." He smiled and Sysyu nodded, feeling foolish for spooking so easily.
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Remus unbound his creamy white dragon wings and took off with the speed of a sparrowhawk to wheel and then soar in an ever widening circle gaining altitude with each pass around them until he had the view he was after in sight. They were about three hours south south east of the manor and zoo by horseback. Then he spied two riders approaching their party on the road. They both wore tan and white expedition outfits, Remus could see that they were clearly park staff even from the height he was flying. He also spotted some herds... one of antelope, one of mumaak, and another of wild lombra. There was also a herd of some kind of large animal far to the east. Too far for him to tell what they were. Then to the northeast of the herds he saw a large pride of lions. He made a mental map of the land, herds and pride and directions they were moving. He hoped they could get close enough for Cillian to see them.
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Soren had not meant to turn this into something that would make her feel bad, like he was making her the butt of a joke, but here she was admitting to feeling just that way, and Remus didn't help matters any, if they upset her he was going to make Remus tap out like never before next time they sparred!
"It is just a sort of double entandre," He said as he tried to explain to her what they had to do with each other. "You see, getting married is often referred to as tying the knot, but also.. sometimes lovers also tie each other up in the bedroom... for added spicyness in the relationship. I thought it was clever trying to turn what was said into an innuendo, Of course I should have known better." He did not want to tell them her age, it was her choice who knew about that, that she was really quite young.
But it seemed like each time he said something he was just sticking his foot deeper into his mouth, she was growing more upset with him by the moment and was about to walk away from him when he took her hand, "I dont know what I am talking about.. I am just trying to act cool in front of you and my brothers.. I didn't mean to imply anything negative I just.. heard so many stories about things, and I dunno I just figure that is just how things are, Sysyu. You could wear that gown everyday for the rest of time and you would never dim in my eyes." It was difficult to speak so openly like this in front of Remus and Beran, they would most likely make fun of him for this later, or sooner. His brothers teasing nose drew a glare from Soren though, he was not amused by how this had gone.
Mentioning his childhood curse was the last straw, and he ignored the rest of their mental conversation. "I am going to make sure the horses are ready to go, and that we have extra supplies, I will meet you all at the stables." Soren said, and did his best to calmly leave, he needed a moment to himself, that was the first time he recalled feeling like he was two inches tall in front of her.
He went down to the stables to do as he said he would and make sure everything was well in hand, it would be, of course.. but he needed an excuse to get out of that situation before he made himself look anymore foolish. He knew his brothers did not mean any harm, but, he was still agitated, not to mention he needed to talk to Amon still and it was stressing him out, what if he had started some sort of feud between his father and Amon because of this? Would a devil even count what he had done as something worthy of the thrashing Soren gave him? Soren could feel himself spiraling, he needed to get his thoughts under control and remind himself this was for Cillian, he would not ruin his brothers day.:
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When Soren went on to explain his intent in the things he had said Sysyu eyed him a moment, her fingers lacing with his as he took her hand then she then laughed reflexively. She just found the notion of people tying each other up for excitement funny. "People do funny things in private it seems to me." Then ahe grinned at him. "Please don't worry about the dress thing. I was just confused by the whole wearing something only once thing. I really don't get some customs people adhere to. We'll just have to make our own customs when we don't agree with those others might follow." she smiled and hiked herself up to kiss his cheek. She watched him as he slipped away to go to the stables ahead of them and sighed when he was out of sight to pin the two Noctmaire brothers with those jade green eyes of hers so like her father's. "I didn't mean to upset him ..."
"Neither did I..." uttered Remus then Beren rocked him with a slap against his back.
"You need to learn how to keep your foot out of your mouth, Remus. I get that you meant what you said as a compliment to his inner strength but he thought you were mocking his struggles, brother. You need to learn to express yourself better."
Remus nodded. He knew Beren was right. He'd been rejected by how many girls for being misunderstood? He would die if he scared Dannelora off saying the wrong things. And he in no way wanted to damage his relationship with Soren by offending him unintentionally.
Speaking of Amon. When Soren arrived at the stables Amon was there saddling his huge jet-black warhorse Hades, a stallion as temperamental as he was beautiful. Few but Amon could handle him safely. Amon kissed the steed's velvety muzzle and patted his neck then looked to Soren as he approached. He offered a smile with a nod of greeting. "Good Morn, Prince Draguta. How are you faring these days?" He checked the girth strap on his horse, tightened it a bit then continued to lavish him with well received attention as he and Soren conversed.
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Talking to Sysyu did clear up a lot of the miscommunication, she was a lot more sensible than many women he had known and he was glad for it! But as their fingers seemed to lace as if on instinct and they moved closer he could not help but smile. "I dont expect with you around I will want for excitement, if these past days are any indication." They had enjoyed peaks and valleys since they had met, it was intense.. and while love was perhaps too strong a word, he felt a passion inside his chest for her that threatened to engulf him in an instant! He still remembered how it felt to be at the mercy of her sisters influence, how it felt to be pressed against Sysyu.. A dangerous thing too, at least until he got her father's permission to court her properly. "Our own? That sounds interesting.. like whenever we meet.. you should give me a big hug, wouldn't that be a great custom?" He said with a little laugh, as he pressed his forehead to hers, "Don't think I forgot either, I owe you a picnic, I shall give it to you when you least expect it!"
When he at last slipped away, he would find his way down to the stables, and well, he had NOT expected to see Amon, though he should have, He and his father were.. friends? Were they close? Any other time he'd not have hesitated, but.. he was honor-bound to do something, he had given his word he would do this for Sysyu. Soren glanced about as he approached. "Is Liz not with you, I feel like i've not seen my sister in ages."
He reached out to his brothers, "Keep Sysyu occupied, I am speaking with lord Amon, and I would like to keep her clear of it, just do this favor for me, I will be quite grateful." He had said he would take care of it for her, so he hoped to keep her from overhearing him tell Amon about all that had happened.
After a bit of small talk, Soren cleared his throat, "King Amon, I did wish to speak to you on something of a matter of importance." He said as he held the visiting kings gaze, "There is no easy way to say it, so, I will just say it."
"Evander has made something of a name for himself, I don't wish to mudsling, it isn't as if we other squires are pure angels ourselves. He has made that name for himself as a bit of a womanizer, love 'em and leave, you know.. all that. However, he got it in his head to accost a young woman who had been staying on as a quest to my father and the Queen Desiree. The young woman in question, is Lady Sysyu." He was not sure if he knew who she was, so he would explain that.
"I was lucky enough to come upon them before it had gotten to out of hand and he did something he would come to regret. I won't lie, I took pleasure in the punishment I laid upon him for putting his hands on our lord The Morningstar's daughter." Soren had no idea that just saying that could draw the gaze of Maelmorda, he had heard it could.. but assumed it was more myth than truth.
"Like any young man with a pulse, I had a strong attraction to her, so I wont deny a little bit of jealousy was involved, but.. also, I knew if he went ahead with what he did, our lord, the King of Kings, would have skinned him alive, and more." He would have still bore the cuts and bruises on his fist had he not had regeneration to mend his knuckles. "You are the first we have spoken this to, Lady Sysyu, she asked me to bring this to you.. We have no desire to see his reputation ruined. I know that you my lord, would know the right course to take."
He sighed, "Perhaps this may come of sounding holier than thou, but.. this is not something I wanted to use for personal gain. Evander is a great squire and someone I would trust to watch my back in a battle." It would have been easy for him to drag Evander through the mud and reap the benefits of defending Sysyu's honor as he had.
"I apologize if this has soured your morning, your majesty." Soren may have been a prince, But Amon was a king, he did his best to show him every honor that came with being a king.
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Amon was not accustomed to being called a king. He thought of himself more of a prince within his King's domain, his king being Maelmorda. Amon gazed on Soren without expression for a time after Soren rather unhappily reported the tidings of his son's transgressions. At length he exhaled a downhearted sigh and propped his hands upon his waist. "I appreciate you bringing this to me, Soren. I had rather hoped the rumors that reached me were exaggerated. He has always been the perfect son, you know? It was hard for me to believe he was capable of disrespecting women given the level of love and respect his mother and I share. I lacked the burden of proof to confront him with the rumors and well, you have brought me the testimony I lacked. He will be removed from his duties and returned home until Maelmorda has been informed and I can be certain his conduct is corrected. You did the right thing bringing this matter to me." He conveyed with as much dignity as anyone would expect from the ancient devil. That said he led his jet black stallion out of the stable and mounted up. "I will remain discreet in this matter, have no worries. Good day, Prince Draguta." Amon dipped his head to the young fellow and rode out heading for the city's south gate. His voice summoned Evander as he did so, ordering him to drop whatever he was doing and inform his superior that he was being removed from service effective immediately and was to report to his father without further delay.
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Sysyu had smiled happily at Soren when he'd made his suggestion for a new custom of their own. "Do I hug you or do you hug me? Now that is the question! How about... you hug me and I kiss your cheek everytime we meet?" She had grinned right back at him.
The two brothers entertained her per Soren's request while he was gone and would have done so anyway, regaling her with amusing stories of some of their childhood antics with Soren. She laughed when told how Beran dared Soren to ride a dragon his best friend didnt know was Remus at the time, and how Remus had pretended to be fierce and tried to shake him while flying low over water so should he fall he'd not get injured. Remus laughed and told her he was new to flight and being a dragon at the time and ended up crashing into the water with Soren who found out how well some dragons could swim through Remus. He was better at swimming as a dragon than flying at that time. "He never let go of Remus. He was riding him as he swam. I swear he's a born dragon rider." Beran bragged on his honorary brother.
Sysyu clapped her hands to applaud the story and Soren's bravery. One of the things she admired about Soren was his courage. "His mother and father must be very proud of him."
Her eyes then lit up as she noticed that Soren returned to meet them at the gate arch with their horses en tow. "Oh Soren!! The wreath of roses is beautiful! I must think up a way to keep them from withering." She went over and pet her horse and took deep breaths of the roses fragrance. She didn't doubt for a moment that Soren was the one who purchased the roses for Cloud Minder. Who else would be so sweet and generous? And if Soren adhered to the new custom and hugged her she'd kiss his lips instead of his cheek for the lovely gift of roses.
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When it came to the meeting with Amon Soren did his best to stay respectful to Amon and Evander, while Van had pissed him off, and he had been perhaps a little jealous that Sysyu had taken such a shine to Van over himself at first.. They were both Squires and both the son of kings. "As you say, my lord. I just hope it is possible in the future for him to rejoin our ranks, for as awful as this is, I have always trusted him." Sure it was true his assault of Sysyu was awful, Van had helped them keep hersafe before those soldiers were eradicated by Eoghan, he hoped for Van to get properly reformed.
Soren would have been red had he known about the story telling that they had! Sure perhaps it was true, but... was holding on for dear life truly courage? Before that Storm where he had died, his greatest hope was to be a dragon rider, especially after his overture to Aurelius had been denied. He had hoped to be made into a Noct'maire immortal like his mother, but, that had been denied. He wondered if Aurelius thought his siring was intentional, however, he put it out of mind as he approached the others.
The truth of the pride of his parents was.. Yes! They were quite proud of him!
When they reunited he pulled Sysyu into a tight hug as they agreed.. it was their new custom right? "Hm.. I am sure there is a way, I know you can use wax to keep a flower as it is for all time.. Perhaps someone capable of time manipulation could also do something." He said, as he held her in his arms as long as she would tolerate it. He was surprised of course of the kiss to his lips, and blushed a little at it, but he enjoyed it all the same.
He peered around her looking for his little brother, "I bet I know someone who is barely containing themselves and wants to get on the road, do I not, young Cillian?"
~"Thanks for the help.. you didn't say anything embarrassing about me, did you brothers?"~:
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Amon was going to do his best to reform his son but his success depended on Evander wanting to change his ways. He sincerely hoped he could make Evander see the wrong in treating women like objects of pleasure. He also meant to insure Evander did not resent Soren who had probably saved his ass by reporting the infraction as he had.
Cillian was still sitting astride Shimmer when Soren returned. He had listening to the story Beran told too and had loved it! "I am ready to go!" Cillian sang out eagerly. "Soren the Dragon Rider! Will you ride me when I'm Shimmer?" The tyke asked his big brother excitedly and Sysyu giggled. Well, Shimmer was the size of a large horse and much thicker built. Soren should be able to ride him. Were his wings well developed enough for him to fly though? She wondered.
"Time huh?" Sysyu thought about whether she could create a time bend around the wreath of roses to stop time and the roses from aging then remembered her father's warnings about time manipulation even on a small scale. Still... if she could create a small pocket that only affected the roses how could that influence anything else? "Is there any way sealing the wreath inside a time pocket could affect anything outside of that pocket?" She asked Soren in particular as they all rode to the Gothtyrdan gate arch together. Remus and Beran both considered her question too though.
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Soren looked at his brother curiously, Soren the Dragonrider? He looked at his brothers dubiously, and it was not difficult to figure out they had told some story about him, and if it was the one he thought, well.. He nodded. "And when your wings are ready for it we can see that you learn to fly.. Flight is a bit different when you have a rider on your back, the rider puts their life in your hands after all. There is much trust between Dragon and Rider, Cillian." Soren too had a dragon form though, but... he'd not spoil his brothers excitement.
"I am not an expert, though I have read up on it a bit.. however I might have spoken too soon, the tomes all treat Chronomancy like a six-headed viper. My father has a friend, his name is.. Victor Urik, He helped me once when, the night of my siring." Soren's siring had hardly been ideal, how were they to know he would have become an Astraeus vampire on death!? Perhaps he should have known, what was done, is done. "I think we ought to speak with someone like Victor, or maybe someone who is well acquaited with Verdure..? I believe that is the elemental plane of plants, perhaps there is a spell or enchantment that can keep the flowers ever-living? He had helped her onto her mount, not because she was incapable, but because he had been raised to held a lady into her saddle, before he mounted his own, and so they made for the gate arch.
"The wedding is to last three whole days, is that normal you think?" He asked as he rode beside her, he was curious what they could possibly be doing for three days at a wedding.. Sure he knew what a husband and wife could do for days and days.. but, as far as a ceremony.. it had him stumped. "That place..Was interesting though, that Forest realm they were wed in, have you ever been to such a place?":
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Cillian would have been even more excited to know Soren was part dragon. That information had not reached him yet from his older siblings whose age he had caught up with growth wise. "I can fly!" Cillian crowed happily. "Just not very far yet."
Sysyu skewed her lips at the replies to her time query after Remus threw in that time was a tricky path to practice. "I'm afraid the roses won't survive long enough to find someone to preserve them. I suppose I'll just have to enjoy them while they last." She determined with a resolute nod.
Her eyes locked on Soren when he asked what was normal for weddings. "Is there a norm among such diverse people as we know? I would guess it is normal for Lord Kilcanoragh. I also imagine he'll keep his guests entertained well enough for three days. The first night was... too exciting for me!" She laughed, having overheard his thoughts thinking he spoke them aloud. She nodded in agreement to the forest being interesting, though interesting isn't what she would have called it. "His realm is beautiful. It's said he has lived there for many thousands of years. He must love it there very much. We saw so very little of his kingdom. Stories tell of it being completely surrounded by an impenetrable labyrinth made of trees and vines all woven together and of a beautiful outer open forest where sidhe and legendary creatures roam. Maybe we should have a picnic there one day as well and explore." A
little of her adventurous side showing. Though she wasn't as adventurous as her sister she wasn't without the will to satisfy her curiosity about things.
"Can we go now?" Cillian was growing impatient.
Sysyu laughed. "Of course Cillian. Let's go." And she stepped her horse up to the gate and spoke their destination clearly. "Dusky Lane Zoo," she commanded and hence they crossed the threshold to turn up on that copse road which made her so nervous.
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He grinned, "And soon enough you will have powerful wings, but.. there is no rush, we have all the time in the world, Cillian." He said as he regarded Cillian. It was strange, he only just met his brother last night and yet.. he loved him already so much.
He nodded in agreement, "Yes, that was quite the wedding indeed, I hope the reception is.. less exciting, at least relative to what we witnessed." They had not even seen the orgy, and perhaps that was a good thing, it had been a rather intense affair after all. "I do owe you a picnic, I shall ask Lord Kilcanoragh if he will allow me permission to have a picnic with you in his realm." He said, but for now, he had a wildlife retreat to worry about!
Not to mention he had an impatient little brother to attend to! "Yes, lets do be off." He gave a whistle to his brothers, "Keep up, I wouldn't want you two to get lost." He teased, knowing full well, no such thing would happen, they knew Esscha Endor just as well as he did by now!
Soon they were out on the Copse road and Soren took a moment to take in the area. ~"Sysyu, are you well?"~ He asked as he waited until they were all gathered, so they could take stock of their situation.:
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And so on the backs of their mounts the gate arch delivered them as near to the Dusky Lane Estate as their wards and gateways allowed, which placed them on the safari road midway between Lakeshore River and Dusky Lane Manor. The gateway at the zoo was down presently. The zoo and manor were at least a three hour ride away at an easy pace. They arrived beneath a copse of large scattered umbrella like trees that offered wonderful shade but beyond the trees the sun beat down on the grasslands. The day was hot as autumn was not quite full but the heat was not unbearable. Sysyu's horse was packed with six canteens of fresh cool water and food enough for them all for two meals. It would have been three had Beren and Remus not joined their party but she had packed extra water and there were springs to be found to refill their supply. If anyone had brought food and water they'd have surplus supplies and Remus and Beren went no where without water. They both also had some hard liquor in their packs. It was leisure time for them after all.
Sysyu patted her horses neck and looked around. "I don't think we're at the manor unless it has a long drive," she observed. "So are we north, south, east or west of it? I don't know this country." She felt a sudden wave of anxiety. A mild case of ptsd. They hadn't landed in a dense dark vast forest but the similarities to their experience at the Inn was close enough it that it disturbed her. "Maybe we should go back..."
"Nooooo please," Cillian cried out in protest.
"I could take wing and scout out where we are so we know where to go," Remus suggested. "Birds eye view. The land here is open enough to see for miles around." He smiled and Sysyu nodded, feeling foolish for spooking so easily.
Remus unbound his creamy white dragon wings and took off with the speed of a sparrowhawk to wheel and then soar in an ever widening circle gaining altitude with each pass around them until he had the view he was after in sight. They were about three hours south south east of the manor and zoo by horseback. Then he spied two riders approaching their party on the road. They both wore tan and white expedition outfits, Remus could see that they were clearly park staff even from the height he was flying. He also spotted some herds... one of antelope, one of mumaak, and another of wild lombra. There was also a herd of some kind of large animal far to the east. Too far for him to tell what they were. Then to the northeast of the herds he saw a large pride of lions. He made a mental map of the land, herds and pride and directions they were moving. He hoped they could get close enough for Cillian to see them.
After awhile he returned and landing in front of his friends he reported what he had discovered. "We are about a three hour ride north north west from the zoo following the road and right in the heart of the wildlife sanctuary. There are quite a few animal herds some distance from the road, one of them Mumaak, some antelope including a lombra herd, and I spotted a large pride of lions east of the road further north."
"Oh can we go see?!" Cillian begged.
"It's too dangerous, Cillian. We need to get to the zoo. A safari in the wild requires escorts with expertise in the park and its animals. We must stay on the road. I can fly above to scout for any animals that might cross our path."
"I hope we get to see some!" Cillian exclaimed.
Remus smiled. "Me too, at a safe distance." Then looked to Soren and Beren. "If we quicken our pace and rest the mounts as needed we could get there a lot sooner. Just to test a theory I tried a gate but it failed. I think gate powers are dampened in this region to discourage poaching." He remembered hearing something about that from some of their brothers at arms.
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Soren took in their surroundings as they emerged from the gate, scanning their horizon for landmarks he trotted up beside Sysyu who had Cillian pleading with her already, he smiled as he placed a hand on her shoulder, it would not have taken a rocket scientist to figure out what had her so anxious, it had been a shared horror for all here except Cillian. "Sysyu,"He said as he took her hand and then laid a kiss upon her knuckle. "I will keep you safe, you needn't worry. I will keep you and Cillian safe, and besides, this is Esscha Endor." He then grinned, "You know, if you are frightened Cloud Dancer could easily handle the both of us in the saddle." It would be exciting to whisper sweet nothings into her ear while they rode intimately in he same saddle, who knows maybe he'd even recite poetry for her.
He regarded his brother, he was young still, "Cillian, it is unbecoming for a young man to whine, so chin up little brother."
Soren regarded his brother Remus, "Perhaps I should join you? I know the land the best, after all." He had spent the most time here, and after all the young princes had not spent overly much time in the nature preserve, only to learn to track and hunt did they come here. If their food ran out, Soren could hunt, if it became dire in their need.
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Remus had ended up taking wing without him and he shrugged, glancing to Sysyu he felt butterflies in his stomach again, tonight when they returned to the wedding he intended to approach The Morningstar, her father. He wanted permission to court her, Soren was unsure how Maelmorda would receive that request. Luckily, he had defended her honor, though he did not feel right using that for leverage for some reason.. it felt.. wrong? "You know Sysyu, there will be dancing at the reception, I hope you dont step on my feet too much tonight." Regardless of how things went he would have Cillian home by the evening, he was not about to keep his new born brother out away from his mother for an entire night. Desiree would ring his neck if it happened.
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The report Remus gave sounded promising, "Then let us get to it," Soren said confidently as he adjusted the reins of his mount in anticipation of their coming gallop across the plains. "We will see, if the chance arises little brother, remember, we are going to the zoo, you will see many strange and delightful creatures, so mind Remus when he says we must be cautious. Remember you are a son of Esscha Endor, you have all the time in the world, you will have no shortage of chances to see every last animal within our borders and then some."
He then trotted ahead and turned his mount to face the others, "Now shall we ride? Cloud Chaser is eager to get going." His mount loved to run, it was an energetic horse, that was always ready for a race across the plains.:
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Sysyu chewed on her lower lip a bit at the promise Soren made to protect her and Cillian. "You must think me a silly frightened mouse. I'm sure we'll be fine." She blushed then at the invitation to ride with Soren and his promise of sweet somethings. "I'd love that some other time but I need more bonding with Minder. This trail ride is the perfect opportunity for us to get closer. I could ride with you when we go on that picnic you keep promising," she grinned with sauce.
Remus had assured Soren he could handle scouting ahead on his own before he'd take flight. Presently he chuckled as Cillian tilted his head back to stick his chin up when Soren advised him to do just that, his little wings also snapping out as the child saluted Soren. Sysyu giggled as well. "Oh," Remus remembered, "I also saw a pair of Park Rangers ahead. We should meet up with them soon." He mentioned, then when Soren called out for them to ride he also saluted his progeny then bounded up on Sisko with a wild grace that made it seem he could float and took off after Soren as he urged Chaser to speed.
As their horses thundered north along the road it turned into a race some miles down the road as Beran's blood bay Mars caught up with Sisko to pass Remus then made a push to pass Soren. Sysyu hung back for awhile until Remus and Sisko made their move to come nose to nose with Chaser and Mars. While the three boys and their horses fought for the front and to reach that huge shade tree by the bridge that crossed a creek leaping down stepped falls, the perfect place to rest and water the horses and break for lunch, Sysyu snuck up on them from behind and gave Minder his reins. The swiftest of the four horses Cloud Minder left the boys and their impressive war mounts in the dust. And oh what a sight that beautiful girl on her incredibly swift white horse that seemed born of the wind and she a spirit to ride the wind. Cillian meanwhile had fallen so far behind that Soren had to give up his lead over his brothers to fall back so Cillian and Shimmer could catch up. Speed was not yet Shimmer's best trait. Like Cillian shimmer was still at the butterball age in development.
Minder was a world class Esscha Stormcloud race horse that horse thieves had nearly ruined. He had been running with the wild herds to cover the mares when captured by the rustlers. It made no sense to Sysyu. If you were going to steal a horse that valuable why would you wreck its value by abusing the animal? Those people had just been evil. But with Sysyu's love and care and the best vet in Morashtar Minder had not only recovered his full health but been given back his heart. Indeed he had more heart than he'd ever had before because Sysyu loved him that much and everyone contacting him treated him with care and affection. Happy race horses were swifter than unhappy race horses. Minder would kill himself if he needed to to outrun another for Sysyu, be they another race horse or an enemy. Minder wasn't even winded when he carried Sysyu beneath the huge canopy of that tree. She already had a large soft blanket spread out on the ground and the saddlebags full of yummy eats sitting there by the time the boys arrived. Minder was cooling himself with a gentle preamble of the tree's perimeter after Sysyu told him to 'cool down boy'. Remus had a similar command of 'cool it' for Sisko. Matthew had passed the phrase to his brothers, Soren included. Soren was as much a noctmaire lad as any of them.
When the boys settled on the blanket after seeing to their own horses, Sysyu passed out the food and the fresh citrus juice she'd squeezed as a surprise with the awesome fried chicken sandwiches, potato crisps, roasted corn cobs, and cookies she'd snagged from the kitchen. Esscha Endor had incredible cooks. Beran and Remus added some of their jerky, dried fruit and nuts to the menu. Theirs was delicious, tender jerky made at Noctmaire, a blend of bacon, beef, venison and pork jerky wonderfully spiced. The nuts were a mix of delectable native roasted nuts lightly salted with barrens sea salt and the fruit mix delicious as well. It was the 'hard tack' all Noctmaire soldiers were supplied with. "These are our field rations," Remus informed Sysyu and Cillian. "Our Da Aurelius always says that there is no reason his soldiers shouldn't eat well even from field rations." He smiled and took a pull of tender beef jerky. Then he added some crispy bacon jerky to his chicken sandwich and took a bite. "Hey, that's delicious!"
"That horse of yours is incredibly fast." Beran mentioned as he trusted Remus and added some bacon jerky to his sandwhich.
Sysyu nodded. "He is fast, was a champion race horse." She looked up as two riders approached their party. She started to stand but they waved to their party not to bother getting up.
"You're just fine, just fine," the male of the two said. He was riding a brown lombra with blonde mane and tail tuft, its coat striped with a darker brown. "We just came to welcome you to Dusky Lane Park. I am Ranger Woods and this is Ranger Loren." The female smiled and waved at them. She was riding a strong looking dark bay horse.
"Be apprised that we have rules. Stay on the roads and paths and keep at least thirty feet between you and any animals you encounter. Would you like us to escort you on the trail? Are you just exploring the preserve or heading for the zoo?"
Sysyu waved at the two rangers with a bright smile. When asked if they wanted an escort she looked to Soren. "We don't need to be a bother by having them escort us do we?"
*It's no bother, my lady," the man assured.
"Soren is the leader of this expedition," Remus figured. "Up to you, brother." He smiled that wickedly sweet smile at Soren that turned the corners of his wide mouth, a smile that made Sysyu giggle under her breath. If Soren doubted his authority Beran, Sysyu and even Cillian would back his choice of expedition leader.
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Soren looked at her with a curios cant, "Silly frightened mouse? Nonsense." He said moving in to ride closely beside her, "I am honored to be able to give you at least a little peace of mind, if I am able." He said as he took her hand and kissed her knuckle gently as they rode. He had defended her before. The fight against those men.. not to mention when his comrade tried to take advantage of her as well. "A part of courtship is finding out if you feel safe with me, isn't it? My promise to do all that I am able to defend and protect you, these are not empty words to earn your favor, I truly desire to keep you safe." He wanted to kiss her, but knew they pushed bounds with their affection, and restrained his longing. She surprised him and he dipped his head slightly, she knew how to make a man's heart skip a beat with a look and a smile, how dangerous she was.. he loved it. "I look forward to it, Sysyu."
Soren was the first to urge his Storm Chaser to speed, Soren always had a dare devil inside him, as his brothers would know. Remus and Beran knew all to well just how 'daring' he could be. No risk, no reward. How quickly it turned to a race was a testament to the competitive nature of the three brothers, so closely matched in riding skill that Soren was only just able to keep his lead, that was until Sysyu and Minder bolted ahead in a stunning show of speed! Their warhorses were of heartier stock, they could not have dreamed of such speed, it was impressive to see as she galloped past them. He allowed himself a moment to admire her before he gave up his lead over his brothers and fell back to join Cillian. He had no doubt his little brother would in time be among the fastest of them all, "We are nearly to the shade brother o' mine, just a bit further and then we can rest." He said with a grin, and kept pace beside young Cillian.
Horse thieves were met with whipcrack justice in Esscha Endor, with VERY few exceptions to be had, these lands were known for their horse breeding and stealing a horse was a capital offense in Esscha Endor. Being accepted by the Noct'maire as one of their own had kept Soren from falling into despair, the curse thrust upon him trauma no young boy was ready to handle. The Noct'maire, Beran and Remus especially had kept him sane and in good spirits. Of course being a human surrounded by immortals was tough, but Soren had made due! "Cool it, Chaser. That's it." He said as they came up under the canopy, and once he stepped down from his mound he set about watering and seeing to his horses needs before joining the others.
Soren smiled as he soon joined the others who were educating Sysyu and Cillian on Noct'maire rations, "Trust me, if you ever had the displeasure of trying hardtack, you would thick much more highly on this fact. I once complained about being sick of rations, and had to eat hardtack for a month! It was so dry!!!" Soren grinned, "I have learned to count my blessings." He said stealing a piece of Remus' jerky, and then he spied on what food Sysyu had brought along. "You know Shy, this doesn't count as our picnic."
He nodded at his brothers words, "I thought for a moment you were astride a bolt of lightning so swiftly did the pair of you overtake us. Do you have a mind to let him run the races again?"
Soren was about to rise when they were told they need not rise, and so Soren finished eating the other half of his chicken sandwich, it was delicious. but he cleaned the grease from his lips and fingers with a napkin and regarded the two rangers, trying to see if he remembered ever meeting them. Before he could say anything he was announced to be the leader, but he was a prince, was he not born to lead? That was the way of it after all.
"Remus, my loyal cupbearer, it was kind of you to introduce me." He teased his sire, it was playful return fire of sorts. "We dont intend to leave the road, we wanted to visit the Zoo, my newly born brother Cillian is eager to see the animals there. If you could just point the way, the way-gate that brought us here has us a bit disoriented. An escort is unnecessary, you are kind to offer though."
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Sysyu smiled when Soren assured her this picnic did not count as the one he promised her. "I'd have it no other way. Besides, I look forward to going on a picnic with you where you see to all the details." she grinned then leaned across to kiss his cheek.
When asked if she intended to enter Minder in the races again Sysyu shrugged. "Only if he wants to run. There is a cross country race in Esscha Endor that is huge and I would love to enter him in that, but only if he truly wants to." Minder tossed and shook his head with a snort as if he understood her and she laughed.
"So you... talk to animals?" Remus searched.
"Sort of," Sysyu replied. "It's more like an exchange of feelings about things."
"Neat," Remus thought that a handy skill to control.
Sysyu admired the tan and brown uniforms the park rangers wore. They were well cut and made, and made them look like a perfect part of the park scenery.
Remus smirked at the cup bearer remark. "I'll be sure to bring you many a cup filled with my blood majesty," he teased right back with a grin.
"You are headed in the right direction," the female ranger told them after clearing her throat. "Just keep following the main road as it carries you North and west and it will take you right to the zoo."
"Unless you wish to take the short cut across country by the northern trail just up ahead." The man then offered. "You'll see more animals and the country is beautiful. The trail is more direct but narrower and a little more rugged. It will lead you right to the zoo side entrance and shave about thirty minutes off your journey. Just be sure to stay on the trail if you take that route. It will be the next trail the road meets about a mile ahead," he directed. The two then bid them farewell with pleasant travels and a wave then continued on their way south.
Sysyu loved the idea of the cross country trail. "Oh let's take the trail. It sounds marvelous!"
"Yes please!" Cillian chimed in excitedly. "More animals!"
"I'm game," Remus said then looked to Soren. "But it's for our Lord Prince to decide," he added with a waggle of his white brows at Soren. "But first... your day's allowance of my blood," and he thrust his arm out at him to expose his wrist. Sysyu might as well get accustomed to seeing him feed now, he figured. Remus had very tasty blood which tasted a lot like he smelled which was akin to spiced vanilla. He had inherited some very angelic qualities from his darkstar mother. Beran sometimes teased him and called him Vanilla or Nilla boy owed to his scent and albino complexion.
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"You best bet I will do it right, too!" He said with a smirk on his lips, though he felt a strange tingle in his nose and had to stop himself from sneezing. "Someone must be talking about me." He said laughing, he had heard that sometimes it was true though! What had he done now? He grinned happily as his cheek was kissed, he couldn't have been happier.
Her ability to speak with animals made him curious, "Aren't people animals also? Can you feel my feelings?" He asked her curiously, glancing to her mount, he was so fast, he would go far.. but, Soren's only interest in races was betting on them. He was a natural at gambling, a born card shark among other things.
The Rangers uniforms were smart and blended well with their surroundings, many wished to be rangers, but it was not easy. He respected them for their service and what they could do, Esscha Endor's rangers were an impressive lot.
"Oh, Remus, you are a fine vintage." He said back, they did enjoy their banter.. perhaps too much? It was all in good fun though.
He had all but decided they should get moving when the other Ranger dangled the idea of the shortcut, that sounded marvelous! Cillian would love that, and come to think of it.. who among them would not? "That sounds splendid, a shortcut with a scenic view no less. I promise I will keep my expedition on their best behavior, good rangers." He said, spreading his hands wide in lieu of a bow as he was sitting after all. "We will keep to the rangers instructions, wont we?" He said looking directly at Cillian with a playful smirk as if to say 'be good little brother'.
He looked to Remus and his eyes settled on the offered wrist, it was strange with every feeding he felt something in him change, something new blossom within him. He glanced to Sysyu, he gently guided her to join him, not in tasting but he wanted her to be near as he leaned in and speared the wrist of his sire and drank from that paired wound left by his fangs. As he drank he could feel the separate parts of his being all burning to life.
The Blood of his Father, The Astraeus Clan, The Blood of Androlphus once dormant now alive and well in the his descendants. The Blood of his Sire, the offered lineage of their dragons blood, it raged through his veins. With this feeding the young prince of Esscha Endor gained the ability of Blended Forms, when Remus decided it was time to stop.. Soren stopped, though it was not easy, he had gained the discipline required to do so. He sat up, after feeding he was taken by a temporary daze, it would not last long but he did ever so slightly lean into Sysyu.
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Sysyu shook her head as Soren acquainted needing to sneeze with someone talking about him. She was as unfamiliar with that earth superstition as the one about witches being in the nose, or spirits escaping, or dozens of other nonsensical beliefs making someone sneeze. "Well that's just silly, Soren. Dust, pollen or something logical is making you sneeze. Although..." she leaned in closer to him. "I imagine lots of people talk about you and the wonderful things you do. Their chatter and your sneezes are sure to overlap now and again," she laughed brightly.
She skewed her lips hearing his question about people being animals. "Well yes, but animals don't seem to mind if I pry into their feelings where people are very upset by it, so I make it a habit not to trespass unless it's somehow necessary," she apprised. "Would you want me knowing how you feel at will? I for one can tell you that after making that kind of metaphysical connection with my sister it's very unsettling."
Smelling Remus's blood as Soren let it with his fangs made Sysyu fidget uncomfortably where she'd settled on the blanket next to Soren. She breathed in a little hiss of air as she stuffed down the impulse to rip into Remus and gorge on that delicious smelling darkstar blood of his. Devils had powerful appetites for several things, blood, souls and flesh among them. The divine qualities of his soul were also dangerously tempting to her. She moved away from quickly as she found herself first moving towards Remus and stuffed a chicken strip in her mouth to chew hungrily on it.
Remus noticed but waited until the pull on his blood began to bite at him before he gently tugged himself away from Soren. There was danger in being a Deluvian sire should a progeny covet your power without regard to your life and try to drink it from you all at once. Deluvians had to choose their progeny with care and know they could trust them. Remus trusted Soren with all his heart. Because of the strength of his darkstar heritage, being grandson to Belorian (Eoghan really got around over the ages didn't he?) his blood was alluring and also intoxicating which increased the danger to him. A day would come when Remus chose another to sire. He could only be so lucky to find another he could trust as well. Remus sat awhile eating from the food and enjoying the delicious juice while he regained his strength. One thing he loved about being Deluvian was being able to eat people food and gain sustenance from it.
Sysyu smiled at him a little nervously and he smiled back warmly. He understood. She was struggling with self control. She practically clung to Soren until it was time to move on and was happy for the distraction of putting everything away and the ride which followed.
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Soren was playing with his siblings pulling Sysyu along for the ride as they paid attention to each of his little siblings. Young Cillian seemed to be growing the fastest, but Aeros transformation was impressive, another of his brothers a dragon! "I was thinking Sysyu, would you want to go with me to the zoo? I was thinking Cillian is aging faster than his siblings, we could take him and make a few hours of it, it would be fun." He said lacing his fingers into her own as they sat there teasing young Cloud, who was happily giggling as his elder brother played with him.:
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Sysyu smiled brightly at the idea of going to a zoo. She had read about them. She would love to see how well provided for the animals of Esscha Endor's zoo was. "I would love that, Soren. But won't the triplets be jealous if we don't include them? How can we make sure they don't feel left out?" She made her concerns known. Sysyu was now wearing her usual rather gothic but elegant looking dress. She was having her party dress refreshed for later when they returned for the reception.
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Soren had changed into a formal squire's uniform, a doublet of blue and silver emblazoned with the Esscha Endor coat of arms, and some dark leather breeches and boots. "That is a good point, I wouldn't want that, but.. will they have time to feel jealous meeting their new siblings? We could always take them as well, but we might have our hands full with so many, what do you think?":
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Sysyu saw his point about taking the other siblings his age along. It would be harder to keep watch over them all, though they had done well during the gryphon attack it had separated them to have three to protect and there would be one more if they took them all. "No, you're right. We'll just have to make off with Cillian without being obvious about it and take each of the trips another time so they'll get the same undivided attention." She considered. "So shall we ask the queen mother if we can take him now? I think we should leave as early as possible so we can get back to the reception before repast."
If Soren agreed they'd tiptoe out the children's quarters and to the queen who sat in that corner rocking chair in the nursery feeding Cloud. The feeding rotation had started up again only they were down Cillian now. Cloud was just nodding off when the young couple entered and Desiree smiled, looking tired but happy, and handed Cloud off to Sysyu while Kemish fetched Calliope for her. "So how was the wedding, Soren? Was it wonderful?" the Queen asked, keeping her voice low as usual.
When Soren got around to asking Desiree if they could take Cillian to the zoo she had to think about it. She looked to Sysyu when she returned then to Kemish when he returned with Calliope, and after positioning her to feed and once she'd latched on she considered the dangers. Soren had handled himself heroically with the gryphon and Sysyu had refused to abandon him and Magnus after making sure the other children were safe. Much as Desiree wanted to shelter the children she wanted them to experience the wonders in the world and the Esscha Endor Zoological Park sounded perfect. They even had a safari style tour though for visitors it was strictly observational, the hunting reserved for the king and his invited party alone. For Desiree the thing she had to ask herself was could she trust the two to keep Cillian safe if something should happen. She believed they would. "Well,alright, but at the first hint of danger you high tail it to the visitor center and ask for Lord Denar Anem or his wife Jaena and get their help. They run the park. If they aren't available get Lord Traezan who runs the zoo." She instructed.
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Soren smiled as he looked at Sysyu and nodded, "I think I have the perfect idea too, we can do something with each of them, in time something special to each of them that is catered to them specifically." He said with a grin as he took Sysyu by the hand and led her out of the room where he would gently close the door and twirled her about like they were dancing. "After we return I plan to ask your father for permission to court you, and then we can dance the night away." Soren seemed so excited for that, to dance with her, to spend the night laughing and having fun beside her.
When they joined Desiree he was still holding her Sysyu hand unless she pulled from it, as he joined Desiree where she was nursing. "Oh it was lovely, though their.. ritual seemed a bit frightening." If Desiree asked, he would tell her about the ritual suicide and the rebirth, or the rebirth they had been told would happen, he had Taken Sysyu to get some air though. "Was your wedding to my father like that?"
After a time he cleared his throat and did ask about it, after all it was why they were here. "Queen-mother," He said as he came to stand before her, "I Would like permission to take Cillian to see the wildlife preserve. I want to spend more time with all my siblings, but I think just one will be all i can handle out there, so I was hoping we could take Cillian for a couple hours."
When she gave her stipulation he took a knee and put a hand over his heart. "I swear to protect him with my life, and I will do everything possible to ensure he is kept safe." He then wrapped her in a embrace, "Thank you for giving me these brothers and sisters, I love them with all my heart already," Soren then smiled, "Thank you for letting us take him he will love it im sure.":
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Sysyu clapped her hands delighted with Soren's suggestions. "Oh that's a wonderful idea! Something fashioned to each child's interests. Let's do!" She hugged him then smiled happily. "That sounds even more lovely," she grinned at his promises of courtship and dancing. "I can hardly wait."
The conversation with Desiree went a little strangely thereafter. "Ritual?" she had to ask and cringed at the suicide bride explanation. "Ugh... No, your father and I actually had a very quiet, private, sweet little wedding with some friends that was more traditional to European earth customs. We just wanted to be married yuh know? I always thought big ole grand weddings were such a waste of money and a lot of stress. There's getting married then the rest of it is just an extravagant party right? My mama wanted me to have a big wedding. I would never have escaped it had she been around!" She felt suddenly sad and drew in a shuddering breath. "I'd rather spend that kind of money on the honeymoon. We had planned on a great honeymoon, a world tour kind of thing... but... a lot of crazy things happened like dominos, and we just never got around to it. That's life for yuh. But we're immortal. We'll get around to that tour. If not, what's the point of being immortal?" she scoffed and looked suddenly even more tired than before. Calliope had fallen asleep at her breast and Kemish came to collect her and put her back to bed, then brought Rhys out. Three down, three to go.
Desiree smiled when Soren made his oath to keep Cillian safe. "I know that you will. You certainly kept Magnus safe." The embrace caught her a little off her guard and she chuckled patting his back until he released her. "They certainly love you, Soren. Thank you for being such a wonderful brother to them. Now you two go get a few hours sleep then collect Cillian at ten. He'll be awake and have had his breakfast by then. Now go, shoo shoo, and goodnight, or morning." she bid. As soon as Rhys then Aeros and Athena were fed she was going to sleep like the dead.
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Sysyu’s warmth caught him off guard and as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug his own came to incircle her waist and he hugged her tight against him. “I am the same. I am eager for it, to see if all this princely training has paid off on the dance floor.” He teased before kissing her knuckle, “M’lady.”
At the dampening of his queen-mother’s mood he pulled Sysyu over so they could smother Desiree and Calliope in a fierce group hug! “When she gets back I’ll talk her into having another ceremony for you and father, you two can recommit your vows.” He said, it sounded like a very romantic idea to him! He had no doubt she and his father would eventually have their honeymoon, and if not he’d punch Seth for being an idiot!!!! Desiree was too good for him if he didn’t figure that much out.
Luckily, Seth was absolutely infatuated with his wife, and absolutely intended to make good on taking Desiree’s to see the world, he sometimes wondered if he smothered her a bit with his love at times.
“Well I am sure they just haven’t seen all my flaws yet, but, I will do my best to not disappoint my dear beloved siblings.” He then pulled back, scratching his head a nervously. “Sorry for being so forward, you just looked like you needed a hug, I will be less invasive from now on.” He said as he stood up and took Sysyu by the hand. “I promised you picnic and I think now is a perfect time, in fact no better time for the spot I’m thinking of, it will take your breath away, what do you say Shy?”:
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Sysyu pressed her cheek up against Soren's chest when he hugged her back and she smiled at his teasing about the dancing. "Learning to ballroom dance with my father in Acheron was interesting... I never imagined an orchastra of demons and devils until I saw them with my own eyes. There we were on marble floors so black and shiny thet seemed a mirror of the abyss and surrounded by great colemns in the shapes of all manner of demons and dragons. I doubt I shall ever dance as well as my father should I take a thousand lessons." She reminisced as she danced around with Soren just a bit.
Desiree frowned forbiddingly when Soren threatened her with asking her mother to help plan a wedding! "Oh no... don't you dare ask my dear mama to plan any such wedding. I was very happy with the wedding we had. It was intimate, just the way I had always dreamed it would be. I don't care how old you are, I will spank you if you breathe a word of a recommitment ceremony to my mama OR Seth. He felt he was cheating me when he gave me exactly what I'd always hoped for. We all have our flaws, Soren and I'm sure yours won't disappoint in the least. Though I will be gravely put out of you pursue this wedding subject a word further. And please don't bother yourself about the hugs. I'm just tired and didn't expect it. Now off with you two to bed. Don't make me say it again."
Sysyu curtsied to the queen then took Soren by his hand to lead him out of the King and Queen's quarters into the hallway outside before he riled the exhausted queen any further. She headed towards her own quarters just down the corridor which was in the same direction as Soren's tower chambers if he cut through Niall's tower. Niall was actually thinking of swapping towers with Soren so he would be closer to his family. Sysyu looked at him rather oddly when he suggested they go on a picnic then and there citing the timing as perfect. "Soren... you heard the queen. It's almost my morning and if we're going to take Cillian to the zoo in the morning we need to be fresh and alert. I don't know about you but it's been a long night and I am tired. I'll meet you pick up Cillian at nine in the banquet hall where we can eat breakfast then head out to the zoo. We'll have a picnic some afternoon or evening aftee we get back. Okay?" she was actually surprised he'd suggested they go so early in the morninb after staying up most of the night. Sysyu wasn't a night owl like vampires tended to be. She was an early riser.
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He guided her hands and soon her feet into a little waltz as they spoke of her learning to dance, and about her strange orchestra. "I cant imagine that at all, I am seeing cartoonish characatchers in my head. You will have to introduce me sometime." He looked at her with a grin, "Then we shall take two thousand lessons until we can make even his jaw drop by our ability to dance like a pair of.. peacocks." He said with a little laugh, He twirled her around before he pulled her into an embrace rubbing his nose against her own, and was standing as close as one could without it becoming... inappropriate. He ended it by giving her cheek a playful peck.
Soren waved his hands in defeat of course, "I promise queen-mother, I will not betray your confidence, I shall keep the words from passing my lips!" He would say nothing more she said he had done nothing wrong, so he took her at her word, then just pulled Sysyu by her hand as she curtsied and soon they were heading back to toward where they lived, her room first and then his tower.
He was a little disappointed, "If I pout a little will it change your mind?" He asked as he walked with her, "If I am being honest falling asleep next to you after watching the stars together, it had quite an appeal." He said as he pulled them to a stop in a little nook, where he kissed her hand with a smile. He was not a day sleeper by any means, even with all his vampiric blood, he had always gotten up early especially as a squire. Speaking of his vampiric side, her blood had the most delicious scent, and he wondered about the taste.. but he dared not ask for that, it was extremely intimate to let drink from someone you had feelings towards. "The spot I had in mind is more.. geared for an evening picnic, but.. we do have the wedding reception still to attend, after all. Shall I walk you to your door then, Shy?":
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Sysyu shook her head when Soren asked if pouting would help his case. "Absolutely not. Besides, the moons are full and the sun will be up in just a few hours. It's not a good time for star gazing. A new moon starting at around eleven in the eve would be perfect for a night time picnic." She smiled. Sysyu was both a nerd and very practical Soren would find.
To the question of walkinb her to her room Sysyu just kind of laughed. She was feeling rather sorry for Soren at the moment for even as they talked they had arrived at her door. It was only a short way dowb the hall from the King's chambers. "How about I walk you to your tower? I haven't seen your quarters yet." She suggested. "Then, you can walk me back!" she giggled.
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He was surprised by her rather deep knowledge of the best times to stargaze, wasn't she just full of surprises? "I suppose the brightness of the moons might drown out the starlight a bit, so I will concede to the ladies expertise. I find your nerdy intelligence rather attractive, you know, are you trying to wrap me around your finger?" He asked as he drew her close and guided her to take his arm.
"Sure, I would love to give you the grand tour, such as it is." He said, he didn't realize he had done something to inspire her to feel sorry for him, though he was more than happy to spend time with her, she was lovely company. "Any ideas on what we could do for Aezlen? I am not sure I know what a girl he age would be into besides braiding my hair."
When they arrived at his door he halted and looked at her, with his hand on the door handle, "Are you ready?" He said teasingly, then pushed it open, he played it up of course, as they door opened into the decorated hall of the tower, his actual bed chamber was higher up. She would see though about his room pieces of stone that were encased in glass, an old faded tapestry hanging from the wall, an old ruined sword. They were things.. artifacts perhaps one might call them, they were relics of a time long past. Taken from from the campaign he had been with his father on quite some time ago. "My actual bed room is higher up, shall we?":
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Sysyu grinned at Soren. "I wouldn't mind wrapping you around all my fingers." She wriggled her fingers at him in a spidery witchy way then laughed.
Sysyu had to think about Aezlen a moment. "She loves horses and playing dress up. We could take her to buy her a pony and a riding outfit. She is just the right age now for her first pony. I have plenty of money now Da is here. He opened a trust for me at the bank." Yep, little rich girl who wanted to do good with her money. She had it so might as well make use of it.
Sysyu was only too happy to take the arm Soren offered and nuzzled against him as they walked. "I really do appreciate how romantic you are, Soren. A late night picnic is a lovely idea and I hate spoiling it by being so... logical. All the impractical reasons aside the idea is lovely and we really must do it new moon or not on another night. I'm afraid I'm not very good at spontaneity." No that was Anwi's way.
Sysyu was all eyes when they entered the tower. She was fascinated by the relics, asking him about tapestry and tablet and where they were from, the significance of the broken sword, about everything in his collection. Then when he invited her to see his bedroom she smiled a little shyly but decided there was no harm in looking and followed him upstairs. "Now don't get any ideas Mr. or I'll have to give you what for like my Da taught me." she smiled a wicked little smile. She was just teasing of course and he could hear it in her tones and see it in her smile and eyes. She knew he would be a gentleman.
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He grinned at her playful tease, "I bet your fingers would feel great in my hair," she looked the part of some pretty goth witch, and it really did it for him. "But, you will have to work hard to get me that wrapped up in you." As if he were not totally under her spell already, she was very charismatic as he saw it, he enjoyed just talking to her, he could only imagine how good it would to be more than friends, granted they were more than friends now, but.. still there was protocol to adhere to.
"Oh that is a wonderful idea," Soren actually had a fair bit of money himself, up in his room he had a chest from his spoils of that very campaign, he had spent some, but most of it was kept. They were more mementos than treasure in his eyes, but for Aezlen he could spare some. "I would feel bad just letting you pay for it all, let me go in half with you." As it stood, he was also the child of a wealthy king, after all this was THE Land of Wealth.
When they began to meander closer to the room and she laid her head on his shoulder to nuzzle into him, he pressed a soft kiss to the crown of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair. "I hope I am not coming off too desperate or trying too hard, I just want to show you a good time, show you all the things I love about Esscha Endor." He then smiled, "It is fine, left up to me we might be up talking and snuggling 'til who knows what time." He tipped her head back to look into her eyes, "Snuggling wouldn't be too forward, would it, beautiful?" He was trying to turn her cheeks hot, she was cuter than she realized. "I will help you get better at it, and you can help me.. to look before I leap. Together, we will be an amazing team."
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"Oh you!" she cried in fake exasperation at his remark about her fingers in his hair and she leapt at him to muss his hair into a wild shock of black with her fingers. She grinned and planted her hands on her hips. "There." She reached out and flipped a single lock up and over as a final touch.
"Sure, we can split the cost if you want but my Da is as rich as .. well god."
Sysyu sighed happily as Soren cozied up to her as she had him. "I don't think snuggling is too forward at all, especially once we're courting." she assured.
Looking around at his bedroom she was rather amazed. "Wow... your rooms are very neat and clean. Judging by most of my brothers I thought boys were generally helpless slobs." she smirked. She then turned to face Soren who was perhaps getting a little cozy with her. She gently pushed him away but just a step. "I need to be going now. Don't bother walking me. I'm really tired. Midnight is late for me and it's almost four! Goodnight, Soren." She kissed his cheek and like a phantom breezed out of his quarters. "See you in the morning!" her voice called from below and sounded like a spirit on the wind just before exiting the tower in an ether stride that delivered her right to the one large room that was her quarters.
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He couldn’t help but laugh when she messed up his hair! It was funny, and he didn’t mind, he’d have a bath come morning and be presentable once more. “How do I look?” He said trying to find a spot on her side with his fingers that was ticklish to make her squirm!
“I don’t want you to feel like I’m taking advantage of your birthright or something. It is my hope after all to earn the right to provide and care for you.” He said as color came to his own face, speaking so straightforward was always a risk after all.
“You think I’m neat? I suppose I do like to keep a clean room these days, my mother never let me have anything but a clean room, so maybe it’s thanks to her.” Then she was suddenly and abruptly leaving, he was not sure what he did, just that he HAD done something to upset her! “Sysyu! Wait! I..” she was gone and he fell onto his bed. “I’m sorry for whatever I did to offend you..” he’d slowly get undressed wash up and get to bed, but he had trouble sleeping his mind trying to see what had spooked her, putting his arm around her? Regardless he eventually did pass out.
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Sysyu chewed on her far too kissable lower lip with her head canted slightly as she thought how to answer how he looked. "You look...silly." She giggled wildly. "Aezlen is a much better hair dresser." She reached out to smooth and comb his hair back more to the way it was with those svelte fingers of her.
She could see it was important to Soren to help pay for the pony. "Alright. Ponies are expensive so half it is. I just thought since it was my idea I should cover it, but I can see it's important to you to pitch in. I appreciate that. Thanks, Soren." she smiled.
Another smile lit up her face as he spoke of his mother which he did quite often she noticed. "You must love her very much. I can't wait to meet her." Then she realized where she was and how close she was being held and left quite suddenly it was true. Had she realized Soren might feel so guilty about it she would have tried to explain but instead she just reacted to her own thoughts. Her father had a way of knowing about things and she didn't want to compromise she and Soren's chances for courtship. She was also aware that he tended to test people and she was hoping to avoid THAT altogether. If they couldn't avoid it then she certainly didn't wish to encourage a more difficult trial by demonstrating a lack of self control. She was being cautious plain and simple. So off to bed she went, changing into a black shift to sleep in. Black was her non color of choice, although she did love the blue party gown she had picked out for the wedding. Today she was dressed for riding and the zoo in yet again a very gothic looking riding habit but unlike her other equestrian outfit which was mostly all black with a frilly white blouse this was more black and white with an ivory corset style top with a sort of half vest of black with textured black gothic print which extended down part of the white sleeves and around her cleavage, with a plain black quarter sleeve around the elbows and white tear dropped sleeve extending to her knuckles. Her tights were white while her flared layered skirt was black with bronze gothic florals and she was clad in gothically stylish over the knee black riding boots.
The horse Sysyu would be riding was not her albino Meg but her Stallion Cloud Minder (named after an episode of Star Trek), a horse she'd rescued from an illegal wild horse auction before reporting the auction to Seth's knights via Seress. She'd been meaning to ask Soren if he had been there when the knights broke up the ring of horse rustlers. Esscha Endor's herds of wild stormcloud horses were protected. Round ups were allowed with permission from the king and were monitored to keep the horse population in check and protected.
Sysyu was seated at the table with the older children and stood when Soren arrived to greet him with a chaste kiss to his cheek which encouraged a round of giggles from the children. The triplets bore the appearance of six pr seven year olds now as did Cillian for the time being. Aezlen ran over to Soren and hugged his legs as Sysyu returned to her chair where she smiled at the sight of Soren picking Aelzen up to hug her and carry her back to her own seat. The table was made to accommodate younger children so Sysyu and Soren were oversized for the small chairs and lower tabletop. The banquet hall was fairly empty because most, including the servants children, ate several hours earlier than nine there if they ate breakfast at all.
"Soren... while I was grooming my horses this morning I was wondering... Did you assist the knights with that vile horse thieving mob?" If he confirmed he had she'd ask him to tell her about it as she filled her plate from the platters of food on the table, most of them covered to keep the food warm. She chose quiche, bacon, hash browns and two biscuits. Sysyu worked hard so she tended to eat hardy meals. "My stallion Cloud Minder is from one of their auctions. He was in such an aweful state I just had to buy him, then I told Seress about them. I hope those terrible people got what was coming to them. The woman who sold me Cloud just radiated ickiness." The woman she referred to had been their ring leader.
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Those kissable lips did not escape his notice, but.. he dared not push his luck to far, at least not until he had permission to pursue her properly with her fathers blessing. As much as he wanted to kiss her, and he did.. But, he had enough discipline to keep his desires in check. "Oh come now do not doubt your skill, how bad could it be?" He then grinned, "You'd be surprised on how open the horse masters are to dealing with the king's family, I am sure I can get us a fair price." It was true after all, it was not just wild horses that got wrangled by the fiends, stealing horses was a crime that Esscha Endor was no stranger to. The king made it a high priority to send the patrols around the various ranches about the country regularly, though not to any specific schedule, it was best to keep things a little chaotic, so the criminal elements did not get too comfortable.
Of course he spoke well of his mother, and his father too, he had been raised well by Mariana, even with the troubles she had taught him to honor his parents and his elders. He loved Elizabeth though it seemed like he never got to see her anymore which sucked, they had been close as siblings could be once upon a time. Had he known about the troubles she faced at the hands of Tiber, he'd have been beside himself with outrage.
Soren would have felt much better if she explained her sudden departure! However he tried not to read too much into it, Sysyu was a genuine girl, so he would trust she had her reasons.
When Soren woke up he showered and made himself ready even applying a conservative bit of cologne he had chosen to let his hair be free and not tied him or anything fancy. He had visited the stables the squires shared with the knights to prep his own mount.
When he arrived at the hall they were to break their fast in, he was pleasantly surprised to see Sysyu dressed tot he nines, in his opinion, even dressed for a day on horseback and walking about a wild life preserve she looked amazing. To his own credit he was dressed well, blue on black doublet, the raised blue were designs fashioned after a pair of dragon hears that looked inward toward one another, and his pants were a supple does skin, he had chosen for comfort and some simple riding boots, he had wanted to prioritize comfort and fashion it seemed. He'd never put this much attention into how he dressed, it was said women made men do crazy things, was this what they meant?
"You look absolutely breath taking, I hope you wont be too embarrassed next to me, I did try my best though." He seemed rather pleased by the kiss to the cheek, and scooped up Aezlen, then kissed her atop the head, before offering his own kiss back to Sysyu on her cheek. "Isn't she just beautiful, Aezlen?"He said to his little sister, "I really like her," He said to his sister, he knew that Sysyu could still hear him, he just kept grinning like a damn idiot though, he had never hidden his interest and wasn't going to start now.
Soren soon joined them at the table with Aezlen, and looked around at the children, "I hope everyone has been getting along, I expect you older sibling to mind your youngers with care, understood? Just as it is my duty to care for you, it is your duty to care for them." He was a bit surprised by the size of Cillian, he had grown with an astonishing speed! "Cillian, you are so big already, goodness, you might be my big brother at this rate.
When it came to her question about an assignment that had at this point felt like ancient history, he nodded, that must have been.. was it before the storm? "Oh I remember that, that was you who tipped off the knights to that group? Slimey is right." He said as he took a bite of a thick sausage, thinking back on the raid they had made on the kabal of horse thieves. They had no just been a small group but a organized band of significant size. Horse thieves often fought harder than most criminals too, because in Esscha Endor the price for stealing horses was often death. It was a primary source of income for the country as well as important means of transportation and without horses tilling the land might been impossible. "You have my thanks for finding them, Sysyu, how they treated their horses was barbaric, if not for you who knows how long that would have continued for so.. thank you." He said and kissed her hand, "So just remember, my siblings, not all heroes are fighters. Everyone plays a vital role in keeping our home safe."
She would likely remember hearing, those who had not been killed in the raid had been executed, hung for all to see. Seth did not shy from showing those who would break the law what the consequences were, only the youngest among the horse thieves would have been given a second chance, those he believed could be reformed.
"My own mount, Storm Chaser came from that, my father awarded him to me." Soren's mount though was a trained warhorse, the squires all had been given young horses to train and bond with. "Well you should be glad to know they were utterly dismantled, so they will harm no more horses." He went into detail about this or that as his siblings asked while he ate, even telling them about how he brought up the flank with his brothers to save Seress hide! The trips of course knew of Remus and Baran, they were practically family after all.:
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Sysyu blushed a little when Soren complimented her then thanked her for ratting on the horse thieves and went on to allude to her playing an important role. "Anyone who cared about animals or horses would have done the same," she'd like to think so anyway. The girl who was absolutely dressed to kill without knowing it ate bites of her breakfast as she listened to Soren then wiped her mouth before responding to anything.
The part about saving Seress made her laugh. "I heard Niall berating him once about charging into danger when he should stop and think about it first. Sounded like your sponsor makes a habit of leaping into the fire." Seress wasn't foolish about it though. He just put himself in harms way to take the heat off others and it worried Niall who was more cautious.
"Storm Chaser and Cloud Minder... I sense a theme on our Stormcloud horse names," she giggled. She had the sweetest giggle, like a bird chattering. "Oh I am so relieved to hear you caught them. I'm sure they'll all have their reckoning in my Da's realm." She felt certain about that.
Now as the children one by one finished their meals and drifted off, Sysyu held Cillian back from leaving. Poor child thought he was in trouble for something. Was it because he painted Aezlen's hair blue? He thought it looked really pretty that way. The new Nanny on trial had difficulty washing it out of her hair and told Cillian to never paint anyone's hair again, then explained the right way to color hair blue or other colors, stressing that he must never bleach and or dye anyone's hair without their permission. Aezlen had permitted him to paint her hair though, after he convinced her of how pretty she'd look with blue hair, and told her so.
Once all the other children had left the table and only Cillian remained, Sysyu smiled at him. "Don't look so worried, Cillian. You're not in trouble. Is there any reason you should be?" Then he told them all about the blue hair incident and she laughed. "Oh my... well seems the Nanny already corrected you about that. No, we want to ask you if you'd like to take a little trip with us. Your mother has said it would be okay, but you must check with her first. Always check with your Mom or Dad before going anywhere with ANYONE, even us, okay?" She then looked to Soren to tell him the rest.
Now Cillian canted his head curiously when Soren said how he might outgrow him. "Oh no! I won't let that happen. I just want to almost catch up to you .. but first I want to play with Aezlen, Magnus and Xevos for awhile. Then I want to be a knight like you!" He grinned like the dragon who ate the eagle.
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A part of him liked making her blush, and the way she giggled lit up the room, he loved it. "I hope you are right, but until you spotted them they had proved elusive, so, I am glad you were there." He did his best not to appear like an animal and was on his best manners.
"Seress is a great knight, sometimes in the thick of battle instinct takes over, sometimes you just act and have to deal with what comes next. I trust Seress with my life though, so dont hold it against him."
"I like the naming theme it fits these mounts, they are as swift as the storm, and ride like the wind!" There was that giggle he adored! He had taken the initiative and had sent for a floral arrangement, that would be not being applied to her Cloud Minder, roses of blue, thornless of course wreathing her mounts neck. Soren thought she might appreciate the show of affection. "I hope they suffer back ten fold what they had made our horses go through."
He grinned, nodding, "That's right Cillian, do your best not to upset Father and Queen-mother, it is the last thing they need, to be worried about you." He reached out and mussed his brothers hair, "Don't rush, you have plenty of time. and when you do join me I will be waiting. You should enjoy your time with your sibling, you only grow up once."
"So we're going to take you to a wild-life preserve. I get the feeling that you like the wild things of the world and I think it would be fun to take you along to see the creatures of our wonderful Esscha Endor. What do you think, does that sound fun?":
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"A wil-life perserf?" Cillian asked, uncertain what that was. "Creatures...? I'm a creature. Will I be seen too?"
Remus and Beran had just walked in and seeing Soren approached the children's table. Beran laughed seeing Soren sitting there with his long legs all drawn up. The two plopped down across from them on those little chairs. "Aren't we a little old to be sitting at this table?" Beran razzed and reached for a biscuit.
Remus started filling a plate with food. He glanced over at Cillian who he overheard calling himself a creature. Remus had thought of himself that way too since he was a very young child. That mindset was cause for quite a bit of anxiety. When you didn't think of yourself as a boy or man it made it difficult to fit in with people. Girls in particular. "Well you're a boy and a creature aren't you?" Remus said with a warm smile. "So animals will see you as one of them and people as one of them too. You'll be able to see and learn twice as much." he grinned.
"But animals are animals or beasts and creatures are creatures or sometimes monsters. Do animals like creatures?" Cillian asked.
Remus wondered where Cillian was getting his ideas from. "Truth is, Cillian, we are all animals. Everything that lives, thinks, feels, is an animal. Everything else is just fitting things into a box so you can sort it all out. Boy or creature you're you and I'm me and that's all that really matters." He tried to explain in a way he might understand.
Remus then locked his eyes on Soren. "So you sneaking off with your girlfriend without us again? I'm beginning to feel unwanted," he pouted.
Beran nodded. "Yeah, he doesn't seem to need us anymore," he joined in the teasing.
Cillian tugged at Soren's sleeve. "Can they come?" he asked. He thought they really did feel left out and maybe they did.
Sysyu smiled. "Maybe we should invite them," she suggested, not wanting to keep Soren from his friends.
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Soren arched a brow at the pair, "Oh hardly too old to have a meal with my siblings, plenty left if you are hungry, my brothers." He noted calling them brothers might confuse his newly born sibling, "This is Remus and Beren, we came up together, they are brothers to me no different than you and your siblings, only they were not born of our parents." He'd not get into the siring aspect of things, that was a bit of knowledge that Cillian could wait to hear.
"Do explain it my dear sire, do please educate us." He said with a grin, he missed his brothers something fierce when they were not around! He nodded, "I think Remus is right though little brother, whatever you want to be, you can be. and if you ever need any help, I will be there for you."
"Sneaking off? I had to bloody beg you two to help me pick my suit, hardly sneaking off!" He said, glancing to Sysyu, "See what I have to deal with, these dorks trying to give me a hard time!" He said as he looked at his brothers with a smirk on his face. "You know I would be lost without you, trying to drum up some sympathy are you?"
"I dont know..." He said as he looked to Cillian and Sysyu, "It like pulling teeth getting them to come help me before.. But I suppose I do like having them around." He said making a face at them, "You two are so dramatic sometimes, of course you can come. But dont blame me if you get bored.. Besides I think you two should get to know Sysyu. How long would it take to get your horses ready?" Like him they had been gifted horses from the mounts recovered from the poachers.
He leaned close to Sysyu, "Hear that, you're my girlfriend." He said playfully, teasing her a little.
Remus pointed at his plate which was piled high with food when Soren told them to help themselves to breakfast. His appetite had been poor for awhile but come back with a vengeance. Danni had improved his mood by leaps and bounds. She actually enjoyed his company. She was the one. Remus just KNEW it! He had no idea about Darkstar attraction and how strong it could be and if anyone told him that might be the reason he'd fallen in love at first sight he'd tell them otherwise. He had no more idea about Danni's past than she did. That she was ancient, was the daughter of Niall and had once been the wife of Belial as Henri? Had been kidnapped and concealed by demom flesh traffickers and died a death too horrible to ever want to remember. They were both clueless of all that. Memories often got lost during a Darkstar death journey and rebirth. Rebirth gave them a chance at a new start if they needed it and Dannalora had needed a fresh start after the horrors she had suffered.
Remus was munching on some bacon when Soren said to educate them. "Educate who about what?" he asked cluelessly then chowed down on his omelette.
Beren rolled his eyes. "He's been like this ever since he met Dannalora. He hardly hears a thing anyone says his head is so high in the clouds."
"I heard that," Remus growled and Beren laughed at him. "Well keep right on listening little brother."
Cillian looked between the two. "So he looks older but is younger like I'll be to my brothers and sister soon."
"So you growing fast are you?" Beren asked the kid.
Cillian nodded. "As fast as I want to grow."
"Really?" Beren double checked
"Really."
"I'd look older than Remus if I could do that right now." He meant it too.
Remus and Beren looked at Soren and shrygged when he debated about sneaking off. "So you didn't sneak. You sashayed off in your new suit. I see you're dressing a lot snazzier now. Remus must have made an impression on your sense of style." He gave Remus a little shove.
"I did?" Remus doubted that he made any kind​ of impression about much of anything.
Sysyu laughed at Soren's faux griping about the pair. "They remind me of squirrels. The way they bark at each other." She snickered.
"Hey now. Getting your girlfriend onboard your boat is not fair. All I have for ammunition is him." He pointed at Remus.
"Huh...?" Remus didn't get why he was pointing at him when he very well should be have.
"See what I mean?" Beren laughed. "He's got it bad, Soren. I don't know what to do." Their father was NOT going to be happy.
"What's he got bad?" Sysyu asked, confused.
"He's in love, Lady Kilcanoragh. Star crossed and that never ends well." Andros and Anwi would kick him for saying that.
"Please call me Sysyu, or Shy if you please." l
Beren nodded to her.
She smiled at Soren. "That makes you my beau then doesn't it?" she was still smiling at him.
"Our horses are already saddled. We were going to go for a ride after breakfast." Remus replied. See? He was listening. Maybe he just enjoyed having it on with Beren? His head was in the clouds so it could have been a little bit of both.
Cillian jumped up. "I'll go tell Mama we are ready to go!" He cheered and ran off. A guard fell in behind him to follow. It had been the same with the other children as well. The guards were discreet about it but vigilant.
"I'll go and bring him back." Sysyu declared and went after the tyke.
Beren looked to Soren. "That's amazing that he can control his growth. I wish I could do that. It's even more incredible that he knows he can."
"I'd have aged myself backwards if I could have, Beren," Remus promised him.
Beren sighed a little. Sometime he forgot how sweet his brother really was. He was a sweet kid who'd grown up way too fast out of no fault of his own. *I know you would, Brother. I didn't mean anything by saying that stuff, honest. It's okay that you look older than me. How else would we have come up with the older younger brother song?"
Remus laughed blithely. He then held his wrist out to Soren to show him his charm bracelet. "Look what Danni gave me this morning. She said we should both have one and buy charms for each other. She loved the one I gave her. I noticed Sysyu was wearing hers. Did she love it too?"
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"About what?!" Soren growled and pulled Remus to him by the collar, "You already did.. I was talking about the stuff about Cillian and the differences of being a boy and beast!" He then knocked his forehead against Remus, not hard just enough to cause discomfort to them both.
Right now was not the time he intended to scold Remus about his desire to pursue this girl, he had no right to do that with his own pursuit of Maelmorda's own very beautiful daughter. They were both guilty.. only difference is that Soren had not been in an arranged marriage.
~"Beren, is it possible your father would change his mind if Remus pulled himself together in other areas? I hate to suggest it.. but could you marry Treborn's daughter?"~ He was not sure if that would work, or if it would annoy Beren even hearing it suggested.
He laughed aloud, "Of course I will get her on my side! Sysyu is a great partner in crime after all." He said with a grin, "Very much like squirrels sometimes, that is a good observation." He said as he glanced at his brothers, he missed having them around.
"I mean I cant say I am much better, I think this girl has me wrapped around her fingers." Her said kissing Shy hand gently. "I like the sound of that, being your Beau." He said and then Cillian was in a rush to go tell Desiree he was ready to go, and Shy went after him.
"Yeah that was new to me, just yesterday he was a little newborn, all the sibling have grown fast.. but he has grown the fastest."
He pulled Remus close then and looked at the charm bracelet, "I am jealous! I guess you two must be serious. Is it normal for girls to give gifts to us guys?" He couldn't remember ever getting gifts from girls, look at you a regular casanova." He then looked at Beren, "So anything new with you, Ber?":
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It didn't take long for Sysyu to return with Cillian being he ran all the way to his mother as she fed Aeros and Athena and blurted out that he wanted to go to the wil-life perserf to see other creatures and could he go. When Desiree gave her consent with an "Of course you can, sweety," he hugged her and his tups with her fiercely then took off running again. Sysyu curtsied to the queen and laughing ran after Cillian again, who sprinted all the way back, even up to the table where he slid to a stop just in time to catch Beren talking about the song he and Remus had made up. "Sing it! Sing it!" Cillian encouraged with enthusiasm.
When Cillian roused them to sing the song they'd made up Beren grinned. "Seems like right now I'm up to singing a song," he told Soren, then, being the better singer of the two brothers he lifted his voice in song.
"I'm .. your older younger brother,
You'd look younger had you druthers,
But I'm the younger brother most others see,
I am older by six years,
You have all your childhood fears,
While I cry no more tears,
I'm the older younger brother thats me,
And you'll be even bigger by next year! Boozzah!"
Then Remus sang his part and though his voice wasn't as good as Beren's, mostly because he lacked the confidence to sing, his was still a pleasant voice.
"I'm .. your younger older brother,
I'd look younger had I druthers,
But I'm the older brother most others see,
I am younger by six years,
I have all my childhood fears,
While you cry no more tears,
I'm the younger older brother thats me,
And I'll be even bigger by next year! Huzzah!"
Sysyu clapped her hands. "That's wonderful and so funny." She cheered.
Cillian copied her clapping while jumping up and down. "Sing it again!" he crowed. The two brothers bower to their audience,looked at each other then sang it again for him only in chorus this time, each singing his part at the same time. Cillian squealed with laughter then sang with them when he asked them to sing it a THIRD time. He'd memorized every word of it the first two times. "Can I sing it with my brothers and sisters?" he asked them after they ended the fourth and last round of the song.
"Sure, Cillian. Our song is your song," Beren consented and Remus nodded on agreement. "It is definitely your song." The way he grew? It truly was his song. Remus was done aging and looked anywhere between seventeen and twenty. Beren would catch up and look older if he chose to, and Beren planned on aging until he looked in his mid thirties or early fourties, like their father.
Beren fixed his gaze on Soren again. "We haven't been up to much since you went to the wedding yesterday. Remus has been pining mostly. I did some training with Devyn. He's proof that mortals aren't pus... weak."
Remus polished off the last of his breakfast and burped. "So we off to the zoo now?" he smiled clueless of conversation hos brothers were having privately at the moment.
~"I don't know... it's aweful important to Da to marry Remus to Treborn's daughter."~ Then Soren asked of he wouldn't be willing to marry her. ~"I haven't really thought about it. He chose Remus because he's closer to her age... two years younger actually. I always expected for Da to marry me off to someone. I'm only four years older... Sure, I'd be willing if Da was, though I think he was hoping to marry me off to one of Lord Decasey's daughters. Mother is pregnant again with another boy they're naming Romulus of course, so... I'll see if I can help our little brother out."~ He smiled and Remus wondered what he was smiling about. Soren was being quiet so he put two and two together. He knew they talked to each other on their heads a lot. "I'm ready to go when everyone else is," Beren voiced for his part.
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Soren knew of the song, and began to clap to the rhythm as they began to sing, his brothers were much better singers than he was, his own voice carried, but.. he was not convinced it was a good voice for singing, maybe for shouting orders, but not singing!
He was glad they were such good sports with his younger siblings, not all would have been, but.. these were his brothers, of course they were good guys!
"Nothing wrong with a little pining, I wonder what you two must say about me when im not listening!" He said with a snort, "You know until recently I was Mortal as well, so watch it!" He said raising his fists in a boxing stance!
~"Romulus? Thats a strange name, why that name?"~ The star trek reference was wasted on Soren, he thought TV when he had occasion to see it was boring, he rather be training, reading, or doing something else. ~"It might be worth a shot, but we will have to convince him not to shirk his other duties if he wants even a shadow of a chance of convincing his father."~
Soren stood up and lifted Cillian up into his arm, "Who would you like to ride with, brother mine?" He said and offered a hand down to Sysyu to help her to her feet.:
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Sysyu giggled when Soren tried to imagine what his honorary brothers said about him behind his back. "They probably complain about how love sick we are and how I'm going to steal you from them." Then she winked at the Noctmaire brothers. "But don't worry, boys, I wouldn't dream of keeping Soren all to myself unless we're out on a date." She grinned and hugged Soren's arm which was quite muscular for his age.
Remus and Beren's mother had never watched TV or a movie. Beren was actually a little surprised that Soren didn't get where their names came from but didn't show it. He knew Soren was sensitive about he and his Father's forced lack of interaction. ~"Romulus and Remus are both named after a Roman legend. According to the tale, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus in 753 BC. They were twin brothers, sons of a human mother and the god of war, Mars. After their birth, king Amulius of Alba Longa, the region that would become part of Rome, ordered them killed. They were placed in a basket, put into the Tiber River and left to die from exposure. But their basket washed up on the river bank where they were found by a female wolf. The wolf nursed the hungry babies and cared for them until they were found by a shepherd."
"The shepherd and his wife raised the babies as their own. Romulus and Remus grew up and helped overthrow king Amulius for ordering their deaths. They wanted to build their own city along the Tiber River where their basket had washed ashore. They disagreed about where it should be, and Romulus killed Remus during their quarrels. Romulus built the city of Rome on one of the seven hills along the Tiber, the Palatine hill, and there lived a long life as king of Rome." Beren told.
"I'm sure your father is quite familiar with the legend. I always thought it was pretty ironic that both our fathers are Roman. Let's just hope our little brother doesn't grow up to be the kind of jerk Romulus in the legend was,"~ Beren jibed. "I guess we'll have make sure he doesn't," he promised with a cheeky smile.
When Soren asked who Cillian wanted to ride with he jumped up and down as he did when he got excited about something beit something happening or an idea. "I want to ride my friend Shimmer! He can carry me!"
"Shimmer?" Sysyu asked and Cillian nodded emphatically. "Who is Shimmer?"
"He's my dragon self, but I can call him out to play."
"How big is Shimmer?* Sysyu went on to inquire.
"He's just a baby like me. Here, you'll see. Shimmer. Come out come out," he called and a blue grey shadow emerged from him then took shape and form as a beautiful ocean blue and grey dragon with a long, thick mane of gray fur which narrowed and trailed down the length of hos spine and tail. His wings were leathery beneath and furred on top, his claws and horns gray, his eyes pumpkin orange. His turquoise scales were smooth as glass while his fur was soft as down. He was thickly built and larger than a draft horse. Cillian went over and climbed up on his shoulder to smile. "Can I ride shimmer?"
Sysyu looked to Soren. She wasn't sure. "Will he scare the animals?" she asked him quietly.
"Shimmer eats fish. He won't scare them," the child promised them. Cillian wasn't aware yet that Shimmer would also try to eat anything that attacked them.
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He grinned and nuzzled up against her, so he could give her cheek a kiss. "Lovesick? Is that what we are? I have never felt healthier in my life though!" He said as he looked to his brothers with a smirk, "I am unstealable, you should know that, I will give all of you pieces of myself. Speaking of dates, we will be going to the wedding reception tonight, so dont expect me to be around later this evening, so Beren you will have to keep Remus out of trouble." He teased, then looked at Sysyu curiously. "Is it appropriate to return wearing the same clothes, or should we go pick new outfits for tonight at some point?"
Beren was right that was a sore spot, he did not show it.. but it was. Perhaps Remus might feel that through their sire/progeny blood bond, it was not something earth shaking, but.. he had been denied some of the things Octavian would have shared with him, such as the tales and legends of Rome. He listened as his friend told the tale of the Founders of Rome, and it was not a happy tale either. "With brothers like you, he will certainly be a jerk." Soren said with a laugh, they'd know he was kidding though, "But.. he could do worse than the three of us, couldn't he?"
"You can manifest your dragon form seperate from yourself?" He looked at Remus, "You never told me that was possible, Remus!" He was amazed by what his brother could do seemingly at will with no training, these kids were going to be more powerful than he could even imagine to be in no time flat. He was sort of envious, but, he was also proud as could be. "That is amazing Cillian."
When the dragon manifested he moved over to stand beside his brother.. brothers? They were both Cillian, even if he called this one shimmer. "Can I touch him?" If Cillian said yes he would run a hand over his dragon head. "You can ride him, but.. if he causes the animals fright or you misbehave you will have to come ride with me. How's that sound?":
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"Oh I don't know about that," Sysyu said about Soren claiming to be unstealable. "I bet if one of us wanted to tie you up and hide you away we could." This time that sweet smile of hers was so sweet it was wicked.
Beren smirked. "You really are a little devil you know that, Sysyu?"
"Well I am a devil," Sysyu laughed, feeling more like one of the boys since they indoctrinated her into their teasing.
Beren and Remus both narrowed their eyes on Soren, Beren with censure because he broke the telepathy wall and Remus with ambivalence because Soren commented on something he hadn't heard. Remus was sharp though however dumb he played. "Talking about Romulus eh? Want to hear something really weird?" Remus told them the rest telepathically. ~"Romulus is actually my twin brother. Mother stopped him from maturing while we were in prison, placed him in a sort of limbo. She did it to us both but it didn't take with me. Da thinks its because I'm a Deluvian. Then when we got home Da went away to war so she kept Rom in limbo. Dont tell anyone though. It's just too weird to explain to the public. They already think I'm the spawn of Hesstromeph the Black. They don't need to think he is too and that mother tried to hide it."~
Beren was stunned. He wasn't even aware of Rom being his twin until just now. ~"So you really are like Remus and Romulus of legend... twins raised by a wolf if Hesstromeph played the wolf role. Well at least Da didn't try to drown you."~ He snickered, getting over the revelation just like that. Remus just rolled his eyes at him and Sysyu laughed. The three of them were like a comedy team she so wanted to be a part of.
Cillian nodded to Soren. "Shimmer has his own thoughts and feelings when he comes out," he explained as he stroked his soft mane.
Remus shook his head at Soren. "That is a high tier shapeshifter ability. It might be something else completely different in him. Something innate maybe."
Sysyu smiled at Cillian. "How long has Shimmer been with you?" she asked the child.
"Oh he's always been with me. He just didn't come out until recelly."
"Recently?" Sysyu corrected gently.
"Yeah."
"And he's his own person when he comes out? He's independent?"
"What's indepenant?" the child asked.
"In-de-pen-dent. It's when someone is a whole separate person all to themselves or someone who doesn't have to rely on another to exist."
"Oh... well I guess. Shimmer is a whole separate creature when he comes out but we rely on each other as friends."
Sysyu smiled. "That's good. It means you're both independent but help each other and are there for each other."
"Yes!!" Cillian crowed and hugged shimmer tight.
Sysyu looked at the three Noctmaire brothers. "You know... It could be Cillian was born with a proxy and Shimmer is that proxy. These siblings of yours are all kinds of unique. I've never heard of such a thing begore but that doesn't mean it's not possible and it fits."
Beren and Remus both nodded thoughtfully.
Cillian nodded when Soren asked if he could touch him. "He loves pets and hugs." Then he grinned at Soren when he posed some terms he found appealing for riding Shimmer. "Okay. We don't want to scare the animals." he agreed. "Can we go now?"
The dragon meanwhile purred like a very large kitten when Soren pet him and nuzzled it's broad muzzle against him. Though Shimmer could be fierce as any dragon he was by nature as gentle as could be and clearly affectionate. The dragon was also a trifecta of navigation being both amphibious and avian, able to navigate equally as well on land, water or in the air, although young as he was he still had a nymph's thickness and his wings were still underdeveloped. He could only fly short distances. As he and Cillian grew he'd get leaner and his wings much larger and stronger.
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Soren knew she was pure as driven snow, and could not help but to try and see if he couldn't make her blush. "We're not even engaged yet and already thinking about tying me up, Sysyu? In front of my friends too, naughty." He teased, he did not think the comment would register on Cillian, it was more innuendo than anything else. He leaned in to whisper to her, "You aren't the only wicked one."
"No I was just curious if you wanted to change your outfit, after all it is common for a lady not to be seen in public in the same dress twice." He had heard on earth often times a dress could only be worn once in public, he wondered if the same was right in Acheron. "The dress you wore yesterday was so beautiful, I think it is the right call to wear it again. Maybe this time Remus and Beran will see us off, last time I couldn't find you two!" He said glancing at them, curious what they would get up to while he was gone.. well, they were better behaved than he was most times, so nothing bad he imagined.
Soren didn't have much to say in regards to their other brother, Romulus... He did have thoughts on peoples opinion of Remus though, ~"The next person I hear claim that is going to get punched right in the face, it's none of their business."~ Soren would do his best to help Sysyu find her place in this group, after all, if things went right with her, she would be a fixture in his life for all time.
~"Have you two ever talked to Maelmorda much? I want to ask for the right to court Sysyu proper tonight at the reception, any ideas how I can avoid making a fool of myself?"~ He could have made noise about how he had rescued Sysyu from Evander, but he did not want Evander flayed alive, and it felt like a short cut. He hoped the Morning Star would see he was a good match for Sysyu without any such edge needed.
Soren did not realize it, but it was likely unlikely that Maelmorda was unaware of what had happened, he always seemed to know things, after all.
"He does?"
Soren nodded to Sysyu's observation, "Goodness that really is impressive." Born with his own proxy, and the way Cillian spoke, you'd think he'd been alive for years now, his growth both mental and physical were impressive. Sysyu was so good with his brothers and sisters, it was no surprise he had fallen for her, "Well it is certainly impressive, and here my childhood I was just a human boy, I cant imagine what it must have been like for the rest of you." Compared to his siblings, his Noct'maire brothers, and Sysyu, his own birth and childhood seemed so.. mundane.
After petting Shimmer a bit, he nodded, "We can, we can." Shimmer was an impressive creature, such a dragon would surely grow to be powerful. He knew enough about dragons to see that much, in fact besides him, at present only Remus and Beren likely knew more. Before he had been sired, he'd had an aspiration to be a dragon rider, that had changed though when he had been sired.
Taking Sysyu by the hand, he stood up straight, "Shall we?" He hoped Sysyu liked the wreath of blue roses he had her horse dressed in, was it too much? Well no matter, it was too late now, what was done was done.:
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Sysyu didn't actually get the inuendo herself. Bondage was as alien to her as an exposed penis. Her twin had at least seen animals 'doing it' but Sysyu hadn't even had that much exposure to sex. One would think that with two devils as fathers she'd have gotten her eyes filled with enough to traumatize her for life but they had kept their children sheltered, Sysyu in particular because she was their only girl out of many children. Sam had not wanted Anwi to go with Killian but Mael was very persuasive. He just wanted one of them to grow up outside of Acheron and its corruptive atmosphere. It was rather ironic that Nuanui, who was an isolated woodland dweller, was less sheltered than Sysyu was. Nuanui had a wild streak as untameable as the rainforest she grew up in. It was the fey in her, her connection to the wylde. Sysyu had more in common with a city girl who grew up with the church, only Sysyu's church was chaos. Soren had been struck by what he perceived as Maelmorda's conservatism, when what Maelmorda was in fact, was a disciplinarian. THE authority of Acheron and now also Haman. He ran a tight ship with well oiled machinery albeit it was a ship that navigated the oceans of chaos.
Sysyu's favorite roses were red, black or white but blue roses would look lovely on the white horse with the grey mane she'd be riding and she'd appreciate the rarity of blue roses. The only one who grew them in the country was Byron Decasey and Sarku. As AoM had destroyed the rose gardens and they were still getting reestablished at Gothtyrdan, the wreath of roses Soren purchased had come from the Redmoon Chateau.
"What does being engaged have to do with getting tied up?" Sysyu asked Soren, puzzled, carrying that look with even greater bewilder to Remus and Beren as they snickered. "Alright now, what kind of joke am I finding myself on the tail end of?" she demanded to know.
Remus grinned at Soren. "Yeah, tell her Soren." Beren just laughed, highly amused at the hole Soren dug for himself.
The already flustered girl frowned at the things Soren said about not wearing the same dress twice. "Well no one told me THAT rule, and it's stupid. Not wear something twice? That's just wasteful." Then he said it was the right call to wear the same dress. She stared at him while Beren made a hissing burn sound. "You are confusing me, Soren. You know that?" And she went over to pet Cillian's dragon friend and introduce herself to him. "Hello, Shimmer. I'm Sysyu. It's very nice to meet you. Is it okay if Cillian rides you on the wildlife refuge and to the zoo?"
"Of course. I enjoy carrying him," Shimmer promised in a deep but very child like voice.
"Thank you, Shimmer, that's very good of you."
"It's good of you to ask," Shimmer said, feeling there were few people who would bother or think to ask.
~"I don't know, Soren,"~ Beren said to Soren's promise to punch anyone who accused Remus of being Hesstromeph's bastard. ~"That might just give them more amunition. Maybe write them up on charges of insurrection instead,"~ he grinned at the thought. Yes indeed, he'd do that very thing next time he heard anyone publicly libeling his little brother's good name. Let the courts have their day with the jerks. ~"I don't really know the Morning Star. My pater does what he can to keep under his radar as much as he can. He rather enjoys his free walking privileges. What I do know from my pater suggests that maybe you should just be open and honest and not try too hard. Try to be relaxed but respectful?"~ He suggested.
Remus looked at Soren rather intently when he spoke of how mundane his childhood had been. "Being a cursed child isn't what I'd call mundane. My childhood was hardly exciting. It was dark and dull and I was a rat a great deal of the time. I think everyone's childhood is frought with challenges mortal or immortal." He shrugged.
Sysyu thought her childhood had been pretty easy other than her brothers teasing her pretty constantly. Theirs was a fond kind of teasing though. They adored their only sister, and would adore the sister they had yet to meet.
Sysyu was already over the trivial rough patch Soren had stirred up and smiled when he agreed it was time they got a move on. Sysyu patted Cillian on the shoulder and the child straddled Shimmer's thick, fur laden neck and rode him out of the banquet hall and through the corridors, people making way for him as they encountered them. In the courtyard outside the keep the stable hands greeted them with their horses, Sysyu's white horse with the grey mane Cloud Minder, Remus's blue grey stormcloud with the blonde mane and tail and white splotches Sisko, Soren's grey horse Storm Chaser, and aside from Cillian on Shimmer, Beren was the other odd man out on his blood bay Mars.
On the backs of their mounts the gate arch delivered them as near to the Dusky Lane Estate as their wards and gateways allowed, which placed them on the safari road midway between Lakeshore River and Dusky Lane Manor. The gateway at the zoo was down presently. The zoo and manor were at least a three hour ride away at an easy pace. They arrived beneath a copse of large scattered umbrella like trees that offered wonderful shade but beyond the trees the sun beat down on the grasslands. The day was hot as autumn was not quite full but the heat was not unbearable. Sysyu's horse was packed with six canteens of fresh cool water and food enough for them all for two meals. It would have been three had Beren and Remus not joined their party but she had packed extra water and there were springs to be found to refill their supply. If anyone had brought food and water they'd have surplus supplies and Remus and Beren went no where without water. They both also had some hard liquor in their packs. It was leisure time for them after all.
Sysyu patted her horses neck and looked around. "I don't think we're at the manor unless it has a long drive," she observed. "So are we north, south, east or west of it? I don't know this country." She felt a sudden wave of anxiety. A mild case of ptsd. They hadn't landed in a dense dark vast forest but the similarities to their experience at the Inn was close enough it that it disturbed her. "Maybe we should go back..."
"Nooooo please," Cillian cried out in protest.
"I could take wing and scout out where we are so we know where to go," Remus suggested. "Birds eye view. The land here is open enough to see for miles around." He smiled and Sysyu nodded, feeling foolish for spooking so easily.
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Remus unbound his creamy white dragon wings and took off with the speed of a sparrowhawk to wheel and then soar in an ever widening circle gaining altitude with each pass around them until he had the view he was after in sight. They were about three hours south south east of the manor and zoo by horseback. Then he spied two riders approaching their party on the road. They both wore tan and white expedition outfits, Remus could see that they were clearly park staff even from the height he was flying. He also spotted some herds... one of antelope, one of mumaak, and another of wild lombra. There was also a herd of some kind of large animal far to the east. Too far for him to tell what they were. Then to the northeast of the herds he saw a large pride of lions. He made a mental map of the land, herds and pride and directions they were moving. He hoped they could get close enough for Cillian to see them.
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Soren had not meant to turn this into something that would make her feel bad, like he was making her the butt of a joke, but here she was admitting to feeling just that way, and Remus didn't help matters any, if they upset her he was going to make Remus tap out like never before next time they sparred!
"It is just a sort of double entandre," He said as he tried to explain to her what they had to do with each other. "You see, getting married is often referred to as tying the knot, but also.. sometimes lovers also tie each other up in the bedroom... for added spicyness in the relationship. I thought it was clever trying to turn what was said into an innuendo, Of course I should have known better." He did not want to tell them her age, it was her choice who knew about that, that she was really quite young.
But it seemed like each time he said something he was just sticking his foot deeper into his mouth, she was growing more upset with him by the moment and was about to walk away from him when he took her hand, "I dont know what I am talking about.. I am just trying to act cool in front of you and my brothers.. I didn't mean to imply anything negative I just.. heard so many stories about things, and I dunno I just figure that is just how things are, Sysyu. You could wear that gown everyday for the rest of time and you would never dim in my eyes." It was difficult to speak so openly like this in front of Remus and Beran, they would most likely make fun of him for this later, or sooner. His brothers teasing nose drew a glare from Soren though, he was not amused by how this had gone.
Mentioning his childhood curse was the last straw, and he ignored the rest of their mental conversation. "I am going to make sure the horses are ready to go, and that we have extra supplies, I will meet you all at the stables." Soren said, and did his best to calmly leave, he needed a moment to himself, that was the first time he recalled feeling like he was two inches tall in front of her.
He went down to the stables to do as he said he would and make sure everything was well in hand, it would be, of course.. but he needed an excuse to get out of that situation before he made himself look anymore foolish. He knew his brothers did not mean any harm, but, he was still agitated, not to mention he needed to talk to Amon still and it was stressing him out, what if he had started some sort of feud between his father and Amon because of this? Would a devil even count what he had done as something worthy of the thrashing Soren gave him? Soren could feel himself spiraling, he needed to get his thoughts under control and remind himself this was for Cillian, he would not ruin his brothers day.:
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When Soren went on to explain his intent in the things he had said Sysyu eyed him a moment, her fingers lacing with his as he took her hand then she then laughed reflexively. She just found the notion of people tying each other up for excitement funny. "People do funny things in private it seems to me." Then ahe grinned at him. "Please don't worry about the dress thing. I was just confused by the whole wearing something only once thing. I really don't get some customs people adhere to. We'll just have to make our own customs when we don't agree with those others might follow." she smiled and hiked herself up to kiss his cheek. She watched him as he slipped away to go to the stables ahead of them and sighed when he was out of sight to pin the two Noctmaire brothers with those jade green eyes of hers so like her father's. "I didn't mean to upset him ..."
"Neither did I..." uttered Remus then Beren rocked him with a slap against his back.
"You need to learn how to keep your foot out of your mouth, Remus. I get that you meant what you said as a compliment to his inner strength but he thought you were mocking his struggles, brother. You need to learn to express yourself better."
Remus nodded. He knew Beren was right. He'd been rejected by how many girls for being misunderstood? He would die if he scared Dannelora off saying the wrong things. And he in no way wanted to damage his relationship with Soren by offending him unintentionally.
Speaking of Amon. When Soren arrived at the stables Amon was there saddling his huge jet-black warhorse Hades, a stallion as temperamental as he was beautiful. Few but Amon could handle him safely. Amon kissed the steed's velvety muzzle and patted his neck then looked to Soren as he approached. He offered a smile with a nod of greeting. "Good Morn, Prince Draguta. How are you faring these days?" He checked the girth strap on his horse, tightened it a bit then continued to lavish him with well received attention as he and Soren conversed.
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Talking to Sysyu did clear up a lot of the miscommunication, she was a lot more sensible than many women he had known and he was glad for it! But as their fingers seemed to lace as if on instinct and they moved closer he could not help but smile. "I dont expect with you around I will want for excitement, if these past days are any indication." They had enjoyed peaks and valleys since they had met, it was intense.. and while love was perhaps too strong a word, he felt a passion inside his chest for her that threatened to engulf him in an instant! He still remembered how it felt to be at the mercy of her sisters influence, how it felt to be pressed against Sysyu.. A dangerous thing too, at least until he got her father's permission to court her properly. "Our own? That sounds interesting.. like whenever we meet.. you should give me a big hug, wouldn't that be a great custom?" He said with a little laugh, as he pressed his forehead to hers, "Don't think I forgot either, I owe you a picnic, I shall give it to you when you least expect it!"
When he at last slipped away, he would find his way down to the stables, and well, he had NOT expected to see Amon, though he should have, He and his father were.. friends? Were they close? Any other time he'd not have hesitated, but.. he was honor-bound to do something, he had given his word he would do this for Sysyu. Soren glanced about as he approached. "Is Liz not with you, I feel like i've not seen my sister in ages."
He reached out to his brothers, "Keep Sysyu occupied, I am speaking with lord Amon, and I would like to keep her clear of it, just do this favor for me, I will be quite grateful." He had said he would take care of it for her, so he hoped to keep her from overhearing him tell Amon about all that had happened.
After a bit of small talk, Soren cleared his throat, "King Amon, I did wish to speak to you on something of a matter of importance." He said as he held the visiting kings gaze, "There is no easy way to say it, so, I will just say it."
"Evander has made something of a name for himself, I don't wish to mudsling, it isn't as if we other squires are pure angels ourselves. He has made that name for himself as a bit of a womanizer, love 'em and leave, you know.. all that. However, he got it in his head to accost a young woman who had been staying on as a quest to my father and the Queen Desiree. The young woman in question, is Lady Sysyu." He was not sure if he knew who she was, so he would explain that.
"I was lucky enough to come upon them before it had gotten to out of hand and he did something he would come to regret. I won't lie, I took pleasure in the punishment I laid upon him for putting his hands on our lord The Morningstar's daughter." Soren had no idea that just saying that could draw the gaze of Maelmorda, he had heard it could.. but assumed it was more myth than truth.
"Like any young man with a pulse, I had a strong attraction to her, so I wont deny a little bit of jealousy was involved, but.. also, I knew if he went ahead with what he did, our lord, the King of Kings, would have skinned him alive, and more." He would have still bore the cuts and bruises on his fist had he not had regeneration to mend his knuckles. "You are the first we have spoken this to, Lady Sysyu, she asked me to bring this to you.. We have no desire to see his reputation ruined. I know that you my lord, would know the right course to take."
He sighed, "Perhaps this may come of sounding holier than thou, but.. this is not something I wanted to use for personal gain. Evander is a great squire and someone I would trust to watch my back in a battle." It would have been easy for him to drag Evander through the mud and reap the benefits of defending Sysyu's honor as he had.
"I apologize if this has soured your morning, your majesty." Soren may have been a prince, But Amon was a king, he did his best to show him every honor that came with being a king.
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Amon was not accustomed to being called a king. He thought of himself more of a prince within his King's domain, his king being Maelmorda. Amon gazed on Soren without expression for a time after Soren rather unhappily reported the tidings of his son's transgressions. At length he exhaled a downhearted sigh and propped his hands upon his waist. "I appreciate you bringing this to me, Soren. I had rather hoped the rumors that reached me were exaggerated. He has always been the perfect son, you know? It was hard for me to believe he was capable of disrespecting women given the level of love and respect his mother and I share. I lacked the burden of proof to confront him with the rumors and well, you have brought me the testimony I lacked. He will be removed from his duties and returned home until Maelmorda has been informed and I can be certain his conduct is corrected. You did the right thing bringing this matter to me." He conveyed with as much dignity as anyone would expect from the ancient devil. That said he led his jet black stallion out of the stable and mounted up. "I will remain discreet in this matter, have no worries. Good day, Prince Draguta." Amon dipped his head to the young fellow and rode out heading for the city's south gate. His voice summoned Evander as he did so, ordering him to drop whatever he was doing and inform his superior that he was being removed from service effective immediately and was to report to his father without further delay.
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Sysyu had smiled happily at Soren when he'd made his suggestion for a new custom of their own. "Do I hug you or do you hug me? Now that is the question! How about... you hug me and I kiss your cheek everytime we meet?" She had grinned right back at him.
The two brothers entertained her per Soren's request while he was gone and would have done so anyway, regaling her with amusing stories of some of their childhood antics with Soren. She laughed when told how Beran dared Soren to ride a dragon his best friend didnt know was Remus at the time, and how Remus had pretended to be fierce and tried to shake him while flying low over water so should he fall he'd not get injured. Remus laughed and told her he was new to flight and being a dragon at the time and ended up crashing into the water with Soren who found out how well some dragons could swim through Remus. He was better at swimming as a dragon than flying at that time. "He never let go of Remus. He was riding him as he swam. I swear he's a born dragon rider." Beran bragged on his honorary brother.
Sysyu clapped her hands to applaud the story and Soren's bravery. One of the things she admired about Soren was his courage. "His mother and father must be very proud of him."
Her eyes then lit up as she noticed that Soren returned to meet them at the gate arch with their horses en tow. "Oh Soren!! The wreath of roses is beautiful! I must think up a way to keep them from withering." She went over and pet her horse and took deep breaths of the roses fragrance. She didn't doubt for a moment that Soren was the one who purchased the roses for Cloud Minder. Who else would be so sweet and generous? And if Soren adhered to the new custom and hugged her she'd kiss his lips instead of his cheek for the lovely gift of roses.
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When it came to the meeting with Amon Soren did his best to stay respectful to Amon and Evander, while Van had pissed him off, and he had been perhaps a little jealous that Sysyu had taken such a shine to Van over himself at first.. They were both Squires and both the son of kings. "As you say, my lord. I just hope it is possible in the future for him to rejoin our ranks, for as awful as this is, I have always trusted him." Sure it was true his assault of Sysyu was awful, Van had helped them keep hersafe before those soldiers were eradicated by Eoghan, he hoped for Van to get properly reformed.
Soren would have been red had he known about the story telling that they had! Sure perhaps it was true, but... was holding on for dear life truly courage? Before that Storm where he had died, his greatest hope was to be a dragon rider, especially after his overture to Aurelius had been denied. He had hoped to be made into a Noct'maire immortal like his mother, but, that had been denied. He wondered if Aurelius thought his siring was intentional, however, he put it out of mind as he approached the others.
The truth of the pride of his parents was.. Yes! They were quite proud of him!
When they reunited he pulled Sysyu into a tight hug as they agreed.. it was their new custom right? "Hm.. I am sure there is a way, I know you can use wax to keep a flower as it is for all time.. Perhaps someone capable of time manipulation could also do something." He said, as he held her in his arms as long as she would tolerate it. He was surprised of course of the kiss to his lips, and blushed a little at it, but he enjoyed it all the same.
He peered around her looking for his little brother, "I bet I know someone who is barely containing themselves and wants to get on the road, do I not, young Cillian?"
~"Thanks for the help.. you didn't say anything embarrassing about me, did you brothers?"~:
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Amon was going to do his best to reform his son but his success depended on Evander wanting to change his ways. He sincerely hoped he could make Evander see the wrong in treating women like objects of pleasure. He also meant to insure Evander did not resent Soren who had probably saved his ass by reporting the infraction as he had.
Cillian was still sitting astride Shimmer when Soren returned. He had listening to the story Beran told too and had loved it! "I am ready to go!" Cillian sang out eagerly. "Soren the Dragon Rider! Will you ride me when I'm Shimmer?" The tyke asked his big brother excitedly and Sysyu giggled. Well, Shimmer was the size of a large horse and much thicker built. Soren should be able to ride him. Were his wings well developed enough for him to fly though? She wondered.
"Time huh?" Sysyu thought about whether she could create a time bend around the wreath of roses to stop time and the roses from aging then remembered her father's warnings about time manipulation even on a small scale. Still... if she could create a small pocket that only affected the roses how could that influence anything else? "Is there any way sealing the wreath inside a time pocket could affect anything outside of that pocket?" She asked Soren in particular as they all rode to the Gothtyrdan gate arch together. Remus and Beran both considered her question too though.
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Soren looked at his brother curiously, Soren the Dragonrider? He looked at his brothers dubiously, and it was not difficult to figure out they had told some story about him, and if it was the one he thought, well.. He nodded. "And when your wings are ready for it we can see that you learn to fly.. Flight is a bit different when you have a rider on your back, the rider puts their life in your hands after all. There is much trust between Dragon and Rider, Cillian." Soren too had a dragon form though, but... he'd not spoil his brothers excitement.
"I am not an expert, though I have read up on it a bit.. however I might have spoken too soon, the tomes all treat Chronomancy like a six-headed viper. My father has a friend, his name is.. Victor Urik, He helped me once when, the night of my siring." Soren's siring had hardly been ideal, how were they to know he would have become an Astraeus vampire on death!? Perhaps he should have known, what was done, is done. "I think we ought to speak with someone like Victor, or maybe someone who is well acquaited with Verdure..? I believe that is the elemental plane of plants, perhaps there is a spell or enchantment that can keep the flowers ever-living? He had helped her onto her mount, not because she was incapable, but because he had been raised to held a lady into her saddle, before he mounted his own, and so they made for the gate arch.
"The wedding is to last three whole days, is that normal you think?" He asked as he rode beside her, he was curious what they could possibly be doing for three days at a wedding.. Sure he knew what a husband and wife could do for days and days.. but, as far as a ceremony.. it had him stumped. "That place..Was interesting though, that Forest realm they were wed in, have you ever been to such a place?":
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Cillian would have been even more excited to know Soren was part dragon. That information had not reached him yet from his older siblings whose age he had caught up with growth wise. "I can fly!" Cillian crowed happily. "Just not very far yet."
Sysyu skewed her lips at the replies to her time query after Remus threw in that time was a tricky path to practice. "I'm afraid the roses won't survive long enough to find someone to preserve them. I suppose I'll just have to enjoy them while they last." She determined with a resolute nod.
Her eyes locked on Soren when he asked what was normal for weddings. "Is there a norm among such diverse people as we know? I would guess it is normal for Lord Kilcanoragh. I also imagine he'll keep his guests entertained well enough for three days. The first night was... too exciting for me!" She laughed, having overheard his thoughts thinking he spoke them aloud. She nodded in agreement to the forest being interesting, though interesting isn't what she would have called it. "His realm is beautiful. It's said he has lived there for many thousands of years. He must love it there very much. We saw so very little of his kingdom. Stories tell of it being completely surrounded by an impenetrable labyrinth made of trees and vines all woven together and of a beautiful outer open forest where sidhe and legendary creatures roam. Maybe we should have a picnic there one day as well and explore." A
little of her adventurous side showing. Though she wasn't as adventurous as her sister she wasn't without the will to satisfy her curiosity about things.
"Can we go now?" Cillian was growing impatient.
Sysyu laughed. "Of course Cillian. Let's go." And she stepped her horse up to the gate and spoke their destination clearly. "Dusky Lane Zoo," she commanded and hence they crossed the threshold to turn up on that copse road which made her so nervous.
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He grinned, "And soon enough you will have powerful wings, but.. there is no rush, we have all the time in the world, Cillian." He said as he regarded Cillian. It was strange, he only just met his brother last night and yet.. he loved him already so much.
He nodded in agreement, "Yes, that was quite the wedding indeed, I hope the reception is.. less exciting, at least relative to what we witnessed." They had not even seen the orgy, and perhaps that was a good thing, it had been a rather intense affair after all. "I do owe you a picnic, I shall ask Lord Kilcanoragh if he will allow me permission to have a picnic with you in his realm." He said, but for now, he had a wildlife retreat to worry about!
Not to mention he had an impatient little brother to attend to! "Yes, lets do be off." He gave a whistle to his brothers, "Keep up, I wouldn't want you two to get lost." He teased, knowing full well, no such thing would happen, they knew Esscha Endor just as well as he did by now!
Soon they were out on the Copse road and Soren took a moment to take in the area. ~"Sysyu, are you well?"~ He asked as he waited until they were all gathered, so they could take stock of their situation.:
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And so on the backs of their mounts the gate arch delivered them as near to the Dusky Lane Estate as their wards and gateways allowed, which placed them on the safari road midway between Lakeshore River and Dusky Lane Manor. The gateway at the zoo was down presently. The zoo and manor were at least a three hour ride away at an easy pace. They arrived beneath a copse of large scattered umbrella like trees that offered wonderful shade but beyond the trees the sun beat down on the grasslands. The day was hot as autumn was not quite full but the heat was not unbearable. Sysyu's horse was packed with six canteens of fresh cool water and food enough for them all for two meals. It would have been three had Beren and Remus not joined their party but she had packed extra water and there were springs to be found to refill their supply. If anyone had brought food and water they'd have surplus supplies and Remus and Beren went no where without water. They both also had some hard liquor in their packs. It was leisure time for them after all.
Sysyu patted her horses neck and looked around. "I don't think we're at the manor unless it has a long drive," she observed. "So are we north, south, east or west of it? I don't know this country." She felt a sudden wave of anxiety. A mild case of ptsd. They hadn't landed in a dense dark vast forest but the similarities to their experience at the Inn was close enough it that it disturbed her. "Maybe we should go back..."
"Nooooo please," Cillian cried out in protest.
"I could take wing and scout out where we are so we know where to go," Remus suggested. "Birds eye view. The land here is open enough to see for miles around." He smiled and Sysyu nodded, feeling foolish for spooking so easily.
Remus unbound his creamy white dragon wings and took off with the speed of a sparrowhawk to wheel and then soar in an ever widening circle gaining altitude with each pass around them until he had the view he was after in sight. They were about three hours south south east of the manor and zoo by horseback. Then he spied two riders approaching their party on the road. They both wore tan and white expedition outfits, Remus could see that they were clearly park staff even from the height he was flying. He also spotted some herds... one of antelope, one of mumaak, and another of wild lombra. There was also a herd of some kind of large animal far to the east. Too far for him to tell what they were. Then to the northeast of the herds he saw a large pride of lions. He made a mental map of the land, herds and pride and directions they were moving. He hoped they could get close enough for Cillian to see them.
After awhile he returned and landing in front of his friends he reported what he had discovered. "We are about a three hour ride north north west from the zoo following the road and right in the heart of the wildlife sanctuary. There are quite a few animal herds some distance from the road, one of them Mumaak, some antelope including a lombra herd, and I spotted a large pride of lions east of the road further north."
"Oh can we go see?!" Cillian begged.
"It's too dangerous, Cillian. We need to get to the zoo. A safari in the wild requires escorts with expertise in the park and its animals. We must stay on the road. I can fly above to scout for any animals that might cross our path."
"I hope we get to see some!" Cillian exclaimed.
Remus smiled. "Me too, at a safe distance." Then looked to Soren and Beren. "If we quicken our pace and rest the mounts as needed we could get there a lot sooner. Just to test a theory I tried a gate but it failed. I think gate powers are dampened in this region to discourage poaching." He remembered hearing something about that from some of their brothers at arms.
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Soren took in their surroundings as they emerged from the gate, scanning their horizon for landmarks he trotted up beside Sysyu who had Cillian pleading with her already, he smiled as he placed a hand on her shoulder, it would not have taken a rocket scientist to figure out what had her so anxious, it had been a shared horror for all here except Cillian. "Sysyu,"He said as he took her hand and then laid a kiss upon her knuckle. "I will keep you safe, you needn't worry. I will keep you and Cillian safe, and besides, this is Esscha Endor." He then grinned, "You know, if you are frightened Cloud Dancer could easily handle the both of us in the saddle." It would be exciting to whisper sweet nothings into her ear while they rode intimately in he same saddle, who knows maybe he'd even recite poetry for her.
He regarded his brother, he was young still, "Cillian, it is unbecoming for a young man to whine, so chin up little brother."
Soren regarded his brother Remus, "Perhaps I should join you? I know the land the best, after all." He had spent the most time here, and after all the young princes had not spent overly much time in the nature preserve, only to learn to track and hunt did they come here. If their food ran out, Soren could hunt, if it became dire in their need.
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Remus had ended up taking wing without him and he shrugged, glancing to Sysyu he felt butterflies in his stomach again, tonight when they returned to the wedding he intended to approach The Morningstar, her father. He wanted permission to court her, Soren was unsure how Maelmorda would receive that request. Luckily, he had defended her honor, though he did not feel right using that for leverage for some reason.. it felt.. wrong? "You know Sysyu, there will be dancing at the reception, I hope you dont step on my feet too much tonight." Regardless of how things went he would have Cillian home by the evening, he was not about to keep his new born brother out away from his mother for an entire night. Desiree would ring his neck if it happened.
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The report Remus gave sounded promising, "Then let us get to it," Soren said confidently as he adjusted the reins of his mount in anticipation of their coming gallop across the plains. "We will see, if the chance arises little brother, remember, we are going to the zoo, you will see many strange and delightful creatures, so mind Remus when he says we must be cautious. Remember you are a son of Esscha Endor, you have all the time in the world, you will have no shortage of chances to see every last animal within our borders and then some."
He then trotted ahead and turned his mount to face the others, "Now shall we ride? Cloud Chaser is eager to get going." His mount loved to run, it was an energetic horse, that was always ready for a race across the plains.:
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Sysyu chewed on her lower lip a bit at the promise Soren made to protect her and Cillian. "You must think me a silly frightened mouse. I'm sure we'll be fine." She blushed then at the invitation to ride with Soren and his promise of sweet somethings. "I'd love that some other time but I need more bonding with Minder. This trail ride is the perfect opportunity for us to get closer. I could ride with you when we go on that picnic you keep promising," she grinned with sauce.
Remus had assured Soren he could handle scouting ahead on his own before he'd take flight. Presently he chuckled as Cillian tilted his head back to stick his chin up when Soren advised him to do just that, his little wings also snapping out as the child saluted Soren. Sysyu giggled as well. "Oh," Remus remembered, "I also saw a pair of Park Rangers ahead. We should meet up with them soon." He mentioned, then when Soren called out for them to ride he also saluted his progeny then bounded up on Sisko with a wild grace that made it seem he could float and took off after Soren as he urged Chaser to speed.
As their horses thundered north along the road it turned into a race some miles down the road as Beran's blood bay Mars caught up with Sisko to pass Remus then made a push to pass Soren. Sysyu hung back for awhile until Remus and Sisko made their move to come nose to nose with Chaser and Mars. While the three boys and their horses fought for the front and to reach that huge shade tree by the bridge that crossed a creek leaping down stepped falls, the perfect place to rest and water the horses and break for lunch, Sysyu snuck up on them from behind and gave Minder his reins. The swiftest of the four horses Cloud Minder left the boys and their impressive war mounts in the dust. And oh what a sight that beautiful girl on her incredibly swift white horse that seemed born of the wind and she a spirit to ride the wind. Cillian meanwhile had fallen so far behind that Soren had to give up his lead over his brothers to fall back so Cillian and Shimmer could catch up. Speed was not yet Shimmer's best trait. Like Cillian shimmer was still at the butterball age in development.
Minder was a world class Esscha Stormcloud race horse that horse thieves had nearly ruined. He had been running with the wild herds to cover the mares when captured by the rustlers. It made no sense to Sysyu. If you were going to steal a horse that valuable why would you wreck its value by abusing the animal? Those people had just been evil. But with Sysyu's love and care and the best vet in Morashtar Minder had not only recovered his full health but been given back his heart. Indeed he had more heart than he'd ever had before because Sysyu loved him that much and everyone contacting him treated him with care and affection. Happy race horses were swifter than unhappy race horses. Minder would kill himself if he needed to to outrun another for Sysyu, be they another race horse or an enemy. Minder wasn't even winded when he carried Sysyu beneath the huge canopy of that tree. She already had a large soft blanket spread out on the ground and the saddlebags full of yummy eats sitting there by the time the boys arrived. Minder was cooling himself with a gentle preamble of the tree's perimeter after Sysyu told him to 'cool down boy'. Remus had a similar command of 'cool it' for Sisko. Matthew had passed the phrase to his brothers, Soren included. Soren was as much a noctmaire lad as any of them.
When the boys settled on the blanket after seeing to their own horses, Sysyu passed out the food and the fresh citrus juice she'd squeezed as a surprise with the awesome fried chicken sandwiches, potato crisps, roasted corn cobs, and cookies she'd snagged from the kitchen. Esscha Endor had incredible cooks. Beran and Remus added some of their jerky, dried fruit and nuts to the menu. Theirs was delicious, tender jerky made at Noctmaire, a blend of bacon, beef, venison and pork jerky wonderfully spiced. The nuts were a mix of delectable native roasted nuts lightly salted with barrens sea salt and the fruit mix delicious as well. It was the 'hard tack' all Noctmaire soldiers were supplied with. "These are our field rations," Remus informed Sysyu and Cillian. "Our Da Aurelius always says that there is no reason his soldiers shouldn't eat well even from field rations." He smiled and took a pull of tender beef jerky. Then he added some crispy bacon jerky to his chicken sandwich and took a bite. "Hey, that's delicious!"
"That horse of yours is incredibly fast." Beran mentioned as he trusted Remus and added some bacon jerky to his sandwhich.
Sysyu nodded. "He is fast, was a champion race horse." She looked up as two riders approached their party. She started to stand but they waved to their party not to bother getting up.
"You're just fine, just fine," the male of the two said. He was riding a brown lombra with blonde mane and tail tuft, its coat striped with a darker brown. "We just came to welcome you to Dusky Lane Park. I am Ranger Woods and this is Ranger Loren." The female smiled and waved at them. She was riding a strong looking dark bay horse.
"Be apprised that we have rules. Stay on the roads and paths and keep at least thirty feet between you and any animals you encounter. Would you like us to escort you on the trail? Are you just exploring the preserve or heading for the zoo?"
Sysyu waved at the two rangers with a bright smile. When asked if they wanted an escort she looked to Soren. "We don't need to be a bother by having them escort us do we?"
*It's no bother, my lady," the man assured.
"Soren is the leader of this expedition," Remus figured. "Up to you, brother." He smiled that wickedly sweet smile at Soren that turned the corners of his wide mouth, a smile that made Sysyu giggle under her breath. If Soren doubted his authority Beran, Sysyu and even Cillian would back his choice of expedition leader.
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Soren looked at her with a curios cant, "Silly frightened mouse? Nonsense." He said moving in to ride closely beside her, "I am honored to be able to give you at least a little peace of mind, if I am able." He said as he took her hand and kissed her knuckle gently as they rode. He had defended her before. The fight against those men.. not to mention when his comrade tried to take advantage of her as well. "A part of courtship is finding out if you feel safe with me, isn't it? My promise to do all that I am able to defend and protect you, these are not empty words to earn your favor, I truly desire to keep you safe." He wanted to kiss her, but knew they pushed bounds with their affection, and restrained his longing. She surprised him and he dipped his head slightly, she knew how to make a man's heart skip a beat with a look and a smile, how dangerous she was.. he loved it. "I look forward to it, Sysyu."
Soren was the first to urge his Storm Chaser to speed, Soren always had a dare devil inside him, as his brothers would know. Remus and Beran knew all to well just how 'daring' he could be. No risk, no reward. How quickly it turned to a race was a testament to the competitive nature of the three brothers, so closely matched in riding skill that Soren was only just able to keep his lead, that was until Sysyu and Minder bolted ahead in a stunning show of speed! Their warhorses were of heartier stock, they could not have dreamed of such speed, it was impressive to see as she galloped past them. He allowed himself a moment to admire her before he gave up his lead over his brothers and fell back to join Cillian. He had no doubt his little brother would in time be among the fastest of them all, "We are nearly to the shade brother o' mine, just a bit further and then we can rest." He said with a grin, and kept pace beside young Cillian.
Horse thieves were met with whipcrack justice in Esscha Endor, with VERY few exceptions to be had, these lands were known for their horse breeding and stealing a horse was a capital offense in Esscha Endor. Being accepted by the Noct'maire as one of their own had kept Soren from falling into despair, the curse thrust upon him trauma no young boy was ready to handle. The Noct'maire, Beran and Remus especially had kept him sane and in good spirits. Of course being a human surrounded by immortals was tough, but Soren had made due! "Cool it, Chaser. That's it." He said as they came up under the canopy, and once he stepped down from his mound he set about watering and seeing to his horses needs before joining the others.
Soren smiled as he soon joined the others who were educating Sysyu and Cillian on Noct'maire rations, "Trust me, if you ever had the displeasure of trying hardtack, you would thick much more highly on this fact. I once complained about being sick of rations, and had to eat hardtack for a month! It was so dry!!!" Soren grinned, "I have learned to count my blessings." He said stealing a piece of Remus' jerky, and then he spied on what food Sysyu had brought along. "You know Shy, this doesn't count as our picnic."
He nodded at his brothers words, "I thought for a moment you were astride a bolt of lightning so swiftly did the pair of you overtake us. Do you have a mind to let him run the races again?"
Soren was about to rise when they were told they need not rise, and so Soren finished eating the other half of his chicken sandwich, it was delicious. but he cleaned the grease from his lips and fingers with a napkin and regarded the two rangers, trying to see if he remembered ever meeting them. Before he could say anything he was announced to be the leader, but he was a prince, was he not born to lead? That was the way of it after all.
"Remus, my loyal cupbearer, it was kind of you to introduce me." He teased his sire, it was playful return fire of sorts. "We dont intend to leave the road, we wanted to visit the Zoo, my newly born brother Cillian is eager to see the animals there. If you could just point the way, the way-gate that brought us here has us a bit disoriented. An escort is unnecessary, you are kind to offer though."
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Sysyu smiled when Soren assured her this picnic did not count as the one he promised her. "I'd have it no other way. Besides, I look forward to going on a picnic with you where you see to all the details." she grinned then leaned across to kiss his cheek.
When asked if she intended to enter Minder in the races again Sysyu shrugged. "Only if he wants to run. There is a cross country race in Esscha Endor that is huge and I would love to enter him in that, but only if he truly wants to." Minder tossed and shook his head with a snort as if he understood her and she laughed.
"So you... talk to animals?" Remus searched.
"Sort of," Sysyu replied. "It's more like an exchange of feelings about things."
"Neat," Remus thought that a handy skill to control.
Sysyu admired the tan and brown uniforms the park rangers wore. They were well cut and made, and made them look like a perfect part of the park scenery.
Remus smirked at the cup bearer remark. "I'll be sure to bring you many a cup filled with my blood majesty," he teased right back with a grin.
"You are headed in the right direction," the female ranger told them after clearing her throat. "Just keep following the main road as it carries you North and west and it will take you right to the zoo."
"Unless you wish to take the short cut across country by the northern trail just up ahead." The man then offered. "You'll see more animals and the country is beautiful. The trail is more direct but narrower and a little more rugged. It will lead you right to the zoo side entrance and shave about thirty minutes off your journey. Just be sure to stay on the trail if you take that route. It will be the next trail the road meets about a mile ahead," he directed. The two then bid them farewell with pleasant travels and a wave then continued on their way south.
Sysyu loved the idea of the cross country trail. "Oh let's take the trail. It sounds marvelous!"
"Yes please!" Cillian chimed in excitedly. "More animals!"
"I'm game," Remus said then looked to Soren. "But it's for our Lord Prince to decide," he added with a waggle of his white brows at Soren. "But first... your day's allowance of my blood," and he thrust his arm out at him to expose his wrist. Sysyu might as well get accustomed to seeing him feed now, he figured. Remus had very tasty blood which tasted a lot like he smelled which was akin to spiced vanilla. He had inherited some very angelic qualities from his darkstar mother. Beran sometimes teased him and called him Vanilla or Nilla boy owed to his scent and albino complexion.
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"You best bet I will do it right, too!" He said with a smirk on his lips, though he felt a strange tingle in his nose and had to stop himself from sneezing. "Someone must be talking about me." He said laughing, he had heard that sometimes it was true though! What had he done now? He grinned happily as his cheek was kissed, he couldn't have been happier.
Her ability to speak with animals made him curious, "Aren't people animals also? Can you feel my feelings?" He asked her curiously, glancing to her mount, he was so fast, he would go far.. but, Soren's only interest in races was betting on them. He was a natural at gambling, a born card shark among other things.
The Rangers uniforms were smart and blended well with their surroundings, many wished to be rangers, but it was not easy. He respected them for their service and what they could do, Esscha Endor's rangers were an impressive lot.
"Oh, Remus, you are a fine vintage." He said back, they did enjoy their banter.. perhaps too much? It was all in good fun though.
He had all but decided they should get moving when the other Ranger dangled the idea of the shortcut, that sounded marvelous! Cillian would love that, and come to think of it.. who among them would not? "That sounds splendid, a shortcut with a scenic view no less. I promise I will keep my expedition on their best behavior, good rangers." He said, spreading his hands wide in lieu of a bow as he was sitting after all. "We will keep to the rangers instructions, wont we?" He said looking directly at Cillian with a playful smirk as if to say 'be good little brother'.
He looked to Remus and his eyes settled on the offered wrist, it was strange with every feeding he felt something in him change, something new blossom within him. He glanced to Sysyu, he gently guided her to join him, not in tasting but he wanted her to be near as he leaned in and speared the wrist of his sire and drank from that paired wound left by his fangs. As he drank he could feel the separate parts of his being all burning to life.
The Blood of his Father, The Astraeus Clan, The Blood of Androlphus once dormant now alive and well in the his descendants. The Blood of his Sire, the offered lineage of their dragons blood, it raged through his veins. With this feeding the young prince of Esscha Endor gained the ability of Blended Forms, when Remus decided it was time to stop.. Soren stopped, though it was not easy, he had gained the discipline required to do so. He sat up, after feeding he was taken by a temporary daze, it would not last long but he did ever so slightly lean into Sysyu.
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Sysyu shook her head as Soren acquainted needing to sneeze with someone talking about him. She was as unfamiliar with that earth superstition as the one about witches being in the nose, or spirits escaping, or dozens of other nonsensical beliefs making someone sneeze. "Well that's just silly, Soren. Dust, pollen or something logical is making you sneeze. Although..." she leaned in closer to him. "I imagine lots of people talk about you and the wonderful things you do. Their chatter and your sneezes are sure to overlap now and again," she laughed brightly.
She skewed her lips hearing his question about people being animals. "Well yes, but animals don't seem to mind if I pry into their feelings where people are very upset by it, so I make it a habit not to trespass unless it's somehow necessary," she apprised. "Would you want me knowing how you feel at will? I for one can tell you that after making that kind of metaphysical connection with my sister it's very unsettling."
Smelling Remus's blood as Soren let it with his fangs made Sysyu fidget uncomfortably where she'd settled on the blanket next to Soren. She breathed in a little hiss of air as she stuffed down the impulse to rip into Remus and gorge on that delicious smelling darkstar blood of his. Devils had powerful appetites for several things, blood, souls and flesh among them. The divine qualities of his soul were also dangerously tempting to her. She moved away from quickly as she found herself first moving towards Remus and stuffed a chicken strip in her mouth to chew hungrily on it.
Remus noticed but waited until the pull on his blood began to bite at him before he gently tugged himself away from Soren. There was danger in being a Deluvian sire should a progeny covet your power without regard to your life and try to drink it from you all at once. Deluvians had to choose their progeny with care and know they could trust them. Remus trusted Soren with all his heart. Because of the strength of his darkstar heritage, being grandson to Belorian (Eoghan really got around over the ages didn't he?) his blood was alluring and also intoxicating which increased the danger to him. A day would come when Remus chose another to sire. He could only be so lucky to find another he could trust as well. Remus sat awhile eating from the food and enjoying the delicious juice while he regained his strength. One thing he loved about being Deluvian was being able to eat people food and gain sustenance from it.
Sysyu smiled at him a little nervously and he smiled back warmly. He understood. She was struggling with self control. She practically clung to Soren until it was time to move on and was happy for the distraction of putting everything away and the ride which followed.
