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The look Kyros gave her was one of consideration, and Xanthippe’s eyes narrowed at the thought of what he might be considering. Such speculation on his face naturally aroused suspicion in one as paranoid as she, especially when she was already so on edge. She nearly snapped at him, demanded to know why the fuck he was looking at her like that, but instead she simply offered a smile in response to his greeting. Gods knew it was a good thing she had such instructors as Lord Fotios and Lady Eirini when it came to controlling herself and her reactions.
Before she could have even replied as it was, her attention was drawn to the large man speaking to the other of their trio, instinctually tensing and reaching for the knife beneath her chiton when she saw how the militant was headed for violence. Of course, she couldn’t give two shits about the man he meant to strike, but if it erupted into a larger fight, Xan meant to be prepared. Luckily for them all, however, the man stayed his hand as he appeared to recognize the braced figure. There was a small twinge of disappointment at not being able to use the knife she’d reached for, but that was quickly buried. Better that it hadn’t come to that.
You really are going soft, aren’t you, Xanthippe?
No. I’m just getting smarter.
Deciding to ignore whatever else the gods were going to argue with her about, she instead turned her attention back to the men surrounding her. Given that they were all looking at her, she gathered she must have been addressed, and quickly reviewed their words in her head. A name, they were asking for her name, though the Colchian padded his questioning with a few more flowery (and wholly unnecessary) phrases.
Her smile was brittle at his over the top lauding of her beauty, sparing him only a moment’s glance from cold blue eyes. Did this man truly think he stood a chance with her, a woman who was blessed to carry the gods within her head? Her affections were reserved only for those who deserved them, namely her Lord and Lady. This man who called himself Damocles couldn’t even compare to the dirt on their shoes.
Perhaps she ought to have been flattered at such outright admiration, but given her substantial anger with other… circumstances… the best she could muster was passive annoyance. “Xanthippe,” she introduced herself again for the benefit of the loquacious commander and the man he called Thrasius. “Handmaid in the house of Lord Fotios of Leventi.” She nodded down the beach to where her lord stood with the other nobles, a minute frown crossing her features when she noticed his eyes on her. Nearly as soon as she met his gaze, however, it was gone, and she shrugged it off as something to think of later. There were now more pressing matters on her mind.
“A pleasure to meet you all, as well,” she forced the nicety between gritted teeth, forcibly relaxing the tight muscles in her jaw and neck. “Thrasius, Captain Damocles. Kyros.” She nodded to each of them in turn, a penetrating gaze zeroing in on each of theirs. “Once again, forgive my intrusion. With my lady attended to by another, I’ve been hard-pressed to find ways to fill my time. I don’t wish to interrupt, merely observe our Colchian allies. A remarkable day in history, wouldn’t you all agree? I am happy to be able to witness it.”
A good thing for more than one reason I came to the beach today. Someone has a lot to answer for…
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The look Kyros gave her was one of consideration, and Xanthippe’s eyes narrowed at the thought of what he might be considering. Such speculation on his face naturally aroused suspicion in one as paranoid as she, especially when she was already so on edge. She nearly snapped at him, demanded to know why the fuck he was looking at her like that, but instead she simply offered a smile in response to his greeting. Gods knew it was a good thing she had such instructors as Lord Fotios and Lady Eirini when it came to controlling herself and her reactions.
Before she could have even replied as it was, her attention was drawn to the large man speaking to the other of their trio, instinctually tensing and reaching for the knife beneath her chiton when she saw how the militant was headed for violence. Of course, she couldn’t give two shits about the man he meant to strike, but if it erupted into a larger fight, Xan meant to be prepared. Luckily for them all, however, the man stayed his hand as he appeared to recognize the braced figure. There was a small twinge of disappointment at not being able to use the knife she’d reached for, but that was quickly buried. Better that it hadn’t come to that.
You really are going soft, aren’t you, Xanthippe?
No. I’m just getting smarter.
Deciding to ignore whatever else the gods were going to argue with her about, she instead turned her attention back to the men surrounding her. Given that they were all looking at her, she gathered she must have been addressed, and quickly reviewed their words in her head. A name, they were asking for her name, though the Colchian padded his questioning with a few more flowery (and wholly unnecessary) phrases.
Her smile was brittle at his over the top lauding of her beauty, sparing him only a moment’s glance from cold blue eyes. Did this man truly think he stood a chance with her, a woman who was blessed to carry the gods within her head? Her affections were reserved only for those who deserved them, namely her Lord and Lady. This man who called himself Damocles couldn’t even compare to the dirt on their shoes.
Perhaps she ought to have been flattered at such outright admiration, but given her substantial anger with other… circumstances… the best she could muster was passive annoyance. “Xanthippe,” she introduced herself again for the benefit of the loquacious commander and the man he called Thrasius. “Handmaid in the house of Lord Fotios of Leventi.” She nodded down the beach to where her lord stood with the other nobles, a minute frown crossing her features when she noticed his eyes on her. Nearly as soon as she met his gaze, however, it was gone, and she shrugged it off as something to think of later. There were now more pressing matters on her mind.
“A pleasure to meet you all, as well,” she forced the nicety between gritted teeth, forcibly relaxing the tight muscles in her jaw and neck. “Thrasius, Captain Damocles. Kyros.” She nodded to each of them in turn, a penetrating gaze zeroing in on each of theirs. “Once again, forgive my intrusion. With my lady attended to by another, I’ve been hard-pressed to find ways to fill my time. I don’t wish to interrupt, merely observe our Colchian allies. A remarkable day in history, wouldn’t you all agree? I am happy to be able to witness it.”
A good thing for more than one reason I came to the beach today. Someone has a lot to answer for…
The look Kyros gave her was one of consideration, and Xanthippe’s eyes narrowed at the thought of what he might be considering. Such speculation on his face naturally aroused suspicion in one as paranoid as she, especially when she was already so on edge. She nearly snapped at him, demanded to know why the fuck he was looking at her like that, but instead she simply offered a smile in response to his greeting. Gods knew it was a good thing she had such instructors as Lord Fotios and Lady Eirini when it came to controlling herself and her reactions.
Before she could have even replied as it was, her attention was drawn to the large man speaking to the other of their trio, instinctually tensing and reaching for the knife beneath her chiton when she saw how the militant was headed for violence. Of course, she couldn’t give two shits about the man he meant to strike, but if it erupted into a larger fight, Xan meant to be prepared. Luckily for them all, however, the man stayed his hand as he appeared to recognize the braced figure. There was a small twinge of disappointment at not being able to use the knife she’d reached for, but that was quickly buried. Better that it hadn’t come to that.
You really are going soft, aren’t you, Xanthippe?
No. I’m just getting smarter.
Deciding to ignore whatever else the gods were going to argue with her about, she instead turned her attention back to the men surrounding her. Given that they were all looking at her, she gathered she must have been addressed, and quickly reviewed their words in her head. A name, they were asking for her name, though the Colchian padded his questioning with a few more flowery (and wholly unnecessary) phrases.
Her smile was brittle at his over the top lauding of her beauty, sparing him only a moment’s glance from cold blue eyes. Did this man truly think he stood a chance with her, a woman who was blessed to carry the gods within her head? Her affections were reserved only for those who deserved them, namely her Lord and Lady. This man who called himself Damocles couldn’t even compare to the dirt on their shoes.
Perhaps she ought to have been flattered at such outright admiration, but given her substantial anger with other… circumstances… the best she could muster was passive annoyance. “Xanthippe,” she introduced herself again for the benefit of the loquacious commander and the man he called Thrasius. “Handmaid in the house of Lord Fotios of Leventi.” She nodded down the beach to where her lord stood with the other nobles, a minute frown crossing her features when she noticed his eyes on her. Nearly as soon as she met his gaze, however, it was gone, and she shrugged it off as something to think of later. There were now more pressing matters on her mind.
“A pleasure to meet you all, as well,” she forced the nicety between gritted teeth, forcibly relaxing the tight muscles in her jaw and neck. “Thrasius, Captain Damocles. Kyros.” She nodded to each of them in turn, a penetrating gaze zeroing in on each of theirs. “Once again, forgive my intrusion. With my lady attended to by another, I’ve been hard-pressed to find ways to fill my time. I don’t wish to interrupt, merely observe our Colchian allies. A remarkable day in history, wouldn’t you all agree? I am happy to be able to witness it.”
A good thing for more than one reason I came to the beach today. Someone has a lot to answer for…
The mercenary’s hands gripped the hilts of his long daggers at his hips a bit tighter at the sight of the Colchis captain rearing for a strike against Thrasius. His muscles tensed and he prepared to launch himself in defense of the man he owed his life to. But at the last instant, the other seemed to realize who exactly approached him and his entire demeanor shifted. Curious. Now suddenly the captain had turned his attention on Kyros, bombarding the mercenary with questions, demanding to know more about him and where he was from. Kyros’ brows knitted together as he sorted the conversation in his head, still so unaccustomed to this much attention. ”I have only been in Taengea a few months. But I do know a decent tavern with fine wine here in the city. I’d… be happy to show you the place.” he offered, skirting around the more direct question of where he was actually from. He did not wish to divulge that he’d been living in Egypt until recently. He wanted no one to connect his arrival in the Greecian Kingdom with the Creed attacks on the city. That would not go over too well.
Kyros was thankful when the boisterous Captain Damocles shifted his attention to Xanthippe, who was standing next to him. Kyros, too, turned his eye back on the woman as she replied to the captain. When she tuned her gaze on him as she said his name, a chill went down his spine. It was like she could see right through him. He bristled and looked away, shifting his weight on his feet uncomfortably. Instead he turned his attention back to the two men, as Thrasius told the captain he had not meant to interrupt his work with his contingent of men. He watched the soldiers momentarily. While they seemed more capable than a few of the other units practicing upon the beach, they still seemed slow and cumbersome to Kyros, who moved swiftly and gracefully when he fought. But he kept this to himself, as he kept many things to himself.
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The mercenary’s hands gripped the hilts of his long daggers at his hips a bit tighter at the sight of the Colchis captain rearing for a strike against Thrasius. His muscles tensed and he prepared to launch himself in defense of the man he owed his life to. But at the last instant, the other seemed to realize who exactly approached him and his entire demeanor shifted. Curious. Now suddenly the captain had turned his attention on Kyros, bombarding the mercenary with questions, demanding to know more about him and where he was from. Kyros’ brows knitted together as he sorted the conversation in his head, still so unaccustomed to this much attention. ”I have only been in Taengea a few months. But I do know a decent tavern with fine wine here in the city. I’d… be happy to show you the place.” he offered, skirting around the more direct question of where he was actually from. He did not wish to divulge that he’d been living in Egypt until recently. He wanted no one to connect his arrival in the Greecian Kingdom with the Creed attacks on the city. That would not go over too well.
Kyros was thankful when the boisterous Captain Damocles shifted his attention to Xanthippe, who was standing next to him. Kyros, too, turned his eye back on the woman as she replied to the captain. When she tuned her gaze on him as she said his name, a chill went down his spine. It was like she could see right through him. He bristled and looked away, shifting his weight on his feet uncomfortably. Instead he turned his attention back to the two men, as Thrasius told the captain he had not meant to interrupt his work with his contingent of men. He watched the soldiers momentarily. While they seemed more capable than a few of the other units practicing upon the beach, they still seemed slow and cumbersome to Kyros, who moved swiftly and gracefully when he fought. But he kept this to himself, as he kept many things to himself.
The mercenary’s hands gripped the hilts of his long daggers at his hips a bit tighter at the sight of the Colchis captain rearing for a strike against Thrasius. His muscles tensed and he prepared to launch himself in defense of the man he owed his life to. But at the last instant, the other seemed to realize who exactly approached him and his entire demeanor shifted. Curious. Now suddenly the captain had turned his attention on Kyros, bombarding the mercenary with questions, demanding to know more about him and where he was from. Kyros’ brows knitted together as he sorted the conversation in his head, still so unaccustomed to this much attention. ”I have only been in Taengea a few months. But I do know a decent tavern with fine wine here in the city. I’d… be happy to show you the place.” he offered, skirting around the more direct question of where he was actually from. He did not wish to divulge that he’d been living in Egypt until recently. He wanted no one to connect his arrival in the Greecian Kingdom with the Creed attacks on the city. That would not go over too well.
Kyros was thankful when the boisterous Captain Damocles shifted his attention to Xanthippe, who was standing next to him. Kyros, too, turned his eye back on the woman as she replied to the captain. When she tuned her gaze on him as she said his name, a chill went down his spine. It was like she could see right through him. He bristled and looked away, shifting his weight on his feet uncomfortably. Instead he turned his attention back to the two men, as Thrasius told the captain he had not meant to interrupt his work with his contingent of men. He watched the soldiers momentarily. While they seemed more capable than a few of the other units practicing upon the beach, they still seemed slow and cumbersome to Kyros, who moved swiftly and gracefully when he fought. But he kept this to himself, as he kept many things to himself.
This was how it should have been, he thought as they walked through the halls. They should have been together like this, silently enjoying the shared company. They should have been wed, attempting to start a family. Instead, the silence was met with a shared awkwardness that he wanted to erase. It was impossible to figure out where they stood.
Friends? Family? Or was she remembering the way his lips felt on her, too?
Perhap he had made the effort with her horse, with the bow, to remind her that he knew her better than anyone else did. He knew that it had been difficult for her to get any sort of riding in with her new duties as queen. He knew that riding was something she was passionate about and rarely was able to do so anymore. And he knew that she valued her own ability with a bow that it was something she would never hide. He knew that she was still uncertain in her role, not wishing to step out of bounds or ask too much of people. So instead of requiring her to ask, he presented two options that would please her either way.
And the smile as she looked up at him was reward enough.
There was a moment, in another life, where he would have met that smile with his own lips, sealing the joy between the two of them. His eyes were unable to look away from her, remembering exactly how a gesture like this would have been received. He would have lowered his head, softly brushing her hair behind her ear to cup her cheek as he would have kissed her. He thought of pulling her close, of testing the waters to remind her of how much he had loved her…
Gods, how much he still loved her.
Instead, the moment was broken by the whinny of a horse. Clearing his throat, he wondered if she was having the same flashbacks. But there was no comment on it as he walked her towards her horse. He hated passing her off to one of the stable boys, but it was proper for them to assist her. Offering a small stool for her to ease how she mounted the horse, Emilios focused on seating his own. Swinging up on to the beast, he took a firm hold of the reigns and steered the horse towards the exit.
With his telltale, boyish grin, his eyes sparkled as he looked at her. “Race ya?” He teased, kicking his mount into a canter as if to egg her on.
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This was how it should have been, he thought as they walked through the halls. They should have been together like this, silently enjoying the shared company. They should have been wed, attempting to start a family. Instead, the silence was met with a shared awkwardness that he wanted to erase. It was impossible to figure out where they stood.
Friends? Family? Or was she remembering the way his lips felt on her, too?
Perhap he had made the effort with her horse, with the bow, to remind her that he knew her better than anyone else did. He knew that it had been difficult for her to get any sort of riding in with her new duties as queen. He knew that riding was something she was passionate about and rarely was able to do so anymore. And he knew that she valued her own ability with a bow that it was something she would never hide. He knew that she was still uncertain in her role, not wishing to step out of bounds or ask too much of people. So instead of requiring her to ask, he presented two options that would please her either way.
And the smile as she looked up at him was reward enough.
There was a moment, in another life, where he would have met that smile with his own lips, sealing the joy between the two of them. His eyes were unable to look away from her, remembering exactly how a gesture like this would have been received. He would have lowered his head, softly brushing her hair behind her ear to cup her cheek as he would have kissed her. He thought of pulling her close, of testing the waters to remind her of how much he had loved her…
Gods, how much he still loved her.
Instead, the moment was broken by the whinny of a horse. Clearing his throat, he wondered if she was having the same flashbacks. But there was no comment on it as he walked her towards her horse. He hated passing her off to one of the stable boys, but it was proper for them to assist her. Offering a small stool for her to ease how she mounted the horse, Emilios focused on seating his own. Swinging up on to the beast, he took a firm hold of the reigns and steered the horse towards the exit.
With his telltale, boyish grin, his eyes sparkled as he looked at her. “Race ya?” He teased, kicking his mount into a canter as if to egg her on.
This was how it should have been, he thought as they walked through the halls. They should have been together like this, silently enjoying the shared company. They should have been wed, attempting to start a family. Instead, the silence was met with a shared awkwardness that he wanted to erase. It was impossible to figure out where they stood.
Friends? Family? Or was she remembering the way his lips felt on her, too?
Perhap he had made the effort with her horse, with the bow, to remind her that he knew her better than anyone else did. He knew that it had been difficult for her to get any sort of riding in with her new duties as queen. He knew that riding was something she was passionate about and rarely was able to do so anymore. And he knew that she valued her own ability with a bow that it was something she would never hide. He knew that she was still uncertain in her role, not wishing to step out of bounds or ask too much of people. So instead of requiring her to ask, he presented two options that would please her either way.
And the smile as she looked up at him was reward enough.
There was a moment, in another life, where he would have met that smile with his own lips, sealing the joy between the two of them. His eyes were unable to look away from her, remembering exactly how a gesture like this would have been received. He would have lowered his head, softly brushing her hair behind her ear to cup her cheek as he would have kissed her. He thought of pulling her close, of testing the waters to remind her of how much he had loved her…
Gods, how much he still loved her.
Instead, the moment was broken by the whinny of a horse. Clearing his throat, he wondered if she was having the same flashbacks. But there was no comment on it as he walked her towards her horse. He hated passing her off to one of the stable boys, but it was proper for them to assist her. Offering a small stool for her to ease how she mounted the horse, Emilios focused on seating his own. Swinging up on to the beast, he took a firm hold of the reigns and steered the horse towards the exit.
With his telltale, boyish grin, his eyes sparkled as he looked at her. “Race ya?” He teased, kicking his mount into a canter as if to egg her on.
One of the benefits of being a General as devoted and fastidious as Vangelis meant that moments of reprieve were possible. Some officers of the military were forced to loiter and hover over their subordinates to ensure that their tasks or duties were completed to an appropriate standard and in the way that they would wish them to be. Vangelis had never had to do this since his beginning years in the Red Knights. There, he had hovered like a harpy, determined to see every man expelling every effort during every second of his service. He set his expectations and his standards. And by the time his command stretched across more than one militia, he was well known for his mechanics and the successes that they yielded.
His methods were perfectly simple. He gave a command. If the subordinate set to carry that command out, needed support in understanding it or wanted more detail, he would provide it. If they failed to ask for it, did not complete the task given and had no valid excuse as to why they had carried it out outside of the boundaries and expectations of himself, they were forced to resign from the military. It was that simple.
Vangelis did not mind learning. He did not mind mistakes. That was the way of humans. But if there had been the chance for a mistake not to be made and it had not been taken, due to arrogance, pride or incompetence, then there was no second chance. You were removed from your position, sent home with a small severance package and instructed to take up work in another field. The military could not afford men that had a tendency to lean too far towards ego or lack of care.
As such, Vangelis was able to leave his men to their own training and devices. His command was clear in the way that Maleos did not accept a lazing moment on Taengean soil but immediately put his men to work. It was in the way his soldiers jumped to start filling the ships as if Hades himself was on their tails. There was no outward sign of why they should hurry, no officer with a whip at their backs. But they moved as quickly and efficiently as possible, knowing that their General did not accept responsibilities taking longer than necessary.
So, when the Lady Dorothea asked if he wished to stretch his feet, Vangelis was at the liberty to accept the offer and walk with her a little around the docklands. He offered out a hand at her suggestion, his gesture allowing her to step forward first. He followed at her side, her towering escort.
"She is well." He answered with a nod. "A little concerned perhaps that most of her brothers will be engaged in this conflict." Her father too, but he didn't feel it was his place to suppose a fear over the king's fate in the next few months. "But otherwise strong. She practices the skills you have taught to her almost daily. I think she was half hoping to be invited to journey with us to Egypt."
This last he offered with the same calm tone, but the light shake of his head implied the humour in such an idea.
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One of the benefits of being a General as devoted and fastidious as Vangelis meant that moments of reprieve were possible. Some officers of the military were forced to loiter and hover over their subordinates to ensure that their tasks or duties were completed to an appropriate standard and in the way that they would wish them to be. Vangelis had never had to do this since his beginning years in the Red Knights. There, he had hovered like a harpy, determined to see every man expelling every effort during every second of his service. He set his expectations and his standards. And by the time his command stretched across more than one militia, he was well known for his mechanics and the successes that they yielded.
His methods were perfectly simple. He gave a command. If the subordinate set to carry that command out, needed support in understanding it or wanted more detail, he would provide it. If they failed to ask for it, did not complete the task given and had no valid excuse as to why they had carried it out outside of the boundaries and expectations of himself, they were forced to resign from the military. It was that simple.
Vangelis did not mind learning. He did not mind mistakes. That was the way of humans. But if there had been the chance for a mistake not to be made and it had not been taken, due to arrogance, pride or incompetence, then there was no second chance. You were removed from your position, sent home with a small severance package and instructed to take up work in another field. The military could not afford men that had a tendency to lean too far towards ego or lack of care.
As such, Vangelis was able to leave his men to their own training and devices. His command was clear in the way that Maleos did not accept a lazing moment on Taengean soil but immediately put his men to work. It was in the way his soldiers jumped to start filling the ships as if Hades himself was on their tails. There was no outward sign of why they should hurry, no officer with a whip at their backs. But they moved as quickly and efficiently as possible, knowing that their General did not accept responsibilities taking longer than necessary.
So, when the Lady Dorothea asked if he wished to stretch his feet, Vangelis was at the liberty to accept the offer and walk with her a little around the docklands. He offered out a hand at her suggestion, his gesture allowing her to step forward first. He followed at her side, her towering escort.
"She is well." He answered with a nod. "A little concerned perhaps that most of her brothers will be engaged in this conflict." Her father too, but he didn't feel it was his place to suppose a fear over the king's fate in the next few months. "But otherwise strong. She practices the skills you have taught to her almost daily. I think she was half hoping to be invited to journey with us to Egypt."
This last he offered with the same calm tone, but the light shake of his head implied the humour in such an idea.
One of the benefits of being a General as devoted and fastidious as Vangelis meant that moments of reprieve were possible. Some officers of the military were forced to loiter and hover over their subordinates to ensure that their tasks or duties were completed to an appropriate standard and in the way that they would wish them to be. Vangelis had never had to do this since his beginning years in the Red Knights. There, he had hovered like a harpy, determined to see every man expelling every effort during every second of his service. He set his expectations and his standards. And by the time his command stretched across more than one militia, he was well known for his mechanics and the successes that they yielded.
His methods were perfectly simple. He gave a command. If the subordinate set to carry that command out, needed support in understanding it or wanted more detail, he would provide it. If they failed to ask for it, did not complete the task given and had no valid excuse as to why they had carried it out outside of the boundaries and expectations of himself, they were forced to resign from the military. It was that simple.
Vangelis did not mind learning. He did not mind mistakes. That was the way of humans. But if there had been the chance for a mistake not to be made and it had not been taken, due to arrogance, pride or incompetence, then there was no second chance. You were removed from your position, sent home with a small severance package and instructed to take up work in another field. The military could not afford men that had a tendency to lean too far towards ego or lack of care.
As such, Vangelis was able to leave his men to their own training and devices. His command was clear in the way that Maleos did not accept a lazing moment on Taengean soil but immediately put his men to work. It was in the way his soldiers jumped to start filling the ships as if Hades himself was on their tails. There was no outward sign of why they should hurry, no officer with a whip at their backs. But they moved as quickly and efficiently as possible, knowing that their General did not accept responsibilities taking longer than necessary.
So, when the Lady Dorothea asked if he wished to stretch his feet, Vangelis was at the liberty to accept the offer and walk with her a little around the docklands. He offered out a hand at her suggestion, his gesture allowing her to step forward first. He followed at her side, her towering escort.
"She is well." He answered with a nod. "A little concerned perhaps that most of her brothers will be engaged in this conflict." Her father too, but he didn't feel it was his place to suppose a fear over the king's fate in the next few months. "But otherwise strong. She practices the skills you have taught to her almost daily. I think she was half hoping to be invited to journey with us to Egypt."
This last he offered with the same calm tone, but the light shake of his head implied the humour in such an idea.
With Vangelis apparently set to go for a pleasant stroll with whomever he was chatting, Sil was not particularly keen on lingering in present company. He hadn’t been tasked with anything, in particular, so he figured maybe he was just..free? The idea was a pleasant one after two weeks in such close quarters with a bunch of soldiers, the Crown Prince and the King.
The Valaoritis Lord shot a look at the monarch’s broad back, decided he didn't want to accidentally end up running around after King Tython for the day and given that no-one seemed to be paying a lot of attention to him, he thought he could just slide away. With one last glance toward Vangelis who clearly didn’t need him, it was the sound of his name in a familiar voice that turned his head.
Frowning a little, the Lord’s expression faltered a little when his gaze landed upon the one who’d hailed him. The briefest of hesitations before his standard, slightly lop-sided grin was in place instead, and Silanos wandered over toward where Eleni stood. As he walked, he realised he’d been dumb not to think about the chances of seeing her here. It was good to see her face.
"Truly Me" he drawled as he drew closer, letting his gaze wander over her. She was beautiful as always, the few months since he had seen her had not changed that. But as Silanos stood before her, there was a cautionary note winding its way through his thoughts, one that he’d grown too used to ignoring.
Standing before her, he was undoubtedly the same, and yet somehow different. A little bulkier perhaps, since his days now comprised physical training that he would have scoffed at before. His eyes were clearer, less shadowed, features cut that little bit sharper without the bloat of too much wine, and too much everything. Silanos had never been good at drawing his own boundaries: it seemed it suited him having them drawn at a level he couldn’t refuse. Not that the blonde would know the circumstances that led to the subtle changes she could see.
Eleni had been the first friend he’d made in Taengea, almost the moment he’d climbed off the boat. And she’d been great company, fun and flirty and more than capable of pointing him toward the vast array of delights that her home had to offer. They’d shared wine, and a bed and some more in-between. Somewhere, in amongst the poppy and the excesses, Sil had thought maybe there was more, had his fingers burnt when Eleni left him in no doubt that wasn’t the case. It still stung a little.
“How’ve you been?” he asked, pulling her in for a hug anyway, closer than was proper for just friends but then they’d never been that. Breathing in, the scent of her was sharply familiar, flowers and spice, and Silanos let go a little abruptly and stepped back. He hadn’t written. Colchis had offered its own distractions once he’d gotten home, and then..well, he’d found himself with more pressing issues to deal with. But seeing her again made him realise that had been callous maybe. Or perhaps she didn’t care?
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With Vangelis apparently set to go for a pleasant stroll with whomever he was chatting, Sil was not particularly keen on lingering in present company. He hadn’t been tasked with anything, in particular, so he figured maybe he was just..free? The idea was a pleasant one after two weeks in such close quarters with a bunch of soldiers, the Crown Prince and the King.
The Valaoritis Lord shot a look at the monarch’s broad back, decided he didn't want to accidentally end up running around after King Tython for the day and given that no-one seemed to be paying a lot of attention to him, he thought he could just slide away. With one last glance toward Vangelis who clearly didn’t need him, it was the sound of his name in a familiar voice that turned his head.
Frowning a little, the Lord’s expression faltered a little when his gaze landed upon the one who’d hailed him. The briefest of hesitations before his standard, slightly lop-sided grin was in place instead, and Silanos wandered over toward where Eleni stood. As he walked, he realised he’d been dumb not to think about the chances of seeing her here. It was good to see her face.
"Truly Me" he drawled as he drew closer, letting his gaze wander over her. She was beautiful as always, the few months since he had seen her had not changed that. But as Silanos stood before her, there was a cautionary note winding its way through his thoughts, one that he’d grown too used to ignoring.
Standing before her, he was undoubtedly the same, and yet somehow different. A little bulkier perhaps, since his days now comprised physical training that he would have scoffed at before. His eyes were clearer, less shadowed, features cut that little bit sharper without the bloat of too much wine, and too much everything. Silanos had never been good at drawing his own boundaries: it seemed it suited him having them drawn at a level he couldn’t refuse. Not that the blonde would know the circumstances that led to the subtle changes she could see.
Eleni had been the first friend he’d made in Taengea, almost the moment he’d climbed off the boat. And she’d been great company, fun and flirty and more than capable of pointing him toward the vast array of delights that her home had to offer. They’d shared wine, and a bed and some more in-between. Somewhere, in amongst the poppy and the excesses, Sil had thought maybe there was more, had his fingers burnt when Eleni left him in no doubt that wasn’t the case. It still stung a little.
“How’ve you been?” he asked, pulling her in for a hug anyway, closer than was proper for just friends but then they’d never been that. Breathing in, the scent of her was sharply familiar, flowers and spice, and Silanos let go a little abruptly and stepped back. He hadn’t written. Colchis had offered its own distractions once he’d gotten home, and then..well, he’d found himself with more pressing issues to deal with. But seeing her again made him realise that had been callous maybe. Or perhaps she didn’t care?
With Vangelis apparently set to go for a pleasant stroll with whomever he was chatting, Sil was not particularly keen on lingering in present company. He hadn’t been tasked with anything, in particular, so he figured maybe he was just..free? The idea was a pleasant one after two weeks in such close quarters with a bunch of soldiers, the Crown Prince and the King.
The Valaoritis Lord shot a look at the monarch’s broad back, decided he didn't want to accidentally end up running around after King Tython for the day and given that no-one seemed to be paying a lot of attention to him, he thought he could just slide away. With one last glance toward Vangelis who clearly didn’t need him, it was the sound of his name in a familiar voice that turned his head.
Frowning a little, the Lord’s expression faltered a little when his gaze landed upon the one who’d hailed him. The briefest of hesitations before his standard, slightly lop-sided grin was in place instead, and Silanos wandered over toward where Eleni stood. As he walked, he realised he’d been dumb not to think about the chances of seeing her here. It was good to see her face.
"Truly Me" he drawled as he drew closer, letting his gaze wander over her. She was beautiful as always, the few months since he had seen her had not changed that. But as Silanos stood before her, there was a cautionary note winding its way through his thoughts, one that he’d grown too used to ignoring.
Standing before her, he was undoubtedly the same, and yet somehow different. A little bulkier perhaps, since his days now comprised physical training that he would have scoffed at before. His eyes were clearer, less shadowed, features cut that little bit sharper without the bloat of too much wine, and too much everything. Silanos had never been good at drawing his own boundaries: it seemed it suited him having them drawn at a level he couldn’t refuse. Not that the blonde would know the circumstances that led to the subtle changes she could see.
Eleni had been the first friend he’d made in Taengea, almost the moment he’d climbed off the boat. And she’d been great company, fun and flirty and more than capable of pointing him toward the vast array of delights that her home had to offer. They’d shared wine, and a bed and some more in-between. Somewhere, in amongst the poppy and the excesses, Sil had thought maybe there was more, had his fingers burnt when Eleni left him in no doubt that wasn’t the case. It still stung a little.
“How’ve you been?” he asked, pulling her in for a hug anyway, closer than was proper for just friends but then they’d never been that. Breathing in, the scent of her was sharply familiar, flowers and spice, and Silanos let go a little abruptly and stepped back. He hadn’t written. Colchis had offered its own distractions once he’d gotten home, and then..well, he’d found himself with more pressing issues to deal with. But seeing her again made him realise that had been callous maybe. Or perhaps she didn’t care?
It went without saying that Nikolias found the meeting with the Colchians rather dull, necessary as it was. He greeted them as custom required, though he was more interested, if possible, in any actual information they might bring than in anything else. At least at the beginning of the visit, such information seemed to him to be lacking, though he did perk up a bit once he was actually ambulatory. At least the weather was pleasant enough today to make this kind of meeting almost enjoyable. He took an odd kind of pleasure in watching the others interact, even if he said little unless he was directly addressed, other than when he had to greet the King of Colchis himself. He also greeted Captain Damocles cordially, and watched the man's soldiers as he scolded them. Privately, he winced for the young people, remembering his own youth, when it seemed like he was capable of even less than it seemed to him now, but he nodded approvingly as they did seem to be a well-organized and competent unit. Now we'll get somewhere! he thought. With bold commanders like Damocles, how was it possible that Greece could lose the war? If nothing else, he felt more assured of their victory now than he had been. Not that he should doubt the capabilities of the Grecian army, but the Egyptians were seemingly always formidable foes, and with Taengea in the state it had been before King Achilleas left, Nikolias could not help but feel that, collectively, Greece could not handle any more losses. Perhaps they wouldn't have to, if more men like Damocles existed, and the war could be over with faster and more decisively than anyone might have anticipated.
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It went without saying that Nikolias found the meeting with the Colchians rather dull, necessary as it was. He greeted them as custom required, though he was more interested, if possible, in any actual information they might bring than in anything else. At least at the beginning of the visit, such information seemed to him to be lacking, though he did perk up a bit once he was actually ambulatory. At least the weather was pleasant enough today to make this kind of meeting almost enjoyable. He took an odd kind of pleasure in watching the others interact, even if he said little unless he was directly addressed, other than when he had to greet the King of Colchis himself. He also greeted Captain Damocles cordially, and watched the man's soldiers as he scolded them. Privately, he winced for the young people, remembering his own youth, when it seemed like he was capable of even less than it seemed to him now, but he nodded approvingly as they did seem to be a well-organized and competent unit. Now we'll get somewhere! he thought. With bold commanders like Damocles, how was it possible that Greece could lose the war? If nothing else, he felt more assured of their victory now than he had been. Not that he should doubt the capabilities of the Grecian army, but the Egyptians were seemingly always formidable foes, and with Taengea in the state it had been before King Achilleas left, Nikolias could not help but feel that, collectively, Greece could not handle any more losses. Perhaps they wouldn't have to, if more men like Damocles existed, and the war could be over with faster and more decisively than anyone might have anticipated.
It went without saying that Nikolias found the meeting with the Colchians rather dull, necessary as it was. He greeted them as custom required, though he was more interested, if possible, in any actual information they might bring than in anything else. At least at the beginning of the visit, such information seemed to him to be lacking, though he did perk up a bit once he was actually ambulatory. At least the weather was pleasant enough today to make this kind of meeting almost enjoyable. He took an odd kind of pleasure in watching the others interact, even if he said little unless he was directly addressed, other than when he had to greet the King of Colchis himself. He also greeted Captain Damocles cordially, and watched the man's soldiers as he scolded them. Privately, he winced for the young people, remembering his own youth, when it seemed like he was capable of even less than it seemed to him now, but he nodded approvingly as they did seem to be a well-organized and competent unit. Now we'll get somewhere! he thought. With bold commanders like Damocles, how was it possible that Greece could lose the war? If nothing else, he felt more assured of their victory now than he had been. Not that he should doubt the capabilities of the Grecian army, but the Egyptians were seemingly always formidable foes, and with Taengea in the state it had been before King Achilleas left, Nikolias could not help but feel that, collectively, Greece could not handle any more losses. Perhaps they wouldn't have to, if more men like Damocles existed, and the war could be over with faster and more decisively than anyone might have anticipated.
Eleni almost couldn’t believe it was truly him standing before her. She saw the moment his eyes lit with recognition - and the slight hesitation that followed. But it was so brief before being replaced by that lop-sided smile she was so fond of that she convinced herself that she had imagined it. It had been shock at most. Of course he was happy to see her. They had parted on good terms, even if his departure had been sudden.
Her own smile grew wider as he drew closer, closing more of the distance between them, confirming that her eyes were not lying to her. For a moment, she could only stare, noting the subtle changes in him. His features seemed sharper now. She couldn’t deny that it looked good on him. It wasn’t until he pulled her into a hug that she noticed how much more defined his body truly was. He had always been on the softer side before - the body of someone who lived in luxury rather than hard work.
All thought of propriety was long gone as they embraced. She held him tightly, burying her face into his shoulder, breathing him in. He pulled back suddenly, sooner than she might have liked, but then again, they were standing in a crowd. She faltered slightly as she stepped back, a slight flush on her face. Just his presence brought back an onslaught of memories she had been trying far too hard to forget.
They’d spent the bulk of two years together after all. There was no denying they’d been more than friends - after all, friends didn’t typically find themselves naked together with the frequency they had. But things had always been casual. Though that had proven a feat in and of itself. There was something about him that pulled at her, that made her imagine something more than just sex with him. So she’d pushed him away, putting that distance between them that kept them both safe. Yet she could never stay away for long. They were so alike - being with him felt easy. Dangerously so at times.
Perhaps she had never fully admitted it to herself, but she knew they could have been more, if only she wasn’t so broken.
It was then that she realized she’d been staring at him in mute silence. “Oh, you know,” she answered with a half-hearted shrug. “It’s been rather dull without you these past few months, if I’m being honest.” It was the closest she could come to admitting that she had missed him. And it was the truth, though her nights had recently become more eventful since she had gone to Nikos’s bed. A sudden rush of guilt flooded through her, even as she sought to push it aside.
He’d come back to Taengea and the rest no longer mattered.
“I’m sure all that will change now that you’re back though,” she continued with a bright smile. “You know you didn’t have to wait to hitch a ride on a war ship though, right?” It never occurred to her that perhaps he was on that particular ship for a reason. After all, Silanos was many things, but a soldier was not one of them by any means. She barely paused before continuing. “What do you want to do first? Food perhaps? I seem to recall you don’t like the boat cuisine. Oh, or the bathhouse maybe. That is something of a tradition for celebrating your arrival to our shores after all.”
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Eleni almost couldn’t believe it was truly him standing before her. She saw the moment his eyes lit with recognition - and the slight hesitation that followed. But it was so brief before being replaced by that lop-sided smile she was so fond of that she convinced herself that she had imagined it. It had been shock at most. Of course he was happy to see her. They had parted on good terms, even if his departure had been sudden.
Her own smile grew wider as he drew closer, closing more of the distance between them, confirming that her eyes were not lying to her. For a moment, she could only stare, noting the subtle changes in him. His features seemed sharper now. She couldn’t deny that it looked good on him. It wasn’t until he pulled her into a hug that she noticed how much more defined his body truly was. He had always been on the softer side before - the body of someone who lived in luxury rather than hard work.
All thought of propriety was long gone as they embraced. She held him tightly, burying her face into his shoulder, breathing him in. He pulled back suddenly, sooner than she might have liked, but then again, they were standing in a crowd. She faltered slightly as she stepped back, a slight flush on her face. Just his presence brought back an onslaught of memories she had been trying far too hard to forget.
They’d spent the bulk of two years together after all. There was no denying they’d been more than friends - after all, friends didn’t typically find themselves naked together with the frequency they had. But things had always been casual. Though that had proven a feat in and of itself. There was something about him that pulled at her, that made her imagine something more than just sex with him. So she’d pushed him away, putting that distance between them that kept them both safe. Yet she could never stay away for long. They were so alike - being with him felt easy. Dangerously so at times.
Perhaps she had never fully admitted it to herself, but she knew they could have been more, if only she wasn’t so broken.
It was then that she realized she’d been staring at him in mute silence. “Oh, you know,” she answered with a half-hearted shrug. “It’s been rather dull without you these past few months, if I’m being honest.” It was the closest she could come to admitting that she had missed him. And it was the truth, though her nights had recently become more eventful since she had gone to Nikos’s bed. A sudden rush of guilt flooded through her, even as she sought to push it aside.
He’d come back to Taengea and the rest no longer mattered.
“I’m sure all that will change now that you’re back though,” she continued with a bright smile. “You know you didn’t have to wait to hitch a ride on a war ship though, right?” It never occurred to her that perhaps he was on that particular ship for a reason. After all, Silanos was many things, but a soldier was not one of them by any means. She barely paused before continuing. “What do you want to do first? Food perhaps? I seem to recall you don’t like the boat cuisine. Oh, or the bathhouse maybe. That is something of a tradition for celebrating your arrival to our shores after all.”
Eleni almost couldn’t believe it was truly him standing before her. She saw the moment his eyes lit with recognition - and the slight hesitation that followed. But it was so brief before being replaced by that lop-sided smile she was so fond of that she convinced herself that she had imagined it. It had been shock at most. Of course he was happy to see her. They had parted on good terms, even if his departure had been sudden.
Her own smile grew wider as he drew closer, closing more of the distance between them, confirming that her eyes were not lying to her. For a moment, she could only stare, noting the subtle changes in him. His features seemed sharper now. She couldn’t deny that it looked good on him. It wasn’t until he pulled her into a hug that she noticed how much more defined his body truly was. He had always been on the softer side before - the body of someone who lived in luxury rather than hard work.
All thought of propriety was long gone as they embraced. She held him tightly, burying her face into his shoulder, breathing him in. He pulled back suddenly, sooner than she might have liked, but then again, they were standing in a crowd. She faltered slightly as she stepped back, a slight flush on her face. Just his presence brought back an onslaught of memories she had been trying far too hard to forget.
They’d spent the bulk of two years together after all. There was no denying they’d been more than friends - after all, friends didn’t typically find themselves naked together with the frequency they had. But things had always been casual. Though that had proven a feat in and of itself. There was something about him that pulled at her, that made her imagine something more than just sex with him. So she’d pushed him away, putting that distance between them that kept them both safe. Yet she could never stay away for long. They were so alike - being with him felt easy. Dangerously so at times.
Perhaps she had never fully admitted it to herself, but she knew they could have been more, if only she wasn’t so broken.
It was then that she realized she’d been staring at him in mute silence. “Oh, you know,” she answered with a half-hearted shrug. “It’s been rather dull without you these past few months, if I’m being honest.” It was the closest she could come to admitting that she had missed him. And it was the truth, though her nights had recently become more eventful since she had gone to Nikos’s bed. A sudden rush of guilt flooded through her, even as she sought to push it aside.
He’d come back to Taengea and the rest no longer mattered.
“I’m sure all that will change now that you’re back though,” she continued with a bright smile. “You know you didn’t have to wait to hitch a ride on a war ship though, right?” It never occurred to her that perhaps he was on that particular ship for a reason. After all, Silanos was many things, but a soldier was not one of them by any means. She barely paused before continuing. “What do you want to do first? Food perhaps? I seem to recall you don’t like the boat cuisine. Oh, or the bathhouse maybe. That is something of a tradition for celebrating your arrival to our shores after all.”
Dorothea was pleasantly surprised when her cousin indicated that he could take a walk with her. She was sure that after such a long trip it might be nice for him to stretch his legs a bit. She just wasn’t sure if protocol bound him to stay behind. Though, the young woman supposed that he had men below him that directly supervised the others. It would be nice to have a conversation, even if it was short. Dorothea had found those in short supply lately.
The pair set off around the docks, not heading anywhere in particular. Dorothea wasn’t innately familiar with the area and she supposed that there was nothing extremely notable around either. Besides, she figured neither of them were all that interested in the sights.
She was pleased to hear about her young cousin and pupil. Dorothea had both grown fond of the young woman and her skills with the bow. She was a formidable archer and a part of Dorothea thought that she probably was a bit jealous of her brothers too. Both of them were as good as any archers in the king’s army. They would hold their own just fine. Vangelis confirmed her thoughts a moment later when he said Asia had been hoping to be invited to Egypt.
Dorothea ventured a smile at that thought, though she politely disagreed with her cousin. She had hoped to have proven to him that women were just as strong as men, but perhaps that didn’t extend to his sister.
“She would have been a valuable asset,” Dorothea said lightly. “She is more than talented. She works hard, too. I am pleased to hear that she continues to practice daily.” Dorothea could not pretend to have such a high stake in this war, however. Her father and uncle would remain at home and her brother was in Athenia. That was another conflict for her to worry about, but there was not much she could do about that situation. Perhaps like the current situation with Egypt, though perhaps not. Dorothea would be lying if she said she hadn’t thought about joining the fight. It would be a chance to prove her worth and do something of meaning. Though, Vangelis’ reaction to his sister joining him stopped Dorothea short of saying anything. She sensed he would have a similar reaction.
“I am sure she is quite concerned about most of her family fighting. It is not a good feeling to be left behind,” she meant some of that from her own experience. “May the gods protect you all.” And their skills, she added silently. They were talented, but that couldn’t account for everything.
“How long will you stay in Taengea?” she asked casually. Dorothea found herself curious about their plans. Vangelis’ casual dismissal of his sister joining the fight sparked something in her. Something that had been brewing for some time, but was brought to the forefront of her mind once again. A short time would tell if she would act, but she wanted to be prepared if she did.
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Dorothea was pleasantly surprised when her cousin indicated that he could take a walk with her. She was sure that after such a long trip it might be nice for him to stretch his legs a bit. She just wasn’t sure if protocol bound him to stay behind. Though, the young woman supposed that he had men below him that directly supervised the others. It would be nice to have a conversation, even if it was short. Dorothea had found those in short supply lately.
The pair set off around the docks, not heading anywhere in particular. Dorothea wasn’t innately familiar with the area and she supposed that there was nothing extremely notable around either. Besides, she figured neither of them were all that interested in the sights.
She was pleased to hear about her young cousin and pupil. Dorothea had both grown fond of the young woman and her skills with the bow. She was a formidable archer and a part of Dorothea thought that she probably was a bit jealous of her brothers too. Both of them were as good as any archers in the king’s army. They would hold their own just fine. Vangelis confirmed her thoughts a moment later when he said Asia had been hoping to be invited to Egypt.
Dorothea ventured a smile at that thought, though she politely disagreed with her cousin. She had hoped to have proven to him that women were just as strong as men, but perhaps that didn’t extend to his sister.
“She would have been a valuable asset,” Dorothea said lightly. “She is more than talented. She works hard, too. I am pleased to hear that she continues to practice daily.” Dorothea could not pretend to have such a high stake in this war, however. Her father and uncle would remain at home and her brother was in Athenia. That was another conflict for her to worry about, but there was not much she could do about that situation. Perhaps like the current situation with Egypt, though perhaps not. Dorothea would be lying if she said she hadn’t thought about joining the fight. It would be a chance to prove her worth and do something of meaning. Though, Vangelis’ reaction to his sister joining him stopped Dorothea short of saying anything. She sensed he would have a similar reaction.
“I am sure she is quite concerned about most of her family fighting. It is not a good feeling to be left behind,” she meant some of that from her own experience. “May the gods protect you all.” And their skills, she added silently. They were talented, but that couldn’t account for everything.
“How long will you stay in Taengea?” she asked casually. Dorothea found herself curious about their plans. Vangelis’ casual dismissal of his sister joining the fight sparked something in her. Something that had been brewing for some time, but was brought to the forefront of her mind once again. A short time would tell if she would act, but she wanted to be prepared if she did.
Dorothea was pleasantly surprised when her cousin indicated that he could take a walk with her. She was sure that after such a long trip it might be nice for him to stretch his legs a bit. She just wasn’t sure if protocol bound him to stay behind. Though, the young woman supposed that he had men below him that directly supervised the others. It would be nice to have a conversation, even if it was short. Dorothea had found those in short supply lately.
The pair set off around the docks, not heading anywhere in particular. Dorothea wasn’t innately familiar with the area and she supposed that there was nothing extremely notable around either. Besides, she figured neither of them were all that interested in the sights.
She was pleased to hear about her young cousin and pupil. Dorothea had both grown fond of the young woman and her skills with the bow. She was a formidable archer and a part of Dorothea thought that she probably was a bit jealous of her brothers too. Both of them were as good as any archers in the king’s army. They would hold their own just fine. Vangelis confirmed her thoughts a moment later when he said Asia had been hoping to be invited to Egypt.
Dorothea ventured a smile at that thought, though she politely disagreed with her cousin. She had hoped to have proven to him that women were just as strong as men, but perhaps that didn’t extend to his sister.
“She would have been a valuable asset,” Dorothea said lightly. “She is more than talented. She works hard, too. I am pleased to hear that she continues to practice daily.” Dorothea could not pretend to have such a high stake in this war, however. Her father and uncle would remain at home and her brother was in Athenia. That was another conflict for her to worry about, but there was not much she could do about that situation. Perhaps like the current situation with Egypt, though perhaps not. Dorothea would be lying if she said she hadn’t thought about joining the fight. It would be a chance to prove her worth and do something of meaning. Though, Vangelis’ reaction to his sister joining him stopped Dorothea short of saying anything. She sensed he would have a similar reaction.
“I am sure she is quite concerned about most of her family fighting. It is not a good feeling to be left behind,” she meant some of that from her own experience. “May the gods protect you all.” And their skills, she added silently. They were talented, but that couldn’t account for everything.
“How long will you stay in Taengea?” she asked casually. Dorothea found herself curious about their plans. Vangelis’ casual dismissal of his sister joining the fight sparked something in her. Something that had been brewing for some time, but was brought to the forefront of her mind once again. A short time would tell if she would act, but she wanted to be prepared if she did.
Dressed distinctly in a chiton of COndos blue and a rose red himation draped over his shoulders and pinned in place by the rose emblem of House Condos, the young baron rode his white steed fast through the city. Nikos cursed under his breath as he dismounted his horse upon reaching the beach where the Colchian ships were docked. He'd been writing missives to his officers and advisors who were over seeing things back in Doralis. Nikos had been in the capitol for weeks, doing his best to help his father with duties regarding the wall and preparations for protecting Vasiliadon. As such, he'd received word that the ships had arrived a little late - it seemed many nobles and even the Queen had reached the beach before the Condos lord.
Leaving the reigns of his steed in the hands of the servant that had accompanied him, Nikos approached the group, bowing in respect to King Tython and Prince Vangelis. He kept quiet though, as the conversations were already under way. Nik scanned the beach, taking note of the soldiers running drills along the shore, and of a few other people scattered around the area. That's when his gaze fell upon two familiar figures. Eleni and Silanos. Nikos excused himself from the small gathering with a nod to each - particularly his father - and sauntered over to where his friends were greeting each other. Let the other lords deal with matters of war. While Nikos of Condos was not ignorant of the importance of the event happening on the beach, nor of military strategies, he was by no means an expert. There were already enough royals and nobles present. His skills were better suited ingratiating himself with those that could appreciate the attention.
"Lord Silanos! What a surprise. I was not expecting you to be among the war ships, my friend." A cheerful smile was on his face, truely happy to see Sil back in Taengea, although Nikos did wish it were under more leisurely circumstances. He turned that wide charming grin to the blonde woman who had become quite a close friend lately. His blue eyes shone as he looked at her. "Eleni, radiant as ever. It is good to see the two of you again." Nikos made no mention, and gave no indication, that he and Eleni had been spending time together the last couple of months. He figured she wouldn't want Sil to know about that - not to mention, Nikos cared for the Colchian like a brother. There was no need to upset the balance of their friendship by revealing what happened behind closed doors.
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Dressed distinctly in a chiton of COndos blue and a rose red himation draped over his shoulders and pinned in place by the rose emblem of House Condos, the young baron rode his white steed fast through the city. Nikos cursed under his breath as he dismounted his horse upon reaching the beach where the Colchian ships were docked. He'd been writing missives to his officers and advisors who were over seeing things back in Doralis. Nikos had been in the capitol for weeks, doing his best to help his father with duties regarding the wall and preparations for protecting Vasiliadon. As such, he'd received word that the ships had arrived a little late - it seemed many nobles and even the Queen had reached the beach before the Condos lord.
Leaving the reigns of his steed in the hands of the servant that had accompanied him, Nikos approached the group, bowing in respect to King Tython and Prince Vangelis. He kept quiet though, as the conversations were already under way. Nik scanned the beach, taking note of the soldiers running drills along the shore, and of a few other people scattered around the area. That's when his gaze fell upon two familiar figures. Eleni and Silanos. Nikos excused himself from the small gathering with a nod to each - particularly his father - and sauntered over to where his friends were greeting each other. Let the other lords deal with matters of war. While Nikos of Condos was not ignorant of the importance of the event happening on the beach, nor of military strategies, he was by no means an expert. There were already enough royals and nobles present. His skills were better suited ingratiating himself with those that could appreciate the attention.
"Lord Silanos! What a surprise. I was not expecting you to be among the war ships, my friend." A cheerful smile was on his face, truely happy to see Sil back in Taengea, although Nikos did wish it were under more leisurely circumstances. He turned that wide charming grin to the blonde woman who had become quite a close friend lately. His blue eyes shone as he looked at her. "Eleni, radiant as ever. It is good to see the two of you again." Nikos made no mention, and gave no indication, that he and Eleni had been spending time together the last couple of months. He figured she wouldn't want Sil to know about that - not to mention, Nikos cared for the Colchian like a brother. There was no need to upset the balance of their friendship by revealing what happened behind closed doors.
Dressed distinctly in a chiton of COndos blue and a rose red himation draped over his shoulders and pinned in place by the rose emblem of House Condos, the young baron rode his white steed fast through the city. Nikos cursed under his breath as he dismounted his horse upon reaching the beach where the Colchian ships were docked. He'd been writing missives to his officers and advisors who were over seeing things back in Doralis. Nikos had been in the capitol for weeks, doing his best to help his father with duties regarding the wall and preparations for protecting Vasiliadon. As such, he'd received word that the ships had arrived a little late - it seemed many nobles and even the Queen had reached the beach before the Condos lord.
Leaving the reigns of his steed in the hands of the servant that had accompanied him, Nikos approached the group, bowing in respect to King Tython and Prince Vangelis. He kept quiet though, as the conversations were already under way. Nik scanned the beach, taking note of the soldiers running drills along the shore, and of a few other people scattered around the area. That's when his gaze fell upon two familiar figures. Eleni and Silanos. Nikos excused himself from the small gathering with a nod to each - particularly his father - and sauntered over to where his friends were greeting each other. Let the other lords deal with matters of war. While Nikos of Condos was not ignorant of the importance of the event happening on the beach, nor of military strategies, he was by no means an expert. There were already enough royals and nobles present. His skills were better suited ingratiating himself with those that could appreciate the attention.
"Lord Silanos! What a surprise. I was not expecting you to be among the war ships, my friend." A cheerful smile was on his face, truely happy to see Sil back in Taengea, although Nikos did wish it were under more leisurely circumstances. He turned that wide charming grin to the blonde woman who had become quite a close friend lately. His blue eyes shone as he looked at her. "Eleni, radiant as ever. It is good to see the two of you again." Nikos made no mention, and gave no indication, that he and Eleni had been spending time together the last couple of months. He figured she wouldn't want Sil to know about that - not to mention, Nikos cared for the Colchian like a brother. There was no need to upset the balance of their friendship by revealing what happened behind closed doors.
Vangelis was ignorant of Dorothea's consideration of his own judgment of the sexes. He hadn't restrained or stopped Athanasia from going to Egypt because she was female, but because she was both his sister and the princess of the nation. It was one thing to have almost all of your male heirs subject the trials and dangers of war. It was another entirely to send your only daughter into battle. Vangelis was perfectly confident that Tython would never allow such a thing to happen. Despite the whole of the Kotas clan encouraging Athanasia (more or less) in her more aggressive and exciting hobbies, not a single one of them would permit her to get a papercut should they be given the choice. There was no way on the Gods' divine earth that she was going to be headed to war with any of them. Instead, she had been resigned and applied to their mother's teachings on how to be an appropriate noble lady. Her bow, though respected in its skill, was to be set aside and she was to use more powerful tools of influence in the Court and Senate. Athanasia had the potential to be a great leader of people if she just stopped trying to follow her brothers around down their paths in life.
Instead of noticing Dorothea's disapproval of this division of expectations between the genders in the Kotas family, Vangelis nodded in agreement with her statement that Asia would have been an aid to the war effort.
"She would have been an asset of sorts." He accepted, as they walked along the street. Several merchants tried to entice them in to see their wares but they passed by most of them. Vangelis stopped only momentarily to click a coin of bronze at a man in exchange for a few apples before offering one to Dorothea. "She is skilled with a bow and I have a dependable archery unit of women in my command for this campaign. She would have done well there, I do not doubt." He looked towards Dorothea with a side-eyed glance, knowing that she too possessed a little sister. "But would you see Alexa off to war with any degree of comfort?" He challenged.
As they wandered along, Dorothea spoke of Athanasia's fear and concerns over her family going to war. To this, Vangelis also nodded, but his words were hedged and more quantifying. He offered a more balanced view of sorts.
"I suspect the fear is there as it always is for those who are left behind to wonder about brothers and husbands." He offered, showing a sense of respect for those that suffered the war in their own way, back in their homelands. "But the Kotas are a military family. It is near an impossibility that one of us will not be away at war at any one time. So, perhaps the fear is more a familiarity of life than a new terror."
Having a small bit of pewter change from the purchase of the apple, Vangelis spotted a man sitting in a doorway. He appeared to have no shoes and was clearly without a home. He flicked the coin with the nail of his thumb. It flew high and then landed in his blanketed lap. Vangelis didn't glance back upon the action - he just continued walking.
When Dorothea asked how long he was planning on staying in Taengea, Vangelis turned a corner down a different street, created an arch to their walk that would gradually lead them back to his own ships and the duties that awaited his attentions there. He was clear in how he answered, his knowledge of his future voyage and war campaign stamped upon his memory by rote and focus.
"We'll not be here longer than a sun's cycle. We'll likely be gone by morning." He stated simply. "We're only here to resupply the most essential items and then sail as soon as possible to support your king in his efforts to the south."
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Vangelis was ignorant of Dorothea's consideration of his own judgment of the sexes. He hadn't restrained or stopped Athanasia from going to Egypt because she was female, but because she was both his sister and the princess of the nation. It was one thing to have almost all of your male heirs subject the trials and dangers of war. It was another entirely to send your only daughter into battle. Vangelis was perfectly confident that Tython would never allow such a thing to happen. Despite the whole of the Kotas clan encouraging Athanasia (more or less) in her more aggressive and exciting hobbies, not a single one of them would permit her to get a papercut should they be given the choice. There was no way on the Gods' divine earth that she was going to be headed to war with any of them. Instead, she had been resigned and applied to their mother's teachings on how to be an appropriate noble lady. Her bow, though respected in its skill, was to be set aside and she was to use more powerful tools of influence in the Court and Senate. Athanasia had the potential to be a great leader of people if she just stopped trying to follow her brothers around down their paths in life.
Instead of noticing Dorothea's disapproval of this division of expectations between the genders in the Kotas family, Vangelis nodded in agreement with her statement that Asia would have been an aid to the war effort.
"She would have been an asset of sorts." He accepted, as they walked along the street. Several merchants tried to entice them in to see their wares but they passed by most of them. Vangelis stopped only momentarily to click a coin of bronze at a man in exchange for a few apples before offering one to Dorothea. "She is skilled with a bow and I have a dependable archery unit of women in my command for this campaign. She would have done well there, I do not doubt." He looked towards Dorothea with a side-eyed glance, knowing that she too possessed a little sister. "But would you see Alexa off to war with any degree of comfort?" He challenged.
As they wandered along, Dorothea spoke of Athanasia's fear and concerns over her family going to war. To this, Vangelis also nodded, but his words were hedged and more quantifying. He offered a more balanced view of sorts.
"I suspect the fear is there as it always is for those who are left behind to wonder about brothers and husbands." He offered, showing a sense of respect for those that suffered the war in their own way, back in their homelands. "But the Kotas are a military family. It is near an impossibility that one of us will not be away at war at any one time. So, perhaps the fear is more a familiarity of life than a new terror."
Having a small bit of pewter change from the purchase of the apple, Vangelis spotted a man sitting in a doorway. He appeared to have no shoes and was clearly without a home. He flicked the coin with the nail of his thumb. It flew high and then landed in his blanketed lap. Vangelis didn't glance back upon the action - he just continued walking.
When Dorothea asked how long he was planning on staying in Taengea, Vangelis turned a corner down a different street, created an arch to their walk that would gradually lead them back to his own ships and the duties that awaited his attentions there. He was clear in how he answered, his knowledge of his future voyage and war campaign stamped upon his memory by rote and focus.
"We'll not be here longer than a sun's cycle. We'll likely be gone by morning." He stated simply. "We're only here to resupply the most essential items and then sail as soon as possible to support your king in his efforts to the south."
Vangelis was ignorant of Dorothea's consideration of his own judgment of the sexes. He hadn't restrained or stopped Athanasia from going to Egypt because she was female, but because she was both his sister and the princess of the nation. It was one thing to have almost all of your male heirs subject the trials and dangers of war. It was another entirely to send your only daughter into battle. Vangelis was perfectly confident that Tython would never allow such a thing to happen. Despite the whole of the Kotas clan encouraging Athanasia (more or less) in her more aggressive and exciting hobbies, not a single one of them would permit her to get a papercut should they be given the choice. There was no way on the Gods' divine earth that she was going to be headed to war with any of them. Instead, she had been resigned and applied to their mother's teachings on how to be an appropriate noble lady. Her bow, though respected in its skill, was to be set aside and she was to use more powerful tools of influence in the Court and Senate. Athanasia had the potential to be a great leader of people if she just stopped trying to follow her brothers around down their paths in life.
Instead of noticing Dorothea's disapproval of this division of expectations between the genders in the Kotas family, Vangelis nodded in agreement with her statement that Asia would have been an aid to the war effort.
"She would have been an asset of sorts." He accepted, as they walked along the street. Several merchants tried to entice them in to see their wares but they passed by most of them. Vangelis stopped only momentarily to click a coin of bronze at a man in exchange for a few apples before offering one to Dorothea. "She is skilled with a bow and I have a dependable archery unit of women in my command for this campaign. She would have done well there, I do not doubt." He looked towards Dorothea with a side-eyed glance, knowing that she too possessed a little sister. "But would you see Alexa off to war with any degree of comfort?" He challenged.
As they wandered along, Dorothea spoke of Athanasia's fear and concerns over her family going to war. To this, Vangelis also nodded, but his words were hedged and more quantifying. He offered a more balanced view of sorts.
"I suspect the fear is there as it always is for those who are left behind to wonder about brothers and husbands." He offered, showing a sense of respect for those that suffered the war in their own way, back in their homelands. "But the Kotas are a military family. It is near an impossibility that one of us will not be away at war at any one time. So, perhaps the fear is more a familiarity of life than a new terror."
Having a small bit of pewter change from the purchase of the apple, Vangelis spotted a man sitting in a doorway. He appeared to have no shoes and was clearly without a home. He flicked the coin with the nail of his thumb. It flew high and then landed in his blanketed lap. Vangelis didn't glance back upon the action - he just continued walking.
When Dorothea asked how long he was planning on staying in Taengea, Vangelis turned a corner down a different street, created an arch to their walk that would gradually lead them back to his own ships and the duties that awaited his attentions there. He was clear in how he answered, his knowledge of his future voyage and war campaign stamped upon his memory by rote and focus.
"We'll not be here longer than a sun's cycle. We'll likely be gone by morning." He stated simply. "We're only here to resupply the most essential items and then sail as soon as possible to support your king in his efforts to the south."
Sil raised his brows, amusement written across his face as Eleni gawped at him. He figured maybe that was a good reaction? When she seemed to catch on to the fact that he’d asked her a question, he laughed lightly. Her answer surprised him: the blonde had never been one to tolerate dull and he found it hard to believe she hadn't found something else to amuse her in his absence, she’d made it all to clear to him that she was capable of picking up and putting down distractions as and when she wanted.
“Well, what can I say? I’m a hard act to follow” he replied, casting another glance over to where Vangelis was now walking away. He relaxed minutely, only to blink at Eleni in confusion as she went on. That she had gotten the wrong idea about his arrival became clear soon enough.
“Right yeah” The laugh was a little forced then, Silanos wondering how to explain, or if he even wanted to. The idea of sloping off to the bathhouse with her, falling back into what had become their normality when he was last in Taengea was more tempting than he could say, and for a moment, he really wanted to say yes. But Eleni had been his closest friend for many months, and he supposed he owed her some honesty at least. He didn’t have that freedom anymore, couldn’t just skip off and do whatever the fuck he wanted.
“Hey listen” he began, looking out across the water rather than at the blonde as he decided on what to say “I’m not here to…”
‘Lord Silanos! I was not expecting you to be among the warships, my friend’
Before Sil could clarify the situation for Eleni, there was another familiar face, and he couldn’t help the grin at seeing Nikos again. He clasped the man’s arm and drew him in for a hug. Though older. Nikos didn’t seem as stuck with responsibilities as some might have expected, and he lived his life in a way that Sil could appreciate. Unlike Timaeus who seemed to think that all enjoyment had to be sacrificed in favour of duty.
Still, Silanos’ own choice had been rather removed in the matter and he stepped back and looked between Eleni and Nikos and then back to the Colchian ships in the bay. “Well...I didn’t exactly expect to be here either, but circumstances conspired against me and so” he spread his arms out wide. “Here I am. Things have...uh..changed a little. I’m not staying. We’ll be sailing tomorrow I think”
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Sil raised his brows, amusement written across his face as Eleni gawped at him. He figured maybe that was a good reaction? When she seemed to catch on to the fact that he’d asked her a question, he laughed lightly. Her answer surprised him: the blonde had never been one to tolerate dull and he found it hard to believe she hadn't found something else to amuse her in his absence, she’d made it all to clear to him that she was capable of picking up and putting down distractions as and when she wanted.
“Well, what can I say? I’m a hard act to follow” he replied, casting another glance over to where Vangelis was now walking away. He relaxed minutely, only to blink at Eleni in confusion as she went on. That she had gotten the wrong idea about his arrival became clear soon enough.
“Right yeah” The laugh was a little forced then, Silanos wondering how to explain, or if he even wanted to. The idea of sloping off to the bathhouse with her, falling back into what had become their normality when he was last in Taengea was more tempting than he could say, and for a moment, he really wanted to say yes. But Eleni had been his closest friend for many months, and he supposed he owed her some honesty at least. He didn’t have that freedom anymore, couldn’t just skip off and do whatever the fuck he wanted.
“Hey listen” he began, looking out across the water rather than at the blonde as he decided on what to say “I’m not here to…”
‘Lord Silanos! I was not expecting you to be among the warships, my friend’
Before Sil could clarify the situation for Eleni, there was another familiar face, and he couldn’t help the grin at seeing Nikos again. He clasped the man’s arm and drew him in for a hug. Though older. Nikos didn’t seem as stuck with responsibilities as some might have expected, and he lived his life in a way that Sil could appreciate. Unlike Timaeus who seemed to think that all enjoyment had to be sacrificed in favour of duty.
Still, Silanos’ own choice had been rather removed in the matter and he stepped back and looked between Eleni and Nikos and then back to the Colchian ships in the bay. “Well...I didn’t exactly expect to be here either, but circumstances conspired against me and so” he spread his arms out wide. “Here I am. Things have...uh..changed a little. I’m not staying. We’ll be sailing tomorrow I think”
Sil raised his brows, amusement written across his face as Eleni gawped at him. He figured maybe that was a good reaction? When she seemed to catch on to the fact that he’d asked her a question, he laughed lightly. Her answer surprised him: the blonde had never been one to tolerate dull and he found it hard to believe she hadn't found something else to amuse her in his absence, she’d made it all to clear to him that she was capable of picking up and putting down distractions as and when she wanted.
“Well, what can I say? I’m a hard act to follow” he replied, casting another glance over to where Vangelis was now walking away. He relaxed minutely, only to blink at Eleni in confusion as she went on. That she had gotten the wrong idea about his arrival became clear soon enough.
“Right yeah” The laugh was a little forced then, Silanos wondering how to explain, or if he even wanted to. The idea of sloping off to the bathhouse with her, falling back into what had become their normality when he was last in Taengea was more tempting than he could say, and for a moment, he really wanted to say yes. But Eleni had been his closest friend for many months, and he supposed he owed her some honesty at least. He didn’t have that freedom anymore, couldn’t just skip off and do whatever the fuck he wanted.
“Hey listen” he began, looking out across the water rather than at the blonde as he decided on what to say “I’m not here to…”
‘Lord Silanos! I was not expecting you to be among the warships, my friend’
Before Sil could clarify the situation for Eleni, there was another familiar face, and he couldn’t help the grin at seeing Nikos again. He clasped the man’s arm and drew him in for a hug. Though older. Nikos didn’t seem as stuck with responsibilities as some might have expected, and he lived his life in a way that Sil could appreciate. Unlike Timaeus who seemed to think that all enjoyment had to be sacrificed in favour of duty.
Still, Silanos’ own choice had been rather removed in the matter and he stepped back and looked between Eleni and Nikos and then back to the Colchian ships in the bay. “Well...I didn’t exactly expect to be here either, but circumstances conspired against me and so” he spread his arms out wide. “Here I am. Things have...uh..changed a little. I’m not staying. We’ll be sailing tomorrow I think”
Eleni gave a small shrug with an unusually shy smile to accompany it. “There is no one else quite like you, that’s for sure,” she agreed. She may have been finding enjoyment in Nikos’s bed as of late, but he was no replacement for Sil. Not truly. And she definitely didn’t want Sil to know anything about the things that had been shared between his friends in his absence.
She didn’t recognize the confusion that her words brought him. After all, it would make no sense for him to be sailing with his country’s soldiers. He wasn’t a fighter. He had often lamented the fact that he’d been born to the wrong nation. It never occurred to her that that much could have changed in a mere four months.
“Yeah?” she said softly as he requested her attention, following his gaze out to the sea. She instantly deflated however as he continued. He wasn’t here for her. Of course. Surely he had found someone else in his time gone. He was charming, and she had found another to warm her bed as well. Even if she would always choose Sil given the chance. It didn’t mean he felt the same.
It was then that Nikos approached them. As if she wasn’t already feeling dejected enough, now she felt uncomfortable too. She was fairly certain he wouldn’t risk telling Sil that he’d tasted her in any capacity. After all, he would think he was risking Silanos’s anger. He didn’t know that she was yesterday’s news.
As the men embraced, she thought about slipping away, but Nikos greeted her, trapping her there to hear Sil’s rejection after all. She had to fight off a cringe, offering instead a polite nod, even as she took a step back from them both. "Thanks, Nikos. Good to see you as well," she answered, her voice soft and distracted. She was already mentally preparing to make an excuse as soon as she could and flee. Leave the boys to their fun and find someone to occupy her who wouldn’t remind her of either of them.
But Sil’s next words shattered every thought she had. “We?” She refused to believe it. How could she? “You can’t be going with them. They’re going to war. Why would you go to war? You’re not a soldier. There’s no reason you can’t stay.” Her hand rose to hover by her mouth, an expression of shock and horror on her face. “No reason,” she murmured, suddenly feeling as though her legs were going to give out beneath her.
She had been prepared for him to have replaced her. But not for him to be going into a war. Not for him to be facing death a sea away.
“No. It can’t be true. It can’t.”
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Eleni gave a small shrug with an unusually shy smile to accompany it. “There is no one else quite like you, that’s for sure,” she agreed. She may have been finding enjoyment in Nikos’s bed as of late, but he was no replacement for Sil. Not truly. And she definitely didn’t want Sil to know anything about the things that had been shared between his friends in his absence.
She didn’t recognize the confusion that her words brought him. After all, it would make no sense for him to be sailing with his country’s soldiers. He wasn’t a fighter. He had often lamented the fact that he’d been born to the wrong nation. It never occurred to her that that much could have changed in a mere four months.
“Yeah?” she said softly as he requested her attention, following his gaze out to the sea. She instantly deflated however as he continued. He wasn’t here for her. Of course. Surely he had found someone else in his time gone. He was charming, and she had found another to warm her bed as well. Even if she would always choose Sil given the chance. It didn’t mean he felt the same.
It was then that Nikos approached them. As if she wasn’t already feeling dejected enough, now she felt uncomfortable too. She was fairly certain he wouldn’t risk telling Sil that he’d tasted her in any capacity. After all, he would think he was risking Silanos’s anger. He didn’t know that she was yesterday’s news.
As the men embraced, she thought about slipping away, but Nikos greeted her, trapping her there to hear Sil’s rejection after all. She had to fight off a cringe, offering instead a polite nod, even as she took a step back from them both. "Thanks, Nikos. Good to see you as well," she answered, her voice soft and distracted. She was already mentally preparing to make an excuse as soon as she could and flee. Leave the boys to their fun and find someone to occupy her who wouldn’t remind her of either of them.
But Sil’s next words shattered every thought she had. “We?” She refused to believe it. How could she? “You can’t be going with them. They’re going to war. Why would you go to war? You’re not a soldier. There’s no reason you can’t stay.” Her hand rose to hover by her mouth, an expression of shock and horror on her face. “No reason,” she murmured, suddenly feeling as though her legs were going to give out beneath her.
She had been prepared for him to have replaced her. But not for him to be going into a war. Not for him to be facing death a sea away.
“No. It can’t be true. It can’t.”
Eleni gave a small shrug with an unusually shy smile to accompany it. “There is no one else quite like you, that’s for sure,” she agreed. She may have been finding enjoyment in Nikos’s bed as of late, but he was no replacement for Sil. Not truly. And she definitely didn’t want Sil to know anything about the things that had been shared between his friends in his absence.
She didn’t recognize the confusion that her words brought him. After all, it would make no sense for him to be sailing with his country’s soldiers. He wasn’t a fighter. He had often lamented the fact that he’d been born to the wrong nation. It never occurred to her that that much could have changed in a mere four months.
“Yeah?” she said softly as he requested her attention, following his gaze out to the sea. She instantly deflated however as he continued. He wasn’t here for her. Of course. Surely he had found someone else in his time gone. He was charming, and she had found another to warm her bed as well. Even if she would always choose Sil given the chance. It didn’t mean he felt the same.
It was then that Nikos approached them. As if she wasn’t already feeling dejected enough, now she felt uncomfortable too. She was fairly certain he wouldn’t risk telling Sil that he’d tasted her in any capacity. After all, he would think he was risking Silanos’s anger. He didn’t know that she was yesterday’s news.
As the men embraced, she thought about slipping away, but Nikos greeted her, trapping her there to hear Sil’s rejection after all. She had to fight off a cringe, offering instead a polite nod, even as she took a step back from them both. "Thanks, Nikos. Good to see you as well," she answered, her voice soft and distracted. She was already mentally preparing to make an excuse as soon as she could and flee. Leave the boys to their fun and find someone to occupy her who wouldn’t remind her of either of them.
But Sil’s next words shattered every thought she had. “We?” She refused to believe it. How could she? “You can’t be going with them. They’re going to war. Why would you go to war? You’re not a soldier. There’s no reason you can’t stay.” Her hand rose to hover by her mouth, an expression of shock and horror on her face. “No reason,” she murmured, suddenly feeling as though her legs were going to give out beneath her.
She had been prepared for him to have replaced her. But not for him to be going into a war. Not for him to be facing death a sea away.
“No. It can’t be true. It can’t.”
Xene herself fell into a delicate bow to the King of Colchis when he approached on the docks. Her gaze dropped to the wood beneath his feet, finding herself somewhat intimidated by his sheer size. Certainly one of the tallest and largest men she had never met in her lifetime. He seemed to tower over many of the men and women on this beach, a giant of his own kind and the princess waited until he took his leave to step beside both she and Lord Fotios in the direction of his soldiers before the princess relaxed the motion. Then her breath was pulled back into her lungs, her head turning slightly to glance behind her and toward Lord Fotios.
There was something she wished to say, but there were too many people around her. Not to mention Lord Georgios of Leventi was very close by. But her mind was on how both unfair and tormentuous it was that Lord Fotios chose to stand so close at her back. It was a respectable distance, of course, but not one that the princess could easily ignore.
However, her mind quickly shifted away from that fact as she turned to face the lords that were still lined up at her back. Her blue gaze drifted to Fotios and she lifted her chin slightly. "Is someone able to tell me where the queen is?" she asked very slowly, "And Lord Emilios? I am somewhat embarrassed that it was not her majesty that was here to greet our Colchian friends," Xene said in a tone that was too light to carry much farther past their little sphere of discussion. What little frustration she allowed to show on her features was minute. A tightening of her smile, cordial as always, and a very slight narrowing of her gaze on the nobles behind her.
"But if there is nothing further needed of me, I think I shall take a walk to soberve our Colchian soldiers," Xene finally noted after her gaze had bored first into Lord Georgios and then Lord Fotios. "Would one of you lords care to escort me?" she asked slowly, knowing which man she wished to take her about but not at all willing to reject the presence of the other Leventi lord in her company.
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Xene herself fell into a delicate bow to the King of Colchis when he approached on the docks. Her gaze dropped to the wood beneath his feet, finding herself somewhat intimidated by his sheer size. Certainly one of the tallest and largest men she had never met in her lifetime. He seemed to tower over many of the men and women on this beach, a giant of his own kind and the princess waited until he took his leave to step beside both she and Lord Fotios in the direction of his soldiers before the princess relaxed the motion. Then her breath was pulled back into her lungs, her head turning slightly to glance behind her and toward Lord Fotios.
There was something she wished to say, but there were too many people around her. Not to mention Lord Georgios of Leventi was very close by. But her mind was on how both unfair and tormentuous it was that Lord Fotios chose to stand so close at her back. It was a respectable distance, of course, but not one that the princess could easily ignore.
However, her mind quickly shifted away from that fact as she turned to face the lords that were still lined up at her back. Her blue gaze drifted to Fotios and she lifted her chin slightly. "Is someone able to tell me where the queen is?" she asked very slowly, "And Lord Emilios? I am somewhat embarrassed that it was not her majesty that was here to greet our Colchian friends," Xene said in a tone that was too light to carry much farther past their little sphere of discussion. What little frustration she allowed to show on her features was minute. A tightening of her smile, cordial as always, and a very slight narrowing of her gaze on the nobles behind her.
"But if there is nothing further needed of me, I think I shall take a walk to soberve our Colchian soldiers," Xene finally noted after her gaze had bored first into Lord Georgios and then Lord Fotios. "Would one of you lords care to escort me?" she asked slowly, knowing which man she wished to take her about but not at all willing to reject the presence of the other Leventi lord in her company.
Xene herself fell into a delicate bow to the King of Colchis when he approached on the docks. Her gaze dropped to the wood beneath his feet, finding herself somewhat intimidated by his sheer size. Certainly one of the tallest and largest men she had never met in her lifetime. He seemed to tower over many of the men and women on this beach, a giant of his own kind and the princess waited until he took his leave to step beside both she and Lord Fotios in the direction of his soldiers before the princess relaxed the motion. Then her breath was pulled back into her lungs, her head turning slightly to glance behind her and toward Lord Fotios.
There was something she wished to say, but there were too many people around her. Not to mention Lord Georgios of Leventi was very close by. But her mind was on how both unfair and tormentuous it was that Lord Fotios chose to stand so close at her back. It was a respectable distance, of course, but not one that the princess could easily ignore.
However, her mind quickly shifted away from that fact as she turned to face the lords that were still lined up at her back. Her blue gaze drifted to Fotios and she lifted her chin slightly. "Is someone able to tell me where the queen is?" she asked very slowly, "And Lord Emilios? I am somewhat embarrassed that it was not her majesty that was here to greet our Colchian friends," Xene said in a tone that was too light to carry much farther past their little sphere of discussion. What little frustration she allowed to show on her features was minute. A tightening of her smile, cordial as always, and a very slight narrowing of her gaze on the nobles behind her.
"But if there is nothing further needed of me, I think I shall take a walk to soberve our Colchian soldiers," Xene finally noted after her gaze had bored first into Lord Georgios and then Lord Fotios. "Would one of you lords care to escort me?" she asked slowly, knowing which man she wished to take her about but not at all willing to reject the presence of the other Leventi lord in her company.
Arete had known that Nikos would be here today. It was expected of him given that it wasn’t every day that the entirety of the Colchian army appeared on Taengea’s doorstep. As a member of the upper crust of Taengea’s society, she knew that Nikos would be required by his family to greet the soldiers of a higher rank and maybe provide the ships with a hefty supply of Condos wine… for the right price, of course. She knew that these brief meetings with the Colchian nobility were important and that there was no place for someone like her in these conversations. At least, not when her mere presence could cause offense with some of the more straitlaced of the Colchians. After all, it wasn’t exactly proper for the heir to a Taengean royal family to have his own personal bedwarmer hanging off of his arm. It was an unspoken rule that she was to stay away from Nikos this day.
However, since when had Arete ever been one to follow the rules and do what was proper?
Doing what she was supposed to do was boring and very simply, not her style. If she had done what she was ‘supposed’ to do when Nikos proposed taking her to the capital, she’d still be stuck in Doralis, working herself to the bone. Seven hades, if there had even been one ‘proper’ bone in her body, she never would have ended up as Nikos’s mistress and his eventual Queen, if all worked out well. She had learned long ago that following the rules would do absolutely nothing for her. All the good things in her life had only come from not listening to the rules set in place for her and Arete had no intention of changing this trend today.
She didn’t mention her intention to meet with Nikos today. Instead, she let Nikos think that Arete would just be roaming the market like she had spent so many of the other days that required her lover to be elsewhere. Little did he know though that she had no desire to spend the entire day away from the action. When word began to reach the market stalls that Arete had been frequenting that the ships had arrived, the girl from Doralis simply joined the crowd that was now heading in the port’s direction.
Not realizing that she had arrived before Nikos, Arete spent the short while before his arrival lingering on the edge of the crowd, looking for the man that had made her presence at this event possible in the first place. From where she stood, she caught glimpses of the rest of the action. She noticed the lines upon lines of soldiers gathering on the beach, marching in drills. (She would also be a liar if she didn’t say that the sight of all those strong men in armor showing off how ready they were for war was not hotter than hades.) She noticed important men talking with other important men. Not that she knew any of them anyway when Nikos was the only person with a title that had ever paid attention to her. Maybe she could ask him later who they were? However, that would have to wait until she found her lover.
Luckily for her, she did manage to catch sight of him later on into the event that brought these two nationalities together. It was rather hard to miss him, truthfully, in those Condos colors that stuck out like a sore thumb in the sea of dull Colchian ones. A happy grin took over her face as she made her way through the crowd, silently taking her place beside him as he chatted away with another couple.
Quietly, she alerted Nikos to her presence by reaching out for his hand and moving closer to him, eager for the warm touch that she had grown used to whenever she was in the company of this man. Arete assumed that he would have quite a few questions for her, all of whom were hopefully put to rest with a simple, “I couldn’t resist.” She also flashed a knowing smile at him, one that promised that this transgression of hers could be settled later in the way that they normally settled most of their issues.
However, that would have to wait until the evening though as Arete turned to her paramour’s companions, fully ready to greet them with a warm smile. She was no stranger to the Colchian soldier and Tanegean merchant’s daughter before her. After all, this small group had spent many nights drinking until the early hours of the morning whenever Nikos thought to steal Arete away to the capital for the weekend. She hadn’t seen much of them since then, but she had always had great fun whenever they were around and Arete had a silent hope that the Colchian’s return would mean another night of drunken revelry that would normally end her favorite way… but that was before she noticed how upset Eleni seemed to be. And the armor that Silanos was wearing.
Oh.
Now Arete couldn’t help the sinking feeling of guilt creep up in her as the fact that she had now intruded on a delicate scene hit her like a ton of bricks. Eleni and Sil had always been close, almost to the same level of Nikos and Retta. Judging by the pale look on Eleni’s face, she had no idea that Sil would be among the soldiers that were going to war and in truth, Retta was a bit curious about how that happened. Sil had always been a part animal like the rest of them. He wasn’t a soldier.
She didn’t question it though as this was most certainly not the right place or time for it. Instead, her attention was rightly focused on Eleni who looked like she was one wind gust away from being blown down. As much as she wanted to step forward and usher Eleni to somewhere where she could sit, Retta didn’t want to ruin things any more than she already had. Her happy presence in this solemn moment was not fitting and now that she was here, there wasn’t that much that she could do to change that. Though, her own guilt just simply wouldn’t allow her to simply do nothing with Eleni being so pale.
“Maybe we could go find somewhere to sit, away from the crowds? There we can all catch up properly?” She suggested quietly, hoping that her suggestion wasn’t too out of line. Retta just wanted to make sure that Eleni was alright, though granted, she probably wouldn’t have this much concern for the girl had she known that not only was she a notch in Sil’s bedpost, but one in Nikos’s as well…
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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Arete had known that Nikos would be here today. It was expected of him given that it wasn’t every day that the entirety of the Colchian army appeared on Taengea’s doorstep. As a member of the upper crust of Taengea’s society, she knew that Nikos would be required by his family to greet the soldiers of a higher rank and maybe provide the ships with a hefty supply of Condos wine… for the right price, of course. She knew that these brief meetings with the Colchian nobility were important and that there was no place for someone like her in these conversations. At least, not when her mere presence could cause offense with some of the more straitlaced of the Colchians. After all, it wasn’t exactly proper for the heir to a Taengean royal family to have his own personal bedwarmer hanging off of his arm. It was an unspoken rule that she was to stay away from Nikos this day.
However, since when had Arete ever been one to follow the rules and do what was proper?
Doing what she was supposed to do was boring and very simply, not her style. If she had done what she was ‘supposed’ to do when Nikos proposed taking her to the capital, she’d still be stuck in Doralis, working herself to the bone. Seven hades, if there had even been one ‘proper’ bone in her body, she never would have ended up as Nikos’s mistress and his eventual Queen, if all worked out well. She had learned long ago that following the rules would do absolutely nothing for her. All the good things in her life had only come from not listening to the rules set in place for her and Arete had no intention of changing this trend today.
She didn’t mention her intention to meet with Nikos today. Instead, she let Nikos think that Arete would just be roaming the market like she had spent so many of the other days that required her lover to be elsewhere. Little did he know though that she had no desire to spend the entire day away from the action. When word began to reach the market stalls that Arete had been frequenting that the ships had arrived, the girl from Doralis simply joined the crowd that was now heading in the port’s direction.
Not realizing that she had arrived before Nikos, Arete spent the short while before his arrival lingering on the edge of the crowd, looking for the man that had made her presence at this event possible in the first place. From where she stood, she caught glimpses of the rest of the action. She noticed the lines upon lines of soldiers gathering on the beach, marching in drills. (She would also be a liar if she didn’t say that the sight of all those strong men in armor showing off how ready they were for war was not hotter than hades.) She noticed important men talking with other important men. Not that she knew any of them anyway when Nikos was the only person with a title that had ever paid attention to her. Maybe she could ask him later who they were? However, that would have to wait until she found her lover.
Luckily for her, she did manage to catch sight of him later on into the event that brought these two nationalities together. It was rather hard to miss him, truthfully, in those Condos colors that stuck out like a sore thumb in the sea of dull Colchian ones. A happy grin took over her face as she made her way through the crowd, silently taking her place beside him as he chatted away with another couple.
Quietly, she alerted Nikos to her presence by reaching out for his hand and moving closer to him, eager for the warm touch that she had grown used to whenever she was in the company of this man. Arete assumed that he would have quite a few questions for her, all of whom were hopefully put to rest with a simple, “I couldn’t resist.” She also flashed a knowing smile at him, one that promised that this transgression of hers could be settled later in the way that they normally settled most of their issues.
However, that would have to wait until the evening though as Arete turned to her paramour’s companions, fully ready to greet them with a warm smile. She was no stranger to the Colchian soldier and Tanegean merchant’s daughter before her. After all, this small group had spent many nights drinking until the early hours of the morning whenever Nikos thought to steal Arete away to the capital for the weekend. She hadn’t seen much of them since then, but she had always had great fun whenever they were around and Arete had a silent hope that the Colchian’s return would mean another night of drunken revelry that would normally end her favorite way… but that was before she noticed how upset Eleni seemed to be. And the armor that Silanos was wearing.
Oh.
Now Arete couldn’t help the sinking feeling of guilt creep up in her as the fact that she had now intruded on a delicate scene hit her like a ton of bricks. Eleni and Sil had always been close, almost to the same level of Nikos and Retta. Judging by the pale look on Eleni’s face, she had no idea that Sil would be among the soldiers that were going to war and in truth, Retta was a bit curious about how that happened. Sil had always been a part animal like the rest of them. He wasn’t a soldier.
She didn’t question it though as this was most certainly not the right place or time for it. Instead, her attention was rightly focused on Eleni who looked like she was one wind gust away from being blown down. As much as she wanted to step forward and usher Eleni to somewhere where she could sit, Retta didn’t want to ruin things any more than she already had. Her happy presence in this solemn moment was not fitting and now that she was here, there wasn’t that much that she could do to change that. Though, her own guilt just simply wouldn’t allow her to simply do nothing with Eleni being so pale.
“Maybe we could go find somewhere to sit, away from the crowds? There we can all catch up properly?” She suggested quietly, hoping that her suggestion wasn’t too out of line. Retta just wanted to make sure that Eleni was alright, though granted, she probably wouldn’t have this much concern for the girl had she known that not only was she a notch in Sil’s bedpost, but one in Nikos’s as well…
Arete had known that Nikos would be here today. It was expected of him given that it wasn’t every day that the entirety of the Colchian army appeared on Taengea’s doorstep. As a member of the upper crust of Taengea’s society, she knew that Nikos would be required by his family to greet the soldiers of a higher rank and maybe provide the ships with a hefty supply of Condos wine… for the right price, of course. She knew that these brief meetings with the Colchian nobility were important and that there was no place for someone like her in these conversations. At least, not when her mere presence could cause offense with some of the more straitlaced of the Colchians. After all, it wasn’t exactly proper for the heir to a Taengean royal family to have his own personal bedwarmer hanging off of his arm. It was an unspoken rule that she was to stay away from Nikos this day.
However, since when had Arete ever been one to follow the rules and do what was proper?
Doing what she was supposed to do was boring and very simply, not her style. If she had done what she was ‘supposed’ to do when Nikos proposed taking her to the capital, she’d still be stuck in Doralis, working herself to the bone. Seven hades, if there had even been one ‘proper’ bone in her body, she never would have ended up as Nikos’s mistress and his eventual Queen, if all worked out well. She had learned long ago that following the rules would do absolutely nothing for her. All the good things in her life had only come from not listening to the rules set in place for her and Arete had no intention of changing this trend today.
She didn’t mention her intention to meet with Nikos today. Instead, she let Nikos think that Arete would just be roaming the market like she had spent so many of the other days that required her lover to be elsewhere. Little did he know though that she had no desire to spend the entire day away from the action. When word began to reach the market stalls that Arete had been frequenting that the ships had arrived, the girl from Doralis simply joined the crowd that was now heading in the port’s direction.
Not realizing that she had arrived before Nikos, Arete spent the short while before his arrival lingering on the edge of the crowd, looking for the man that had made her presence at this event possible in the first place. From where she stood, she caught glimpses of the rest of the action. She noticed the lines upon lines of soldiers gathering on the beach, marching in drills. (She would also be a liar if she didn’t say that the sight of all those strong men in armor showing off how ready they were for war was not hotter than hades.) She noticed important men talking with other important men. Not that she knew any of them anyway when Nikos was the only person with a title that had ever paid attention to her. Maybe she could ask him later who they were? However, that would have to wait until she found her lover.
Luckily for her, she did manage to catch sight of him later on into the event that brought these two nationalities together. It was rather hard to miss him, truthfully, in those Condos colors that stuck out like a sore thumb in the sea of dull Colchian ones. A happy grin took over her face as she made her way through the crowd, silently taking her place beside him as he chatted away with another couple.
Quietly, she alerted Nikos to her presence by reaching out for his hand and moving closer to him, eager for the warm touch that she had grown used to whenever she was in the company of this man. Arete assumed that he would have quite a few questions for her, all of whom were hopefully put to rest with a simple, “I couldn’t resist.” She also flashed a knowing smile at him, one that promised that this transgression of hers could be settled later in the way that they normally settled most of their issues.
However, that would have to wait until the evening though as Arete turned to her paramour’s companions, fully ready to greet them with a warm smile. She was no stranger to the Colchian soldier and Tanegean merchant’s daughter before her. After all, this small group had spent many nights drinking until the early hours of the morning whenever Nikos thought to steal Arete away to the capital for the weekend. She hadn’t seen much of them since then, but she had always had great fun whenever they were around and Arete had a silent hope that the Colchian’s return would mean another night of drunken revelry that would normally end her favorite way… but that was before she noticed how upset Eleni seemed to be. And the armor that Silanos was wearing.
Oh.
Now Arete couldn’t help the sinking feeling of guilt creep up in her as the fact that she had now intruded on a delicate scene hit her like a ton of bricks. Eleni and Sil had always been close, almost to the same level of Nikos and Retta. Judging by the pale look on Eleni’s face, she had no idea that Sil would be among the soldiers that were going to war and in truth, Retta was a bit curious about how that happened. Sil had always been a part animal like the rest of them. He wasn’t a soldier.
She didn’t question it though as this was most certainly not the right place or time for it. Instead, her attention was rightly focused on Eleni who looked like she was one wind gust away from being blown down. As much as she wanted to step forward and usher Eleni to somewhere where she could sit, Retta didn’t want to ruin things any more than she already had. Her happy presence in this solemn moment was not fitting and now that she was here, there wasn’t that much that she could do to change that. Though, her own guilt just simply wouldn’t allow her to simply do nothing with Eleni being so pale.
“Maybe we could go find somewhere to sit, away from the crowds? There we can all catch up properly?” She suggested quietly, hoping that her suggestion wasn’t too out of line. Retta just wanted to make sure that Eleni was alright, though granted, she probably wouldn’t have this much concern for the girl had she known that not only was she a notch in Sil’s bedpost, but one in Nikos’s as well…
Theodora would have to be an absolute fool not to recognize the look on Emilios’s face as she smiled up at him, the way his gaze lingered on her mouth for just a little too long. Even just a couple months ago, his gaze would have been replaced with his lips, holding her face to his as he kissed away whatever doubts or worries she may have had. There was a longing in the pit of her stomach, a dangerous longing, that he would simply do it anyway, honor be damned. Every time they were together, especially now with her hand tucked in his arm like it belonged there, it was harder to resist the call of her heart, the deep-seated tug that drew her to him as fiercely as it ever had.
But she couldn’t. She wouldn’t. She was a married woman, and a Queen, at that. There was so much more at stake now than a broken heart.
She could only be thankful for the horse’s whinny that dissolved the tension between them, dropping her hand from his arm as she went to mount her horse. She nearly thought about refusing the stable boy’s help as he boosted her upward; she was born a Leventi, after all, and horses were practically in her blood. But she had rules she lived within now, bounds of propriety that governed her every move. It was expected that she would be assisted, and she had to simply go along with it.
Sighing, she thanked the man as she sat atop Calista’s back, her bow and quiver lightly tapping against her thigh. At least Emilios had been thoughtful enough to suggest riding rather than a carriage. It would do her good to feel the wind in her hair as they rode down to the docks.
Grinning at the man’s challenge and laughing when he cantered off before she could even answer it, she quickly kicked her own horse into a run, catching up to him within seconds. “Cheater,” she accused him affectionately once their mounts were neck and neck. “No matter how you cheat, when will you realize I’m always going to win?”
The look on her face was full of mischief as she spurred Calista on, soon overtaking the prince’s mount. Waving innocently as she passed him, her laughter was snatched away by the wind their passage created. As they raced from the palati toward the docks, her heart felt lighter than it had in weeks. There was always something to be said for the rush of ecstatic freedom she felt on the back of a horse, and with Emilios at her side, everything almost felt right again. It was like old times, just the two of them engaged in a playful race like they’d had dozens of times before.
And just as she predicted, she was the first one to arrive at the docks, though he wasn’t far behind. Whether it truly was her Leventi blood or the fact that he let her win, it didn’t matter. Flashing a grin his way, she accepted the help of a servant in dismounting before turning to the prince with a gloating look. “Told you,” she bragged.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much time for her teasing, looking out toward the dock already swarming with activity. Apparently, they were much later than she had expected, and Theo bit her lip as her spirits began to sink again. How would it look that the Queen wasn’t present to welcome their guests when they first arrived? Gods, she was really just botching all of this, wasn’t she?
“Guess we ought to go down there,” she murmured as she waited for Emilios to dismount, chewing at the lip between her teeth. “I didn’t realize we were already so late…”
Taking his arm again, she took a deep breath and did her best to assume a regal posture, walking up just in time to hear Princess Xene’s comment on her absence. “I’m here, Your Highness,” she said with a smile, one she hoped didn’t tremble too much. “Forgive my tardiness, I… must have lost track of the time.” It was a poor excuse, and she knew it, but there was little that could be done for it now.
Turning to face her father and her uncle, she greeted them both first, releasing Emilios’s arm to kiss Georgios’s cheek and nod politely to Fotios. Only then did she turn to face who she assumed must be the king of Colchis himself, spreading her skirts in a deep curtsy. Perhaps it was a little too deep for a monarch greeting another, but Theodora was already too nervous to care. Better to err on the side of respectful, right?
“Welcome to Taengea, Your Majesty,” she greeted the imposing man, tilting her head back to look up at his face. “I trust my family have extended their welcomes, as well. It has eased all of our hearts to know you and your forces will soon be joining my husband and his men. Surely, with such an army at our disposal, this war shall soon see a quick and decisive end.”
That was the right thing to say, wasn’t it? Somehow, greeting another monarch in wartime had never made its way into her childhood lessons. “Is there anything else we may offer you? Any further hospitality we can extend?”
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Theodora would have to be an absolute fool not to recognize the look on Emilios’s face as she smiled up at him, the way his gaze lingered on her mouth for just a little too long. Even just a couple months ago, his gaze would have been replaced with his lips, holding her face to his as he kissed away whatever doubts or worries she may have had. There was a longing in the pit of her stomach, a dangerous longing, that he would simply do it anyway, honor be damned. Every time they were together, especially now with her hand tucked in his arm like it belonged there, it was harder to resist the call of her heart, the deep-seated tug that drew her to him as fiercely as it ever had.
But she couldn’t. She wouldn’t. She was a married woman, and a Queen, at that. There was so much more at stake now than a broken heart.
She could only be thankful for the horse’s whinny that dissolved the tension between them, dropping her hand from his arm as she went to mount her horse. She nearly thought about refusing the stable boy’s help as he boosted her upward; she was born a Leventi, after all, and horses were practically in her blood. But she had rules she lived within now, bounds of propriety that governed her every move. It was expected that she would be assisted, and she had to simply go along with it.
Sighing, she thanked the man as she sat atop Calista’s back, her bow and quiver lightly tapping against her thigh. At least Emilios had been thoughtful enough to suggest riding rather than a carriage. It would do her good to feel the wind in her hair as they rode down to the docks.
Grinning at the man’s challenge and laughing when he cantered off before she could even answer it, she quickly kicked her own horse into a run, catching up to him within seconds. “Cheater,” she accused him affectionately once their mounts were neck and neck. “No matter how you cheat, when will you realize I’m always going to win?”
The look on her face was full of mischief as she spurred Calista on, soon overtaking the prince’s mount. Waving innocently as she passed him, her laughter was snatched away by the wind their passage created. As they raced from the palati toward the docks, her heart felt lighter than it had in weeks. There was always something to be said for the rush of ecstatic freedom she felt on the back of a horse, and with Emilios at her side, everything almost felt right again. It was like old times, just the two of them engaged in a playful race like they’d had dozens of times before.
And just as she predicted, she was the first one to arrive at the docks, though he wasn’t far behind. Whether it truly was her Leventi blood or the fact that he let her win, it didn’t matter. Flashing a grin his way, she accepted the help of a servant in dismounting before turning to the prince with a gloating look. “Told you,” she bragged.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much time for her teasing, looking out toward the dock already swarming with activity. Apparently, they were much later than she had expected, and Theo bit her lip as her spirits began to sink again. How would it look that the Queen wasn’t present to welcome their guests when they first arrived? Gods, she was really just botching all of this, wasn’t she?
“Guess we ought to go down there,” she murmured as she waited for Emilios to dismount, chewing at the lip between her teeth. “I didn’t realize we were already so late…”
Taking his arm again, she took a deep breath and did her best to assume a regal posture, walking up just in time to hear Princess Xene’s comment on her absence. “I’m here, Your Highness,” she said with a smile, one she hoped didn’t tremble too much. “Forgive my tardiness, I… must have lost track of the time.” It was a poor excuse, and she knew it, but there was little that could be done for it now.
Turning to face her father and her uncle, she greeted them both first, releasing Emilios’s arm to kiss Georgios’s cheek and nod politely to Fotios. Only then did she turn to face who she assumed must be the king of Colchis himself, spreading her skirts in a deep curtsy. Perhaps it was a little too deep for a monarch greeting another, but Theodora was already too nervous to care. Better to err on the side of respectful, right?
“Welcome to Taengea, Your Majesty,” she greeted the imposing man, tilting her head back to look up at his face. “I trust my family have extended their welcomes, as well. It has eased all of our hearts to know you and your forces will soon be joining my husband and his men. Surely, with such an army at our disposal, this war shall soon see a quick and decisive end.”
That was the right thing to say, wasn’t it? Somehow, greeting another monarch in wartime had never made its way into her childhood lessons. “Is there anything else we may offer you? Any further hospitality we can extend?”
Theodora would have to be an absolute fool not to recognize the look on Emilios’s face as she smiled up at him, the way his gaze lingered on her mouth for just a little too long. Even just a couple months ago, his gaze would have been replaced with his lips, holding her face to his as he kissed away whatever doubts or worries she may have had. There was a longing in the pit of her stomach, a dangerous longing, that he would simply do it anyway, honor be damned. Every time they were together, especially now with her hand tucked in his arm like it belonged there, it was harder to resist the call of her heart, the deep-seated tug that drew her to him as fiercely as it ever had.
But she couldn’t. She wouldn’t. She was a married woman, and a Queen, at that. There was so much more at stake now than a broken heart.
She could only be thankful for the horse’s whinny that dissolved the tension between them, dropping her hand from his arm as she went to mount her horse. She nearly thought about refusing the stable boy’s help as he boosted her upward; she was born a Leventi, after all, and horses were practically in her blood. But she had rules she lived within now, bounds of propriety that governed her every move. It was expected that she would be assisted, and she had to simply go along with it.
Sighing, she thanked the man as she sat atop Calista’s back, her bow and quiver lightly tapping against her thigh. At least Emilios had been thoughtful enough to suggest riding rather than a carriage. It would do her good to feel the wind in her hair as they rode down to the docks.
Grinning at the man’s challenge and laughing when he cantered off before she could even answer it, she quickly kicked her own horse into a run, catching up to him within seconds. “Cheater,” she accused him affectionately once their mounts were neck and neck. “No matter how you cheat, when will you realize I’m always going to win?”
The look on her face was full of mischief as she spurred Calista on, soon overtaking the prince’s mount. Waving innocently as she passed him, her laughter was snatched away by the wind their passage created. As they raced from the palati toward the docks, her heart felt lighter than it had in weeks. There was always something to be said for the rush of ecstatic freedom she felt on the back of a horse, and with Emilios at her side, everything almost felt right again. It was like old times, just the two of them engaged in a playful race like they’d had dozens of times before.
And just as she predicted, she was the first one to arrive at the docks, though he wasn’t far behind. Whether it truly was her Leventi blood or the fact that he let her win, it didn’t matter. Flashing a grin his way, she accepted the help of a servant in dismounting before turning to the prince with a gloating look. “Told you,” she bragged.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much time for her teasing, looking out toward the dock already swarming with activity. Apparently, they were much later than she had expected, and Theo bit her lip as her spirits began to sink again. How would it look that the Queen wasn’t present to welcome their guests when they first arrived? Gods, she was really just botching all of this, wasn’t she?
“Guess we ought to go down there,” she murmured as she waited for Emilios to dismount, chewing at the lip between her teeth. “I didn’t realize we were already so late…”
Taking his arm again, she took a deep breath and did her best to assume a regal posture, walking up just in time to hear Princess Xene’s comment on her absence. “I’m here, Your Highness,” she said with a smile, one she hoped didn’t tremble too much. “Forgive my tardiness, I… must have lost track of the time.” It was a poor excuse, and she knew it, but there was little that could be done for it now.
Turning to face her father and her uncle, she greeted them both first, releasing Emilios’s arm to kiss Georgios’s cheek and nod politely to Fotios. Only then did she turn to face who she assumed must be the king of Colchis himself, spreading her skirts in a deep curtsy. Perhaps it was a little too deep for a monarch greeting another, but Theodora was already too nervous to care. Better to err on the side of respectful, right?
“Welcome to Taengea, Your Majesty,” she greeted the imposing man, tilting her head back to look up at his face. “I trust my family have extended their welcomes, as well. It has eased all of our hearts to know you and your forces will soon be joining my husband and his men. Surely, with such an army at our disposal, this war shall soon see a quick and decisive end.”
That was the right thing to say, wasn’t it? Somehow, greeting another monarch in wartime had never made its way into her childhood lessons. “Is there anything else we may offer you? Any further hospitality we can extend?”