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Daniil of Marikas was struck dumb and not in a good way. She had thought that a visit to see her cousin Princess Emilia was a good idea and she had gone to the stables to oversee the care of the horses, just like she did any other time. Herr uncle was very particular about who laid hands on his prized steed, and Daniil was just as bad about her own award winning horse. Each of them was known for their skill with horses and both had won awards for that fact.
There should have been at least four horses in the stables when Daniil strolled inside. What she found was a totally empty stable! Daniil frowned and then headed off back to the house at breakneck speed. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that her uncle would be about as angry as she was at the moment or worse.
She kept running till she skidded to a near halt right outside his door. Daniil took a long breath to calm down and failed, before she knocked on his door.
"Uncle? You are going to want to hear this." she said in that icy tone that announced to the world that the youngest Marikas was seriously on the warpath.
She took more breaths in an attempt to still the killing rage that was beginning to make itself known. There were three things that one did not mess with that belonged to her. Gods help you if you touched a member of her family in a harmful way touched her man with intent to harm, or laid a finger on her horse.
"I will use whomever did this for a pincushion or worse!" she spat out as she began pacing the space before the door. Silently she tried to come up with a list of anyone that would have done this and why and at this given moment the list was seriously short though they knew where to hit them both. The question was could those around them deal with them both being angry at the same time and not at each other? Only time would tell.
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Daniil of Marikas was struck dumb and not in a good way. She had thought that a visit to see her cousin Princess Emilia was a good idea and she had gone to the stables to oversee the care of the horses, just like she did any other time. Herr uncle was very particular about who laid hands on his prized steed, and Daniil was just as bad about her own award winning horse. Each of them was known for their skill with horses and both had won awards for that fact.
There should have been at least four horses in the stables when Daniil strolled inside. What she found was a totally empty stable! Daniil frowned and then headed off back to the house at breakneck speed. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that her uncle would be about as angry as she was at the moment or worse.
She kept running till she skidded to a near halt right outside his door. Daniil took a long breath to calm down and failed, before she knocked on his door.
"Uncle? You are going to want to hear this." she said in that icy tone that announced to the world that the youngest Marikas was seriously on the warpath.
She took more breaths in an attempt to still the killing rage that was beginning to make itself known. There were three things that one did not mess with that belonged to her. Gods help you if you touched a member of her family in a harmful way touched her man with intent to harm, or laid a finger on her horse.
"I will use whomever did this for a pincushion or worse!" she spat out as she began pacing the space before the door. Silently she tried to come up with a list of anyone that would have done this and why and at this given moment the list was seriously short though they knew where to hit them both. The question was could those around them deal with them both being angry at the same time and not at each other? Only time would tell.
Daniil of Marikas was struck dumb and not in a good way. She had thought that a visit to see her cousin Princess Emilia was a good idea and she had gone to the stables to oversee the care of the horses, just like she did any other time. Herr uncle was very particular about who laid hands on his prized steed, and Daniil was just as bad about her own award winning horse. Each of them was known for their skill with horses and both had won awards for that fact.
There should have been at least four horses in the stables when Daniil strolled inside. What she found was a totally empty stable! Daniil frowned and then headed off back to the house at breakneck speed. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that her uncle would be about as angry as she was at the moment or worse.
She kept running till she skidded to a near halt right outside his door. Daniil took a long breath to calm down and failed, before she knocked on his door.
"Uncle? You are going to want to hear this." she said in that icy tone that announced to the world that the youngest Marikas was seriously on the warpath.
She took more breaths in an attempt to still the killing rage that was beginning to make itself known. There were three things that one did not mess with that belonged to her. Gods help you if you touched a member of her family in a harmful way touched her man with intent to harm, or laid a finger on her horse.
"I will use whomever did this for a pincushion or worse!" she spat out as she began pacing the space before the door. Silently she tried to come up with a list of anyone that would have done this and why and at this given moment the list was seriously short though they knew where to hit them both. The question was could those around them deal with them both being angry at the same time and not at each other? Only time would tell.
Rafail had not been in a particularly excellent mood that morning, to begin with. After a certain incident had occurred at the boat race only recently, he had found himself the topic of more gossip than he cared for, and, although the man usually did not mind discovering that people were spreading rumours about his impressive sexual prowess, the current topic of these whispers was nothing short of humiliating and did not exactly paint the Marikas lord in the most honourable light. And, hailing from the house that he did, dishonour was not exactly high on his wishlist. Papa was more than a little disappointed.
Hidden within the confines of the Marikas estate as he was, the man was somewhat capable of ignoring the gossip in the hopes that it would die down faster, and especially so if he had no female guests during that time that were capable of spreading chatter more quickly. The only activities with which he had entertained himself were the military training he had avoided for such a long while, the practice with a sword not only to better himself but a somewhat futile attempt to redeem himself of his embarrassment before both his father and brother. But, although he was not unskilled at the sport and had always found it somewhat entertaining, Rafail did not find it stimulating enough to fill the entirety of his time and, as a result, he was growing bored, and he was growing irritable.
When the knock on his door had come, he had pulled it open with an impatience that his niece would have been all too used to seeing from him, and yet would likely not expect.
What she would most certainly not have been accustomed to, however, was seeing her uncle in the condition that he currently was. With no lady to impress within his own home save for the mistress who had already seen him in his natural and far less decorated state, Rafail had allowed his blonde hair to hang loosely around his face rather than styled it as it was so typically slicked back, and his face was rough and unshaven. It darkened his features more noticeably than the way he had knitted together his eyebrows. He had not dressed to dazzle some unsuspecting noblewoman nor for his own comfort, instead, he wore still the tunic he had donned for his training, plain in design though still in that typically flattering shade of blue. He seemed harsher, and rightfully so.
"What is it?" he demanded, already having gathered that something was the matter, if solely from the manner in which he had heard Daniil cursing at the door. He did not usually concern himself with the affairs of the rest of his family, but Rafail knew full well that his niece - and especially so the niece with which he was most often at odds - would not have contacted him with such anger in her tone had something not been the matter which so evidently affected the both of them, and he supposed he was willing to allow her the benefit of the doubt.
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Rafail had not been in a particularly excellent mood that morning, to begin with. After a certain incident had occurred at the boat race only recently, he had found himself the topic of more gossip than he cared for, and, although the man usually did not mind discovering that people were spreading rumours about his impressive sexual prowess, the current topic of these whispers was nothing short of humiliating and did not exactly paint the Marikas lord in the most honourable light. And, hailing from the house that he did, dishonour was not exactly high on his wishlist. Papa was more than a little disappointed.
Hidden within the confines of the Marikas estate as he was, the man was somewhat capable of ignoring the gossip in the hopes that it would die down faster, and especially so if he had no female guests during that time that were capable of spreading chatter more quickly. The only activities with which he had entertained himself were the military training he had avoided for such a long while, the practice with a sword not only to better himself but a somewhat futile attempt to redeem himself of his embarrassment before both his father and brother. But, although he was not unskilled at the sport and had always found it somewhat entertaining, Rafail did not find it stimulating enough to fill the entirety of his time and, as a result, he was growing bored, and he was growing irritable.
When the knock on his door had come, he had pulled it open with an impatience that his niece would have been all too used to seeing from him, and yet would likely not expect.
What she would most certainly not have been accustomed to, however, was seeing her uncle in the condition that he currently was. With no lady to impress within his own home save for the mistress who had already seen him in his natural and far less decorated state, Rafail had allowed his blonde hair to hang loosely around his face rather than styled it as it was so typically slicked back, and his face was rough and unshaven. It darkened his features more noticeably than the way he had knitted together his eyebrows. He had not dressed to dazzle some unsuspecting noblewoman nor for his own comfort, instead, he wore still the tunic he had donned for his training, plain in design though still in that typically flattering shade of blue. He seemed harsher, and rightfully so.
"What is it?" he demanded, already having gathered that something was the matter, if solely from the manner in which he had heard Daniil cursing at the door. He did not usually concern himself with the affairs of the rest of his family, but Rafail knew full well that his niece - and especially so the niece with which he was most often at odds - would not have contacted him with such anger in her tone had something not been the matter which so evidently affected the both of them, and he supposed he was willing to allow her the benefit of the doubt.
Rafail had not been in a particularly excellent mood that morning, to begin with. After a certain incident had occurred at the boat race only recently, he had found himself the topic of more gossip than he cared for, and, although the man usually did not mind discovering that people were spreading rumours about his impressive sexual prowess, the current topic of these whispers was nothing short of humiliating and did not exactly paint the Marikas lord in the most honourable light. And, hailing from the house that he did, dishonour was not exactly high on his wishlist. Papa was more than a little disappointed.
Hidden within the confines of the Marikas estate as he was, the man was somewhat capable of ignoring the gossip in the hopes that it would die down faster, and especially so if he had no female guests during that time that were capable of spreading chatter more quickly. The only activities with which he had entertained himself were the military training he had avoided for such a long while, the practice with a sword not only to better himself but a somewhat futile attempt to redeem himself of his embarrassment before both his father and brother. But, although he was not unskilled at the sport and had always found it somewhat entertaining, Rafail did not find it stimulating enough to fill the entirety of his time and, as a result, he was growing bored, and he was growing irritable.
When the knock on his door had come, he had pulled it open with an impatience that his niece would have been all too used to seeing from him, and yet would likely not expect.
What she would most certainly not have been accustomed to, however, was seeing her uncle in the condition that he currently was. With no lady to impress within his own home save for the mistress who had already seen him in his natural and far less decorated state, Rafail had allowed his blonde hair to hang loosely around his face rather than styled it as it was so typically slicked back, and his face was rough and unshaven. It darkened his features more noticeably than the way he had knitted together his eyebrows. He had not dressed to dazzle some unsuspecting noblewoman nor for his own comfort, instead, he wore still the tunic he had donned for his training, plain in design though still in that typically flattering shade of blue. He seemed harsher, and rightfully so.
"What is it?" he demanded, already having gathered that something was the matter, if solely from the manner in which he had heard Daniil cursing at the door. He did not usually concern himself with the affairs of the rest of his family, but Rafail knew full well that his niece - and especially so the niece with which he was most often at odds - would not have contacted him with such anger in her tone had something not been the matter which so evidently affected the both of them, and he supposed he was willing to allow her the benefit of the doubt.
Daniil had an idea what had put her uncle in a sour mood as of late, though she had wisely refused to speak on the manner and kept her own feelings on the matter to herself. She was not at all happy about the whispers that followed in the wake, but there was not much that she could do but ignore them, though anyone idiotic enough to bring it up where she could hear it, got told off by her and she was none to ladylike or polite about it. One did not mess with her family, end of the story.
She knew as well that her father and grandfather were less then amused with things, so she did her best to behave and stay out of their way. She was likely to get a lecture today for her raging, but at this moment in time, she could care less. She had even heard that he himself had taken up practice with a weapon and there was more then one time where the notion entered her mind to spar with him, so that she could keep her skills sharp and kill the boredom that had started creeping into her world.
She took a step back when the door was yanked open and she knew in that one action that her uncle was in a foul mood. Good. That makes two of us then and Gods help them all, she thought with some satisfaction. She took a breath and let it out slowly before addressing him. "Apologies Uncle if I was disturbing you but.... You are not going to like the news I bring she said with a small shrug.
She took another breath as she took in his appearance and formulated the easiest way to break the news. He looked like she had roused him out of bed. He actually looked better to her all disheveled and tousled, than his normal slicked back look.
She took another breath and then dropped the boulder right in between them. "Someone stole our horses. All of them. I was going to pay a family call on our Royal Cousins when I made the discovery. Even the accolades are gone."
Her hazel eyes locked on his face, waiting or the next storm to hit as she felt her own anger begin to rise again. "I wanted you to know before word ripped through the house like a wildfire."
She knew that it was likely that the mere mention of a visit to the palace was going to add to his annoyance, but Daniil was not going to let that stop her from her own designs. She kept her cousins at arms lengths, as they did her, but she had to give it to Persephone for achieving the one things she herself would have been attempting if the situation was reversed, and in light of that, she was going to do what she thought was needful to keep a woman on that throne, and the first part of that was having eyes and ears in the palace so that she could sniff out any little tidbits that could be later used in some form or another in the ultimate quest to put their own house right back where it belonged.
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Daniil had an idea what had put her uncle in a sour mood as of late, though she had wisely refused to speak on the manner and kept her own feelings on the matter to herself. She was not at all happy about the whispers that followed in the wake, but there was not much that she could do but ignore them, though anyone idiotic enough to bring it up where she could hear it, got told off by her and she was none to ladylike or polite about it. One did not mess with her family, end of the story.
She knew as well that her father and grandfather were less then amused with things, so she did her best to behave and stay out of their way. She was likely to get a lecture today for her raging, but at this moment in time, she could care less. She had even heard that he himself had taken up practice with a weapon and there was more then one time where the notion entered her mind to spar with him, so that she could keep her skills sharp and kill the boredom that had started creeping into her world.
She took a step back when the door was yanked open and she knew in that one action that her uncle was in a foul mood. Good. That makes two of us then and Gods help them all, she thought with some satisfaction. She took a breath and let it out slowly before addressing him. "Apologies Uncle if I was disturbing you but.... You are not going to like the news I bring she said with a small shrug.
She took another breath as she took in his appearance and formulated the easiest way to break the news. He looked like she had roused him out of bed. He actually looked better to her all disheveled and tousled, than his normal slicked back look.
She took another breath and then dropped the boulder right in between them. "Someone stole our horses. All of them. I was going to pay a family call on our Royal Cousins when I made the discovery. Even the accolades are gone."
Her hazel eyes locked on his face, waiting or the next storm to hit as she felt her own anger begin to rise again. "I wanted you to know before word ripped through the house like a wildfire."
She knew that it was likely that the mere mention of a visit to the palace was going to add to his annoyance, but Daniil was not going to let that stop her from her own designs. She kept her cousins at arms lengths, as they did her, but she had to give it to Persephone for achieving the one things she herself would have been attempting if the situation was reversed, and in light of that, she was going to do what she thought was needful to keep a woman on that throne, and the first part of that was having eyes and ears in the palace so that she could sniff out any little tidbits that could be later used in some form or another in the ultimate quest to put their own house right back where it belonged.
Daniil had an idea what had put her uncle in a sour mood as of late, though she had wisely refused to speak on the manner and kept her own feelings on the matter to herself. She was not at all happy about the whispers that followed in the wake, but there was not much that she could do but ignore them, though anyone idiotic enough to bring it up where she could hear it, got told off by her and she was none to ladylike or polite about it. One did not mess with her family, end of the story.
She knew as well that her father and grandfather were less then amused with things, so she did her best to behave and stay out of their way. She was likely to get a lecture today for her raging, but at this moment in time, she could care less. She had even heard that he himself had taken up practice with a weapon and there was more then one time where the notion entered her mind to spar with him, so that she could keep her skills sharp and kill the boredom that had started creeping into her world.
She took a step back when the door was yanked open and she knew in that one action that her uncle was in a foul mood. Good. That makes two of us then and Gods help them all, she thought with some satisfaction. She took a breath and let it out slowly before addressing him. "Apologies Uncle if I was disturbing you but.... You are not going to like the news I bring she said with a small shrug.
She took another breath as she took in his appearance and formulated the easiest way to break the news. He looked like she had roused him out of bed. He actually looked better to her all disheveled and tousled, than his normal slicked back look.
She took another breath and then dropped the boulder right in between them. "Someone stole our horses. All of them. I was going to pay a family call on our Royal Cousins when I made the discovery. Even the accolades are gone."
Her hazel eyes locked on his face, waiting or the next storm to hit as she felt her own anger begin to rise again. "I wanted you to know before word ripped through the house like a wildfire."
She knew that it was likely that the mere mention of a visit to the palace was going to add to his annoyance, but Daniil was not going to let that stop her from her own designs. She kept her cousins at arms lengths, as they did her, but she had to give it to Persephone for achieving the one things she herself would have been attempting if the situation was reversed, and in light of that, she was going to do what she thought was needful to keep a woman on that throne, and the first part of that was having eyes and ears in the palace so that she could sniff out any little tidbits that could be later used in some form or another in the ultimate quest to put their own house right back where it belonged.
His horses had been stolen. Of course.
First, Rafail was forced to suffer in the knowledge that most all of Athenia had seen his bare arse and those who had not had at least heard the tale from another (at least he had gotten Papa to sell that idiot gladiator whom he deemed wholly responsible). Now, he was being told that, not only were his beloved horses missing, but the trophies he had been awarded to celebrate his equestrian prowess too had been taken. It was though the gods themselves sought to punish the man, and he had not been made privy as to why.
"All of them?" he questioned, an eyebrow raised, his exterior surprisingly calm despite the anger that bubbled inside him. Perhaps he had lost his capacity for an outburst with so much misfortune befalling him lately. It would not have surprised the man. Maybe he was just so enraged by the negative news that he was unable to form any type of reaction outside of that slight twitch of his eyebrow. "Even Arion?" While it may well have been the case that the theft of any of the horses in the household was enough to upset him, it was the knowledge that his most prized steed might well have been stolen away alongside them that angered him the most. Rafail was far more willing to forgive the disappearance of the other horses.
There was no need to await an answer, however, as Daniil had already made it more than abundantly clear that it was, in fact, all their steeds which had been taken. He stepped fully out of his chambers then, closing the door behind him and leaning against the wooden frame, brows furrowed as he attempted to figure precisely how they should deal with the situation. Papa would not have been pleased to hear that he was making such a fuss over something so easily replaceable, not to mention over something his niece was concerned, and Rafail doubted any outwardly extreme measures would be welcomed, despite the severity of the crime.
"Who else is aware of this? As you said, I don't want word spreading that our stables are so simple to break into, lest every petty thief in Athenia decides to make away with our valuables." He started down the hallway, in the direction of the aforementioned stables, head turned slightly towards Daniil as an indication that she should follow. The wrath he had so far managed to keep buried within was beginning to shine through his otherwise worryingly calm demeanour, accentuating itself in his brisk steps and irritable expression. "Did none of the guards see anything? When did this happen? I want everything you know."
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His horses had been stolen. Of course.
First, Rafail was forced to suffer in the knowledge that most all of Athenia had seen his bare arse and those who had not had at least heard the tale from another (at least he had gotten Papa to sell that idiot gladiator whom he deemed wholly responsible). Now, he was being told that, not only were his beloved horses missing, but the trophies he had been awarded to celebrate his equestrian prowess too had been taken. It was though the gods themselves sought to punish the man, and he had not been made privy as to why.
"All of them?" he questioned, an eyebrow raised, his exterior surprisingly calm despite the anger that bubbled inside him. Perhaps he had lost his capacity for an outburst with so much misfortune befalling him lately. It would not have surprised the man. Maybe he was just so enraged by the negative news that he was unable to form any type of reaction outside of that slight twitch of his eyebrow. "Even Arion?" While it may well have been the case that the theft of any of the horses in the household was enough to upset him, it was the knowledge that his most prized steed might well have been stolen away alongside them that angered him the most. Rafail was far more willing to forgive the disappearance of the other horses.
There was no need to await an answer, however, as Daniil had already made it more than abundantly clear that it was, in fact, all their steeds which had been taken. He stepped fully out of his chambers then, closing the door behind him and leaning against the wooden frame, brows furrowed as he attempted to figure precisely how they should deal with the situation. Papa would not have been pleased to hear that he was making such a fuss over something so easily replaceable, not to mention over something his niece was concerned, and Rafail doubted any outwardly extreme measures would be welcomed, despite the severity of the crime.
"Who else is aware of this? As you said, I don't want word spreading that our stables are so simple to break into, lest every petty thief in Athenia decides to make away with our valuables." He started down the hallway, in the direction of the aforementioned stables, head turned slightly towards Daniil as an indication that she should follow. The wrath he had so far managed to keep buried within was beginning to shine through his otherwise worryingly calm demeanour, accentuating itself in his brisk steps and irritable expression. "Did none of the guards see anything? When did this happen? I want everything you know."
His horses had been stolen. Of course.
First, Rafail was forced to suffer in the knowledge that most all of Athenia had seen his bare arse and those who had not had at least heard the tale from another (at least he had gotten Papa to sell that idiot gladiator whom he deemed wholly responsible). Now, he was being told that, not only were his beloved horses missing, but the trophies he had been awarded to celebrate his equestrian prowess too had been taken. It was though the gods themselves sought to punish the man, and he had not been made privy as to why.
"All of them?" he questioned, an eyebrow raised, his exterior surprisingly calm despite the anger that bubbled inside him. Perhaps he had lost his capacity for an outburst with so much misfortune befalling him lately. It would not have surprised the man. Maybe he was just so enraged by the negative news that he was unable to form any type of reaction outside of that slight twitch of his eyebrow. "Even Arion?" While it may well have been the case that the theft of any of the horses in the household was enough to upset him, it was the knowledge that his most prized steed might well have been stolen away alongside them that angered him the most. Rafail was far more willing to forgive the disappearance of the other horses.
There was no need to await an answer, however, as Daniil had already made it more than abundantly clear that it was, in fact, all their steeds which had been taken. He stepped fully out of his chambers then, closing the door behind him and leaning against the wooden frame, brows furrowed as he attempted to figure precisely how they should deal with the situation. Papa would not have been pleased to hear that he was making such a fuss over something so easily replaceable, not to mention over something his niece was concerned, and Rafail doubted any outwardly extreme measures would be welcomed, despite the severity of the crime.
"Who else is aware of this? As you said, I don't want word spreading that our stables are so simple to break into, lest every petty thief in Athenia decides to make away with our valuables." He started down the hallway, in the direction of the aforementioned stables, head turned slightly towards Daniil as an indication that she should follow. The wrath he had so far managed to keep buried within was beginning to shine through his otherwise worryingly calm demeanour, accentuating itself in his brisk steps and irritable expression. "Did none of the guards see anything? When did this happen? I want everything you know."
"Yes, all of them. Even Arion and Muse," she told her uncle with a nod. The rage she felt at the loss of her most pried steed was barely being held in check as she spoke and she knew that her uncle would understand. After all, Muse had been a gift from him to her and something that the two had bonded over. She followed him out of the room and stepped clear of the door so that he could close it behind him.
She watched him lean against the wood and her gaze never leaving his face. Your father would likely box your ears if he knew you were raising your voice over something that he could easily replace in his eyes. Yes, well even soldiers are easy to replace. He doesn't understand being so close to a person or thing that the loss of it is so painful. I am sure if he lost one of his daughters he would get over us rather quickly, well at least Elena and I. she thought as she watched him.
She let out a snort and then a small laugh. "Really Uncle, no one knows of this save you and me. The others would likely just wave this off and tell us both to get both of our heads out of our backsides and to focus on something more important than our horses, so I am not wasting my breath."
She moved to follow him. "From what I can tell the theft happened while we slept and it's my guess that guards may be involved because there was nothing but empty space and hay in our stables when I walked into them after breakfast to give word to have our steeds ready for the day. If the guards were not part of the event then they are playing it smart and steering clear of our joint tempers."
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"Yes, all of them. Even Arion and Muse," she told her uncle with a nod. The rage she felt at the loss of her most pried steed was barely being held in check as she spoke and she knew that her uncle would understand. After all, Muse had been a gift from him to her and something that the two had bonded over. She followed him out of the room and stepped clear of the door so that he could close it behind him.
She watched him lean against the wood and her gaze never leaving his face. Your father would likely box your ears if he knew you were raising your voice over something that he could easily replace in his eyes. Yes, well even soldiers are easy to replace. He doesn't understand being so close to a person or thing that the loss of it is so painful. I am sure if he lost one of his daughters he would get over us rather quickly, well at least Elena and I. she thought as she watched him.
She let out a snort and then a small laugh. "Really Uncle, no one knows of this save you and me. The others would likely just wave this off and tell us both to get both of our heads out of our backsides and to focus on something more important than our horses, so I am not wasting my breath."
She moved to follow him. "From what I can tell the theft happened while we slept and it's my guess that guards may be involved because there was nothing but empty space and hay in our stables when I walked into them after breakfast to give word to have our steeds ready for the day. If the guards were not part of the event then they are playing it smart and steering clear of our joint tempers."
"Yes, all of them. Even Arion and Muse," she told her uncle with a nod. The rage she felt at the loss of her most pried steed was barely being held in check as she spoke and she knew that her uncle would understand. After all, Muse had been a gift from him to her and something that the two had bonded over. She followed him out of the room and stepped clear of the door so that he could close it behind him.
She watched him lean against the wood and her gaze never leaving his face. Your father would likely box your ears if he knew you were raising your voice over something that he could easily replace in his eyes. Yes, well even soldiers are easy to replace. He doesn't understand being so close to a person or thing that the loss of it is so painful. I am sure if he lost one of his daughters he would get over us rather quickly, well at least Elena and I. she thought as she watched him.
She let out a snort and then a small laugh. "Really Uncle, no one knows of this save you and me. The others would likely just wave this off and tell us both to get both of our heads out of our backsides and to focus on something more important than our horses, so I am not wasting my breath."
She moved to follow him. "From what I can tell the theft happened while we slept and it's my guess that guards may be involved because there was nothing but empty space and hay in our stables when I walked into them after breakfast to give word to have our steeds ready for the day. If the guards were not part of the event then they are playing it smart and steering clear of our joint tempers."
For a man with so many horses to his name, Rafail had always been surprisingly overprotective of the beasts. And why shouldn't he be? They were his prized possessions, and he thought each one to be perfect in its own manner, which was precisely why he had ensured the majority resided in Thesnia where they had the benefit of farmland in which they could roam more happily. The news that any of his handsome steeds had been taken rattled him more than he let on - despite the furious expression currently displayed on his face. The trophies he could do without, but the horses were another matter. There was a reason he loved them, and if they were almost all gone, then he was unsure how he might react. Calm and collected were not words typically associated with him.
Daniil's theory as to when the theft had occurred seemed a rationally sound one, but Rafail was determined to discover more from the guards who had been assigned to watch over the stables. If they had disappeared from their duties and allowed another to sneak in and thieve the horses, then it was reason enough to terminate their employment within the Marikas household, and if they were wholly responsible for the crime themselves, then they could expect worse. Hopefully, however, the matter could be resolved without involving Papa, and Rafail would be able to return to his chambers to hide from the kingdom's humiliation once more.
"I will speak to the guards as is necessary," he answered his niece, tone thoughtful as he continued to discern precisely what was going on. As he spoke, he paused momentarily in his journey, then turned to Daniil with another frown which, despite being flecked with his frustration over the situation, displayed more concern than anything else. "Go back to your chambers, or leave on that visit you mentioned. The palace neighbours our home, and you do not need a horse for the journey. I will sort this out."
There was a harshness in his tone which implied he had not the time nor will to argue with her on this matter and, for once, it seemed Daniil recognised this, for she nodded with a demureness which was not typical of her, then scurried away. Good. Rafail didn't want to deal with both his unruly cousin and his lost horses that day.
Storming into the stables, he directed himself first towards the guard who currently stood on duty - something he thought thoroughly useless, given the situation. Rafail stared him down, taking advantage of his superior two inches or so of height, eyes blazing with anger. "My horses are missing. What happened?"
"My Lord," the man answered, though he stuttered through the words as if he were nervous. This was not the head of the household, but he had all the fiery temper and power to bring any situation to his father or brother, and answers which proved distasteful would likely not be willingly accepted. "I was not here. The horses were already gone when I began my watch this morning. We believe they were taken in the night."
Rafail watched him for a long moment, blue eyes running over the man's expression to find even the slightest detail which might give him away as a liar (he had only learned to read the faces of women to facilitate his flirtations, however, and the action was not particularly useful). After a while, he softened his expression somewhat, but kept his hands fixed on his waist. "Very well. Who was watching the stables last night?" he demanded, as if he knew the names of every individual guard in the household.
"Okeanos and Eusebios, my Lord."
"Fetch them for me."
He was quick to move, and returned only a few moments later with both the guards he had named. Neither looked especially impressive, even if they must have been to be employed within such a prestigious household. Both looked understandably nervous. Rafail smiled in a manner which implied no friendliness. "Tell me what happened last night."
It was a confusing story, so far as the Marikas could tell. The men had been keeping watch, so they claimed, and they had heard some suspicious sounds in the later hours of the night which they had eventually attributed to some wild creature wandering the garden, but neither had noticed a thing missing. One of them had disappeared briefly for reasons Rafail did not care to know, but he was confident that the horses had still been present when he returned, and the other had not seen anything during his companion's absence. No one out of the ordinary had visited the stables - they had seen only stray servants or guards appear in the gardens that night - and when they had left their shift ten minutes before the next was due to begin, every beast had been accounted for. It was the typical useless nonsense that provided very few answers, and the blonde lord could feel the will to continue this investigation leaving him as he listened to more. Eventually, he raised a hand to silence them.
"It is evident that there are two matters amiss here. Firstly," Rafail turned his gaze harshly onto the pair of guards, an eyebrow raised, "there is a gap between shifts which shall have to be amended. The horses must have been taken during that time. Secondly, I can assume the perpetrator of this crime is obviously a Marikas employee - more than one, I would imagine - with which my horses are comfortable. I imagine they must have fled." He waved the first, seemingly more competent guard over, an idea forming in his mind as he continued to speak. If Mama could see him now, taking charge of this situation and solving dilemmas, she would have been so proud. "Find out if any of the servants are missing. I want the culprit uncovered by the end of the day and gods help you if they are not."
Rafail raised a hand to push his hair back where it had fallen in front of his face, holding it in place at his forehead for a moment as if the stress of the situation had stolen the life from him, expression thoroughly exhausted. "I cannot handle this any longer. I am tired, and I have my own matters to resolve. Go, fix this, and give me a name by dinner." With those words, he turned on his heel, sure everything would be in place again and a culprit discovered before evening fell, even if the horses themselves were not yet returned to the stables. Finding the thief was a valuable first step, but, for now, what Rafail needed was several large goblets of wine and a lie-down.
He paced back to his chambers, tired of the drama - honestly, could the Gods not show him some mercy lately? - and fell onto a kline. Hopefully, Papa wouldn't hear about this just yet, and he could resolve it before further panic spread through the Marikas home. Hopefully, but probably not. Gods, he needed that wine.
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For a man with so many horses to his name, Rafail had always been surprisingly overprotective of the beasts. And why shouldn't he be? They were his prized possessions, and he thought each one to be perfect in its own manner, which was precisely why he had ensured the majority resided in Thesnia where they had the benefit of farmland in which they could roam more happily. The news that any of his handsome steeds had been taken rattled him more than he let on - despite the furious expression currently displayed on his face. The trophies he could do without, but the horses were another matter. There was a reason he loved them, and if they were almost all gone, then he was unsure how he might react. Calm and collected were not words typically associated with him.
Daniil's theory as to when the theft had occurred seemed a rationally sound one, but Rafail was determined to discover more from the guards who had been assigned to watch over the stables. If they had disappeared from their duties and allowed another to sneak in and thieve the horses, then it was reason enough to terminate their employment within the Marikas household, and if they were wholly responsible for the crime themselves, then they could expect worse. Hopefully, however, the matter could be resolved without involving Papa, and Rafail would be able to return to his chambers to hide from the kingdom's humiliation once more.
"I will speak to the guards as is necessary," he answered his niece, tone thoughtful as he continued to discern precisely what was going on. As he spoke, he paused momentarily in his journey, then turned to Daniil with another frown which, despite being flecked with his frustration over the situation, displayed more concern than anything else. "Go back to your chambers, or leave on that visit you mentioned. The palace neighbours our home, and you do not need a horse for the journey. I will sort this out."
There was a harshness in his tone which implied he had not the time nor will to argue with her on this matter and, for once, it seemed Daniil recognised this, for she nodded with a demureness which was not typical of her, then scurried away. Good. Rafail didn't want to deal with both his unruly cousin and his lost horses that day.
Storming into the stables, he directed himself first towards the guard who currently stood on duty - something he thought thoroughly useless, given the situation. Rafail stared him down, taking advantage of his superior two inches or so of height, eyes blazing with anger. "My horses are missing. What happened?"
"My Lord," the man answered, though he stuttered through the words as if he were nervous. This was not the head of the household, but he had all the fiery temper and power to bring any situation to his father or brother, and answers which proved distasteful would likely not be willingly accepted. "I was not here. The horses were already gone when I began my watch this morning. We believe they were taken in the night."
Rafail watched him for a long moment, blue eyes running over the man's expression to find even the slightest detail which might give him away as a liar (he had only learned to read the faces of women to facilitate his flirtations, however, and the action was not particularly useful). After a while, he softened his expression somewhat, but kept his hands fixed on his waist. "Very well. Who was watching the stables last night?" he demanded, as if he knew the names of every individual guard in the household.
"Okeanos and Eusebios, my Lord."
"Fetch them for me."
He was quick to move, and returned only a few moments later with both the guards he had named. Neither looked especially impressive, even if they must have been to be employed within such a prestigious household. Both looked understandably nervous. Rafail smiled in a manner which implied no friendliness. "Tell me what happened last night."
It was a confusing story, so far as the Marikas could tell. The men had been keeping watch, so they claimed, and they had heard some suspicious sounds in the later hours of the night which they had eventually attributed to some wild creature wandering the garden, but neither had noticed a thing missing. One of them had disappeared briefly for reasons Rafail did not care to know, but he was confident that the horses had still been present when he returned, and the other had not seen anything during his companion's absence. No one out of the ordinary had visited the stables - they had seen only stray servants or guards appear in the gardens that night - and when they had left their shift ten minutes before the next was due to begin, every beast had been accounted for. It was the typical useless nonsense that provided very few answers, and the blonde lord could feel the will to continue this investigation leaving him as he listened to more. Eventually, he raised a hand to silence them.
"It is evident that there are two matters amiss here. Firstly," Rafail turned his gaze harshly onto the pair of guards, an eyebrow raised, "there is a gap between shifts which shall have to be amended. The horses must have been taken during that time. Secondly, I can assume the perpetrator of this crime is obviously a Marikas employee - more than one, I would imagine - with which my horses are comfortable. I imagine they must have fled." He waved the first, seemingly more competent guard over, an idea forming in his mind as he continued to speak. If Mama could see him now, taking charge of this situation and solving dilemmas, she would have been so proud. "Find out if any of the servants are missing. I want the culprit uncovered by the end of the day and gods help you if they are not."
Rafail raised a hand to push his hair back where it had fallen in front of his face, holding it in place at his forehead for a moment as if the stress of the situation had stolen the life from him, expression thoroughly exhausted. "I cannot handle this any longer. I am tired, and I have my own matters to resolve. Go, fix this, and give me a name by dinner." With those words, he turned on his heel, sure everything would be in place again and a culprit discovered before evening fell, even if the horses themselves were not yet returned to the stables. Finding the thief was a valuable first step, but, for now, what Rafail needed was several large goblets of wine and a lie-down.
He paced back to his chambers, tired of the drama - honestly, could the Gods not show him some mercy lately? - and fell onto a kline. Hopefully, Papa wouldn't hear about this just yet, and he could resolve it before further panic spread through the Marikas home. Hopefully, but probably not. Gods, he needed that wine.
For a man with so many horses to his name, Rafail had always been surprisingly overprotective of the beasts. And why shouldn't he be? They were his prized possessions, and he thought each one to be perfect in its own manner, which was precisely why he had ensured the majority resided in Thesnia where they had the benefit of farmland in which they could roam more happily. The news that any of his handsome steeds had been taken rattled him more than he let on - despite the furious expression currently displayed on his face. The trophies he could do without, but the horses were another matter. There was a reason he loved them, and if they were almost all gone, then he was unsure how he might react. Calm and collected were not words typically associated with him.
Daniil's theory as to when the theft had occurred seemed a rationally sound one, but Rafail was determined to discover more from the guards who had been assigned to watch over the stables. If they had disappeared from their duties and allowed another to sneak in and thieve the horses, then it was reason enough to terminate their employment within the Marikas household, and if they were wholly responsible for the crime themselves, then they could expect worse. Hopefully, however, the matter could be resolved without involving Papa, and Rafail would be able to return to his chambers to hide from the kingdom's humiliation once more.
"I will speak to the guards as is necessary," he answered his niece, tone thoughtful as he continued to discern precisely what was going on. As he spoke, he paused momentarily in his journey, then turned to Daniil with another frown which, despite being flecked with his frustration over the situation, displayed more concern than anything else. "Go back to your chambers, or leave on that visit you mentioned. The palace neighbours our home, and you do not need a horse for the journey. I will sort this out."
There was a harshness in his tone which implied he had not the time nor will to argue with her on this matter and, for once, it seemed Daniil recognised this, for she nodded with a demureness which was not typical of her, then scurried away. Good. Rafail didn't want to deal with both his unruly cousin and his lost horses that day.
Storming into the stables, he directed himself first towards the guard who currently stood on duty - something he thought thoroughly useless, given the situation. Rafail stared him down, taking advantage of his superior two inches or so of height, eyes blazing with anger. "My horses are missing. What happened?"
"My Lord," the man answered, though he stuttered through the words as if he were nervous. This was not the head of the household, but he had all the fiery temper and power to bring any situation to his father or brother, and answers which proved distasteful would likely not be willingly accepted. "I was not here. The horses were already gone when I began my watch this morning. We believe they were taken in the night."
Rafail watched him for a long moment, blue eyes running over the man's expression to find even the slightest detail which might give him away as a liar (he had only learned to read the faces of women to facilitate his flirtations, however, and the action was not particularly useful). After a while, he softened his expression somewhat, but kept his hands fixed on his waist. "Very well. Who was watching the stables last night?" he demanded, as if he knew the names of every individual guard in the household.
"Okeanos and Eusebios, my Lord."
"Fetch them for me."
He was quick to move, and returned only a few moments later with both the guards he had named. Neither looked especially impressive, even if they must have been to be employed within such a prestigious household. Both looked understandably nervous. Rafail smiled in a manner which implied no friendliness. "Tell me what happened last night."
It was a confusing story, so far as the Marikas could tell. The men had been keeping watch, so they claimed, and they had heard some suspicious sounds in the later hours of the night which they had eventually attributed to some wild creature wandering the garden, but neither had noticed a thing missing. One of them had disappeared briefly for reasons Rafail did not care to know, but he was confident that the horses had still been present when he returned, and the other had not seen anything during his companion's absence. No one out of the ordinary had visited the stables - they had seen only stray servants or guards appear in the gardens that night - and when they had left their shift ten minutes before the next was due to begin, every beast had been accounted for. It was the typical useless nonsense that provided very few answers, and the blonde lord could feel the will to continue this investigation leaving him as he listened to more. Eventually, he raised a hand to silence them.
"It is evident that there are two matters amiss here. Firstly," Rafail turned his gaze harshly onto the pair of guards, an eyebrow raised, "there is a gap between shifts which shall have to be amended. The horses must have been taken during that time. Secondly, I can assume the perpetrator of this crime is obviously a Marikas employee - more than one, I would imagine - with which my horses are comfortable. I imagine they must have fled." He waved the first, seemingly more competent guard over, an idea forming in his mind as he continued to speak. If Mama could see him now, taking charge of this situation and solving dilemmas, she would have been so proud. "Find out if any of the servants are missing. I want the culprit uncovered by the end of the day and gods help you if they are not."
Rafail raised a hand to push his hair back where it had fallen in front of his face, holding it in place at his forehead for a moment as if the stress of the situation had stolen the life from him, expression thoroughly exhausted. "I cannot handle this any longer. I am tired, and I have my own matters to resolve. Go, fix this, and give me a name by dinner." With those words, he turned on his heel, sure everything would be in place again and a culprit discovered before evening fell, even if the horses themselves were not yet returned to the stables. Finding the thief was a valuable first step, but, for now, what Rafail needed was several large goblets of wine and a lie-down.
He paced back to his chambers, tired of the drama - honestly, could the Gods not show him some mercy lately? - and fell onto a kline. Hopefully, Papa wouldn't hear about this just yet, and he could resolve it before further panic spread through the Marikas home. Hopefully, but probably not. Gods, he needed that wine.