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The thin, ragged clouds showed no evidence of the spring rainstorm that had struck with such a force the night before. The storm had blazed through leaving as suddenly as it had appeared leaving in its wake a softness in the ground and the earthy scent of mud mingled with horses. Twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall several days were set aside for horse breeders from all over came to Taengea to sell their horses. The Agora, as large as it was, would be packed with people in the coming hours. Whether you simply looking or you were looking to buy there was always something to see. Granted, you could just about always find a couple of dealers in the Agora willing to sell you a horse but it was nothing like what it was during one of the fairs.
The spring fair was known for the young horses presented. These were the pride of their breeders. Several years of blood, sweat, and tears went into every horse that was there. From the moment the breeding took place, it would be almost a year before the mare foaled. And then almost another year before the foal was ready to wean. Add on one or two more additional years to let the young horse grow into himself enough that he’d be ready for work and pretty soon you’d whiled away four or five years waiting for this moment. The spring fair was for the end results. This was what the end game looked like for the breeders.
While the fall fair was equally well known, it tended to garner a little less attention since it catered more towards breeding stock and less to future champions. The fall fair lacked a bit of the electric energy that seemed to buzz through the spring fair. The new breeding year would be fastly approaching and the fall fair gave breeders a chance to add horses to their herd. To change, evolve improve their herds as needed. Mares with their half-grown colts would be offered. Potential breeding stallions would be available. Young mares ready to begin their life in the brood band.
Evangelina loved both the fairs. Winter had rounded to a close and spring didn’t really seem to begin for her until after the spring fair. In all of her seventeen years, she couldn’t remember missing one of them. The horse breeder community was a relatively small and close-knit one. It had been for many generations. Mostly because if you were born into raising horses you tended to stay in the family business. The art form of haggling over prices for horses passed down from generation to generation. For those not born into it, horses weren’t just a hobby they were something that got into your blood. Either way, horses were just as potent of addiction as gambling and twice as expensive.
It wasn’t as hard on big breeders with the means to acquire and change their herds as needed. But for the smaller, shoe-string breeders it was either an all or nothing gamble. There was more to it then simply breeding the best stallion you could afford to the best mare you had. Some of it was luck, but mostly it was instinct and knowing what would work and what wouldn’t.
Evie’s morning began with some sort of fried dough glazed with honey and sweet, aromatic spices. She pinched it apart, bit by bit eating it as she walked from dealer to dealer looking at the animals. Most of the dealers had known most of her life and happily chatted about random things. How was each other’s family doing? What was the latest champion they had? Who had they already seen at the fair? And whatever other tall tales there were to tell. Such was the way with horse people. It was a camaraderie comparable to that of the one between soldiers.
By mid-morning, the sun had come out quickly starting to dry the mud but leaving a stillness in the air. Nothing short of a disaster would have slowed her down today. Evangelina had found at least two horses…. Okay… four horses that had been put on her wish list. Two chestnuts, a bay, and a gray. She kept coming back to a chestnut filly with a wide blaze and high socks. The filly was a little lighter boned than most of the horses but the large eyes, refined face, and wide set nostrils were indicative of a high percentage of desert breeding. She was built to be fast and quick on her feet. But more so, she had a look of intelligence that made Evie long to wrap her up and smuggle her out of the fair. Right now though… she had Altair and he seemed to be consuming all of her allotted horse time. He needed her. Saying a farewell to her little filly, she let out a sigh and went to look for some more food.
That was the other great thing about the fairs… The food. There were vendors everywhere offering everything imaginable to eat. The smells were intoxicating. It had probably started out as comfort food for not being able to take all of the horses home with her but somehow through the years, it had turned into a bit of a ritual for Evie to overindulge in the food. She made it a point to eat something from every single one of her favorite vendors. But the indulgence was a rarity for her that she did only twice a year, what could be the harm in that.
She moved comfortably through the walkways, her meat on a stick occupying her. This had long since become one of her happy places. There really weren’t that many places she felt at home in. Places where she could let her guard down and simply be Evie and not Lady Evangelina of Leventi. Here it was about the horses and that was where the focus stayed. Stopping, she looked at a parchment on a blooded horse. Recognizing a name of one of their horses a few generations back she smiled. It was good to see their horses leaving a mark. She continued on through the marketplace that had been invaded by horse dealers.
Finishing off the meat on the stick she disposed of the stick taking in her surroundings again. Her attention was drawn to a man looking over a horse. Tilting her head she watched the carefulness he went over the horse with. The horse looked like he’d been chiseled by the Gods. She’d been anxious too when she’d seen him. His lineage was as wonderful as his appearance too.
She wasn’t sure what possessed her to do it, but soon she found herself leaning on the temporary wood slats that made up the fencing for the horses. Her dark eyes slid to the dealer who was busy at the other end of his stall.
“You don’t want this one.” Her voice was silky and low and without hesitating, she wiggled between the slats and had moved into the stall with them. Moving towards the horse’s tied head, she gently put her hand on his muzzle and stroke upwards, towards his forehead and resting there a moment before dropping away. “He’s beautiful to be sure but see these twin cowlicks… they indicate that he has an unpredictable personality.”
For the first time, she glanced up at the face of who she was offering the bit of horse dealer wisdom to. Her hand still resting on his rope halter, subtly not quite letting her guard down with the horse. “Different day, different horse…”
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The thin, ragged clouds showed no evidence of the spring rainstorm that had struck with such a force the night before. The storm had blazed through leaving as suddenly as it had appeared leaving in its wake a softness in the ground and the earthy scent of mud mingled with horses. Twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall several days were set aside for horse breeders from all over came to Taengea to sell their horses. The Agora, as large as it was, would be packed with people in the coming hours. Whether you simply looking or you were looking to buy there was always something to see. Granted, you could just about always find a couple of dealers in the Agora willing to sell you a horse but it was nothing like what it was during one of the fairs.
The spring fair was known for the young horses presented. These were the pride of their breeders. Several years of blood, sweat, and tears went into every horse that was there. From the moment the breeding took place, it would be almost a year before the mare foaled. And then almost another year before the foal was ready to wean. Add on one or two more additional years to let the young horse grow into himself enough that he’d be ready for work and pretty soon you’d whiled away four or five years waiting for this moment. The spring fair was for the end results. This was what the end game looked like for the breeders.
While the fall fair was equally well known, it tended to garner a little less attention since it catered more towards breeding stock and less to future champions. The fall fair lacked a bit of the electric energy that seemed to buzz through the spring fair. The new breeding year would be fastly approaching and the fall fair gave breeders a chance to add horses to their herd. To change, evolve improve their herds as needed. Mares with their half-grown colts would be offered. Potential breeding stallions would be available. Young mares ready to begin their life in the brood band.
Evangelina loved both the fairs. Winter had rounded to a close and spring didn’t really seem to begin for her until after the spring fair. In all of her seventeen years, she couldn’t remember missing one of them. The horse breeder community was a relatively small and close-knit one. It had been for many generations. Mostly because if you were born into raising horses you tended to stay in the family business. The art form of haggling over prices for horses passed down from generation to generation. For those not born into it, horses weren’t just a hobby they were something that got into your blood. Either way, horses were just as potent of addiction as gambling and twice as expensive.
It wasn’t as hard on big breeders with the means to acquire and change their herds as needed. But for the smaller, shoe-string breeders it was either an all or nothing gamble. There was more to it then simply breeding the best stallion you could afford to the best mare you had. Some of it was luck, but mostly it was instinct and knowing what would work and what wouldn’t.
Evie’s morning began with some sort of fried dough glazed with honey and sweet, aromatic spices. She pinched it apart, bit by bit eating it as she walked from dealer to dealer looking at the animals. Most of the dealers had known most of her life and happily chatted about random things. How was each other’s family doing? What was the latest champion they had? Who had they already seen at the fair? And whatever other tall tales there were to tell. Such was the way with horse people. It was a camaraderie comparable to that of the one between soldiers.
By mid-morning, the sun had come out quickly starting to dry the mud but leaving a stillness in the air. Nothing short of a disaster would have slowed her down today. Evangelina had found at least two horses…. Okay… four horses that had been put on her wish list. Two chestnuts, a bay, and a gray. She kept coming back to a chestnut filly with a wide blaze and high socks. The filly was a little lighter boned than most of the horses but the large eyes, refined face, and wide set nostrils were indicative of a high percentage of desert breeding. She was built to be fast and quick on her feet. But more so, she had a look of intelligence that made Evie long to wrap her up and smuggle her out of the fair. Right now though… she had Altair and he seemed to be consuming all of her allotted horse time. He needed her. Saying a farewell to her little filly, she let out a sigh and went to look for some more food.
That was the other great thing about the fairs… The food. There were vendors everywhere offering everything imaginable to eat. The smells were intoxicating. It had probably started out as comfort food for not being able to take all of the horses home with her but somehow through the years, it had turned into a bit of a ritual for Evie to overindulge in the food. She made it a point to eat something from every single one of her favorite vendors. But the indulgence was a rarity for her that she did only twice a year, what could be the harm in that.
She moved comfortably through the walkways, her meat on a stick occupying her. This had long since become one of her happy places. There really weren’t that many places she felt at home in. Places where she could let her guard down and simply be Evie and not Lady Evangelina of Leventi. Here it was about the horses and that was where the focus stayed. Stopping, she looked at a parchment on a blooded horse. Recognizing a name of one of their horses a few generations back she smiled. It was good to see their horses leaving a mark. She continued on through the marketplace that had been invaded by horse dealers.
Finishing off the meat on the stick she disposed of the stick taking in her surroundings again. Her attention was drawn to a man looking over a horse. Tilting her head she watched the carefulness he went over the horse with. The horse looked like he’d been chiseled by the Gods. She’d been anxious too when she’d seen him. His lineage was as wonderful as his appearance too.
She wasn’t sure what possessed her to do it, but soon she found herself leaning on the temporary wood slats that made up the fencing for the horses. Her dark eyes slid to the dealer who was busy at the other end of his stall.
“You don’t want this one.” Her voice was silky and low and without hesitating, she wiggled between the slats and had moved into the stall with them. Moving towards the horse’s tied head, she gently put her hand on his muzzle and stroke upwards, towards his forehead and resting there a moment before dropping away. “He’s beautiful to be sure but see these twin cowlicks… they indicate that he has an unpredictable personality.”
For the first time, she glanced up at the face of who she was offering the bit of horse dealer wisdom to. Her hand still resting on his rope halter, subtly not quite letting her guard down with the horse. “Different day, different horse…”
The thin, ragged clouds showed no evidence of the spring rainstorm that had struck with such a force the night before. The storm had blazed through leaving as suddenly as it had appeared leaving in its wake a softness in the ground and the earthy scent of mud mingled with horses. Twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall several days were set aside for horse breeders from all over came to Taengea to sell their horses. The Agora, as large as it was, would be packed with people in the coming hours. Whether you simply looking or you were looking to buy there was always something to see. Granted, you could just about always find a couple of dealers in the Agora willing to sell you a horse but it was nothing like what it was during one of the fairs.
The spring fair was known for the young horses presented. These were the pride of their breeders. Several years of blood, sweat, and tears went into every horse that was there. From the moment the breeding took place, it would be almost a year before the mare foaled. And then almost another year before the foal was ready to wean. Add on one or two more additional years to let the young horse grow into himself enough that he’d be ready for work and pretty soon you’d whiled away four or five years waiting for this moment. The spring fair was for the end results. This was what the end game looked like for the breeders.
While the fall fair was equally well known, it tended to garner a little less attention since it catered more towards breeding stock and less to future champions. The fall fair lacked a bit of the electric energy that seemed to buzz through the spring fair. The new breeding year would be fastly approaching and the fall fair gave breeders a chance to add horses to their herd. To change, evolve improve their herds as needed. Mares with their half-grown colts would be offered. Potential breeding stallions would be available. Young mares ready to begin their life in the brood band.
Evangelina loved both the fairs. Winter had rounded to a close and spring didn’t really seem to begin for her until after the spring fair. In all of her seventeen years, she couldn’t remember missing one of them. The horse breeder community was a relatively small and close-knit one. It had been for many generations. Mostly because if you were born into raising horses you tended to stay in the family business. The art form of haggling over prices for horses passed down from generation to generation. For those not born into it, horses weren’t just a hobby they were something that got into your blood. Either way, horses were just as potent of addiction as gambling and twice as expensive.
It wasn’t as hard on big breeders with the means to acquire and change their herds as needed. But for the smaller, shoe-string breeders it was either an all or nothing gamble. There was more to it then simply breeding the best stallion you could afford to the best mare you had. Some of it was luck, but mostly it was instinct and knowing what would work and what wouldn’t.
Evie’s morning began with some sort of fried dough glazed with honey and sweet, aromatic spices. She pinched it apart, bit by bit eating it as she walked from dealer to dealer looking at the animals. Most of the dealers had known most of her life and happily chatted about random things. How was each other’s family doing? What was the latest champion they had? Who had they already seen at the fair? And whatever other tall tales there were to tell. Such was the way with horse people. It was a camaraderie comparable to that of the one between soldiers.
By mid-morning, the sun had come out quickly starting to dry the mud but leaving a stillness in the air. Nothing short of a disaster would have slowed her down today. Evangelina had found at least two horses…. Okay… four horses that had been put on her wish list. Two chestnuts, a bay, and a gray. She kept coming back to a chestnut filly with a wide blaze and high socks. The filly was a little lighter boned than most of the horses but the large eyes, refined face, and wide set nostrils were indicative of a high percentage of desert breeding. She was built to be fast and quick on her feet. But more so, she had a look of intelligence that made Evie long to wrap her up and smuggle her out of the fair. Right now though… she had Altair and he seemed to be consuming all of her allotted horse time. He needed her. Saying a farewell to her little filly, she let out a sigh and went to look for some more food.
That was the other great thing about the fairs… The food. There were vendors everywhere offering everything imaginable to eat. The smells were intoxicating. It had probably started out as comfort food for not being able to take all of the horses home with her but somehow through the years, it had turned into a bit of a ritual for Evie to overindulge in the food. She made it a point to eat something from every single one of her favorite vendors. But the indulgence was a rarity for her that she did only twice a year, what could be the harm in that.
She moved comfortably through the walkways, her meat on a stick occupying her. This had long since become one of her happy places. There really weren’t that many places she felt at home in. Places where she could let her guard down and simply be Evie and not Lady Evangelina of Leventi. Here it was about the horses and that was where the focus stayed. Stopping, she looked at a parchment on a blooded horse. Recognizing a name of one of their horses a few generations back she smiled. It was good to see their horses leaving a mark. She continued on through the marketplace that had been invaded by horse dealers.
Finishing off the meat on the stick she disposed of the stick taking in her surroundings again. Her attention was drawn to a man looking over a horse. Tilting her head she watched the carefulness he went over the horse with. The horse looked like he’d been chiseled by the Gods. She’d been anxious too when she’d seen him. His lineage was as wonderful as his appearance too.
She wasn’t sure what possessed her to do it, but soon she found herself leaning on the temporary wood slats that made up the fencing for the horses. Her dark eyes slid to the dealer who was busy at the other end of his stall.
“You don’t want this one.” Her voice was silky and low and without hesitating, she wiggled between the slats and had moved into the stall with them. Moving towards the horse’s tied head, she gently put her hand on his muzzle and stroke upwards, towards his forehead and resting there a moment before dropping away. “He’s beautiful to be sure but see these twin cowlicks… they indicate that he has an unpredictable personality.”
For the first time, she glanced up at the face of who she was offering the bit of horse dealer wisdom to. Her hand still resting on his rope halter, subtly not quite letting her guard down with the horse. “Different day, different horse…”
It was only the second time the Athenian noble had made the travel to Taengea alongside his father. The air here seemed fresher, in a way, to the twenty-three year old. He was spending some time to himself today. After hearing of a fair of sorts where the horse breeders from around the kingdom come to show their stock, Dysmas thought he might examine the horses himself.
Not that the young lord was in need of a new steed, but a handsome, loyal, and reliable horse was difficult to come by. Taengea was well-known for having breeders with the best stock of horses in Greece. Perhaps if he saw one he liked, he might convince his father there was enough room in their family’s stable for another addition.
He walked through the marketplace with his long strides, a sword on each hip. He must have looked foreign, because he could feel the wary eyes of the crowds and merchants on him as he walked -- or maybe they were impressed by his height. Whatever the case, Dysmas tried to ignore the onlookers, focusing on what had brought him to the fair to begin with: curiosity.
He examined a few strong-looking colts thinking perhaps they’d grow into fine stallions. One thing Dysmas quickly learned as he browsed was he was no expert on horses. He knew enough to recognize different breeds and colors, knew enough to know what horses might carry his particular frame better than others, and knew enough to know an aggressive horse when he saw one -- which was to say, in layman's terms, that Dysmas knew about horses through his experiences with them, but knew nothing of how the horse in his experiences came to be bred for sturdiness, capability, or demeanor.
He stopped in front of a rather majestic-looking bay, and stepped into the tall to get a better look. The horse seemed quite sturdy. He gave it a couple firm pats on the neck, when he heard a voice tell him he’d be better off choosing another.
“Huh?” Dysmas backed away from the horse, watching a young woman approach. She seemed quite comfortable around the animal, and was petting the creature’s muzzle in an instant.
Dysmas perked a brow in confusion. What she was saying seemed silly to him. “What do twin cowlicks have to do with a horse’s disposition?” he asked her, unwilling to take the strange’s word at face-value.
But then… what if what she said was true? That the horse could be unpredictable from day to day? He frowned, looking over the horse again. Sometimes the wisest thing a person could do was admit when they knew nothing. Dysmas might not confess such a thing to this girl, but he was willing to do so internally.
“Hm. Alright.” He accepted, giving the horse another affectionate pat before he stepped out of the stall to tower over the tiny woman, “You seem to know your way around horses. Is there a better steed you suggest? It’s important to me that my mount is reliable.”
JD
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JD
Staff Team
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It was only the second time the Athenian noble had made the travel to Taengea alongside his father. The air here seemed fresher, in a way, to the twenty-three year old. He was spending some time to himself today. After hearing of a fair of sorts where the horse breeders from around the kingdom come to show their stock, Dysmas thought he might examine the horses himself.
Not that the young lord was in need of a new steed, but a handsome, loyal, and reliable horse was difficult to come by. Taengea was well-known for having breeders with the best stock of horses in Greece. Perhaps if he saw one he liked, he might convince his father there was enough room in their family’s stable for another addition.
He walked through the marketplace with his long strides, a sword on each hip. He must have looked foreign, because he could feel the wary eyes of the crowds and merchants on him as he walked -- or maybe they were impressed by his height. Whatever the case, Dysmas tried to ignore the onlookers, focusing on what had brought him to the fair to begin with: curiosity.
He examined a few strong-looking colts thinking perhaps they’d grow into fine stallions. One thing Dysmas quickly learned as he browsed was he was no expert on horses. He knew enough to recognize different breeds and colors, knew enough to know what horses might carry his particular frame better than others, and knew enough to know an aggressive horse when he saw one -- which was to say, in layman's terms, that Dysmas knew about horses through his experiences with them, but knew nothing of how the horse in his experiences came to be bred for sturdiness, capability, or demeanor.
He stopped in front of a rather majestic-looking bay, and stepped into the tall to get a better look. The horse seemed quite sturdy. He gave it a couple firm pats on the neck, when he heard a voice tell him he’d be better off choosing another.
“Huh?” Dysmas backed away from the horse, watching a young woman approach. She seemed quite comfortable around the animal, and was petting the creature’s muzzle in an instant.
Dysmas perked a brow in confusion. What she was saying seemed silly to him. “What do twin cowlicks have to do with a horse’s disposition?” he asked her, unwilling to take the strange’s word at face-value.
But then… what if what she said was true? That the horse could be unpredictable from day to day? He frowned, looking over the horse again. Sometimes the wisest thing a person could do was admit when they knew nothing. Dysmas might not confess such a thing to this girl, but he was willing to do so internally.
“Hm. Alright.” He accepted, giving the horse another affectionate pat before he stepped out of the stall to tower over the tiny woman, “You seem to know your way around horses. Is there a better steed you suggest? It’s important to me that my mount is reliable.”
It was only the second time the Athenian noble had made the travel to Taengea alongside his father. The air here seemed fresher, in a way, to the twenty-three year old. He was spending some time to himself today. After hearing of a fair of sorts where the horse breeders from around the kingdom come to show their stock, Dysmas thought he might examine the horses himself.
Not that the young lord was in need of a new steed, but a handsome, loyal, and reliable horse was difficult to come by. Taengea was well-known for having breeders with the best stock of horses in Greece. Perhaps if he saw one he liked, he might convince his father there was enough room in their family’s stable for another addition.
He walked through the marketplace with his long strides, a sword on each hip. He must have looked foreign, because he could feel the wary eyes of the crowds and merchants on him as he walked -- or maybe they were impressed by his height. Whatever the case, Dysmas tried to ignore the onlookers, focusing on what had brought him to the fair to begin with: curiosity.
He examined a few strong-looking colts thinking perhaps they’d grow into fine stallions. One thing Dysmas quickly learned as he browsed was he was no expert on horses. He knew enough to recognize different breeds and colors, knew enough to know what horses might carry his particular frame better than others, and knew enough to know an aggressive horse when he saw one -- which was to say, in layman's terms, that Dysmas knew about horses through his experiences with them, but knew nothing of how the horse in his experiences came to be bred for sturdiness, capability, or demeanor.
He stopped in front of a rather majestic-looking bay, and stepped into the tall to get a better look. The horse seemed quite sturdy. He gave it a couple firm pats on the neck, when he heard a voice tell him he’d be better off choosing another.
“Huh?” Dysmas backed away from the horse, watching a young woman approach. She seemed quite comfortable around the animal, and was petting the creature’s muzzle in an instant.
Dysmas perked a brow in confusion. What she was saying seemed silly to him. “What do twin cowlicks have to do with a horse’s disposition?” he asked her, unwilling to take the strange’s word at face-value.
But then… what if what she said was true? That the horse could be unpredictable from day to day? He frowned, looking over the horse again. Sometimes the wisest thing a person could do was admit when they knew nothing. Dysmas might not confess such a thing to this girl, but he was willing to do so internally.
“Hm. Alright.” He accepted, giving the horse another affectionate pat before he stepped out of the stall to tower over the tiny woman, “You seem to know your way around horses. Is there a better steed you suggest? It’s important to me that my mount is reliable.”
Her fingers stopped tickling the lips of the powerful bay as her breath caught as the man took a step backward and she could take in just how tall he was. She couldn’t help the way her eyes started at his feet and skimmed up the length of him, noting the long legs and dual swords. Up further, his trim waist and broad shoulders. He has to be the tallest person I’ve ever seen. Her gaze looked further upwards, skimming over a likable mouth and causing her gaze to widen just a bit further at the most startling blue eyes. Evangelina’s breath had left her body in a swiftness similar to that of falling and hitting the ground just a little too hard. Those eyes…
His eyebrows had drawn together skeptically at her comments, ‘What do twin cowlicks have to do with a horse’s disposition?’
It was only that moment that she realized she was staring, blinking her own slightly too wide of eyes. It was too late for her to back peddle and disappear. She had gone too far and drawn too much attention to herself. Her cheeks pinked slightly from embarrassment. No one liked ladies that had too much to say. Her own pride though wouldn’t let her dash away from this situation now that she’d created it either. Turning her focus back to the horse Evie smiled a little, finding comfort in the dark eyes of the horse. What had she been thinking to interfere with his looking at the horse? Her thumb rubbed soft, comforting circles between the nostrils. Clearing her throat softly, she glanced her big doe eyes sideways to the giant.
“Everything,” Evie replied simply, in a matter of fact tone. “Just because most people don’t know what signs to look for doesn’t mean those signs aren’t there.” Her attention shifted back to the horse, as he pushed his nose up against her hand drawing a smile from her. “You do it for people. You may not know you do it but everyone does. You look for signs that give away who they are and what they are good or not good at.” Her words might have sounded harsh, except her tone was soft and cooing as she continued to play with the horse. “For example,” Her gaze never left the horse as she continued, as her voice stopped the cooing. “You are light on your feet, especially for someone as tall as you are. I’d imagine you are also a bit ambidextrous too.”
Turning her head she raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to disagree before she continued. “You are a swordsman and while you are here looking at horses you didn’t have any real intention of buying anything, did you?” Her face softened then as she smiled at him. “As big as you are, you’d have to be quick on your feet to be a swordsman… you’re too big of a target otherwise. The twin swords, say that you’re comfortable with either hand using them. And you are looking at horses, that’s quite obvious.” She pointedly glanced around at where they were, her smile forming a bit more into a puckish grin. “But you really didn’t come with the intention of horse shopping or less you’d have left the swords where you are staying… if you’d been in desperate need of a horse you wouldn’t have risked climbing onto an unknown horse with the swords that could have spooked them.”
It was true, Evie looked a bit proud of her self. A light, possibly throaty chuckle escaped and she turned back at the horse giving him one more pet and look over. It really was a pity about him.
‘You seem to know your way around horses. Is there a better steed you suggest? It’s important to me that my mount is reliable.’ He gave the horse one more pat and stepped out of the stall standing over her.
She felt her eyes go a little wide again as she drifted her gaze over his long, tall frame again. It was hard not to be drawn back to those eyes of his. Whether he knew it or not, those eyes gave her a bit of confidence. He didn’t know who she was? Somehow that surprised her… but then again… it didn’t. I am not Theo or Cici. Something passed before her eyes and she smiled softly again and nodded her head.
“Yes, I suppose I do know my way around them a bit.” Probably because I am a Leventi and it’s in my blood along with so many other things. Catching her lip between her teeth, she glanced at him again this time in less awe and more in calculating. He’d need something tall and wide to eat up that length of leg he possessed. He wanted reliable. Meeting his gaze again, she let go of her lip and nodded a bit non-committal. “There are probably a couple that are better fits. How particular are you about appearances?”
Her mind worked like a trap, she’d already cataloged every horse here at the fair in her brain. So many horses and so little time. “I’ll tell you what… I am positively famished and there is a vendor just a few stalls down that sells these honeyed spiced figs that melt in your mouth. Feed me and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.” She grinned cheekily at him, her dark eyes sparkling impishly. “I am Lady Evangelina by the way.”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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Her fingers stopped tickling the lips of the powerful bay as her breath caught as the man took a step backward and she could take in just how tall he was. She couldn’t help the way her eyes started at his feet and skimmed up the length of him, noting the long legs and dual swords. Up further, his trim waist and broad shoulders. He has to be the tallest person I’ve ever seen. Her gaze looked further upwards, skimming over a likable mouth and causing her gaze to widen just a bit further at the most startling blue eyes. Evangelina’s breath had left her body in a swiftness similar to that of falling and hitting the ground just a little too hard. Those eyes…
His eyebrows had drawn together skeptically at her comments, ‘What do twin cowlicks have to do with a horse’s disposition?’
It was only that moment that she realized she was staring, blinking her own slightly too wide of eyes. It was too late for her to back peddle and disappear. She had gone too far and drawn too much attention to herself. Her cheeks pinked slightly from embarrassment. No one liked ladies that had too much to say. Her own pride though wouldn’t let her dash away from this situation now that she’d created it either. Turning her focus back to the horse Evie smiled a little, finding comfort in the dark eyes of the horse. What had she been thinking to interfere with his looking at the horse? Her thumb rubbed soft, comforting circles between the nostrils. Clearing her throat softly, she glanced her big doe eyes sideways to the giant.
“Everything,” Evie replied simply, in a matter of fact tone. “Just because most people don’t know what signs to look for doesn’t mean those signs aren’t there.” Her attention shifted back to the horse, as he pushed his nose up against her hand drawing a smile from her. “You do it for people. You may not know you do it but everyone does. You look for signs that give away who they are and what they are good or not good at.” Her words might have sounded harsh, except her tone was soft and cooing as she continued to play with the horse. “For example,” Her gaze never left the horse as she continued, as her voice stopped the cooing. “You are light on your feet, especially for someone as tall as you are. I’d imagine you are also a bit ambidextrous too.”
Turning her head she raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to disagree before she continued. “You are a swordsman and while you are here looking at horses you didn’t have any real intention of buying anything, did you?” Her face softened then as she smiled at him. “As big as you are, you’d have to be quick on your feet to be a swordsman… you’re too big of a target otherwise. The twin swords, say that you’re comfortable with either hand using them. And you are looking at horses, that’s quite obvious.” She pointedly glanced around at where they were, her smile forming a bit more into a puckish grin. “But you really didn’t come with the intention of horse shopping or less you’d have left the swords where you are staying… if you’d been in desperate need of a horse you wouldn’t have risked climbing onto an unknown horse with the swords that could have spooked them.”
It was true, Evie looked a bit proud of her self. A light, possibly throaty chuckle escaped and she turned back at the horse giving him one more pet and look over. It really was a pity about him.
‘You seem to know your way around horses. Is there a better steed you suggest? It’s important to me that my mount is reliable.’ He gave the horse one more pat and stepped out of the stall standing over her.
She felt her eyes go a little wide again as she drifted her gaze over his long, tall frame again. It was hard not to be drawn back to those eyes of his. Whether he knew it or not, those eyes gave her a bit of confidence. He didn’t know who she was? Somehow that surprised her… but then again… it didn’t. I am not Theo or Cici. Something passed before her eyes and she smiled softly again and nodded her head.
“Yes, I suppose I do know my way around them a bit.” Probably because I am a Leventi and it’s in my blood along with so many other things. Catching her lip between her teeth, she glanced at him again this time in less awe and more in calculating. He’d need something tall and wide to eat up that length of leg he possessed. He wanted reliable. Meeting his gaze again, she let go of her lip and nodded a bit non-committal. “There are probably a couple that are better fits. How particular are you about appearances?”
Her mind worked like a trap, she’d already cataloged every horse here at the fair in her brain. So many horses and so little time. “I’ll tell you what… I am positively famished and there is a vendor just a few stalls down that sells these honeyed spiced figs that melt in your mouth. Feed me and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.” She grinned cheekily at him, her dark eyes sparkling impishly. “I am Lady Evangelina by the way.”
Her fingers stopped tickling the lips of the powerful bay as her breath caught as the man took a step backward and she could take in just how tall he was. She couldn’t help the way her eyes started at his feet and skimmed up the length of him, noting the long legs and dual swords. Up further, his trim waist and broad shoulders. He has to be the tallest person I’ve ever seen. Her gaze looked further upwards, skimming over a likable mouth and causing her gaze to widen just a bit further at the most startling blue eyes. Evangelina’s breath had left her body in a swiftness similar to that of falling and hitting the ground just a little too hard. Those eyes…
His eyebrows had drawn together skeptically at her comments, ‘What do twin cowlicks have to do with a horse’s disposition?’
It was only that moment that she realized she was staring, blinking her own slightly too wide of eyes. It was too late for her to back peddle and disappear. She had gone too far and drawn too much attention to herself. Her cheeks pinked slightly from embarrassment. No one liked ladies that had too much to say. Her own pride though wouldn’t let her dash away from this situation now that she’d created it either. Turning her focus back to the horse Evie smiled a little, finding comfort in the dark eyes of the horse. What had she been thinking to interfere with his looking at the horse? Her thumb rubbed soft, comforting circles between the nostrils. Clearing her throat softly, she glanced her big doe eyes sideways to the giant.
“Everything,” Evie replied simply, in a matter of fact tone. “Just because most people don’t know what signs to look for doesn’t mean those signs aren’t there.” Her attention shifted back to the horse, as he pushed his nose up against her hand drawing a smile from her. “You do it for people. You may not know you do it but everyone does. You look for signs that give away who they are and what they are good or not good at.” Her words might have sounded harsh, except her tone was soft and cooing as she continued to play with the horse. “For example,” Her gaze never left the horse as she continued, as her voice stopped the cooing. “You are light on your feet, especially for someone as tall as you are. I’d imagine you are also a bit ambidextrous too.”
Turning her head she raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to disagree before she continued. “You are a swordsman and while you are here looking at horses you didn’t have any real intention of buying anything, did you?” Her face softened then as she smiled at him. “As big as you are, you’d have to be quick on your feet to be a swordsman… you’re too big of a target otherwise. The twin swords, say that you’re comfortable with either hand using them. And you are looking at horses, that’s quite obvious.” She pointedly glanced around at where they were, her smile forming a bit more into a puckish grin. “But you really didn’t come with the intention of horse shopping or less you’d have left the swords where you are staying… if you’d been in desperate need of a horse you wouldn’t have risked climbing onto an unknown horse with the swords that could have spooked them.”
It was true, Evie looked a bit proud of her self. A light, possibly throaty chuckle escaped and she turned back at the horse giving him one more pet and look over. It really was a pity about him.
‘You seem to know your way around horses. Is there a better steed you suggest? It’s important to me that my mount is reliable.’ He gave the horse one more pat and stepped out of the stall standing over her.
She felt her eyes go a little wide again as she drifted her gaze over his long, tall frame again. It was hard not to be drawn back to those eyes of his. Whether he knew it or not, those eyes gave her a bit of confidence. He didn’t know who she was? Somehow that surprised her… but then again… it didn’t. I am not Theo or Cici. Something passed before her eyes and she smiled softly again and nodded her head.
“Yes, I suppose I do know my way around them a bit.” Probably because I am a Leventi and it’s in my blood along with so many other things. Catching her lip between her teeth, she glanced at him again this time in less awe and more in calculating. He’d need something tall and wide to eat up that length of leg he possessed. He wanted reliable. Meeting his gaze again, she let go of her lip and nodded a bit non-committal. “There are probably a couple that are better fits. How particular are you about appearances?”
Her mind worked like a trap, she’d already cataloged every horse here at the fair in her brain. So many horses and so little time. “I’ll tell you what… I am positively famished and there is a vendor just a few stalls down that sells these honeyed spiced figs that melt in your mouth. Feed me and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.” She grinned cheekily at him, her dark eyes sparkling impishly. “I am Lady Evangelina by the way.”
She seemed to think that people could be judged on the cut of their cloth, and the items on their person -- she was right in that, but those are the things a person couldn’t help but judge and sometimes even wanted to be judged on. The color of a person’s hair didn’t tell if they would be fair-minded or not, the distance between their eyes didn’t determine if they were trustworthy or deceitful. Her logic wasn’t sound… but he was curious where her advice would lead him should he chose to follow it.
It seemed a ridiculous superstition at best to Dysmas… and yet he was going to let this woman dictate to him which horse was worthy of his time. He couldn’t decide if this made him a madman or a wiseman, but either way he was allowing it to happen.
He didn’t dare interrupt the sweet talk, rosy cheeks, or batting eyelashes over brown eyes. “Do you always make assumptions about a person on their looks alone?” he teased lightly with a chuckle, “I’m sure you’ve heard not to judge a tome by its cover.”
She thought she had him pegged, did she? He was ambidextrous, of course, and while he wasn’t as light on his feet as she assumed, he did have good reflexes to balance out the sluggish dueling stances. He didn’t dare tell the woman she was mistaken on any point -- though he wondered idly if she would bite her lower lip like that again if he did?
“Hadn’t given it much thought, truthfully,” Dysmas answered her with a humble smile, “it’s as you say, I wasn’t fully committed to making a purchase.”
He assessed the fairgrounds, in thought, admiring the different coat colors and breeds of horses from where he was currently standing. “The looks are less important than the horse’s quality, but I see no horses here that wouldn’t look handsome in my family’s stable back in Athenia.”
She wanted a trade. Food for advisement. It seemed harmless enough… until she introduced herself as Lady Evangelina. Though she hadn't provided the name of her House, Dysmas immediately recognized her name as one that belonged to one of the strongest houses in all of Taengea. She was one of the Leventi girls. It was Dysmas’s turn for his eyes to go wide. They might have been on the same social tier, but they were from separate kingdoms -- and the Leventis’ royal bloodline gave them a higher standing than Dysmas’s house. He stepped back from her, putting distance between them and gave her a proper acknowledgement of her social standing.
“Forgive me, Lady Evangelina, for not recognizing you sooner.” Dysmas rose from the slight dip to give her an introduction of his own, “I am Lord Dysmas of House Nikolaos and have travelled from Athenia with my father on political business. You’ve caught me in a moment of my own. I would be honored to provide you with food and hear your advice.”
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She seemed to think that people could be judged on the cut of their cloth, and the items on their person -- she was right in that, but those are the things a person couldn’t help but judge and sometimes even wanted to be judged on. The color of a person’s hair didn’t tell if they would be fair-minded or not, the distance between their eyes didn’t determine if they were trustworthy or deceitful. Her logic wasn’t sound… but he was curious where her advice would lead him should he chose to follow it.
It seemed a ridiculous superstition at best to Dysmas… and yet he was going to let this woman dictate to him which horse was worthy of his time. He couldn’t decide if this made him a madman or a wiseman, but either way he was allowing it to happen.
He didn’t dare interrupt the sweet talk, rosy cheeks, or batting eyelashes over brown eyes. “Do you always make assumptions about a person on their looks alone?” he teased lightly with a chuckle, “I’m sure you’ve heard not to judge a tome by its cover.”
She thought she had him pegged, did she? He was ambidextrous, of course, and while he wasn’t as light on his feet as she assumed, he did have good reflexes to balance out the sluggish dueling stances. He didn’t dare tell the woman she was mistaken on any point -- though he wondered idly if she would bite her lower lip like that again if he did?
“Hadn’t given it much thought, truthfully,” Dysmas answered her with a humble smile, “it’s as you say, I wasn’t fully committed to making a purchase.”
He assessed the fairgrounds, in thought, admiring the different coat colors and breeds of horses from where he was currently standing. “The looks are less important than the horse’s quality, but I see no horses here that wouldn’t look handsome in my family’s stable back in Athenia.”
She wanted a trade. Food for advisement. It seemed harmless enough… until she introduced herself as Lady Evangelina. Though she hadn't provided the name of her House, Dysmas immediately recognized her name as one that belonged to one of the strongest houses in all of Taengea. She was one of the Leventi girls. It was Dysmas’s turn for his eyes to go wide. They might have been on the same social tier, but they were from separate kingdoms -- and the Leventis’ royal bloodline gave them a higher standing than Dysmas’s house. He stepped back from her, putting distance between them and gave her a proper acknowledgement of her social standing.
“Forgive me, Lady Evangelina, for not recognizing you sooner.” Dysmas rose from the slight dip to give her an introduction of his own, “I am Lord Dysmas of House Nikolaos and have travelled from Athenia with my father on political business. You’ve caught me in a moment of my own. I would be honored to provide you with food and hear your advice.”
She seemed to think that people could be judged on the cut of their cloth, and the items on their person -- she was right in that, but those are the things a person couldn’t help but judge and sometimes even wanted to be judged on. The color of a person’s hair didn’t tell if they would be fair-minded or not, the distance between their eyes didn’t determine if they were trustworthy or deceitful. Her logic wasn’t sound… but he was curious where her advice would lead him should he chose to follow it.
It seemed a ridiculous superstition at best to Dysmas… and yet he was going to let this woman dictate to him which horse was worthy of his time. He couldn’t decide if this made him a madman or a wiseman, but either way he was allowing it to happen.
He didn’t dare interrupt the sweet talk, rosy cheeks, or batting eyelashes over brown eyes. “Do you always make assumptions about a person on their looks alone?” he teased lightly with a chuckle, “I’m sure you’ve heard not to judge a tome by its cover.”
She thought she had him pegged, did she? He was ambidextrous, of course, and while he wasn’t as light on his feet as she assumed, he did have good reflexes to balance out the sluggish dueling stances. He didn’t dare tell the woman she was mistaken on any point -- though he wondered idly if she would bite her lower lip like that again if he did?
“Hadn’t given it much thought, truthfully,” Dysmas answered her with a humble smile, “it’s as you say, I wasn’t fully committed to making a purchase.”
He assessed the fairgrounds, in thought, admiring the different coat colors and breeds of horses from where he was currently standing. “The looks are less important than the horse’s quality, but I see no horses here that wouldn’t look handsome in my family’s stable back in Athenia.”
She wanted a trade. Food for advisement. It seemed harmless enough… until she introduced herself as Lady Evangelina. Though she hadn't provided the name of her House, Dysmas immediately recognized her name as one that belonged to one of the strongest houses in all of Taengea. She was one of the Leventi girls. It was Dysmas’s turn for his eyes to go wide. They might have been on the same social tier, but they were from separate kingdoms -- and the Leventis’ royal bloodline gave them a higher standing than Dysmas’s house. He stepped back from her, putting distance between them and gave her a proper acknowledgement of her social standing.
“Forgive me, Lady Evangelina, for not recognizing you sooner.” Dysmas rose from the slight dip to give her an introduction of his own, “I am Lord Dysmas of House Nikolaos and have travelled from Athenia with my father on political business. You’ve caught me in a moment of my own. I would be honored to provide you with food and hear your advice.”
Her head shot up, surprise brightening her eyes at his remark. Did she always make assumptions about people on their looks alone? Evangelina blinked. It wasn’t often that someone surprised her, she liked to consider herself a good judge of character. And it just wasn’t often that she was left sputtering. His words had been teasing but they’d hit a nerve in Evie. People made assumptions all the time about her. It infuriated her. They assumed because she was a Leventi she was one thing, then they met her and she managed to shatter all their precious little ideas of what she was supposed to be. But when had she started making assumptions on people. Raising an eyebrow, she nodded her head conceding a point to him.
“Only when they are ridiculously tall, good-looking men looking at horses.” She teased him back, shaking her head softly. The corners of her eyes crinkling, promising that as she aged that would be one of the first places she’d develop wrinkles. The laughter slipped away and she simply smiled revealing a hidden dimple set in her cheek. “I know it sounds like crazy superstition but I am not wrong. There is a method to my madness, I promise.” Jutting her chin out a little stubbornly, “And to be fair, unpredictable has its own place in the world. Just because that is his weakness does not mean that it outweighs his strengths in other areas.” Her gaze took on a puckishness as she added, “Maybe you do need unpredictable… it might be invigorating.”
His humble smile beckoned to her. She tried to rein in the smugness, he’d not admitted she was right out loud. But she knew she was at least mostly right. He wasn’t missing any limbs or… appendages. Her face faltered for a moment and she couldn’t stop herself from raking her gaze over him again. He did have all his appendages, didn’t he? He appeared too. Her cheeks pinked again. Any appendages that she couldn’t see weren’t the sort to likely be displaced dueling with a sword… He had all his appendages. End of that topic, Evie. Move on.
Clearing her throat, she wondered if it would be poor sportsmanship to pretend to flick dust off her shoulder smugly? Probably. Best not to test her luck with a brute this size. It wasn’t a good idea to prod dragons. Her lips twitched. Oh, sweet temptation!
“Wait… it was what… did you say… ‘It was as I said?’” She clicked her tongue against her teeth and shook her head in mock gloating. “I am afraid I didn’t quite hear you. My family says that I have selective hearing...it’s a terrible disability.” She teased him, trying and failing miserably at keeping a straight face. Tilting her head she looked up at him from beneath her lashes, sending him another amused grin, “They also say I am a terribly competitive and a poor sport.”
Biting the inside of her cheek, she knew she’d better tone herself down. Gods! You don’t want another disaster like with Lord Nikos. Get a hold of yourself. He just wants to look at horses. Behave.
‘The looks are less important than the horse’s quality, but I see no horses here that wouldn’t look handsome in my family’s stable back in Athenia.’
She found herself tilting her head up to look at him again, this time a bit more curiously. He wanted substance instead of ornateness. Had he really just said that? Did it just pertain to horses or people too? Her lips lifted and she smiled again causing her dimple appearing.
“You flatter our Taengean horses. Smart man.” She murmured and let her dark eyes flicker around the aisle of the fair taking in the various sights, sounds, and smells. Gods! She was so happy here at the fair. She loved them. “We are known for our wine, women, and horses… not always in that order mind you but you can never go wrong complimenting a Taengean on their horses.” Her gaze was drawn back to him and she smiled, “It must be an interesting change from Athenia. I haven’t been anywhere really…” She didn’t quite want to admit to him that she didn’t know is she was that brave. Traveling seemed a bit scary to a girl who’d never been very far from her own home.
She’d thought she’d had him at the blackmail for food, but the instant she mentioned her name and he took a step back she felt a coldness wash over her. She’d let her guard down with him, for just a moment she’d felt like maybe… maybe she could escape the expectations.
‘Forgive me, Lady Evangelina, for not recognizing you sooner.’ He dipped in a slight bow. Taking a deep breath, she gave a nod of her head but didn’t meet his gaze again. “Do not apologize, my lord. There are quite a lot of us Leventis. Even those here in Taengea can’t keep track of us, I think you are well within your right to be excused for not recognizing me.” She replied softly, though her lips formed a tight smile. Was that a slight wince on her face at his sudden formality? Now that expectations had been made, she found she didn’t know what to say. “I… um… thank you.”
Jutting her chin out, she steeled herself for the formalness that had done away with the easy banter. Shifting she nodded her head, “The… the vendor is this way, but you really don’t need to buy me food. I probably shouldn’t eat them anyway. I am afraid I’ve made a terrible glutton of myself today anyway.” She swallowed. Gods, she had to stop letting it get to her. People would always hear her name and measure her up to whatever standards they had imagined up of what Leventi women were. Leventi women and Leventi horses. The expectations never ended, did they?
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Her head shot up, surprise brightening her eyes at his remark. Did she always make assumptions about people on their looks alone? Evangelina blinked. It wasn’t often that someone surprised her, she liked to consider herself a good judge of character. And it just wasn’t often that she was left sputtering. His words had been teasing but they’d hit a nerve in Evie. People made assumptions all the time about her. It infuriated her. They assumed because she was a Leventi she was one thing, then they met her and she managed to shatter all their precious little ideas of what she was supposed to be. But when had she started making assumptions on people. Raising an eyebrow, she nodded her head conceding a point to him.
“Only when they are ridiculously tall, good-looking men looking at horses.” She teased him back, shaking her head softly. The corners of her eyes crinkling, promising that as she aged that would be one of the first places she’d develop wrinkles. The laughter slipped away and she simply smiled revealing a hidden dimple set in her cheek. “I know it sounds like crazy superstition but I am not wrong. There is a method to my madness, I promise.” Jutting her chin out a little stubbornly, “And to be fair, unpredictable has its own place in the world. Just because that is his weakness does not mean that it outweighs his strengths in other areas.” Her gaze took on a puckishness as she added, “Maybe you do need unpredictable… it might be invigorating.”
His humble smile beckoned to her. She tried to rein in the smugness, he’d not admitted she was right out loud. But she knew she was at least mostly right. He wasn’t missing any limbs or… appendages. Her face faltered for a moment and she couldn’t stop herself from raking her gaze over him again. He did have all his appendages, didn’t he? He appeared too. Her cheeks pinked again. Any appendages that she couldn’t see weren’t the sort to likely be displaced dueling with a sword… He had all his appendages. End of that topic, Evie. Move on.
Clearing her throat, she wondered if it would be poor sportsmanship to pretend to flick dust off her shoulder smugly? Probably. Best not to test her luck with a brute this size. It wasn’t a good idea to prod dragons. Her lips twitched. Oh, sweet temptation!
“Wait… it was what… did you say… ‘It was as I said?’” She clicked her tongue against her teeth and shook her head in mock gloating. “I am afraid I didn’t quite hear you. My family says that I have selective hearing...it’s a terrible disability.” She teased him, trying and failing miserably at keeping a straight face. Tilting her head she looked up at him from beneath her lashes, sending him another amused grin, “They also say I am a terribly competitive and a poor sport.”
Biting the inside of her cheek, she knew she’d better tone herself down. Gods! You don’t want another disaster like with Lord Nikos. Get a hold of yourself. He just wants to look at horses. Behave.
‘The looks are less important than the horse’s quality, but I see no horses here that wouldn’t look handsome in my family’s stable back in Athenia.’
She found herself tilting her head up to look at him again, this time a bit more curiously. He wanted substance instead of ornateness. Had he really just said that? Did it just pertain to horses or people too? Her lips lifted and she smiled again causing her dimple appearing.
“You flatter our Taengean horses. Smart man.” She murmured and let her dark eyes flicker around the aisle of the fair taking in the various sights, sounds, and smells. Gods! She was so happy here at the fair. She loved them. “We are known for our wine, women, and horses… not always in that order mind you but you can never go wrong complimenting a Taengean on their horses.” Her gaze was drawn back to him and she smiled, “It must be an interesting change from Athenia. I haven’t been anywhere really…” She didn’t quite want to admit to him that she didn’t know is she was that brave. Traveling seemed a bit scary to a girl who’d never been very far from her own home.
She’d thought she’d had him at the blackmail for food, but the instant she mentioned her name and he took a step back she felt a coldness wash over her. She’d let her guard down with him, for just a moment she’d felt like maybe… maybe she could escape the expectations.
‘Forgive me, Lady Evangelina, for not recognizing you sooner.’ He dipped in a slight bow. Taking a deep breath, she gave a nod of her head but didn’t meet his gaze again. “Do not apologize, my lord. There are quite a lot of us Leventis. Even those here in Taengea can’t keep track of us, I think you are well within your right to be excused for not recognizing me.” She replied softly, though her lips formed a tight smile. Was that a slight wince on her face at his sudden formality? Now that expectations had been made, she found she didn’t know what to say. “I… um… thank you.”
Jutting her chin out, she steeled herself for the formalness that had done away with the easy banter. Shifting she nodded her head, “The… the vendor is this way, but you really don’t need to buy me food. I probably shouldn’t eat them anyway. I am afraid I’ve made a terrible glutton of myself today anyway.” She swallowed. Gods, she had to stop letting it get to her. People would always hear her name and measure her up to whatever standards they had imagined up of what Leventi women were. Leventi women and Leventi horses. The expectations never ended, did they?
Her head shot up, surprise brightening her eyes at his remark. Did she always make assumptions about people on their looks alone? Evangelina blinked. It wasn’t often that someone surprised her, she liked to consider herself a good judge of character. And it just wasn’t often that she was left sputtering. His words had been teasing but they’d hit a nerve in Evie. People made assumptions all the time about her. It infuriated her. They assumed because she was a Leventi she was one thing, then they met her and she managed to shatter all their precious little ideas of what she was supposed to be. But when had she started making assumptions on people. Raising an eyebrow, she nodded her head conceding a point to him.
“Only when they are ridiculously tall, good-looking men looking at horses.” She teased him back, shaking her head softly. The corners of her eyes crinkling, promising that as she aged that would be one of the first places she’d develop wrinkles. The laughter slipped away and she simply smiled revealing a hidden dimple set in her cheek. “I know it sounds like crazy superstition but I am not wrong. There is a method to my madness, I promise.” Jutting her chin out a little stubbornly, “And to be fair, unpredictable has its own place in the world. Just because that is his weakness does not mean that it outweighs his strengths in other areas.” Her gaze took on a puckishness as she added, “Maybe you do need unpredictable… it might be invigorating.”
His humble smile beckoned to her. She tried to rein in the smugness, he’d not admitted she was right out loud. But she knew she was at least mostly right. He wasn’t missing any limbs or… appendages. Her face faltered for a moment and she couldn’t stop herself from raking her gaze over him again. He did have all his appendages, didn’t he? He appeared too. Her cheeks pinked again. Any appendages that she couldn’t see weren’t the sort to likely be displaced dueling with a sword… He had all his appendages. End of that topic, Evie. Move on.
Clearing her throat, she wondered if it would be poor sportsmanship to pretend to flick dust off her shoulder smugly? Probably. Best not to test her luck with a brute this size. It wasn’t a good idea to prod dragons. Her lips twitched. Oh, sweet temptation!
“Wait… it was what… did you say… ‘It was as I said?’” She clicked her tongue against her teeth and shook her head in mock gloating. “I am afraid I didn’t quite hear you. My family says that I have selective hearing...it’s a terrible disability.” She teased him, trying and failing miserably at keeping a straight face. Tilting her head she looked up at him from beneath her lashes, sending him another amused grin, “They also say I am a terribly competitive and a poor sport.”
Biting the inside of her cheek, she knew she’d better tone herself down. Gods! You don’t want another disaster like with Lord Nikos. Get a hold of yourself. He just wants to look at horses. Behave.
‘The looks are less important than the horse’s quality, but I see no horses here that wouldn’t look handsome in my family’s stable back in Athenia.’
She found herself tilting her head up to look at him again, this time a bit more curiously. He wanted substance instead of ornateness. Had he really just said that? Did it just pertain to horses or people too? Her lips lifted and she smiled again causing her dimple appearing.
“You flatter our Taengean horses. Smart man.” She murmured and let her dark eyes flicker around the aisle of the fair taking in the various sights, sounds, and smells. Gods! She was so happy here at the fair. She loved them. “We are known for our wine, women, and horses… not always in that order mind you but you can never go wrong complimenting a Taengean on their horses.” Her gaze was drawn back to him and she smiled, “It must be an interesting change from Athenia. I haven’t been anywhere really…” She didn’t quite want to admit to him that she didn’t know is she was that brave. Traveling seemed a bit scary to a girl who’d never been very far from her own home.
She’d thought she’d had him at the blackmail for food, but the instant she mentioned her name and he took a step back she felt a coldness wash over her. She’d let her guard down with him, for just a moment she’d felt like maybe… maybe she could escape the expectations.
‘Forgive me, Lady Evangelina, for not recognizing you sooner.’ He dipped in a slight bow. Taking a deep breath, she gave a nod of her head but didn’t meet his gaze again. “Do not apologize, my lord. There are quite a lot of us Leventis. Even those here in Taengea can’t keep track of us, I think you are well within your right to be excused for not recognizing me.” She replied softly, though her lips formed a tight smile. Was that a slight wince on her face at his sudden formality? Now that expectations had been made, she found she didn’t know what to say. “I… um… thank you.”
Jutting her chin out, she steeled herself for the formalness that had done away with the easy banter. Shifting she nodded her head, “The… the vendor is this way, but you really don’t need to buy me food. I probably shouldn’t eat them anyway. I am afraid I’ve made a terrible glutton of myself today anyway.” She swallowed. Gods, she had to stop letting it get to her. People would always hear her name and measure her up to whatever standards they had imagined up of what Leventi women were. Leventi women and Leventi horses. The expectations never ended, did they?
He laughed at her jest -- he was, indeed, quite tall especially compared to her. He hadn’t missed that she had complimented his appearance, though chose to take the flattery in stride. Dysmas tilted his head to the side as she mentioned her thoughts on the horse’s strengths and weaknesses. “Unpredictability can be as much a strength as the rest. It all depends on what’s required of the horse.”
The Athenian could see someone looking to have a steed trained to be their loyal companion and no one else’s, where unpredictability could be of great use. Monotony was boring, a leisure horse with such a trait could become a great source of much needed energy in a routine. It all depended on the pairing and matching of horse, buyer, and rider.
He huffed a bit a her assessment of him needing an “invigorating” mount. It displeased him to think that she thought him stiff and uninspired.
“I will defer to your judgement.” He stated plainly.
She may not have realized it yet, but Dysmas had already decided that he would let her be his guide on the matter of the horse. He supposed she was equally entitled to think of him as she pleased. Dysmas was unsure if she was sizing him up for any particular reason, but the roaming eyes and blushing cheeks weren’t lost on him. And more teasing.
The signs were there, he conceded. He was unsure if she was helping him for his benefit or her own, but he had seen plenty of women swoon over his appearance in the past. This girl was young, there was no question about that. A mere teenager. He dared not ask her age, though. Dysmas wouldn’t wish to lead her on, but it would be impolite to simply avoid conversation.
“Does your family say praises of you as well?” he asked, genuinely curious and perking a brow at his companion.
He could offer suggestions, but he feared being too forward. After all, Dysmas knew nothing of this woman save for what he had already experienced in her company. She was interested in knowing if there was a look he wanted in a horse, but Dysmas honestly felt any of the horses that he could select from the fair would make for a visually appealing mount.
It seemed the girl didn’t trust in his response though, thinking it mere flattery. “It’s not flattery if it’s true.” The lord quipped.
He nodded when she mentioned the difference between the two Kingdoms. “It is certainly different, but different isn’t really a bad thing. I always kinda liked different, to be honest.” Dysmas confessed with a smile down to her.
But the familiarity the smile implied would fade once Dysmas discovered with whom he was conversing. He greeted her with every ounce of sincerity and formality as he had been taught was polite. It was, however clear from her reaction and how she had been presenting herself, that she had preferred the casualty. He furrowed his brow, seeing the strain in her smile and how stilted the conversation had become.
Needless to say, Dysmas was concerned he had done something wrong. Perhaps it was a Taengean thing he was unaware of?
He reached for her hand to still her movement, perhaps something ill-advised and inappropriate. “My lady,” the tone of his voice was calm but firm, “if I have offended, I would like to make amends.”
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This post was created by our staff team.
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He laughed at her jest -- he was, indeed, quite tall especially compared to her. He hadn’t missed that she had complimented his appearance, though chose to take the flattery in stride. Dysmas tilted his head to the side as she mentioned her thoughts on the horse’s strengths and weaknesses. “Unpredictability can be as much a strength as the rest. It all depends on what’s required of the horse.”
The Athenian could see someone looking to have a steed trained to be their loyal companion and no one else’s, where unpredictability could be of great use. Monotony was boring, a leisure horse with such a trait could become a great source of much needed energy in a routine. It all depended on the pairing and matching of horse, buyer, and rider.
He huffed a bit a her assessment of him needing an “invigorating” mount. It displeased him to think that she thought him stiff and uninspired.
“I will defer to your judgement.” He stated plainly.
She may not have realized it yet, but Dysmas had already decided that he would let her be his guide on the matter of the horse. He supposed she was equally entitled to think of him as she pleased. Dysmas was unsure if she was sizing him up for any particular reason, but the roaming eyes and blushing cheeks weren’t lost on him. And more teasing.
The signs were there, he conceded. He was unsure if she was helping him for his benefit or her own, but he had seen plenty of women swoon over his appearance in the past. This girl was young, there was no question about that. A mere teenager. He dared not ask her age, though. Dysmas wouldn’t wish to lead her on, but it would be impolite to simply avoid conversation.
“Does your family say praises of you as well?” he asked, genuinely curious and perking a brow at his companion.
He could offer suggestions, but he feared being too forward. After all, Dysmas knew nothing of this woman save for what he had already experienced in her company. She was interested in knowing if there was a look he wanted in a horse, but Dysmas honestly felt any of the horses that he could select from the fair would make for a visually appealing mount.
It seemed the girl didn’t trust in his response though, thinking it mere flattery. “It’s not flattery if it’s true.” The lord quipped.
He nodded when she mentioned the difference between the two Kingdoms. “It is certainly different, but different isn’t really a bad thing. I always kinda liked different, to be honest.” Dysmas confessed with a smile down to her.
But the familiarity the smile implied would fade once Dysmas discovered with whom he was conversing. He greeted her with every ounce of sincerity and formality as he had been taught was polite. It was, however clear from her reaction and how she had been presenting herself, that she had preferred the casualty. He furrowed his brow, seeing the strain in her smile and how stilted the conversation had become.
Needless to say, Dysmas was concerned he had done something wrong. Perhaps it was a Taengean thing he was unaware of?
He reached for her hand to still her movement, perhaps something ill-advised and inappropriate. “My lady,” the tone of his voice was calm but firm, “if I have offended, I would like to make amends.”
He laughed at her jest -- he was, indeed, quite tall especially compared to her. He hadn’t missed that she had complimented his appearance, though chose to take the flattery in stride. Dysmas tilted his head to the side as she mentioned her thoughts on the horse’s strengths and weaknesses. “Unpredictability can be as much a strength as the rest. It all depends on what’s required of the horse.”
The Athenian could see someone looking to have a steed trained to be their loyal companion and no one else’s, where unpredictability could be of great use. Monotony was boring, a leisure horse with such a trait could become a great source of much needed energy in a routine. It all depended on the pairing and matching of horse, buyer, and rider.
He huffed a bit a her assessment of him needing an “invigorating” mount. It displeased him to think that she thought him stiff and uninspired.
“I will defer to your judgement.” He stated plainly.
She may not have realized it yet, but Dysmas had already decided that he would let her be his guide on the matter of the horse. He supposed she was equally entitled to think of him as she pleased. Dysmas was unsure if she was sizing him up for any particular reason, but the roaming eyes and blushing cheeks weren’t lost on him. And more teasing.
The signs were there, he conceded. He was unsure if she was helping him for his benefit or her own, but he had seen plenty of women swoon over his appearance in the past. This girl was young, there was no question about that. A mere teenager. He dared not ask her age, though. Dysmas wouldn’t wish to lead her on, but it would be impolite to simply avoid conversation.
“Does your family say praises of you as well?” he asked, genuinely curious and perking a brow at his companion.
He could offer suggestions, but he feared being too forward. After all, Dysmas knew nothing of this woman save for what he had already experienced in her company. She was interested in knowing if there was a look he wanted in a horse, but Dysmas honestly felt any of the horses that he could select from the fair would make for a visually appealing mount.
It seemed the girl didn’t trust in his response though, thinking it mere flattery. “It’s not flattery if it’s true.” The lord quipped.
He nodded when she mentioned the difference between the two Kingdoms. “It is certainly different, but different isn’t really a bad thing. I always kinda liked different, to be honest.” Dysmas confessed with a smile down to her.
But the familiarity the smile implied would fade once Dysmas discovered with whom he was conversing. He greeted her with every ounce of sincerity and formality as he had been taught was polite. It was, however clear from her reaction and how she had been presenting herself, that she had preferred the casualty. He furrowed his brow, seeing the strain in her smile and how stilted the conversation had become.
Needless to say, Dysmas was concerned he had done something wrong. Perhaps it was a Taengean thing he was unaware of?
He reached for her hand to still her movement, perhaps something ill-advised and inappropriate. “My lady,” the tone of his voice was calm but firm, “if I have offended, I would like to make amends.”
It was true, not everyone reaped the boons of unpredictability as a trait. In fact, probably only a handful of people were actually equipped to deal with it. Evie thrived on it. There was safety in the known, but a calm sea had never made a talented sailor. A calm horse had never created a great horseman. She was as scared of stepping out of her comfort zone as any normal person was, but unlike most people, Evie found that sweet spot, that perfect sync with the world when she was out of that predictable comfort zone.
‘Unpredictability can be as much a strength as the rest. It all depends on what’s required of the horse.’ Evangelina couldn’t have said it better herself, her reply came in the form of an unguarded, dimpled smile. She shot him an amused look at the plain statement of deferring to her judgment.
“Mmm… I am honored truly.” She murmured in reply, a bit of sarcasm tinting her words. The thought crossed her mind at that moment to inform him who she was. She might have not been one of the male family members of Leventi but she knew horseflesh as well as anyone of her male counterparts. But, it wasn’t normal for her to go around flashing her name. Names were just that, they were words until you did something with them. Did something with yourself… No, Evie didn’t want to flash her name around… she wanted to gain her recognition on her own merit and she would… maybe today, maybe someday. It would happen though.
‘Does your family say praises of you as well?’ His comment to her jesting caught her off guard again, and she had to catch herself for saying too much. She wasn’t the sort to air her thoughts so openly, not the thoughts that really mattered anyway. His gaze made her shift uncomfortably., but she pasted on a perfect smile and shrugged, “There are extremely high expectations with my family.” She wasn’t brazen enough to tell him that if they did praise her, she’d have to take a long and hard look at what that praise was covering up. Manipulations and lies were everywhere in the Leventi family. Nothing was ever a simple black and white, hadn’t her mother taught her that.
Shooting him a sideways glance she didn’t want to correct him yet again. Flattery was still flattery even if it was true… she figured it’d lead to an argument of logistics on the words. So she let it slide with just a roll of her eyes again. “I bet you say that to all the girls too.” She teased lightly. Her gaze softened and she nodded in agreement. “There is beauty in uniqueness. I think we lean heavily on one idea of beauty. But something could be beautiful as a mountain and not be beautiful a flower, but still be just as beautiful.” She sighed and shook her head, “That’s just my thoughts though…”
It was true, as soon as the formality came into play. As soon as he knew who she was and treated her differently. It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on her. She’d gone too far. She’d been too forward. He wasn’t her brother. He wasn’t her cousin. He wasn’t even her friend. She had lost herself in those eyes… it disconcerted her how easily she’d let her guard down. As quickly as her guard had tumbled, it had instantly flown back up. Her walls were back in place.
Her spine had straightened and her posture had changed as if someone was pulling the strings on a puppet. In a small movement, she gave herself a small pinch. Get your act together, Evie. Discombobulated for a moment, she switched from the open unguarded girl she’d been moments ago to something more expected. Something… Someone who she wasn’t. This was her public face. This was the girl everyone wanted to see.
She hadn’t noticed him reaching out and touching her hand. Evie jerked her head up raising her eyes to met his gaze again as he spoke. ‘My lady, if I have offended, I would like to make amends.’ She blinked, a perfectly schooled calmness replacing her nervousness. “Offended me? Of course, not, there is nothing to make amends for. You’ve been nothing but polite and gracious. If anything, I should apologize for my forwardness. I am afraid I get a bit excited for the fairs.”
At that very moment, Evie wanted nothing more than to forget it all. She’d help him find his horse and it would be the end of this. At least no one else had been around to see what a little idiot she’d been.
Taking a deep breath she smiled, it was polite but there were no dimples to be seen. “You wished to see some more suitable horses?” This time she did step away, she wasn’t going to focus on her shortcomings. She could do that later. “I assume you are looking at riding horses, but there are also some very nice racers here at this fair…” She continued as if none of the above had happened. He expected a Leventi lady, she’d play the part as best she could.
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It was true, not everyone reaped the boons of unpredictability as a trait. In fact, probably only a handful of people were actually equipped to deal with it. Evie thrived on it. There was safety in the known, but a calm sea had never made a talented sailor. A calm horse had never created a great horseman. She was as scared of stepping out of her comfort zone as any normal person was, but unlike most people, Evie found that sweet spot, that perfect sync with the world when she was out of that predictable comfort zone.
‘Unpredictability can be as much a strength as the rest. It all depends on what’s required of the horse.’ Evangelina couldn’t have said it better herself, her reply came in the form of an unguarded, dimpled smile. She shot him an amused look at the plain statement of deferring to her judgment.
“Mmm… I am honored truly.” She murmured in reply, a bit of sarcasm tinting her words. The thought crossed her mind at that moment to inform him who she was. She might have not been one of the male family members of Leventi but she knew horseflesh as well as anyone of her male counterparts. But, it wasn’t normal for her to go around flashing her name. Names were just that, they were words until you did something with them. Did something with yourself… No, Evie didn’t want to flash her name around… she wanted to gain her recognition on her own merit and she would… maybe today, maybe someday. It would happen though.
‘Does your family say praises of you as well?’ His comment to her jesting caught her off guard again, and she had to catch herself for saying too much. She wasn’t the sort to air her thoughts so openly, not the thoughts that really mattered anyway. His gaze made her shift uncomfortably., but she pasted on a perfect smile and shrugged, “There are extremely high expectations with my family.” She wasn’t brazen enough to tell him that if they did praise her, she’d have to take a long and hard look at what that praise was covering up. Manipulations and lies were everywhere in the Leventi family. Nothing was ever a simple black and white, hadn’t her mother taught her that.
Shooting him a sideways glance she didn’t want to correct him yet again. Flattery was still flattery even if it was true… she figured it’d lead to an argument of logistics on the words. So she let it slide with just a roll of her eyes again. “I bet you say that to all the girls too.” She teased lightly. Her gaze softened and she nodded in agreement. “There is beauty in uniqueness. I think we lean heavily on one idea of beauty. But something could be beautiful as a mountain and not be beautiful a flower, but still be just as beautiful.” She sighed and shook her head, “That’s just my thoughts though…”
It was true, as soon as the formality came into play. As soon as he knew who she was and treated her differently. It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on her. She’d gone too far. She’d been too forward. He wasn’t her brother. He wasn’t her cousin. He wasn’t even her friend. She had lost herself in those eyes… it disconcerted her how easily she’d let her guard down. As quickly as her guard had tumbled, it had instantly flown back up. Her walls were back in place.
Her spine had straightened and her posture had changed as if someone was pulling the strings on a puppet. In a small movement, she gave herself a small pinch. Get your act together, Evie. Discombobulated for a moment, she switched from the open unguarded girl she’d been moments ago to something more expected. Something… Someone who she wasn’t. This was her public face. This was the girl everyone wanted to see.
She hadn’t noticed him reaching out and touching her hand. Evie jerked her head up raising her eyes to met his gaze again as he spoke. ‘My lady, if I have offended, I would like to make amends.’ She blinked, a perfectly schooled calmness replacing her nervousness. “Offended me? Of course, not, there is nothing to make amends for. You’ve been nothing but polite and gracious. If anything, I should apologize for my forwardness. I am afraid I get a bit excited for the fairs.”
At that very moment, Evie wanted nothing more than to forget it all. She’d help him find his horse and it would be the end of this. At least no one else had been around to see what a little idiot she’d been.
Taking a deep breath she smiled, it was polite but there were no dimples to be seen. “You wished to see some more suitable horses?” This time she did step away, she wasn’t going to focus on her shortcomings. She could do that later. “I assume you are looking at riding horses, but there are also some very nice racers here at this fair…” She continued as if none of the above had happened. He expected a Leventi lady, she’d play the part as best she could.
It was true, not everyone reaped the boons of unpredictability as a trait. In fact, probably only a handful of people were actually equipped to deal with it. Evie thrived on it. There was safety in the known, but a calm sea had never made a talented sailor. A calm horse had never created a great horseman. She was as scared of stepping out of her comfort zone as any normal person was, but unlike most people, Evie found that sweet spot, that perfect sync with the world when she was out of that predictable comfort zone.
‘Unpredictability can be as much a strength as the rest. It all depends on what’s required of the horse.’ Evangelina couldn’t have said it better herself, her reply came in the form of an unguarded, dimpled smile. She shot him an amused look at the plain statement of deferring to her judgment.
“Mmm… I am honored truly.” She murmured in reply, a bit of sarcasm tinting her words. The thought crossed her mind at that moment to inform him who she was. She might have not been one of the male family members of Leventi but she knew horseflesh as well as anyone of her male counterparts. But, it wasn’t normal for her to go around flashing her name. Names were just that, they were words until you did something with them. Did something with yourself… No, Evie didn’t want to flash her name around… she wanted to gain her recognition on her own merit and she would… maybe today, maybe someday. It would happen though.
‘Does your family say praises of you as well?’ His comment to her jesting caught her off guard again, and she had to catch herself for saying too much. She wasn’t the sort to air her thoughts so openly, not the thoughts that really mattered anyway. His gaze made her shift uncomfortably., but she pasted on a perfect smile and shrugged, “There are extremely high expectations with my family.” She wasn’t brazen enough to tell him that if they did praise her, she’d have to take a long and hard look at what that praise was covering up. Manipulations and lies were everywhere in the Leventi family. Nothing was ever a simple black and white, hadn’t her mother taught her that.
Shooting him a sideways glance she didn’t want to correct him yet again. Flattery was still flattery even if it was true… she figured it’d lead to an argument of logistics on the words. So she let it slide with just a roll of her eyes again. “I bet you say that to all the girls too.” She teased lightly. Her gaze softened and she nodded in agreement. “There is beauty in uniqueness. I think we lean heavily on one idea of beauty. But something could be beautiful as a mountain and not be beautiful a flower, but still be just as beautiful.” She sighed and shook her head, “That’s just my thoughts though…”
It was true, as soon as the formality came into play. As soon as he knew who she was and treated her differently. It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on her. She’d gone too far. She’d been too forward. He wasn’t her brother. He wasn’t her cousin. He wasn’t even her friend. She had lost herself in those eyes… it disconcerted her how easily she’d let her guard down. As quickly as her guard had tumbled, it had instantly flown back up. Her walls were back in place.
Her spine had straightened and her posture had changed as if someone was pulling the strings on a puppet. In a small movement, she gave herself a small pinch. Get your act together, Evie. Discombobulated for a moment, she switched from the open unguarded girl she’d been moments ago to something more expected. Something… Someone who she wasn’t. This was her public face. This was the girl everyone wanted to see.
She hadn’t noticed him reaching out and touching her hand. Evie jerked her head up raising her eyes to met his gaze again as he spoke. ‘My lady, if I have offended, I would like to make amends.’ She blinked, a perfectly schooled calmness replacing her nervousness. “Offended me? Of course, not, there is nothing to make amends for. You’ve been nothing but polite and gracious. If anything, I should apologize for my forwardness. I am afraid I get a bit excited for the fairs.”
At that very moment, Evie wanted nothing more than to forget it all. She’d help him find his horse and it would be the end of this. At least no one else had been around to see what a little idiot she’d been.
Taking a deep breath she smiled, it was polite but there were no dimples to be seen. “You wished to see some more suitable horses?” This time she did step away, she wasn’t going to focus on her shortcomings. She could do that later. “I assume you are looking at riding horses, but there are also some very nice racers here at this fair…” She continued as if none of the above had happened. He expected a Leventi lady, she’d play the part as best she could.
Her response was sarcasm, obviously -- quiet, but still present. He may have been a Lord and unused to hearing such talk, but he was not so easily offended by words. Besides, it wasn’t as though he had introduced himself to the lovely young lady -- though, now that he thought about it, he probably should. Dysmas would leave the comment as it was and move the conversation along.
She may have been smiling as she spoke of her family, but Dysmas was well-practiced in fake smiles -- politicians were known for them. “That is not what I asked.” He quite bluntly pressed, repeating his question, “Do you receive genuine praise from your family.”
It was hard for him to imagine a familial situation that lacked an awareness of how hard some expectations were to reach, and how constructive encouragement could be to reach such high standards. Dysmas came from a family that, while strict, understood how to support one another; that the only way to achieve success is together.
Still, that such a person as this girl would potentially come from a family whose ideals perhaps hindered her in that way… it was disappointing to hear -- particularly because she seemed quite bright and spirited. Taengea was lucky to have an astute woman to its claim, truly. She had mentioned women were one of Taengea’s well-known attributes, and though Dysmas was sure she had meant that fact in another way, he couldn’t help but wonder if she had meant to say intelligent women.
It would be another credit to the kingdom.
He found himself laughing when she accused him of giving his line about truth to all the girls. Dysmas couldn’t help himself from countering the accusation with, “What? That thing about Taengean horses? Nah. I only say that to the pretty ones.”
He nodded slowly as she spoke of beauty in uniqueness. Dysmas completely understood and agreed with what she was saying. The atmosphere between them changed with their introductions, and a tension settled over them like a heavy cloud. Dysmas’s eyes stared at her intensely, hoping he could do something to fix the situation. Was it… her title? He wondered if perhaps she bore too many of the burdens of her family’s name; a beam with no support will crumble under the weight of the house.
She might have insisted he’d done nothing wrong, but her posture, her expressions, her words… the woman he had been getting to know mere moments before had been completely erased and replaced by this stranger. All were signs that there were repairs to make in their communication.
He frowned when she tried to speak of the horses. He had not fulfilled his piece of their trade. “No.” Dysmas stated simply. “Assumptions are a terrible thing, my lady. I have promised honeyed spiced figs in exchange for advice on an appropriate horse, and I will not hear another equestrian word until I fulfill my end of the bargain.”
Dysmas looked in the general direction of where she had gestured toward the vendor earlier, trying to see if he could spot them. His eyes locked-on to the vendor’s booth, and he took Evangelina’s hand in his own again. “Keep up!” he challenged her, breaking into a light run -- he had to be mindful of her short little legs.
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This post was created by our staff team.
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Her response was sarcasm, obviously -- quiet, but still present. He may have been a Lord and unused to hearing such talk, but he was not so easily offended by words. Besides, it wasn’t as though he had introduced himself to the lovely young lady -- though, now that he thought about it, he probably should. Dysmas would leave the comment as it was and move the conversation along.
She may have been smiling as she spoke of her family, but Dysmas was well-practiced in fake smiles -- politicians were known for them. “That is not what I asked.” He quite bluntly pressed, repeating his question, “Do you receive genuine praise from your family.”
It was hard for him to imagine a familial situation that lacked an awareness of how hard some expectations were to reach, and how constructive encouragement could be to reach such high standards. Dysmas came from a family that, while strict, understood how to support one another; that the only way to achieve success is together.
Still, that such a person as this girl would potentially come from a family whose ideals perhaps hindered her in that way… it was disappointing to hear -- particularly because she seemed quite bright and spirited. Taengea was lucky to have an astute woman to its claim, truly. She had mentioned women were one of Taengea’s well-known attributes, and though Dysmas was sure she had meant that fact in another way, he couldn’t help but wonder if she had meant to say intelligent women.
It would be another credit to the kingdom.
He found himself laughing when she accused him of giving his line about truth to all the girls. Dysmas couldn’t help himself from countering the accusation with, “What? That thing about Taengean horses? Nah. I only say that to the pretty ones.”
He nodded slowly as she spoke of beauty in uniqueness. Dysmas completely understood and agreed with what she was saying. The atmosphere between them changed with their introductions, and a tension settled over them like a heavy cloud. Dysmas’s eyes stared at her intensely, hoping he could do something to fix the situation. Was it… her title? He wondered if perhaps she bore too many of the burdens of her family’s name; a beam with no support will crumble under the weight of the house.
She might have insisted he’d done nothing wrong, but her posture, her expressions, her words… the woman he had been getting to know mere moments before had been completely erased and replaced by this stranger. All were signs that there were repairs to make in their communication.
He frowned when she tried to speak of the horses. He had not fulfilled his piece of their trade. “No.” Dysmas stated simply. “Assumptions are a terrible thing, my lady. I have promised honeyed spiced figs in exchange for advice on an appropriate horse, and I will not hear another equestrian word until I fulfill my end of the bargain.”
Dysmas looked in the general direction of where she had gestured toward the vendor earlier, trying to see if he could spot them. His eyes locked-on to the vendor’s booth, and he took Evangelina’s hand in his own again. “Keep up!” he challenged her, breaking into a light run -- he had to be mindful of her short little legs.
Her response was sarcasm, obviously -- quiet, but still present. He may have been a Lord and unused to hearing such talk, but he was not so easily offended by words. Besides, it wasn’t as though he had introduced himself to the lovely young lady -- though, now that he thought about it, he probably should. Dysmas would leave the comment as it was and move the conversation along.
She may have been smiling as she spoke of her family, but Dysmas was well-practiced in fake smiles -- politicians were known for them. “That is not what I asked.” He quite bluntly pressed, repeating his question, “Do you receive genuine praise from your family.”
It was hard for him to imagine a familial situation that lacked an awareness of how hard some expectations were to reach, and how constructive encouragement could be to reach such high standards. Dysmas came from a family that, while strict, understood how to support one another; that the only way to achieve success is together.
Still, that such a person as this girl would potentially come from a family whose ideals perhaps hindered her in that way… it was disappointing to hear -- particularly because she seemed quite bright and spirited. Taengea was lucky to have an astute woman to its claim, truly. She had mentioned women were one of Taengea’s well-known attributes, and though Dysmas was sure she had meant that fact in another way, he couldn’t help but wonder if she had meant to say intelligent women.
It would be another credit to the kingdom.
He found himself laughing when she accused him of giving his line about truth to all the girls. Dysmas couldn’t help himself from countering the accusation with, “What? That thing about Taengean horses? Nah. I only say that to the pretty ones.”
He nodded slowly as she spoke of beauty in uniqueness. Dysmas completely understood and agreed with what she was saying. The atmosphere between them changed with their introductions, and a tension settled over them like a heavy cloud. Dysmas’s eyes stared at her intensely, hoping he could do something to fix the situation. Was it… her title? He wondered if perhaps she bore too many of the burdens of her family’s name; a beam with no support will crumble under the weight of the house.
She might have insisted he’d done nothing wrong, but her posture, her expressions, her words… the woman he had been getting to know mere moments before had been completely erased and replaced by this stranger. All were signs that there were repairs to make in their communication.
He frowned when she tried to speak of the horses. He had not fulfilled his piece of their trade. “No.” Dysmas stated simply. “Assumptions are a terrible thing, my lady. I have promised honeyed spiced figs in exchange for advice on an appropriate horse, and I will not hear another equestrian word until I fulfill my end of the bargain.”
Dysmas looked in the general direction of where she had gestured toward the vendor earlier, trying to see if he could spot them. His eyes locked-on to the vendor’s booth, and he took Evangelina’s hand in his own again. “Keep up!” he challenged her, breaking into a light run -- he had to be mindful of her short little legs.
The man’s eyes seemed to penetrate too deeply, the probed at things that she kept locked away. At his bluntness, she felt her perfect smile melt. She crossed her arms over her chest and swallowed. Did her family offer genuine praise to her? She couldn’t remember the last genuine praise, it didn’t create any bitterness in her. Genuine praise wasn’t something handed out readily. She’d been raised to believe that she could always do better, she could always be better. She could always be just a tiny bit more.
“I… I don’t know.” The softness in Evangelina’s voice held a small quiver at the admittance. Her eyes dropped to her feet. “It’s complicated.” And it was complicated. She was the sixth in a long line of girls to be born to a family that needed an heir. She’d been a disappointment from the moment it was realized that she was not the one to save the family name. A tendril of her reddish-brown hair came loose and curled around her face as she looked at her feet.
She’d never faced cruelty with her family, but disappointment lingered there. It didn’t get any easier dealing with that disappointment no matter how much time goes by. In fact, if anything it was only amplified when you compared her to her cousins like Cici and Theo. She was the beautiful disaster of the family. Here was this giant of a man breaking down her resistance with his bluntness. I’d she just been pretending she didn’t care about any of this… but he was making her answer it. Those too-knowing eyes of his would have known if she’d lied. She believed that. Most people bought her carefree act, or maybe they didn’t buy it but they simply overlooked it. Why couldn’t he?
“I don’t want your pity. I don’t need it.” Her head tilted to the side as she shot him a pointed look. “I don’t need their praises. I am what I am or who I am. When I do something that I admire, my praise is the only one that concerns me at the end of the day.” Evangelina jutted her chin out a little, almost daring him to disagree. It wouldn’t matter what he said. Maybe he lived in the sort of family where things were not complicated or where there wasn’t an infinite amount of pressure to be the best. That was not the Leventi family.
Women were one of Tangea’s main attributes, more precisely Leventi women. Beauty was praised even over intelligence in her family. Intelligence was also greatly appreciated, especially if you wield it along with your beauty. Lies and manipulations… those were what was taught to most Leventi girls. Her mother being the exception to this rule. Her mother could work a room, could lie and manipulate with the best of her family but she actively made a choice not too. Lady Ava was the epitome of what a great lady should be… She took things in stride and while she had the ability and the power to do far more with herself, she chose to remain fair and let others be who they were rather than treating them like pawns. Evie admired that. She’d seen too often her family shift and move, molding people… important people even into mere pawns… reducing them into objects to be played across a board like some sort of game.
There was a general idea among the Leventis. Their women were the equivalent of broodmares. To be beautiful and well-bred. You might not could ride a pretty horse, but you sure couldn’t sell an ugly one. Same with daughters. That wasn’t to say that Evie was unattractive. In any other family, she might have been considered a great beauty but her family held higher standards than most.
‘What? That thing about Taengean horses? Nah. I only say that to the pretty ones.’
She blinked for a moment before a throaty laugh escaped, her head falling back softly as he threw her words back at her. Her lips spread softly and her dark eyes full of mischief as she teased good-naturedly, “They’d probably buy it too. You just smile at them… and look down at them with those blue eyes… right… they just fall at your feet I bet.” She’d seen the way men that looked like him charmed women, hadn’t she been burned by this before? Something flickered across her face, and she looked away. “Mmm… I’m afraid I’ve rather outgrown that..” The words were out of her mouth before she was able to pull them back, darting a narrow-eyed look at him she gave him a stern look, “Not a word about my size either..” It was evident she was teasing, her stern look was countered by the slight crinkles forming next to her eyes and the way the corner of her mouth twitched as if she fought back a grin.
Assumptions and misunderstandings would be the death of these two. He assumed one thing and she misunderstood another. Or maybe it was the other way around? Either way, she was now a Leventi in his eyes and that was something that couldn’t be changed. He was from Athenia, he didn’t know her family… not really. He had to have certain ideas about them. The sad thing was, not a single one of the things that she could think of were things that wouldn’t have brought about a certain amount of disappointment in herself if the roles between them had been reversed.
Maybe it was just best that she helped him find his horse and then… a chilly sadness washed over her at that thought. She’d liked him. Really, honestly had liked him. It wasn’t often that she’d found a person that she was drawn too. That she wanted to connect too or with. That was something she reserved for horses… People were harder for her. With Altair though, she felt appreciated. She was the brightest part of his day… Was it too much to ask to have that sort of connection with a few people too? Maybe it was… maybe as long as she was a Leventi it was easier to just fade quietly back into the shadows. She had the horses… they loved her.
‘No, Assumptions are a terrible thing, my lady. I have promised honeyed spiced figs in exchange for advice on an appropriate horse, and I will not hear another equestrian word until I fulfill my end of the bargain.’
Meeting his gaze again, she raised an eyebrow. Gods, she was too easy. She was nothing but a fluff ball. He kept catching her off guard and it was unnerving. She opened her mouth to argue but before she could his hand closed around hers.
‘Keep up!’
He started off at a light run his long legs taking one step to ever two of hers. He might have been just doing a light jog but Evie was actually having to run although it was actually something of a bit of a cross between a run and simply bobbing in the wind behind him like a rag doll. Each jolt, knocking her hair a bit more out of place. When they stopped in front of the vendor, Evie put her free hand on her side and tried to catch her breath. She looked more like she’d been the victim of a runaway horse than a simple jog behind a giant. On second thought, they were two very similar things, weren’t they?
“I… uh… yes… I’ll eat anything.” She breathed out, her cheeks bright pink and her eyes alert. So much for a ladylike Leventi. “I am really…” Evie cleared her throat… “Not that picky with food.” It was a gift really. Considering her size, one might assume she ate like a bird but nothing was further from the truth. Had she been a picky eater, she’d have no doubt starved to death long before now.
At the last moment, as he was ordering. She peered around him and added, “Extra honey on mine please…” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and glanced up at Lord Dysmas to ensure that it was okay.
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The man’s eyes seemed to penetrate too deeply, the probed at things that she kept locked away. At his bluntness, she felt her perfect smile melt. She crossed her arms over her chest and swallowed. Did her family offer genuine praise to her? She couldn’t remember the last genuine praise, it didn’t create any bitterness in her. Genuine praise wasn’t something handed out readily. She’d been raised to believe that she could always do better, she could always be better. She could always be just a tiny bit more.
“I… I don’t know.” The softness in Evangelina’s voice held a small quiver at the admittance. Her eyes dropped to her feet. “It’s complicated.” And it was complicated. She was the sixth in a long line of girls to be born to a family that needed an heir. She’d been a disappointment from the moment it was realized that she was not the one to save the family name. A tendril of her reddish-brown hair came loose and curled around her face as she looked at her feet.
She’d never faced cruelty with her family, but disappointment lingered there. It didn’t get any easier dealing with that disappointment no matter how much time goes by. In fact, if anything it was only amplified when you compared her to her cousins like Cici and Theo. She was the beautiful disaster of the family. Here was this giant of a man breaking down her resistance with his bluntness. I’d she just been pretending she didn’t care about any of this… but he was making her answer it. Those too-knowing eyes of his would have known if she’d lied. She believed that. Most people bought her carefree act, or maybe they didn’t buy it but they simply overlooked it. Why couldn’t he?
“I don’t want your pity. I don’t need it.” Her head tilted to the side as she shot him a pointed look. “I don’t need their praises. I am what I am or who I am. When I do something that I admire, my praise is the only one that concerns me at the end of the day.” Evangelina jutted her chin out a little, almost daring him to disagree. It wouldn’t matter what he said. Maybe he lived in the sort of family where things were not complicated or where there wasn’t an infinite amount of pressure to be the best. That was not the Leventi family.
Women were one of Tangea’s main attributes, more precisely Leventi women. Beauty was praised even over intelligence in her family. Intelligence was also greatly appreciated, especially if you wield it along with your beauty. Lies and manipulations… those were what was taught to most Leventi girls. Her mother being the exception to this rule. Her mother could work a room, could lie and manipulate with the best of her family but she actively made a choice not too. Lady Ava was the epitome of what a great lady should be… She took things in stride and while she had the ability and the power to do far more with herself, she chose to remain fair and let others be who they were rather than treating them like pawns. Evie admired that. She’d seen too often her family shift and move, molding people… important people even into mere pawns… reducing them into objects to be played across a board like some sort of game.
There was a general idea among the Leventis. Their women were the equivalent of broodmares. To be beautiful and well-bred. You might not could ride a pretty horse, but you sure couldn’t sell an ugly one. Same with daughters. That wasn’t to say that Evie was unattractive. In any other family, she might have been considered a great beauty but her family held higher standards than most.
‘What? That thing about Taengean horses? Nah. I only say that to the pretty ones.’
She blinked for a moment before a throaty laugh escaped, her head falling back softly as he threw her words back at her. Her lips spread softly and her dark eyes full of mischief as she teased good-naturedly, “They’d probably buy it too. You just smile at them… and look down at them with those blue eyes… right… they just fall at your feet I bet.” She’d seen the way men that looked like him charmed women, hadn’t she been burned by this before? Something flickered across her face, and she looked away. “Mmm… I’m afraid I’ve rather outgrown that..” The words were out of her mouth before she was able to pull them back, darting a narrow-eyed look at him she gave him a stern look, “Not a word about my size either..” It was evident she was teasing, her stern look was countered by the slight crinkles forming next to her eyes and the way the corner of her mouth twitched as if she fought back a grin.
Assumptions and misunderstandings would be the death of these two. He assumed one thing and she misunderstood another. Or maybe it was the other way around? Either way, she was now a Leventi in his eyes and that was something that couldn’t be changed. He was from Athenia, he didn’t know her family… not really. He had to have certain ideas about them. The sad thing was, not a single one of the things that she could think of were things that wouldn’t have brought about a certain amount of disappointment in herself if the roles between them had been reversed.
Maybe it was just best that she helped him find his horse and then… a chilly sadness washed over her at that thought. She’d liked him. Really, honestly had liked him. It wasn’t often that she’d found a person that she was drawn too. That she wanted to connect too or with. That was something she reserved for horses… People were harder for her. With Altair though, she felt appreciated. She was the brightest part of his day… Was it too much to ask to have that sort of connection with a few people too? Maybe it was… maybe as long as she was a Leventi it was easier to just fade quietly back into the shadows. She had the horses… they loved her.
‘No, Assumptions are a terrible thing, my lady. I have promised honeyed spiced figs in exchange for advice on an appropriate horse, and I will not hear another equestrian word until I fulfill my end of the bargain.’
Meeting his gaze again, she raised an eyebrow. Gods, she was too easy. She was nothing but a fluff ball. He kept catching her off guard and it was unnerving. She opened her mouth to argue but before she could his hand closed around hers.
‘Keep up!’
He started off at a light run his long legs taking one step to ever two of hers. He might have been just doing a light jog but Evie was actually having to run although it was actually something of a bit of a cross between a run and simply bobbing in the wind behind him like a rag doll. Each jolt, knocking her hair a bit more out of place. When they stopped in front of the vendor, Evie put her free hand on her side and tried to catch her breath. She looked more like she’d been the victim of a runaway horse than a simple jog behind a giant. On second thought, they were two very similar things, weren’t they?
“I… uh… yes… I’ll eat anything.” She breathed out, her cheeks bright pink and her eyes alert. So much for a ladylike Leventi. “I am really…” Evie cleared her throat… “Not that picky with food.” It was a gift really. Considering her size, one might assume she ate like a bird but nothing was further from the truth. Had she been a picky eater, she’d have no doubt starved to death long before now.
At the last moment, as he was ordering. She peered around him and added, “Extra honey on mine please…” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and glanced up at Lord Dysmas to ensure that it was okay.
The man’s eyes seemed to penetrate too deeply, the probed at things that she kept locked away. At his bluntness, she felt her perfect smile melt. She crossed her arms over her chest and swallowed. Did her family offer genuine praise to her? She couldn’t remember the last genuine praise, it didn’t create any bitterness in her. Genuine praise wasn’t something handed out readily. She’d been raised to believe that she could always do better, she could always be better. She could always be just a tiny bit more.
“I… I don’t know.” The softness in Evangelina’s voice held a small quiver at the admittance. Her eyes dropped to her feet. “It’s complicated.” And it was complicated. She was the sixth in a long line of girls to be born to a family that needed an heir. She’d been a disappointment from the moment it was realized that she was not the one to save the family name. A tendril of her reddish-brown hair came loose and curled around her face as she looked at her feet.
She’d never faced cruelty with her family, but disappointment lingered there. It didn’t get any easier dealing with that disappointment no matter how much time goes by. In fact, if anything it was only amplified when you compared her to her cousins like Cici and Theo. She was the beautiful disaster of the family. Here was this giant of a man breaking down her resistance with his bluntness. I’d she just been pretending she didn’t care about any of this… but he was making her answer it. Those too-knowing eyes of his would have known if she’d lied. She believed that. Most people bought her carefree act, or maybe they didn’t buy it but they simply overlooked it. Why couldn’t he?
“I don’t want your pity. I don’t need it.” Her head tilted to the side as she shot him a pointed look. “I don’t need their praises. I am what I am or who I am. When I do something that I admire, my praise is the only one that concerns me at the end of the day.” Evangelina jutted her chin out a little, almost daring him to disagree. It wouldn’t matter what he said. Maybe he lived in the sort of family where things were not complicated or where there wasn’t an infinite amount of pressure to be the best. That was not the Leventi family.
Women were one of Tangea’s main attributes, more precisely Leventi women. Beauty was praised even over intelligence in her family. Intelligence was also greatly appreciated, especially if you wield it along with your beauty. Lies and manipulations… those were what was taught to most Leventi girls. Her mother being the exception to this rule. Her mother could work a room, could lie and manipulate with the best of her family but she actively made a choice not too. Lady Ava was the epitome of what a great lady should be… She took things in stride and while she had the ability and the power to do far more with herself, she chose to remain fair and let others be who they were rather than treating them like pawns. Evie admired that. She’d seen too often her family shift and move, molding people… important people even into mere pawns… reducing them into objects to be played across a board like some sort of game.
There was a general idea among the Leventis. Their women were the equivalent of broodmares. To be beautiful and well-bred. You might not could ride a pretty horse, but you sure couldn’t sell an ugly one. Same with daughters. That wasn’t to say that Evie was unattractive. In any other family, she might have been considered a great beauty but her family held higher standards than most.
‘What? That thing about Taengean horses? Nah. I only say that to the pretty ones.’
She blinked for a moment before a throaty laugh escaped, her head falling back softly as he threw her words back at her. Her lips spread softly and her dark eyes full of mischief as she teased good-naturedly, “They’d probably buy it too. You just smile at them… and look down at them with those blue eyes… right… they just fall at your feet I bet.” She’d seen the way men that looked like him charmed women, hadn’t she been burned by this before? Something flickered across her face, and she looked away. “Mmm… I’m afraid I’ve rather outgrown that..” The words were out of her mouth before she was able to pull them back, darting a narrow-eyed look at him she gave him a stern look, “Not a word about my size either..” It was evident she was teasing, her stern look was countered by the slight crinkles forming next to her eyes and the way the corner of her mouth twitched as if she fought back a grin.
Assumptions and misunderstandings would be the death of these two. He assumed one thing and she misunderstood another. Or maybe it was the other way around? Either way, she was now a Leventi in his eyes and that was something that couldn’t be changed. He was from Athenia, he didn’t know her family… not really. He had to have certain ideas about them. The sad thing was, not a single one of the things that she could think of were things that wouldn’t have brought about a certain amount of disappointment in herself if the roles between them had been reversed.
Maybe it was just best that she helped him find his horse and then… a chilly sadness washed over her at that thought. She’d liked him. Really, honestly had liked him. It wasn’t often that she’d found a person that she was drawn too. That she wanted to connect too or with. That was something she reserved for horses… People were harder for her. With Altair though, she felt appreciated. She was the brightest part of his day… Was it too much to ask to have that sort of connection with a few people too? Maybe it was… maybe as long as she was a Leventi it was easier to just fade quietly back into the shadows. She had the horses… they loved her.
‘No, Assumptions are a terrible thing, my lady. I have promised honeyed spiced figs in exchange for advice on an appropriate horse, and I will not hear another equestrian word until I fulfill my end of the bargain.’
Meeting his gaze again, she raised an eyebrow. Gods, she was too easy. She was nothing but a fluff ball. He kept catching her off guard and it was unnerving. She opened her mouth to argue but before she could his hand closed around hers.
‘Keep up!’
He started off at a light run his long legs taking one step to ever two of hers. He might have been just doing a light jog but Evie was actually having to run although it was actually something of a bit of a cross between a run and simply bobbing in the wind behind him like a rag doll. Each jolt, knocking her hair a bit more out of place. When they stopped in front of the vendor, Evie put her free hand on her side and tried to catch her breath. She looked more like she’d been the victim of a runaway horse than a simple jog behind a giant. On second thought, they were two very similar things, weren’t they?
“I… uh… yes… I’ll eat anything.” She breathed out, her cheeks bright pink and her eyes alert. So much for a ladylike Leventi. “I am really…” Evie cleared her throat… “Not that picky with food.” It was a gift really. Considering her size, one might assume she ate like a bird but nothing was further from the truth. Had she been a picky eater, she’d have no doubt starved to death long before now.
At the last moment, as he was ordering. She peered around him and added, “Extra honey on mine please…” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and glanced up at Lord Dysmas to ensure that it was okay.
Complicated huh. He knew a thing or two about complicated, but with her being unwilling to divulge further, Dysmas wasn’t going to force the matter. He may have been stubborn, but he was smart enough to know when to let something go. He wanted so badly to brush that loose curl behind her ear because it was out of place, but he refrained. He certainly didn’t know her well enough for that kind of familiarity.
“Hm.” was the only reply he gave her.
In truth, he wasn’t sure what to say to all of that. While it was always good to believe in oneself, a little help from other could be a great blessing. It sounded as though she may not have the familial support that she deserved. It was… unfair.
But then, life often was.
If she wanted to divulge more it would be on her own terms, otherwise he would allow the conversation to move along to lighter topics. He couldn’t help a laugh of his own when she suggested he had women falling at his feet. “Of course they don’t fall,” he corrected playfully, “I catch them.”
Dysmas didn’t think of himself in that way. He was no heartthrob of Athenia, not the most handsome, and didn’t have the most wealth or political leverage. He was rather ordinary. Always the runner-up. It grew tiresome, but he’d learned to accept there were some things that were beyond his control. The only thing that he could do was focus on what he could control.
In some ways, the girl must have understood this as well if she was making any kind of attempt to “outgrow” any particular charms. It was that comment that reminded him of her youth. Perhaps she believed she was through with men, but there would be plenty more opportunities in her future, he was sure, regardless of whatever had happened in her past. Dysmas had opened his mouth to say as much, but she had stopped him short of speaking telling him not to make a joke about her size.
Oh, that was good. That was much better than what he was going to say. He just closed his mouth and gave her a grin, playing it off as though she had caught him. She’d be none the wiser. And yet… he quickly discovered her true identity. He hadn’t thought that would put a halt to their banter, but Evangelina’s demeanor had changed.
He was going to fix it. Right now.
Dysmas didn’t even leave her room to argue before he hurried off, dragging her along with him. It was a quick stint, but enough to leave her winded. He should have been more conscientious of that. Dysmas was quick to order the figs, happy -- at least -- that it seemed their bargain would still stand. He wasn’t put off in the slightest by her admission she’d eat just about anything. In fact, he smiled down at her doe-like brown eyes, happy to hear something honest since the moment he’d figured out her House.
“Extra honey on one of those,” he instructed the vendor, as per her request.
Once they had their snacks prepared and paid for, Dysmas would hand Evangelina hers. “Figs with extra honey for the famished one.” he teased.
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Complicated huh. He knew a thing or two about complicated, but with her being unwilling to divulge further, Dysmas wasn’t going to force the matter. He may have been stubborn, but he was smart enough to know when to let something go. He wanted so badly to brush that loose curl behind her ear because it was out of place, but he refrained. He certainly didn’t know her well enough for that kind of familiarity.
“Hm.” was the only reply he gave her.
In truth, he wasn’t sure what to say to all of that. While it was always good to believe in oneself, a little help from other could be a great blessing. It sounded as though she may not have the familial support that she deserved. It was… unfair.
But then, life often was.
If she wanted to divulge more it would be on her own terms, otherwise he would allow the conversation to move along to lighter topics. He couldn’t help a laugh of his own when she suggested he had women falling at his feet. “Of course they don’t fall,” he corrected playfully, “I catch them.”
Dysmas didn’t think of himself in that way. He was no heartthrob of Athenia, not the most handsome, and didn’t have the most wealth or political leverage. He was rather ordinary. Always the runner-up. It grew tiresome, but he’d learned to accept there were some things that were beyond his control. The only thing that he could do was focus on what he could control.
In some ways, the girl must have understood this as well if she was making any kind of attempt to “outgrow” any particular charms. It was that comment that reminded him of her youth. Perhaps she believed she was through with men, but there would be plenty more opportunities in her future, he was sure, regardless of whatever had happened in her past. Dysmas had opened his mouth to say as much, but she had stopped him short of speaking telling him not to make a joke about her size.
Oh, that was good. That was much better than what he was going to say. He just closed his mouth and gave her a grin, playing it off as though she had caught him. She’d be none the wiser. And yet… he quickly discovered her true identity. He hadn’t thought that would put a halt to their banter, but Evangelina’s demeanor had changed.
He was going to fix it. Right now.
Dysmas didn’t even leave her room to argue before he hurried off, dragging her along with him. It was a quick stint, but enough to leave her winded. He should have been more conscientious of that. Dysmas was quick to order the figs, happy -- at least -- that it seemed their bargain would still stand. He wasn’t put off in the slightest by her admission she’d eat just about anything. In fact, he smiled down at her doe-like brown eyes, happy to hear something honest since the moment he’d figured out her House.
“Extra honey on one of those,” he instructed the vendor, as per her request.
Once they had their snacks prepared and paid for, Dysmas would hand Evangelina hers. “Figs with extra honey for the famished one.” he teased.
Complicated huh. He knew a thing or two about complicated, but with her being unwilling to divulge further, Dysmas wasn’t going to force the matter. He may have been stubborn, but he was smart enough to know when to let something go. He wanted so badly to brush that loose curl behind her ear because it was out of place, but he refrained. He certainly didn’t know her well enough for that kind of familiarity.
“Hm.” was the only reply he gave her.
In truth, he wasn’t sure what to say to all of that. While it was always good to believe in oneself, a little help from other could be a great blessing. It sounded as though she may not have the familial support that she deserved. It was… unfair.
But then, life often was.
If she wanted to divulge more it would be on her own terms, otherwise he would allow the conversation to move along to lighter topics. He couldn’t help a laugh of his own when she suggested he had women falling at his feet. “Of course they don’t fall,” he corrected playfully, “I catch them.”
Dysmas didn’t think of himself in that way. He was no heartthrob of Athenia, not the most handsome, and didn’t have the most wealth or political leverage. He was rather ordinary. Always the runner-up. It grew tiresome, but he’d learned to accept there were some things that were beyond his control. The only thing that he could do was focus on what he could control.
In some ways, the girl must have understood this as well if she was making any kind of attempt to “outgrow” any particular charms. It was that comment that reminded him of her youth. Perhaps she believed she was through with men, but there would be plenty more opportunities in her future, he was sure, regardless of whatever had happened in her past. Dysmas had opened his mouth to say as much, but she had stopped him short of speaking telling him not to make a joke about her size.
Oh, that was good. That was much better than what he was going to say. He just closed his mouth and gave her a grin, playing it off as though she had caught him. She’d be none the wiser. And yet… he quickly discovered her true identity. He hadn’t thought that would put a halt to their banter, but Evangelina’s demeanor had changed.
He was going to fix it. Right now.
Dysmas didn’t even leave her room to argue before he hurried off, dragging her along with him. It was a quick stint, but enough to leave her winded. He should have been more conscientious of that. Dysmas was quick to order the figs, happy -- at least -- that it seemed their bargain would still stand. He wasn’t put off in the slightest by her admission she’d eat just about anything. In fact, he smiled down at her doe-like brown eyes, happy to hear something honest since the moment he’d figured out her House.
“Extra honey on one of those,” he instructed the vendor, as per her request.
Once they had their snacks prepared and paid for, Dysmas would hand Evangelina hers. “Figs with extra honey for the famished one.” he teased.
‘Hm.’
What did that mean? It was the most noncommittal sound a human could make while not remaining silent. Evangelina was not use to giving that much of herself away in a conversation. The less that she gave away, the less they could take away from her. The less she let people take away from her.
She let it drop. Not because the conversation was anywhere near finished. She was dying to prod him about what that… ‘Hm.’ had meant. He’d taken the liberty of prodding her so bluntly for an answer and then… nothing? That stray lock of hair, she pushed it away from her face tucking it behind her ear. She was glad for the change of topic. It was too easy to give too much of herself, to let her guard fall too far.
‘Of course, they don’t fall.’ He threw back at her easily, too easily. Charmingly easy. ‘I catch them.’ Another throaty laugh bubbled out of her and as she slid him a look. “Of course you do.” She murmured quietly, more to herself than to him. The younger woman still held a soft, accepting smile on her lips though for a moment she looked a bit older than the mere sixteen that she was. Her size comment was intentional. She’d been deflecting. It was something she’d picked up two kill two birds with a single stone. She could deflect the attention off of herself, controlling it, and making herself the butt of the joke. People were going to laugh at her, she might as well have some control over the matter. Besides, she was never going to be as wanted as her cousins. As treasured for their beauty or wit or ambition, she might as well be the funny one?
She’d been prepared for a lot of things, but not the spark of lightning that had jolted up her hand as he’d touched her. Was it just the strangeness of being touched by someone other than one of her cousins? Evangelina didn’t have time to think about it before she was being dragged down the aisle of the Agora. Maybe that piece of meat on a stick had been a bit of overkill in her gluttonous mode. It wasn’t that she didn’t get enough exercise on a day to day basis. On the contrary, she was active all of the time. Perhaps too active sometimes. There was almost always a nervousness about her that left her unsettled. The only time she seemed to have herself together was when she was with the horses.
The vendor seemed to be doing quite well this year, the small area in front of his stand seemed packed. People waited, standing elbow to elbow. Some were already eating the honeyed figs. Others were still trying to decide if they wanted some. Standing there, in front of the vendor… watching people eat… That ache in her stomach plagued her again. Her mouth watered. She was hungry again. Her stomach made the most improper noise it could make. She tried to offer a sheepish smile to Lord Dysmas, and a couple of other people standing close enough to hear it gurgle.
As her Athenian companion stepped forward to order, it hit her that she wanted extra honey. Warm. Gooey. Spiced. Clover Honey. She couldn’t help herself from prodding him to order hers with extra honey, especially knowing that she would probably regret the stickiness of it later. Maybe she shouldn’t have ordered it with extra honey, she opened her mouth to tell him to never mind but he was already ordering it.
Closing her mouth she shifted, she was just going to have to be extra careful. Inwardly sighing, she repeated the words her mother’s watchdog, Agnes was always preaching to her. Slow down. Gentlemen don’t like girls who eat like field hands. You are a lady, remember that. Chew like you have a secret. She caught her bottom lip again between her teeth, worrying it softly. She was never going to remember all of that.
Suddenly a small ceramic plate was being waved in front of her with honeyed figs, extra honey of course. Lord Dysmas’ voice cutting through her thoughts. ‘Figs with extra honey for the famished one.’ Her head moved momentarily as she watched the plate, then she reached for it. “Gods! How can I possibly be hungry again, give me that." In an obvious afterthought, she added, "Please."
Snatching the plate, she forwent any silverware picking up a piece of fig covered in the honey and popping it into her mouth. Taking a moment to enjoy it. Her eyes closed and she moaned softly before licking her fingers with a soft pop. “I swear they get better every year.” Her attention drew to him, and she tilted her head a little and waiting before she continued with her small plate. She was curious about what he thought, “What do you think?”
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‘Hm.’
What did that mean? It was the most noncommittal sound a human could make while not remaining silent. Evangelina was not use to giving that much of herself away in a conversation. The less that she gave away, the less they could take away from her. The less she let people take away from her.
She let it drop. Not because the conversation was anywhere near finished. She was dying to prod him about what that… ‘Hm.’ had meant. He’d taken the liberty of prodding her so bluntly for an answer and then… nothing? That stray lock of hair, she pushed it away from her face tucking it behind her ear. She was glad for the change of topic. It was too easy to give too much of herself, to let her guard fall too far.
‘Of course, they don’t fall.’ He threw back at her easily, too easily. Charmingly easy. ‘I catch them.’ Another throaty laugh bubbled out of her and as she slid him a look. “Of course you do.” She murmured quietly, more to herself than to him. The younger woman still held a soft, accepting smile on her lips though for a moment she looked a bit older than the mere sixteen that she was. Her size comment was intentional. She’d been deflecting. It was something she’d picked up two kill two birds with a single stone. She could deflect the attention off of herself, controlling it, and making herself the butt of the joke. People were going to laugh at her, she might as well have some control over the matter. Besides, she was never going to be as wanted as her cousins. As treasured for their beauty or wit or ambition, she might as well be the funny one?
She’d been prepared for a lot of things, but not the spark of lightning that had jolted up her hand as he’d touched her. Was it just the strangeness of being touched by someone other than one of her cousins? Evangelina didn’t have time to think about it before she was being dragged down the aisle of the Agora. Maybe that piece of meat on a stick had been a bit of overkill in her gluttonous mode. It wasn’t that she didn’t get enough exercise on a day to day basis. On the contrary, she was active all of the time. Perhaps too active sometimes. There was almost always a nervousness about her that left her unsettled. The only time she seemed to have herself together was when she was with the horses.
The vendor seemed to be doing quite well this year, the small area in front of his stand seemed packed. People waited, standing elbow to elbow. Some were already eating the honeyed figs. Others were still trying to decide if they wanted some. Standing there, in front of the vendor… watching people eat… That ache in her stomach plagued her again. Her mouth watered. She was hungry again. Her stomach made the most improper noise it could make. She tried to offer a sheepish smile to Lord Dysmas, and a couple of other people standing close enough to hear it gurgle.
As her Athenian companion stepped forward to order, it hit her that she wanted extra honey. Warm. Gooey. Spiced. Clover Honey. She couldn’t help herself from prodding him to order hers with extra honey, especially knowing that she would probably regret the stickiness of it later. Maybe she shouldn’t have ordered it with extra honey, she opened her mouth to tell him to never mind but he was already ordering it.
Closing her mouth she shifted, she was just going to have to be extra careful. Inwardly sighing, she repeated the words her mother’s watchdog, Agnes was always preaching to her. Slow down. Gentlemen don’t like girls who eat like field hands. You are a lady, remember that. Chew like you have a secret. She caught her bottom lip again between her teeth, worrying it softly. She was never going to remember all of that.
Suddenly a small ceramic plate was being waved in front of her with honeyed figs, extra honey of course. Lord Dysmas’ voice cutting through her thoughts. ‘Figs with extra honey for the famished one.’ Her head moved momentarily as she watched the plate, then she reached for it. “Gods! How can I possibly be hungry again, give me that." In an obvious afterthought, she added, "Please."
Snatching the plate, she forwent any silverware picking up a piece of fig covered in the honey and popping it into her mouth. Taking a moment to enjoy it. Her eyes closed and she moaned softly before licking her fingers with a soft pop. “I swear they get better every year.” Her attention drew to him, and she tilted her head a little and waiting before she continued with her small plate. She was curious about what he thought, “What do you think?”
‘Hm.’
What did that mean? It was the most noncommittal sound a human could make while not remaining silent. Evangelina was not use to giving that much of herself away in a conversation. The less that she gave away, the less they could take away from her. The less she let people take away from her.
She let it drop. Not because the conversation was anywhere near finished. She was dying to prod him about what that… ‘Hm.’ had meant. He’d taken the liberty of prodding her so bluntly for an answer and then… nothing? That stray lock of hair, she pushed it away from her face tucking it behind her ear. She was glad for the change of topic. It was too easy to give too much of herself, to let her guard fall too far.
‘Of course, they don’t fall.’ He threw back at her easily, too easily. Charmingly easy. ‘I catch them.’ Another throaty laugh bubbled out of her and as she slid him a look. “Of course you do.” She murmured quietly, more to herself than to him. The younger woman still held a soft, accepting smile on her lips though for a moment she looked a bit older than the mere sixteen that she was. Her size comment was intentional. She’d been deflecting. It was something she’d picked up two kill two birds with a single stone. She could deflect the attention off of herself, controlling it, and making herself the butt of the joke. People were going to laugh at her, she might as well have some control over the matter. Besides, she was never going to be as wanted as her cousins. As treasured for their beauty or wit or ambition, she might as well be the funny one?
She’d been prepared for a lot of things, but not the spark of lightning that had jolted up her hand as he’d touched her. Was it just the strangeness of being touched by someone other than one of her cousins? Evangelina didn’t have time to think about it before she was being dragged down the aisle of the Agora. Maybe that piece of meat on a stick had been a bit of overkill in her gluttonous mode. It wasn’t that she didn’t get enough exercise on a day to day basis. On the contrary, she was active all of the time. Perhaps too active sometimes. There was almost always a nervousness about her that left her unsettled. The only time she seemed to have herself together was when she was with the horses.
The vendor seemed to be doing quite well this year, the small area in front of his stand seemed packed. People waited, standing elbow to elbow. Some were already eating the honeyed figs. Others were still trying to decide if they wanted some. Standing there, in front of the vendor… watching people eat… That ache in her stomach plagued her again. Her mouth watered. She was hungry again. Her stomach made the most improper noise it could make. She tried to offer a sheepish smile to Lord Dysmas, and a couple of other people standing close enough to hear it gurgle.
As her Athenian companion stepped forward to order, it hit her that she wanted extra honey. Warm. Gooey. Spiced. Clover Honey. She couldn’t help herself from prodding him to order hers with extra honey, especially knowing that she would probably regret the stickiness of it later. Maybe she shouldn’t have ordered it with extra honey, she opened her mouth to tell him to never mind but he was already ordering it.
Closing her mouth she shifted, she was just going to have to be extra careful. Inwardly sighing, she repeated the words her mother’s watchdog, Agnes was always preaching to her. Slow down. Gentlemen don’t like girls who eat like field hands. You are a lady, remember that. Chew like you have a secret. She caught her bottom lip again between her teeth, worrying it softly. She was never going to remember all of that.
Suddenly a small ceramic plate was being waved in front of her with honeyed figs, extra honey of course. Lord Dysmas’ voice cutting through her thoughts. ‘Figs with extra honey for the famished one.’ Her head moved momentarily as she watched the plate, then she reached for it. “Gods! How can I possibly be hungry again, give me that." In an obvious afterthought, she added, "Please."
Snatching the plate, she forwent any silverware picking up a piece of fig covered in the honey and popping it into her mouth. Taking a moment to enjoy it. Her eyes closed and she moaned softly before licking her fingers with a soft pop. “I swear they get better every year.” Her attention drew to him, and she tilted her head a little and waiting before she continued with her small plate. She was curious about what he thought, “What do you think?”
She truly must have been famished if the gurgling of her stomach was anything to go by. It was odd. He knew she was a Lady of the Leventi House, he even knew some of the expectations that accompanied the House’s name. The family had a reputation, and not that Evangelina didn’t fit the mold, but she was… different.
As Dysmas had said earlier, he always kinda liked different. He hadn’t expected her to snatch the plate away from him so quickly, but he smiled at her all the same. He then looked to his plate, looking over the treat before giving it a taste. She asked how he liked it.
“It’s good!” he replied, “I can definitely see the appeal.”
If he was to draw an inference from her prior statement, she must come to this fair just about every year. Dysmas supposed then that might make sense why she knew so much about horses. He seemed to recall hearing something about Leventis and horses, too, but he was drawing a bit of a blank on what one had to do with the other.
“Shall we walk?” Dysmas asked her cordially, gesturing toward the stalls of horses lined up with a bit of a chuckle, “I’m ready for you to interrogate me.”
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She truly must have been famished if the gurgling of her stomach was anything to go by. It was odd. He knew she was a Lady of the Leventi House, he even knew some of the expectations that accompanied the House’s name. The family had a reputation, and not that Evangelina didn’t fit the mold, but she was… different.
As Dysmas had said earlier, he always kinda liked different. He hadn’t expected her to snatch the plate away from him so quickly, but he smiled at her all the same. He then looked to his plate, looking over the treat before giving it a taste. She asked how he liked it.
“It’s good!” he replied, “I can definitely see the appeal.”
If he was to draw an inference from her prior statement, she must come to this fair just about every year. Dysmas supposed then that might make sense why she knew so much about horses. He seemed to recall hearing something about Leventis and horses, too, but he was drawing a bit of a blank on what one had to do with the other.
“Shall we walk?” Dysmas asked her cordially, gesturing toward the stalls of horses lined up with a bit of a chuckle, “I’m ready for you to interrogate me.”
She truly must have been famished if the gurgling of her stomach was anything to go by. It was odd. He knew she was a Lady of the Leventi House, he even knew some of the expectations that accompanied the House’s name. The family had a reputation, and not that Evangelina didn’t fit the mold, but she was… different.
As Dysmas had said earlier, he always kinda liked different. He hadn’t expected her to snatch the plate away from him so quickly, but he smiled at her all the same. He then looked to his plate, looking over the treat before giving it a taste. She asked how he liked it.
“It’s good!” he replied, “I can definitely see the appeal.”
If he was to draw an inference from her prior statement, she must come to this fair just about every year. Dysmas supposed then that might make sense why she knew so much about horses. He seemed to recall hearing something about Leventis and horses, too, but he was drawing a bit of a blank on what one had to do with the other.
“Shall we walk?” Dysmas asked her cordially, gesturing toward the stalls of horses lined up with a bit of a chuckle, “I’m ready for you to interrogate me.”
Her lips lifted shyly on the corners as he tried it. Watching someone taste food for the first… it seemed intimate. Dropping her gaze she bobbed her head sending the loose strands of her that mixed chestnut hair of hers bouncing against her face at his reply.
“Mmm…, it’ll grow on you.” Brushing her hair back into place with a nonsticky pinky. “By the time you finish that little plate, you’ll be counting down the days until the fall fair so that you can stand in line and get some more.” Picking up another small piece of the cut honeyed fig she put it into her mouth again and licked the honey off her fingers. For as much as she liked eating them with her fingers, she hated having sticky fingers. It was an odd quirk considering she wasn’t exactly concerned about dirt under fingernails from scratching the horses.
‘Shall we walk?’ He gestured to the aisle that separated the lanes of makeshift horse stalls. Her reply came in the form of a dimpled smile and small nod of her head, maybe she could eat and walk at the same time. She waited to add another fig into her mouth until she’d weaved through the people. ‘I’m ready for you to interrogate me.’
He’d caught her off guard with that reply. She’d been in the process of licking the honey off her fingers again when he’d said it. With an index finger still in her mouth, she looked up at him, her wide dark eyes searching his face for clues. Had he picked up on her inquisitiveness to his situation been so obvious earlier? Pulling her finger out of her mouth, she looked forward. “Am I so transparent?” She laughed lightly and wrinkled her nose adding, “Wait, don’t answer that. I suppose I should work on that a bit. That inquisitiveness is going to get me into trouble ones of these days.” Evangelina pointed an index finger at him as she spoke. It was true. Her curiosity got her into more trouble than it really should have.
She glanced sideways at his striking profile, to bad he would be headed home so soon. She liked him.
“How long are you in Taengea for?” It seemed like a good place to start an interrogation. She knew he was from Athenia and that he was there visiting Taengea with his father on political duties but he hadn’t mentioned how long his stay was.
She put another fig in her mouth and licked her fingers, chewing, swallowing and then continuing, “Are you any good with those?” Her head gave a small nod to the swords at his hip. It was a bit of a ridiculous question, but she was curious and he'd given her permission to interrogate him, hadn't?
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Her lips lifted shyly on the corners as he tried it. Watching someone taste food for the first… it seemed intimate. Dropping her gaze she bobbed her head sending the loose strands of her that mixed chestnut hair of hers bouncing against her face at his reply.
“Mmm…, it’ll grow on you.” Brushing her hair back into place with a nonsticky pinky. “By the time you finish that little plate, you’ll be counting down the days until the fall fair so that you can stand in line and get some more.” Picking up another small piece of the cut honeyed fig she put it into her mouth again and licked the honey off her fingers. For as much as she liked eating them with her fingers, she hated having sticky fingers. It was an odd quirk considering she wasn’t exactly concerned about dirt under fingernails from scratching the horses.
‘Shall we walk?’ He gestured to the aisle that separated the lanes of makeshift horse stalls. Her reply came in the form of a dimpled smile and small nod of her head, maybe she could eat and walk at the same time. She waited to add another fig into her mouth until she’d weaved through the people. ‘I’m ready for you to interrogate me.’
He’d caught her off guard with that reply. She’d been in the process of licking the honey off her fingers again when he’d said it. With an index finger still in her mouth, she looked up at him, her wide dark eyes searching his face for clues. Had he picked up on her inquisitiveness to his situation been so obvious earlier? Pulling her finger out of her mouth, she looked forward. “Am I so transparent?” She laughed lightly and wrinkled her nose adding, “Wait, don’t answer that. I suppose I should work on that a bit. That inquisitiveness is going to get me into trouble ones of these days.” Evangelina pointed an index finger at him as she spoke. It was true. Her curiosity got her into more trouble than it really should have.
She glanced sideways at his striking profile, to bad he would be headed home so soon. She liked him.
“How long are you in Taengea for?” It seemed like a good place to start an interrogation. She knew he was from Athenia and that he was there visiting Taengea with his father on political duties but he hadn’t mentioned how long his stay was.
She put another fig in her mouth and licked her fingers, chewing, swallowing and then continuing, “Are you any good with those?” Her head gave a small nod to the swords at his hip. It was a bit of a ridiculous question, but she was curious and he'd given her permission to interrogate him, hadn't?
Her lips lifted shyly on the corners as he tried it. Watching someone taste food for the first… it seemed intimate. Dropping her gaze she bobbed her head sending the loose strands of her that mixed chestnut hair of hers bouncing against her face at his reply.
“Mmm…, it’ll grow on you.” Brushing her hair back into place with a nonsticky pinky. “By the time you finish that little plate, you’ll be counting down the days until the fall fair so that you can stand in line and get some more.” Picking up another small piece of the cut honeyed fig she put it into her mouth again and licked the honey off her fingers. For as much as she liked eating them with her fingers, she hated having sticky fingers. It was an odd quirk considering she wasn’t exactly concerned about dirt under fingernails from scratching the horses.
‘Shall we walk?’ He gestured to the aisle that separated the lanes of makeshift horse stalls. Her reply came in the form of a dimpled smile and small nod of her head, maybe she could eat and walk at the same time. She waited to add another fig into her mouth until she’d weaved through the people. ‘I’m ready for you to interrogate me.’
He’d caught her off guard with that reply. She’d been in the process of licking the honey off her fingers again when he’d said it. With an index finger still in her mouth, she looked up at him, her wide dark eyes searching his face for clues. Had he picked up on her inquisitiveness to his situation been so obvious earlier? Pulling her finger out of her mouth, she looked forward. “Am I so transparent?” She laughed lightly and wrinkled her nose adding, “Wait, don’t answer that. I suppose I should work on that a bit. That inquisitiveness is going to get me into trouble ones of these days.” Evangelina pointed an index finger at him as she spoke. It was true. Her curiosity got her into more trouble than it really should have.
She glanced sideways at his striking profile, to bad he would be headed home so soon. She liked him.
“How long are you in Taengea for?” It seemed like a good place to start an interrogation. She knew he was from Athenia and that he was there visiting Taengea with his father on political duties but he hadn’t mentioned how long his stay was.
She put another fig in her mouth and licked her fingers, chewing, swallowing and then continuing, “Are you any good with those?” Her head gave a small nod to the swords at his hip. It was a bit of a ridiculous question, but she was curious and he'd given her permission to interrogate him, hadn't?
When he’d said she could interrogate him, he had (apparently incorrectly) thought she would ask him more about the kid of horse he wanted and what he was looking for -- instead she wanted to know about him. Evangelina was full of surprises, it seemed. He had no issues with answering any and all of her questions -- in fact, he was curious as to what she would ask.
“Only for the next couple of days,” he admitted. The trip was intended to last about a week, but the better part of that time had already been spent.
Her next question was about how well he could use his swords. Which he couldn’t help but laugh at -- it was a cute question. “Depends on who you ask. My mentors would all have you believe I’ve never learned to use them at all!” He gave the one on his right a light pat, “I seem to do alright, though. I prefer not to use them if it can be helped.”
Violence should only ever be a last resort.
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This post was created by our staff team.
Please contact us with your queries and questions.
When he’d said she could interrogate him, he had (apparently incorrectly) thought she would ask him more about the kid of horse he wanted and what he was looking for -- instead she wanted to know about him. Evangelina was full of surprises, it seemed. He had no issues with answering any and all of her questions -- in fact, he was curious as to what she would ask.
“Only for the next couple of days,” he admitted. The trip was intended to last about a week, but the better part of that time had already been spent.
Her next question was about how well he could use his swords. Which he couldn’t help but laugh at -- it was a cute question. “Depends on who you ask. My mentors would all have you believe I’ve never learned to use them at all!” He gave the one on his right a light pat, “I seem to do alright, though. I prefer not to use them if it can be helped.”
Violence should only ever be a last resort.
When he’d said she could interrogate him, he had (apparently incorrectly) thought she would ask him more about the kid of horse he wanted and what he was looking for -- instead she wanted to know about him. Evangelina was full of surprises, it seemed. He had no issues with answering any and all of her questions -- in fact, he was curious as to what she would ask.
“Only for the next couple of days,” he admitted. The trip was intended to last about a week, but the better part of that time had already been spent.
Her next question was about how well he could use his swords. Which he couldn’t help but laugh at -- it was a cute question. “Depends on who you ask. My mentors would all have you believe I’ve never learned to use them at all!” He gave the one on his right a light pat, “I seem to do alright, though. I prefer not to use them if it can be helped.”
Violence should only ever be a last resort.
Slipping another of the figs into her mouth she contemplated his first answer. That meant he’d surely been in Taengea for at least a little while, people didn’t just hop on ships and sail to another kingdom to spend a day or two there before hopping on the ship again to return home.
Evangelina looked forward again stepping closer to him to keep from having to bump into another passerby before she put the distance between them once more. Picking up the last fig on her plate, she popped it into her mouth and savored it. She’d waited almost six months… the passing of two seasons to eat these… No one made them as that vendor did. Licking her fingers, she nodded her head.
“So what have you thought of Taengea so far?” Licking her fingers, her dark eyes with flicks of amber slanted sideways to look at him again. “Have you managed to get out of the city for a while? To see Taengea? Or have you been here in Vasilidon this entire time?”
He laughed when she asked about the swords and his reply brought a smile to her face. We, not most mentors believe their pupils had room for improvement? Her hand reached out to his plate as she pilfered one of the figs directly off his plate as she plopped it into her mouth. “What sort of man would be otherwise? I think that is an admirable quality.”
His answer had said more about him as a person and what sort of horse he needed than if she’d asked directly. Not that, she’d ever admitted that although her questions stemmed from the curiosity that they’d also served the dual purpose of guiding her to what horse would best suit him. It was funny, so many people had an idea of what sort of horse they wanted but sometimes it was skewed more by the type of person they wished they were or… in some cases the kind of person they believed they were.
“I don’t think I have the hand or eye coordination to ever attempt to wield two…” She murmured glancing at the swords again on his hips. It was beside the fact that she’d never learned to wield even one… “You do cut quite an intimidating figure with them though in combination with your height.”
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Slipping another of the figs into her mouth she contemplated his first answer. That meant he’d surely been in Taengea for at least a little while, people didn’t just hop on ships and sail to another kingdom to spend a day or two there before hopping on the ship again to return home.
Evangelina looked forward again stepping closer to him to keep from having to bump into another passerby before she put the distance between them once more. Picking up the last fig on her plate, she popped it into her mouth and savored it. She’d waited almost six months… the passing of two seasons to eat these… No one made them as that vendor did. Licking her fingers, she nodded her head.
“So what have you thought of Taengea so far?” Licking her fingers, her dark eyes with flicks of amber slanted sideways to look at him again. “Have you managed to get out of the city for a while? To see Taengea? Or have you been here in Vasilidon this entire time?”
He laughed when she asked about the swords and his reply brought a smile to her face. We, not most mentors believe their pupils had room for improvement? Her hand reached out to his plate as she pilfered one of the figs directly off his plate as she plopped it into her mouth. “What sort of man would be otherwise? I think that is an admirable quality.”
His answer had said more about him as a person and what sort of horse he needed than if she’d asked directly. Not that, she’d ever admitted that although her questions stemmed from the curiosity that they’d also served the dual purpose of guiding her to what horse would best suit him. It was funny, so many people had an idea of what sort of horse they wanted but sometimes it was skewed more by the type of person they wished they were or… in some cases the kind of person they believed they were.
“I don’t think I have the hand or eye coordination to ever attempt to wield two…” She murmured glancing at the swords again on his hips. It was beside the fact that she’d never learned to wield even one… “You do cut quite an intimidating figure with them though in combination with your height.”
Slipping another of the figs into her mouth she contemplated his first answer. That meant he’d surely been in Taengea for at least a little while, people didn’t just hop on ships and sail to another kingdom to spend a day or two there before hopping on the ship again to return home.
Evangelina looked forward again stepping closer to him to keep from having to bump into another passerby before she put the distance between them once more. Picking up the last fig on her plate, she popped it into her mouth and savored it. She’d waited almost six months… the passing of two seasons to eat these… No one made them as that vendor did. Licking her fingers, she nodded her head.
“So what have you thought of Taengea so far?” Licking her fingers, her dark eyes with flicks of amber slanted sideways to look at him again. “Have you managed to get out of the city for a while? To see Taengea? Or have you been here in Vasilidon this entire time?”
He laughed when she asked about the swords and his reply brought a smile to her face. We, not most mentors believe their pupils had room for improvement? Her hand reached out to his plate as she pilfered one of the figs directly off his plate as she plopped it into her mouth. “What sort of man would be otherwise? I think that is an admirable quality.”
His answer had said more about him as a person and what sort of horse he needed than if she’d asked directly. Not that, she’d ever admitted that although her questions stemmed from the curiosity that they’d also served the dual purpose of guiding her to what horse would best suit him. It was funny, so many people had an idea of what sort of horse they wanted but sometimes it was skewed more by the type of person they wished they were or… in some cases the kind of person they believed they were.
“I don’t think I have the hand or eye coordination to ever attempt to wield two…” She murmured glancing at the swords again on his hips. It was beside the fact that she’d never learned to wield even one… “You do cut quite an intimidating figure with them though in combination with your height.”
