The chatbox has been hidden for this page. It will reopen upon refresh. To hide the CBox permanently, select "Permanently Toggle Cbox" in your profile User Settings.
This chatbox is hidden. To reopen, edit your User Settings.
It is was a rule in war, if your forces were ten to the enemy’s one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two. With her hip leaning against the oaken desk, she stared down at the boy. The very serious looking boy made an attempt at playing his hand close to the chest. He had that look, that ‘thinking look’ that we all get as we are sorting out our thoughts trying to decide how best to move forward.
‘It has to be all done proper,’ He agreed, ‘My mother said that was important. Because I am illegitimate and that means that he…’ She didn’t need to glance over her shoulder to know that the boy was talking about Achilleas, ‘has to tell everyone that he’s my father before it counts.’ Griffen continued to swing his legs in uneasiness.
‘The Lady Evangelina is right,’ Achilleas spoke from behind her, ‘I can’t tell anyone anything Fen, until I know who you are, and where you come from. That is what I will be asked, you see.’
Taking a step towards the boy, her hand softly fell upon the armrest next to him as she squatted down to put herself just a little bit below eye level of the boy. “It must have been very distressing for you to learn that Lord Achilleas’ son recently. Or else I would have thought you’d have come sooner.”
Fen’s bright green eyes stared at her then looked to Achilleas then back to Evangelina. He gave a noncommittal shrug, ‘Yeah, I suppose.’ When Evangelina tilted her head though to stare at him he took a different tactic. ‘Yeah, I was really surprised. And I want to be acknowledged as quickly as I can be.’
Her head sagged and she spared a look over her shoulder to meet Achilleas’ gaze. Why did it break her heart a little that this boy wasn’t Achilleas? For just a heartbeat, she let her thoughts reflect on her face to him before she looked back at the boy and smiled at Fen. “Why did your mother wait so long to tell you about him?” Evie’s tone was soft and soothing as she lulled the answers from the child.
Fen dropped his gaze to his lap taking a moment before he shrugged not having an answer. She nodded her head, his mother hadn’t told him that. Reaching out she put her hand on his knee, “Why don’t you start then with which vineyard your mother works at?” That caused the boy to jerk, his head shot up and he looked spooked. His eyes darted to Achilleas as if expecting him to do something to stop that question and then turned to Evangelina. ‘She don’t work at no vineyard. She’s a… a… She’s a washerwoman in the quarter.’
Slipping her hand off his knee, she slowly stood back up and frowned at the boy. Her arms softly crossing, across her chest. Fen was lying to her and she knew it, taking a deep breath she took a step away, turning her back on the boy but her attention didn’t shift to Achilleas either. Her hand came up to gently tap on her lips. They could accuse him of lying but it’d make the boy shut down and while they’d have the boy, they’d never know who had sent the child here.
Letting out a slow breath, she nodded her head. Glanced at Achilleas as she turned back towards the boy. Licking her lips, “Well, seeing as I can’t pay my debt to you currently I propose that you come back tomorrow, maybe with your mother and I’ll make sure your figs are here and we can all sit down and start everything to get you named as heir?” Shooting a look to Achilleas not to argue about this. She had a plan on how to approach this, he just needed to trust her just a little bit.
Looking back to Fen, she smiled, “How about I see if one of the servants can prepare you a snack for the way home… think of it as a bit of interest on my part.” Fen bit his bottom lip then nodded, he seemed satisfied with the idea that he had a bit more time to prepare.
Biting her bottom lip, she nodded at Achilleas to follow her for a moment out into the hallway. “Perhaps you can point me towards the kitchens, my lord?”
Once in the hallway, she leaned against the wall staring up at Achilleas, her arms crossed across her chest again. She let the sadness for the boy show on her face again. "Who do you trust around here? I'll go back inside with Fen, stop by the kitchen and have them fix him something to take to eat when he leaves, but find your man, whoever you trust with your secrets and have them prepared to follow him." Sucking in a sad breath then she continued, "I think that is your best bet for getting to the bottom of this."
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
It is was a rule in war, if your forces were ten to the enemy’s one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two. With her hip leaning against the oaken desk, she stared down at the boy. The very serious looking boy made an attempt at playing his hand close to the chest. He had that look, that ‘thinking look’ that we all get as we are sorting out our thoughts trying to decide how best to move forward.
‘It has to be all done proper,’ He agreed, ‘My mother said that was important. Because I am illegitimate and that means that he…’ She didn’t need to glance over her shoulder to know that the boy was talking about Achilleas, ‘has to tell everyone that he’s my father before it counts.’ Griffen continued to swing his legs in uneasiness.
‘The Lady Evangelina is right,’ Achilleas spoke from behind her, ‘I can’t tell anyone anything Fen, until I know who you are, and where you come from. That is what I will be asked, you see.’
Taking a step towards the boy, her hand softly fell upon the armrest next to him as she squatted down to put herself just a little bit below eye level of the boy. “It must have been very distressing for you to learn that Lord Achilleas’ son recently. Or else I would have thought you’d have come sooner.”
Fen’s bright green eyes stared at her then looked to Achilleas then back to Evangelina. He gave a noncommittal shrug, ‘Yeah, I suppose.’ When Evangelina tilted her head though to stare at him he took a different tactic. ‘Yeah, I was really surprised. And I want to be acknowledged as quickly as I can be.’
Her head sagged and she spared a look over her shoulder to meet Achilleas’ gaze. Why did it break her heart a little that this boy wasn’t Achilleas? For just a heartbeat, she let her thoughts reflect on her face to him before she looked back at the boy and smiled at Fen. “Why did your mother wait so long to tell you about him?” Evie’s tone was soft and soothing as she lulled the answers from the child.
Fen dropped his gaze to his lap taking a moment before he shrugged not having an answer. She nodded her head, his mother hadn’t told him that. Reaching out she put her hand on his knee, “Why don’t you start then with which vineyard your mother works at?” That caused the boy to jerk, his head shot up and he looked spooked. His eyes darted to Achilleas as if expecting him to do something to stop that question and then turned to Evangelina. ‘She don’t work at no vineyard. She’s a… a… She’s a washerwoman in the quarter.’
Slipping her hand off his knee, she slowly stood back up and frowned at the boy. Her arms softly crossing, across her chest. Fen was lying to her and she knew it, taking a deep breath she took a step away, turning her back on the boy but her attention didn’t shift to Achilleas either. Her hand came up to gently tap on her lips. They could accuse him of lying but it’d make the boy shut down and while they’d have the boy, they’d never know who had sent the child here.
Letting out a slow breath, she nodded her head. Glanced at Achilleas as she turned back towards the boy. Licking her lips, “Well, seeing as I can’t pay my debt to you currently I propose that you come back tomorrow, maybe with your mother and I’ll make sure your figs are here and we can all sit down and start everything to get you named as heir?” Shooting a look to Achilleas not to argue about this. She had a plan on how to approach this, he just needed to trust her just a little bit.
Looking back to Fen, she smiled, “How about I see if one of the servants can prepare you a snack for the way home… think of it as a bit of interest on my part.” Fen bit his bottom lip then nodded, he seemed satisfied with the idea that he had a bit more time to prepare.
Biting her bottom lip, she nodded at Achilleas to follow her for a moment out into the hallway. “Perhaps you can point me towards the kitchens, my lord?”
Once in the hallway, she leaned against the wall staring up at Achilleas, her arms crossed across her chest again. She let the sadness for the boy show on her face again. "Who do you trust around here? I'll go back inside with Fen, stop by the kitchen and have them fix him something to take to eat when he leaves, but find your man, whoever you trust with your secrets and have them prepared to follow him." Sucking in a sad breath then she continued, "I think that is your best bet for getting to the bottom of this."
It is was a rule in war, if your forces were ten to the enemy’s one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two. With her hip leaning against the oaken desk, she stared down at the boy. The very serious looking boy made an attempt at playing his hand close to the chest. He had that look, that ‘thinking look’ that we all get as we are sorting out our thoughts trying to decide how best to move forward.
‘It has to be all done proper,’ He agreed, ‘My mother said that was important. Because I am illegitimate and that means that he…’ She didn’t need to glance over her shoulder to know that the boy was talking about Achilleas, ‘has to tell everyone that he’s my father before it counts.’ Griffen continued to swing his legs in uneasiness.
‘The Lady Evangelina is right,’ Achilleas spoke from behind her, ‘I can’t tell anyone anything Fen, until I know who you are, and where you come from. That is what I will be asked, you see.’
Taking a step towards the boy, her hand softly fell upon the armrest next to him as she squatted down to put herself just a little bit below eye level of the boy. “It must have been very distressing for you to learn that Lord Achilleas’ son recently. Or else I would have thought you’d have come sooner.”
Fen’s bright green eyes stared at her then looked to Achilleas then back to Evangelina. He gave a noncommittal shrug, ‘Yeah, I suppose.’ When Evangelina tilted her head though to stare at him he took a different tactic. ‘Yeah, I was really surprised. And I want to be acknowledged as quickly as I can be.’
Her head sagged and she spared a look over her shoulder to meet Achilleas’ gaze. Why did it break her heart a little that this boy wasn’t Achilleas? For just a heartbeat, she let her thoughts reflect on her face to him before she looked back at the boy and smiled at Fen. “Why did your mother wait so long to tell you about him?” Evie’s tone was soft and soothing as she lulled the answers from the child.
Fen dropped his gaze to his lap taking a moment before he shrugged not having an answer. She nodded her head, his mother hadn’t told him that. Reaching out she put her hand on his knee, “Why don’t you start then with which vineyard your mother works at?” That caused the boy to jerk, his head shot up and he looked spooked. His eyes darted to Achilleas as if expecting him to do something to stop that question and then turned to Evangelina. ‘She don’t work at no vineyard. She’s a… a… She’s a washerwoman in the quarter.’
Slipping her hand off his knee, she slowly stood back up and frowned at the boy. Her arms softly crossing, across her chest. Fen was lying to her and she knew it, taking a deep breath she took a step away, turning her back on the boy but her attention didn’t shift to Achilleas either. Her hand came up to gently tap on her lips. They could accuse him of lying but it’d make the boy shut down and while they’d have the boy, they’d never know who had sent the child here.
Letting out a slow breath, she nodded her head. Glanced at Achilleas as she turned back towards the boy. Licking her lips, “Well, seeing as I can’t pay my debt to you currently I propose that you come back tomorrow, maybe with your mother and I’ll make sure your figs are here and we can all sit down and start everything to get you named as heir?” Shooting a look to Achilleas not to argue about this. She had a plan on how to approach this, he just needed to trust her just a little bit.
Looking back to Fen, she smiled, “How about I see if one of the servants can prepare you a snack for the way home… think of it as a bit of interest on my part.” Fen bit his bottom lip then nodded, he seemed satisfied with the idea that he had a bit more time to prepare.
Biting her bottom lip, she nodded at Achilleas to follow her for a moment out into the hallway. “Perhaps you can point me towards the kitchens, my lord?”
Once in the hallway, she leaned against the wall staring up at Achilleas, her arms crossed across her chest again. She let the sadness for the boy show on her face again. "Who do you trust around here? I'll go back inside with Fen, stop by the kitchen and have them fix him something to take to eat when he leaves, but find your man, whoever you trust with your secrets and have them prepared to follow him." Sucking in a sad breath then she continued, "I think that is your best bet for getting to the bottom of this."
He sat back and let Evangelina pick up the talk with the child, folded his hands together to prevent himself displacing his tension any tell tale fidgeting. Achilleas’ gaze rested upon the child though, watching his reactions to the words spoken to him. The boy was clever, but not impossibly so, and the Lord Mikaelidas watched as Evie led him into stumbling. He felt the fist that had been squeezing his lungs relax a little. Not his. Not truly his
It was that sensation that consumed him, and when the Leventi girl looked to him, Achilleas could not comprehend the expression she wore, searched her face for some understanding but she turned away again before he could really make sense of it. She was clever though, in her questions, he could give her that. She was a sharp little thing, quite different from those others in her family that he’d had the acquaintance of. And then he thought of how she’d already demonstrated this to him outside, and thought he should not be surprised now.
Fen was not so enjoying Evie’s tricksy questions. He’d made a mistake he knew with not looking like he cared enough, he’d seen the flash of relief on the Lord’s face and now he was trying to make up ground. A washerwoman, he protested, but he couldn’t help the flush that slid up his neck at her coming so close to the truth.
Achilleas stifled a snort at the idea that he would have lain with a washerwoman, but he held his silence, just lifted his brows when Evangelina rose from her position next to the child but did not look his way. He wished he knew where she was going with this, but given that she was at least getting answers from the child he didn’t want to interject. A decision he almost reversed a moment later though, when he heard her invite Fen back again to start the ptocess to be named as heir.
To start the process to be named as heir. Achilleas had to play her words back to himself to be sure he had not misheard and he took a breath ready to correct such a misapprehension when Evangelina’s dark eyes warned him off it, and he hesitated, holding her gaze for a moment before he eventually conceded with a minute dip of his head. He would trust her.
Though, he was not much comfortable with the idea of the child just turning up again. How could he ensure that he was not received by anyone else in the household? That would be disastrous. He stood then, shooting a brief look at the child before following Evie into the hallway, where he looked up and down to ensure there were no listening ears. When had his life become such a mess of secrets?
He looked sharply at the noblewoman when she seemed almost to read his thoughts, and this time he thought he caught on to that fleeting sadness he had seen on her face earlier. “You pity the boy? Though he has clearly come her and spun us a fistful of lies?” Too close still for Achilleas to be objective about it, he took a deep breath and considered her words. it was not really much of a question, there was only one person that he would call upon for such a thing. Who he would trust.
“Very well. You mind he doesn’t say anything in front of anyone though. Who will you say he is if anyone asks?” Achilleas asked, his voice low. He waited until she had given him a satisfactory answer before throwing a look over his shoulder back towards his study. "Give me a few moments to..explain to my man. I’ll join you outside before the boy goes”
With that, Achilleas strode off, intent on finding the man that he knew had more loyalty to him than to his father. Much to his dismay, he did not feel confident in ascribing such a trait to any of the other Mikaelidas servants. Meena had her spies he was sure, and since the senate meet he knew his father mistrusted him, and would not have been surprised if he’d planted those amongst his staff to keep an eye.
Krysto though,would lay down his life for him. He knew it because he would offer the man the same. They had come up through the ranks together as young men, and even as Achilleas had ascended far beyond, he kept his faith with the Captain from Euttica. His friend as well as fellow soldier. The Lord had called him to Vasiliadon after the Egyptians had left, had wanted the man’s thoughts on their sun scorched friends. And more than that, had wanted a friendly face and someone he knew he could trust by his side.
Even so, when Achilleas tracked the man down in the armoury, he did not relish explaining the task he had for him. Krysto, well attuned to his friend’s moods, did not make jokes this time - though he would be sure to later, when Achilleas too might be ready to laugh at his own panic - but instead nodded and gave his assurances that he would find where the boy had come from.
Feeling grateful that he did not doubt the man, Achilleas returned to the manor, finding Lady Evangelina under the shade of the cypress trees in the garden, the child Fen scuffing stones with his sandalled feet. As he reached them, the Lord ran an eye over the package tucked under the boys arm and glanced at Evangelina. It seemed the Mikaelidas household had been more than generous in furnishing the lying little brat with rewards for his effort, and Achilleas had to remind himself despite the untruths, Fen was a child, and had likely not come up with such fallacies unprompted.
“Well then, Griffen. I expect you to run on home now and tell your Mother what we have agreed?” he said, in a level, detached sort of tone. “I trust Lady Evangelina has been clear about what we shall need to discuss tomorrow?”
And as he looked at again at Theodora’s cousin, Achilleas couldn’t help but think he was placing a great deal of trust in this very new acquaintance of his. He hoped he would not come to regret it.
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
He sat back and let Evangelina pick up the talk with the child, folded his hands together to prevent himself displacing his tension any tell tale fidgeting. Achilleas’ gaze rested upon the child though, watching his reactions to the words spoken to him. The boy was clever, but not impossibly so, and the Lord Mikaelidas watched as Evie led him into stumbling. He felt the fist that had been squeezing his lungs relax a little. Not his. Not truly his
It was that sensation that consumed him, and when the Leventi girl looked to him, Achilleas could not comprehend the expression she wore, searched her face for some understanding but she turned away again before he could really make sense of it. She was clever though, in her questions, he could give her that. She was a sharp little thing, quite different from those others in her family that he’d had the acquaintance of. And then he thought of how she’d already demonstrated this to him outside, and thought he should not be surprised now.
Fen was not so enjoying Evie’s tricksy questions. He’d made a mistake he knew with not looking like he cared enough, he’d seen the flash of relief on the Lord’s face and now he was trying to make up ground. A washerwoman, he protested, but he couldn’t help the flush that slid up his neck at her coming so close to the truth.
Achilleas stifled a snort at the idea that he would have lain with a washerwoman, but he held his silence, just lifted his brows when Evangelina rose from her position next to the child but did not look his way. He wished he knew where she was going with this, but given that she was at least getting answers from the child he didn’t want to interject. A decision he almost reversed a moment later though, when he heard her invite Fen back again to start the ptocess to be named as heir.
To start the process to be named as heir. Achilleas had to play her words back to himself to be sure he had not misheard and he took a breath ready to correct such a misapprehension when Evangelina’s dark eyes warned him off it, and he hesitated, holding her gaze for a moment before he eventually conceded with a minute dip of his head. He would trust her.
Though, he was not much comfortable with the idea of the child just turning up again. How could he ensure that he was not received by anyone else in the household? That would be disastrous. He stood then, shooting a brief look at the child before following Evie into the hallway, where he looked up and down to ensure there were no listening ears. When had his life become such a mess of secrets?
He looked sharply at the noblewoman when she seemed almost to read his thoughts, and this time he thought he caught on to that fleeting sadness he had seen on her face earlier. “You pity the boy? Though he has clearly come her and spun us a fistful of lies?” Too close still for Achilleas to be objective about it, he took a deep breath and considered her words. it was not really much of a question, there was only one person that he would call upon for such a thing. Who he would trust.
“Very well. You mind he doesn’t say anything in front of anyone though. Who will you say he is if anyone asks?” Achilleas asked, his voice low. He waited until she had given him a satisfactory answer before throwing a look over his shoulder back towards his study. "Give me a few moments to..explain to my man. I’ll join you outside before the boy goes”
With that, Achilleas strode off, intent on finding the man that he knew had more loyalty to him than to his father. Much to his dismay, he did not feel confident in ascribing such a trait to any of the other Mikaelidas servants. Meena had her spies he was sure, and since the senate meet he knew his father mistrusted him, and would not have been surprised if he’d planted those amongst his staff to keep an eye.
Krysto though,would lay down his life for him. He knew it because he would offer the man the same. They had come up through the ranks together as young men, and even as Achilleas had ascended far beyond, he kept his faith with the Captain from Euttica. His friend as well as fellow soldier. The Lord had called him to Vasiliadon after the Egyptians had left, had wanted the man’s thoughts on their sun scorched friends. And more than that, had wanted a friendly face and someone he knew he could trust by his side.
Even so, when Achilleas tracked the man down in the armoury, he did not relish explaining the task he had for him. Krysto, well attuned to his friend’s moods, did not make jokes this time - though he would be sure to later, when Achilleas too might be ready to laugh at his own panic - but instead nodded and gave his assurances that he would find where the boy had come from.
Feeling grateful that he did not doubt the man, Achilleas returned to the manor, finding Lady Evangelina under the shade of the cypress trees in the garden, the child Fen scuffing stones with his sandalled feet. As he reached them, the Lord ran an eye over the package tucked under the boys arm and glanced at Evangelina. It seemed the Mikaelidas household had been more than generous in furnishing the lying little brat with rewards for his effort, and Achilleas had to remind himself despite the untruths, Fen was a child, and had likely not come up with such fallacies unprompted.
“Well then, Griffen. I expect you to run on home now and tell your Mother what we have agreed?” he said, in a level, detached sort of tone. “I trust Lady Evangelina has been clear about what we shall need to discuss tomorrow?”
And as he looked at again at Theodora’s cousin, Achilleas couldn’t help but think he was placing a great deal of trust in this very new acquaintance of his. He hoped he would not come to regret it.
He sat back and let Evangelina pick up the talk with the child, folded his hands together to prevent himself displacing his tension any tell tale fidgeting. Achilleas’ gaze rested upon the child though, watching his reactions to the words spoken to him. The boy was clever, but not impossibly so, and the Lord Mikaelidas watched as Evie led him into stumbling. He felt the fist that had been squeezing his lungs relax a little. Not his. Not truly his
It was that sensation that consumed him, and when the Leventi girl looked to him, Achilleas could not comprehend the expression she wore, searched her face for some understanding but she turned away again before he could really make sense of it. She was clever though, in her questions, he could give her that. She was a sharp little thing, quite different from those others in her family that he’d had the acquaintance of. And then he thought of how she’d already demonstrated this to him outside, and thought he should not be surprised now.
Fen was not so enjoying Evie’s tricksy questions. He’d made a mistake he knew with not looking like he cared enough, he’d seen the flash of relief on the Lord’s face and now he was trying to make up ground. A washerwoman, he protested, but he couldn’t help the flush that slid up his neck at her coming so close to the truth.
Achilleas stifled a snort at the idea that he would have lain with a washerwoman, but he held his silence, just lifted his brows when Evangelina rose from her position next to the child but did not look his way. He wished he knew where she was going with this, but given that she was at least getting answers from the child he didn’t want to interject. A decision he almost reversed a moment later though, when he heard her invite Fen back again to start the ptocess to be named as heir.
To start the process to be named as heir. Achilleas had to play her words back to himself to be sure he had not misheard and he took a breath ready to correct such a misapprehension when Evangelina’s dark eyes warned him off it, and he hesitated, holding her gaze for a moment before he eventually conceded with a minute dip of his head. He would trust her.
Though, he was not much comfortable with the idea of the child just turning up again. How could he ensure that he was not received by anyone else in the household? That would be disastrous. He stood then, shooting a brief look at the child before following Evie into the hallway, where he looked up and down to ensure there were no listening ears. When had his life become such a mess of secrets?
He looked sharply at the noblewoman when she seemed almost to read his thoughts, and this time he thought he caught on to that fleeting sadness he had seen on her face earlier. “You pity the boy? Though he has clearly come her and spun us a fistful of lies?” Too close still for Achilleas to be objective about it, he took a deep breath and considered her words. it was not really much of a question, there was only one person that he would call upon for such a thing. Who he would trust.
“Very well. You mind he doesn’t say anything in front of anyone though. Who will you say he is if anyone asks?” Achilleas asked, his voice low. He waited until she had given him a satisfactory answer before throwing a look over his shoulder back towards his study. "Give me a few moments to..explain to my man. I’ll join you outside before the boy goes”
With that, Achilleas strode off, intent on finding the man that he knew had more loyalty to him than to his father. Much to his dismay, he did not feel confident in ascribing such a trait to any of the other Mikaelidas servants. Meena had her spies he was sure, and since the senate meet he knew his father mistrusted him, and would not have been surprised if he’d planted those amongst his staff to keep an eye.
Krysto though,would lay down his life for him. He knew it because he would offer the man the same. They had come up through the ranks together as young men, and even as Achilleas had ascended far beyond, he kept his faith with the Captain from Euttica. His friend as well as fellow soldier. The Lord had called him to Vasiliadon after the Egyptians had left, had wanted the man’s thoughts on their sun scorched friends. And more than that, had wanted a friendly face and someone he knew he could trust by his side.
Even so, when Achilleas tracked the man down in the armoury, he did not relish explaining the task he had for him. Krysto, well attuned to his friend’s moods, did not make jokes this time - though he would be sure to later, when Achilleas too might be ready to laugh at his own panic - but instead nodded and gave his assurances that he would find where the boy had come from.
Feeling grateful that he did not doubt the man, Achilleas returned to the manor, finding Lady Evangelina under the shade of the cypress trees in the garden, the child Fen scuffing stones with his sandalled feet. As he reached them, the Lord ran an eye over the package tucked under the boys arm and glanced at Evangelina. It seemed the Mikaelidas household had been more than generous in furnishing the lying little brat with rewards for his effort, and Achilleas had to remind himself despite the untruths, Fen was a child, and had likely not come up with such fallacies unprompted.
“Well then, Griffen. I expect you to run on home now and tell your Mother what we have agreed?” he said, in a level, detached sort of tone. “I trust Lady Evangelina has been clear about what we shall need to discuss tomorrow?”
And as he looked at again at Theodora’s cousin, Achilleas couldn’t help but think he was placing a great deal of trust in this very new acquaintance of his. He hoped he would not come to regret it.
The hard look Achilleas gave her in the hallway probably should have caused her to take a step backward away from him. Leaning the side of her head against the wall, she stared up at him, ‘You pity the boy? Though he has clearly come her and spun us a fistful of lies?’ Those were the details, but what of the bigger picture. He was worried not about what had driven the boy here but rather the boy himself. It was a lack of foresight.
Was he the sort of man who would condemn a person for one misdeed after a lifetime of goodness? She opened her mouth to explain her thoughts but a glance down the hallways and she closed it again. There would be time enough for her to discuss it with him. It seemed her visit today had drawn her much deeper into the secrets of Lord Achilleas then she’d intended. Not that she minded. She loved a good mystery as long it wasn’t aimed at her.
‘Very well. You mind he doesn’t say anything in front of anyone though. Who will you say he is if anyone asks?’ Sweeping her dark eyes up again, she looked at him beneath her lashes.
“If anyone asks, and I doubt they will, but I’ll tell them the truth…” Before he could panic she quickly added, “My truth.” Running her tongue over her bottom lip, she glanced down the hall again and then back up at him. “He’s a boy who came here looking for his father who he believed is a soldier in the Taengean army. He thought we might help him.” Granted there was a bit of a lie in her truth, but only a lie by omission. Griffen hadn’t thought that his father was just any soldier but rather that he was Lord Achilleas. It was easy enough to remember, and she could say it in a way that’d make it believable because, well… it was mostly true. When he appeared satisfied with what she’d said, she uncrossed her arms and prepared herself to go back inside and face the boy.
‘Give me a few moments to..explain to my man. I’ll join you outside before the boy goes.’ With a single nod of her head, she watched him walk off before she rolled her eyes to the ceiling and let out a sigh before she opened the door and returned inside.
Griffen looking up in surprise that it was her and not Lord Achilleas who’d returned into the room, ‘Where’d his lordship go?’ He asked suspeciously.
Evie rolled her eyes at the boy and offered a small smile, “The man might be a General but his directions are terrible. I told him to go ask for the food himself because…” She leaned in a little conspiratorially with the boy, “I honestly don’t want to have to wander around in here for the next couple of days looking for the kitchen or… well… anyone who might give me usable directions.”
The boy stared at her, considering he’d won several plates of figs of her and she’d bought the story about a washerwoman being his mother… maybe it was true. She didn’t seem quite like the noblewomen he’d seen at a distance before... He wanted to believe that what she said was true, so believe he did.
Walking over to the shelf, she glanced over it, a puckish smile forming on her lips. Reaching up, she snatched the scroll she’d been skimming earlier and shoved it into that pocket. She’d return it tomorrow, but tonight she was going to borrow it. Turning around, Griffen was leaning on the desk looking rather deep in thought and bored at the same time. His fingers rolled the dice she’d left there, picked them up again, only to re-roll them.
“Fen, perhaps you’d escort me outside for some air and we can discuss our meeting for tomorrow?” She bit her lip and glanced down at her feet. “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but seeing as you are soon to be the heir… there are many enemies here at court. Let’s keep your story simple, and say Lord Achilleas is helping us look for your father if anyone asks… We wouldn’t want this to become something larger than what we can handle before we have time to get all of our eggs within one basket.”
The scruffy boy stared at her and then slowly nodded his head as he thought about it. It made sense to him. This world seemed like there was much that was hidden from his eyes.
As they walked outside, they talked about common things like… Did he like horses? And, was her dress a shade of green or was it blue? She kept pace with the boy and carefully made sure to slow her walk just enough that if any of the staff were crossing paths they were long gone before Evangelina and Fen drew closer. They were almost outside to the garden when a portly woman with the face of one of her father’s hunting dogs came around the corner at them.
‘Wait up, m’lady. I have that food for ya.’ Her gaze shifted to the boy and Evangelina tilted her head softly and offered her most angelic smile to the woman. “Thank you, ma’am. May the Gods bless you and the cook for you’re kindness.” The words unfolded from her in a soft sweetness that seemed to please the woman as she puffed up a little more and seemed to beam at Evangelina. ‘And may the Gods bless you too, m’lady.’
After the servant had departed, Evangelina held the wrapped up snacks out to the boy to take. He’d have supper tonight anyway. Finding shade under a Cypress tree, she watched Fen as he used the ragged toe of his sandals to scuff rocks. She hadn’t realized she was frowning softly again at the child until the baritone voice rocked her out of her thoughts, ‘Well then, Griffen. I expect you to run on home now and tell your Mother what we have agreed?’ She straightened and offered a sad smile to him. A part of her was not ready to send the boy home, but then again that was the way of the world, wasn’t it? They each had to make the best out of what they were given by the Gods.
Fen clutched his sachel close to him as he stared up at the great and mighty General as he was spoken too, ‘I trust Lady Evangelina has been clear about what we shall need to discuss tomorrow?’ The boy nodded his head, glancing to Evangelina, ‘She said, I had to bring my mother in the morning and not to talk too much about all of this so that we could get our eggs in one basket, my lord.’
Evangelina’s dark eyes settled on Achilleas then, did he have anything else he wished to add to what she said to Fen? Folding her hands softly in front of her, she waited and then said her goodbyes to Fen confirming that she would see him in the morning as well.
When the Griffen was on his way, and Achilleas and herself were alone once more, Evangelina crossed her arms softly over her chest and sighed meeting his gaze, “You’re right. I do pity the boy.” Before he could interrupt her she continued, “We know he’s not your son… so someone else is behind this.” Cutting her rich and now sad eyes down the path the boy had disappeared into the distance of. “Can you imagine being desperate enough at nine years old to accept coming here and facing off with you with the lies he told? Did you see how he hugged that sachel to him? It seems unimportant to you and I, but that might have fed him for a week.”
The pint-sized Leventi’s body softened as some of the fight seemed to slip out of her, “Desperation always makes me sad.”
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
The hard look Achilleas gave her in the hallway probably should have caused her to take a step backward away from him. Leaning the side of her head against the wall, she stared up at him, ‘You pity the boy? Though he has clearly come her and spun us a fistful of lies?’ Those were the details, but what of the bigger picture. He was worried not about what had driven the boy here but rather the boy himself. It was a lack of foresight.
Was he the sort of man who would condemn a person for one misdeed after a lifetime of goodness? She opened her mouth to explain her thoughts but a glance down the hallways and she closed it again. There would be time enough for her to discuss it with him. It seemed her visit today had drawn her much deeper into the secrets of Lord Achilleas then she’d intended. Not that she minded. She loved a good mystery as long it wasn’t aimed at her.
‘Very well. You mind he doesn’t say anything in front of anyone though. Who will you say he is if anyone asks?’ Sweeping her dark eyes up again, she looked at him beneath her lashes.
“If anyone asks, and I doubt they will, but I’ll tell them the truth…” Before he could panic she quickly added, “My truth.” Running her tongue over her bottom lip, she glanced down the hall again and then back up at him. “He’s a boy who came here looking for his father who he believed is a soldier in the Taengean army. He thought we might help him.” Granted there was a bit of a lie in her truth, but only a lie by omission. Griffen hadn’t thought that his father was just any soldier but rather that he was Lord Achilleas. It was easy enough to remember, and she could say it in a way that’d make it believable because, well… it was mostly true. When he appeared satisfied with what she’d said, she uncrossed her arms and prepared herself to go back inside and face the boy.
‘Give me a few moments to..explain to my man. I’ll join you outside before the boy goes.’ With a single nod of her head, she watched him walk off before she rolled her eyes to the ceiling and let out a sigh before she opened the door and returned inside.
Griffen looking up in surprise that it was her and not Lord Achilleas who’d returned into the room, ‘Where’d his lordship go?’ He asked suspeciously.
Evie rolled her eyes at the boy and offered a small smile, “The man might be a General but his directions are terrible. I told him to go ask for the food himself because…” She leaned in a little conspiratorially with the boy, “I honestly don’t want to have to wander around in here for the next couple of days looking for the kitchen or… well… anyone who might give me usable directions.”
The boy stared at her, considering he’d won several plates of figs of her and she’d bought the story about a washerwoman being his mother… maybe it was true. She didn’t seem quite like the noblewomen he’d seen at a distance before... He wanted to believe that what she said was true, so believe he did.
Walking over to the shelf, she glanced over it, a puckish smile forming on her lips. Reaching up, she snatched the scroll she’d been skimming earlier and shoved it into that pocket. She’d return it tomorrow, but tonight she was going to borrow it. Turning around, Griffen was leaning on the desk looking rather deep in thought and bored at the same time. His fingers rolled the dice she’d left there, picked them up again, only to re-roll them.
“Fen, perhaps you’d escort me outside for some air and we can discuss our meeting for tomorrow?” She bit her lip and glanced down at her feet. “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but seeing as you are soon to be the heir… there are many enemies here at court. Let’s keep your story simple, and say Lord Achilleas is helping us look for your father if anyone asks… We wouldn’t want this to become something larger than what we can handle before we have time to get all of our eggs within one basket.”
The scruffy boy stared at her and then slowly nodded his head as he thought about it. It made sense to him. This world seemed like there was much that was hidden from his eyes.
As they walked outside, they talked about common things like… Did he like horses? And, was her dress a shade of green or was it blue? She kept pace with the boy and carefully made sure to slow her walk just enough that if any of the staff were crossing paths they were long gone before Evangelina and Fen drew closer. They were almost outside to the garden when a portly woman with the face of one of her father’s hunting dogs came around the corner at them.
‘Wait up, m’lady. I have that food for ya.’ Her gaze shifted to the boy and Evangelina tilted her head softly and offered her most angelic smile to the woman. “Thank you, ma’am. May the Gods bless you and the cook for you’re kindness.” The words unfolded from her in a soft sweetness that seemed to please the woman as she puffed up a little more and seemed to beam at Evangelina. ‘And may the Gods bless you too, m’lady.’
After the servant had departed, Evangelina held the wrapped up snacks out to the boy to take. He’d have supper tonight anyway. Finding shade under a Cypress tree, she watched Fen as he used the ragged toe of his sandals to scuff rocks. She hadn’t realized she was frowning softly again at the child until the baritone voice rocked her out of her thoughts, ‘Well then, Griffen. I expect you to run on home now and tell your Mother what we have agreed?’ She straightened and offered a sad smile to him. A part of her was not ready to send the boy home, but then again that was the way of the world, wasn’t it? They each had to make the best out of what they were given by the Gods.
Fen clutched his sachel close to him as he stared up at the great and mighty General as he was spoken too, ‘I trust Lady Evangelina has been clear about what we shall need to discuss tomorrow?’ The boy nodded his head, glancing to Evangelina, ‘She said, I had to bring my mother in the morning and not to talk too much about all of this so that we could get our eggs in one basket, my lord.’
Evangelina’s dark eyes settled on Achilleas then, did he have anything else he wished to add to what she said to Fen? Folding her hands softly in front of her, she waited and then said her goodbyes to Fen confirming that she would see him in the morning as well.
When the Griffen was on his way, and Achilleas and herself were alone once more, Evangelina crossed her arms softly over her chest and sighed meeting his gaze, “You’re right. I do pity the boy.” Before he could interrupt her she continued, “We know he’s not your son… so someone else is behind this.” Cutting her rich and now sad eyes down the path the boy had disappeared into the distance of. “Can you imagine being desperate enough at nine years old to accept coming here and facing off with you with the lies he told? Did you see how he hugged that sachel to him? It seems unimportant to you and I, but that might have fed him for a week.”
The pint-sized Leventi’s body softened as some of the fight seemed to slip out of her, “Desperation always makes me sad.”
The hard look Achilleas gave her in the hallway probably should have caused her to take a step backward away from him. Leaning the side of her head against the wall, she stared up at him, ‘You pity the boy? Though he has clearly come her and spun us a fistful of lies?’ Those were the details, but what of the bigger picture. He was worried not about what had driven the boy here but rather the boy himself. It was a lack of foresight.
Was he the sort of man who would condemn a person for one misdeed after a lifetime of goodness? She opened her mouth to explain her thoughts but a glance down the hallways and she closed it again. There would be time enough for her to discuss it with him. It seemed her visit today had drawn her much deeper into the secrets of Lord Achilleas then she’d intended. Not that she minded. She loved a good mystery as long it wasn’t aimed at her.
‘Very well. You mind he doesn’t say anything in front of anyone though. Who will you say he is if anyone asks?’ Sweeping her dark eyes up again, she looked at him beneath her lashes.
“If anyone asks, and I doubt they will, but I’ll tell them the truth…” Before he could panic she quickly added, “My truth.” Running her tongue over her bottom lip, she glanced down the hall again and then back up at him. “He’s a boy who came here looking for his father who he believed is a soldier in the Taengean army. He thought we might help him.” Granted there was a bit of a lie in her truth, but only a lie by omission. Griffen hadn’t thought that his father was just any soldier but rather that he was Lord Achilleas. It was easy enough to remember, and she could say it in a way that’d make it believable because, well… it was mostly true. When he appeared satisfied with what she’d said, she uncrossed her arms and prepared herself to go back inside and face the boy.
‘Give me a few moments to..explain to my man. I’ll join you outside before the boy goes.’ With a single nod of her head, she watched him walk off before she rolled her eyes to the ceiling and let out a sigh before she opened the door and returned inside.
Griffen looking up in surprise that it was her and not Lord Achilleas who’d returned into the room, ‘Where’d his lordship go?’ He asked suspeciously.
Evie rolled her eyes at the boy and offered a small smile, “The man might be a General but his directions are terrible. I told him to go ask for the food himself because…” She leaned in a little conspiratorially with the boy, “I honestly don’t want to have to wander around in here for the next couple of days looking for the kitchen or… well… anyone who might give me usable directions.”
The boy stared at her, considering he’d won several plates of figs of her and she’d bought the story about a washerwoman being his mother… maybe it was true. She didn’t seem quite like the noblewomen he’d seen at a distance before... He wanted to believe that what she said was true, so believe he did.
Walking over to the shelf, she glanced over it, a puckish smile forming on her lips. Reaching up, she snatched the scroll she’d been skimming earlier and shoved it into that pocket. She’d return it tomorrow, but tonight she was going to borrow it. Turning around, Griffen was leaning on the desk looking rather deep in thought and bored at the same time. His fingers rolled the dice she’d left there, picked them up again, only to re-roll them.
“Fen, perhaps you’d escort me outside for some air and we can discuss our meeting for tomorrow?” She bit her lip and glanced down at her feet. “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but seeing as you are soon to be the heir… there are many enemies here at court. Let’s keep your story simple, and say Lord Achilleas is helping us look for your father if anyone asks… We wouldn’t want this to become something larger than what we can handle before we have time to get all of our eggs within one basket.”
The scruffy boy stared at her and then slowly nodded his head as he thought about it. It made sense to him. This world seemed like there was much that was hidden from his eyes.
As they walked outside, they talked about common things like… Did he like horses? And, was her dress a shade of green or was it blue? She kept pace with the boy and carefully made sure to slow her walk just enough that if any of the staff were crossing paths they were long gone before Evangelina and Fen drew closer. They were almost outside to the garden when a portly woman with the face of one of her father’s hunting dogs came around the corner at them.
‘Wait up, m’lady. I have that food for ya.’ Her gaze shifted to the boy and Evangelina tilted her head softly and offered her most angelic smile to the woman. “Thank you, ma’am. May the Gods bless you and the cook for you’re kindness.” The words unfolded from her in a soft sweetness that seemed to please the woman as she puffed up a little more and seemed to beam at Evangelina. ‘And may the Gods bless you too, m’lady.’
After the servant had departed, Evangelina held the wrapped up snacks out to the boy to take. He’d have supper tonight anyway. Finding shade under a Cypress tree, she watched Fen as he used the ragged toe of his sandals to scuff rocks. She hadn’t realized she was frowning softly again at the child until the baritone voice rocked her out of her thoughts, ‘Well then, Griffen. I expect you to run on home now and tell your Mother what we have agreed?’ She straightened and offered a sad smile to him. A part of her was not ready to send the boy home, but then again that was the way of the world, wasn’t it? They each had to make the best out of what they were given by the Gods.
Fen clutched his sachel close to him as he stared up at the great and mighty General as he was spoken too, ‘I trust Lady Evangelina has been clear about what we shall need to discuss tomorrow?’ The boy nodded his head, glancing to Evangelina, ‘She said, I had to bring my mother in the morning and not to talk too much about all of this so that we could get our eggs in one basket, my lord.’
Evangelina’s dark eyes settled on Achilleas then, did he have anything else he wished to add to what she said to Fen? Folding her hands softly in front of her, she waited and then said her goodbyes to Fen confirming that she would see him in the morning as well.
When the Griffen was on his way, and Achilleas and herself were alone once more, Evangelina crossed her arms softly over her chest and sighed meeting his gaze, “You’re right. I do pity the boy.” Before he could interrupt her she continued, “We know he’s not your son… so someone else is behind this.” Cutting her rich and now sad eyes down the path the boy had disappeared into the distance of. “Can you imagine being desperate enough at nine years old to accept coming here and facing off with you with the lies he told? Did you see how he hugged that sachel to him? It seems unimportant to you and I, but that might have fed him for a week.”
The pint-sized Leventi’s body softened as some of the fight seemed to slip out of her, “Desperation always makes me sad.”
Achilleas watched the boy go, brows drawn together in consternation. The initial fear that there was truth in the boys claim had dimmed the more answers had been coaxed from him, but that did not dispel the fact that even talk of it would be gossip fodder. Gossip that he did not want to reach Theodora’s ears. Nor his father’s.
Movement from the corner of his eye had him turn to look at Evangelina, and he met the dark eyes - not entirely dissimilar in shade to Theo’s he noted- with a small shake of his head, expressing his disbelief.
And when the young woman addressed his earlier question, Achilleas looked at her steadily, even as her gaze shifted to follow the retreating figure of the boy. She was right of course. Griffen was just a child. A brash child, but a child nonetheless, and the Lord felt a slight tinge of shame at the judgement he could hear in Evangelina’s words. He would have come to the same conclusion himself, given time away from the immediacy of the event, but for now he just gave a nod, acknowledged the truth of what she said.
“My wonder is who would put him up to it though? It does not seem as if it is only about gold.” To ask for legitimacy smacked of something else. Or just a good deal too much ambition. “You anticipate he will be returning to one of the vineyards then? Trundling back tomorrow with a woman I have never seen before?”
She had not yet told him of what had driven her to invite the boy back to the manor the next day, and Achilleas still thought it playing with fire to have the child here again. They had been lucky today to have not crossed paths with any other members of the household. Or rather, he had been lucky. Achilleas breathed a sigh of his own then and glanced askance at Evangelina. “I am sorry that you were exposed to that. But also remarkably grateful than you were here” he said, swallowing as his embarrassment at the situation rose up to greet him now. He didn’t look at the Leventi woman as he spoke but was suddenly acutely aware of the fact that she was cousin to is betrothed. He wanted to defend himself “I can assure you I am not the type of man to..to..find myself in such a quandary.” That is to say, it was not a common occurrence for children to present themselves claiming to be of his blood. And Achilleas considered himself almost chaste in comparison with others he knew…
As if realising that was not a conversation he wanted to get into, the Lord cleared his throat and stood a little straighter, preparing himself to ask his very new acquintance to keep a secret for him. “I...would ask that you do not speak of this to anyone else, my lady, though I know it is no small thing to request of you.”
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Achilleas watched the boy go, brows drawn together in consternation. The initial fear that there was truth in the boys claim had dimmed the more answers had been coaxed from him, but that did not dispel the fact that even talk of it would be gossip fodder. Gossip that he did not want to reach Theodora’s ears. Nor his father’s.
Movement from the corner of his eye had him turn to look at Evangelina, and he met the dark eyes - not entirely dissimilar in shade to Theo’s he noted- with a small shake of his head, expressing his disbelief.
And when the young woman addressed his earlier question, Achilleas looked at her steadily, even as her gaze shifted to follow the retreating figure of the boy. She was right of course. Griffen was just a child. A brash child, but a child nonetheless, and the Lord felt a slight tinge of shame at the judgement he could hear in Evangelina’s words. He would have come to the same conclusion himself, given time away from the immediacy of the event, but for now he just gave a nod, acknowledged the truth of what she said.
“My wonder is who would put him up to it though? It does not seem as if it is only about gold.” To ask for legitimacy smacked of something else. Or just a good deal too much ambition. “You anticipate he will be returning to one of the vineyards then? Trundling back tomorrow with a woman I have never seen before?”
She had not yet told him of what had driven her to invite the boy back to the manor the next day, and Achilleas still thought it playing with fire to have the child here again. They had been lucky today to have not crossed paths with any other members of the household. Or rather, he had been lucky. Achilleas breathed a sigh of his own then and glanced askance at Evangelina. “I am sorry that you were exposed to that. But also remarkably grateful than you were here” he said, swallowing as his embarrassment at the situation rose up to greet him now. He didn’t look at the Leventi woman as he spoke but was suddenly acutely aware of the fact that she was cousin to is betrothed. He wanted to defend himself “I can assure you I am not the type of man to..to..find myself in such a quandary.” That is to say, it was not a common occurrence for children to present themselves claiming to be of his blood. And Achilleas considered himself almost chaste in comparison with others he knew…
As if realising that was not a conversation he wanted to get into, the Lord cleared his throat and stood a little straighter, preparing himself to ask his very new acquintance to keep a secret for him. “I...would ask that you do not speak of this to anyone else, my lady, though I know it is no small thing to request of you.”
Achilleas watched the boy go, brows drawn together in consternation. The initial fear that there was truth in the boys claim had dimmed the more answers had been coaxed from him, but that did not dispel the fact that even talk of it would be gossip fodder. Gossip that he did not want to reach Theodora’s ears. Nor his father’s.
Movement from the corner of his eye had him turn to look at Evangelina, and he met the dark eyes - not entirely dissimilar in shade to Theo’s he noted- with a small shake of his head, expressing his disbelief.
And when the young woman addressed his earlier question, Achilleas looked at her steadily, even as her gaze shifted to follow the retreating figure of the boy. She was right of course. Griffen was just a child. A brash child, but a child nonetheless, and the Lord felt a slight tinge of shame at the judgement he could hear in Evangelina’s words. He would have come to the same conclusion himself, given time away from the immediacy of the event, but for now he just gave a nod, acknowledged the truth of what she said.
“My wonder is who would put him up to it though? It does not seem as if it is only about gold.” To ask for legitimacy smacked of something else. Or just a good deal too much ambition. “You anticipate he will be returning to one of the vineyards then? Trundling back tomorrow with a woman I have never seen before?”
She had not yet told him of what had driven her to invite the boy back to the manor the next day, and Achilleas still thought it playing with fire to have the child here again. They had been lucky today to have not crossed paths with any other members of the household. Or rather, he had been lucky. Achilleas breathed a sigh of his own then and glanced askance at Evangelina. “I am sorry that you were exposed to that. But also remarkably grateful than you were here” he said, swallowing as his embarrassment at the situation rose up to greet him now. He didn’t look at the Leventi woman as he spoke but was suddenly acutely aware of the fact that she was cousin to is betrothed. He wanted to defend himself “I can assure you I am not the type of man to..to..find myself in such a quandary.” That is to say, it was not a common occurrence for children to present themselves claiming to be of his blood. And Achilleas considered himself almost chaste in comparison with others he knew…
As if realising that was not a conversation he wanted to get into, the Lord cleared his throat and stood a little straighter, preparing himself to ask his very new acquintance to keep a secret for him. “I...would ask that you do not speak of this to anyone else, my lady, though I know it is no small thing to request of you.”
Evangelina wasn’t a gentle soul. She believed in blood for blood and an eye for an eye. Yet, her world wasn’t colored in simple black and white but a thousand shades of gray. Good people did bad things and bad people did good things, and that didn’t make the good people bad nor did it make the bad people good. Desperation, she’d found was often the catalyst to good people doing bad things. What would any of them do if something they loved was threatened?
‘My wonder is who would put him up to it though? It does not seem as if it is only about gold.’ Her forehead creased, she didn’t know who would put the boy up to this but… She shifted her eyes back to Achilleas, the look she gave him was a silent agreement with him. It seemed like this was about more than gold to her too. ‘You anticipate he will be returning to one of the vineyards then? Trundling back tomorrow with a woman I have never seen before?’ She faked a smile at that, her head ducking softly as she looked at her feet.
“Yes. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he’s not outright this very moment trying to secure a woman to be his mother.” The smile slipped from her lips and a heavy sigh followed. She’d known from the look on his face in his study that he was skeptical of her plans but she’d not been able to explain it then. It was a gamble but all of this was a gamble. She rubbed her hands together, “You could have called him out on his lie there in your study but if we are right and this is not just about gold you would never get your answer as to who put him up to it though.”
Raising her head again, she looked off into the distance before turning to look up at the imposing Taengean General as her hand reached out to give him a gentle pat on the shoulder, “Consider it a case of sometimes having to lose the battle in order to win the war.” Evangelina's hand stopped patting him and gave his shoulder a chaste squeeze, “Would you feel better telling people that they are with me? My mother does a bit of charity with a couple of the orphanages here in Vasiliadon, and I do on occasion check in on them for her. If it makes it easier, you can tell those you are concerned might ask too many questions, that I am soliciting you to become a patron.” Her hand fell away then, “We will get this sorted.”
He sighed and glanced at her, ‘I am sorry that you were exposed to that. But also remarkably grateful than you were here.’ Meeting his glance, her lips lifted softly on one corner in an almost smile, he didn’t need to apologize for that scene… he hadn’t caused it or planned it. ‘I can assure you I am not the type of man to..to..find myself in such a quandary.’ Shaking her head, she stifled a soft laugh at his defense, “Relax. I am neither your mother nor Lady Theodora, what you do or don’t do is none of my business. You don’t need to explain to me.”
When he cleared his throat, she assumed he realized it was rather an odd conversation. She had a way of finding herself in odd conversations, but… usually, it was due to her own making. It was rather refreshing to see the great Lord Achilleas in the hot seat. The wicked little smile formed on her lips as she looked up at him from beneath her long sweeping eyelashes. Oh, this was amusing!
‘I...would ask that you do not speak of this to anyone else, my lady, though I know it is no small thing to request of you.’ He sounded a little stuffy again, and her smile widened. With a shrug, “It’s not my secret to tell, you’ll tell who you want when you want, but my lips are sealed. Your secret is safe with me.”
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Evangelina wasn’t a gentle soul. She believed in blood for blood and an eye for an eye. Yet, her world wasn’t colored in simple black and white but a thousand shades of gray. Good people did bad things and bad people did good things, and that didn’t make the good people bad nor did it make the bad people good. Desperation, she’d found was often the catalyst to good people doing bad things. What would any of them do if something they loved was threatened?
‘My wonder is who would put him up to it though? It does not seem as if it is only about gold.’ Her forehead creased, she didn’t know who would put the boy up to this but… She shifted her eyes back to Achilleas, the look she gave him was a silent agreement with him. It seemed like this was about more than gold to her too. ‘You anticipate he will be returning to one of the vineyards then? Trundling back tomorrow with a woman I have never seen before?’ She faked a smile at that, her head ducking softly as she looked at her feet.
“Yes. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he’s not outright this very moment trying to secure a woman to be his mother.” The smile slipped from her lips and a heavy sigh followed. She’d known from the look on his face in his study that he was skeptical of her plans but she’d not been able to explain it then. It was a gamble but all of this was a gamble. She rubbed her hands together, “You could have called him out on his lie there in your study but if we are right and this is not just about gold you would never get your answer as to who put him up to it though.”
Raising her head again, she looked off into the distance before turning to look up at the imposing Taengean General as her hand reached out to give him a gentle pat on the shoulder, “Consider it a case of sometimes having to lose the battle in order to win the war.” Evangelina's hand stopped patting him and gave his shoulder a chaste squeeze, “Would you feel better telling people that they are with me? My mother does a bit of charity with a couple of the orphanages here in Vasiliadon, and I do on occasion check in on them for her. If it makes it easier, you can tell those you are concerned might ask too many questions, that I am soliciting you to become a patron.” Her hand fell away then, “We will get this sorted.”
He sighed and glanced at her, ‘I am sorry that you were exposed to that. But also remarkably grateful than you were here.’ Meeting his glance, her lips lifted softly on one corner in an almost smile, he didn’t need to apologize for that scene… he hadn’t caused it or planned it. ‘I can assure you I am not the type of man to..to..find myself in such a quandary.’ Shaking her head, she stifled a soft laugh at his defense, “Relax. I am neither your mother nor Lady Theodora, what you do or don’t do is none of my business. You don’t need to explain to me.”
When he cleared his throat, she assumed he realized it was rather an odd conversation. She had a way of finding herself in odd conversations, but… usually, it was due to her own making. It was rather refreshing to see the great Lord Achilleas in the hot seat. The wicked little smile formed on her lips as she looked up at him from beneath her long sweeping eyelashes. Oh, this was amusing!
‘I...would ask that you do not speak of this to anyone else, my lady, though I know it is no small thing to request of you.’ He sounded a little stuffy again, and her smile widened. With a shrug, “It’s not my secret to tell, you’ll tell who you want when you want, but my lips are sealed. Your secret is safe with me.”
Evangelina wasn’t a gentle soul. She believed in blood for blood and an eye for an eye. Yet, her world wasn’t colored in simple black and white but a thousand shades of gray. Good people did bad things and bad people did good things, and that didn’t make the good people bad nor did it make the bad people good. Desperation, she’d found was often the catalyst to good people doing bad things. What would any of them do if something they loved was threatened?
‘My wonder is who would put him up to it though? It does not seem as if it is only about gold.’ Her forehead creased, she didn’t know who would put the boy up to this but… She shifted her eyes back to Achilleas, the look she gave him was a silent agreement with him. It seemed like this was about more than gold to her too. ‘You anticipate he will be returning to one of the vineyards then? Trundling back tomorrow with a woman I have never seen before?’ She faked a smile at that, her head ducking softly as she looked at her feet.
“Yes. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he’s not outright this very moment trying to secure a woman to be his mother.” The smile slipped from her lips and a heavy sigh followed. She’d known from the look on his face in his study that he was skeptical of her plans but she’d not been able to explain it then. It was a gamble but all of this was a gamble. She rubbed her hands together, “You could have called him out on his lie there in your study but if we are right and this is not just about gold you would never get your answer as to who put him up to it though.”
Raising her head again, she looked off into the distance before turning to look up at the imposing Taengean General as her hand reached out to give him a gentle pat on the shoulder, “Consider it a case of sometimes having to lose the battle in order to win the war.” Evangelina's hand stopped patting him and gave his shoulder a chaste squeeze, “Would you feel better telling people that they are with me? My mother does a bit of charity with a couple of the orphanages here in Vasiliadon, and I do on occasion check in on them for her. If it makes it easier, you can tell those you are concerned might ask too many questions, that I am soliciting you to become a patron.” Her hand fell away then, “We will get this sorted.”
He sighed and glanced at her, ‘I am sorry that you were exposed to that. But also remarkably grateful than you were here.’ Meeting his glance, her lips lifted softly on one corner in an almost smile, he didn’t need to apologize for that scene… he hadn’t caused it or planned it. ‘I can assure you I am not the type of man to..to..find myself in such a quandary.’ Shaking her head, she stifled a soft laugh at his defense, “Relax. I am neither your mother nor Lady Theodora, what you do or don’t do is none of my business. You don’t need to explain to me.”
When he cleared his throat, she assumed he realized it was rather an odd conversation. She had a way of finding herself in odd conversations, but… usually, it was due to her own making. It was rather refreshing to see the great Lord Achilleas in the hot seat. The wicked little smile formed on her lips as she looked up at him from beneath her long sweeping eyelashes. Oh, this was amusing!
‘I...would ask that you do not speak of this to anyone else, my lady, though I know it is no small thing to request of you.’ He sounded a little stuffy again, and her smile widened. With a shrug, “It’s not my secret to tell, you’ll tell who you want when you want, but my lips are sealed. Your secret is safe with me.”
Achilleas had studied Evangelina as she spoke, adjusting the things he had already decided about her to include the compassion she showed for the boy, her forethought in allowing him to leave so that he might be followed. He wondered at the fact that she had escaped his notice for so long, for she really was quite something.
When her hand came to settle on his shoulder, Achilleas turned his head slightly, looking to where her fingers squeezed, before he locked on to the deep brown of her eyes, a hint of surprise mixing with the gratitude she could read on his face. “That..would be an excellent story to explain their presence away” he said, feeling somewhat reassured. He blinked too, at the ‘We’ she chose to employ, the edge of a smile threatening despite the situation, before he reined it in and spoke his regret for ever putting her in such a position.
She waved it away, he did not need to explain himself to her, but he wanted to. Achilleas wondered why he cared so much that Evangelina not think badly of him. But he did, and so was quiet a moment before he gathered himself to ask her to keep all of this a secret from Theo. From everyone, really. He had no idea who could be trusted with what.
And at her ready agreement, the“...thankyou” was delivered brisky, as the lord sought to find some equilibrium again. There was a long pause, Achilleas looking out towards the path that the disruption to his day had taken, his face still and expression pensive. He was aware still of Evangelina standing beside him, and felt slightly uncomfortable now that all of that had transpired with her as witness. As if he were somehow on the backfoot, and she was closer that he usually deigned to let people.
“I will expect you tomorrow then?” he said after a while, turning to face the petite woman and assuming a more..usual level of cordiality. Even so, it felt odd now, knowing he had been so unguarded before. “Do you require an escort home? I can have someone go with you if it is so.”
Ever so gently, Achilleas slid back into the formality that was his failsafe, and it remained resolutely in place until he had seen the Lady Evangelina off. Only then did he blow out a breath and release the rigid posture he had adopted, choosing not to go inside, but instead heading to the courtyard where he might release some of the tension by hitting things with a sword. The sound of wood striking wood was prevalent that afternoon.
***
Achilleas had stayed outside until Krysto had returned him, was sweat sodden and weary but altogether less tightly wound as his Captain relayed to him what he had seen. He had followed the boy back to a vineyard on the east of the city, Krysto reported, and Achilleas had been once again quietly impressed by Lady Evangelina’s astuteness.
Krysto had seen the boy go to the foreman’s villa, and had watched as Griffen had spoken earnestly to a liverered man before accepting a purse of money. Achilleas had allowed the brief moment of relief to permeate, but it had not been long before the burn of indignation had chased it away. Liveried man. Condos colours. Condos vineyard.
He had added it to the list of things kept him awake that night, and now found himself in his study, trying to push pieces of a puzzle together that did not want to fit. There was no enmity between the Houses Mikealidas and Condos, which meant that this was..more personal, and Achilleas seethed in the knowledge that someone would seek to cause such a stir so close to his wedding.
He knew the boy would not be making an appearance today, Krysto had paid the lad double to spill the whole story, and whilst Achilleas had raised an eyebrow at this, he did not begrudge Griffen - if indeed that was his name- the coin. He had not wanted to send word of this development to the Leventi Manor though, not after what Lady Evangelina had told him, so now he waited for her arrival. She was owed at least the relaying of what they now knew.
When Evangelina arrived at the Archontiko, she was greeted this time not by a member of the household staff but by a uniformed soldier of the Taengean Lions. Krysto,having been waiting on the appearance of yet another Leventi lady his lord was apparently entertaining, pushed off the wall he had been leaning against and approached, offering Evangelina a low bow.
“Lady Evangelina of Leventi I presume?” he asked, straightening from the mark of respect and looking her in the eye. “Krysto of Euttica, Captain of the Taengean Lions. Friend to our Lo...Prince Achilleas” The correction was made quickly, but Krysto’s dark eyes flickered to Evangelina’s again with a touch of wariness. Achilleas seemed to have put his trust in her, but Krysto knew that was how his Lord operated. He wanted to be able to trust everyone. The Captain though held off deciding his own opinion for now.
“My Lord asked me to meet you and escort you to his study, my lady. If you will follow me.” Turning, the soldier walked with ease and familiarity through the manor. He was not as tall as Achilleas, but still towered over Evangelina, though she might have noticed he measured his stride so as not to hurry her. And though he was quiet as they walked, it was a companionable silence.
At the door to Achilleas’ study, Krysto paused and knocked before entering, holding the door wide for Evangelina to follow. “The Lady Evangelina of Leventi, Achilleas”. The lack of formal address for his friend was habit, though Achilleas himself lifted a brow as he looked up from the papers scattered across his desk, pushing to his feet to properly greet his guest.
“My Lady” Achilleas inclined his head, gestured for Evie to take a seat and poured her a cup of watered wine himself, walking around the desk to hand it to her.
Krysto did not leave, but rather pushed the door closed behind him and came to stand nearby, looking expectantly at his lord until Achilleas rolled his eyes and poured him wine too. “If you are quite satisfied now, Captain.” he muttered as he handed it over, before returning to his seat and looking at Evangelina, eyes sliding toward Krysto briefly before he addressed her. “I hope you will forgive me for letting you make the journey over here today” Achilleas began. “I very much doubt we will be seeing our little friend again, but I did not want to write, given the concerns you flagged to me yesterday”
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Achilleas had studied Evangelina as she spoke, adjusting the things he had already decided about her to include the compassion she showed for the boy, her forethought in allowing him to leave so that he might be followed. He wondered at the fact that she had escaped his notice for so long, for she really was quite something.
When her hand came to settle on his shoulder, Achilleas turned his head slightly, looking to where her fingers squeezed, before he locked on to the deep brown of her eyes, a hint of surprise mixing with the gratitude she could read on his face. “That..would be an excellent story to explain their presence away” he said, feeling somewhat reassured. He blinked too, at the ‘We’ she chose to employ, the edge of a smile threatening despite the situation, before he reined it in and spoke his regret for ever putting her in such a position.
She waved it away, he did not need to explain himself to her, but he wanted to. Achilleas wondered why he cared so much that Evangelina not think badly of him. But he did, and so was quiet a moment before he gathered himself to ask her to keep all of this a secret from Theo. From everyone, really. He had no idea who could be trusted with what.
And at her ready agreement, the“...thankyou” was delivered brisky, as the lord sought to find some equilibrium again. There was a long pause, Achilleas looking out towards the path that the disruption to his day had taken, his face still and expression pensive. He was aware still of Evangelina standing beside him, and felt slightly uncomfortable now that all of that had transpired with her as witness. As if he were somehow on the backfoot, and she was closer that he usually deigned to let people.
“I will expect you tomorrow then?” he said after a while, turning to face the petite woman and assuming a more..usual level of cordiality. Even so, it felt odd now, knowing he had been so unguarded before. “Do you require an escort home? I can have someone go with you if it is so.”
Ever so gently, Achilleas slid back into the formality that was his failsafe, and it remained resolutely in place until he had seen the Lady Evangelina off. Only then did he blow out a breath and release the rigid posture he had adopted, choosing not to go inside, but instead heading to the courtyard where he might release some of the tension by hitting things with a sword. The sound of wood striking wood was prevalent that afternoon.
***
Achilleas had stayed outside until Krysto had returned him, was sweat sodden and weary but altogether less tightly wound as his Captain relayed to him what he had seen. He had followed the boy back to a vineyard on the east of the city, Krysto reported, and Achilleas had been once again quietly impressed by Lady Evangelina’s astuteness.
Krysto had seen the boy go to the foreman’s villa, and had watched as Griffen had spoken earnestly to a liverered man before accepting a purse of money. Achilleas had allowed the brief moment of relief to permeate, but it had not been long before the burn of indignation had chased it away. Liveried man. Condos colours. Condos vineyard.
He had added it to the list of things kept him awake that night, and now found himself in his study, trying to push pieces of a puzzle together that did not want to fit. There was no enmity between the Houses Mikealidas and Condos, which meant that this was..more personal, and Achilleas seethed in the knowledge that someone would seek to cause such a stir so close to his wedding.
He knew the boy would not be making an appearance today, Krysto had paid the lad double to spill the whole story, and whilst Achilleas had raised an eyebrow at this, he did not begrudge Griffen - if indeed that was his name- the coin. He had not wanted to send word of this development to the Leventi Manor though, not after what Lady Evangelina had told him, so now he waited for her arrival. She was owed at least the relaying of what they now knew.
When Evangelina arrived at the Archontiko, she was greeted this time not by a member of the household staff but by a uniformed soldier of the Taengean Lions. Krysto,having been waiting on the appearance of yet another Leventi lady his lord was apparently entertaining, pushed off the wall he had been leaning against and approached, offering Evangelina a low bow.
“Lady Evangelina of Leventi I presume?” he asked, straightening from the mark of respect and looking her in the eye. “Krysto of Euttica, Captain of the Taengean Lions. Friend to our Lo...Prince Achilleas” The correction was made quickly, but Krysto’s dark eyes flickered to Evangelina’s again with a touch of wariness. Achilleas seemed to have put his trust in her, but Krysto knew that was how his Lord operated. He wanted to be able to trust everyone. The Captain though held off deciding his own opinion for now.
“My Lord asked me to meet you and escort you to his study, my lady. If you will follow me.” Turning, the soldier walked with ease and familiarity through the manor. He was not as tall as Achilleas, but still towered over Evangelina, though she might have noticed he measured his stride so as not to hurry her. And though he was quiet as they walked, it was a companionable silence.
At the door to Achilleas’ study, Krysto paused and knocked before entering, holding the door wide for Evangelina to follow. “The Lady Evangelina of Leventi, Achilleas”. The lack of formal address for his friend was habit, though Achilleas himself lifted a brow as he looked up from the papers scattered across his desk, pushing to his feet to properly greet his guest.
“My Lady” Achilleas inclined his head, gestured for Evie to take a seat and poured her a cup of watered wine himself, walking around the desk to hand it to her.
Krysto did not leave, but rather pushed the door closed behind him and came to stand nearby, looking expectantly at his lord until Achilleas rolled his eyes and poured him wine too. “If you are quite satisfied now, Captain.” he muttered as he handed it over, before returning to his seat and looking at Evangelina, eyes sliding toward Krysto briefly before he addressed her. “I hope you will forgive me for letting you make the journey over here today” Achilleas began. “I very much doubt we will be seeing our little friend again, but I did not want to write, given the concerns you flagged to me yesterday”
Achilleas had studied Evangelina as she spoke, adjusting the things he had already decided about her to include the compassion she showed for the boy, her forethought in allowing him to leave so that he might be followed. He wondered at the fact that she had escaped his notice for so long, for she really was quite something.
When her hand came to settle on his shoulder, Achilleas turned his head slightly, looking to where her fingers squeezed, before he locked on to the deep brown of her eyes, a hint of surprise mixing with the gratitude she could read on his face. “That..would be an excellent story to explain their presence away” he said, feeling somewhat reassured. He blinked too, at the ‘We’ she chose to employ, the edge of a smile threatening despite the situation, before he reined it in and spoke his regret for ever putting her in such a position.
She waved it away, he did not need to explain himself to her, but he wanted to. Achilleas wondered why he cared so much that Evangelina not think badly of him. But he did, and so was quiet a moment before he gathered himself to ask her to keep all of this a secret from Theo. From everyone, really. He had no idea who could be trusted with what.
And at her ready agreement, the“...thankyou” was delivered brisky, as the lord sought to find some equilibrium again. There was a long pause, Achilleas looking out towards the path that the disruption to his day had taken, his face still and expression pensive. He was aware still of Evangelina standing beside him, and felt slightly uncomfortable now that all of that had transpired with her as witness. As if he were somehow on the backfoot, and she was closer that he usually deigned to let people.
“I will expect you tomorrow then?” he said after a while, turning to face the petite woman and assuming a more..usual level of cordiality. Even so, it felt odd now, knowing he had been so unguarded before. “Do you require an escort home? I can have someone go with you if it is so.”
Ever so gently, Achilleas slid back into the formality that was his failsafe, and it remained resolutely in place until he had seen the Lady Evangelina off. Only then did he blow out a breath and release the rigid posture he had adopted, choosing not to go inside, but instead heading to the courtyard where he might release some of the tension by hitting things with a sword. The sound of wood striking wood was prevalent that afternoon.
***
Achilleas had stayed outside until Krysto had returned him, was sweat sodden and weary but altogether less tightly wound as his Captain relayed to him what he had seen. He had followed the boy back to a vineyard on the east of the city, Krysto reported, and Achilleas had been once again quietly impressed by Lady Evangelina’s astuteness.
Krysto had seen the boy go to the foreman’s villa, and had watched as Griffen had spoken earnestly to a liverered man before accepting a purse of money. Achilleas had allowed the brief moment of relief to permeate, but it had not been long before the burn of indignation had chased it away. Liveried man. Condos colours. Condos vineyard.
He had added it to the list of things kept him awake that night, and now found himself in his study, trying to push pieces of a puzzle together that did not want to fit. There was no enmity between the Houses Mikealidas and Condos, which meant that this was..more personal, and Achilleas seethed in the knowledge that someone would seek to cause such a stir so close to his wedding.
He knew the boy would not be making an appearance today, Krysto had paid the lad double to spill the whole story, and whilst Achilleas had raised an eyebrow at this, he did not begrudge Griffen - if indeed that was his name- the coin. He had not wanted to send word of this development to the Leventi Manor though, not after what Lady Evangelina had told him, so now he waited for her arrival. She was owed at least the relaying of what they now knew.
When Evangelina arrived at the Archontiko, she was greeted this time not by a member of the household staff but by a uniformed soldier of the Taengean Lions. Krysto,having been waiting on the appearance of yet another Leventi lady his lord was apparently entertaining, pushed off the wall he had been leaning against and approached, offering Evangelina a low bow.
“Lady Evangelina of Leventi I presume?” he asked, straightening from the mark of respect and looking her in the eye. “Krysto of Euttica, Captain of the Taengean Lions. Friend to our Lo...Prince Achilleas” The correction was made quickly, but Krysto’s dark eyes flickered to Evangelina’s again with a touch of wariness. Achilleas seemed to have put his trust in her, but Krysto knew that was how his Lord operated. He wanted to be able to trust everyone. The Captain though held off deciding his own opinion for now.
“My Lord asked me to meet you and escort you to his study, my lady. If you will follow me.” Turning, the soldier walked with ease and familiarity through the manor. He was not as tall as Achilleas, but still towered over Evangelina, though she might have noticed he measured his stride so as not to hurry her. And though he was quiet as they walked, it was a companionable silence.
At the door to Achilleas’ study, Krysto paused and knocked before entering, holding the door wide for Evangelina to follow. “The Lady Evangelina of Leventi, Achilleas”. The lack of formal address for his friend was habit, though Achilleas himself lifted a brow as he looked up from the papers scattered across his desk, pushing to his feet to properly greet his guest.
“My Lady” Achilleas inclined his head, gestured for Evie to take a seat and poured her a cup of watered wine himself, walking around the desk to hand it to her.
Krysto did not leave, but rather pushed the door closed behind him and came to stand nearby, looking expectantly at his lord until Achilleas rolled his eyes and poured him wine too. “If you are quite satisfied now, Captain.” he muttered as he handed it over, before returning to his seat and looking at Evangelina, eyes sliding toward Krysto briefly before he addressed her. “I hope you will forgive me for letting you make the journey over here today” Achilleas began. “I very much doubt we will be seeing our little friend again, but I did not want to write, given the concerns you flagged to me yesterday”
Sometimes two souls came together and they inspired greatness within one another. They made you stand taller. Fight harder. Be smarter. They made you more, not necessarily out of lust or love but because they fit with you. Evangelina’s dark eyes sized up the man next to her, she’d come here for one thing but what she’d found was something else.
The pint-sized Leventi was careful who she armed herself with as allies, Lord Achilleas was a man who inspired greatness… at least in her. Maybe he’d not reached that potential yet but it was there. When he glanced at her hand, she held it there for another moment before letting it fall away. He so used to people walking upon eggshells with him and it was only going to get worse now that he was to be a Prince. The look on his face though wasn’t hard, it wasn’t demanding her to tread a fine line. Did he realize he was begging for a friend? Maybe not in words. But it was there, he needed her friendship.
That need burrowed under her skin to her soul. That need made her feel alive… As with Griffen earlier, the need to shield and protect him reared its head. Jutting her chin out, “Regardless of what you choose to tell anyone of their presence. You are your own man, Lord Achilleas. You are a Taengean lion, don’t forget that.”
The conversation drifted to apologies from him. He didn’t need to apologize. It was this situation that had changed her opinion of him. He’d not yet harnessed his own potential yet but it was there along with a levelheadedness and benevolence lurking there with him.
‘I will expect you tomorrow then?’ He turned to face her and she fixed her warmed honey eyes on him. Raising an eyebrow at the stiffness he now portrayed after a moment, she gave a single nod of her head in understanding as he continued. ‘Do you require an escort home? I can have someone go with you if it is so.’ It was a polite offer but one that she would decline, “No. Don’t trouble yourself. I have Than with me and he’s protection enough.” With another nod of her head, she motioned towards a young man, barely older than a boy sitting on one horse and holding the reins a grey stallion munching on the grass a little ways down the lane. It was undeniable that there was a resemblance to their horses. Perhaps they were of different colors but similar none the less.
She had but lock eyes with the young man and he was approaching the pair. Turning she looked to Lord Achilleas and offered a small smile, “But I’ll be on my way… I’ve taken enough of your time today. I believe you’ve got some table cloth swaths to go look at.” Evangelina turned, grasping her reins and sorting them out and placing them off Altair’s neck before swinging up without any aid. She may not have been as graceful as Theo or Selene on her own two feet but she was an entirely different creature on a horse.
Situating herself on the grey without disturbing him too much, she flicked her gaze to Lord Achilleas. “Until tomorrow.”
***
The next morning, Evangelina prepared herself. It’d have been a lie to say all of it hadn’t been playing through her head. Between the mystery of the boy and the scroll she’d borrowed, she’d found a great escape from the thoughts of the marriage, and a few other things that were pressing upon her mind. The ride there was similar and like before, she’d left Altair with Than to see too. Her gaze immediately went to the man leaning against the side of the Archontiko.
Slowing her pace just a fraction, she felt like he was sizing her up and not necessarily because she was an unforgettable beauty. There was something dangerous about him. He filled out his… Captain’s uniform with a sort of catlike grace. He’d been waiting for her. It was a little unnerving.
‘Lady Evangelina of Leventi I presume?’ Somehow it was a question and yet it wasn’t. The man shoved himself easily away from the side of the wall and met her with a level gaze. ‘Krysto of Euttica, Captain of the Taengean Lions. Friend to our Lo...Prince Achilleas.’ Standing her ground, she tilted her chin up at him fixing him with her on weary look. “Captain,” She murmured politely, but there was a firm and unyielding undertone to that silky voice of her.
‘My Lord asked me to meet you and escort you to his study, my lady. If you will follow me.’ He turned and walked off, her eyebrows raised a fraction at his back. She might have had a few things to say to him, had he not at least kept a more reasonable pace then Prince Achilleas had. Her gaze used the time to pick apart any weakness however subtle they could have been. Stiffness in his one leg over the other? Anything that would provide her with an upper hand that needed cataloging within her mind. So this was Prince Achilleas watchdog? Maybe she should have brought the good Captain a bone?
At Achilleas’ study, he paused and knocked before holding the door wide for her. Fitting him with another weary look as she slid past him, accidentally bumping into him as he spoke, ‘The Lady Evangelina of Leventi, Achilleas.’ Her lips tightened, she had the slightest inclination that he might have done that on purpose.
Turning her head, she focused on Achilleas. Her gaze sized him up as well. This wasn’t what she was inspecting and that was enough for her to reel back into formality as she took a seat. Reaching out she took the glass, but carefully didn’t take a sip of it. “Your highness.”
Tilting her head, she glanced over her shoulder at the Captain. He might have been rather handsome if he didn’t have such a scowl on his face, she mused as the door was pushed closed. Persing her lips, she turned her attention to Achilleas and raised an eyebrow at him. Did he feel he needed a watchdog to protect him from her?
‘If you are quite satisfied now, Captain.’ This brought another glance over her shoulder to the Captain, there may or may not have been a tinge of smugness in the look she shot him. Before she turned to look back at Achilleas as he spoke, ‘I hope you will forgive me for letting you make the journey over here today. I very much doubt we will be seeing our little friend again, but I did not want to write, given the concerns you flagged to me yesterday.’
Sliding her suspicious gaze from Achilleas to the Kyrstos and back again, she set the wine down. Leaning back in her chair a little, she forced herself to calmly fold her arms into her lap as she spoke, “So, the matter is settled? Do you intend to start keeping secrets from me now? Or will you be sharing the information?” Her calm hands moved to the armrests and her fingers tapped them in agitation.
“Which vineyard was it?” Cutting her irritated eyes to Kyrstos, he was undoubtedly the man who’d followed Fen. She felt indignation building up. This room had the feeling of being a ‘Boys Only’ club, and that was something she was about to smash right through. Standing up, she placed her hands on her hips, giving Achilleas a pointed look. Had he already forgotten he’d asked her not to speak of this? Had he lost his trust already in her? Her nostrils flared, “I suggest you start explaining immediately…” Quickly darting a fearless glance at the Captain behind her, she held up a single index finger, “Not you. I want to hear this from, His highness.” Laying a pointed look at Achilleas, the heat in her gaze removing any doubt to her thoughts. Don’t test me today. You have about five seconds to spill before I storm out of this room and find my own answers.
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Sometimes two souls came together and they inspired greatness within one another. They made you stand taller. Fight harder. Be smarter. They made you more, not necessarily out of lust or love but because they fit with you. Evangelina’s dark eyes sized up the man next to her, she’d come here for one thing but what she’d found was something else.
The pint-sized Leventi was careful who she armed herself with as allies, Lord Achilleas was a man who inspired greatness… at least in her. Maybe he’d not reached that potential yet but it was there. When he glanced at her hand, she held it there for another moment before letting it fall away. He so used to people walking upon eggshells with him and it was only going to get worse now that he was to be a Prince. The look on his face though wasn’t hard, it wasn’t demanding her to tread a fine line. Did he realize he was begging for a friend? Maybe not in words. But it was there, he needed her friendship.
That need burrowed under her skin to her soul. That need made her feel alive… As with Griffen earlier, the need to shield and protect him reared its head. Jutting her chin out, “Regardless of what you choose to tell anyone of their presence. You are your own man, Lord Achilleas. You are a Taengean lion, don’t forget that.”
The conversation drifted to apologies from him. He didn’t need to apologize. It was this situation that had changed her opinion of him. He’d not yet harnessed his own potential yet but it was there along with a levelheadedness and benevolence lurking there with him.
‘I will expect you tomorrow then?’ He turned to face her and she fixed her warmed honey eyes on him. Raising an eyebrow at the stiffness he now portrayed after a moment, she gave a single nod of her head in understanding as he continued. ‘Do you require an escort home? I can have someone go with you if it is so.’ It was a polite offer but one that she would decline, “No. Don’t trouble yourself. I have Than with me and he’s protection enough.” With another nod of her head, she motioned towards a young man, barely older than a boy sitting on one horse and holding the reins a grey stallion munching on the grass a little ways down the lane. It was undeniable that there was a resemblance to their horses. Perhaps they were of different colors but similar none the less.
She had but lock eyes with the young man and he was approaching the pair. Turning she looked to Lord Achilleas and offered a small smile, “But I’ll be on my way… I’ve taken enough of your time today. I believe you’ve got some table cloth swaths to go look at.” Evangelina turned, grasping her reins and sorting them out and placing them off Altair’s neck before swinging up without any aid. She may not have been as graceful as Theo or Selene on her own two feet but she was an entirely different creature on a horse.
Situating herself on the grey without disturbing him too much, she flicked her gaze to Lord Achilleas. “Until tomorrow.”
***
The next morning, Evangelina prepared herself. It’d have been a lie to say all of it hadn’t been playing through her head. Between the mystery of the boy and the scroll she’d borrowed, she’d found a great escape from the thoughts of the marriage, and a few other things that were pressing upon her mind. The ride there was similar and like before, she’d left Altair with Than to see too. Her gaze immediately went to the man leaning against the side of the Archontiko.
Slowing her pace just a fraction, she felt like he was sizing her up and not necessarily because she was an unforgettable beauty. There was something dangerous about him. He filled out his… Captain’s uniform with a sort of catlike grace. He’d been waiting for her. It was a little unnerving.
‘Lady Evangelina of Leventi I presume?’ Somehow it was a question and yet it wasn’t. The man shoved himself easily away from the side of the wall and met her with a level gaze. ‘Krysto of Euttica, Captain of the Taengean Lions. Friend to our Lo...Prince Achilleas.’ Standing her ground, she tilted her chin up at him fixing him with her on weary look. “Captain,” She murmured politely, but there was a firm and unyielding undertone to that silky voice of her.
‘My Lord asked me to meet you and escort you to his study, my lady. If you will follow me.’ He turned and walked off, her eyebrows raised a fraction at his back. She might have had a few things to say to him, had he not at least kept a more reasonable pace then Prince Achilleas had. Her gaze used the time to pick apart any weakness however subtle they could have been. Stiffness in his one leg over the other? Anything that would provide her with an upper hand that needed cataloging within her mind. So this was Prince Achilleas watchdog? Maybe she should have brought the good Captain a bone?
At Achilleas’ study, he paused and knocked before holding the door wide for her. Fitting him with another weary look as she slid past him, accidentally bumping into him as he spoke, ‘The Lady Evangelina of Leventi, Achilleas.’ Her lips tightened, she had the slightest inclination that he might have done that on purpose.
Turning her head, she focused on Achilleas. Her gaze sized him up as well. This wasn’t what she was inspecting and that was enough for her to reel back into formality as she took a seat. Reaching out she took the glass, but carefully didn’t take a sip of it. “Your highness.”
Tilting her head, she glanced over her shoulder at the Captain. He might have been rather handsome if he didn’t have such a scowl on his face, she mused as the door was pushed closed. Persing her lips, she turned her attention to Achilleas and raised an eyebrow at him. Did he feel he needed a watchdog to protect him from her?
‘If you are quite satisfied now, Captain.’ This brought another glance over her shoulder to the Captain, there may or may not have been a tinge of smugness in the look she shot him. Before she turned to look back at Achilleas as he spoke, ‘I hope you will forgive me for letting you make the journey over here today. I very much doubt we will be seeing our little friend again, but I did not want to write, given the concerns you flagged to me yesterday.’
Sliding her suspicious gaze from Achilleas to the Kyrstos and back again, she set the wine down. Leaning back in her chair a little, she forced herself to calmly fold her arms into her lap as she spoke, “So, the matter is settled? Do you intend to start keeping secrets from me now? Or will you be sharing the information?” Her calm hands moved to the armrests and her fingers tapped them in agitation.
“Which vineyard was it?” Cutting her irritated eyes to Kyrstos, he was undoubtedly the man who’d followed Fen. She felt indignation building up. This room had the feeling of being a ‘Boys Only’ club, and that was something she was about to smash right through. Standing up, she placed her hands on her hips, giving Achilleas a pointed look. Had he already forgotten he’d asked her not to speak of this? Had he lost his trust already in her? Her nostrils flared, “I suggest you start explaining immediately…” Quickly darting a fearless glance at the Captain behind her, she held up a single index finger, “Not you. I want to hear this from, His highness.” Laying a pointed look at Achilleas, the heat in her gaze removing any doubt to her thoughts. Don’t test me today. You have about five seconds to spill before I storm out of this room and find my own answers.
Sometimes two souls came together and they inspired greatness within one another. They made you stand taller. Fight harder. Be smarter. They made you more, not necessarily out of lust or love but because they fit with you. Evangelina’s dark eyes sized up the man next to her, she’d come here for one thing but what she’d found was something else.
The pint-sized Leventi was careful who she armed herself with as allies, Lord Achilleas was a man who inspired greatness… at least in her. Maybe he’d not reached that potential yet but it was there. When he glanced at her hand, she held it there for another moment before letting it fall away. He so used to people walking upon eggshells with him and it was only going to get worse now that he was to be a Prince. The look on his face though wasn’t hard, it wasn’t demanding her to tread a fine line. Did he realize he was begging for a friend? Maybe not in words. But it was there, he needed her friendship.
That need burrowed under her skin to her soul. That need made her feel alive… As with Griffen earlier, the need to shield and protect him reared its head. Jutting her chin out, “Regardless of what you choose to tell anyone of their presence. You are your own man, Lord Achilleas. You are a Taengean lion, don’t forget that.”
The conversation drifted to apologies from him. He didn’t need to apologize. It was this situation that had changed her opinion of him. He’d not yet harnessed his own potential yet but it was there along with a levelheadedness and benevolence lurking there with him.
‘I will expect you tomorrow then?’ He turned to face her and she fixed her warmed honey eyes on him. Raising an eyebrow at the stiffness he now portrayed after a moment, she gave a single nod of her head in understanding as he continued. ‘Do you require an escort home? I can have someone go with you if it is so.’ It was a polite offer but one that she would decline, “No. Don’t trouble yourself. I have Than with me and he’s protection enough.” With another nod of her head, she motioned towards a young man, barely older than a boy sitting on one horse and holding the reins a grey stallion munching on the grass a little ways down the lane. It was undeniable that there was a resemblance to their horses. Perhaps they were of different colors but similar none the less.
She had but lock eyes with the young man and he was approaching the pair. Turning she looked to Lord Achilleas and offered a small smile, “But I’ll be on my way… I’ve taken enough of your time today. I believe you’ve got some table cloth swaths to go look at.” Evangelina turned, grasping her reins and sorting them out and placing them off Altair’s neck before swinging up without any aid. She may not have been as graceful as Theo or Selene on her own two feet but she was an entirely different creature on a horse.
Situating herself on the grey without disturbing him too much, she flicked her gaze to Lord Achilleas. “Until tomorrow.”
***
The next morning, Evangelina prepared herself. It’d have been a lie to say all of it hadn’t been playing through her head. Between the mystery of the boy and the scroll she’d borrowed, she’d found a great escape from the thoughts of the marriage, and a few other things that were pressing upon her mind. The ride there was similar and like before, she’d left Altair with Than to see too. Her gaze immediately went to the man leaning against the side of the Archontiko.
Slowing her pace just a fraction, she felt like he was sizing her up and not necessarily because she was an unforgettable beauty. There was something dangerous about him. He filled out his… Captain’s uniform with a sort of catlike grace. He’d been waiting for her. It was a little unnerving.
‘Lady Evangelina of Leventi I presume?’ Somehow it was a question and yet it wasn’t. The man shoved himself easily away from the side of the wall and met her with a level gaze. ‘Krysto of Euttica, Captain of the Taengean Lions. Friend to our Lo...Prince Achilleas.’ Standing her ground, she tilted her chin up at him fixing him with her on weary look. “Captain,” She murmured politely, but there was a firm and unyielding undertone to that silky voice of her.
‘My Lord asked me to meet you and escort you to his study, my lady. If you will follow me.’ He turned and walked off, her eyebrows raised a fraction at his back. She might have had a few things to say to him, had he not at least kept a more reasonable pace then Prince Achilleas had. Her gaze used the time to pick apart any weakness however subtle they could have been. Stiffness in his one leg over the other? Anything that would provide her with an upper hand that needed cataloging within her mind. So this was Prince Achilleas watchdog? Maybe she should have brought the good Captain a bone?
At Achilleas’ study, he paused and knocked before holding the door wide for her. Fitting him with another weary look as she slid past him, accidentally bumping into him as he spoke, ‘The Lady Evangelina of Leventi, Achilleas.’ Her lips tightened, she had the slightest inclination that he might have done that on purpose.
Turning her head, she focused on Achilleas. Her gaze sized him up as well. This wasn’t what she was inspecting and that was enough for her to reel back into formality as she took a seat. Reaching out she took the glass, but carefully didn’t take a sip of it. “Your highness.”
Tilting her head, she glanced over her shoulder at the Captain. He might have been rather handsome if he didn’t have such a scowl on his face, she mused as the door was pushed closed. Persing her lips, she turned her attention to Achilleas and raised an eyebrow at him. Did he feel he needed a watchdog to protect him from her?
‘If you are quite satisfied now, Captain.’ This brought another glance over her shoulder to the Captain, there may or may not have been a tinge of smugness in the look she shot him. Before she turned to look back at Achilleas as he spoke, ‘I hope you will forgive me for letting you make the journey over here today. I very much doubt we will be seeing our little friend again, but I did not want to write, given the concerns you flagged to me yesterday.’
Sliding her suspicious gaze from Achilleas to the Kyrstos and back again, she set the wine down. Leaning back in her chair a little, she forced herself to calmly fold her arms into her lap as she spoke, “So, the matter is settled? Do you intend to start keeping secrets from me now? Or will you be sharing the information?” Her calm hands moved to the armrests and her fingers tapped them in agitation.
“Which vineyard was it?” Cutting her irritated eyes to Kyrstos, he was undoubtedly the man who’d followed Fen. She felt indignation building up. This room had the feeling of being a ‘Boys Only’ club, and that was something she was about to smash right through. Standing up, she placed her hands on her hips, giving Achilleas a pointed look. Had he already forgotten he’d asked her not to speak of this? Had he lost his trust already in her? Her nostrils flared, “I suggest you start explaining immediately…” Quickly darting a fearless glance at the Captain behind her, she held up a single index finger, “Not you. I want to hear this from, His highness.” Laying a pointed look at Achilleas, the heat in her gaze removing any doubt to her thoughts. Don’t test me today. You have about five seconds to spill before I storm out of this room and find my own answers.
Achilleas followed Evangelina’s gaze to where to flickered back to his captain, and he frowned a little, confused at what the arch of her brow was mean to tell him. Deciding that it would either come to light or not, he began to give the conversation to come a little framework, explaining to the noblewoman how things had shifted since they had spoken last. He was ready to invite Krysto to tell his story to Evangelina first hand - that was why he was there, after all - but before he could progress any further down that road, she had interjected and he paused, a little taken aback at her tone.
Again, she looked at Krysto and Achilleas found himself wondering if the pair had disagreed about something before reaching him. Wearing a slightly bemused expression, he opened his mouth the reassure Evangelina that she was about to be told everything when she spoke across him again and he blinked, shifting in his seat as he tried to understand what had gotten her so riled. When the woman got to her feet, Achilleas did not even try to hide his surprise.
What on earth? He felt like he was being scolded for something but had no idea what, and he shot a suspicious glance of his own towards Krysto. Had he upset the lady somehow But before the Captain could do anything more than shrug, he too was the focus of Evangelina’s ire.
Krysto seemed rather delighted at this turn of events and merely sipped at his wine and raised his eyebrows at Achilleas as his lord was once again put on the spot. Indeed the Captain found his esteem for this noblewoman growing. Of all the things he would willingly protect his friend and Commander from, irritated women were not one of them. No, far better to let the new Prince deal with this one himself.
For his part, Achilleas was looking rather annoyed now, and he frowned at Evangelina as he was finally given room to speak. “I think you are getting ahead of yourself my lady. I suggest you might like to take a seat and calm down a little before you let this imagined offence do you a disservice.”
He took a breath to still his own irritation and looked expectantly at Evie, lifting a hand to invite her to sit once again. He wasn’t going to have this conversation with her standing over him making demands.
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Achilleas followed Evangelina’s gaze to where to flickered back to his captain, and he frowned a little, confused at what the arch of her brow was mean to tell him. Deciding that it would either come to light or not, he began to give the conversation to come a little framework, explaining to the noblewoman how things had shifted since they had spoken last. He was ready to invite Krysto to tell his story to Evangelina first hand - that was why he was there, after all - but before he could progress any further down that road, she had interjected and he paused, a little taken aback at her tone.
Again, she looked at Krysto and Achilleas found himself wondering if the pair had disagreed about something before reaching him. Wearing a slightly bemused expression, he opened his mouth the reassure Evangelina that she was about to be told everything when she spoke across him again and he blinked, shifting in his seat as he tried to understand what had gotten her so riled. When the woman got to her feet, Achilleas did not even try to hide his surprise.
What on earth? He felt like he was being scolded for something but had no idea what, and he shot a suspicious glance of his own towards Krysto. Had he upset the lady somehow But before the Captain could do anything more than shrug, he too was the focus of Evangelina’s ire.
Krysto seemed rather delighted at this turn of events and merely sipped at his wine and raised his eyebrows at Achilleas as his lord was once again put on the spot. Indeed the Captain found his esteem for this noblewoman growing. Of all the things he would willingly protect his friend and Commander from, irritated women were not one of them. No, far better to let the new Prince deal with this one himself.
For his part, Achilleas was looking rather annoyed now, and he frowned at Evangelina as he was finally given room to speak. “I think you are getting ahead of yourself my lady. I suggest you might like to take a seat and calm down a little before you let this imagined offence do you a disservice.”
He took a breath to still his own irritation and looked expectantly at Evie, lifting a hand to invite her to sit once again. He wasn’t going to have this conversation with her standing over him making demands.
Achilleas followed Evangelina’s gaze to where to flickered back to his captain, and he frowned a little, confused at what the arch of her brow was mean to tell him. Deciding that it would either come to light or not, he began to give the conversation to come a little framework, explaining to the noblewoman how things had shifted since they had spoken last. He was ready to invite Krysto to tell his story to Evangelina first hand - that was why he was there, after all - but before he could progress any further down that road, she had interjected and he paused, a little taken aback at her tone.
Again, she looked at Krysto and Achilleas found himself wondering if the pair had disagreed about something before reaching him. Wearing a slightly bemused expression, he opened his mouth the reassure Evangelina that she was about to be told everything when she spoke across him again and he blinked, shifting in his seat as he tried to understand what had gotten her so riled. When the woman got to her feet, Achilleas did not even try to hide his surprise.
What on earth? He felt like he was being scolded for something but had no idea what, and he shot a suspicious glance of his own towards Krysto. Had he upset the lady somehow But before the Captain could do anything more than shrug, he too was the focus of Evangelina’s ire.
Krysto seemed rather delighted at this turn of events and merely sipped at his wine and raised his eyebrows at Achilleas as his lord was once again put on the spot. Indeed the Captain found his esteem for this noblewoman growing. Of all the things he would willingly protect his friend and Commander from, irritated women were not one of them. No, far better to let the new Prince deal with this one himself.
For his part, Achilleas was looking rather annoyed now, and he frowned at Evangelina as he was finally given room to speak. “I think you are getting ahead of yourself my lady. I suggest you might like to take a seat and calm down a little before you let this imagined offence do you a disservice.”
He took a breath to still his own irritation and looked expectantly at Evie, lifting a hand to invite her to sit once again. He wasn’t going to have this conversation with her standing over him making demands.
Had anyone in history so far every calmed down when they were told to calm down? Imagined offense. Had he really just said that to her? Evangelina felt her body stiffen, her hand coming to rest on her hips as she stared down the now Prince.
“Do not take that patronizing tone with me,” She growled quietly. “Let me be clear whatever this…” Her hand gestured between Kyrstos and Achilleas in a circle, “Boys only club of information is…. Stops here. I will not be shuffled out with a pat on the head and told that the men are handling this and I don’t need to worry.”
Narrowing her dark eyes at Achilleas, Evangelina didn’t immediately sit down. Her hands resting on her hips she finally sighed and flopped down into the chair with absolutely no grace. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Captain smirking into his cup, “Stop that and sit down too… you make me nervous.” Okay, so her barking at Captain Krystos was just a bit of petulant ire coming out at his smirking.
Reaching for her cup of wine she took a long sip and set it back on the desk. Holding up a fisted hand, her index finger shot upwards. “One, I am calm.” Her middle finger joined the index finger, “Two, It isn’t an imagined offense… it is offensive of trying to swoop in like a giant hero saving the day.” Her third finger popped up, “Third, having your goon…” She glanced at Krystos and frowned, “Sorry… “ Looking back at Achilleas, “Having your Captain waiting to escort me to your study? Are you now so busy you couldn’t have met me outside yourself?” Her pinky came up, “Fourthly, I….” She’d run out of reasons. She frowned at Achilleas and snorted, her hand dropping to her lap again.
“This might have been your problem, your highness, but I am as tangled in it as you are. I want to know what vineyard? And who put Griffen up to lying to you? I want to know where Griffen is? And what the leverage was?” Darting another look Captain before pinning Achilleas with a serious look, “If you are going to play the hero of the day I am going to be holding you personally accountable for those answers. I would suggest you start explaining every tiny detail that I missed.”
She leaned back into the chair, her arms folded in her lap as she continued to stare down the overgrown general. This wasn’t something he’d win.
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Had anyone in history so far every calmed down when they were told to calm down? Imagined offense. Had he really just said that to her? Evangelina felt her body stiffen, her hand coming to rest on her hips as she stared down the now Prince.
“Do not take that patronizing tone with me,” She growled quietly. “Let me be clear whatever this…” Her hand gestured between Kyrstos and Achilleas in a circle, “Boys only club of information is…. Stops here. I will not be shuffled out with a pat on the head and told that the men are handling this and I don’t need to worry.”
Narrowing her dark eyes at Achilleas, Evangelina didn’t immediately sit down. Her hands resting on her hips she finally sighed and flopped down into the chair with absolutely no grace. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Captain smirking into his cup, “Stop that and sit down too… you make me nervous.” Okay, so her barking at Captain Krystos was just a bit of petulant ire coming out at his smirking.
Reaching for her cup of wine she took a long sip and set it back on the desk. Holding up a fisted hand, her index finger shot upwards. “One, I am calm.” Her middle finger joined the index finger, “Two, It isn’t an imagined offense… it is offensive of trying to swoop in like a giant hero saving the day.” Her third finger popped up, “Third, having your goon…” She glanced at Krystos and frowned, “Sorry… “ Looking back at Achilleas, “Having your Captain waiting to escort me to your study? Are you now so busy you couldn’t have met me outside yourself?” Her pinky came up, “Fourthly, I….” She’d run out of reasons. She frowned at Achilleas and snorted, her hand dropping to her lap again.
“This might have been your problem, your highness, but I am as tangled in it as you are. I want to know what vineyard? And who put Griffen up to lying to you? I want to know where Griffen is? And what the leverage was?” Darting another look Captain before pinning Achilleas with a serious look, “If you are going to play the hero of the day I am going to be holding you personally accountable for those answers. I would suggest you start explaining every tiny detail that I missed.”
She leaned back into the chair, her arms folded in her lap as she continued to stare down the overgrown general. This wasn’t something he’d win.
Had anyone in history so far every calmed down when they were told to calm down? Imagined offense. Had he really just said that to her? Evangelina felt her body stiffen, her hand coming to rest on her hips as she stared down the now Prince.
“Do not take that patronizing tone with me,” She growled quietly. “Let me be clear whatever this…” Her hand gestured between Kyrstos and Achilleas in a circle, “Boys only club of information is…. Stops here. I will not be shuffled out with a pat on the head and told that the men are handling this and I don’t need to worry.”
Narrowing her dark eyes at Achilleas, Evangelina didn’t immediately sit down. Her hands resting on her hips she finally sighed and flopped down into the chair with absolutely no grace. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Captain smirking into his cup, “Stop that and sit down too… you make me nervous.” Okay, so her barking at Captain Krystos was just a bit of petulant ire coming out at his smirking.
Reaching for her cup of wine she took a long sip and set it back on the desk. Holding up a fisted hand, her index finger shot upwards. “One, I am calm.” Her middle finger joined the index finger, “Two, It isn’t an imagined offense… it is offensive of trying to swoop in like a giant hero saving the day.” Her third finger popped up, “Third, having your goon…” She glanced at Krystos and frowned, “Sorry… “ Looking back at Achilleas, “Having your Captain waiting to escort me to your study? Are you now so busy you couldn’t have met me outside yourself?” Her pinky came up, “Fourthly, I….” She’d run out of reasons. She frowned at Achilleas and snorted, her hand dropping to her lap again.
“This might have been your problem, your highness, but I am as tangled in it as you are. I want to know what vineyard? And who put Griffen up to lying to you? I want to know where Griffen is? And what the leverage was?” Darting another look Captain before pinning Achilleas with a serious look, “If you are going to play the hero of the day I am going to be holding you personally accountable for those answers. I would suggest you start explaining every tiny detail that I missed.”
She leaned back into the chair, her arms folded in her lap as she continued to stare down the overgrown general. This wasn’t something he’d win.
Achillas opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. “Patronising? I don’t know how you can gauge such a thing when you’ve barely let me get a word in edgewise” he complained, as Evangelina still refused to sit And he gave an indignant little huff at her assumption that she was being somehow excluded, shooting an exasperated look at Krysto who was being no help whatsoever.
“Noone is shuffling you anywhere” he muttered, resisting the urge to just gulp down all of the wine in front of him. What was even happening?. He didn’t quite roll his eyes when she finally sat down again, but it was tempting, and the Prince blew out a long breath through his nose, reached for his much famed patience.
At least it seemed as if he wasn't the only target of such unmerited chiding, with his Captain too being on the receiving end of Lady Evangeline’s ill temper. Achilleas gave a nod to the soldier, who took a seat, and so the woman had both their attentions when she continued.
Achilleas had adopted a rather steadfast expression in the face of Evangelina’s continued ranting, his lips pressed together firmly, the only movement a steady tapping of his index finger upon the arm on his chair as he listened. Krysto was less reserved, and he waved an easy hand at the woman, having been called much worse, and discovering this meeting to be far more entertaining than he had anticipated. He wasn’t even trying to hide his smirk now.
“Aaah, well that was my idea, my Lady” The Captain spoke up with an unapologetic shrug. “I’ll admit I wanted to meet you. It’s sensitive information you have been party to, and I wanted to know who we were dealing with.” He gave no indication as to whether or not she had passed muster, but glanced in amusement back to Achilleas who was looking more and more fed up.
His jaw was working, the man obviously itching to speak up in his own defence, and when Evangelina finally fell silent, he did just that. “If you have quite finished.” Achilleas said cooly. “Krysto is here because I wanted to be able to share this information with you first hand. Because, funnily enough, I am aware that you were part of this too. And perhaps we might already have discussed everything you feel is being withheld from you if you had not been so determined to be offended!” He held up a hand to forestall her saying anything else, meeting her gaze square on. “Now...if you are done, perhaps we can get back to the reason we are all here?”
He gave a nod to the Captain to begin, and Krysto told on how he had followed Griffen back to the Condos owned vineyard, had watched the boy take payment from a uniformed man. That was damning enough in itself, but the soldier went on to say more. “So I spoke to the boy myself. He was cagey, but gold has a way of loosening tongues, especially to those who don't see much of it. And he knew the game was up then anyway. He admitted he had no real claim to being Achilleas’ son, and that he’d been approached by the man I saw pay him. Given some pretty specific instructions about when and where to approach Achilleas with his story. He said to say he was sorry, by the way.” Krysto glanced at his friend but the Prince was still stony faced, sulking over his spat with his new friend. The Captain ignored it, because he knew it wouldn’t last and that the man just needed a few moments to find his pleasant face again. He went on.
“So, safe to assume the connection to Condos, but as of yet there’s no furthe..”
“It was Nikos.” Achilleas said it curtly, as if he were convinced there was no other option. “I have no quarrel with anyone else, and it's exactly the kind of spineless thing he’d do. As some poor joke, or just to make my life difficult. Either way, I’m sure it was him.”
Krysto shot him a look, half- warning, half indulgent, but did not argue his point again. Achilleas could be very stubborn at times, and he knew that man’s pride was still smarting which would only make him more objectionable. In a couple of days he would be more objective.
Achilleas looked to Evangelina, one eyebrow arched imperiously. “Well? Are you satisfied that we are not keeping anything from you?” he asked, before frowning slightly. “You were friends with Condos weren’t you? You know what he’s like, do you think he’d have the gall?”
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Achillas opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. “Patronising? I don’t know how you can gauge such a thing when you’ve barely let me get a word in edgewise” he complained, as Evangelina still refused to sit And he gave an indignant little huff at her assumption that she was being somehow excluded, shooting an exasperated look at Krysto who was being no help whatsoever.
“Noone is shuffling you anywhere” he muttered, resisting the urge to just gulp down all of the wine in front of him. What was even happening?. He didn’t quite roll his eyes when she finally sat down again, but it was tempting, and the Prince blew out a long breath through his nose, reached for his much famed patience.
At least it seemed as if he wasn't the only target of such unmerited chiding, with his Captain too being on the receiving end of Lady Evangeline’s ill temper. Achilleas gave a nod to the soldier, who took a seat, and so the woman had both their attentions when she continued.
Achilleas had adopted a rather steadfast expression in the face of Evangelina’s continued ranting, his lips pressed together firmly, the only movement a steady tapping of his index finger upon the arm on his chair as he listened. Krysto was less reserved, and he waved an easy hand at the woman, having been called much worse, and discovering this meeting to be far more entertaining than he had anticipated. He wasn’t even trying to hide his smirk now.
“Aaah, well that was my idea, my Lady” The Captain spoke up with an unapologetic shrug. “I’ll admit I wanted to meet you. It’s sensitive information you have been party to, and I wanted to know who we were dealing with.” He gave no indication as to whether or not she had passed muster, but glanced in amusement back to Achilleas who was looking more and more fed up.
His jaw was working, the man obviously itching to speak up in his own defence, and when Evangelina finally fell silent, he did just that. “If you have quite finished.” Achilleas said cooly. “Krysto is here because I wanted to be able to share this information with you first hand. Because, funnily enough, I am aware that you were part of this too. And perhaps we might already have discussed everything you feel is being withheld from you if you had not been so determined to be offended!” He held up a hand to forestall her saying anything else, meeting her gaze square on. “Now...if you are done, perhaps we can get back to the reason we are all here?”
He gave a nod to the Captain to begin, and Krysto told on how he had followed Griffen back to the Condos owned vineyard, had watched the boy take payment from a uniformed man. That was damning enough in itself, but the soldier went on to say more. “So I spoke to the boy myself. He was cagey, but gold has a way of loosening tongues, especially to those who don't see much of it. And he knew the game was up then anyway. He admitted he had no real claim to being Achilleas’ son, and that he’d been approached by the man I saw pay him. Given some pretty specific instructions about when and where to approach Achilleas with his story. He said to say he was sorry, by the way.” Krysto glanced at his friend but the Prince was still stony faced, sulking over his spat with his new friend. The Captain ignored it, because he knew it wouldn’t last and that the man just needed a few moments to find his pleasant face again. He went on.
“So, safe to assume the connection to Condos, but as of yet there’s no furthe..”
“It was Nikos.” Achilleas said it curtly, as if he were convinced there was no other option. “I have no quarrel with anyone else, and it's exactly the kind of spineless thing he’d do. As some poor joke, or just to make my life difficult. Either way, I’m sure it was him.”
Krysto shot him a look, half- warning, half indulgent, but did not argue his point again. Achilleas could be very stubborn at times, and he knew that man’s pride was still smarting which would only make him more objectionable. In a couple of days he would be more objective.
Achilleas looked to Evangelina, one eyebrow arched imperiously. “Well? Are you satisfied that we are not keeping anything from you?” he asked, before frowning slightly. “You were friends with Condos weren’t you? You know what he’s like, do you think he’d have the gall?”
Achillas opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. “Patronising? I don’t know how you can gauge such a thing when you’ve barely let me get a word in edgewise” he complained, as Evangelina still refused to sit And he gave an indignant little huff at her assumption that she was being somehow excluded, shooting an exasperated look at Krysto who was being no help whatsoever.
“Noone is shuffling you anywhere” he muttered, resisting the urge to just gulp down all of the wine in front of him. What was even happening?. He didn’t quite roll his eyes when she finally sat down again, but it was tempting, and the Prince blew out a long breath through his nose, reached for his much famed patience.
At least it seemed as if he wasn't the only target of such unmerited chiding, with his Captain too being on the receiving end of Lady Evangeline’s ill temper. Achilleas gave a nod to the soldier, who took a seat, and so the woman had both their attentions when she continued.
Achilleas had adopted a rather steadfast expression in the face of Evangelina’s continued ranting, his lips pressed together firmly, the only movement a steady tapping of his index finger upon the arm on his chair as he listened. Krysto was less reserved, and he waved an easy hand at the woman, having been called much worse, and discovering this meeting to be far more entertaining than he had anticipated. He wasn’t even trying to hide his smirk now.
“Aaah, well that was my idea, my Lady” The Captain spoke up with an unapologetic shrug. “I’ll admit I wanted to meet you. It’s sensitive information you have been party to, and I wanted to know who we were dealing with.” He gave no indication as to whether or not she had passed muster, but glanced in amusement back to Achilleas who was looking more and more fed up.
His jaw was working, the man obviously itching to speak up in his own defence, and when Evangelina finally fell silent, he did just that. “If you have quite finished.” Achilleas said cooly. “Krysto is here because I wanted to be able to share this information with you first hand. Because, funnily enough, I am aware that you were part of this too. And perhaps we might already have discussed everything you feel is being withheld from you if you had not been so determined to be offended!” He held up a hand to forestall her saying anything else, meeting her gaze square on. “Now...if you are done, perhaps we can get back to the reason we are all here?”
He gave a nod to the Captain to begin, and Krysto told on how he had followed Griffen back to the Condos owned vineyard, had watched the boy take payment from a uniformed man. That was damning enough in itself, but the soldier went on to say more. “So I spoke to the boy myself. He was cagey, but gold has a way of loosening tongues, especially to those who don't see much of it. And he knew the game was up then anyway. He admitted he had no real claim to being Achilleas’ son, and that he’d been approached by the man I saw pay him. Given some pretty specific instructions about when and where to approach Achilleas with his story. He said to say he was sorry, by the way.” Krysto glanced at his friend but the Prince was still stony faced, sulking over his spat with his new friend. The Captain ignored it, because he knew it wouldn’t last and that the man just needed a few moments to find his pleasant face again. He went on.
“So, safe to assume the connection to Condos, but as of yet there’s no furthe..”
“It was Nikos.” Achilleas said it curtly, as if he were convinced there was no other option. “I have no quarrel with anyone else, and it's exactly the kind of spineless thing he’d do. As some poor joke, or just to make my life difficult. Either way, I’m sure it was him.”
Krysto shot him a look, half- warning, half indulgent, but did not argue his point again. Achilleas could be very stubborn at times, and he knew that man’s pride was still smarting which would only make him more objectionable. In a couple of days he would be more objective.
Achilleas looked to Evangelina, one eyebrow arched imperiously. “Well? Are you satisfied that we are not keeping anything from you?” he asked, before frowning slightly. “You were friends with Condos weren’t you? You know what he’s like, do you think he’d have the gall?”
Evangelina knew she was pushing Prince Achilleas, but had it not been patronizing of him to beg forgiveness for her having to make the trip there to him? Did that not seem to him like he’d just wish to pat her upon the head and let her know things were all taken care of? That she need not concern herself with this matter anymore? That’s what it sounded like to her.
Sparks shot out of her eyes at his irritation with her. Yes, she definitely shouldn’t have taken that tone with him but she had a tendency to react and then sort out the details later. Clamping her mouth shut, she waited to hear what he had to say.
‘Noone is shuffling you anywhere.’ It was muttered and it didn’t set her entirely at ease but she did relax a little. When Krysto spoke up, she glanced at him and his unapologetic shrug, ‘Aaah, well that was my idea, my Lady.’ He continued, ‘I’ll admit I wanted to meet you. It’s sensitive information you have been party to, and I wanted to know who we were dealing with.’ That seemed forgivable. She offered a returned shrug with a small smile for him, “And have you determined yet?”
When she turned back to Achilleas, her eyebrows arched curiously to hear what thing he would say next to her. The coolness of his tone caused her lips to quirk up in amusement. He was absolutely adorable in this state of irritated petulance. Shifting in her chair, she listened without offering to speak even if he planned not to give her the opportunity too. Evangelina didn’t bother hiding the slight roll of her eyes at him when he shoved it all off on her, ‘if she was done…’.
Twisting again in the chair, she turned to look at the Captain as he began to talk. Nodding her head as was appropriate.
‘He said to say he was sorry too, by the way...So, safe to assume the connection to Condos, but as of yet there’s no further.’ The Captain was interrupted by further speaking when Achilleas sharply added, ‘It was Nikos.’ But by that point Evie had melted deeper into the chair, the color of her face had blanched to a sickly white shade. She closed her eyes and bent her head as if it hurt and hid her head softly behind her palm.
Nikos. What have you done now?
Everything else that was being said had turned into simple background noise. She’d once believed she was his friend. Once believed she was close to him. She’d thought she’d known him. Hade’s balls! She’d thought she was in love with him and going to marry him. That sip of wine she had seemed to be swirling in her stomach.
What was he up to playing these sorts of games against the newly crowned prince? A small groan was made, she was pretty sure it was out of her.
Dragging her hand from her face she opened her eyes to pin them to Achilleas and frowned as he continued talking.
‘Well? Are you satisfied that we are not keeping anything from you?’ He raised an eyebrow at her and she suddenly wished she wasn’t involved. Dipping her head she stared at her lap, ‘You were friends with Condos weren’t you? You know what he’s like, do you think he’d have the gall?’
Her eyes closed again and she took a deep breath. Yes, she’d been friends with him once. She knew what he was like. She knew the gall he had. She slumped a little deeper into the chair and nodded her head slowly, “Yes.” Shifting her gaze to Achilleas she met his too-blue, too-irritated eyes and found a firmer voice. “Yes, he’d have the gall to do something like this and quite a bit more if given free rein.”
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Evangelina knew she was pushing Prince Achilleas, but had it not been patronizing of him to beg forgiveness for her having to make the trip there to him? Did that not seem to him like he’d just wish to pat her upon the head and let her know things were all taken care of? That she need not concern herself with this matter anymore? That’s what it sounded like to her.
Sparks shot out of her eyes at his irritation with her. Yes, she definitely shouldn’t have taken that tone with him but she had a tendency to react and then sort out the details later. Clamping her mouth shut, she waited to hear what he had to say.
‘Noone is shuffling you anywhere.’ It was muttered and it didn’t set her entirely at ease but she did relax a little. When Krysto spoke up, she glanced at him and his unapologetic shrug, ‘Aaah, well that was my idea, my Lady.’ He continued, ‘I’ll admit I wanted to meet you. It’s sensitive information you have been party to, and I wanted to know who we were dealing with.’ That seemed forgivable. She offered a returned shrug with a small smile for him, “And have you determined yet?”
When she turned back to Achilleas, her eyebrows arched curiously to hear what thing he would say next to her. The coolness of his tone caused her lips to quirk up in amusement. He was absolutely adorable in this state of irritated petulance. Shifting in her chair, she listened without offering to speak even if he planned not to give her the opportunity too. Evangelina didn’t bother hiding the slight roll of her eyes at him when he shoved it all off on her, ‘if she was done…’.
Twisting again in the chair, she turned to look at the Captain as he began to talk. Nodding her head as was appropriate.
‘He said to say he was sorry too, by the way...So, safe to assume the connection to Condos, but as of yet there’s no further.’ The Captain was interrupted by further speaking when Achilleas sharply added, ‘It was Nikos.’ But by that point Evie had melted deeper into the chair, the color of her face had blanched to a sickly white shade. She closed her eyes and bent her head as if it hurt and hid her head softly behind her palm.
Nikos. What have you done now?
Everything else that was being said had turned into simple background noise. She’d once believed she was his friend. Once believed she was close to him. She’d thought she’d known him. Hade’s balls! She’d thought she was in love with him and going to marry him. That sip of wine she had seemed to be swirling in her stomach.
What was he up to playing these sorts of games against the newly crowned prince? A small groan was made, she was pretty sure it was out of her.
Dragging her hand from her face she opened her eyes to pin them to Achilleas and frowned as he continued talking.
‘Well? Are you satisfied that we are not keeping anything from you?’ He raised an eyebrow at her and she suddenly wished she wasn’t involved. Dipping her head she stared at her lap, ‘You were friends with Condos weren’t you? You know what he’s like, do you think he’d have the gall?’
Her eyes closed again and she took a deep breath. Yes, she’d been friends with him once. She knew what he was like. She knew the gall he had. She slumped a little deeper into the chair and nodded her head slowly, “Yes.” Shifting her gaze to Achilleas she met his too-blue, too-irritated eyes and found a firmer voice. “Yes, he’d have the gall to do something like this and quite a bit more if given free rein.”
Evangelina knew she was pushing Prince Achilleas, but had it not been patronizing of him to beg forgiveness for her having to make the trip there to him? Did that not seem to him like he’d just wish to pat her upon the head and let her know things were all taken care of? That she need not concern herself with this matter anymore? That’s what it sounded like to her.
Sparks shot out of her eyes at his irritation with her. Yes, she definitely shouldn’t have taken that tone with him but she had a tendency to react and then sort out the details later. Clamping her mouth shut, she waited to hear what he had to say.
‘Noone is shuffling you anywhere.’ It was muttered and it didn’t set her entirely at ease but she did relax a little. When Krysto spoke up, she glanced at him and his unapologetic shrug, ‘Aaah, well that was my idea, my Lady.’ He continued, ‘I’ll admit I wanted to meet you. It’s sensitive information you have been party to, and I wanted to know who we were dealing with.’ That seemed forgivable. She offered a returned shrug with a small smile for him, “And have you determined yet?”
When she turned back to Achilleas, her eyebrows arched curiously to hear what thing he would say next to her. The coolness of his tone caused her lips to quirk up in amusement. He was absolutely adorable in this state of irritated petulance. Shifting in her chair, she listened without offering to speak even if he planned not to give her the opportunity too. Evangelina didn’t bother hiding the slight roll of her eyes at him when he shoved it all off on her, ‘if she was done…’.
Twisting again in the chair, she turned to look at the Captain as he began to talk. Nodding her head as was appropriate.
‘He said to say he was sorry too, by the way...So, safe to assume the connection to Condos, but as of yet there’s no further.’ The Captain was interrupted by further speaking when Achilleas sharply added, ‘It was Nikos.’ But by that point Evie had melted deeper into the chair, the color of her face had blanched to a sickly white shade. She closed her eyes and bent her head as if it hurt and hid her head softly behind her palm.
Nikos. What have you done now?
Everything else that was being said had turned into simple background noise. She’d once believed she was his friend. Once believed she was close to him. She’d thought she’d known him. Hade’s balls! She’d thought she was in love with him and going to marry him. That sip of wine she had seemed to be swirling in her stomach.
What was he up to playing these sorts of games against the newly crowned prince? A small groan was made, she was pretty sure it was out of her.
Dragging her hand from her face she opened her eyes to pin them to Achilleas and frowned as he continued talking.
‘Well? Are you satisfied that we are not keeping anything from you?’ He raised an eyebrow at her and she suddenly wished she wasn’t involved. Dipping her head she stared at her lap, ‘You were friends with Condos weren’t you? You know what he’s like, do you think he’d have the gall?’
Her eyes closed again and she took a deep breath. Yes, she’d been friends with him once. She knew what he was like. She knew the gall he had. She slumped a little deeper into the chair and nodded her head slowly, “Yes.” Shifting her gaze to Achilleas she met his too-blue, too-irritated eyes and found a firmer voice. “Yes, he’d have the gall to do something like this and quite a bit more if given free rein.”
Achilleas found himself glowering back at Evangelina, at least until he realised what he was doing and attempted to smooth his expression into neutrality. It was not an easy task- the man not accustomed to being spoken to in such a way.
A moment of respite when Krysto interjected, and the Prince watched their exchange, rolling his eyes to heaven when the Captain answered Evangelina’s question with a flirtatious “It’s still a work in progress, but early signs are positive”
He told himself that the steel in his next words had nothing to do with that, and folded his arms as Krysto explained to the noblewoman everything he had already shared with Achilleas. Knowing already what the man would be saying, the lord Mikaelidas kept his attention on Evangelina, watching the shift of her expressions as she listened to his Captain speak. At least until his irritation got the better of him again and he interrupted with his own thoughts.
Her reaction gave him pause though, and Achilleas shot a glance at Krysto who looked at him like he was an idiot for assuming that he would have any idea what grieved the woman. They had just met after all.
Still, the Prince blundered on and pressed the issue, only to regret it when the Lady Evangelina seemed to wilt before them. For one who had been spitting fire not moments before, the transformation was quite jarring and unsettled him. Achilleas’ expression softened almost immediately when she lifted her gaze to find his, irritation melting away to be replaced by a reserved sort of concern.
What was Nikos to her?. Not for the first time, Achilleas regretted that he was not as close to court gossip as others. It would be useful in situations like this to prevent him stumbling blindly into awkward conversations that he really did not want to be party to. As he pondered a sensitive way to ask the question, it was Krysto who spoke up first, and Achilleas wasn’t even annoyed about it. He didn’t want to make Evangelina uncomfortable, whereas the captain had no such qualms.
“What makes you so sure?” he asked casually, as if it were no big deal to pry into the friendships of a noble woman. “Do you know something of his motivations, my Lady?” Krysto’s dark eyes were not judgemental, but they didn’t falter where they rested upon her, and Achilleas too was watching her closely.
It was not as if he and the Condos heir had ever had a friendly relationship, but this could certainly be considered an escalation in the subtle dislike that had simmered between them for so long. Achilleas was only too aware of his father’s inexplicable regard for the man; a sly, scheming lord with no military prowess to speak of. He didn’t understand it, but it grated all the same, and he knew that Nikos knew it irked him so only courted it more. And if he was responsible for the boy….
Not often was the elder Mikaelidas Lord given to contemplate violence away from a battlefield, but there were times it was merited, he thought. Lucky that it appeared as if they had contained this little mess, if it had reached the attention of others then it could have been more than an embarrassment, a fact Nikos would surely have known?
Achilleas’ fingers dug into his own biceps before he realised quite how tense he’d become, and he willed himself to relax. The cumulative strain of the past weeks was beginning to show, and combined with what felt uncomfortably like pre-wedding nerves it did not make for a cool and collected Prince. His friend knew it, and so Krysto directed the conversation and let Achilleas be spectator a moment longer.
“You say he’d do more. In what way? Are you saying he's a threat to the Prince?” That was enough to prompt a snort from Achilleas, insulted by the implication that he could not hold his own against Nikos, and enough to have him speak up.
“He’s a coward. He’s no threat in that way” No, Nikos had proved in this little escapade that he was more of a snake, and Achilleas could not help the “I am surprised you called him friend” that slipped out, directed towards Evangelina.
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Achilleas found himself glowering back at Evangelina, at least until he realised what he was doing and attempted to smooth his expression into neutrality. It was not an easy task- the man not accustomed to being spoken to in such a way.
A moment of respite when Krysto interjected, and the Prince watched their exchange, rolling his eyes to heaven when the Captain answered Evangelina’s question with a flirtatious “It’s still a work in progress, but early signs are positive”
He told himself that the steel in his next words had nothing to do with that, and folded his arms as Krysto explained to the noblewoman everything he had already shared with Achilleas. Knowing already what the man would be saying, the lord Mikaelidas kept his attention on Evangelina, watching the shift of her expressions as she listened to his Captain speak. At least until his irritation got the better of him again and he interrupted with his own thoughts.
Her reaction gave him pause though, and Achilleas shot a glance at Krysto who looked at him like he was an idiot for assuming that he would have any idea what grieved the woman. They had just met after all.
Still, the Prince blundered on and pressed the issue, only to regret it when the Lady Evangelina seemed to wilt before them. For one who had been spitting fire not moments before, the transformation was quite jarring and unsettled him. Achilleas’ expression softened almost immediately when she lifted her gaze to find his, irritation melting away to be replaced by a reserved sort of concern.
What was Nikos to her?. Not for the first time, Achilleas regretted that he was not as close to court gossip as others. It would be useful in situations like this to prevent him stumbling blindly into awkward conversations that he really did not want to be party to. As he pondered a sensitive way to ask the question, it was Krysto who spoke up first, and Achilleas wasn’t even annoyed about it. He didn’t want to make Evangelina uncomfortable, whereas the captain had no such qualms.
“What makes you so sure?” he asked casually, as if it were no big deal to pry into the friendships of a noble woman. “Do you know something of his motivations, my Lady?” Krysto’s dark eyes were not judgemental, but they didn’t falter where they rested upon her, and Achilleas too was watching her closely.
It was not as if he and the Condos heir had ever had a friendly relationship, but this could certainly be considered an escalation in the subtle dislike that had simmered between them for so long. Achilleas was only too aware of his father’s inexplicable regard for the man; a sly, scheming lord with no military prowess to speak of. He didn’t understand it, but it grated all the same, and he knew that Nikos knew it irked him so only courted it more. And if he was responsible for the boy….
Not often was the elder Mikaelidas Lord given to contemplate violence away from a battlefield, but there were times it was merited, he thought. Lucky that it appeared as if they had contained this little mess, if it had reached the attention of others then it could have been more than an embarrassment, a fact Nikos would surely have known?
Achilleas’ fingers dug into his own biceps before he realised quite how tense he’d become, and he willed himself to relax. The cumulative strain of the past weeks was beginning to show, and combined with what felt uncomfortably like pre-wedding nerves it did not make for a cool and collected Prince. His friend knew it, and so Krysto directed the conversation and let Achilleas be spectator a moment longer.
“You say he’d do more. In what way? Are you saying he's a threat to the Prince?” That was enough to prompt a snort from Achilleas, insulted by the implication that he could not hold his own against Nikos, and enough to have him speak up.
“He’s a coward. He’s no threat in that way” No, Nikos had proved in this little escapade that he was more of a snake, and Achilleas could not help the “I am surprised you called him friend” that slipped out, directed towards Evangelina.
Achilleas found himself glowering back at Evangelina, at least until he realised what he was doing and attempted to smooth his expression into neutrality. It was not an easy task- the man not accustomed to being spoken to in such a way.
A moment of respite when Krysto interjected, and the Prince watched their exchange, rolling his eyes to heaven when the Captain answered Evangelina’s question with a flirtatious “It’s still a work in progress, but early signs are positive”
He told himself that the steel in his next words had nothing to do with that, and folded his arms as Krysto explained to the noblewoman everything he had already shared with Achilleas. Knowing already what the man would be saying, the lord Mikaelidas kept his attention on Evangelina, watching the shift of her expressions as she listened to his Captain speak. At least until his irritation got the better of him again and he interrupted with his own thoughts.
Her reaction gave him pause though, and Achilleas shot a glance at Krysto who looked at him like he was an idiot for assuming that he would have any idea what grieved the woman. They had just met after all.
Still, the Prince blundered on and pressed the issue, only to regret it when the Lady Evangelina seemed to wilt before them. For one who had been spitting fire not moments before, the transformation was quite jarring and unsettled him. Achilleas’ expression softened almost immediately when she lifted her gaze to find his, irritation melting away to be replaced by a reserved sort of concern.
What was Nikos to her?. Not for the first time, Achilleas regretted that he was not as close to court gossip as others. It would be useful in situations like this to prevent him stumbling blindly into awkward conversations that he really did not want to be party to. As he pondered a sensitive way to ask the question, it was Krysto who spoke up first, and Achilleas wasn’t even annoyed about it. He didn’t want to make Evangelina uncomfortable, whereas the captain had no such qualms.
“What makes you so sure?” he asked casually, as if it were no big deal to pry into the friendships of a noble woman. “Do you know something of his motivations, my Lady?” Krysto’s dark eyes were not judgemental, but they didn’t falter where they rested upon her, and Achilleas too was watching her closely.
It was not as if he and the Condos heir had ever had a friendly relationship, but this could certainly be considered an escalation in the subtle dislike that had simmered between them for so long. Achilleas was only too aware of his father’s inexplicable regard for the man; a sly, scheming lord with no military prowess to speak of. He didn’t understand it, but it grated all the same, and he knew that Nikos knew it irked him so only courted it more. And if he was responsible for the boy….
Not often was the elder Mikaelidas Lord given to contemplate violence away from a battlefield, but there were times it was merited, he thought. Lucky that it appeared as if they had contained this little mess, if it had reached the attention of others then it could have been more than an embarrassment, a fact Nikos would surely have known?
Achilleas’ fingers dug into his own biceps before he realised quite how tense he’d become, and he willed himself to relax. The cumulative strain of the past weeks was beginning to show, and combined with what felt uncomfortably like pre-wedding nerves it did not make for a cool and collected Prince. His friend knew it, and so Krysto directed the conversation and let Achilleas be spectator a moment longer.
“You say he’d do more. In what way? Are you saying he's a threat to the Prince?” That was enough to prompt a snort from Achilleas, insulted by the implication that he could not hold his own against Nikos, and enough to have him speak up.
“He’s a coward. He’s no threat in that way” No, Nikos had proved in this little escapade that he was more of a snake, and Achilleas could not help the “I am surprised you called him friend” that slipped out, directed towards Evangelina.
Krysto’s flirtatious answer earned him a coquettish smile and a teasing wink from the tiny little Leventi. She’d noted that Achilleas rolled his eyes at the teasing exchange and that somehow made her all the more game to flirt with the Captain. It seemed His Royal Highness was not use to attention being diverted away from him. Her dimpled smile wickedly spread and she tilted her head to the Captain, “Just you wait, Captain. I’ll have you wrapped prettily around my finger.” She held up her pinky and wiggled it, the amusement in Evanglina’s dark eyes bespoke of her teasing.
But her merriment died away as her questions were answered and it appeared that Nikos was involved. A part of Evangelina had been holding onto the hope that he was better than all the indications were, but his low blow at the Egyptian dignitary function had left her wondering. Just how long would she continue to hold out hope for him?
‘What makes you so sure?’ Krysto’s voice was directed at her, ‘Do you know something of his motivations, my Lady?’
Her eyes were framed by sweeping long lashes and they were now raising up from her lap to meet Achilleas gaze momentarily before she turned her head to look at Krysto. Persing her lips, she was carefully picking out her choice of words to say but after a moment, she finally spoke.
“Lord Nikos and I were rather close once. I believed I was in love with him… I also believed I was going to marry him, but I ignored a lot of truths regarding his behaviors behind closed doors. As far as I was concerned, he had only interest in me.” She looked away and found herself looking back at Achilleas, a frown tugging on her lips. Taking a deep breath, she pasted on some of that Leventi bravado and smiled sadly, “That was not the case. Needless to say, I found out soon enough to prevent any scandal and to sweep it under the rug.”
Clearing her throat, she looked back to Krysto, “As much as I would like to dismiss any sort of less than gentlemanly behavior as just a prank. It’s not so. We have not been on great terms since our... “ Evangelina blinked, what was the right word for what they’d been? “Since we were close. I am afraid he displayed less than gentlemanly behavior recently when he publically made insinuations to me and a few others that I was in my cups and that we had been intimately closer then we had.”
Shifting uncomfortably in her the chair, she frowned, “I am mentioning this in confidence with the two of you and because if he’d stoop to that with someone who’d once been close to him. Something like this or anything else that could besmudge His Highness and make himself look superior it’s well within his ability.”
‘You say he’d do more. In what way? Are you saying he's a threat to the Prince?’ The Captain’s latter question caused a laugh from her but before she could answer him Achilleas spoke up, ‘He’s a coward. He’s no threat in that way.’ She closed her mouth and nodded her head in agreement until Achilleas last comment slipped out.
‘I am surprised you called him friend.’
Evangelina visibly flinched at that, her face blanching before a slow steady heat rose in her face. Her eyes looked away not able to meet the faces of either of the men in the room. Dropping her head, she focused on the soft twisting her hands in her lap. What was she supposed to say to that? She licked her lips and started to say something, but closed her mouth. She didn’t have anything to say to that.
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Krysto’s flirtatious answer earned him a coquettish smile and a teasing wink from the tiny little Leventi. She’d noted that Achilleas rolled his eyes at the teasing exchange and that somehow made her all the more game to flirt with the Captain. It seemed His Royal Highness was not use to attention being diverted away from him. Her dimpled smile wickedly spread and she tilted her head to the Captain, “Just you wait, Captain. I’ll have you wrapped prettily around my finger.” She held up her pinky and wiggled it, the amusement in Evanglina’s dark eyes bespoke of her teasing.
But her merriment died away as her questions were answered and it appeared that Nikos was involved. A part of Evangelina had been holding onto the hope that he was better than all the indications were, but his low blow at the Egyptian dignitary function had left her wondering. Just how long would she continue to hold out hope for him?
‘What makes you so sure?’ Krysto’s voice was directed at her, ‘Do you know something of his motivations, my Lady?’
Her eyes were framed by sweeping long lashes and they were now raising up from her lap to meet Achilleas gaze momentarily before she turned her head to look at Krysto. Persing her lips, she was carefully picking out her choice of words to say but after a moment, she finally spoke.
“Lord Nikos and I were rather close once. I believed I was in love with him… I also believed I was going to marry him, but I ignored a lot of truths regarding his behaviors behind closed doors. As far as I was concerned, he had only interest in me.” She looked away and found herself looking back at Achilleas, a frown tugging on her lips. Taking a deep breath, she pasted on some of that Leventi bravado and smiled sadly, “That was not the case. Needless to say, I found out soon enough to prevent any scandal and to sweep it under the rug.”
Clearing her throat, she looked back to Krysto, “As much as I would like to dismiss any sort of less than gentlemanly behavior as just a prank. It’s not so. We have not been on great terms since our... “ Evangelina blinked, what was the right word for what they’d been? “Since we were close. I am afraid he displayed less than gentlemanly behavior recently when he publically made insinuations to me and a few others that I was in my cups and that we had been intimately closer then we had.”
Shifting uncomfortably in her the chair, she frowned, “I am mentioning this in confidence with the two of you and because if he’d stoop to that with someone who’d once been close to him. Something like this or anything else that could besmudge His Highness and make himself look superior it’s well within his ability.”
‘You say he’d do more. In what way? Are you saying he's a threat to the Prince?’ The Captain’s latter question caused a laugh from her but before she could answer him Achilleas spoke up, ‘He’s a coward. He’s no threat in that way.’ She closed her mouth and nodded her head in agreement until Achilleas last comment slipped out.
‘I am surprised you called him friend.’
Evangelina visibly flinched at that, her face blanching before a slow steady heat rose in her face. Her eyes looked away not able to meet the faces of either of the men in the room. Dropping her head, she focused on the soft twisting her hands in her lap. What was she supposed to say to that? She licked her lips and started to say something, but closed her mouth. She didn’t have anything to say to that.
Krysto’s flirtatious answer earned him a coquettish smile and a teasing wink from the tiny little Leventi. She’d noted that Achilleas rolled his eyes at the teasing exchange and that somehow made her all the more game to flirt with the Captain. It seemed His Royal Highness was not use to attention being diverted away from him. Her dimpled smile wickedly spread and she tilted her head to the Captain, “Just you wait, Captain. I’ll have you wrapped prettily around my finger.” She held up her pinky and wiggled it, the amusement in Evanglina’s dark eyes bespoke of her teasing.
But her merriment died away as her questions were answered and it appeared that Nikos was involved. A part of Evangelina had been holding onto the hope that he was better than all the indications were, but his low blow at the Egyptian dignitary function had left her wondering. Just how long would she continue to hold out hope for him?
‘What makes you so sure?’ Krysto’s voice was directed at her, ‘Do you know something of his motivations, my Lady?’
Her eyes were framed by sweeping long lashes and they were now raising up from her lap to meet Achilleas gaze momentarily before she turned her head to look at Krysto. Persing her lips, she was carefully picking out her choice of words to say but after a moment, she finally spoke.
“Lord Nikos and I were rather close once. I believed I was in love with him… I also believed I was going to marry him, but I ignored a lot of truths regarding his behaviors behind closed doors. As far as I was concerned, he had only interest in me.” She looked away and found herself looking back at Achilleas, a frown tugging on her lips. Taking a deep breath, she pasted on some of that Leventi bravado and smiled sadly, “That was not the case. Needless to say, I found out soon enough to prevent any scandal and to sweep it under the rug.”
Clearing her throat, she looked back to Krysto, “As much as I would like to dismiss any sort of less than gentlemanly behavior as just a prank. It’s not so. We have not been on great terms since our... “ Evangelina blinked, what was the right word for what they’d been? “Since we were close. I am afraid he displayed less than gentlemanly behavior recently when he publically made insinuations to me and a few others that I was in my cups and that we had been intimately closer then we had.”
Shifting uncomfortably in her the chair, she frowned, “I am mentioning this in confidence with the two of you and because if he’d stoop to that with someone who’d once been close to him. Something like this or anything else that could besmudge His Highness and make himself look superior it’s well within his ability.”
‘You say he’d do more. In what way? Are you saying he's a threat to the Prince?’ The Captain’s latter question caused a laugh from her but before she could answer him Achilleas spoke up, ‘He’s a coward. He’s no threat in that way.’ She closed her mouth and nodded her head in agreement until Achilleas last comment slipped out.
‘I am surprised you called him friend.’
Evangelina visibly flinched at that, her face blanching before a slow steady heat rose in her face. Her eyes looked away not able to meet the faces of either of the men in the room. Dropping her head, she focused on the soft twisting her hands in her lap. What was she supposed to say to that? She licked her lips and started to say something, but closed her mouth. She didn’t have anything to say to that.
Achilleas had shot Krysto a warning look when Evangelina confirmed the..nature of her relationship with Nikos. He could not afford for the Captain to be clumsy in questioning a noblewoman in such matters. He felt bad then, for even allowing the man to ask as much as he had, for there was a poorly hidden hurt that he thought hed glimpsed in Evangelina’s eyes, and he was uncomfortable pushing at it.
Only, as it turned out, it was not Krysto that spoke too close to the bone, but Achilleas’ own words, falling so clumsily that he wished he might snatch them back again.Why had he even said it? He didn’t need to look towards his friend to know that the man would be glaring at him, and the Prince cleared his throat in the heavy silence that followed.
“...my apologies” he said stiffly “That was..unhelpful.” The girl’s eyes had dropped to her lap and Achilleas willed her to look up so he might know that he had not been as foolish as he feared. He had felt irritated he realised, that Nikos would have had any claim over this bright young woman who he clearly did not deserve. That the man still had the power to affect her still, just by speaking of him. Taking a breath, Achilleas was fumbling a little for what to say next when Krysto cut across him.
“Unhelpful and unnecessary, yes Achilleas. Well done.” The soldier kept his tone light and leant forward to squeeze Evangelina’s shoulder briefly. “Thank you” he said. “I do not know the man, so it is useful to hear your account.” And then he had straightened again and looked expectantly towards his commander. “Well? What would you have me do, your highness, with this information?”
Achilleas, undecided whether he was more annoyed at himself for upsetting the girl, or at his cocksure friend for daring to chide him so in front of her, frowned at Krysto, his gaze drifting toward Evangelina before moving on again, unfocused as he considered the options.
He could take what they knew to Nikolais, make some formal complaint against the House of Condos for the conduct of the servant, who they knew was directly involved. Such a course would cause a stir, and create friction between their families. He would have to speak to his father of it too, and really, it seemed but a drop in the ocean compared to other things they faced at the present moment.
The prince sighed, gave a shake of his head. Much as he hated to let such a slight go unanswered, he could not justify the consequences of so bold an accusation laid against their own cousins.
“We cannot do anything now” he said after a moment. “I have no wish to cause upset before the wedding, and there is nothing directly implicating Nikos even though I am sure it was him. For now, I must bear the insult of his childishness, and that is all”
And then because he had found his tongue again, he addressed Evie, looking at her with that kind of singular focus that he seemed able to switch on and off at will . “And I am sorry, Lady Evangelina. You have been more helpful than I have any right to expect in this, and I repaid you poorly just then. It is..” he paused, waved a hand in a vague gesture. “All of this. I am not usually so without tact.” He did not break for breath before darting a look at Krysto, who had not even had chance to open his mouth. “And you have said quite enough, Captain, so do not go disagreeing with me.”
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Achilleas had shot Krysto a warning look when Evangelina confirmed the..nature of her relationship with Nikos. He could not afford for the Captain to be clumsy in questioning a noblewoman in such matters. He felt bad then, for even allowing the man to ask as much as he had, for there was a poorly hidden hurt that he thought hed glimpsed in Evangelina’s eyes, and he was uncomfortable pushing at it.
Only, as it turned out, it was not Krysto that spoke too close to the bone, but Achilleas’ own words, falling so clumsily that he wished he might snatch them back again.Why had he even said it? He didn’t need to look towards his friend to know that the man would be glaring at him, and the Prince cleared his throat in the heavy silence that followed.
“...my apologies” he said stiffly “That was..unhelpful.” The girl’s eyes had dropped to her lap and Achilleas willed her to look up so he might know that he had not been as foolish as he feared. He had felt irritated he realised, that Nikos would have had any claim over this bright young woman who he clearly did not deserve. That the man still had the power to affect her still, just by speaking of him. Taking a breath, Achilleas was fumbling a little for what to say next when Krysto cut across him.
“Unhelpful and unnecessary, yes Achilleas. Well done.” The soldier kept his tone light and leant forward to squeeze Evangelina’s shoulder briefly. “Thank you” he said. “I do not know the man, so it is useful to hear your account.” And then he had straightened again and looked expectantly towards his commander. “Well? What would you have me do, your highness, with this information?”
Achilleas, undecided whether he was more annoyed at himself for upsetting the girl, or at his cocksure friend for daring to chide him so in front of her, frowned at Krysto, his gaze drifting toward Evangelina before moving on again, unfocused as he considered the options.
He could take what they knew to Nikolais, make some formal complaint against the House of Condos for the conduct of the servant, who they knew was directly involved. Such a course would cause a stir, and create friction between their families. He would have to speak to his father of it too, and really, it seemed but a drop in the ocean compared to other things they faced at the present moment.
The prince sighed, gave a shake of his head. Much as he hated to let such a slight go unanswered, he could not justify the consequences of so bold an accusation laid against their own cousins.
“We cannot do anything now” he said after a moment. “I have no wish to cause upset before the wedding, and there is nothing directly implicating Nikos even though I am sure it was him. For now, I must bear the insult of his childishness, and that is all”
And then because he had found his tongue again, he addressed Evie, looking at her with that kind of singular focus that he seemed able to switch on and off at will . “And I am sorry, Lady Evangelina. You have been more helpful than I have any right to expect in this, and I repaid you poorly just then. It is..” he paused, waved a hand in a vague gesture. “All of this. I am not usually so without tact.” He did not break for breath before darting a look at Krysto, who had not even had chance to open his mouth. “And you have said quite enough, Captain, so do not go disagreeing with me.”
Achilleas had shot Krysto a warning look when Evangelina confirmed the..nature of her relationship with Nikos. He could not afford for the Captain to be clumsy in questioning a noblewoman in such matters. He felt bad then, for even allowing the man to ask as much as he had, for there was a poorly hidden hurt that he thought hed glimpsed in Evangelina’s eyes, and he was uncomfortable pushing at it.
Only, as it turned out, it was not Krysto that spoke too close to the bone, but Achilleas’ own words, falling so clumsily that he wished he might snatch them back again.Why had he even said it? He didn’t need to look towards his friend to know that the man would be glaring at him, and the Prince cleared his throat in the heavy silence that followed.
“...my apologies” he said stiffly “That was..unhelpful.” The girl’s eyes had dropped to her lap and Achilleas willed her to look up so he might know that he had not been as foolish as he feared. He had felt irritated he realised, that Nikos would have had any claim over this bright young woman who he clearly did not deserve. That the man still had the power to affect her still, just by speaking of him. Taking a breath, Achilleas was fumbling a little for what to say next when Krysto cut across him.
“Unhelpful and unnecessary, yes Achilleas. Well done.” The soldier kept his tone light and leant forward to squeeze Evangelina’s shoulder briefly. “Thank you” he said. “I do not know the man, so it is useful to hear your account.” And then he had straightened again and looked expectantly towards his commander. “Well? What would you have me do, your highness, with this information?”
Achilleas, undecided whether he was more annoyed at himself for upsetting the girl, or at his cocksure friend for daring to chide him so in front of her, frowned at Krysto, his gaze drifting toward Evangelina before moving on again, unfocused as he considered the options.
He could take what they knew to Nikolais, make some formal complaint against the House of Condos for the conduct of the servant, who they knew was directly involved. Such a course would cause a stir, and create friction between their families. He would have to speak to his father of it too, and really, it seemed but a drop in the ocean compared to other things they faced at the present moment.
The prince sighed, gave a shake of his head. Much as he hated to let such a slight go unanswered, he could not justify the consequences of so bold an accusation laid against their own cousins.
“We cannot do anything now” he said after a moment. “I have no wish to cause upset before the wedding, and there is nothing directly implicating Nikos even though I am sure it was him. For now, I must bear the insult of his childishness, and that is all”
And then because he had found his tongue again, he addressed Evie, looking at her with that kind of singular focus that he seemed able to switch on and off at will . “And I am sorry, Lady Evangelina. You have been more helpful than I have any right to expect in this, and I repaid you poorly just then. It is..” he paused, waved a hand in a vague gesture. “All of this. I am not usually so without tact.” He did not break for breath before darting a look at Krysto, who had not even had chance to open his mouth. “And you have said quite enough, Captain, so do not go disagreeing with me.”
Evangelina despised being caught off guard, especially regarding her own life. Achilleas statement had done that. He’d caught her off guard and knocked her firmly down a peg or two.
‘I am surprised you even called him friend.’
She’d never really thought about what had initially drawn her to Nikos, but later on it was because he had seen her. She hadn’t simply blended into the background as just another one of the Leventi girls. He’d made her feel like she was real and alive and that she’d had mattered. Nikos had that way about him. His charms and wits carried him through to the positive side of most of the situations he got into. He was like a cat that always landed on his feet.
The awkward tension in the room that followed could have been cut with a knife. She hated it. Shifting in the chair, she let her gaze drift to the new Prince as he cleared his throat.
‘My apologies.’ The words were rigid coming out of his mouth and it made her wonder if he truly was sorry. It didn’t matter, she supposed there wasn’t anything really for him to be apologizing for. ‘And unhelpful.’
Her hands adjusted her skirt and she crossed her leg at the knee. It wasn’t orthodox but she’d always found the pose comfortable and right now, she needed to feel comfortable. She hadn’t a chance to put the Prince at ease before the Captain spoke up, his tone light but the firm chiding still lingered in his choice of words. She turned her head to offer him an apologetic smile for dragging the two of them into her woeful tale of heartbreak. Reaching out she covered the Captain’s hand softly with her own and gave it a squeeze of reassurance. There was no ill will from her sharing, he didn’t know her well enough yet but one thing was for certain. If Evangelina hadn’t wanted the two of them to know the two of them wouldn’t have known.
‘Well? What would you have me do, your highness, with this information?’
Settling back she became a piece of the furniture letting the two play their rolls out before she spoke. What would Achilleas choose to do with the information? Tilting her head she studied his movements carefully. The cogs of his brain were turning but from the look on his face they’d not come up with any sort of decision that he was completely pleased with.
He sighed and shook his head. He wasn’t thinking outside of the box. Her hands stopped fidgeting in her lap as she glanced back at the Captain to check his expression. The answer was right in front of them and neither could see it. She almost wanted to laugh.
‘We cannot do anything now,’ Achilleas said into the silence of the room, ‘I have no wish to cause upset before the wedding, and there is nothing directly implicating Nikos even though I am sure it was him. For now, I must bear the insult of his childishness, and that is all.’
Something seemed to click in the Commander’s mind as if he remembered she was there. Turning he pinned a sharpened look onto her, ‘And I am sorry, Lady Evangelina. You have been more helpful than I have any right to expect in this, and I repaid you poorly just then. It is…’ Her lips parted and she was about to tell him not to think about it. It was forgotten but he was speaking again, cutting her off before she could speak. It made her smile at him. Was he always this tightly wound? He continued. ‘All of this. I am not usually so without tact.’ His sky blue eyes darted to the good Captain, ‘And you have said quite enough, Captain, so do not go disagreeing with me.’
Evangelina snorted back a laugh and shook her head. Glancing to Captain Krystos, she grinned and raised an eyebrow at him, “Is His Highness always this tightly wound?” She turned to Achilleas then, her grin spreading a little wider and dimples forming in her cheeks. Leaning her head back against the chair, “Your Highness. Just relax and take a deep breath. I accept your apology although, you’ve nothing to be sorry for. My feelings were not injured nor do I wish you to be anything but frank with me.”
Her elbow bent on the armrest and she rested her head in the palm of her hand, she continued to look amused at Achilleas. “As it happens, I am the answer you are searching for in regards to Nikos.” She darted a look at Krystos then back and kept talking, “A benefit to my past with that little weasel is if he pushes me too much he knows I can and will say anything to damage him. There is no fury in the world quite like a scorned woman, boys… And unlike you and your family, Your Highness, my family thrives off of drawing a bit of Condos’ blood. As to the wedding, I am more of a background fixture rather than an ornament. Theo has enough sisters to fill all of those roles and then a few.”
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.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Evangelina despised being caught off guard, especially regarding her own life. Achilleas statement had done that. He’d caught her off guard and knocked her firmly down a peg or two.
‘I am surprised you even called him friend.’
She’d never really thought about what had initially drawn her to Nikos, but later on it was because he had seen her. She hadn’t simply blended into the background as just another one of the Leventi girls. He’d made her feel like she was real and alive and that she’d had mattered. Nikos had that way about him. His charms and wits carried him through to the positive side of most of the situations he got into. He was like a cat that always landed on his feet.
The awkward tension in the room that followed could have been cut with a knife. She hated it. Shifting in the chair, she let her gaze drift to the new Prince as he cleared his throat.
‘My apologies.’ The words were rigid coming out of his mouth and it made her wonder if he truly was sorry. It didn’t matter, she supposed there wasn’t anything really for him to be apologizing for. ‘And unhelpful.’
Her hands adjusted her skirt and she crossed her leg at the knee. It wasn’t orthodox but she’d always found the pose comfortable and right now, she needed to feel comfortable. She hadn’t a chance to put the Prince at ease before the Captain spoke up, his tone light but the firm chiding still lingered in his choice of words. She turned her head to offer him an apologetic smile for dragging the two of them into her woeful tale of heartbreak. Reaching out she covered the Captain’s hand softly with her own and gave it a squeeze of reassurance. There was no ill will from her sharing, he didn’t know her well enough yet but one thing was for certain. If Evangelina hadn’t wanted the two of them to know the two of them wouldn’t have known.
‘Well? What would you have me do, your highness, with this information?’
Settling back she became a piece of the furniture letting the two play their rolls out before she spoke. What would Achilleas choose to do with the information? Tilting her head she studied his movements carefully. The cogs of his brain were turning but from the look on his face they’d not come up with any sort of decision that he was completely pleased with.
He sighed and shook his head. He wasn’t thinking outside of the box. Her hands stopped fidgeting in her lap as she glanced back at the Captain to check his expression. The answer was right in front of them and neither could see it. She almost wanted to laugh.
‘We cannot do anything now,’ Achilleas said into the silence of the room, ‘I have no wish to cause upset before the wedding, and there is nothing directly implicating Nikos even though I am sure it was him. For now, I must bear the insult of his childishness, and that is all.’
Something seemed to click in the Commander’s mind as if he remembered she was there. Turning he pinned a sharpened look onto her, ‘And I am sorry, Lady Evangelina. You have been more helpful than I have any right to expect in this, and I repaid you poorly just then. It is…’ Her lips parted and she was about to tell him not to think about it. It was forgotten but he was speaking again, cutting her off before she could speak. It made her smile at him. Was he always this tightly wound? He continued. ‘All of this. I am not usually so without tact.’ His sky blue eyes darted to the good Captain, ‘And you have said quite enough, Captain, so do not go disagreeing with me.’
Evangelina snorted back a laugh and shook her head. Glancing to Captain Krystos, she grinned and raised an eyebrow at him, “Is His Highness always this tightly wound?” She turned to Achilleas then, her grin spreading a little wider and dimples forming in her cheeks. Leaning her head back against the chair, “Your Highness. Just relax and take a deep breath. I accept your apology although, you’ve nothing to be sorry for. My feelings were not injured nor do I wish you to be anything but frank with me.”
Her elbow bent on the armrest and she rested her head in the palm of her hand, she continued to look amused at Achilleas. “As it happens, I am the answer you are searching for in regards to Nikos.” She darted a look at Krystos then back and kept talking, “A benefit to my past with that little weasel is if he pushes me too much he knows I can and will say anything to damage him. There is no fury in the world quite like a scorned woman, boys… And unlike you and your family, Your Highness, my family thrives off of drawing a bit of Condos’ blood. As to the wedding, I am more of a background fixture rather than an ornament. Theo has enough sisters to fill all of those roles and then a few.”
Evangelina despised being caught off guard, especially regarding her own life. Achilleas statement had done that. He’d caught her off guard and knocked her firmly down a peg or two.
‘I am surprised you even called him friend.’
She’d never really thought about what had initially drawn her to Nikos, but later on it was because he had seen her. She hadn’t simply blended into the background as just another one of the Leventi girls. He’d made her feel like she was real and alive and that she’d had mattered. Nikos had that way about him. His charms and wits carried him through to the positive side of most of the situations he got into. He was like a cat that always landed on his feet.
The awkward tension in the room that followed could have been cut with a knife. She hated it. Shifting in the chair, she let her gaze drift to the new Prince as he cleared his throat.
‘My apologies.’ The words were rigid coming out of his mouth and it made her wonder if he truly was sorry. It didn’t matter, she supposed there wasn’t anything really for him to be apologizing for. ‘And unhelpful.’
Her hands adjusted her skirt and she crossed her leg at the knee. It wasn’t orthodox but she’d always found the pose comfortable and right now, she needed to feel comfortable. She hadn’t a chance to put the Prince at ease before the Captain spoke up, his tone light but the firm chiding still lingered in his choice of words. She turned her head to offer him an apologetic smile for dragging the two of them into her woeful tale of heartbreak. Reaching out she covered the Captain’s hand softly with her own and gave it a squeeze of reassurance. There was no ill will from her sharing, he didn’t know her well enough yet but one thing was for certain. If Evangelina hadn’t wanted the two of them to know the two of them wouldn’t have known.
‘Well? What would you have me do, your highness, with this information?’
Settling back she became a piece of the furniture letting the two play their rolls out before she spoke. What would Achilleas choose to do with the information? Tilting her head she studied his movements carefully. The cogs of his brain were turning but from the look on his face they’d not come up with any sort of decision that he was completely pleased with.
He sighed and shook his head. He wasn’t thinking outside of the box. Her hands stopped fidgeting in her lap as she glanced back at the Captain to check his expression. The answer was right in front of them and neither could see it. She almost wanted to laugh.
‘We cannot do anything now,’ Achilleas said into the silence of the room, ‘I have no wish to cause upset before the wedding, and there is nothing directly implicating Nikos even though I am sure it was him. For now, I must bear the insult of his childishness, and that is all.’
Something seemed to click in the Commander’s mind as if he remembered she was there. Turning he pinned a sharpened look onto her, ‘And I am sorry, Lady Evangelina. You have been more helpful than I have any right to expect in this, and I repaid you poorly just then. It is…’ Her lips parted and she was about to tell him not to think about it. It was forgotten but he was speaking again, cutting her off before she could speak. It made her smile at him. Was he always this tightly wound? He continued. ‘All of this. I am not usually so without tact.’ His sky blue eyes darted to the good Captain, ‘And you have said quite enough, Captain, so do not go disagreeing with me.’
Evangelina snorted back a laugh and shook her head. Glancing to Captain Krystos, she grinned and raised an eyebrow at him, “Is His Highness always this tightly wound?” She turned to Achilleas then, her grin spreading a little wider and dimples forming in her cheeks. Leaning her head back against the chair, “Your Highness. Just relax and take a deep breath. I accept your apology although, you’ve nothing to be sorry for. My feelings were not injured nor do I wish you to be anything but frank with me.”
Her elbow bent on the armrest and she rested her head in the palm of her hand, she continued to look amused at Achilleas. “As it happens, I am the answer you are searching for in regards to Nikos.” She darted a look at Krystos then back and kept talking, “A benefit to my past with that little weasel is if he pushes me too much he knows I can and will say anything to damage him. There is no fury in the world quite like a scorned woman, boys… And unlike you and your family, Your Highness, my family thrives off of drawing a bit of Condos’ blood. As to the wedding, I am more of a background fixture rather than an ornament. Theo has enough sisters to fill all of those roles and then a few.”