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A Rose In The Wind: A Saga of the Halmae -- Updated June 19, 2014
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<blockquote data-quote="ellinor" data-source="post: 5298630" data-attributes="member: 14561"><p><strong>14x01</strong></p><p></p><p>“Roseanna di Raprezzi, Octavian di Raprezzi, I am taking you home to your mother. <strong>NOW.</strong>” </p><p></p><p>At that voice, Twiggy's blood ran cold.</p><p></p><p>Twiggy—and more importantly, Acorn—had just been enjoying the fresh breezes on the road after the sulfur stench of Cauldron. Twiggy had been musing that, despite its smell, Cauldron had turned out to be much more pleasant than she'd expected. She now wore a wakizashi at her side. In their way, the Inquisitors had made her a noble. <em>A noble, just like Rose and Tavi.</em></p><p></p><p>It wasn’t just their unexpectedly positive interaction with the Inquisitors that had made Twiggy feel good. Leaving the forest hadn’t transformed her back into “just a lady-in-waiting,” as she had once feared. Even Tavi, with his dedication to ordered responsibility, had begun to treat her more or less as an equal—or at least he hadn’t balked when she slipped and called him “Tav.” After seventeen years spent struggling against the accident of her station—dreaming that it might be possible to earn the respect of the di Raprezzis—it had happened, almost by mistake. </p><p></p><p>But now, with that voice—that all-too familiar voice—all her happy musings vanished in a heartbeat. </p><p></p><p>The voice was Mariela. <em>That’s Signora Mariela, to you,</em> thought Twiggy, scowling inside. Mariela: Powerful sorceress. Signor Dante’s sister. Rose and Tavi’s aunt. Di Raprezzi family functionary. Generally bitter woman.</p><p></p><p><em>And my mother.</em></p><p></p><p>Tavi’s eyes had widened with surprise, but he barely missed a beat. In an instant, he'd jumped out of the carriage and was standing straight. “Aunt Mariela,” he said with a tiny formal bow. “That is a fascinating proposition. I am afraid it’s not going to happen.”</p><p></p><p>Twiggy and the others stepped out behind him. Mariela put her hands on her hips. She was flanked by two members of the family guard, each holding a halberd across his chest with stern attentiveness. “We can do this two ways,” she replied, “the easy way, or the hard way.” </p><p></p><p>“Hard for whom?” Mena muttered to Twiggy.</p><p></p><p>Kormick stepped forward. “Signora di Raprezzi,” he began in a conciliatory tone, “We are authorized by the Sovereign Inquisition to enforce the law of Alirria. I think it would be—” </p><p></p><p>“I don’t give a rat’s a@@ what you are authorized to do,” Mariela shot back. “I am authorized to enforce the laws of Pol Henna, as a licensed enforcement agent for the di Raprezzi family.”</p><p></p><p>“What are the charges?” Kormick asked.</p><p></p><p>Mariela smirked. “Theft of property and familial disrespect. Now get out of my way.”</p><p></p><p>Tavi nodded to Kormick and squared his shoulders. “Aunt Mariela,” he began. “Since the age of 2, I have had one responsibility: the care and protection of my sister Rose. It is a duty I have never shirked, for Rose and for the family. Now, the best and only way that I can carry out that duty is for Rose and me to be beside each other, here in the Sovereignty, right now. If you are really concerned with familial respect, you must respect Rose’s fate, and our responsibility. We have work to do here, and we are going to do it. So <strong>you</strong> can get out of <strong>our</strong> way.”</p><p></p><p>Mariela did not move. Then—with a look of concentration that Twiggy recognized well—she began to cast.</p><p></p><p>“Signora Mariela!” Twiggy blurted it out, in some futile attempt to stop time. “We are doing something good here! Something important! Something good for the world <strong>and</strong> for the family! You talk about familial disrespect—would you take this away from us? From <strong>me</strong>?” </p><p></p><p>Twiggy hadn’t meant to say that last part. </p><p></p><p>Mariela smirked again, and turned to face Twiggy. “I am taking Octavian and Roseanna. <strong>You</strong> are free to do whatever you want.” </p><p></p><p>Seventeen years of pent-up anger welled up in Twiggy. <em>Seventeen years of trying politely, patiently, to get the love and attention of this woman. Seventeen years of studying, training, excelling. Serving the di Raprezzis. Caring for Rose. Hiding my lineage for the sake of the family’s good name. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Seventeen years of being ignored.</em> </p><p></p><p>Twiggy steeled herself. It was not her place to act. </p><p></p><p>But Mariela did. She stared at Tavi, and cast. Tavi’s body stiffened, held in place by Mariela’s infamous <em>petrifying gaze.</em> </p><p></p><p>Kormick immediately turned to Nyoko.</p><p></p><p>“Attacking a member of the Inquisition. That’s pretty illegal, yes?” he asked her.</p><p></p><p> “Very illegal, Inquisitor-san.”</p><p></p><p>“O-kay, no more Mr. Nice Inquisitor-san,” Kormick said. “Now you’re all under arrest.” </p><p></p><p>Four more di Raprezzi guards leapt out of the bushes beside the road, and—it must have come from one of them—ear-splitting thunder erupted from the middle of the road. The force made Tavi’s petrified figure shake, and he grimaced in pain. The force hit Nyoko, too.</p><p></p><p>“As is attacking an Adept,” she noted with satisfaction as she shot back. Her arrows struck guardsmen in clearly painful, but non-vital, locations. </p><p></p><p>Savina stepped forward. “Stop this, before someone gets hurt,” she said, with an air of outraged nobility that Twiggy had not seen in her before. “I warn you, you are attacking a di Infusino.”</p><p></p><p>“Stay out of this,” Mariela hissed, and stared at Tavi. Tavi’s face twisted in pain, and he cried out. </p><p></p><p>“Stop. That.” Savina’s voice was forceful and commanding, and rang not only with the confidence of her own nobility, but also the divine power of Alirria. Mariela was helpless to resist. She stumbled backward and fell on her backside, glaring with impotent rage. Savina continued. “And stay down, or my father will have something to say about it. Arden?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, Blessed Daughter?”</p><p></p><p>“Attack the next person who is foolish enough to attack one of us.”</p><p></p><p>But Mariela showed no signs of relenting. The guards advanced, leveling orbs and halberds at Tavi and Nyoko. “Please, Signor,” one of them murmured, “We do not want to hurt you.”</p><p></p><p>Tavi called each guard by name. “This is a family matter,” he said as movement gradually returned to his body. “If you wish to remain in the employ of the di Raprezzi family, you will not attack a di Raprezzi or any of our companions. This need not come to blows.” He bent gingerly, laid his sword on the ground, and offered his hand to help Mariela up.</p><p></p><p>Mariela did not take it, but rose slowly on her own. “I have orders to bring you home.”</p><p></p><p>“From whom?” Tavi asked. </p><p></p><p>“From everyone.”</p><p></p><p>“That is not an answer,” Tavi replied. “There are only two people who could give you an or—“</p><p></p><p>“Don’t be naive,” Mariela growled. “You cannot imagine the holy storm you have unleashed in your mother.” </p><p></p><p><em>Their mother, Dona Giovanna,</em> thought Twiggy. Then, bitterly, <em>But at least Dona Giovanna loves her daughter.</em> She could feel her control slipping as her anger rose again.</p><p></p><p>Mariela raised her hands to cast. Mena, still standing by Rose’s side, spoke up. “Surely, we do not need to return this very second. Let us take a few minutes to explain to you what we are doing.”</p><p></p><p>Mariela scowled. “Dame Filomena, I am instructed to inform you that your services are no longer required by the di Raprezzi family.” <em>Gods, did she just FIRE Mena? Can she even do that?</em></p><p></p><p>“But <strong>I</strong> will be heard,” Savina interjected. “Fifteen minutes, and we will explain.”</p><p></p><p>“The house di Infusino has no standing here,” Mariela shot back.</p><p></p><p>Bile rose in Twiggy’s throat, and her grip tightened on the orb before her. “I don’t understand! Why can’t we just take fifteen minutes to talk?”</p><p></p><p>“Why? Because I am tired of waiting! Because I have been living in this foul, foreign, stinking city waiting for you for two months! And because I don’t care what you—“</p><p></p><p>It was the last straw. BAM! Twiggy cast <em>Force Orb</em>, and the her spell knocked Mariela several feet backward. “You don’t care?!” Twiggy’s voice rose. “You condescending witch! You’ve never cared! You’ve never cared about what’s right, or about the people around you . . . Well, you don’t get to not care anymore. You don’t get to do this to me, or the people I care about. You don’t get to—” Twiggy stopped as she realized she was yelling. She looked around. Everyone—everything—else was silent. For a moment, embarrassment replaced rage. But then she saw Mena, who offered a small, almost imperceptible, smile and nod. The anger returned, but now it was controlled. Quiet. Powerful. Twiggy held it in, tight and focused, and waited.</p><p></p><p>“You have dishonored this family once, Aunt Mariela,” said Tavi. He took a step forward. “You will not dishonor it again.” His sword flew into his hand, and he raised it. “Do not make me use this.” </p><p></p><p>Mariela cast. Tavi gave a gulping scream as the force hit his chest, and he stumbled backward, struggling to catch his balance and his breath. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.</p><p></p><p>Then all hell broke loose.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ellinor, post: 5298630, member: 14561"] [b]14x01[/b] “Roseanna di Raprezzi, Octavian di Raprezzi, I am taking you home to your mother. [b]NOW.[/b]” At that voice, Twiggy's blood ran cold. Twiggy—and more importantly, Acorn—had just been enjoying the fresh breezes on the road after the sulfur stench of Cauldron. Twiggy had been musing that, despite its smell, Cauldron had turned out to be much more pleasant than she'd expected. She now wore a wakizashi at her side. In their way, the Inquisitors had made her a noble. [i]A noble, just like Rose and Tavi.[/i] It wasn’t just their unexpectedly positive interaction with the Inquisitors that had made Twiggy feel good. Leaving the forest hadn’t transformed her back into “just a lady-in-waiting,” as she had once feared. Even Tavi, with his dedication to ordered responsibility, had begun to treat her more or less as an equal—or at least he hadn’t balked when she slipped and called him “Tav.” After seventeen years spent struggling against the accident of her station—dreaming that it might be possible to earn the respect of the di Raprezzis—it had happened, almost by mistake. But now, with that voice—that all-too familiar voice—all her happy musings vanished in a heartbeat. The voice was Mariela. [i]That’s Signora Mariela, to you,[/i] thought Twiggy, scowling inside. Mariela: Powerful sorceress. Signor Dante’s sister. Rose and Tavi’s aunt. Di Raprezzi family functionary. Generally bitter woman. [i]And my mother.[/i] Tavi’s eyes had widened with surprise, but he barely missed a beat. In an instant, he'd jumped out of the carriage and was standing straight. “Aunt Mariela,” he said with a tiny formal bow. “That is a fascinating proposition. I am afraid it’s not going to happen.” Twiggy and the others stepped out behind him. Mariela put her hands on her hips. She was flanked by two members of the family guard, each holding a halberd across his chest with stern attentiveness. “We can do this two ways,” she replied, “the easy way, or the hard way.” “Hard for whom?” Mena muttered to Twiggy. Kormick stepped forward. “Signora di Raprezzi,” he began in a conciliatory tone, “We are authorized by the Sovereign Inquisition to enforce the law of Alirria. I think it would be—” “I don’t give a rat’s a@@ what you are authorized to do,” Mariela shot back. “I am authorized to enforce the laws of Pol Henna, as a licensed enforcement agent for the di Raprezzi family.” “What are the charges?” Kormick asked. Mariela smirked. “Theft of property and familial disrespect. Now get out of my way.” Tavi nodded to Kormick and squared his shoulders. “Aunt Mariela,” he began. “Since the age of 2, I have had one responsibility: the care and protection of my sister Rose. It is a duty I have never shirked, for Rose and for the family. Now, the best and only way that I can carry out that duty is for Rose and me to be beside each other, here in the Sovereignty, right now. If you are really concerned with familial respect, you must respect Rose’s fate, and our responsibility. We have work to do here, and we are going to do it. So [b]you[/b] can get out of [b]our[/b] way.” Mariela did not move. Then—with a look of concentration that Twiggy recognized well—she began to cast. “Signora Mariela!” Twiggy blurted it out, in some futile attempt to stop time. “We are doing something good here! Something important! Something good for the world [b]and[/b] for the family! You talk about familial disrespect—would you take this away from us? From [b]me[/b]?” Twiggy hadn’t meant to say that last part. Mariela smirked again, and turned to face Twiggy. “I am taking Octavian and Roseanna. [b]You[/b] are free to do whatever you want.” Seventeen years of pent-up anger welled up in Twiggy. [i]Seventeen years of trying politely, patiently, to get the love and attention of this woman. Seventeen years of studying, training, excelling. Serving the di Raprezzis. Caring for Rose. Hiding my lineage for the sake of the family’s good name. Seventeen years of being ignored.[/i] Twiggy steeled herself. It was not her place to act. But Mariela did. She stared at Tavi, and cast. Tavi’s body stiffened, held in place by Mariela’s infamous [i]petrifying gaze.[/i] Kormick immediately turned to Nyoko. “Attacking a member of the Inquisition. That’s pretty illegal, yes?” he asked her. “Very illegal, Inquisitor-san.” “O-kay, no more Mr. Nice Inquisitor-san,” Kormick said. “Now you’re all under arrest.” Four more di Raprezzi guards leapt out of the bushes beside the road, and—it must have come from one of them—ear-splitting thunder erupted from the middle of the road. The force made Tavi’s petrified figure shake, and he grimaced in pain. The force hit Nyoko, too. “As is attacking an Adept,” she noted with satisfaction as she shot back. Her arrows struck guardsmen in clearly painful, but non-vital, locations. Savina stepped forward. “Stop this, before someone gets hurt,” she said, with an air of outraged nobility that Twiggy had not seen in her before. “I warn you, you are attacking a di Infusino.” “Stay out of this,” Mariela hissed, and stared at Tavi. Tavi’s face twisted in pain, and he cried out. “Stop. That.” Savina’s voice was forceful and commanding, and rang not only with the confidence of her own nobility, but also the divine power of Alirria. Mariela was helpless to resist. She stumbled backward and fell on her backside, glaring with impotent rage. Savina continued. “And stay down, or my father will have something to say about it. Arden?” “Yes, Blessed Daughter?” “Attack the next person who is foolish enough to attack one of us.” But Mariela showed no signs of relenting. The guards advanced, leveling orbs and halberds at Tavi and Nyoko. “Please, Signor,” one of them murmured, “We do not want to hurt you.” Tavi called each guard by name. “This is a family matter,” he said as movement gradually returned to his body. “If you wish to remain in the employ of the di Raprezzi family, you will not attack a di Raprezzi or any of our companions. This need not come to blows.” He bent gingerly, laid his sword on the ground, and offered his hand to help Mariela up. Mariela did not take it, but rose slowly on her own. “I have orders to bring you home.” “From whom?” Tavi asked. “From everyone.” “That is not an answer,” Tavi replied. “There are only two people who could give you an or—“ “Don’t be naive,” Mariela growled. “You cannot imagine the holy storm you have unleashed in your mother.” [i]Their mother, Dona Giovanna,[/i] thought Twiggy. Then, bitterly, [i]But at least Dona Giovanna loves her daughter.[/i] She could feel her control slipping as her anger rose again. Mariela raised her hands to cast. Mena, still standing by Rose’s side, spoke up. “Surely, we do not need to return this very second. Let us take a few minutes to explain to you what we are doing.” Mariela scowled. “Dame Filomena, I am instructed to inform you that your services are no longer required by the di Raprezzi family.” [i]Gods, did she just FIRE Mena? Can she even do that?[/i] “But [b]I[/b] will be heard,” Savina interjected. “Fifteen minutes, and we will explain.” “The house di Infusino has no standing here,” Mariela shot back. Bile rose in Twiggy’s throat, and her grip tightened on the orb before her. “I don’t understand! Why can’t we just take fifteen minutes to talk?” “Why? Because I am tired of waiting! Because I have been living in this foul, foreign, stinking city waiting for you for two months! And because I don’t care what you—“ It was the last straw. BAM! Twiggy cast [i]Force Orb[/i], and the her spell knocked Mariela several feet backward. “You don’t care?!” Twiggy’s voice rose. “You condescending witch! You’ve never cared! You’ve never cared about what’s right, or about the people around you . . . Well, you don’t get to not care anymore. You don’t get to do this to me, or the people I care about. You don’t get to—” Twiggy stopped as she realized she was yelling. She looked around. Everyone—everything—else was silent. For a moment, embarrassment replaced rage. But then she saw Mena, who offered a small, almost imperceptible, smile and nod. The anger returned, but now it was controlled. Quiet. Powerful. Twiggy held it in, tight and focused, and waited. “You have dishonored this family once, Aunt Mariela,” said Tavi. He took a step forward. “You will not dishonor it again.” His sword flew into his hand, and he raised it. “Do not make me use this.” Mariela cast. Tavi gave a gulping scream as the force hit his chest, and he stumbled backward, struggling to catch his balance and his breath. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Then all hell broke loose. [/QUOTE]
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